I am a married mother of 5 children. Life is a roller-coaster and I have been along for the ride, for sure. I am BRCA1+ and have undergone a hysterectomy, bilateral oopherectemy and a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction since 2009. Exercising is difficult and sometimes impossible and I have gone back to easy (weight-gaining) favorite comfort foods. As a consequence, I nearly reached my all time high of 292 pounds in January 2012, after being as low as 175 pounds in 2003 (thanks to Lindora's low carb diet). When I weighed myself at 286 pounds in January 2012 I knew I had to stop making excuses.

Dental problems and an adverse reaction to pain meds were the opportunity I needed and on January 25th I returned to my low carb diet in the hopes of dropping this extra weight once and for all. Coincidentally, I was reading The Willpower Instinct in January and it really opened my eyes to some of my previous thoughts and behaviors that was hurting my prior efforts. Furthermore, in February I read Wheat Belly. It explained why I do so well on low carb and why I pack on the weight when I eat bread and pasta. With this new insight and time, I WILL achieve my goals. I've faltered a few more times since but I'm determined to stick it out and achieve my goals, both short and long term.

My ultimate goal is 155 pounds, which is the high-end of my healthy BMI. I am setting my goal in FatSecret to my mini-goals though because it makes such pretty colors on my weight history as I hit every mini-goal and that is a HUGE motivator! ;-)