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Introduction Text I've struggled with my weight since I finished puberty and stopped growing taller. I was a thin child and played outside all the time. I was also one of the shortest kids. Between the ages of 13 and 14, I grew from 4'10" tall to 5'5". That is my current height. This extreme growth spurt led to some cartilage issues that still bother me today. I also started my roller coaster of weight gain and loss at the age of 14. I thought I was fat at 125 lbs. When I was 15, I was borderline anorexic. I ate about 500 calories a day and got down to 110 lbs. I was way too skinny. I snapped out of that and got up to around 150 during my junior year in high school. After college, I went from 172 ( my highest ever at the time ) down to 135 in a 3 1/2 month period. I did it by starving myself mostly. In my 20's, I discovered walking for exercise and it is still my favorite form of exercise. I've gained and lost so many lbs. over the years that it has taken a toll on my body. I have osteopenia and loose skin in places that make me hide my body in clothes. My highest weight was 184 lbs in Jan. 2008. I worked really hard and got down to 137 by that September. I added Jazzercise to my exercise regimine. My cartilage issues came back to haunt me and I ended up with pain in my elbows, knees, feet, wrists and neck. I ended up quitting Jazzercise, but i didn't quit walking. That was my "feel good" exercise. I found out I had degenerative disc disease in my neck in July 2010. I had pain that progressed to the point of having fusion surgery in February of 2014. After my medical leave, I was back up to 165 lbs. I decided I needed to do something about it. I had been able to start back walking for exercise, but I hadn't changed my eating habits. On May 12th, I started tracking my food intake. It was a pain writing it down. Then I discovered the Spark People app for my I-phone. It has changed my life. I track both my food and exercise and it has helped me realize I can eat a lot more than I ever thought possible due to my activity level. I also love racking up the Spark points for other activities. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. I went from 165 in May, down to 125 by the middle of September. I've managed to keep the weight off through the holidays. I never thought I'd be able to get down to that weight at my age and with my physical limitations. I was able to enjoy holiday treats in moderation and made sure to track everything, good and "bad". I'm hoping that this will help me maintain a healthy weight and keep my motivation for exercise going for the long haul. I recently started experiencing leg pain down the backs of my legs. I had test done and it turns out I have a tethered spinal cord. I now have to be careful of that when doing anything involving stretching or bending over with my back. The chronic pain I deal with is starting to get me down. Walking for exercise is the thing that helps the most. Sitting at my desk at work is a challenge. I have to get up often. Time to get on the treadmill......









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