View Full Version : I need a diet buddy.


tigerlevi
02-28-00, 10:44 AM
I am a working mom. I work the night shift from 5:30pm-4am. I have three children. I am 42 years old. My oldest is learning how to drive. Friday she wrecked our new truck. Everyone was okay and it was a one car accident. I live in the mountains of Colorado and commute to Denver for work. I have been doing this for the last 2 1/2 years. I find working nights does not help with eating. I tend to snack a lot on junk. I really don't care for the data entry work, but this means not putting my youngest into day care. I'm also here if one of my kids gets sick. They are 15, 13, and 7. I can't seem to find enough energy to exercise and not enough time to eat right. I get hardly any sleep during the week and make up for it on the weekends. Driving up and down the mountain take a lot out of me. I am now going to workmen comp appointments as after working for more then twenty years off and on in data entry I now have tendinitis. These appointments for therapy and doctors do not help and only take away from my sleep time. I have reflux disease. It was brought on by pregnancy related hyper emesis. My espoghaus is corroded. I take a prescription drug called Prevacid which I can't always stay on. It affects my liver. I need to have blood tests constantly. I'm desparate to loose weight. To feel better and look better. Heart disease runs in my family and usually hits in the forties. Twenty years ago I was an EMT. I graduated top in my class. I was given no support by my family. They constantly told me it was a waste of time and money. I wish I had never given it up. I lacked confidence, although I was constantly praised by the people I worked with. I was always told a womans place was to have babies and by a good submissive wife. I fought those stereo types but still never had confidence. My husband feels our two daughters need to be educated to take care of themselves, but not his own wife. We have been married 19 years and get along relatively well. I have looked into getting back into EMT work, but have been told it's being offered to firefighters, police officers and younger people. I can not get in. Nursing is the same way. I am looking into getting into something in the medical field. I would like to teach CPR or something, but need a job that pays. These are mainly volunteer work and I don't have the extra time. We usually put in 50-60 hours a week at work. With workmens comp I have not been doing the overtime lately. Hope this isn't too long. I hope to hear from someone soon. I am burnt out and extremely tired.

Pooh
03-01-00, 11:48 AM
Hey there Tigerlevi,

Well, you know I believe everything happens for a reason and there was a reason I just saw your site today....

After I read your site, I could really understand why you are so burnt out and exhausted..
My story is I am a 36 yr old first time mom of a 5 month old daughter. I too have been working the evening shift 5pm-12 midnight so we didn't have to put her in daycare also..
Many years ago I used to work the 11pm-7am shift for a hotel and ballooned up to 300 pounds because I didn't like myself and used food to stuff down all of my emotions.. Working nights can be tough on not just your eating habits, but on your relationship with family, friends, etc...
And talk about sleep deprived, you and I have alot in common...
My story though over the last few years and now months has changed though.
I lost 155 pounds with Weight Watchers back in 1996. I gained 60 pounds with my pregnancy and have 33 still to get off and get back to my goal... I have been married for almost 2 years. My husband is my "coach"...
I have not had any serious health issues but he has. He is a type II diabetic and heart disease runs thru his family. His mom died from it 10 years ago and most of his family is overweight and smokes or eats unhealthy......
When you said you were always told what a woman's place was, I remember I was always told I wasn't doing anything right growing up, etc...and that I wasn't good enough..

I really understand how difficult things have been for you....
I want you to know I have just given my notice to my full-time job and will be a working at home parent here in just 2 more weeks....My husband and I have decided to start our own home based business on the internet and I am thrilled. Not only will it mean having to say goodbye to those sucky hours, but also to spend more time with my husband and daughter and feel good about what I will be doing..
If anything, just remember there is always a better way.... If I can help in any way at all I am here for you...

Nancy