Newbie From Tennessee

**Jayne38** · 01-05-2012, 02:33 PM

How did you hear about frugal village? While researching Dave Ramsey, this site came up. Just with one little click I knew I wanted to join.

What interests you here? A Lot of it actually. The challenges, The recipes.....

What will you contribute? don't really know yet....but I hope to be helpful, and supportive.

Do you know any other members here? No

How many kids? Ages? I have 4 kids. Three Boys and One girl. Ages are Soon to be 15 (boy), 13 (girl), 11 (boy) and 7 (boy)

Tell us about yourself. I am a native of Oklahoma. I met my husband on New Years Eve 1993 and was married to him on Valentines day 1994. He is retired military and now a high school history teacher at an alternative school. I am a sahm. My second son (who is 11) has severe ADHD, he has Asperger's syndrome, severe Eczema, and with all that he also has a blind left eye. He gets 'bullied' quite often in schools (he is in 5th grade right now and reading on only a high 1st grade level) Middle school is next year for him and we (my husband and I) are having a tough time on what to do..send him to school or find something else that may suit him better...I mainly stay at home to care for him and keep things in order. Plus, I think it is beneficial to and for my kids for me to be home when they get home.

With all that I love cooking, baking, decorating, budgeting, getting out of debt----and staying out of debt.

I have also lost 120 pounds in the last year...and am only 9 pounds away from my goal weight.

Do you own any pets? LOL, I think she owns me. But yes, I have a 2 year old Maine Coone Cat named Sarah. She is a HUGE part of our family and helps us in Aiding my 11 year old son when he is in need of extra comfort.

Occupation? Well, If I wasn't a stay at home mom, I would more than likely be a piano teacher.

Married or single? Married 18 years on Valentines Day.

Interests and hobbies? I love to work out. I also love to get in my kitchen and cook. I try to make 95% of my meals from scratch. I also love to watch movies. And I love playing board games with my kids on the weekends.

**chris w** · 01-05-2012, 02:45 PM

Welcome for Wisconsin!

Love Dave and listen to him daily. We are on Babystep 2 and after about 4 years of trying myself, I dragged dh into the mess and he saw what I saw and is helping us get out of debt.

Congrats on the weight loss, another item I am working on and found the Paleo diet (meat/veggies/fruits/good fats) to be a great for my body type.

anyways - welcome to the Village, the people here are great and helpful.

**Ponderer** · 01-05-2012, 02:50 PM

Welcome to you!

120 pounds lost?!! Wow...congrats to you!! So, how did you do it?

**Sara Noel** · 01-05-2012, 03:01 PM

to frugal village.

**homemaker66** · 01-05-2012, 03:51 PM

**mystypooh** · 01-05-2012, 03:54 PM

Hello! Sounds like you have your hands full. I'm from OK too and I miss home. We now reside in MS. Like you I have a child with Asperger's and she suffers from bullying at school. I stay at home to be "on call" whenever she or the school needs me. Seems like the older she gets the more I'm there. There's a lot of friendly people on this forum who have been very helpful. I've had to call on them a few times. IMO, they offer great advice and are there when you need them. Welcome!

**Dutchie** · 01-05-2012, 03:59 PM

Welcome to the forum from Holland!!

**brenda67** · 01-05-2012, 04:01 PM

Hello...Great introduction by the way!

I would love to know how you lost all that weght? I need to lose 50lbs so any tip's would be great.

**Sophiasmama** · 01-05-2012, 04:08 PM

I agree,awesome intro...and you happen to own my favorite cat breed...alas I love them from afar due to DH's allergies.

My name is Janine,31,married for 9+years and WFHM to DD Sophie who turns 5 next week*sniff,sniff*

**piney** · 01-05-2012, 04:15 PM

Welcome from Arkansas

**heartofmine** · 01-05-2012, 04:30 PM

Welcome from another transplanted Tennessean although I have been here for almost 29 years LOL.

**Darlene** · 01-05-2012, 04:42 PM

Welcome!

You must feel great and be so proud of yourself with that weightloss. Wtg!

**Jayne38** · 01-05-2012, 04:43 PM

Oh, WOW! Thanks for all the Welcomes!

As far as my weight goes. I didn't have surgery as a lot of my neighbors would love to think. I went begrudgingly went to the doctor for a foot problem (turned out to be Plantars fasciitis). I only wanted my foot checked. However, my doctor had other ideas. I was diagnosed with extremely high blood pressure. That day it was 200/125. He threatened to put me on high blood pressure meds. I begged and PLEADED with him not to. He gave me a week under the conditions that I HAD to come in every morning to get my pressures check.

He then told me to ONLY watch my sodium intake. And during that week....I only watched my sodium...I didn't count calories or anything. I dropped 7 pounds that week and my blood pressure feel to normal range!

Since then, I watch my calorie intake and my fat grams as well as my sodium intake. I go to my doctor every month for a check of everything. And to make sure I am not loosing weight to fast.

I do exercise about and hour to an hour and a half a day. I walk a lot. I do not sit on the couch longer than 20 minutes at a time. If I notice I have sat longer than that....I get up! I drink at least half my body weight in water a day. And I drink 2 big glasses of water before each meal. The best thing, nothing I eat is off limits. Moderation is key for me. And I do not eat after 6pm.

As for my cat! She was a Christmas gift to us 2 years ago from my husband (even he adores her). She has been THE best thing for our family. It is funny how a animal can do that. She does thing she rules EVERYTHING and everyone she comes into contact with.

Wow, sorry this reply is so very long.

**Kellili** · 01-05-2012, 04:50 PM

Welcome from Knoxville! I have a cat that I think might be a main coon...he has the fluff for sure, but he was a rescue/shelter/mutt cat so I don't really know for sure. We have a dog and a calico also. Fabulous job losing all that weight, and doing it the right way! That is AWESOME!