Food Addiction

I have always loved food.

Food was a large part of my childhood. My mother, being a great cook thanks to her Italian heritage, made sure that food was always homemade, delicious, and available! I was also in love with sports my entire childhood so weight was never an issue back then. Once I started college in Idaho, I noticed the 'freshman fifteen' wasn't a myth. I had gained 20 pounds over the course of my freshman year. I freaked! I tried Slim Fast ( so unhealthy) and lost it all over the next few months. I felt beautiful. I was around 140 lbs and wore a size 9/10. Around this time I turned 21, started drinking heavily,  and found out Jack In The Box
stayed open 24 hrs! I gained about 10 pounds that summer. Fast forward to meeting my first husband, who's love of food matched mine perfectly. We were married just about a year before I became pregnant with my daughter. I gained almost 100 pounds. It wasn't pretty. I felt big for the very first time. I would eat anything, mostly McDonald's McGriddles on my way to prenatal aerobics, no less. I weighed 245 when I delivered my baby girl via emergency cesarean. About a year later my mother introduced me to the Atkins eating plan. I loved the thought of eating most of my favorite foods and losing weight! I tried it, paired with daily 4 mile walks and what do you know, it worked! I was able to get into a size 10 again. I also managed to keep it off  throughout the highs and lows of my divorce and custody battle of my daughter. I still loved to munch. My favorite snack? Graham crackers dipped in frosting...oh, baby! I have a major sweet tooth. I went on to meet my current, amazing, hunky husband and within 5 years of our first kiss, we had two babies, 15 months apart! One girl, one boy; my life is complete with all three babies. Now, my son, the baby, will be three in October and I still haven't lost the pregnancy weight. I cannot express how sad this makes me. I'm not depressed, I love to exercise, my life couldn't be better! I'm just addicted to food. I think about it a lot; what should I bake, i wonder what this Pinterest recipe might taste like, I'm craving cookies; let's bake some! My culinary gift is also my curse. If I can't buy it, I will make it...with lots of butter. So, it's no wonder that I sit here weighing over 200 pounds with my 9/10 jeans packed away in a dusty Rubbermaid bin. I have begun this weight loss journey so many times in the past three years, I really hope this is the last time.
The plan: Atkins again!
Walking 3-4 miles per day and lifting weights
Here we go! I look forward to the day when I can again slip on those jeans  that are probably way out of style.
XO- Joy