I am a 49 year old mom of 5, happily married to my college sweetheart. I recently almost fell off my scale when my weight was 10 pounds higher than the day before I delivered my twins! I have been slowly, but steadily, gaining weight since my wedding day. My first baby was born the day after my second anniversary, and our twins were born 14 months later. I'm not sure I ever got my hormones back into balance after that. In 2009 I was in the hospital for a week, with a severe allergic reaction to what is believed to be a black widow spider bite. The treatment was IV steroids, followed by months of oral steroids. I wish the results of all those steroids were a buff, athletic body! Instead, I now have a puff, pathetic body!!! :) I've been a student of health, wellness and nutrition for a few years now, but have tossed back and forth between vegan, vegetarian, lower carb and other conflicting perspectives. I have settled down in the clean eating camp, deciding to commit to eating NO processed or refined foods, only those that are fresh, chemical- and hormone-free, and as close to nature as possible.