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Introduction Text Greetings :) I am on a journey of recovery and discovery, a journey of focusing on the healing of my body and the improvement of my health. I suffered some painful injuries back in January of '07 and have been going through a really tough time in various aspects of my life because of it. For the past year, SparkPeople has helped me to stop feeling sorry for myself and move towards a more positive frame of mind so that I can help myself in any way I can. I have adopted healthier eating habits through portion control, calorie tracking, and cleaner eating. For me, focusing on a more healthful lifestyle has been paramount, instead of focusing on the number of the scale. However, I proudly claim my 50-pound loss with gratitude and look forward to the day when I'm an even leaner me. Since I am extremely limited in the exercise arena, I haven't been able to incorporate very much of that into my healthier way of living, but I'm still glad to be part of this wonderful community nonetheless and wholeheartedly cheer for those of you who are fitness warriors and are out there pushing your bodies beyond limits. I've decided to take it one day at a time and to focus on the healthful aspects of this program as well as SP's community support. And, like everyone else, I am human and do have my days of vulnerability, where I don't do things perfectly or to the 100th percent. It is on those days when I need my Sparkfriends the most; it is on those days that I have to remind myself that this journey must be about progress and not perfection; it is on those days that I must dig deep, find my inner warrior, be brave, and move forward with light, love, and positivity in my heart and mind. I have made a renewed commitment to treat my mind, body, and spirit with respect and love and to be a little more nurturing to myself. I love God and my family first and foremost; I love nature, random acts of kindness, French music, Italian anything, a good laugh, a great "chick flick", documentaries, independent films (yes, really), a great book, motivational speakers, philosophy, music of all kinds, art, stimulating conversation, optimism, genuinely good people. My motto: Go make your mark in the world and make a difference! **************************************** Fantastic Quotes: "Forget mistakes. Forget failure. Forget everything except what you're going to do now, and do it." -Will Durant "Don't say, 'If I could, I would.' Say instead, 'If I can, I will.' It is our philosophical set of the sail that determines the course of our lives. To change our current direction, we have to change our philosophy, not our circumstances. I used to say, 'I sure hope things will change.' Then I learned that the only way things are going to change for me is when I change. Disgust and resolve are two of the great emotions that lead to change. We generally change ourselves for one of two reasons; inspiration or desperation. If you don't like where you are, change it! You're not a tree. " - Jim Rohn "At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." - Albert Schweitzer "If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you." - Les Brown "F.A.C.E. yourself and create the life you desire: Forgive, Accept, Choose, Empower. Every journey begins with the first step, Each day can begin renewed and focused. Look in the mirror, make eye contact with the inner you, Take a few deep, relaxing breaths, and smile." - Excerpt from The Tao of Weight "Viewing exercise as a tool for living the life you want is far more motivating than thinking of it as a means to an end." - Coach Nicole "Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, or go through it, or work around it." ~Michael Jordan "Lack of faith in yourself, in what life will do for you, cuts you off from the good things of the world. Expect victory and you make victory." -Pristine Bradley "The true depth and breadth of the heart is measured not only by what it can hold, but also by how willing it is to let go." -Guy Finley "Physical activity is an important part of maintaining cognitive skills." -Dr. Christy Tangney "Think about your future possibilities and the fact that your potential is virtually unlimited. You can do what you want to do and go where you want to go. You can be the person you want to be. You can set large and small goals and make plans and move step-by-step, progressively toward their realization. There are no obstacles to what you can accomplish except the obstacles that you create in your mind." --Brian Tracy "Weight loss for someone like me has to be thoughtful, mindful, purposeful and filled with self-love, not a sumo wrestling match with my own self .. that won't last and will feel emotionally bruising." --LadyIris313 "Decisions: D - Decide on an action plan. E - Every thing is possible if you believe and work at it. C - Consider your choices carefully. I - Invite others to join you on you quest to become healthy. S - Savor the feeling of each victory, big or small. I - Invaluable lessons sometimes hurt, but are necessary for growth. O - Optimism over pessimism, N - Never quit trying or you will fail. S - Say to yourself every day, "I AM WORTH IT!" because you are." (Author Unknown) **************************************** Motivational Passages: "Are you afraid to try or are you afraid to fail? A well-lived life is not for the timid. The world was never meant to be approached with extra caution and fear of making mistakes. Kids know that you have to jump in feet first and be willing to take some lumps on the head if you're going to have any fun. When did we stop trying new things? Why did we stop taking risks? In large part, we're afraid of messing up. We've settled into our comfort zones and don't want to look like a fool to ourselves or others. What's the price we pay for our pursuit of perfection? No growth, no sense of discovery, few real experiences. The sacrifice isn't worth it. Are there points in your life that you wish you could have back because you didn't pursue an idea or a new interest? Those chances are gone forever--but you'll have more in the future to take full advantage of. It's been said that most people don't learn much that's new past their 20s. That's an awful long time to stay stagnant. The only mistake you should be afraid to make is not trying. " - Forwarded to me by RACHELRB on 11/09/09 "There is inner beauty about a woman who believes in herself, who knows she is capable of anything that she puts her mind to. There is a beauty in the strength and determination of a woman who follows her own path, who isn't thrown off by obstacles along the way. There is a beauty about a woman whose confidence comes from experiences, who knows she can fall, pick herself up, and move on." - ~www.operationbeautiful.com~ "...this can also be a great opportunity to take stock of where you've been, where you are now, and where you want to go from here. It's an opportunity to establish clear priorities, set short- and long-term goals for yourself, and work out strategies for accomplishing those goals. The more you keep yourself looking ahead towards what you want, the more energy and creativity you'll have for making that happen." ~ SPARKPEOPLE **************************************** Measures of Success: July '09 - 10 lb. loss Aug. '09 - 10 lb. loss Sept. '09 - 5 lb. loss Oct. '09 - 8 lb. loss Nov. '09 - 3 lb. loss Dec. '09 - 1 lb. loss Jan. '10 - 4 lb. loss Feb. '10 - 7 lb. loss Mar. '10 - 3.4 lb. loss From 07/20/09 to 11/01/09: - Waist: Lost 3 inches - Hips : Lost 5 inches - Thigh: Lost 3 inches - Arm : Lost 1.5 inches From 11/01/09 to 02/13/10: - Waist: Lost 3 inches - Hips: Lost 2 inches - Thigh: Lost 1 inch - Arm: Lost 1 inch 10/03/09 - Fit into my denim shorts 11/01/09 - Fit into my wedding and engagement rings 11/25/09 - 2 people noticed my weight loss at Thanksgiving 11/29/09 - Fit into my long-forgotten "incentive" red dress from five years ago that I never ended up fitting into until now (Still has tags and all) 12/27/09 - Went to post-Christmas family get-together and stunned my in-laws with my obvious weight loss... jaws hit the floor... :) 03/02/10 - Hit 50 lb. weight loss! Spring/Summer 2010 - Encountered some obstacles due to painful flare-ups - Off track 09/11/10 - Recommitted to my healthful lifestyle (Thank goodness - my gray pants are about to burst) 2011 - The Year of Improvements 09//06/11 - Bage to Stage 1 after picking myself up following THE most stressful year I think I've ever had in my life. Learned a lot this past year about myself, about life, about others, about letting go, and about having the strength to move on. This past year has, in a way, been a glimpse into the different aspects in my life that drive me to overeat, not exercise, and allow myself to spiral out of control. Now that I'm ready to restart this journey, I feel I can truly do it being a little wiser. Here I go! ************************************************************************ This song warms my heart: "UNSTOPPABLE" by Rascal Flatts: "Yeah yeah yeah.. Hey So, so you made a lot of mistakes Walked down the road a little sideways Cracked a brick when you hit the wall Yeah, you've had a pocket full of regrets Pull you down faster than a sunset Hey, it happens to us all When the cold hard rain just won't quit And you can't see your way out of it You find your faith has been lost and shaken You take back what's been taken Get on your knees and dig down deep You can do what you think is impossible Keep on believing, don't give in It'll come and make you whole again It always will, it always does You are unstoppable! Love, it weather any storm Bring you back to being born again Oh, it's a helping hand when you need it most A lighthouse shining on the coast That never goes dim When your heart is full of doubt And you think that there's no way out You find your faith has been lost and shaken You take back what's been taken Get on your knees and dig down deep You can do what you think is impossible Keep on believing, don't give in It'll come and make you whole again It always will, it always does You are unstoppable! Like a river keeps on rolling Like the north wind blowing Don't it feel good knowing Yeah You find your faith has been lost and shaken You take back what's been taken Get on your knees and dig down deep You can do what you think is impossible Keep on believing, don't give in It'll come and make you whole again It always will, it always does You are unstoppable! You are unstoppable! So you made a lot of mistakes Walked down the road a little sideways Love, love is unstoppable"

My goals are to continue to develop healthful habits and to strive to make them a permanent part of my life. Consistency is a great motivating factor for me, so I will aim for consistency in my daily actions with the ultimate goal being to choose well. Attitude and mindset are everything; therefore, I will aim to have the most positive outlook even on challenging days when it's difficult to do.

I'm following the caloric guidelines provided by SparkPeople, using the nutritional tracker (IMMENSE HELP), and doing light stretching and PT exercises on those days that I feel up to it. I aim for anywhere between 10 to 17 glasses of water daily, and a minimum of 5 fruits and veggies combined. I read food labels and avoid anything with any form of hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and aspertame/artificial sweetener. I also try to stick with the whole grain/multigrain/brown carbs versus the white.

I am a mom and wife and work in the legal field. I love the arts and anything that is heartwarming -- music, art, laughter, beautiful souls, and spiritual fulfillment.

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -- Marianne Williamson

Add a Link For a good dose of smiles, sparks, and motivation, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=WdbC60BDmw&NR=1 ~ A healthy lifestyle has no limits or numbers. ~ SP_Coach_Nancy ~ The magic will be happening inside your body before it will show up on the scale." ~ SparkGuy ~ The last dejected effort often becomes the winning stroke. ~
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