Hey everyone!!

I'm not sure if this is what I'm supposed to do to introduce myself or not, but I guess it will have to do. My name is Tara and I am a stay at home mom. I have had trouble with my weight since I was a junior in high school. I did a lot of bouncing around I'd gain weight and then I'd manage to get it back off and I did this until I met and fell in love with my husband and then it just started creeping on, (that was 11 years ago). I have been working on losing weight (weight-watchers, jenny craig, phen-fen, just plain phentermine, the Zone, etc.) since 1996 (taking some time out to have 2 beautiful babies) without much success. In March 2003, I weighed 257.4 lbs. I was done having babies and decided to go back to my DR. She started me on Meridia, and 1200 calories a day,(I have never been able to count calories effectively). My brother started doing Atkins the end of March and lost 30 lbs in 2 months. So after much convincing on his part and since since I'd only lost 5 lbs at this point, I started doing Atkins July 31,2003.

I have lost a total of 15 lbs (more if you count the yo-yoing I've been doing for the last few weeks.) The first few weeks went great and then my husband left home to go help fight our forest fires, (we had an awful summer here in Montana) and we found out that my dad has prostate cancer. I am most definately a Daddy's girl and this hit me like a ton of bricks. But we have all had some time to adjust and are all very hopeful that he will kick butt and be just fine. So mid-August to mid-September were not good for me and I just got focused again this last week. I did have a little slip up tonight, but I am starting fresh tomorrow, and hopefully will get right back on track.

I guess the main reason I'm doing this is to feel better about myself. I'm sick of feeling so bad about the way I look. I also have a 5 year old and a 20 month old and I don't want them to be embarassed about having an overweight mommy. My husband is wonderful and has never made me feel bad about the weight I've put on in the last 9-10 years. I also cannot wait to go shopping in any store and be able to fit into their clothes.

I know that I need to get back into the gym at least 3 days a week, but until my daughter will let me leave her at preschool, a 40 minute walk, or my tae-bo tape 5 days a week will have to do. (I just started up again last week).

So anyway, I feel like I have totally rambled on and shoved 12 years into a very small space but there it is and I hope it makes sense enough to read.

I am so very anxious to get to know everyone, and learn your tricks and strategies and to also give any support that I can. I am really hoping to look wonderful by next summer. I am in my nieces wedding, and I'm sick of being the overweight bridesmaid.

Your friend,

Tara