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Introduction Text From about the time I turned 18 until now I have steadily increased my weight. Losing and gaining until ultimately I have earned myself a "Type 2 Diabetes" award. I have many health problems, but there are so many things that I want to be able to do in my life that I have decided the time to change is now! I will be turning 40 in January, and want to be able to say that by the time I am 45 I will have already reached many of my personal goals! Update January 3, 2010. I LOVE SPARK! This is by FAR the best program I have ever been on, and it is certainly not a diet, it's a lifestyle change. I am learning that I had NO CLUE about food. Everything I thought I knew, is what I wanted to BELIEVE! I got FAT because I ATE TOO MUCH, of the WRONG kind of food. I never paid attention to my food intake, fiber, cholesterol, sugar, etc. etc. I can't believe the amount of food I get to eat, if I just get a LITTLE exercise and eat the right food. I changed my workout time from 15 to 30 minutes a day, and the amount of food on the nutrition tracker is just right. Sometimes I feel the pains of hunger and then realize that it's just boredom, so I try and move some more. My body feels so clean now, internally and my mind is not clouded with sugar, corn syrup, and fat hangovers. UPDATE 4/6/10: 50 pounds gone!!!!!!! I feel like a different person, not just physically but mentally as well. Although occassionally I may enjoy a treat I know that what I have learned through Spark and all the Sparkers I have come across is that you can teach an old dog new tricks! UPDATE 12/18/2010: ONE YEAR with SPARK! I could not have asked for a better year than 2010. Sure, it was difficult at times but I would not go back and change a thing. 100+ pounds gone and I am feeling great. No more diabetes either! Still, this entire story is to be continued because I still have over 70 pounds to lose. Can't wait for 2011 to begin! UPDATE10/16/2011: Have had an extremely stressful year and not the best of health. Gained back 40 pounds, so I'm starting over today. I have found that if it works, keep working it. Dropped the ball, time to start again. I feel good about it too. Profile Update May 22 2017! I cannot believe that this is my 7th year with SparkPeople. I am very happy that I join SparkPeople initially and today I have learned so much and couldn't never have lost the weight and maintain my health the way that I have were it not for finding SparkPeople. Today I'm 47 years old and feel better than I did seven years ago when I started with spark. Reason being I have learned that food is everything and that exercise is extremely important. Learning how to read labels and knowing nutrition facts and how to read the nutrition label should be taught in school children should know immediately how to read nutrition labels I personally feel that it should be a class all in its own. Some of the most important things show me where the availability of a second opinion when it comes to nutrition. As well I understand living in rural areas is difficult when there is only one option but do your research it is too your best interest if you continue on a plan that works best for you and if it doesn't feel right if the fit is not good then try to change if you can you know you better than anybody else. Today I myself decided to make the step of changing doctors because I did not feel as though the nutritionist was working to my advantage I learned so much that I knew I didn't feel comfortable and wanted to have the opportunity to speak with someone else so although I have gone through this bariatric program to the degree that I am almost ready to have surgery I decided to change programs and basically I am fortunate to have that option. Remember that if you are going to have bariatric surgery it is for life and the change will be forever it is a change that will never reverse itself unless you reverse it by overeating and not following the nutrition plan or the nutrition ideals that your doctor has set for you. It is very hard I am having an extremely hard time with the no caffeine. I I'm happy to take my time with this and have taken time in the bariatric surgery programs this is the third bariatric surgery program that I will be attending but I am blessed that I have had the opportunity two research the programs and feel comfortable with myself and the providers. All the programs have certainly been good but I don't ever want to have to go through a two or three-hour surgery with a two or three days stay in the hospital with all the hoops and changes that I have to make only to have to do it again or two possibly die because I don't understand the psychological aspect of this sort of life for ever change. So once again here I am on board with spark finding new communities and finding others with the same interest that live in my community and on nice again grateful that SparkPeople is around so here goes to another chapter opening and a new door opening and an old door closing so once again thank you SparkPeople and maybe we can go for another seven years. Update 12/8/2017 I am doing it! Yes, today I am admittedly changing my stance on Bariatric surgery. I am doing it! I finally have found a program with a great staff at Memorial Medical Center Weight Loss. Dr. Felts and his staff are great and understanding with no high pressure sales pitch. I feel as though because I was fortunate enough to have 5 years to learn through the message of 3 seminars in 2 cities I saw consistency and I am convinced that the doctors and the staff that I have met truly do have the obese patient ( s )best interest at heart. I am going to have the gastric sleeve procedure and trust that if you do decide to go through such a drastic procedure don't just think about why but go through the motions and TAKE YOUR TIME. This decision is to alter the damages that have been done by having to take a portion of my stomach from my body because I ate too much and stretched out that muscle. I have made lifestyle changes and after having been at my highest weight of 335 have maintained a 55 pound weight loss for 5 years. With the additional tool of Bariatric surgery I will have greater opportunity for success at good health. The operation is drastic. The life changes are drastic. I am now being given a new Life that I am responsible to Live accordingly. I do want to expect to be perfect in my actions when the new life begins. Learn learn learn. Explore options. I did. I am. Keep you posted, I promise.

Reach my goal weight by June 2013, I have 125 pounds to lose, but even more important my main goal is to change my frame of mind about eating, nutrition and exercise. Goal #1-265 by 08/01/2012 Goal #3-240 by 12/30/2012 Goal #4-200 lbs by 6/30/2013 Goal #5-170 lbs by 12/01/2013 Ultimate goal- lifetime maintenance.

I am following and utilizing the trackers every day and staying motivated by reading other SP stories and blogs. Reward plan: reward myself for each goal I reach on time. #1 haircut #2 new tennis shoes #3 couple new outfits #4 trip with my hubby #5 professional family portrait, sent to all my family!

I live in Western Colorado with my wonderful husband and 3 dogs. We are Buddhist and enjoy a good political debate now and then! My lifes dream is to visit India, Tibet, Nepal, China, Thailand and live and work among the people of those countries.

I enjoy reading, research, cooking, and being outdoors with my husband and dogs. We recently built a large greenhouse for year round use and are currently renovating our home. Both of these projects are being done with recycled materials and products.

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