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Introduction Text Hi there! I'm Gretchen and this is my renewed Spark page. I used to be "GFLEURANT", now I'm "JUST_G". I haven't been on Spark in well over 1 year, but here I am again. UPDATE: I am now the mother of 3, my soon-to-be 6 year old girl/ boy twins and an 8 week old baby boy! Life is good. The baby was a surprise; and at 39 years old he is my final adventure into motherhood; the last time I will ever feel the pitter patter of little toes on my ribcage and the bounce of a little head on my bladder. So I now find myself 50 pounds heavier than 1 year ago and ready to get fit, be active, and see my muscles again! I won't complain. The weight gain was for a good cause and while I never imagined myself having another baby... EVER... I can't imagine life without him. He has brought joy and wonder to my family and is truly an angel sent from heaven. I must admit that I overindulged during my pregnancy. And while I still had to chase my 2 energetic preschoolers for the whole 39 weeks, I was far from active myself. Now it is time for me to get my groove back... to finish what I started! I think I'll leave my text from my original page below just as a reminder that I've been here before. Besides, all the other stuff about my likes and dislikes, blah, blah, blah is still the same. I don't want to live in the past, but as we all know, those you forget the past are doomed to repeat it! Happy sparking! ---------------------------------- Hi! I'm Gretchen... I am a 37 year-old working mother to amazing girl/ boy twins. I have a great job that I love and wonderfully supportive friends and family who are always there for me. I love spending time with my kids, writing, reading, and all things fashion. That kind of means that I bring my work home with me since my job is in fashion! :) I have the type of personality that is either into things 150% or not into them at all. I think I have become somewhat obsessed (in a good way) with health and nutrition and am bound and determined to get to my goal. I've been on Spark for awhile just cruising other's pages for motivation and inspiration while fighting the weight loss battle of my own. I've been on this journey since November 2008 with a brief "break" over the holidays in December. My weight has been up and down since graduating from college 15 years ago... mostly up since having the twins 4 years ago and gaining about 75 pounds! My weight wasn't really something that affected my self-esteem or confidence but with my love of fashion I really wanted to be able to wear whatever I wanted and wear it well. I was tired of having to shop from the larger sizes at the back of the rack and settle for the styles offered in my size. I had also suffered from post-partum toxemia from the birth of my twins and my blood pressure never went back to normal. I knew that losing even a small amount of weight could help normalize my blood pressure and get me off the meds for good. So, now I'm about 60 pounds lighter and off the blood pressure medicine! Yay! People ask me how I've done it and I really don't know all the answers. I've changed everything about my diet. It is completely second nature now; I don't even really have to think about what I'm eating. I watch my calories and aim for 5-6 small meals per day consisting of healthy fats, complex carbs, and protein. And yes, there are those days that I fall of plan and splurge but getting back on track is so easy that I don't even notice the detour. Exercise has been a bigger battle for me to conquer. I haven't yet mastered the art of consistency with exercise and this is my key goal for the rest of the year. I started running but fell off track through the summer and need to find that track again! Luckily, I am very stubborn and don't settle for failure. I WILL do this. For anyone reading this who is struggling through their own battle: DON'T GIVE UP! Set your goals and make a plan. Visualize yourself where you want to be and you can make it happen! I thought it may help to get some of my goals in writing. If I have to stare at them in print I will commit! GOALS: 11/15/09: 179 lbs. REWARD New HRM 12/25/09: 170 lbs. (being realistic w/ holidays) 01/22/10: 160 lbs. 02/19/10: 150 lbs. 03/19/10: 140 lbs (GOAL)

Height: 5'10" SW: 248 lbs. GW: 140 lbs. CW: 184 lbs. (Sept. 4) Starting size: 18/20 Current size: 8/10 (Sept. 4) Goals for October 2009: 1) workout at least 5 x per wk (no reward, JUST DO IT!) 2) 179 lbs. by 11/15/09 (reward * new HRM) 3) Eat right on weekends! (no reward, JUST DO IT!)

Calorie Couting: 1200-1500/day Workout 3-5 days/ wk 30 Day Shred 10 minute solutions DVD's Treadmill Firm DVD's I just got Turbo Jam and love it so far!



I am a wife and mother to 5 year old boy/ girl twins and an 8 week old baby boy living outside of Columbus Ohio. I work in the fashion industry. I love love love to laugh! I'm definitely the goofball among my friends. I have trouble hiding my thoughts and feelings (this has gotten me into trouble several times in my life). I'm on Facebook as Gretchen Patterson Fleurant. Favorite Books: * She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb * The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Favorite Movies: * Living Out Loud * Playing by Heart Other "Loves": being a mom, cheese, shopping, make-up, my parents, writing, reading (not necessarily in that order LOL) Dislikes: mushrooms, cold weather, winter in Ohio, rain, ignorance, talking on the phone, milk, separate foods touching each other on my plate

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