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Introduction Text I AM a strong, healthy woman and mother. I am becoming who I was always meant to be. I will never again be the person that sat around and ate too much and thought that she could never be an athlete. I am a runner. I am NOT a quitter. I am a WARRIOR! **Update March 2017** I have spent the last 4 (what?!) years in a not very healthy relationship and slowly putting weight back on. Popping on to spark on occasion but not sticking with it. At this point I am within 15 pounds of my original weight but determined to get healthy again. My home is back to just my daughter and I; and we can finally focus again on eating healthy and being active. I turn 40 this summer and I'd like to be close to my goal weight by then. At least at a healthy BMI. To new beginnings and reaching goals! Original Posts: I joined SP in October 2009 and never looked back! I was 32, 5'1" and 190 lbs (35 pounds of which was baby weight from my then 3.5yo). I reached my initial goal of 125 lbs. on 6/21/10 (the first day of summer) and have maintained that for one year. I am now working on getting and staying below 120. *Update 10/14* Here I am, 5 years after I first joined SP. After yo-yo-ing for about a year, I stabilized for awhile and then life took over, I stepped away from SP and slowly gained about 30 pounds back. I'm back and looking to be back in maintenance mode by Spring 2015. I'm giving myself about 5 months to lose 30 pounds and I know it's doable with the support I find here. I have set some goals and I know they will be met. Onward and upward! *Update 5/12* After my ex left, I gained about 20 pounds through lack of exercise, too many sweets and too much wine. In December a friend kicked my butt and held me accountable. I started working out again and starting feeling better. I set some new goals and got myself straightened out. I am now about 8 pounds from my goal weight and I feel (mostly) great. The only place to go is upward on onward! Thanks for all the support SparkPeople!! As of Summer 2011, I am dealing with an unexpected and painful separation from my husband. I am working to maintain my weight and overcome my emotions to get back to my Sparking self. Right now my biggest battle is finding the motivation to exercise but I will NOT let depression win. I will be back, stronger and better than ever. Even as a river cuts a new path when faced with an obstacle, so will I flow and continue on. Favorite Quotes: "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - St. Francis of Assisi �If you do what you�ve always done, you�ll get what you always got.� -Mark Twain "No road is too long for him who advances slowly and does not hurry, and no attainment is beyond his reach who equips himself with patience to achieve it." - Jean de La Bruy�re "Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended for you to be and you will succeed." -Sydney Smith October 2010 Update-1 year with SP! (from my blog): I Have... ~lost about 70 pounds ~gone from a size 16-18/XL to a size 4/Small ~lost about 41 inches ~worn a bikini ~become a runner, 15K in 77 minutes this weekend ~competed in multiple 5Ks (placed 3rd in my division in one) and one 10K (placed 2nd in my division) As also promised, a recap of the goals I set 6 months ago... In the next 6 months with SP, I would like to: ~finish the C25K *done* ~run a 5K in under 30 min *done* (25:19 was my best time so far) ~run 3+ 5Ks, improving my time each outing *Almost done* (I ended up pushing a stroller my 3rd race, but I bet I could have done it!) ~start training for a 10K *done* (have run 15K) ~reach my initial goal (I'm considering trying to lose a bit more (10#s) than originally intended which would give me a maintenance weight of 115-120?) *done* (at 120) ~continue to meet my 2010 goals *done* ~meet new goals to be set at a later time (some are in the works already but dependent on finances) *still working on* ~make a new vision collage to celebrate my new lifestyle *in progress* ~continue to motivate and inspire others *done* ~be a SP motivator *done* My goals moving forward are: ~to maintain my weight with the 5 pounds above or below where I am now ~to continue to improve my running (goal is half marathon in spring, possibly a full next fall) ~to continue to tone up my body ~to try new exercises (learn to dance) ~to improve my teaching and photography skills through classes April 2010 Update (from my blog): This weekend I get to celebrate 6 months with SP. What an amazing journey this has been! Here are some of my accomplishments, lessons and thoughts... I Have... ~lost almost 55 pounds ( or 2 of my daughter!) ~gone from a size 16-18/XL to a size 6-8/Med ~lost over 25 inches ~started the Couch to 5K program and run for over 20 minutes straight ~tried new ways to exercise ~met many personal goals for 2010 (and am in the process of meeting others) ~inspired others within and beyond my circle of friends to get healthier ~shown my daughter what a healthy lifestyle looks like I have learned (most of the time): ~what a correct portion looks like ~that I can enjoy my favorite foods without going overboard ~that I can (and do) enjoy a piece of chocolate every night ~that it's fun to learn new, healthy recipes ~how to set goals AND meet them ~that I'm stronger than I thought ~a new lifestyle ~that perfection is not attainable ~moderation ~to enjoy (and look forward to) working out ~that 5:30am is not the enemy In the next 6 months with SP, I would like to: ~finish the C25K ~run a 5K in under 30 min ~run 3+ 5Ks, improving my time each outing ~start training for a 10K ~reach my initial goal (I'm considering trying to lose a bit more (10#s) than originally intended which would give me a maintenance weight of 115-120?) ~continue to meet my 2010 goals ~meet new goals to be set at a later time (some are in the works already but dependent on finances) ~make a new vision collage to celebrate my new lifestyle ~continue to motivate and inspire others ~be a SP motivator I can't say it enough times how much my SparkFriends, SparkPeople, and my family and friends have helped, motivated, supported, encouraged and pushed me to get to the point where I am now. I truly couldn't have done it without each and every one of you. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!! Here's to another 6 months and beyond! I'm transferring some of my met goals to here so that I can be reminded of how far I've come... 1. Lose 15 lbs from Halloween to Christmas (185-170)-Met 12/21/09 2. Lose 11 lbs from Christmas to Valentine's Day (168-157) -Met 1/18/10 3. Lose 10 lbs. from V-Day to St. Pat's Day (150.8-140)-lost 9.1 lbs. (141.7) 4. Lose 15 lbs. from Valentine's Day to Easter (150.8-135) -lost 12.4 lbs. (138.4) 6. Start the C25K program (mid-March) *Started 3/16/10* 1. Get back to pre-Alexis weight (it's only been 3 years!) = lose about 25 lbs *Met 12/28/09* 2. Fit comfortably into (minimum) a size 10-12 *Met 3/1/10* 3. Have a 30" (or less) waist. *Met 3/30/10* 1. Complete the C25K program (done 5/15) 3. Run 3 timed 5Ks in 2010-improving my time each run (#1: 26:19, #2: 25:16, #3: 27:19 (with stroller)) 6. Be able to do 50 (real) push-ups (started the 100 push-up challenge on 7/19)

Weight Goals: 1. Be at a healthy BMI by my 40th birthday (about 5 months and 45 pounds as of this writing) 2. Reach (and maintain) a maintenance weight of between 120-125 lbs (total loss of 65-70 lbs) 3. Set a good example for my daughter. Strength Goals: 1. 50 real push-ups 2. 5 chin-ups/pull-ups Fitness Goals: 1. Run 3-5X/week 2. Complete a 10K or longer mud run 3. Complete a duathlon, biathlon or triathlon 4. Increase speed again, be able to run a 5K in under 30 min

1. Reducing portion sizes and eating less processed foods 2. Watching when I eat 3. Counting calories 4. Increasing exercise 5. Focusing on foods with more nutritional value and less "time" value. Make time to cook. 6. Running and videos for cardio, Strength Training upper body and core.

I am an almost 40 year old single mom to a beautiful and precocious 11 year old. I live with my daughter, our 2 dogs and 2 chickens. I am currently working full time as a substitute music teacher (for the year) and hoping to have my own classroom soon!

I am an aspiring photographer and I love music of all kinds. My guilty pleasure is reading and I would sit all day and read a novel if given the opportunity.

Add a Link ~Julie~ If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got.
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