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Introduction Text I was shocked when I discovered just how neglected my poor SparkPage has been! In an ironic twist, my last profile update was nearly three years ago, and while just bursting with positivity, only a week later I would be literally floored with a spinal injury that I'm still recovering from to this day! Several months after my initial ER visit it was finally confirmed that I had a herniated disc in my L4-L5 region and that my back (particularly the left side) was in the midst of continual major spasms. The good news is that these major spasms have calmed, and only been triggered about four or five times in the last few years. Even better - I have been spasm-free for over six months now! I was lucky and cursed to be on a worker's comp claim, and over the year and a half that I was covered by this insurance, I spent time with a physical therapist, had two different shots, and was eventually sent to see a quack insurance doctor to get a completely paid for, (and false diagnosis) that this was not related to work and got kicked off of my claim. I had no idea how emotionally taxing this whole experience would be. It completely broke my spirit, not to mention I basically had to throw my excellent fitness routine into the garbage. I suddenly found myself extremely restricted, in pain all day every day, semi-reliant on pain pills, and not so shockingly, I spiraled into destructive emotional eating habits. I had to decide if I wanted to fight the insurance company or go it on my own. Ultimately I hated being restricted to doing only what others told me to do, and I decided to try to heal myself more naturally. Financially, I couldn't afford my daily pain med anymore and asked my primary care to trust me with a plan I came up with - Flexoral for spasms as needed, and Norco for uncontrolled pain, for emergencies only. I'm glad that my PCP and I have been through a lot, and that she backed my plan. Over the next year and a half I was able to wean myself off all pills, and still have over half of my original Norco Rx left. My bad days now are almost exclusively controlled with Ibuprofen now - it feels like a miracle! Within the last year, I started to see a massage therapist every week to start undoing the two years of damage major spasms did to my muscles. Last May I found a chiropractor that I immediately felt a connection with, and while I started out seeing him three times a week, I am now seeing him once every two weeks, and will soon be transitioning to maintenance visits. I'm happy to say that I'm now seeing my massage therapist at the same interval, something I never thought would happen! More recently I have started to see an acupuncturist who is helping me with many things, the foremost being prep for what a hope will be our greatest miracle of all - children! I'm feeling very focused on getting to a healthy weight, not only for continued improvement with my back, but also for overall health, and most importantly, for a healthy pregnancy in the future! My husband and I celebrate six years of marriage in 2017, and we have been back and forth about wanting to try to have children naturally, or through foster care/adoption. I personally think that our family will be complete when the time is right, but for the first time in a long time, I'm on board to start trying again in 2018! In October I started Weight Watchers at work, and I have been very successful so far! I've realized how much I crave going on this journey WITH people! It has made it so much easier! My goal is to be under 250 by the end of the year to - so that I can take advantage of my new to me snowshoes!

Get below 250 to enjoy my new snowshoes! Listen to my body! Incorporate more fresh fruits and veggies! Eat more protein and NO gluten!

I'm following the Weight Watchers program for food, and I'm gluten-free. I work out in the water two-four times a week and I've recently started incorporating "land" workouts again after nearly three years not being able to handle the impact on my body! I am looking to incorporate gentle yoga back into my life, and slowly add in strength training!

I'm been able to make great strides in my professional career in the last few years! I am planning on starting grad school soon! My husband and I know that there is something preventing us from having children (biologically) and are committed to living out life in love rather than fear/perpetual disappointment. I'm using this time before children to really work on me, and I feel certain that we will welcome children into our homes when the time is right!

I'm a genuine bibliophile! I love to read, but when I am stressed out, I become a TV freak. We try to live our lives locally sourced the majority of the time, and enjoy cooking and trying new recipes together. In 2013 I discovered I have a sensitivity to gluten, and always welcome new recipes!

Add a Link "Never, Never, Never, Never give up." Winston Churchill
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