Boy do I know what you mean.
When I joined the Army I weighed 105 lbs and was almost 5'3". First thing they did was take our civilian clothes away and lock them up. When we finished a 6 week boot-camp, I must have gained 10 lbs. Then I was sent to my occupational school where I gained another 15 lbs.
When I went home, my friends and family didn't recognized me. I felt like they were ashamed of me.
It may not sound like a lot to some of you, but in my mind, it is devastating. My brother in law would not let up on the fat jokes.
Eventually, I lost weight with my first baby at the age of 25. I shot up to 150 lbs with all my pregnancies (3). But I usually lost the extra weight.
With my last baby, I just had a hard time getting rid of that weight. I went up and down.
I met my husband in the Army, so he fell in love with me with my extra weight, he hadn't seen me at my slimmest. He was skinnier that I was.
Since Hurricane Katrina and Rita, and the back and nerve pain I feel daily, I guess the stresses of it all has played a role in my weight loss.
I am a little excited about this summer, if I could just find that bathing suit I bought last year that is awesome, but I didn't have the nerve to wear it then. I didn't have a decent tan.
I have a privacy fence in my backyard, am going to get that tan, safely, and wear shorts this year. If you get a tan, it tends to make you look even thinner.
My husband doesn't want me to lose anymore weight, but he is not my doctor and since I'm in my forties, I think I'm old enough to make that decision, if my doctor approves.
I so respect all who have lost so much weight, I think you're awesome, because you're stronger than me. I couldn't even lose 25 lbs much less what many of you are doing.
No matter how much weight we have to lose or have lost, do it for yourself.
Happy Summer!
