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Introduction Text I've been fighting this battle for way too many years. I have always been obsessed with losing weight. At one time in my life, I thought being 140 pounds was too heavy. Now I would be thrilled to weigh 140 but that's not even close to what I weigh and it seems no matter what I do, not even my willpower is enough to get the job done. November 23, 1982 I went to my very first OA meeting. I don't remember it, but I read about it in a journal I recently found. I guess I only went to one or two meetings. It didn't impress me at the time. But --- after so many years, I finally came to the end of the road. God knows I needed to turn my life around. On November 19, 2009 I recognized that I was and still am a compulsive overeater and joined OA for the second time but stopped going again in 2015 because it didn't help me to find out "why" I overeat. I have many health concerns -- hypertension, osteoarthritis, diverticulosis, and borderline cholesterol and diabetes. I am facing the fact that I have more health problems than I can handle right now. I have gotten so much support here in SP, and made many friends who I will always cherish. I found out that willpower doesn't work for me. And exercise alone doesn't fit the bill either. Balancing it all is what counts. I should walk every day or whenever the weather permits but the only time I do is when I walk with a friend on Thursdays. I joined SP on March 7, 2006 at 245.4. In January 2008 I wrote this: ah, another year. I'm starting over....Again. I have fallen many times but I keep getting up! Yayyy, I still have faith in my convictions to get below 200. I can do it with commitment to the cause with an eating plan and exercise program plus a POSITIVE ATTITUDE. I know that the key to a winning combination is right here in SparkPeople and maintaining a connection with God. So I'll be staying here as long as it exists for me. July 1st 2013 I had bi-lateral surgery and now I am blessed with two new knee replacements. After many physical therapy sessions I am on my way to a whole new life! August, 2018 - left shoulder pain. Physical Therapy for at least 9 weeks. Finally January 28, 2019 went to a surgeon, he gave me a cortisone shot. I was so happy, the pain went away, I walked out of his office with a smile and a song. February 17, 2019 - the pain returned in my left shoulder. It's even worse than before I got the cortisone shot and for some reason other spots hurt too, my left hand, left knee, my back across the shoulders...it's really bad. Enough said for now. When I first started in SP, I thought it would be nice to chat with local people so with a small group, we started the LEHIGH VALLEY SPARKS Group Forum which later became a Team. We're all community members fighting the same "losing" battle. Join us if you live in our neck of the woods Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton or anywhere beyond those cities. Look for us -- SparkPoints -- Groups -- Lehigh Valley Sparks. That team still exists but no longer functions because nobody goes there. When you need help, you can depend on the SP Staff members because they're always willing and able to answer all your questions. You just can't find a nicer group. I am so happy to be a member of this community and I thank Spark Guy for developing the site, and keeping it free of charge. ---Elaine I've been spreading the Spark at my personal websites. Visit some of my websites: http://www.angelfire.com/stars3/hevenlee/OurGangClubhouse.html http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/red-lee/Lees_Kitchen.html Live Chat for anyone to use: http://smyleered.angelfire.com/SmyleeRedsChat.html Serenity Chapel: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/hevenlee2/SerenityChapel.html Google BLOG: http://smyleered.blogspot.com Fortune City BLOG: SmyleeReds Place to Vent http://smyleered.myblogsite.com/ Onward!

I honestly want to be healthier physically, mentally and spiritually. I trust in and seek God's help each day of my life. I want to be able to divert my attention from "extra" food to other more positive things. I need help.

~~ 1200-1600 calories ~~Using SP trackers ~~Come to SparkPeople as often as I can and read, read, read. Together WE CAN DO IT!

Born and raised in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania June 1945; married 44 years (4-5-75) to a great guy who supports my efforts, have one daughter who I'm very proud of. With all my medical and physical issues there are plenty reasons why I need to change my lifestyle. SP helped me more than any other program as far as learning what to eat, how much to eat and what's healthy. This is a serious undertaking for me, one that I am making to benefit my health and my life. I need all the help, motivation and encouragement I can get. Hopefully I will achieve my goals with God's help and this community's support. --Elaine

I like gardening, birds, watching Days of Our Lives, anything Patriotic, exchanging recipes, I read a lot, medical info, meditation, nutrition, exercise, recipes, and whatever I can find online that is beneficial. That's precisely how I found SparkPeople.com I was looking for a calorie counter. What a blessing! I'm spreading the Spark on my personal websites.

Add a Link ~Elaine~ ~~~ Smyleered Blog <link>smyleered.blogspot.com</link> Serenity Chapel <link>www.angelfire.com/stars4/hevenlee2/SerenityChapel.html </link> We'll Met Again: <link> /www.angelfire.com/pa5/red-lee/Well-Meet-Again.html<link>
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