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Introduction Text Stop Looking for Reasons to Fail and Start Embracing Reasons to Succeed! - Jonathon Roche July 2018 loving life!! Things are a lot more settled than they have been over the last few years. Still have my amazing boyfriend by my side, my girls have moved back home, I'm settled in my elementary job, I bought a house and a "new" convertible, and am in the middle of home renovations! I'm working on getting back on track with diet, including food allergies, and exercise! Thankful for the support of family, friends, and this community! Year of firsts! November 2016 So many changes have come about this year, but I've tried to focus on the positive and make it a year of firsts, doing things I'd never done before. This summer, I went to Charleston with my oldest daughter, got my nails done for the first time (and once a month since,) met the most amazing man who makes me happy, put myself first in ways I never have before, and yesterday got my first tattoo! Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful life! June 2016: Changes! --New Job in August- Elementary Resource, Hubby moved out a month ago, teen daughters may be going with him. I've gone from a soccer mom running my kids all over NC to single and maybe without my sweet babies to care for. Trying to focus on what I need to do for me and my kids, but it is just so hard! January 2016: This has been a difficult year for me. Nothing has really happened, just many stresses building up over time. Feeling pretty down and depressed, lacking motivation, and needing a change. Ready for this school year to be over and ready for some downtime with my family! March 2015: Very tired of the ups and downs in my energy levels, weight, and mood. Lost 20 lbs over the summer 2014 then gained it all back from Oct. to December (another 20lbs in 6 weeks this time) and have stayed there since, down a little then right back up- sometimes gaining as much as 5lbs in a week). It comes on so easy and I have to fight for every ounce. It is frustrating to buy clothes and not be able to wear them 2 weeks later! I am starting a new 5% challenge soon, and hope that I can get things back on track now that the weather is warmer (my dr commented at my last appt that I don't do well in the winter!) Thyroid and adrenal issues are driving me crazy! Exercise leads to severe fatigue so all I can do is walk and lift light weights. Next week, I will be doing a cortisol saliva test and hope that will give me information to get the supplements I need! Hubby has lost about 175 pounds a year after his gastric sleeve surgery. He has done well with his weight loss, but still is having difficulty being able to tolerate veggies. We all need to make more time to get to the gym. In September, my daughter hit heads with another player at soccer practice. She's had issues related to the concussion since. She was on homeboud from school from Sept. to Jan and still has headaches and blurry vision. She's had an MRI and has been going to physical therapy. She's also been recommended to go to the gym/do low impact exercise regularly (treadmill or any walking/running makes her headaches worse). We got an exercise bike from my parents for her to use, but I'd like to get a schedule set up for the gym! June 2014: DH had his surgery in January and has lost 120 pounds. He looks like a different person! He is almost at a lower weight than I have ever known him and is wearing the same size as when we were first married. I continue to struggle to lose weight, keep adding concerns from the dr and am going for allergy testing next week. Right now: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, High cortisol and low adrenal function, low vitamin d, iron, B12, and progesterone. Hoping we can get me straightened out and feeling functional! Tired of being tired! Dec 2013: A year ago, I was at my healthiest, or so I thought. Little did I know that hypothyroidism was hiding beneath the surface, waiting to derail all I have tried to do. 30lbs later (gained in 8 weeks and not budging 10 months later), I am struggling in all areas. My body is attacking itself, I am fighting depression and anxiety, and feeling very alone. Struggling to get back on track with everything. DH has been approved for gastric sleeve surgery, scheduled for the end of January. Praying it makes the difference for him. I am continuing to fight this up and down yoyo! I lost the weight I'd gained and was back to 134 in August-November only to have huge gains in December and January, putting me back at 160 in February. Yes, I gained 30 pounds in 8 weeks! I am determined to find the causes of this gain and address all of those issues! I am determined for my husband, myself, and my family to be healthy and fit. I have my wonderful dh on my side, working with me and trying hard to get and stay healthy with me. I know we can do this! Found out in early May 2013 that I do have hypothyroidism. Making changes to diet and routines and taking thyroid meds in addition to Vitamin D (been low for 2+ years, but previous dr never mentioned it!). Hoping this will help get things under control. Sept. 2013 brought my second visit to the integrative health office and confirmation of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Definitely have to stay wheat free, avoid soy and peanuts, and try to completely eliminate dairy (eat yogurt occasionally and use greek yogurt to replace mayo in egg salad or sour cream on baked potatoes). It has amazed me how quickly my body has changed over the past year. Hoping I can recover and keep my thyroid! June 2012 This year, since January, has been a constant struggle! School has been hard, my students have been difficult, there have been a myriad of family crises and struggles, and grad school has been incredibly difficult as well. I am not surprised that I have gained back some weight, I am surprised that I haven't gained more! My student's last school day is tomorrow, and I have three workdays next week, then I get a break. Grad school is still kicking, but I am handling it ok this semester. Ready for the Summer 5% challenge- I am back to exercising daily and my nutrition and water intake have remained good! Goals for 2012 remain the same as the beginning of the year. December 2011: Getting back on track with new goals, revisiting old goals that served me well, and renewed motivation! I have gained some of my weight back, but I am not discouraged. I am determined to work hard so I will feel better again. It isn't about the weight, but about how I feel! I want to feel good so I can be a good mom, teacher, and student! I have set some new goals that hopefully will be specific enough for me to stay on track when life gets crazy (because I know life will get crazy, as it always does!) Goals for 2012: ~ return to regular exercise, daily ~ continue to improve eating habits ~ increase water intake again ~ return to goal range: 130-140 (aiming for lower end, 130-135) - tone up so that thighs don't rub in skirts! ~ help dh continue on his journey, so he can do the active things that we all want to do {he has lost 30 pounds!!} - reduce debt by paying off bills and reducing spending!! Spend mindfully!! (van will be paid for next Christmas!) - get things cleaned up and organized around the house July 2011: ~ survived my first year teaching school, the first semester of grad school, and graduated my oldest child from high school! It has been a whirlwind year, with many changes for us. I have struggled with keeping up with everything. Struggled with keeping my weight in check- with eating healthy foods and exercising regularly. Summer hasn't been easy, either, with summer classes and teaching summer school. My son will get his driver's license next week, and my girls are determined to kill each other and/or drive me, dh, and each other crazy! ~ after vacationing for the last week, my weight is up again. I tried hard, had fun, and did ok. I'm ready to start a new challenge for the summer and hope to get back to the lower end of my goal range before school starts in August. DH and I are going on a week-long trip, but we are going to the same beach we went to last year. Good healthy food options, lots of active things to do, including a 5k on the beach put on by a local restaurant. Goals for 2011: ~ return to goal range: 130-140 (aiming for lower end, 130-135) - tone up so that thighs don't rub in skirts! ~ get dh started on his journey, so he can do the active things that we all want to do - reduce debt by paying off bills and reducing spending!! Spend mindfully!! - get things cleaned up and organized around the house Feb 2011: Continuing on my journey to be healthy and to help my family be healthy. Changing my weight goals to maintenance. Can't try to do more right now, and not sure I want to lose any more or just maintain. Focusing on maintaining my healthy habits and redeveloping them in my family, as they have gotten lax since I have been busier with work and school. Working on ways to reduce the convenience foods, even as I struggle to find time to fit everything in with work, school, a husband and 5 kids (and all their activities!) Jan 2011: changing again! Continuing full-time teaching. Started my Master's in Special Education this week. Still haven't found time to track my food, and don't expect to (maybe in the summer?!) Weight was up in Nov, maintained 141 over the holidays, and got back down over the past two weeks to 135. Getting back on track by keeping track of my goals (short and long term). The quote above has been there for a while, but I have finally started putting it into practice! Looking for ways to meet my goals everyday! November 2010: Big changes have meant struggling to find time to workout. I started teaching full-time in mid-September, in a small class that was left in a mess and with students with special needs. I love my job and my students, but I am struggling to find time to workout. I stopped tracking my food, but still try to eat healthily. Unfortunately, though I had reached my goal weight in September, I have gained some of it back. I am still wearing the same clothes, but some of them have gotten a little snug. I feel like I have done pretty well avoiding the temptations of the office meals, treats, etc. but I am starving when I get home from school and end up eating/snacking while I cook dinner. working on that. I have tried to get some of my staff members involved in working out with me. We started doing a Zumba video together, but I am usually feeling like I have to motivate myself and everyone else to go actually do it (2nd day, I go change to work out and everyone is sitting in the cafeteria eating the free pizza that was delivered!) My goal for the rest of the year is to find a way to fit exercise in everyday again. Not sure if I will count the 20-30 minute walks I take with my students each day. I'm thinking I won't, because that hasn't helped me keep the weight off so far. I hope to find time to track my food again. I don't think I can lose the weight if I don't know how much I am actually eating! I start grad school in January, so it will become even more difficult then. Hopefully I can get something worked out before classes start! Lowest weight: 134 Oct 4 Current weight: 140 Nov 24 Goal weight: 130-135 July 2010: It is amazing what a person can do when they put their mind to it! My boys are actively recovering from their injuries; one is working part-time and the other is back to playing soccer and working out regularly, and both are enjoying spending time with friends and family this summer. I have continued working hard on my health, even managing to lose weight while on vacation and running a 5k on the beach during my Florida trip! My motivation has lagged since returning home, but I am working through it to get back on track. May 2010: It has been almost 5 months since my boys wreck, and one year since my brother passed away. The boys are back in school, and I am getting back to focusing on my health and fitness. I have struggled through the last 4 months since my son has been home. Now is the time to get back to it. I walked/ran my first 10k last month; a Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser in honor and memory of my big brother. I am looking forward to being more active with my family this summer! We are working hard to get our family in shape. My husband and I are focusing on losing weight and being more active, the boys are focusing on their rehabilitation, regaining weight and rebuilding their strength, and our three girls are following our lead, being active and eating healthy. Feb 2010: Two months ago, this weightloss journey seemed so important. On the evening of Dec 8, our family suffered an event that made me realize how insignificant this goal really is in the course of our lives! My 14 yo son and 16 yo step son were involved in a horrible car accident. I saw the (unrecognizable) car before I knew it was them, and was thankfully surrounded by wonderful friends from the community when I did find out for sure. It has been a difficult journey from the er, through ICU, to inpatient rehab, and now both boys are on the road to recovery! Their bodies have many bruises and several broken bones, but those things will heal with time. Both are home and working through outpatient physical therapy and other therapies. Isaiah 65:24 "Before they call, I will answer." My boys had the Lord with them in the car that night. By all accounts, they should not be here. We are blessed to have our boys with us, blessed by a huge supportive network of family, friends, and a loving close-knit community. To my SPARK family, we are on the way to recovery. It is a blessing to hear my son complain about being bored, because that is a problem I can work on fixing rather than something I feel helpless to do anything about! Now that we are home, I will continue my walks, because they are important to my mental and physical well-being, which is important to the well-being of my boys! Thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers! _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_ 11/17/09 Who would have thought, when I started really focusing on walking and exercising again at the end of August, that I would have lost more than 20 pounds before Thanksgiving?! I can remember when I first started on Sparkpeople, being overwhelmed seeing the progress that everyone had made. So many pounds lost, or halfway to their goal. I thought, "that could never be me. I have tried before and can't lose the weight." I really did not think I could do it. But I started walking, just walking, 30 minutes everyday. Then 30 minutes turned into an hour, and I found that I felt better everyday that I walked. I also found that, unlike when I used to go to the YMCA all the time, I wasn't starving all the time, so I could manage my eating. And, amazingly, I started losing weight. 5 pounds in the first week! 10 pounds by the end of the first month, and 20 pounds at the end of the second month. I am about halfway through month 3, a month that has been filled with birthday and soccer parties and other social events centered around food. I have still maintained my exercise routine and have been careful about what I eat, and I am continuing to lose weight through it all! Now, I look at my message board posts, and I am the one with my ticker halfway to my goal! I am at a weight I haven't seen in 12 years, and my clothes are literally falling off me. I am proof that anyone can do this, if they take the time for themselves and start slowly. "You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it." Charles Buxton My name is Kim. I am married and have five children. I have just graduated from college and am trying to get back into exercising and planning healthy meals after completing student teaching and classes. When I gave up my YMCA membership, I struggled with "finding time" to work out and with how to do it. I have finally realized, if I make time to exercise, I will do it. I feel so much better when I get out and walk at a fast pace everyday. Pace really makes a difference for me, so I am constantly competing with myself.

starting over- 6/20/16-- 145 6/6/17-- 152 goal- 135 I want to be an example of health for my kids, even if they aren't with me all the time.

I have a lot of food allergies, so I pretty much just eat fruits, veggies, and lean meats. I've found some sauces that I can have and use more spices that are tolerable. I walk a lot because I seem to be tired when I try to anything more than that. Any strenuous exercise wears me out for days! 5% challenge commitment: Exercise Goals: - balanced exercise plan ~ strength 2-4 days a week ~ HIIT 2-3 days a week ~daily walking ~ yoga/stretching - AM exercise (before the kids get up and I procrastinate!)





Add a Link ~~Kim in NC~ EDT Aug 2009: 175 Dec 2009: 142 Aug - Dec 2012: 135 size 4 *30lb gain in 8 weeks* Feb 2013: 164 (Hypothyroid Diagnosis) April/13: 166 size 12-14 July/13 Jaw surgery Sept- confirmed Hashimoto's Dec 2013: 162 March 2014: 155 March 2016: 165 June 2016: 145- not lost in a healthy way! Separation, divorce, STRESS!! June 2017: 152 Jan 2019 167 Goal: 135-140 size 4
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