Been Here Before (posted by Birgie)

After reading everyones little stories of past attempts of getting healthy during their lifetime I felt a few of my own in a nutshell might inspire others .
Fifty years ago at the age of 10 my weight began to climb, I think sadness of losing , depression, wrong foods and hormones were my biggest problem then. Once I became a teenager and "my friend" was in the picture I became in control of my own destiny. Omi sewed and knit all my clothes which I chose out of seventeen Magazine and fashion magazines. I became a fashion doll , got me lots of dates. Even then I didn't feel that slim. Huge thighs and short, how I wished I was tall so i could be a stewardess and fly around the world. Too short!
Ham & I used to try gymnastics in the backyard. We also played badminton!

In winter 1967 I decided to enter the Miss Centennial Germania Contest. I believe the contest was in the spring. First prize "A trip to Germany or Mexico for the Olympics". I really wanted to give my Oma in Flensburg a big hug, felt this was the only way I could get there. Both my Omas always kept in touch via mail to mom. They truly missed us all.
Anyways preparing for this contest meant toning the body, I wasn't fat . Those thighs were always too big. QT suntan lotion gave me a good indoor tan so my legs didn't look all that bad in my lime green bathing suit with 3 inch heels.Howed I ever walk in those? Mom sewed me a lovely green mini dress and a lovely turquoise evening gown. All three items looked great. I had to find a date, so Ed Waddington friend of the boy next door took me. He was my escort. Unfortunately no one from the family witnessed this contest primarily because we had had the contract to clean the club for years so dad didn't want to go as a guest. Many of their friends were members there and did see the event. I came in 3rd , not bad out of 7 and I wasn't even a member of the club. The year before a girl from Burlington with the name of Lynne Ward had won, she was my double, I had seen many pictures of her in papers etc. At one point a fellow we had both dated thought I was her. I never met her, so that was really strange, never saw him again.
Anyways following that contest I really wanted to get married, lot of my friends were. Why not me too?
I became bulemic following an unfortunate episode in a nice german rooming house in Hamilton which I had moved to in 1968 from a nice german home in Ancaster. This led to gastric ulcers and even very lower self esteem. If it hadn't been for my dear friend Al Ludlow my co worker, a friend who always listened, who along with his buddies always had a way to cheer me up. Lots of laughter and horsing around along with lots of hard work at Ingrahams.
My weight I maintained without continuing the bulemia after I moved out of that rooming house, I was now 21. ...to be continued

Birgie