Im making choices for a healthier lifestyle this year. Ive always been petite, I feel better about myself when Im at 110-115 lbs. I joined a gym three years ago but haven't worked out in a year due to a knee injury in August 2010 and knee surgery in July 2011; I am VERY intimidated to go back. Ive always been shy and non-athletic. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in September 2009 and am currently in the high normal range as of September 2009. UPDATE: As of December 2011, my BP has ...

Im making choices for a healthier lifestyle this year. Ive always been petite, I feel better about myself when Im at 110-115 lbs. I joined a gym three years ago but haven't worked out in a year due to a knee injury in August 2010 and knee surgery in July 2011; I am VERY intimidated to go back. Ive always been shy and non-athletic. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in September 2009 and am currently in the high normal range as of September 2009. UPDATE: As of December 2011, my BP has been 128/80 and 120/84 on two different doctor's visits!! :)

I have gone from 125 lbs in December 2010 back up to 135 lbs in July 2011 and then up to 155 lbs in the 6 weeks between my knee surgery in July and my doctor's visit in September 2011 and am absolutely horrified about this. I am currently working with an internist, an endocrinologist and a gynecologist to balance my hormones as I have been diagnosed as perimenopausal and they think that along with a hormonal imbalance has contributed to this weight gain.

I would like to: make healthy changes to my diet including eating breakfast and lunch daily; get cardio exercise consistently; and use weights to tone my body back to a size 2. I feel as if I have the raw materials, I just need motivation, encouragement and support to get committed and stay committed.

UPDATE 6.5.12
Well, I missed my goal of 115 by 6.1.12 by 1 little lb! I am not letting that get me down, though! I actually went UP to 160 lbs at the first visit with my new internist the 3rd week of November 2012...disgusting! My New Year's resolution was not to JOIN a gym, but rather to QUIT a gym where I had a terrible experience with a personal trainer--and I let that keep me away, but still paid for 3 long years after I forced them to void the PT part of my contract. Well, the look on the receptionist's face was priceless...she saw me waddling through the door on New Year's Day and probably thought "Here comes another one--she'll join with our 'special' and quit coming by mid-Feb". I walked right up to the counter and announced loudly that I wanted to RESIGN my membership; and on the forms I told them exactly why--a personal trainer that did more harm than good and actually made pig and cow noises at me after I voided my PT contract when he tried extorting me and raising his rates halfway through the contract. Nothing has ever felt as good as quitting a gym on New Year's Day!!

I joined another gym, O2, at the beginning of February 2012. I had already lost 20 lbs by walking 3 miles almost daily during December and January and being more careful with my diet. I started O2 at 140 lbs and I am happy to say that I consider my goal of 115 by 6.1.12 REACHED and I am starting a new goal--110 by 8.1.12. I know I won't be losing as quickly since I am gaining muscle now and changing my body composition. I train with a personal trainer 2-3 x/week, still walking daily but up to 5 miles at a 12-15 min/mile pace, I row 5000 meters 3 x/week and I just joined a once-a-week beginner's yoga class.

Read More About TANDRUSIC (Updated October 9)