This is a story about pecan milk shakes, a cheerleader and Slim-Fast. I’m not sure what I was thinking, but jealousy and milkshakes do not make for a good combo. Life got busy. I didn’t have time to think about what I was eating, or at least that’s what I tell myself. I gave up my daily walks and my line dancing. I was too busy working hard–wasn’t that enough? 
I’m ready to look like I did in the picture on the right.
I started painting and selling furniture a little over a year ago. Things were going really well. I was in a whirlwind: shopping for pieces to refresh, cleaning, painting, finishing them and driving two hours roundtrip to take them to the store. One day I took a friend along to deliver my furniture. She introduced me to the best pecan milkshake in the world. So once a week, when I delivered my furniture, you know what I did? I’d stop on my way for a milkshake. At first it was a small one, it went down fast and tasted so great. I did feel guilty because I had maintained my weight for a while. I told myself that I was working hard and I could get the weight off–all I had to do was eat a few salads and skip a few meals. I’d drive by telling myself that I didn’t need one this week, and then on the way home the truck would get in the turn lane and exit. It was hot–I had just worked several hours, unloading furniture and restyling my area. I deserved a sweet refreshing pecan milkshake, in fact I think a large one would be a great reward. I’m working hard, eating fast food, not exercising, rolling right along. Life is good, I still had my big jeans! I slipped comfortably right back into them. I thought it was really smart of me that I had kept them! Then it happened. We went to the lake and I was wearing my big suit, with the flirty skirt and my black cover-up. Yes, I had gained weight. But so what, I’m over 50, you get bigger when you get older, right? I’m in my big suit with the flirty skirt and there she is. The cheerleader and all I can think about are those milkshakes and what they’d done to my body. I dread the trips to the lake and the site of the gorgeous cheerleader. The one that’s my age and still weighs the same as she did in high school. The one that was the head cheerleader, while my husband was the quarterback in high school. I know how I want this story to end: I don’t want to have another summer in the big suit with the flirty skirt. I don’t want him to silently compare me to the cheerleader–I want to be the cheerleader!
Tell me your “cheerleader” story for a chance to win! Have you ever wanted to lose a few pounds to feel more confident around THAT GIRL? Leave me a comment with your honest reason for wanting to lose weight. Comment entries will be pooled between participating blogs and two lucky winners will be picked at random to each win a $1,000 SpaFinder gift card!
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 6/13/13 – 6/30/13.
Be sure to visit the Slim-Fast brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Jeanette H. says
June 30, 2013 at 10:36 pmMy sister is pretty large, so seeing over weight people makes me try harder to lose weight.
soha molina says
June 30, 2013 at 8:01 pmhttps://twitter.com/sohamolina/status/351490480602750976
soha molina says
June 30, 2013 at 8:00 pmI wanted to look like my wedding pic again.
Sarah L says
June 30, 2013 at 7:40 pmhttps://twitter.com/slehan/status/351485246853750784
Sarah L says
June 30, 2013 at 7:38 pmI stay active by swimming 3 times a week and want to look good in my bathing suits.
Thanks for the contest.
Kenny F says
June 30, 2013 at 6:50 pmhttps://twitter.com/bittripfan/status/351472828496883712
Kenny F says
June 30, 2013 at 6:50 pmfeel better about myself
Betty C says
June 30, 2013 at 4:51 pmTweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/351442648848023553
Betty C says
June 30, 2013 at 4:49 pmI don’t have a cheerleader story but I sure don’t want to go to my school reunion looking like a beached whale. But my main reason for wanting to lose weight is that being overweight is so darned uncomfortable!
Gianna says
June 30, 2013 at 3:53 pmIt’s not something i’ve ever really done. I’m just losing weight after having a baby.
Kyl Neusch says
June 30, 2013 at 3:05 pmget in better shape!
Whitney says
June 30, 2013 at 11:58 amhttps://twitter.com/electricstar/status/351369165602426881
Whitney says
June 30, 2013 at 11:58 amMy only reason for losing weight is to get into a bit better shape and exercise every day. I’m also trying to be more cautious about what I am eating..less processed foods, not eating out as much, etc.
Kerry says
June 30, 2013 at 11:29 amMy reason is ALWAYS about the swimsuit…..and it’s that time of year again!
Wendi S says
June 29, 2013 at 10:04 pmI only have one tiny cheerleader story I liked her just fine until she said I was ugly, 10 years later at our class reunion she was ugly and I got hot! And, you look hot too! Way to go.
Wendi S says
June 29, 2013 at 10:02 pmI tweeted. https://twitter.com/wmshifflette/status/351157072416608256
Stephanie Larison says
June 29, 2013 at 8:38 pmYes there’s been a few times where I felt like I needed to better myself or improve something to be on the same level as her.
Lisa says
June 29, 2013 at 8:13 pmI just want to get my body in shape and eat better so I am not so bloated!
LAmusing says
June 29, 2013 at 8:06 pmhttps://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/351129296762454016
sara wood says
June 29, 2013 at 7:57 pmThere have been multiple times in my life where I wanted to lose weight/look better then “that girl”.
Mihaela D. says
June 29, 2013 at 3:14 pmmy main motivation is the health benefits of working out…I am not looking to lose weight just to be able to outrun my hubby :)))
Nancy says
June 29, 2013 at 2:46 pmI want to lose ten pounds because I think not only will I feel better, but it will be healthier in the long run. The older I get, the more I realize how my weight and my health are very important to me.
angie lilly says
June 29, 2013 at 10:00 amI tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/350976766715768832
angie lilly says
June 29, 2013 at 10:00 amThere used to be this guy in high school who would follow me up the stairs between classes saying “boom baba boom baba” about my backside. I was a size 13 then. I starved myself down to a size 10. Kids can be cruel.
tina reynolds says
June 29, 2013 at 2:39 amhttps://twitter.com/eaglesforjack/status/350866100856160256
tina reynolds says
June 29, 2013 at 2:35 amI want to be able to wear something sexy and cute when going to the beach with my hubby
Tonya L says
June 29, 2013 at 1:42 amI just want to lose weight to be healthier and feel better!
HilLesha says
June 29, 2013 at 12:40 amI want to lose weight and get fit for MY HEALTH. I also want to maintain a normal energy level to keep up with my two active kids. 🙂
Tamar says
June 28, 2013 at 2:21 pmI want to lose weight for ME, not about the people around me.
Kim H says
June 28, 2013 at 11:43 amIve lost all my weight but I want to look tones and tighten that after baby bulge
[email protected]
Tracy L Davis says
June 28, 2013 at 11:10 amI want to loose weight to fit into my wedding dress.
Stephanie V. says
June 27, 2013 at 10:56 pmI was in amazing shape and looked great in college. Really want to feel that good again!
tvollowitz at aol dot com
shannon Baas says
June 27, 2013 at 10:43 pmfor my health.
cathy mendez says
June 27, 2013 at 9:22 pmI want to drop some lbs to be healthy. My son has supported me in my weight loss and says he is proud of me. I have struggled all my life and only wished it didn’t take this long to do a life re do.
LAmusing says
June 27, 2013 at 8:13 pmNo, not really. i just have never felt competitive with other women.
Kate F. says
June 27, 2013 at 7:04 pmI’ve wanted to lose weight to feel more comfortable around my thinner friends.
sandra says
June 27, 2013 at 8:41 amALL girls
Amy Tong says
June 24, 2013 at 2:19 pmtweeteed:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/349230153823563776
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Amy Tong says
June 24, 2013 at 2:18 pmThat girl? haha…yeah, that’s my sister-in-law (my hubby’s brother’s wife). She is a few years younger and always keep herself pretty and fit. Of course, I’m not trying to “compete” with her. But it’ll be nice to lose a few pounds so I don’t look old, fat and out of shape when the 4 of us hang out together. 🙂
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Rebecca Graham says
June 24, 2013 at 4:51 amI want to lose weight for better health.
Holly Wert says
June 22, 2013 at 4:10 pmtweeted https://twitter.com/holly_gardens/status/348517996345581571
[email protected]
Holly Wert says
June 22, 2013 at 4:09 pmi just want to look like i did on my wedding day…or maybe even better! got at least 30 lbs to go
[email protected]
Elena says
June 20, 2013 at 8:25 pmhttps://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/347872671377268736
Elena says
June 20, 2013 at 8:23 pmI want to loose a few pounds before my high school reunion
DTB says
June 20, 2013 at 12:42 pmThese days I’m not as concerned about the number on the scale as I am about fitting in to my clothes. It’s easy to over eat and slowly let the numbers creep up on the scale. I’m 9lbs off my comfortable weight and I keep using the excuse that I am in my 30’s now – everyone gains weight in their 30’s. I’ve realized it’s just an excuse. I was very overweight at one point in my life and I never want to return back to being that girl by letting the number creep up a couple at a time every year for the rest of my life.
Bonny says
June 19, 2013 at 6:59 pmMy biggest deal to lose weight would be to have people except me for who I’m and to be able to get clothes that fit right. Being overweight is no fun!
Teri says
June 18, 2013 at 10:56 pmI would like to lose 20 pounds, there, I said it. But my reason is to avoid diabetes. I am genetically inclined to get that disease as I age and I do not want to. I’d love a little help!
Natalie J Vandenberghe says
June 18, 2013 at 10:35 pmTweet! https://twitter.com/lexiquin/status/347180788653109248
Natalie J Vandenberghe says
June 18, 2013 at 10:30 pmThere’s not really a cheerleader in my life–however, I’m pretty sure I can relate. I was called “Fat Nat” throughout my childhood and no matter how much I weigh/how big I am, I think I must look fat. I actually paid to go to Fitness Ridge–before it was associated with “The Biggest Loser”–and after one week of doing all the activities and consuming only 1200 calories a day, I gained a pound! I’ve heard it gets harder to lose weight as you age (and I’m already 56!), so I figure I better be workin’ on it! You look beautiful in both your photos.
p.s. I saw the comment Bliss made above…and all I have to say is–nobody even tells me that I have such a pretty face!
Laura says
June 18, 2013 at 6:32 amIt’s bad enough to have to look at those cheerleaders, but when they make little cutting comments it is even worse. Although I am not happy with my weight. I am happy with me and I do eat very healthy most of the time. xo Laura
Bliss says
June 16, 2013 at 5:42 pmWell Miss Debbie, I am getting tired of hearing “you still have such a pretty face”. That and a very recent 3 day hospital stay (real recent I came home today) where having too many of my own pecan milkshakes sent my gallbladder begging for removal. I don’t want to be the middle age mama anymore with just the pretty face. What might they remove from me next for not eating well?
Bliss
jenni says
June 15, 2013 at 11:40 ambahahahaha! we ALL have that freaking cheerleader, don’t we? HATE her, love your post! maybe we should work on our extra weight beating the cheerleaders up!
[email protected] Revivals says
June 14, 2013 at 11:14 amI know just what you mean! Thank goodness my husband’s cheerleader lives on the other side of the country now! 😉 Btw, I think you’re gorgeous just the way you are!