[Trying4Thin]

Hi Carol,

Sorry I didn't write back sooner. Your post about your relatives really irked me. They have absolutely NO right to be treating you like they have. They need to take their self righteous, "I'm better than you" attitudes and shove 'em where the light don't shine. What you do is your business and yours alone. I'm betting they are just jealous that you can do this and they aren't. Or can't. There are many changes that a person will go through on their weight loss journey and unfortunatly; losing friends or encountering bad treatment from friends and loved ones is almost a given. I know I have made this shpeel before and I am going to do it again because I could also benefit from it as well.

1) It doesn't matter what others think about you or say about you; so just ignore them. They are jealous and feel the need to tear you down to bring themselves up.

2) Friends who don't stick by you when you need them; aren't worth having in the first place.

3) Relatives who are catty shouldn't be invited to family functions; or on a limited basis only. You don't need to spend the day being stressed out about what they are thinking. It probably isn't important anyway.

4) In the long run; the only people who need to accept you are your family and close circle of friends. Anyone else who doesn't support you can leave. Losing weight isn't easy. If it were; everyone would be at goal. Surround yourself with positive energy and you will be less likely to binge or tear yourself down.

As for your son; I'm sorry to hear about college. If it makes you feel any better; my father flunked out of one college and eventually rallied back to earn his Phd and teach at Harvard. He has been a successful doctor for years now. Nothing is set in stone my friend. You will get through this.