Recently I got sick with the Flu. I was very tired for a few weeks after and still I just do not seem to have a lot of energy. During this time I completely fell off my diet and exercise routine. I was eating cheese enchiladas and nachos several times a week (we have a nearby drive thru Mexican restaurant. I learned a lot about my body. Even now when I am feeling better if I do not eat enough or the right kinds of food I get exhausted fast.

It all fits together because when I don’t eat enough I feel too tired to exercises. Then even when I force myself to exercise I just feel tired or worse I go home and fall asleep or eat too many carbohydrates. For me the right formula is when I take vitamins, eat enough healthy foods (avoid sugar and wheat), exercise (both cardio and strength training), communicate with my Spark friends, track my food and exercise and meditate. It just doesn’t work when I try to not do one of these parts of the formula. Maybe when I am at a healthier weight I won’t have to be so strict about it, but for now every day I need to keep this formula going.

When I am following my formula I am loosing weight and feeling really good. I have more energy, more positive feelings, and I feel I can do this. In the last little while, when I have been struggling, it is always because this formula is off. I have stopped doing one thing and off I go. I am sure that when I am emotionally and physically more healthy I will not get lost because I forget my vitamins for one or two days, or skip a day of exercise, but right now it is hurting me more than that moment of “rest” is benefiting me.

I know myself so much better now than when I started this journey and I know I can succeed this time. I have everything I need for the formula. Most of it I have learned here at Spark People. It is hard when my life gets so busy with work, schooling, mothering, and all the other stuff to remember that I am too important to stop taking care of. When things get tight and something has to give it is usually some part of my formula. This is a bad idea because then all the other things fall apart. I find myself too tired and cranky to do a good job at any of my responsibilities.

My goals:

I am a priority.
I use all of the Spark People resources and reconnect with my Spark friends.
I am working towards weighing less than 300 lbs by Thanksgiving.
I am following my formula.

My plan (the formula):

Plan out my meals ahead of time (6 meals that include protein, complex carbs and healthy fats).
Track my meals on SP
Set up my vitamins so I already have them ready for each day.
Walk my dogs every morning while doing a walking meditation and then sit in the park and do a sitting meditation.
Exercise each day Monday –Friday, Strength training 2 to 3 times a week
Track my exercise on SP
Hike or do my horse volunteering on Saturday
Rest (except walking the dogs) on Sunday
Spark everyday for at least 10 to 15 minutes
Have a I hour weekly planning meeting (with myself) every week (Saturday mornings)



I am so glad that i found Spark People, I would be really lost if I had not received all the kind words of encouragement through out the weeks that I have been struggling. It made all the difference in the world to me.