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Introduction Text Hi!! UPDATE 2018: WORK IN PROGRESS. PLEASE EXCUSE MY MESS! As I was reading through and editing my old bios I realized each update is NOT in chronological order. So, until I complete my 2018 update please accept my apology. 2012: FIRST BIO: I'm a 62 woman, ex workaholic that was stopped in my tracks by a really bad back. For the past 10 years, I've been floundering around trying to find just the right lifestyle and diet. I found Spark People on my favorite literary/book forum when playing one of their games. So, here I am. I confess I'm a slow starter. I found "SparkCoach" today and something changed inside of me. It seems there's more to this diet thing than I thought. I realize I need to change just about everything! I like the program here and the site is very supportive. This 62-year-old woman with a back problem is not the same as I used to be, but maybe I can find a new me, right inside of me. UPDATE #3 2017: Yes, it's true I haven't kept up with my bio. But, better late than never, I say. Time has flown faster than the speed of light, it seems. So many things have changed inside of me and in my life. I have a handle on the severe pain I'm prone to. Thank heaven for great doctors. I started Tia Chi on the recommendation of my physical therapist. That secured me doing exercise, at least 3 times a week. I had a hard time practicing at home, nevertheless Tai Chi and Qi Gong helped me immensely. What evolved, I became a certified Red Cross Learn to Swim instructor. It teaches the basics. All week long I worked with all sorts of children and had a blast. The pounds started to shed, just a little bit at a time. That was when I did not have a handle on eating healthy food, nor healthy portions. But, I did try my best. I stuck with Spark People and made it a habit to come here every single day. I had a lot of stuff to learn about what to put into my body. Little by little I got closer to my goal as I learned what healthy food choices were, how much to eat and when to eat. It was a very hard thing for me. I had no idea what "emotional eating" was. I ate carbs to lessen my severe chronic pain That was when I was in denial reading all those SP professional articles on health and not dieting. It wasn't till many years later I finally got a handle on my food choices and portion control. I used the "MY PLATE" method to measure my food intake. It wasn't till last year I became a believer in what one of my doctor's told me. She gave me a huge scare. She diagnosed me with the dreaded word...Diabetes! I was scared to death and I ran to the Diabetes Center at my hospital. I started monitoring my blood sugar twice daily. Strangely, my glucose was always way normal every day for a month. Something told me perhaps I had been misdiagnosed. I sought a second opinion, this time with a diabetes specialist. He had a very nice bedside manner. After he read all my records, he smiled and told me not to worry. I definitely did not have diabetes. I was so relieved to be misdiagnosed. It had been a month since that scare. And it had been one month since I completely cut out added sugar to my diet. I decided to stay that way. Now, I'm eating a diabetic, low carb/low glycemic diet. I cut out the "Furman's Eat to Live" diet and started the "Mediterranean Diet". The Mediterranean Diet is impressive. The Low Glycemic/Diabetic Diet fits very well into the Mediterranean Diet. An added plus the food looks so colorful on my plate I started taking photos of my meals! Lol. Lifestyle change is serious business. I had been reading and thinking of how to lead a healthier lifestyle and here was my chance. In, 2016 I went on a mission to declutter my house and my life. I sold my house, packed my bags and moved in with the rich and famous. No, actually I didn't. But I did officially retire. With the cooperation of my two children, I found a happy medium. I would live half the year in the Philippines with my son and his new family and the other half of the year I would live with my daughter and family. Since then, I have gone back and forth a couple of times and have settled into a good routine. I sure am racking up those "sky miles". My only misgiving is, dividing my life into two places, two families, two lives. It's really hard! But thank goodness for Facebook Messenger and video chats. I am always incredibly torn between my two families. Slowly, I am adapting to my new life. My weight is slowly but steadily dropping. I have gone from 188 lbs to 154 lbs. It might not sound like very much to some people, but to me, it is a major accomplishment. I am so happy with myself. I have never given up, not once, despite many years of struggling. I have two mottos, "Never Give Up" and "When you have a Lemon make Lemonade!" These two mottoes have given me the strength to carry on. I say them and live them every day. It has been fun doing this update, rather uplifting. Thank you so much for reading my bios. I hope you will come to visit sometime, read my blogs and see my updates and photos. :) UPDATE #1 5/2014. It's been two years and can you believe it, I'm two years older! I'm 64! Lol. I'm fully entrenched in the SP program and love it! If interested in my progress and life see my blogs. UPDATE #2 6/2015. I am the privileged to announce I am the leader of the forum, "Senior Olympics Ready Set Go!" This forum is for athletes or avid exercisers that are interested in chatting, getting support and working towards competing in a sports event. The Senior Olympics is a national and international sports event for those athletes over 55 years old. Those members that are under 55 are welcome to join as well. If you like sports events and are training towards your goal no matter whatever your age, please do join my forum. Everyone is welcome :)

I want to be super healthy since I have Rheumatoid Auto-Immune Disease I want to be as pain-free as possible. I also have hypothyroid (Hashimoto's) My goals are to swim competitively, walk a marathon, do indoor rock climbing and marry a rich husband. Well, I can dream, can't I? Lol. UPDATE: My Endocrinologist cannot explain how my Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism has disappeared from my labs. I have no more symptoms either. I believe since Hashimoto's is an immune disorder the meds that I take for my Rheumatoid Auto Immune Disease have wiped it out! I thank the Lord for miracles :) How have I been doing with my goals. I am still in training for competitive swimming. I run slowly on the treadmill 5-6 days a week. my running is getting easier by the year. I have damage to my back from RA and I have to be very careful not to do anything that will give an impact on my back. It is not an easy task to learn Chi walking and Chi running. It is a very effective technique which helps you walk and o

I don't care much for formal exercise so I have had to become creative. My program consists of Tai Chi, and Chi Walking, I am a swimmer. Presently training for the "Senior Olympics". It is the Olympics for ages 55 and up. I love the Mediterranean diet foods and am on the EAT to LIVE Diet Plan by Joel Fuhrman M.D. UPDATE 2017: I have discarded the Eat the Live diet plan and I am now doing the Diabetic Diet combined with the Mediterranean Diet. It's a great combination. It's also very flexible so you can alter it when the need arises. I exercise 5-6 days a week in the gym, swim almost every day when it's swim season in the US and practice Tai Chi 3-4 times weekly. That's enough! LOL There's a forum for all the things I do. See my forums if you're interested in joining.

A city girl from Manhattan. N.Y. I moved to Florida and became a pediatric rehabilitation RN in my late twenties and never looked back. I have two wonderful children and an awesome grandson. I do love it here during the winter and have learned to endure the brutal heat and humidity of the summers. I am a Learn to Swim children's instructor year round and adore it. 5/14 I just earned my Red Cross certification in water safety and Learn to Swim for all ages! Everyone should know how to swim! Message me if you are interested in Learn to Swim information. I can help you get started! :) 3/15: I just earned my Red Cross Lifeguarding certification. Yay! UPDATE: 12/26/2017, I am still teaching young children the Red Cross Learn to Swim program. My renewal for my certificate is due. I do not like tests, but it's one of those necessary evils. Lol. My 33-year-old son and his new wife have a 4-month-old boy! Yay! I am so happy for them. I am such a happy grandmother! Now I have two gr

I am a book collector and avid reader. My favorite genre is Dystopian Sci-Fi. Author: Margaret Atwood- The Handmaid's Tale and women's non-fiction. Special interest in women's issues and ISIS in the middle east. My favorite games are 3-D puzzles, physics games, word games, and Sudoku. I love iPhone photography. I'm about to start a new hobby! Knitting! :) UPDATE: 12/26/2017. I had to put knitting on the back burner. I am learning to draw with CRAFTSY classes. They are live streaming video, have interaction with the teacher and other students. The teachers are quite good. Some of them are professors and some of them are well known in their field. I love the classes! Since Autism runs in the family, I am well read in this subject. I have put working on a picture book for children with Autism on hold. I was searching for a photographer for my book. If you happen to know Photoshop (or the like) and are interested, please do message me :)

Add a Link My name is Elona. I live in the Philippines. Love life! Never, never give up! Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never give in nothing, great or small, large or petty. Never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense-Winston Churchill. When you have a lemon, make lemonade!
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