lurkernj
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2008
Hello everyone!
As my "codename" states, I am a lurker and don't post all that much, I am a 42 year old mom of 2 teen boys. I have been on Disboards for over three years and just found the WISH section over the weekend. I was researching the Halloween 5k for next year and stumbled upon it. After reading many of your stories, I was inspired. I have done weightwatchers on and off over the years with some success, and some failure, (not due to any part of weightwatchers), and do some exercise, but not enough.
I belong to a gym (since Feb), and force myself to go, but it only ends up being 1-3 times per week (mostly one), more out of guilt that I'm paying for a membership that I am not using. I also have a major aversion to elevators so I go up and down 8 flights of stairs per day to get to/from my office. I try to walk with my BFFs at least twice a week for about an hour. So while I'm not exactly a couch potato, I'm not far from it. These little efforts of mine are definitely not enough as I am still gaining weight.
I am on a mission to lose 40 pounds, 15 of which I've gained over the last 16 months. My weight was already on the upswing when suddenly my DH (41 at the time) had a stroke June 2010, which paralized his entire right side. It was an extremely difficult time for both of us, 3 weeks in the hospital, many Dr. appointments, physical therapy multiple times per week, me trying to work, and be there for our two boys (12 and 15 then), any attempt at diet and exercise went out the window.
I think I could have handled the disability portion of his illness just fine, but the mental part of it was sooooo much more than I bargained for. He was so unpleasant to be around as he was very angry and frustrated. He would insult me regularly telling me I shouldn't eat something, or don't wear that, it makes you look fatter. We have been together for 24 years, and this was not him at all. I'm no shrinking violet, but I let him have his digs for a while. Until October of 2010. He made a very nasty comment about my weight in front of his brother, and it was extremely embarrassing. At that point, I gave him an ultimatum to either quite the crap or I was packing his bag and dropping him at his mothers (she lives around the corner from us). Things did improve and in December of last year he started to work part time and drive again, which made a drastic difference in his morale by having some independance (and I got a much needed short disney trip with my BFF to see the xmas stuff).
Now, before he had his stroke, he was probably the healthiest person I know. He would run 5ks regularly with our son and sons friends, he ran a marathon several years ago. He didn't drink much, and never smoked, and strokes don't run in his family. A reason was never determined as to why this happened to him. Once he was able to walk on his own last September, he joined a gym and walked there every day until he could drive. He still goes to the gym every day at 5am and complains that on Sat/Sun they don't open til 7.
The major blow has been and still is that he is unable to resume running. His leg just doesn't get the signal quick enough and his foot has a slight drag when he tries. In February, things were much better between us and I joined a gym. I also made him a deal that if he could run the July 4th 5k, I would run it with him (he has run this in our town since I've known him, except last year he sat in his wheelchair watching our son cross the finish line). Well, he was determined to make me pay up, but his efforts didn't pan out and he still couldn't run. We registered anyway, and we walked it together. We were tied for last most of the race with a grandmother and her special needs grandson, but we did manage to pass them and come in second to last. My goal was to not be last and to finish under an hour. We live in a small town, and half the town was waiting for us at the finish line, even though it took us almost an hour to complete it. He has truly been an inspiration to many.
continued...
As my "codename" states, I am a lurker and don't post all that much, I am a 42 year old mom of 2 teen boys. I have been on Disboards for over three years and just found the WISH section over the weekend. I was researching the Halloween 5k for next year and stumbled upon it. After reading many of your stories, I was inspired. I have done weightwatchers on and off over the years with some success, and some failure, (not due to any part of weightwatchers), and do some exercise, but not enough.
I belong to a gym (since Feb), and force myself to go, but it only ends up being 1-3 times per week (mostly one), more out of guilt that I'm paying for a membership that I am not using. I also have a major aversion to elevators so I go up and down 8 flights of stairs per day to get to/from my office. I try to walk with my BFFs at least twice a week for about an hour. So while I'm not exactly a couch potato, I'm not far from it. These little efforts of mine are definitely not enough as I am still gaining weight.
I am on a mission to lose 40 pounds, 15 of which I've gained over the last 16 months. My weight was already on the upswing when suddenly my DH (41 at the time) had a stroke June 2010, which paralized his entire right side. It was an extremely difficult time for both of us, 3 weeks in the hospital, many Dr. appointments, physical therapy multiple times per week, me trying to work, and be there for our two boys (12 and 15 then), any attempt at diet and exercise went out the window.
I think I could have handled the disability portion of his illness just fine, but the mental part of it was sooooo much more than I bargained for. He was so unpleasant to be around as he was very angry and frustrated. He would insult me regularly telling me I shouldn't eat something, or don't wear that, it makes you look fatter. We have been together for 24 years, and this was not him at all. I'm no shrinking violet, but I let him have his digs for a while. Until October of 2010. He made a very nasty comment about my weight in front of his brother, and it was extremely embarrassing. At that point, I gave him an ultimatum to either quite the crap or I was packing his bag and dropping him at his mothers (she lives around the corner from us). Things did improve and in December of last year he started to work part time and drive again, which made a drastic difference in his morale by having some independance (and I got a much needed short disney trip with my BFF to see the xmas stuff).
Now, before he had his stroke, he was probably the healthiest person I know. He would run 5ks regularly with our son and sons friends, he ran a marathon several years ago. He didn't drink much, and never smoked, and strokes don't run in his family. A reason was never determined as to why this happened to him. Once he was able to walk on his own last September, he joined a gym and walked there every day until he could drive. He still goes to the gym every day at 5am and complains that on Sat/Sun they don't open til 7.
The major blow has been and still is that he is unable to resume running. His leg just doesn't get the signal quick enough and his foot has a slight drag when he tries. In February, things were much better between us and I joined a gym. I also made him a deal that if he could run the July 4th 5k, I would run it with him (he has run this in our town since I've known him, except last year he sat in his wheelchair watching our son cross the finish line). Well, he was determined to make me pay up, but his efforts didn't pan out and he still couldn't run. We registered anyway, and we walked it together. We were tied for last most of the race with a grandmother and her special needs grandson, but we did manage to pass them and come in second to last. My goal was to not be last and to finish under an hour. We live in a small town, and half the town was waiting for us at the finish line, even though it took us almost an hour to complete it. He has truly been an inspiration to many.
continued...