[muppet]

Thanks Carrie. I feel kind of bad because of made some of my relatives out to be horrible people. They aren't. They do have their issues-- no doubt about that. But I am doing what you said -- and trying to work on MY attitude. My biggest fear is that I will become like them in some ways. I really want to rise above it and break the cycle.
I don't want my daughter to be like me and have to listen to comments about people's weights and sizes. I don't want her to become self conscious, or worried about that kind of stuff. She seems to have an incredibly healthy attitude about herself and others. In this world, that's a very valuable thing to have.
I've seen extreme obesity and extreme anorexia/ bulimia. Both frightening and hard to understand.
This is a big reason why I focus on health rather than size. This is also why I've put my scale away, for now. Growing girls gain weight and I don't want her weighing herself all the time thinking she's getting too heavy. I don't think she would, but you never know when these seeds get planted about body image and impossible standards, and I want to do what I can to stop them from growing.
My in-laws have no clue that this type of comparisons and comments have anything to do with my sister-in-law's anorexia/bulimia. No clue at all -- they blame it on some guy. Maybe she didn't have a problem when she was young, but that's when those seeds are planted.

Thank you so much for the comment about your dad too. We are angry, disappointed and very very hurt. But I think we're handling things the best we can. We can't act like it's no big deal, but we want him to know we still believe in him and want to help him.
I told the other kids last night that Derek would be staying at home and going to a different school. It was comical -- they love him and enjoy his visits, but really aren't excited about him living back at home. Neither are we, to be honest. But he needs us now. And until we're confident he can handle things on his own, this is where he'll stay. Not as long as he wants, of course. If the school thing still doesn't work out, then it's time to get a job and get out on your own.
Eh- enough. Kids are great -- a true blessing -- and the biggest challenge you will ever face.

30 minutes treadmill
20 minutes exercise bike
15 minutes weights and stretching.

I switched up machines. I think it's good to do that every so often.