About 7 months ago, I was messing around on the internet researching "losing weight"....... (You've all been there, haven't ya? And if not, please lie to me and make me feel "normal") :-) Anyway, I stumbled on to SparkPeople. What is that? Needless to say, I got nothing else done for the next couple of hours. I set up my page and got started exploring. I was ready (again) to lose this weight (again) and get healthy. But I needed help.

SparkPeople instantly had me hooked! I started using the nutritional tracker, not to mention the fitness tracker! I lost my first 5lbs and was so excited to "buy" myself my "I lost 5lbs with SparkPeople" trophy!!! I proudly displayed that as my profile pic for a week! :-) Then 10, 15, 20, 25, 30!! (Am currently working on my 40lbs lost.) I loved it! I added, and got to know, some great people and have shared lots of SparkGoodies and stories with lots of wonderful people.

I was happy. I was thinking "SparkPeople is Awesome!" "Life is good"
But wait there's more.......
A fellow Sparkfriend told me about the BLC (Thanks, Leesha!) I had NO idea what she was talking about! :-) So I did some more researching and decided I needed to be a part of this "Biggest Loser Challenge"! I read through the team descriptions and filled out my application to the Azure Destinations Team. Little did I know what was in store for me!?!?

Instantly, I felt at home with this group of girls! Sure, at first there were a lot of niceties and formal talk happening, but over the next 12 weeks, I had really started to get to know these girls on a personal level. This group of 20+ ladies have been my rock, along with my non BLC friends!

I have not only gotten to know these girls, I was also learning stuff about myself. I had some devastating things happening in my life. I took some advice and decided to blog about it. My "dated" blogs were born. :-) I just re-read these blogs and the comments from my amazing Sparkfriends and Azurita Sisters. Wow.
How was I going through life without this outlet and this amazing support system? I had NO idea that I was going to GAIN so much while trying to LOSE so much (weight). No idea.

I am forever thankful for SparkPeople and the BLC..... more specifically the Azure Destinations team. Without you girls, I would still be holding all of this stuff in only showing Sparkland my smile on the outside.
I'm looking forward to BLC19 and getting to know my current Azure Sisters even better and even meeting more wonderful people!!

Oh yeah, and that whole "losing weight" thing. My goal was to lose 15lbs throughout BLC18 and since our last official weigh in is tomorrow, we'll have to wait and see.......