I have been tracking my nutritional intake now for over a week and have been very faithful. I am finding out that I have actually been starving my body so that is why my metabolism has shut down and has shifted into "reserve mode". I lost 85 pounds about 13 years ago through Weight Watchers but started gaining it back when I was attending college at the age of 45. Just to give you a little history of my life since that time...I was going through menopause and was suffering from major anxiety ...

I have been tracking my nutritional intake now for over a week and have been very faithful. I am finding out that I have actually been starving my body so that is why my metabolism has shut down and has shifted into "reserve mode". I lost 85 pounds about 13 years ago through Weight Watchers but started gaining it back when I was attending college at the age of 45. Just to give you a little history of my life since that time...I was going through menopause and was suffering from major anxiety and depression, and to make matters worse, my husband was diagnosed with Hep C and was told his liver was in very bad repair. He got this virus from a blood transfusion about 20 years prior to this date during a back surgery. His health failed in every aspect and at that time he was also the owner of an insulating business. He had to be put on some very harsh medical treatments to hopefully rid himself of the Hep C virus which took him down profusely over a 6 month period of time. This man is my "soul mate" and I simply just fell apart. Then to make matters worse our business failed and the person we had put in control of it was not a trustworthy person. We found out after the fact that he was collecting income without our knowledge among other underhanded dealings. Needless to say all in the same year we were forced out of business, had to file personal and business bankruptcy all while my husband was under going very heavy treatments. My depression and anxiety crescendoed into nearly a total mental breakdown. One day I walked into my work place and broke down crying and couldn't stop so I made a mad dash to my doctor at which time I was put on some medication to ease my anxiety. I gained a mountain of weight over that period of so much stress and upheaval. There is a silver lining to every dark cloud though and I have come a long way over the past two years. I have learned that material goods aren't important and life is to short to sweat the small stuff! I have also learned that the most important thing is my loving family, friends and to love myself. Today I feel much wiser and stronger and I also feel like I have found my niche with SparkPeople. I have taken control of my life now and I am more then ready to reach the goals I am striving for but I also feel like I can help others. I have been through many many ups and downs in my lifetime and for that very reason I feel I can offer people support, helpful advice and maybe a smile or a giggle to see them through the "darker side" of life. It is never to late to be proactive about life and all it offers...the good as well as the bad! I will reach my goals and I will become that person that can smile at the slimmer lady in the mirror!! Thank you SparkPeople and all that I have met in my short journey here thus far!!! God bless all of you!
YES.....I CAN DO THIS!

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