Has it really been 4 years?

Last month I took a trip to Texas with my husband and met one of my Spark friends in person. She is the 4th Spark friend I've met in person & it was fabulous! Especially as I've been off Spark for 4 years and somehow she and I have still stayed friends thru FB messenger :) Anyway, she said that she had been making an effort to walk every day - working on low carb - and it was working. She was glowing. I went home a couple of days later and the morning after woke up with ankles that looked like sausages... fat fingers... well, and fat everywhere else too! So yes, it was due to traveling... and eating out for 5 days... but still. So as I hobbled around the house that day (yes, took off work to recover!) I decided it was time for a change. A change that would stick. So here's the background... my husband's alarm goes off every morning 40 minutes before mine. The older I get, I find it waking me up - and then I'm not falling back asleep. Well, instead of starting the day angry that I couldn't fall back asleep, I decided to start using that time to exercise. Turns out I need a bit more time, so now MY alarm goes off at 4:45 each morning (6:45 on weekends) and I'm exercising. Haven't missed a day yet. Praying I don't get sick or hurt b/c I really like being on a streak. Started with some YouTube dancing videos. And then one morning I found Daniel w/Team Body Project. I love him. His wife - not so much!! She is crazy fit and her workouts exhaust me! But they have a program for beginners - low impact - on your feet the whole time - doable - and dare I say, fun? Well, one video was called "Fun - Rock and Soul Cardio". They lied about that one. And it wasn't one of the beginning ones. I digress. Daniel is a motivator. He encourages thru the whole workout. I signed up for their app but haven't started paying for more videos - I've been happy with the variety I'm finding on YouTube (ok - this mornings, "Boxing and Abs", sucked too...). Anyway, the point is, I'm moving every day. Still working on getting my food on track (as I sit here sipping my wine... which I don't usually do, especially on a Tuesday... but I had to clean the kitchen after work and loud music & wine make it easier... not to mention, it was left over from Sunday... wine should never be left over). Oh - I apologize if anyone tries to read this... I am NOT a writer/blogger/etc. I love to talk. And I tend to babble. Unfortunately that shows up when I try to do these. I'm not poetic or gifted, but I still like to yap. Buttonpopper - that girl can write! Can't wait to catch up on her blogs. Okay - last thing before I sign off. I'm not weighing myself this time. What? you ask. Yep. I've been watching The Biggest Loser. It pisses me off when the person is standing up there looking at 4 pounds lost - and they're devastated that it wasn't more. Good grief. A pound is a pound, right?! Well, I'm tired of the psychological mess that is me when I'm stepping on the scale each week. Don't want the discouragement of not losing enough - maybe being up because of salt - whatever. This time, I'm looking for non scale victories. Yep... still looking!!! But, it's only been 3 weeks. Right now I'm relishing in the fact that I've been exercising for 3 weeks. And guess, what? Despite my crippling arthritis in my left knee that kills me daily... I'm feeling BETTER. Yep. Life is good. Love yourself. Doesn't matter if you're fat or skinny or somewhere in between. You are awesome. You are worth so much more than you give yourself credit for. God made you PERFECT. Don't forget that. Rock on, my friends. Looking forward to catching up with any of my buddies if they're still here... and of course, making new friends is always superb as well. Love you guys!