8 Week Challenge: THE FINALE

After I had my son I suffered from postpartum depression. It was a really awful time in my life. Really really bad.

To help cope, I began taking a low-dose anti-depressant. It helped immensely. I no longer struggled every day to get out of bed. I stopped wanting to sleep through my life. The thought of putting Logan in a carseat was no longer frightening to me. And I quit being mean to my husband.

Almost a year ago I stopped taking the medication. I was fearful at first. What if the old feelings returned? What if I found that I couldn't handle life? So many "what ifs" crowded my brain but I powered through and stopped.

I began experiencing feelings that had been "masked" if you will. I cry at movies again. When I find something touching, I tear up. I like that. I really do.

But, last week I decided to go back on them. For many reasons. One is because I am peri-menopausal. And I could handle this, I think however something bigger is happening in the Sister family.

Our dad is dying. I'm not ready for it. I'm not handling it well. I don't know who I am supposed to be without my father. And that really scares me.

I find myself breaking down with absolutely no warning. I will walk into the kitchen for a drink and just fall down to the floor in painful sobs. And while I understand that grieving is completely natural, when you add hormones into the mix, it makes it that much more difficult.

So let me apologize for a moment that our last week of Getting Fit From the Inside Out is a bit of a downer. I don't intend for it to be. But this is all a part of it. For me, anyway.

I have been working on my eating issues and feel pretty darned good about them. I have been moving my body more. I actually walk, or play tennis or ride my bike several times a week. I have been choosing healthier foods and going to bed earlier. I even got a better job which has been an amazing blessing to my life.

And yet, I found that these two glaring, sad, inevitable things were causing me to not be such a good mom. To not be a happy and loving wife. To not be a kind and fun sister (sorry Sassy). And to not be a good friend.

I am taking action. Just to help me get through this process. To help me not lose it when I am so sad. To let me be the person I need to be even though I fear others may judge my choice. But I have to do what is right for me. And you have to do what is right for you.

It has been a wonderful, enlightening and amazingly empowering 8 Week Challenge. Sassy is rocking the Weight Watchers house and running her diminishing butt off. And you all have held our feet to the fire. We appreciate that and are so very grateful.

Let's keep up the good work. Let's love our bodies as they are. Let's work to improve our health habits and lifestyle. Let's keep getting fit on the inside. Then we'll feel great about the outside. Amen?

For more cheerful frump fighting tips, head over to Fussy's.
What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.