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Introduction Text 6/28/12: ON HIATUS, we're moving and I just haven't been able to log in to SP like I want. Plus, with still nursing a baby, it's hard to find the time for me (and also take care of a 2 year old, 15 year old, a husband and work full time). As soon as we move I should be done with nursing. Then, I'm going to be back with a vengeance!!! I miss SP!!! 11/21/11: I'm back online, finally, after having a baby boy in August. I'm so proud of myself that I'm only 11 pounds heavier from when I last logged in to SP after giving birth. So, I don't have far to go to get to where I was before being preggers. My little one is not sleeping through the night so most days I'm a zombie. But, I am getting back into the swing of things, I will find my groove and will kick fat to the curb. I do this because I am worth it! I am done with the excuses, I am done with the laziness, I am done with the ignorance. Time to get moving and time to get real. Who's with me????? 12/1/10: A pregnancy test came back positive so I'm taking a break from the "regular" SP website for now and joining babyfit (a different SP website). I'll check in occassionally and post updates and pictures. But, I'll be back because I was just getting started with changing my life, I just have a different life changing event to attend to now ;-) There is no "next time" or "I'll do it later", life is happening NOW! I have been overweight my whole life - I do not know what it is like to be skinny or the "ideal" weight. But this is changing, every day is a new chance and a new opportunity to make healthier choices, to live a better life. I do not have to live this way, I can learn about correct portion size for my food, I can implement an exercise routine AND MAKE IT FUN! I AM LOSING WEIGHT I AM MAKING HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES I WILL BECOME AN AVID RUNNER I AM DISCOVERING MY WILL POWER I AM BECOMING STRONGER I AM BECOMING PROUD OF MY BODY I WILL REWARD EACH GOAL I REACH I AM CONTINUING TO CHALLENGE MYSELF I STRIVE TO BE AN INSPIRATION TO MY FAMILY AND OTHERS I WILL DO THESE THINGS AND SO MUCH MORE... ...just you wait and see :-) Goal schedule: 230 - GOAL MET 10/16/10 225 - GOAL MET 11/11/10 220 - I had just reached this in late 2010 but then I got preggers 215 - 210 - 205 - 200 - 195 - 190 - 185 - 180 - 175 - 170 - 165 - 160 - 155 - 150 - Challenge yourself every day and never give up. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you WILL make. Every day is a new day to start over. Reach out to someone in your team huddle when they say they need support. Do some kind of physical activity, even if it's only for FIVE MINUTES (do the "done-girl dance"). Remind yourself DAILY (heck, several times a day) that YOU ARE WORTH IT!!! - and that you are AWESOME!!! Give support and encouragement to fellow Sparkers just as you receive support and encouragement during those tough times. Try out a new exercise every once in awhile, you just might enjoy it and surprise yourself. Become a DONE Girl (or Guy), as in: I am DONE with the excuses such as, "I never have time for...", "I will never be skinny or an ideal weight", "I will never be fit", "It's too hard", "But I couldn't help myself (overeating)", "I have no will power", "I'm no good at this so I might as well give up", "Being fat is in our family, it's who we are", "I CAN'T...(insert whatever it is that I think I can't do here)", "I'm too tired" I am DONE with being lazy I am DONE with portion distortion I am DONE with setting a bad example for my family I am DONE with beating myself up mentally yet choosing to do NOTHING about it (not changing my situation, but complaining) I am DONE with living a sedentary life I am DONE with buying bigger sized clothes

My short-term goals are ("mini-goals"): 1. Help my team mates out so we can "ROCK IT" in WIN 2010 ***GO WAVE RUNNERS*** 2. Reach **ONE-DERLAND ** by NY's (I'll take 199.9999999) 3. Create a motivational poster (or posters), something visual to remind me of why I am on this journey 4. Display above-mentioned poster(s) in a location(s) where I can reflect on it (them) daily 5. Work to become an ex-"portion distortioner", measure the food I eat for a week (minimum, should do this for as long as necessary) 6. Wake up five minutes earlier for a week My long-term goals are to: 1. Weigh 125 2. Eat a minimum of one fruit and/or vegetable with every meal 3. Exercise daily for the rest of my life! Goals met: *Record my food intake on a regular basis (starting with a week): GOAL MET 8/15/10-8/21/10 *Walk or run once a day for at least 10 mins (for a week) GOAL MET 8/25/10 - 9/4/10 *Weight 230 lbs - GOAL MET 10/16/10

1. Track daily what I eat 2. Track my exercise daily 3. Review my progress reports daily/weekly, make adjustments as necessary 4. Run daily 5. Set (and adjust) mini-goals and long-term goals so I know what the "big picture" is 6. Reward myself for meeting said goals 7. Arm myself with knowledge 8. Work daily to improve self-esteem 9. Challenge myself every day 10. Lean on my fellow Sparkers when I am feeling weak, or want to quit (accept help from others) 11. Involve/encourage my family so we can all enjoy a healthier, happier life

I currently live in the state of Illinois in a suburb of Chicago. I am happily married, I work full-time and have three of the best children that anyone could ask for - I am truly blessed!

I love all kinds of music, with the exception of country. I enjoy camping, cooking, sewing (someday hope to become better at it), gardening and playing games with my family (e.g. board games, card games, etc. - personally, I'm addicted to Settlers of Catan :-)

Add a Link Nature hates calculators ~Ralph Waldo Emerson the world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful ~e.e. cummings
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