I'm a 21 year old single parent of a baby girl. I have type one Diabetes and I sometimes have a hard time controlling it. It's not easy for me to lose weight because of it. I'm not very much overweight, but I would like to meet people who are into health and fitness. I just got out of a relationship and I don't want to fall off the fitness bandwagon. I can say I'm a little heartbroken, but if I keep moving ahead to better myself through fitness and healthy living, I can love myself and get stronger furthermore. I guess I need some encouragement to keep from overeating. I've been known to do that on occassion. My daughter also takes up quite a bit of my exercising time but I try to take her on walks with me as much as I can. If anyone could give me some words of wisdom, I'd really appreciate it.

You can do it! A healthy diet and exercise is a must when you have diabetes ( I have low blood sugar, the opposite but much the same symptoms). Your right that you deserve it and so does you little girl. Stay healthy and when you feel overwhelmed, and I'm sure you will, Take her walking or put in a video and workout. A lot of gyms now have childcare and you might meet someone in your same situation and bond a freindship with them. The time to start is now and not let an unhealthy lifestyle grab a hold of you. You can do it because your worth it! Best to you! Kim

I am a stay at home mom of 3 and have been battling 10 pounds for over 3 years, since the birth of my son. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I want to be at my pre-pregnancy weight. I am determined to do it this time, in time for the summer. We are going on a cruise in May with my husbands company and I would die if they saw me now, compared to where I used to be. I also watch a baby a few days a week and find the mid-day boredom sends me snacking as well as the evening when my husband is traveling. I eat fairly healthy, it's the sweets that are killing me. This is my first time here and I am hoping by keeping in touch with others it will give me the motivation that I need to change my habits. Some days exercise is brief due to the kids. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the replies. I am having current setbacks with Diabetes and eating patterns. And this daughter of mine is in the 'terrible twos' quite early I think, which is making me crazy. I know everyone has issues in their life but I'm bound and determined to not let any of them get in my way of being healthy. Like one of you said in your message, I don't have alot of weight to lose, but I would rather not gain anymore at that. Ten pounds is always that random number everyone wishes they could get off their bodies. I guess I can say I'm not too overweight. I'm 5 ft 2, and fluctuating between 135-140. Even if I don't lose any, I just want to feel healthy and upbeat like I totally used to be. And it just so happens that I live in the fitness-fad-diet-over-and-under-eating haven of the world being Southern California. If this area didn't have the biggest ratio of fake tans and fake body parts and fake skinnyness in the world, I think I would feel much better about myself, given as I wouldn't have a whole lot to compete with. I don't want to look like anyone else, I just want to look and be healthy and happy. I try to take everyday on at a time, but it doesn't help with my level of patience being at an all-time low. I'm really not in this to look good for anyone, I just want to be able to look in the mirror and like how my clothes look on me, and not be afraid to go into public with it on. Half the time when I do go somewhere, I get very self-conscious and paranoid and wonder if people look at ME. Don't ask me why they would be paying any attention to anything I am doing, it's just a dumb problem I've always been absorbed with. Talk to you all later..Robyn

Hi, Robyn I am new to this board as well and I wanted to encourage you. I have a son who was born when I was 20 and I know your struggle but please stay encouraged and know that others have shared your experience and are sharing it right now. It is easier to go through something when you Know that you are not the only one. That's what I have found. I also can relate to your weight struggle. I gained my weight after an emotionally draining relationship that ended badly. But I started a regular exercise regime. This helps with the weight, and also fights depression which can come when you are dealing with emotional stuff. Keep your head Up :)

[This message has been edited by Happy (edited 04-11-2000).]

Originally posted by rjn:
I am a stay at home mom of 3 and have been battling 10 pounds for over 3 years, since the birth of my son. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I want to be at my pre-pregnancy weight. I am determined to do it this time, in time for the summer. We are going on a cruise in May with my husbands company and I would die if they saw me now, compared to where I used to be. I also watch a baby a few days a week and find the mid-day boredom sends me snacking as well as the evening when my husband is traveling. I eat fairly healthy, it's the sweets that are killing me. This is my first time here and I am hoping by keeping in touch with others it will give me the motivation that I need to change my habits. Some days exercise is brief due to the kids. Any suggestions?

I am a married mum of two and about to try and lose 12lbs that seem impossible to shift and am about to make one last try by the summer and my birthday - I have done it 7 years ago so there is a vague hope from within that I can do it again - looking for some online support from anyone wanting to lose about the same amount at shall we say a sensible l lb a week for 12 weeks reply and join me - starting on Monday of course !
(17th April)

After a hard emotional break-up it is so easy to fall into bad health patterns(first hand experience) what I did after the relationship is decide to take time to rebuild myself up-doing things I enjoyed doing and was unable to do in the relationship- work on rebuilding yourself and redefine what you want out of life-example you want your daughter to grow healthy and happy
Exercising is a good way to exhaust your emotions-So when you get flustered with life sprint as long as you can. If after it doesnt let out your frustation do it again until you're so exhausted you couldn't possibly think about what is troubling you.
Thats what I try to do and when I actually do it works and makes me feel alot better about myself.

Hello. I'm another "fairly new one to this site" as well and all of the advice given is great.
I think we've all had that heartbreak and it's never easy. Sometimes if you let yourself feel and not try to get over things right away, it's easier in the long run. For me it was, because I actually let me feel sorry for myself, I needed to get it out of my system and if that meant crying, eating and pitying myself, I did, but I gave myself a deadline as to when I had just better knock it off ;). Seriously, I had to let myself feel it, cry and then get rid of it. I told myself that if I didn't get a grip on myself, my eating and my life, he'd somehow know the hold he still had on me...and he was in another state.
Now,
I have a wonderful 6 yr. old daughter, and I TRY to set a good example for her. I want her to be able to enjoy her own company and to feel good about herself. Most of the time we eat healthy, she exercises with me, our walks aren't as long, but she tries to do tapes with me as well. I try to stress what is important and yet, I allow her to be a child; snacks, play, cartoons, books, etc...If I can make a difference in her life as to how she feels about herself and others, then in my mind, what I go through is worth it. I want to teach her to respect herself, have a healthy self image and to respect others also. Life is hard enough without wondering and worrying constantly.

I didn't mean to get so serious, but I know that in time, things do come together and my husband asks me, "Will this matter next week? next year? etc..." He tries to get me to "Not sweat the small stuff", because in the scheme of things, alot of MY worries are the small stuff.

Take care, keep your chin up and do it for yourself and for your family!

Robyn..
My son is 1&1/2 so creative exercising is a must! Here are some suggestions...

Check out your local hospital. Ours has a couple of fitness classes for mothers and their babies. I know there was at least a beginning yoga class for mothers and babies.Because of your location,there may be more.

Go to the video store and rent Elmocise. I haven't rented it yet but plan to soon. It should be something fun for you two to do..at least she'll be interested in the subject matter :)

My son and I do alot of dancing. Just turn up that music and dance around the house for at least 20 min. Lots of fun for babies! Especially if you do some in front of mirrors.(how old is your daughter?)

Also, don't forget that housework/cleaning can be counted as exercise if you can do it vigorously. I always get a great upper body workout when washing all of our windows!

Most of all,it sounds like mentally you're starting out on the right track. You want to be healthy for you and your daughter and no one else. Keep at it and don't give up. The walks that you're already doing with your daughter is a tremendous step and doing both of you a great amount of good. THere's nothing like fresh air!

Hang in there and when you feel like overeating,log on here.Remember that the number one rule here is to not eat at this site while your'e on... :)