Hello fellow sparker! My name is Heather. If you are like me you found this site because of a struggle with weight, eating habits and trying to be healthy. Whether that was a google search that brought you here (guilty!) or a friend that referred you- welcome to taking the first step to your healthy life!

My weight gain started in 2005 when I gained about 40 lbs prior to college. I gained 10 lbs in college and quickly lost sight of who I was; my self esteem plumitted. Furthermore, ...

Hello fellow sparker! My name is Heather. If you are like me you found this site because of a struggle with weight, eating habits and trying to be healthy. Whether that was a google search that brought you here (guilty!) or a friend that referred you- welcome to taking the first step to your healthy life!

My weight gain started in 2005 when I gained about 40 lbs prior to college. I gained 10 lbs in college and quickly lost sight of who I was; my self esteem plumitted. Furthermore, my family has a long list of health problems and weight gain. While I am hoping not to fall in the same patterns, I have also been battling my own demons.

When I found Sparkpeople in October of 2008 and began my journey I weighed in at 176lbs. In the beginning it was very slow for me. I worked out but I wasn't watching what I was eating. Life hit me hard all at once and I let myself go- eating anything and everything I wanted. In doing so I gained more weight; hitting what was then my highest weight, 185 lbs (193 lbs highest weight recorded). Later I realized how important the trackers were for me and for my success.

Since becoming more aware of what I was doing, how it was impacting my life and commiting to working on these things, my emotional well-being has increased (thanks to Sparkpeople and my positive support system too!). I learned that I can't do everything alone (even if I want to) and that it is okay to ask for help and support. I have learned the power of patience. . and I also learned that there are things in life you can't always control, but this I can!

My overall goal is to weigh around 135 lbs but my plan is to have smaller goal weights first. My first goal weight is 150lbs. I know now that I am so lucky to be living my life I have and to have supportive, loving and kind people that I share it with. I want to be healthier for MYSELF, for the life I want to lead, for my husband (who I cant imagine my life without) and the others that I love and care for. In achieving these weight loss goals I, above all, want to feel better being who I am on the outside as I grow more and more to love and appreciate the person I am on the inside.

The things I think are most important are consistency, determination, SP friends, tracking/blogging, water and SWEAT. When I started I didn't have my heart in it- I say this now because it's true- I didn't WANT it BAD ENOUGH. I realized when I really wanted to better myself, when I was ready, I could do it. Over 25 lbs later and over half way to my overall goal I can still do it. And when I get stuck I think about the progress Ive made and keep on going. This is just the first step- but it was a big one. Keep on going!

"It may be alright to be content with what you have never with what you are."

You can succeed if nobody else believes it, but you will never succeed if you don't believe in yourself.
- William J. H. Boetcker

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