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Introduction Text My journey to where I am today began a very long time ago. I used to be thin and healthy...infact, I was only 135lbs and in great shape by the time my youngest son was 6 months old! I began to gain weight slowly about 5yrs ago in part related to untreated Depression/Anxiety. Then I quit smoking a little over 3yrs ago and put on some more weight, finally topping the scale at 225lbs. In September of 2005 I began to diet using Meal Replacement Shakes and suppliments which led to my losing 35lbs in 4 months. I then proceeded to gain almost 20lbs of it back when I quit drinking in January 2006. I was feeling miserable by this point, but pretending otherwise. I was happy to be smoke-free and enjoying my Sobriety, but I was still very unhealthy, sick often, and tired all the time. I hated how I looked but I really felt I had no other choice than to be fat. I had convinced myself I was just always going to be a "Big Girl" so I'd better just live with it! That all changed this past September 2006 when I was re-introduced to SparkPeople. I had first been referred to it by my close friend 6 months or so previously, but had "poo-poo'ed" it because I thought counting calories was a drag! HA-I was just lazy and didn't want to do the work! But then the same close friend (Spark Name: CHERBIB) sent me an email with the link to her newly created SparkPage. I then began browsing through other SparkPages and became totally inspired! It was the combination of not wanting to be the fat one left behind and the love I have for profile/networking pages and Blogging that hooked me! After a couple days of playing around and my best bud had already lost 5lbs or so, I thought I'd try using the Food Tracker "just to see" how I ate. I was so heavily in denial about my eating habits...I honestly thought I ate healthy and was convinced there must be some medical reason, some rare affliction or disorder as to why I was so fat. LOL Well it didn't take long for that little misconception to be cleared up.....the numbers don't lie....within one day of tracking my calories I was accutely aware of the truth; my eating habits were terrible. From that moment on, I jumped right into the SP Lifestyle change. I set up my program of eating and exercise, started the Fast Break stage, and joined various SparkTeams. I haven't looked back since. I have so much gratitude for SparkPeople because while it's helped me lose the weight, I've gained a whole new life! Hugs, Dana ************FOR FUN************ JOIN a "Leaving (your current weight range)-ville" SPARKTEAM. This is a super fun way to meet people in our own weight range and to help encourage each other to lose weight-to get "Out of town!" Pick the weight range you are currently in, copy the http:tinyURL below, and paste it in your address bar to join that SPARKTEAM today! 130lb range: http://tinyurl.com/2an4t4 140lb range: http://tinyurl.com/2dw2fg 150lb range: http://tinyurl.com/29f7ta 160lb range: http://tinyurl.com/2j7ggk 170lb range: http://tinyurl.com/2n7s8c 180lb range: http://tinyurl.com/2buqml 190lb range: http://tinyurl.com/38cx9g 200lb range: http://tinyurl.com/yo7gww 210lb range: http://tinyurl.com/2zomkq 220lb range: http://tinyurl.com/33fg47 230lb range: http://tinyurl.com/3yexff 240lb range: http://tinyurl.com/yrhuqb 250lb range: http://tinyurl.com/22ak4a 260lb range: http://tinyurl.com/yp52xf 270lb range: http://tinyurl.com/24sgdh 280lb range: http://tinyurl.com/2ypcau 290lb range: http://tinyurl.com/2588m3 300lb range: http://tinyurl.com/38mvc4

My goal is really quite simple...to improve my overall health and well-being.

I faithfully tracked both my calories and exercise using both the Nutrional and Fitness Trackers here at SP. I ate between 1200-1550 calories aday. I burn min 1000 calories per week between my pedometer steps, bike riding, hiking, and running. I made a commitment to reach out to others as often as possible, BLOG regularly, and participate in Spark Team Challenges to keep me motivated and to challenge myself physically. These things combined have all been vital to my success!

I live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada.

Set yourself up for success.

Add a Link Highest weight: Sept/05 230lbs Sparkpeople Start: Sept 7/06 208lbs Reached GOAL: Sept 18/07 130lbs **************** OIM 1/2 Marathon (21.1k) Completed: Oct 7/07 2hrs14mins:22sec
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