Hi! I am back
I wrote a nice long blog post at the beginning of December, going on and on about everything that had been going on with me and when I went to post it, the page locked up and I lost it. Hopefully that doesn't happen again!

Lots has happened since the last time I was around. I graduated college with a BS in Psychology (YAY!) at the end of November. I graduated with honors and was so proud of myself
I took the winter off from school and started graduate school in March. I am working on my MS in Mental Health Counseling and so far I love my program. It is a TON of work. I'm taking two classes at a time for 12 week quarters. I feel like it will take forever to finish, but I'm sure it'll fly by.
On Monday, I will be starting a new job as a case manager for a community mental health agency. I am excited and nervous, but I know I will love it.

About six months ago, I went to the doctor and found out I weighed more than I ever have. It was somewhere in the ballpark of 220 (cant remember exactly) and my blood pressure was higher than ever. This really upset me because I have never had problems with my blood pressure. Needless to say, I was so bummed. My doc put me on phen for a few months, but since all I did was sabatoge my weight loss while on it, I took myself off about a month ago. I want to lose this weight the right way, on my own, with dedication and hard work. I saw my doctor last week (a new one), weighing in at 214. We decided to create a 12 week calendar where I will show that I am walking a minimum of three days a week. She wants me to bring it with me when I go back the first week of October, so she's actually trying to hold me accountable. I am excited because I am determined to get my health back. Part of being a good counselor is taking care of myself. I know this is an important element of my personal growth.

I finally went for a walk last night, after dinner and hubby went with me. It was only about a mile, but it felt great. Today, I weigh 215. We moved my Wii back into my room and I completed my first workout with Bob using the Biggest Loser game. It was great!! It was a simple, light, yoga routine, but it kicked my butt and I can't wait to do it again tomorrow. And I am looking forward to this evening's walk....once the sun starts going down and its not so hot outside!

I'm not sure how much time I will be able to spend on SparkPeople since usually when I am in front of the computer, I am doing homework. But I hope to be around at least a few days a week. I have so many goals and I really need to sit down and figure out what to focus on first. I want to quit smoking (AGAIN) , lose weight, and have a regular meditation routine. I also want to be back to measuring my food and really holding myself accountable for calories consumed. I will try my best to be as organized as I need to be to really make good changes.

I am looking forward to starting this journey again. I am challenging myself to be fitter than I've ever been before I hit 40. I know I can do this.

Bye for now!
~glenda