(Update January 15th, 2010) I thought it was time to update my page a bit, I am still on my journey and amazed I haven't given up. I have had set backs and pitfalls and still I press on. I have had many an A-HA moment that made me re-evaluate why I wanted to get healthy and what my motivation was and they all came down to one simple answer: I WANT TO LIVE NOT SIMPLY EXIST. So no matter how many times I stumble I will keep pressing forward because at least that means I am still moving. No ...

(Update January 15th, 2010) I thought it was time to update my page a bit, I am still on my journey and amazed I haven't given up. I have had set backs and pitfalls and still I press on. I have had many an A-HA moment that made me re-evaluate why I wanted to get healthy and what my motivation was and they all came down to one simple answer: I WANT TO LIVE NOT SIMPLY EXIST. So no matter how many times I stumble I will keep pressing forward because at least that means I am still moving. No matter how many people judge me as I walk in the gym because of my size, I will keep right on working out, because eventually they will realize that I am there because I want to be not because I have to be. No matter how many friends can't seem to understand why I eat the way I do now, I will keep ordering my lean chicken breast, salad with dressing on the side and water instead of a sugary drink when we go out to eat because it's what's best for me. I will continue to spread my spark to others because it brings me joy to share with them something that is changing my life and hopefully will change theirs as well. My story is below, read it if you like. In the meantime if there is anything I can do to help you on your journey feel free to drop me a line.


I am a mother, a wife and a friend. There was a time in my life when I dreaded being weighed. As a former military member every 6 months we had to prepare for our Physical Readiness Evaluations, and part of it was being weighed in and measured. I dreaded these times, I knew I had let myself go a bit...(I mean I'd had kids, wasn't it okay to put on a bit of weight during and after that?) but when the doctor told me I weighed 200 pounds and I was 54% bodyfat and then he dug the knife deeper and said the words no one wants to hear "morbidly obese" all I could do was cry. I am only 5 foot 2, there was no reason other than laziness that I was carrying that much weight on my frame. And before he told me that I swear to you I thought I was the sexiest thing on the planet (those words stole my sexy and I want it back!).
But in an instant my self esteem was blown, my defenses were gone and I was faced with a cold hard fact, if I didn't get it together I was going to die. Look to the left people, I have a lot to live for, a great husband, 3 beautiful kids and 2 yapping dachshunds depend on me to be here, to take care of them and to take care of myself.
I didn't sit down and cry in a corner, I sat down and took stock. I looked at my eating habits and I looked at my physical limitations (in my mind I had none). In a matter of months, I lost 40 pounds. I thought there see, I can do this. Then I got lazy again and the pounds began to creep back on.
When I joined SP I weighed 182 pounds, I got committed and started really tracking my weightloss, nutrition and fitness when I hit 178. I am determined not to backslide, I am determined to see this through and I am determined to show other people that this can be done by me and by them. My goal weight is 135! Can't wait to see that number!
I look forward to sharing blogs, pictures, failures and success with you all. Take care, remember that failures are merely your mile markers on your road to success; put them behind you and keep trekking on towards your goal.

(update November 9, 2009)_
Well progress is being made, sexy has peeked through and I am loving sharing this adventure with all of you here on the spark. I have learned so much in just a few short months! I am strong, I can do this and every achievement is a blessing! I am so excited each morning when I wake up anxious to see what's a head of me for the day, I go to sleep planning what I can do the next day on my healthy journey! This is AWESOME! Keep Sparking friends we can do this!

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I borrowed this from Girl*In*Motion's page, it's awesome and so is she. If this doesn't put things in perspective for you nothing will lol!

Your weight loss =

1 pound = a Guinea Pig
1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts
2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs
3 pounds = an average human brain
4 pounds = an ostrich egg
5 pounds = a Chihuahua
6 pounds = a human’s skin
7.5 pounds = an average newborn
8 pounds = a human head
10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year
11 pounds = an average housecat
12 pounds = a Bald Eagle
15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs
16 pounds = a sperm whale’s brain
20 pounds = an automobile tire
23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year
24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream
25 pounds = an average 2 year old
30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year
33 pounds = a cinder block
36 pounds = a mid-size microwave
40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg
44 pounds = an elephant’s heart
50 pounds = a small bale of hay
55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner
60 pounds = an elephant’s penis (yep, weights more than his heart!)
66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year
70 pounds = an Irish Setter
77 pounds = a gold brick
80 pounds = the World’s Largest Ball of Tape
90 pounds = a newborn calf
100 pounds = a 2 month old horse
111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year
117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she’s 5’11”)
118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica
120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month
130 pounds = a newborn giraffe
138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year
140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year
144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she’s 5’4”)
150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary
187 pounds = an average adult man
200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds
235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger
300 pounds = an average football lineman
400 pounds = a Welsh pony

Updated Oct 22, 2009:
Well I've decided enough is enough, I lost 10 and gained back 6, my personal workout program isn't working so it was time to re-evaluate and decide what will push me in the right direction. I've chosen to start the Chalean Extreme program, a lot of people here on Spark have done it with success, then I went further out on the web (youtube, consumer review sites etc) and a lot more people have gotten results. So I am going to DO it (notice I didn't say try) and I will keep you posted here, updating my stats every two weeks. See my blog "just the truth maam" to see my first day pics.
Oct 22 Day 1 stats are (drumroll please): allmeasurements are in inches and lbs :)
Height: 5'2" (Thank God this is one number that stays consistent, thanks mom for pressing me to have good posture)
Weight; 174.2
Waist; 41.5
Chest; 42
Hips; 44
Abductors (saddlebags); 43
Thighs: Right 26.5, Left 27
Upper arms; Right 14.5, Left 14.5
Bodyfat; 35.6%

Update Nov5th, two weeks into Chalean Extreme
Weight: Too scared to step on the scale...I know I'm a punk.
Waist; 38.5
Chest: 39.5
Hips; 43.5
Abductors;42.5
Upper Arms; Right 14 , Left 14
Thighs: Right 26, Left 26
Body Fat; 32.1

****UPDATE DAY 30 CHALEAN EXTREME****
Weight 172.4 (Gained a pound of muscle!)
Chest: 38.4
Waist: 36
Arms: R 13.2 L 13 3/4
Abductors: 41.5
Thighs: R 23, L 23.5
Hips: 43
Bodyfat: 30.2

I am SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THESE INCHES LOST AND CONFIDENCE GAINED!!!!! WHOO HOO!
"One of the most important things to remember when starting out is to know before hand that there will be hard days. Mentally prepare yourself that the scale will not always move each week, in fact some weeks it may go up some. This is normal. This does not mean that you are not on the right path. Stay focused and know that if you are consistent you will see results. Nothing is more important in this journey than persistence!! You will be tested, you will be tempted to eat the wrong things, you will want to quit, but if you hold on, you will reach goals, and what a day that will be"! This passage is from Tom Venuto's book Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle and I find it motivating - taken from JENSFITJOURNEY

Read More About ALWAYSCHANGING (Updated February 3)

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