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Introduction Text *******October 28, 2018 update******** After many years away, I have come back to SparkPeople. I tried other communities, but honestly, SparkPeople is the best for me. I spent the last 2 years not being very good about my diet and exercise. I am starting slowly, eating healthier and doing 30 minutes of exercise each day. I am currently using my stationery bike, to work up my stamina. Then I will move on to my stepper machine and tread climber. So far, after one week of dedication, I lost a few pounds, and lowered my blood pressure readings. Now I just need to continue to forge along, and continue to improve my health! Glad to be back! ************************************************ I am looking to put a spark, so to speak, into my exercise routine. I was going strong until about September of last year. I became a little on the lazy side. So now I have gotten back into the exercise, and I am hoping to keep my motivation strong. *********June 2012 update*********** After several years away from Sparkpeople, I am finally back to health eating and regular exercise! This time it has to be for good. I found it easy to slip back into old habits, so this time, I need to really change the way I think about eating and exercise completely. I still have a long way to go, but this time I am promising myself that I am going to do it! ********September 2008 update******** I have been on Sparkpeople now for a little over 2 months now, and I have learned so much!! When I first joined, I just logged my exercise and read articles. One night, about 3 weeks ago, I decided to log my foods, just out of curiousity. I had always felt that I ate fine, and I really did not need to count calories. Well, it was a real eye opener!! Ever since that night, I have been logging my daily calories, and the end result is 10 pounds lost, my blood pressure is normal, and my mood has improved. It is amazing how much of a difference it has made. So, if you think that you don't need to count your calories-- think again! It really does make a difference!! ********March 2009 update******** I have been on Sparkpeople now for almost 8 months. However, I begun my journey to a healthier lifestyle back in January 2005 when I joined our local YMCA. I have come a long way, but I still have a long way to go!! Since January 2005, I have lost a total of over 37 inches and more than 40 pounds. The pounds lost has only been since September 2008. I always had the mindset that if I did my exercise, I would lose weight, regardless of what I ate. I have to admit, I was eating a whole lot more than I thought I was. Sparkpeople really opened my eyes to this. One day I decided to track my foods on the nutrition tracker, and I was stunned by the calorie total-- this was my wakeup moment. Now I am pretty faithful in using the nutrition tracker. I've added more fruits and vegetables to my diet. I am still working on getting more whole grains incorporated into my daily meal plan. I learn something new everyday as far as what my body needs to function at it's best. I was never a big water drinker. Now, my standard daily water consumption is 80 ounces, and most days I drink more than that. Not only is it excellent for my weight loss, I also feel that it's been good for my skin, and I just feel good, being well hydrated. My exercise routine has been strong and steady since 2005. I try to mix up my cardio routine by adding extra time, or doing a different type of cardio every few months. I work with free weights mostly, but I do make use of the home gym we have. Like I do with my cardio workouts, I am always switching my strength workouts to include new and more challenging exercises. The variety is good for me, and it makes the workouts more interesting. I'd also like to say that you don't need a fancy gym membership to accomplish great things. I gave up my YMCA membership in May 2008, and found Sparkpeople in July 2008. I really feel that I've made better progress with Sparkpeople!! The support is just awesome- and I've met so many wonderful people!! Another interesting thing that I've learned along my journey......eating healthy doesn't have to cost more money. I have found that healthy food really doesn't cost that much more than junk food. For example, I can spend the same amount of money on a bag of grapes as I would on a bag of cookies or chips, and the grapes are definitely better for me, and most of the time they will last longer than the junk food. Plus, since I am more diligent with portion control, I've found that we don't buy the same volume of food, so in the long run, we are saving money!!

My main goal is to become a healthier individual. I want to live a long and healthy life!!

Right now I try to do a 30 minute workout on my elliptical machine at least 5 days a week. During the summer season, I also do some swimming. We also have a treadmill and a home gym. So I really have all of the tools that I need to reach my goals.



I love cats, and gardening. I spend hours working in my gardens throughout the season. I also love to write letters! I sell Avon too!!

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