I’m 34 years old and a mother of 3. I’ve had weight issues since 2001 after a year of being on an injectable birth control. I went from being around 60 Kilos to 97 Kilos in about six months without increasing my over all food intake. Apparently the make up of the now banned injectable birth caused some changes in my body making it store weight. I was told it had elevated my cortisol levels which were already slightly high to begin with.

I lost the initial 20 Kilos by planning my meals out for the week, no additional exercise and keeping my calorie intake to
Carbs 45-65% of total calories
Protein 10-35%
Fat 20-35%

Since losing the first 20Kg I teeter between 72 and 77 Kilos.

I’ve had a complete health screening and have been given the ok to start a 5:2 program. The only thing working against me health wise is a very high Cortisol level. I do not have any of the staple diseases that you would find in a person with cortisol levels as high as mine so they indicate it’s stress. Or rather my body is in a constant state of ‘Fight or Flight’. I’ve realized that when I wasn’t pregnant or nursing I regularly eat once a day with an occasional graze through the kitchen for a quick snack. I have an aversion to overly sweet things so most of my calories come from carbs. I’m using a calorie counter while I participate in the 5:2 and really hope it becomes a lifestyle I stick to not a ‘diet’.

I am currently at 77Kilos @ 5′ 6″ and I’ve been doing the 5:2 for 2 weeks and have not weighed myself since the start of the program. I have the intention of weighing myself at the 30 day mark so that I’m not worrying so much about the reading on the scale but the way I feel.

So far I feel pretty good. There are times when I’m eating and I think to myself ‘man this is daunting … chew chew chew chew’. I’ve even managed to cut out tea, coffee and the occasional soda pop and increased my water intake to an average of 10 glasses water a day.

So far so good. My hope is to feel more comfortable in my own skin. With the weight sticking around in my mid section I’m often asked if my pregnant. Sometimes people ask and I respond politely with a ‘I’m sorry I’m not pregnant’ and they chime in with how I should ‘lose weight so I don’t get asked’ or my favorite ‘how can your belly be like that and you not be’ another fave ‘you’d be a lot prettier if’. These as well as things that have been said in heated moments with my husband have left me feeling really bad about my appearance. My Father passed on Christmas Eve and I know that he would want me to make changes in my life to lead a healthier lifestyle. This is my biggest motivation at the moment. I stop nude in front of a full length mirror after a shower or bath and take note of the good things about me and reassure myself that every step toward better health will change both how I feel and how I look. I’m realistic in that I know I’ll always carry a little extra baggage be it fat or skin as I’ve developed a belly ‘flap’ of skin from weight gain and pregnancy. I just long for a day I can feel I’m not an embarrassment.

That last part might not be a fact as in I might not embarrass my family the way I feel I do but it’s the truth of how I have felt and continue to feel some days.

I hope to find support to keep me on track and to support those within the community any way I can.

I live on the Atlantic Coast and enjoy time at the beach with my children and find walking, jogging and playing in the surf enjoyable and rewarding. I also work regularly outdoors on our upstart of a farm. I grew up a farm girl in the midwest and find this rewarding as well.