May 4 2013

I started to change the end of April 2009. I weighed over 250 pounds, joined weight watchers, & proceded to lose about 50 pounds. Well, you know the excuses, the Holidays hit, the food - OH THE FOOD (it was really good), I ceased working out, & I gained back 10 pounds. In a desperate search after the new year, I found Spark People. It was so simple - why didn't I think of it before.
It took about 3 weeks for me to start befriending myself & was also friended ...

May 4 2013

I started to change the end of April 2009. I weighed over 250 pounds, joined weight watchers, & proceded to lose about 50 pounds. Well, you know the excuses, the Holidays hit, the food - OH THE FOOD (it was really good), I ceased working out, & I gained back 10 pounds. In a desperate search after the new year, I found Spark People. It was so simple - why didn't I think of it before.
It took about 3 weeks for me to start befriending myself & was also friended other Sparkers. I gained back a bit of my "dignity" & saw a "SPARK" of light in my future. By my daughter's wedding in April, I dropped to 173 & was so close to my goal. I felt healthy, alive, pretty, fit, confident, & happy.

In January 2011, after working out, I sat down to check my e-mail. Sniff, sniff - what is that smell?? It was the nicotine coming out of my pores! So began a new plan - quit smoking! I would quit, then gain weight & smoke, then quit again, gain weight & smoke until the day I told myself that it would be better for me, my family, & grand kids if I were fat & smoke free. February 7th at 2:42 pm, I put out my last cigarette. I can't really say what I weighed at that time because it had been a while since stepping on a scale & through my quit, I did not weigh myself. I think I got on Spark & changed my weight to what I hoped it was still at - it was a lie to myself.

Fast forward to November 2012, my knees have been bothering me since I slipped on the ice & hyper-extended the left knee. In March/April 2013 - I travelled to see my daughter & newest grand daughter. It took a great deal of arm strength to get in & out of my seat on the plain or out of the couch at her home & it was painful to travel the stairs to the bedroom. I tried a knee brace & began using the elevator which helped. I have been feeling old, really, really old. My daughters have been bugging me to see a doctor because I had other health complaints & because I hadn't seen a doctor in 10+ years. I thought what doctor would help a lady who can't even help herself.

I woke up April 28, 2013 & decided it was time. Man I HOPE it's time - okay I hope but I'm also going to fight for it. Monday April 29th, I called a doctor & scheduled an appointment. On Friday morning (May 3rd), it was my 6th day into healthy eating (& moving), I finally weighed myself - 246! This information has not yet killed me - WOO HOO!!

The road ahead seems steep & I have questions about my ability to reach that destination at the top of the hill. However, I do not want to feel old when I move, I want to play on the floor with my grand kids again, & most of all, I want to feel healthy, alive, pretty, fit, confident, & happy with who I am because of what I've accomplished - for myself & for my family!

My wish for you Spark friends is to have a happy & healthy heart!

Melissa

Read More About AHAPPYLIFE (Updated May 7)

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