I am astonished and grateful yet again about the way Spark has changed me.

Yesterday I ate in a way I don't like but is very familiar to me: a lunch of 1000 calories consisting entirely of protein and fat. I read a lot of blogs about folks with sugar addiction and how they struggle with it. Sweets don't really call to me, but let me tell you what I ate: 2 big spareribs (with no sauce), a small slice of pork, some dark meat turkey, two chicken tacos, some chow mein. I think that's it. Fruit & veg: cranberry sauce and a little guacamole. When I tried adding it up, it came to about 1000 calories. Really!

Later that day I really was worried and disturbed. I thought I had "blown it" and would be gaining weight in no time.

However, this morning I logged in to Spark as usual and happened on MUSICALLYMINDED's blog "Make a good choice today." She simply made a list of good choices for her, for today. I felt an intense sense of relief. I could make a list of good choices for me, for today. Here's what I wrote:
1. oatmeal & blueberries for breakfast
2. don't go out to lunch - pack a chicken sandwich and an apple
3. stop by the gym after work: recumbent bike, elliptical, treadmill - 10 minutes each
4. spinach omelette for dinner, grapes for dessert

By writing it down on her blog page, I made a commitment. I prepared for my day by packing a lunch and water and my gym bag and made sure my Zune was charged so I could listen to Radiolab. I felt good all day. I hardly ever go to the gym but I still keep up my membership. I don't "like" cardio but I do like strength training and have become a Pilates aficionado (and I go to belly dance and salsa classes). But today was different. The gym is less crowded on a Friday evening. I felt I could do 10 minutes each on the three pieces of equipment - that's not such a big deal. I did it. Then I came home and I couldn't disappoint my darling dog Cassie (the mop), and I was already wearing my walking shoes (and knee braces) so we headed out for a quick ten-minute walk even though it's dark out.

I pretty much feel like my day was a miracle! I stumbled but did not fall. I did not sink into a hopeless state of mind (the state of mind where you eat to feel better and then feel horrible). Through tracking food and exercise on Spark, I've learned that eating well and moving your body really does lift your spirits. Through interacting with Spark friends and reading blogs, I've learned that through ups and downs, we can make our lives better and healthier every day.