Scout219
Hmmm....will there really be enough room on here for "My Story?" Let's see, shall we?
I was born and raised in Florida to parents who separated before I was born. My dad is Puerto Rican, but my mother is as white as a white woman can be. It was not meant to be. I was my mother's only child; my father's only daughter. My mother has been obese to varying degrees my entire life and food definitely served in lieu of love, affection, solace, comfort, rejoicing, anxiety and even sadness. I can't blame my mother. She didn't know any better, really. Being raised in the South, food meant everything. It was the center of family gatherings, funerals, weddings, celebrations and pity parties. Her life was centered around food and, by default, so was mine.
I have struggled with food, and therefore my weight, for as long as I can remember. There has not been a single day of my life where it has been easy. Despite that, I managed to avoid the major eating disorders. I'm not even a compulsive overeater. I just like rich, fattening food in large portions, three times a day. I'm not even into having seconds except on very rare occasions. So, why am I so heavy? Honey, I can extract a calorie out of thin air, that's why! Seriously, I have an exquisitely potent insulin response. My body deals with food efficiently and with great diligence. I remember during my first pregnancy when I did my glucose tolerance test. My one-hour blood sugar level was so low my OB called me herself to ask if I was feeling okay. "Sure" I responded. "Why?" Apparently my insulin did away with that sugar load so effectively, I was almost hypoglycemic...but I felt fine because it was like another day at the office for the old pancreas. Unfortunately, I know I won't be able to go much longer without my pancreas burning out. Diabetes is just around the corner for me. My dad has diabetes (has never been overweight), both his sisters have it, and my dad's dad died due to complications from diabetes. Bad genes.
So, this is going to be it for me. I can't carry this weight around and struggle with the yo-yo dieting for the rest of my life. It's unhealthy and about to make me crazy. I have decided to do this and now it's just a matter of the finances and getting my ducks in a row. I'm so happy to have found this website and these message boards! I hope to get to know many of you as we continue on our parallel paths to better health and longer life!!!
