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Introduction Text Tis the Season (to get back on track!) So here we are... November of 2013. I joined SparkPeople in January of 2008. I lost nearly 75 pounds in the first 16 months and then hit a wall and could not lose any more. It did not matter what I did... it was that dreaded plateau and I tried all I knew for years... years before giving up a little hope and backing off from what I knew to do to stay healthy! I stopped measuring EVERY little thing... I stopped tracking ALL of my meals and it is no surprise that I regained nearly 20 pounds. Luckily I didn't give up exercise, but I did let my drive and intensity lighten up a bit. So now I am back... and if I can lose even only those 20 pounds that would be awesome - but mostly I am back because while I regained a few pounds, I lost some of the confidence and bravery that Spark gave me! More than wanting to be a certain size or lose a specific amount of weight... I am back to find ME again and to remember that I want to be healthy and full of energy more than I want anything on the outside! Spark On! ~Karrilee~ _______________________ Heading into Fall 2012: I keep adding 'Updates' because I don't want to erase any of this LONG journey I have been on here at SparkPeople! I have been here since Jan 2008. The first year or 14 months - I dropped (fairly consistently and easily) nearly 75 pounds. I hit a brick wall in April of '09 and was literally trying everything I could to break through the plateau for 3 solid years. After 3 years... in Spring of this year - I felt my resolve start to waiver. I began to be discouraged... I stopped measuring EVERY thing... I stopped tracking every snack... eventually over summer - I would skip a workout once or twice a week. we all can guess how that worked out for me?! I have regained almost 20 pounds. This is NOT ok with me and I am determined once again to get control over my choices. My original goal weight may not happen... those single digit pant sizes may not happen... but I am focused and firm in my resolve to lose the 20 that I (re)gained... and evaluate where to go from there! I know I have dropped the ball in some areas (measuring every meal... tracking every snack... working out and not skipping Strength Training - so once again - those are my focus and short term goals! I have decided that this is my year to release all that is holding me back and spring FORWARD into all that is ahead of me! Preparing to LIVE the adventure - instead of merely just living! Spark On! ~Karrilee~ ___________________________ UPDATE 2012 I have been consistently Sparking it up since 2008... I hit a plateau in 2009 and have struggled to bust through it. I have remained active here and I know that fact alone is what has helped me to keep off (most) of the weight while trying to stir up hope and determination to break through and finally meet my weight loss goal! We CAN do this... through my journey here at SparkPeople I have come to love Change... while I used to fear it and shy away from it. This is my year... I can feel the Expectation rising!!! It's on! ~Karrilee~ ---------------------- Enough is enough... I had been in the same size of clothes for the over 12 years... since my daughter was born! I think it was safe to say I could no longer claim it as baby fat? It hadn't really mattered if I dieted, or even if I added exercise... I remained, for the most part, exactly the same. I began exercising four years ago - on a consistent basis 3-5 times a week... low impact aerobics, weights, and walking... nothing had worked. I believe that a major reason is because much of the reason I was overweight was really spiritual and emotional... however, 2008 was my year for Breakthrough! I was Ready for change! UPDATE - On January 25, 2010 I marked my Two Year Anniversary here at Spark... to date, I have lost 75 pounds so far, I have learned a TON, I am moving MUCH more on a consistent basis, I am learning to eat and prepare ahead of time - which is KEY for me... and most of all I have made incredible friends here who are such a huge support and encouragement! At just nine months I had realized that I'd been here long enough to have had a baby!? Crazy!? Luckily, this time around - I LOST weight - while gaining a whole new life! This is working... We can do this! I still believe this - even though I have hit that dreaded plateau for the past (censored) months - I have been tracking, and working my butt off, and yet - no loss!? It can be frustrating - but I press on - because this is not a diet... this is my new life! I am still hoping to overcome this plateau and lose another 25 pounds or so... but I am taking it one pound at a time! I remember talking to people who had hit a wall and thinking - how can you hit a wall and not know what to do to overcome it?! Well - I hit that wall in May of '09 and am STILL trying to figure it out or trick my body into losing more! I am loving being in a Size 12 again. I am loving the energy and confidence and joy I have. I can honestly say - even on the hard days when I REALLY really want that scale to say something different - I love this lifestyle. If I stay this size the rest of my life - I am happier and healthier and it is all worth it! UPDATE Yes - I am STILL stuck on my plateau... I actually did get out of the 170s but it was the wrong direction! After taking several weekends off from Tracking my food (but not completely throwing in the towel on food choices) over the holidays - I gained 5 pounds and am weighing in on New Years Day at 183. Yeah - I am not a happy camper! I am still determined though! I have decided that even if I do not get to buy smaller jeans, I am focused on getting buff this year! I am hoping to train for and finish a half marathon this year too! ** - UPDATE - ** March 2011... I started the P90X Program in January - in line with my goal of getting buff this year! I secretly (or not so secretly) hoped it would knock me off this @#&*( plateau... today is the first day I can report a loss! I am down ONE pound to 182 and have lost a few inches overall... not exactly the results I was hoping for - but I have 5 weeks left and I am believing that this is the beginning of another rapid weightloss phase! I DO feel so much stronger! I have pushed myself beyond what I thought I could do! I 'Bring It!' every day and am loving the program! My Goal? To be able to do at least a few real pull ups (minus the chair) and more 'real' push ups (not on my knees) by the time I am done with this first round! I took some Before/During shots and made an avatar to give me a visual of what I am working towards! That seems to help my brain line up with my hopes! Spark On! It works!!! _____****** UPDATE ****** ______ AUGUST 2011 Wow - well I did finish P90X and I loved it (and hated it!) and ended up right where I left began for the most part! I was/am stronger - and I hope to do the P90X Lean in the Fall and to see better/more results! I started running again and in June tried my hand (haha) at Trail running. I attempted it only once... and LOVED it - up until I lost my footing and broke my fall by snapping my wrist. Ouch!? I am still not quite able to lift weights, do yoga, or push ups, etc. So - I have been grounded to mostly walking this summer. I did not give up... or give in... I took about 6 weeks 'off' of SparkPeople other than tracking fruits/veggies and checkin in - but I know for me - I HAVE to track my food and workouts... and I MISSED being in the Community here. This is a life long commitment - and while I am still pressing on to break up and over this plateau and finally reach my final goal - I know I can maintain and I know I no longer workout to lose weight... that will be a side benefit! I workout now - because I love it - and because of all the OTHER reasons why it makes me feel better! Spark ON! It's worth it... YOU are worth it! ~Karrilee~

2008 was my Year - it was time - but I am not done yet!!! As far as weight goes - there is not a specific number that I am aspiring to reach - I simply want to feel better and be able to do more... sure - that smaller size will ROCK... (*update - and it DOES rock! ) but my main goal is not outward ...it is inward! My Goal at this time is to overcome this plateau and lose the last 25 pounds to reach my Maintenance Goal Weight! Those FIRST 25#s came off so easily - and these LAST ones are really a struggle!

In the beginning - my goal or program was to workout with my new best friend Pretty Millie (my treadmill) or walk outside 5Xs a week for 60+ min's each time... and to Strength Training 2 or 3 Xs a week... I am also tracking my foods using the Nutritional Tracker and that is helping with nighttime snacking! I never used to eat breakfast... then I would forget to eat lunch until I was starved around 2 or so... so that is a habit I am breaking finally! (*Update - I am happy to report that I have only missed breakfast maybe twice since joining SP - it has become a habit - after all these years!) I took up running... and am trying ti build consistency with that 2-3 times per week. I am sad to say that Pretty Millie died in December (my treadmill!) and I was forced to pull out Evil Ellie. She knows I don't like her as much - but I am throwing in some elliptical work and cardio work via Coach Nicole to help mix it up! Strength Training is still a challenge - but I do it 2-3x's per

I am a wife of almost 20 years, and SAHM for 17 - (years that is... not kids!) I also run an internet Scrapbook business, and I am currently working on writing a couple of books. I am a woman of Prayer and of the Word... I cherish relationships - in family and friends and love my life... the one thing I would change is my weight issues and how they held me back! I am ready to move forward... onward and upward! Amen! Someone asked me what the best change has been in losing weight so far... the answer for me? Not being so completely self-aware all the time! Not entering a room and assuming I was drawing attention due to my size... no longer being uncomfortable in my own skin and in who I am ... I am finally emerging... and just in time for Summer!

I LOVE to read... and write, which explains my love of Blogs! I write a couple (here and elsewhere) and I read/stalk a TON! You can check out my websites and one of my blogs below: www.Karrilee.com www.Karrilee.etsy.com http://blessedmemoriesscrapbooksbykarr ilee.blogspot.com

Add a Link Spark On! ~Karrilee~ Leader of: Yakima Sparkers; The Shack; Psyched about Psych; & Parenthood on NBC My Blog: <link>www.karrilee.com</link>
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