Trying to make some REAL changes

My daughter is on medication with a side effect of weight gain. Since September she has put on about 8 lbs and it really bothers me. I was a fat kid. I know what it's like to be teased; to feel uncomfortable in your clothes. I remember crying in more than one fitting room because the cool clothes I wanted to wear just didn't fit. In particular, I remember a a rainbow bathing suit that EVERYONE had --- except me. I had breasts at age ten and 10 year old suits had no bras and no liners. I was stuck with a "ladies suit" and I felt horrible.

I developed an eating disorder in what I felt was a necessity to lose weight. I managed to get go from 173 in 8th grade to 118 in high school; from a 14/16 to size 5/6 Calvins... those were the days... I was athletic, but my diet was horrible. I would have "fast days" and eat nothing. I remember going to bed at 7 p.m. to get away from the temptations of the kitchen. If I over ate I purged... I never considered nutrition.

Fast forward. I am definately more thoughtful about what I put in my mouth. I have let go of the old habits and no longer purge, though the desire is still there when I happen to eat too much. I try to put on a good face for my kids. They know I want to lose weight and they know that I continually try. I have been more thoughtful about what I buy - lots of veggies and fruits, and I am trying to make more of an effort to have good snacks on hand when my daughter gets home from school. What I am finding out is that it is not easy. It takes work to be healthy, but I know from my past how important it is. I want my daughter to have the freedom to just concentrate on developing her "self" and not worry about FAT. It is SO hard to be a kid these days that I don't want her to have to add another hurdle to an already complicated life. If I can help her to avoid any more weight gain I feel that I will have helped her conquer what has been a lifetime of angst for me. Who knows - maybe in helping my daughter I will finally succeed in helping myself.

Weigh in is tomorrow. We'll see.