Weight Highs and lows

A little history:

wedding 1991

As a child I was always active and thin. As a teenager I competed in soccer, track and loved bike riding. I was always strong and healthy. As a freshman in college I didn't gain the freshman 15. I actually lost 15lbs my first semester. I continued exercising, began running regularly and didn't worry about my weight. I looked great. When I got married I was happy with my weight. I was probably 140lbs. After a few years I was pregnant with my first child and I gained almost 40lbs. I did everything I always did and couldn't loose the weight. I developed hypothyroidism. After I went on medication, I was able to loose the weight once more. My next 2 pregnancies were about the same. Normal weight gain for the pregnancy and I was able to loose it through hard work, exercise and eating right. A side note: I never loose any weight until after I have finished breast feeding my child. So if you look at my pictures for these years my weight is up and down like a yo-yo even though I never went on any crazy diets.

2001 after 3rd child

Then my 30's hit. I continued working hard but my thyroid went crazy. My doctor at the time would not work with me. After a 30lbs weight gain over 4 months, I changed doctors and  got my medication up to par. As I began to loose the weight, I got pregnant with my 4th child. I only gained 20lbs through this pregnancy but it was still difficult to reach that 200lbs mark. Even though I had excuses, it was painful. I was so glad to have my beautiful boy and I was done having children. I hit my weight loss hard after I finished breast feeding. I began a new hormone treatment. Well it didn't work. It sent my thyroid crazy and (unbeknownst to me) made me fertile. I found out about baby #5 when my husband was gone on a 6 week trip. I was overwhelmed. I hadn't even lost all the weight of my 4th child and here I was pregnant again. I gained more weight and ended up around 220lbs. It was a stressful pregnancy.

2005 after 5th child

I should mention while I was 20wks pregnant I sold our house in a slow housing market and bought a new home. My husband was gone most of that summer. I was going through it alone. In August he came home on a Wednesday, we closed on one house Thursday, the other house on Friday and moved on Saturday. Sunday my husband left for a business trip around the world for 2 1/2mths. I had no close family to help with my 4 kids, new house and pregnancy. I was thrilled to have my beautiful baby boy in December and I began my weight loss once more.

2011 at triathlon 

I was able to get back down to the 160's in 2010/2011. I was running, biking and swimming. I ran half marathons, competed in triathlons and cycled mountains. It wasn't a quick and easy trip to that weight but I worked hard and was happy with my body. Then 2012 hit. On Jan 28, 2012 my husband said he wanted to leave me. If that wasn't enough, in March he was admitted to the hospital for 2 weeks for encephalitis and liver failure. It was horrible. I stayed by his side the entire time. I wanted to make our marriage work. The following months were full of pain and acceptance of divorce. So after a lot of emotional eating, thyroid problems, and incredible amounts of stress, I am now 216lbs. I am eager to finish the divorce and become the woman I can be.

Jan 2013 - the ugly truth

Current weight: 216
Goal weight: 145
Realistic goal weight: 155