These are just some of the peaches on my dining room table. Just some.
I took the kids peach picking yesterday morning, and they had a great time selecting kinda greenish and somewhat ripe peaches from the trees.
Here are all the kids after we were done picking.
In case you are a new reader – those are all of my children. It’s a great joy to parent them, but it also requires a lot of energy, attention and coordination.
They are just one of the many reasons that I am so glad that I lost all my weight. I had the older three when I was morbidly obese. The tall one in the middle is my third child, and after he was born I weighed 305 lbs. The year after he came along was my weight loss year. The next four boys were born after I reached my goal weight.
Between picking peaches, planning activities, taking care of all the food preparation, driving people around and reserving some time for me, I am tired at the end of the day. But honestly, I’m not as tired now as I was when I was 13 years younger and 158 lbs. heavier. Now, I have all the energy I need to do what needs to be done.
In my obese world, picking peaches would have drained me completely and I’d have definitely stopped at McDonald’s on the way home for a high-calorie pick me up. After this trip, we headed straight home to lay the peaches out on the table. Then I finished the rest of my busy day without feeling completely exhausted and overwhelmed.
Even though the health and appearance benefits are fabulous, being able to feel energetic and not be exhausted after doing my daily life is one of the best parts of being at a healthy weight.
What’s one thing you’re grateful for or looking forward to about being at a great weight for you? Diane
Your children are beautiful! You have so much to be proud of. I only have 1 daughter- so I bow down to you. The patience you must have! lol
I am currently at my goal weight. When I began my weight loss journey it was all about the numbers on the scale and how I looked. Over the 3 years it took me to lose 80 pounds, my focus of what was important totally shifted. Now it is about being a role model for my daughter, having the energy to run and play and having the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. I am a much happier me!!!
Jill´s last fabulous musings ..Reliving a Fabulous Memory
I like myself better. Simple and maybe shallow, but true.
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What a lovely family you have! I love it when you post pictures of them.
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How wonderful that you did not stop at the McDonalds. That is surely a great achievement.
I too don’t do that anymore. These days I too have enough energy to keep up with my kids and activities and don’t have the need anymore to stop at Fast Food restaurants afterwards. The idea don’t even pop into my head anymore
blackhuff´s last fabulous musings ..ADHD and boredom
Yum!! Peaches!! I feel like I am doing a Homer Simpson impression (except not for beer), but peaches are a wonderful summer treat!
Peaches!! I love them! I wish I was surrounded by so many peaches too!
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Peaches… drool!! I think one thing I like about being at a healthy weight for myself is that I’m setting a good example for my kids with my food choices. I’m not perfect by any means, but in general I eat healthy foods with some treats, reasonably portioned, and my kids do the same. They get to indulge a bit more than I, but that’s because they’re Energizer bunnies
Amanda´s last fabulous musings ..WW Weigh-In, Week 18
Love the picture of your kids and those peaches look delicious!
I love being at a healthier weight than ten years ago – I have so much more energy, I feel better about myself and I am a good example to my kids and others around me (I hope)!
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Love the picture of your children!
I am looking forward to being able to be more physical!
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Time for pectin and a couple dozen ball jars, methinks.
This is one of the reasons why I love kumquats so much. Don’t even need the pectin!
LOVE the pic of your kids AND peaches. I love peaches!
Diane – you are amazing!
I am maintaining as you know & have for years AND now fighting the age hormones that want to add weight no matter what I do BUT being fit & healthy lets me do so many things that people my age can’t – walk, run, play with grandkids & more. I am actually wring about this next week!
Jody – Fit at 53´s last fabulous musings ..Vinegar’s Magic Powers
I am grateful that now I can walk and I don’t need a wheelchair. I’m grateful that I can get on the floor and play with my grandchildren. I’m also grateful that I can do things for myself and really live life instead of sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else live.
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This might sound like a little thing…but I now get to ride amusement park rides with my kids! All those years I would stand and watch them on the rides, but now I get on those scary (But fun) rides, too.
I can remember the first time that I fit into the ‘Flying Bobs’ ride. I started to cry when the bar came down and I actually had room.
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I love the picture! It takes me back to the days when I use to go to the farm with my parents to pick fresh fruit. Unfortunately we put caramel over the apples or turned them into deserts the bad way. Great memories though.
I love being healthy after so many years of chronic pain and sickness. I still pinch myself when I look in the mirror. I am happy.
Sheri @ TheMotivationalGirl´s last fabulous musings ..Healthy Eating A Way Of Life Not Temporary
I see peach smoothies in your future!
Diane, this post quite unexpectedly made me cry. I am so tired of being tired and sore and of everything being a chore – even getting up from the couch. Thank you for reminding me that there is another way to live… That this isn’t normal.
Yum! I love peaches! We just got a big box of Missouri peaches last night and they are PERFECT! Now I need to figure out what to do with them!
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Such a cute picture!! You are so right about being able to participate in life more as a healthy mother…I can see such a big difference in my energy levels this summer as apposed to last summer (40 some pounds bigger). I know you must have a lot of energy with 5 active boys!
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I am hoping to just have less pain. That’s all.
Debby´s last fabulous musings ..I think therefor I am?
I’m on the same page with you. It’s wonderful having more energy and also great to be able to handle or move things because I’m stronger…
‘Drea´s last fabulous musings ..Being Dropped in the Right Place
Diane,
I enjoy the extra energy I have as I need it to keep up with the grandchildren my wife and I watch each day while our children work. You have a great looking family. I bet you spend a lot of time in your car managing all the extra activities that your children are involved with especially during school year.
I love Georgia peaches but they are hard to find in Florida. They are so much better that those California preaches.
Larry Romeo´s last fabulous musings ..How to Stop Those Sugar Cravings
Wow thats a whole peach picking army! i love big family’s, maybe bc i am an only child…
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Hi Diane! Well, for me, I just love feeling strong, flexible, and capable. It feels amazing that I can do heavy weightlifting, as well as headstands! I love love love my body for doing these things.
I like being able to hike and ride bikes and keep up with the grandkids. And as always I like getting and feeling stronger.
Siobhan´s last fabulous musings ..Somehow …
Diane, You have GORGEOUS children. And seeing pictures of you and your husband, it’s fascinating to see how your kids look like you or him or often both!
Isn’t it interesting how one gets a wake up call? Mine occurred in my early 40s when I got high blood pressure (which is pretty well controlled without drugs now that I’m thinner but I still have to make certain concessions to the tendency like not taking Sudafed when I’m sick.)
I realized not only that I had blood pressure issues, but that I didn’t want to perpetuate a decades and weight pattern. I hit the 120s in my 20s, 130s in my 30s and 140 in my early 40s. For someone who is 5 feet tall and weighed 93-97 pounds throughout high school, not breaking “triple digits” till college, this was exhausting but I didn’t really notice its gradualness. I just got used to being tired. I think it was similar to when I was diagnosed with asthma in my mid-30s. The doctor couldn’t understand how I could function on 60% of normal oxygenation. I got used to it! (although once I got on medication, I could see what the deficit did to me…)
I weigh now fifteen pounds more than high school (which is appropriate for my bone structure and age as it’s been 30 years since…and this is what I weighed as a junior in college and in my mid 20s.) As much as I appreciate my pants size or being able to see my cheekbones, clavicle and sternum bones, it’s more important to me that I have a LOT more energy and vitality than I did almost 30 pounds heavier–and more importantly, I think I’ll live a longer, healthier life, Lord willing!
PS to Jody-Fit at 53: “AND now fighting the age hormones that want to add weight no matter what I do” I’m perimenopausal myself and understand–even though I’m thin and energetic now, it takes a lot more exercise to keep my weight down–and my fat pattern has shifted to my belly and ribcage where it never was before… so I just want to add that being thin and fit from a health standpoint doesn’t necessarily coincide with our cultural sense of aesthetics as we get a little older… After I have a full tummy, I sometimes feel like those laughing buddha Hotei statues!