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Introduction Text Hello! I am 45 years old and have been fighting my weight forever. I have lost and gained the same 50 lbs. for the last ten years. Why? I could complain about how hard I try and then I don't lose any weight, or I could blame my thyroid or the fact that I work full time, go to school and have a family, but it's such a bunch of bull. If I were TRYING to do better, I would be DOING better. If I put half as much energy into changing my life as I do into griping about my life, I'd only weigh 3 pounds by now! So, why am I overweight? It is very simple really-in the end I eat too much of the wrong kinds of foods and I don't exercise enough. My calories in have been much higher than my calories out, and thus, I gain weight. I also use food inappropriately. Anxious? Let's eat! Angry? Let's eat! Sad? Let's eat! Bored? Let's eat? I think you get the idea.... I have never done any illegal drug--nothing, nada, not one puff- not one pill. Yet I have an addiction to food--- put ice cream in front of me and I will gladly eat it all and still want more. This may be more socially acceptable than drugs but really the addiction is the same. I wish I could get to a place where I don't have to track my calories and don't have to think about my food constantly, but the sad truth is I will need to do this for the rest of my life to achieve my health goals. Do I wish it were different? Yes. Does wishing make it different? No. Why do I want to lose weight? Because I want to be healthier and feel and look better. So, it is time to stop making excuses and start to work! It may take me some time, but I am going to do this for the LAST TIME and make it stick! I am in it it to win it Baby! The weight is coming off SLOWLY, but it IS coming off. It is still a challenge every week to make sure I make the right decisions.... Sometimes I don't get it right, but I am proud to say that most of the time I do! I know that I am getting healthier and I am getting stronger. I know that I can do this! My Mantra: "I will do what I need to do, in order to do what I want to do" RUNNING: In May of 2009 in an effort to increase my fitness level (and hopefully increase my rate of weight loss) I began a walk/run program. By August 2009 I was running 35 minutes four times a week. I discovered I love the empowering nature of running and I have never looked back! Why do I run? I run because running is life. Sometimes it sucks. Sometimes it’s awesome. Most of the time, it’s just in between :-) I have now completed two half marathons... pretty big stuff for a former fat kid who used to fake being sick on the day of the mile run in gym class! TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO RUN... ~When I started running, it was HARD. I struggled with the couch to 5 K program and felt out of shape..stick with it it will get better. ~Remember- "slow is the new fast"! ~Running is not about anyone else but YOU! Just, do your best and you will improve. ~ Don't be embarrassed to walk! There is no shame in a walk/run program. If I get tired or tight I walk a few minutes and then start to run again. Check out the Jeff Galloway method for running. ~Remember- you are WAY faster than everyone your age who is at home sitting on their you-know -what! ~Finally, it goes without saying you should check with your physician before starting a running program...I endorse running as a great form of exercise, stress relief and weight loss BUT it is not possible for some people for health reasons STRENGTH TRAINING: I have commited to following a strength training program in 2013 in an effort to decrease my body fat percentage and increase my lean muscle mass. To say my strength training program is a work in progress is an understatement-lol.

For 2013: 1) Get back to my goal weight 2) Resume running after recovering from my achilles injury 3) Read 100 books

For the nuts and bolts of my "program" (such as it is-lol) see the introduction above...... WHAT ARE THE TOP TEN REASONS FOR MY SPARK SUCCESS? 10. My i-pod 9. My Asics Running shoes 8. My DVR and elliptical for those bad weather days.... 7. My very supportive family and friends 6. No 100% FOOD RESTRICTIONS!!! 5. No denial of reality allowed=Weekly weigh in no matter what! 4. Planning AHEAD for my food and workouts 3. The Spark website (especially the food tracker and my sparkfriends!) 2. Trader Joe's Fat-free greek yogurt .... and finally the number one reason for my spark success..... 1. My belief that THIS time is the LAST time!!!!

I am a Registered Nurse. I am married and have two daughters My favorite TV shows : The Office, Modern Family and The Biggest Loser My favorite books: Too many to mention...

“If you only do what you know you can do- you never do very much.” ~Tom Krause "Perhaps life's biggest act of courage is to turn around and face yourself" ~DIANEBPH "Wicked people never have time for reading. It's one of the reasons for their wickedness."~Lemony Snicket "LET US RUN WITH ENDURANCE THE RACE GOD HAS SET BEFORE US.” HEBREWS 12:1 "Why would you choose failure if success is an option?"~Jillian Michaels I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become." - Carl Jung "The rewards for those who persevere far exceed the pain that must precede the victory" ~ Ted W. Engstrom

Add a Link *´¨) ¸.·´Laura* *´¨) In running and in life--- Finished Dead Last beats Did Not Finish & trumps Never Started at All!
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