Hello friends!

I hope you all are doing well.

I am! I have not been around on SparkPeople, but happily, that doesn't mean I haven't been doing well. It's been a busy several months with school, etc. but I have actually been doing okay with my weight loss. I have been slowly and steadily losing weight and went from my high of 335 (eek!) to about 307 since September. I still have a long way to go, but it is nice to be seeing that number move in the right direction.

It can be frustrating for that number to move slowly, but I remember losing 80 lbs and then gaining it back. I never want to do that again. And so I am just slowly working on my habits, first eating less, now eating better.

I have also been seeing a counselor. Those of you that don't, I would highly recommend trying it. Seeing a counselor has helped me to see the unhealthy cycles I've developed in my life, relationships and behavior. Seeing them, and more specifically, my role in creating them, has helped me to break them, one by one. It's not always the easiest journey, but it has been so rewarding. I feel happier, not as scared to do things as I have always been. Once you break through fear, it is amazing the things you can do for yourself.

My counselor has also helped me to realize that I have ADHD. A lot of people write this disorder off as a disease that gives parents an excuse for their children's bad behavior, but in my case, making this discovery has had a huge impact on my life. Before I thought I was lazy, disorganized, too easily distracted, forgetful. Recognizing it as ADHD has helped me to discover that is an imbalance within my body that can be corrected to help me lead a healthier and happier life. There is no magic cure, per se, but I am now being treated for this disorder. Apparently there is a substantial number of people with adult ADHD who are overweight (they have a hard time sticking to diet and weight loss plans) so it helps me to see my behaviors in a different light, cut myself a little slack, and work around my particular weaknesses in this area.

Having said all this, I thought I'd try and come back here more often. I am in a much better place emotionally and mentally than I was six months ago, but I still need to work on applying this to my weight loss and health. I know coming to this site, in and of itself, is a commitment to my health. Learning one new exercise, one new healthy recipe, making one new supportive friend...they are all a part of the process, and I've been missing these parts.

I have heard that weight loss is all in the mind...and my mind is strong. Now it's time for my body to follow.

I hope you are all doing well. I look forward to catching up with how you are doing in your own journeys, and to getting back into the business of being a sparker!