"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start" John Bingham

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The BEGINNING -
January 9, 2009 - Day one of my journey.

For my whole life up until 1994, I was active, thin, and never ever worried about my weight or what I ate.

The beginning of the end was a pre-cancer scare with my thyroid, which was cause enough for the doctors to have it removed. This surgery did ...

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start" John Bingham

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The BEGINNING -
January 9, 2009 - Day one of my journey.

For my whole life up until 1994, I was active, thin, and never ever worried about my weight or what I ate.

The beginning of the end was a pre-cancer scare with my thyroid, which was cause enough for the doctors to have it removed. This surgery did cause some changes in my metabolism, so I found blaming the weight gain on the surgery was an easy and good excuse to use for the extra pounds! But I knew deep down inside that it was my responsibility to stop eating the wrong foods and get off my butt and exercise.

Time passed, then I found myself in a sedentary, high stress job with long hours and tons of responsibility. The job took it's toll on me. The pounds just kept creeping on. Little by little, and while I would try to loose the 5 or 10 pounds, pretty soon it became 10 or 20, then 20 or 30... and before I knew it there was 80 pounds to loose!! It was daunting!! How did this happen?? I was feeling sick, tired and old. My knees and ankles were aching from carrying this extra weight. My clothes... I don't even want to go there about my clothes! This couldn't be happening to me!!

It was time to stop blaming anything or anyone, and take the responsibility square on my shoulders and do something about it!

It was time to quit this downward cycle, get out of this whirlpool that was spinning me out of control and take care of ME again! Wow, that was a new concept! I was fortunate that I was financially in a position to retire from working earlier than age 65, so I did! That took care of all that stress. Now it was time to take my life back loose this "blankity-blank" weight and get back into shape.

I want to be healthy again!
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March 2009 - Two months have passed since joining Spark and 15 pounds are gone! I have found a renewed desire to exercise. Exercise is keeping me more energetic and happier. More importantly, I have made great strides in changing my attitude. I've become more truthful to myself about how and why I am the way I am. No more blaming "ME" on my metabolism, on stress, on other people, or on things. If it's to be, it's up to me!
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May 2009 - Month Four - I've made adjustments in my diet plan and changes are happening. I loved Low-Carb, but became bored and found myself snacking on all the things that are "off limits" for that diet plan. I decided to switch and felt the easiest way to do that was to follow the suggested Daily Nutrition Plan that Spark People offered. Wah-lah! It's working. I'm eating well rounded meals and still losing weight. May was also the my first month to join any of the Boot Camps that are offered on Spark People. That hasn't been as successful but mainly because I've had sick grand-children to care for. "If at first you don't succeed try-try again!"

May 10, 2009- 20 pound Goal Met! YIPPEE!!
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June 25, 2009 - New look for my Spark Page and RESET all my goals to gain a fresh perspective!
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June 9, 2009 - Today is not only my 25th wedding anniversary, and my 6 months anniversary on Spark.

I always knew that DH and I would make it to 25 and beyond, but I am filled with disappointment with my SP anniversary. I really thought I would have burned up those pounds by just joining SP. IT wasn't to happen. Just like everything else, I start off gung-ho, and then fizzle out. I need to find something deep down within me again to make it happen.
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July 24, 2009 - New Ah-HA Moment.
I am an emotional eater. Searched out SP to connect with others who have the same or similar problem with food so I may better understand how to control this behavior.
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September 9, 2009 - 9 months.
I will make this work.
I am going to change my life around.
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October 19, 2009 - 10 months
Setting a Goal; Goals have never worked for me and I know that I need to make them work for me now--thus I am setting a goal to lose 10 pounds by March 2009. TEN! Only TEN! Not 20, 30, 40, or 50 but 10!
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"Success will never be a big step in the future, success is a small step taken just now."- Anonymous

"All human wisdom is summed up in two words -- wait and hope."- Alexandre Dumas Pere

"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." (Chinese Proverb)
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