I wanted to say Hi to all on the board. I'm starting the program today at 3:00 ( my initial consultation) and am also very newly single, my husband left me recently and I am new to this. I have four children, ranging from 17 - 5 and I need to change my lifestyle to make it more healthy, and be a positive role model for my children. I want them to have a mom who takes care of herself and feels good about herself. They are developing my emotional eating habits and I don't want that for them. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the thought of being "alone", but I know plenty of parents do it every day and I can do it.
Well, thanks for listening, I look forward to "meeting" you all !
Kathy

Hi Kathy- I too am a single mom - of a 4 yr old- i have tried to post here before but it does not seem to get much traffic- i am in week 3..and not doing so hot I must admit- but i am a part of a fab board- the 100+ peaches thread- the women on there are so nice!! I also sometimes go to the Maryland thread even though I live in Del...where r u from and what is yr weight loss goal?
-Vonetta

Kathy, I know this is scary but you will be o.k.. You will survive and your kids are going to be really impressed. I've been divorced for almost 10 years. I've had my ups and downs but it's all been worth it. As for losing weight. Take it one day at a time. You're kids will be proud of you. In 6 years I gained 55 lbs and started JC in June. I've lost 15 lbs and my 3 sons are so proud of me. That is my motivation!

Kathy -
I am a single mom of three children. I have two year old boy/girl twins and a seven year old son. I have been divorced almost three years. I have been doing Jenny Craig for about a month. I have a lot of weight to lose. I've been steadily gaining since I started college, and I am now 31 years old. Sometimes I feel like I'll never reach my goal, but I try to remember that I'm the main role model for my children. I don't want to fail at this. I understand feeling lonely and overwhelmed. I have very few friends that I communicate with. Everyone seems to have children and spouses. The world is filled with divorced people, yet I don't seem to know any! I'm so exhausted, anyway with being fat and working all day that I rarely have the energy to want to play or be social. It's a vicious circle. I wish you the best of luck. Hang in there. Being divorced is scary but also liberating. It is a chance to begin a whole new life and to become the person you've always wanted. I hope the process of loving myself more will help me to choose people to be in my life that are healthy and positive. Thanks for listening.
Gina

Gina, good advice. I know it's difficult to be a single mom, work full time, raise children, participate in their activites, do housework/chores, etc... and find time for yourself. Single mom's have it the toughest! They have to be everything, not just the mommy or breadwinner, but both.
Just make sure you make time for yourself, women have the easy ability to put themselves last and then binge on the wrong foods because they are stressed out. Can't say it enough, exercise is the key to stress relief. Get a good pair of running/walking shoes and get out there. Even if you need to find a sitter or bring your kids to their friends house, make an exercise schedule you can stick with. My gym has childcare for $3 - and my son (4yrs old) loves to go so he can play with the other kids.
Best to all single mom's on this message board, my heart goes out to you.
Sherie
Lost 90 pounds, currently training for the Las Vegas Marathon, December 4, 2005

hi i am new also! single mom to boot! what i find hard is making the food portabale. like tonight got a bbq to go to, what do i do i dont want everyone to know im dieting been done too many time b4 and not worked oh maybe i';ll catch ya later

Hi,I've been a single mom for 28 years. When my oldest son was graduating high school, I had another baby at 37 single and I learned the way to deal with it. Put in your mind that this is the way it is. There is no other way - just do what you have to do and take care of your kids. They depend on us. Don't think about what you don't have, just look at those beautiful kids and remember 'THEY ARE WITH YOU' trust me... it may be hard now, but once they get bigger and things start to get easier -- you are the one that was there for them. He will be the one hurting later when they are older and "you're" the one that was there! They are all that matters. My youngest son just turned 11. the oldest moved out (i'm sad), I joined the YMCA - they have free babysitting and now he's in a swim class I'm doing the aquacize. It's life and we go on. There's been times I hear women on the train talking "my husband is cooking dinner and picking up the kids" and all that and I start to curse everyone in my head of course... that I don't have anyone to help me... and I start to feel sorry for myself... Poor me... But you know what? I think how happy I am to not have that person around to argue with or cheat on me and my kid(s) don't need to hear any of that. It's not good for the soul. I did good on Jenny Craig last year -- lost a little weight.. starting looking good, getting compliments at work and fell off the wagon. A little too cocky. Never even reached my goal. So here I am again. The hardest part is going to McDonald's and fast food for the kids and eating JC food. Hang in there. God's smiling down on you for bring those wonderful angels into the world...

Hi, I am a single mom of a 9 year old.
Just 6 months ago lost my husband of 11 years. I had so many mixed emotions about my husbands death as our last 2 years of marriage weren't so good. Ate my way to
weighing way to much now decided for the health of myself and my son I would join Jenny Craig. It's my first week been doing pretty good but it is SOOOO HARD! I have tried many other diets nothing has worked so this is my oneshot left. WISH ME LUCK!
Christine