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Introduction Text September 2014: Life is even more complicated than I thought before. Having made it a good way toward my original goals, it all went out the window when my husband was diagnosed with Stage IV renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer, spread to both adrenal glands). Now I'm pretty much back where I started, except for four years older and creakier. Also, instead of this being the aftermath of a short, sharp downhill cancer death, we're in for a long haul with my husband - years, hopefully lots of them! I'm trying to find my balance for taking care of my health, fitness, and sanity needs without compromising on the support that my husband and sons need. May 2010: Life is complicated. Last summer, I tested for my black belt in Isshinryu Karate. Less than a month later, I was a full time caretaker to my father-in-law as he dealt with liver cancer. Over the next seven months, I gained nearly thirty pounds, my blood pressure shot up, and my strength and fitness declined precipitously. My FIL died about a month ago, and now I'm starting to take a look at myself, and I'm not liking what I'm seeing. The woman of a year ago is gone, and in her place is a marshmallow. The weight isn't so much the issue (though I wouldn't mind dropping it), but I can't keep up with my martial arts classes the way I could, and that's a big problem. So now it's time to focus on me for a while and see if I can drag that old buff me out of the closet. ------------ Update: March 2011 Well, the old buff me has successfully reappeared. But old, buff me can still be a good bit better. I can run three miles, pump out crunches by the hundred-lot, and do my fair share of full-body push-ups, but my fat percentage is still a good bit higher than I would like. Having successfully re-emerged as the person who earned my black belt in 2009, now I'd like to re-find the person who first went to the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in 1997. The fitness is there, now I need to find my competitive fire and work on trimming off the thirty pounds that two pregnancies and a wonky thyroid and pituitary stuck on my body. If I can't turn back the clock and refind my body of 28, at least I can find a body to be proud of on a 42-year-old, stretch marks and all. 12/12/10 - first weight goal met - 199.4 lbs 1/20/11 - 2nd weight goal met - 195 lbs Next weight goal - 188.5 lbs - Halfway point! PR (1 mile) - 9:27 (3/15/11) PR (2 mile) - 20:33 (3/15/11)

Health and sanity! Long term: Hit my goal weight of a fighting 160. Earn my 3rd dan black belt. Do a proper chin-up. Start sending out my writing to agents and publications!

Karate - 2 classes/week, plus at home training Working slowly back into other exercise.

My name is Cindy. I'm 5'8", and 45 years old. I'm a nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Isshinryu Karate. I'm also a pianist, organist, singer, knitter, sewer, writer, and inveterate reader. And busy for some mysterious reason. ;-) I'm also the mother to two great boys. I may not mention them much, but that's at least partially because they're hitting that age where they find it embarrassing for their mother to brag on them.

Trying desperately to get my life and house organized enough to do all the things I need to do.

Add a Link -Cindy In the end, only kindness matters. - Jewel
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