Page Title

Introduction Text Update - April 2017! I just passed the 10th year anniversary of being on SparkPeople! This site and all the people I've met through it are such an amazing encouragement and blessing to me! I've been through a lot in my life, but feel that I am stronger for it and able to better understand and help others because of those struggles. I am still working on losing the rest of my weight that is coming off so, so slowly! But I know that this is a journey that I have learned so much from and made friendships that are the best ever! The people on my teams are the most encouraging and supportive, genuine people I've met...ever. I am working with my Great Pyrenees to be therapy dogs so we can spend time with those that are lonely, don't feel worth it or are not well. These dogs are the best, so sweet and fun! We are hoping that they will be ready for visits very soon! I am a much healthier me than I was 10 years ago even though I am still working through health issues related to anxiety and GI issues and the emotional effects from the hateful treatment of others, those I should have been able to count on. I am going to choose to pray for all those people and just love them back in prayer. I am incredibly blessed to have a wonderful husband who loves me as I am and is a wonderful dad to our 5 kids (4 still at home.) My attitude has always been to "never quit" and "no matter what." I wake up each morning first saying, "Again, Lord?" and then I am thankful for a new day! I take this attitude with me every day...that I want to put a smile on someone's face and make a difference in their life...every...day. And so I encourage you to never give up. Ever! We can do this together!! Hugs and love to all! Update for February, 2011 February is all about Love. But that should be a part of every day of our lives. I am on a journey to learn to love myself, something I have never been very good at. That means taking care of myself and being healthy for life. When the heart is filled with love, we feel better, we are satisfied. When the body is filled with healthy food and honored with exercise the heart is filled with healthy energy. My background picture just keeps a smile on my face! Our Border Collies are a huge part of bringing good health to our family. Sunny (pictured with my 6 year old daughter) is all sweetness and love. When my daughter needs a hug, Sunny is right there to give it. And my daughter needs lots of hugs with her many neurological but manageable health challenges. I firmly believe that part of the health of our house is due to our dogs bringing down our blood pressure, reducing our stress and just bringing such fun and contentment. We love being very active with them which is a great step in healthy living! For the past 4 years Sparkpeople has been a wonderful part of not just MY life, but my family's lives as well. As I have changed and grown healthier, it has naturally rubbed off on my family. And right down to my 5 year old daughter, they are very motivated to be heatlhy with me. I am truly blessed!! Sparkpeople has helped my husband as well. He has never struggled with weight as I have, but this past December he became very ill with Acute Pancreatitis. It was discovered that he has a congenital defect that caused this near fatal attack and put him in the hospital for 9 days right before Christmas. One thing that can help with this defect is a very lowfat diet. I knew just the place to help my husband! I showed him the Spark People Nutrition tracker and how he could track his calories, fat, and many other nutrients to keep in safe and healthy. He has been using the tracker ever since! Thanks again Spark People! This has helped both of us so much! I am now at a 45 pound loss and won't give up! Slow and steady! I wish the very best to all of you! Be happy, choose healthy! Update for December 2009... I am honored to be a Sparker in my third year of choosing to live healthy. 36 pounds, many inches and 4 sizes GONE forever! This journey began because I love life, but wasn't enjoying it and didn't have the energy to keep up with the physical and mental demands I have as a mom of 5 kids (4 with neurological and/or medical challenges.) I've taken the long way home with gradually losing 36 pounds in 3 years. But don't feel badly for me, I don't. I am so blessed to have learned so much and still am in shock that I have lost! WOW! My life has forever changed and I am never going back! I feel healthier, more energetic and much more positive about ME. I've discovered all the energy I put into caring for others I had to start putting into myself...why did I put so much WORTH into others and not into myself? I haven't always gotten the best messages from others but that is their issue not mine. This has been a very important lesson for me. It has been a wonderful journey of getting to know me and actually see myself as someone who really matters! I am a 47 year old mom of 5 ages 5 to 21! I love my kids and my husband. I hate the way I look and have let my health go. I have struggled to accept myself as I grew up not being understood. I married very young to a very abusive alcoholic, divorced and resolved to go it alone to raise my 2 young boys. Thankfully, I met a great guy through church (my soulmate) and the rest is history. My husband and I have fun together and have learned to laugh through the challenges as much as we can. Life is all about your attitude and perspective. I have always been optimistic even in the worst of situations. By gaining my health, working out and putting good clean food into my body I have the energy to conquer anything again! It wasn't gone, just buried under all the years of not giving myself the best like I did for everyone else...a tough lesson that was my issue, not theirs! My family has a history of morbid obesity , heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. The medical odds weighed heavily against me, but that only challenged me more to overcome. I have never been a quitter, and the more challenge there is the harder I try! I LOVE to work out...really. Working out is a stress relief and my "happy place!" I feel totally stoked after a workout and ready to conquer and save the world! Time is a challenge but I have learned that giving myself the time gives a better "quality me" to others. Four of my 5 kids having special challenges ranging from Aspergers, Non-Verbal Learning Disorder, Seizure disorder, asthma, Sensory Processing, GERDS, and EE (Eosinophilic Esophagitis) etc. We had up to 8 therapy sessions a week for years to help our children, but are "down" to 5 now. I also home school my kids giving them a great education in the way they learn. Our school system refused to listen to the experts in the field of Aspergers regarding our children and dismissed their knowledge for their own beliefs which severely held our kids back. They were critical and harsh! We have a lot of fun with our A.R.K. homeschooling (A Room for Kids)! We learn more than academics...we build character, self esteem and healthy living, exercise and eating! I have learned so much watching my kids struggle and gain victory over their challenges with such courage and energy. Our 5 year old daughter is so brave dealing with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Basically her body is treating food like a foreign substance and produces antibodies that attack her little body. She has gone through endoscopies every 10 weeks for the past 2 years! Our 6 year old daughter has so many medical challenges as well and goes through each challenge with a smile! How could I do any less? My kids are my heroes!! I want to be theirs!! I make no excuses...I have real reasons for weight gain just like everyone else and I take full responsibility for it. There are events in my life that may factor in, but in the end it is my deal to deal with. Ever since gall bladder surgery 4 years ago I gained 30 pounds that first year, never been that heavy, struggled with choosing foods that wouldn't cause me to be sick. Also, I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in 2006...what a relief and a huge validation to me actually. So many things in my life makes sense now. I understand that there isn't something "wrong" with me, but that I have a unique way of dealing with things, amazing strengths and challenges that make me who I am. For those who don't know about Asperger it is on the high end of the Autism Spectrum and highly misunderstood by so many including professionals and experts in the field. Many schools continue to fail at understanding and dealing with this neurological challenge. Since joining Spark I started walking Leslie Sansone, using a speed bag and punching bag along with my treadmill and weight training machine. I stopped the repetitve motion of the LS tapes after getting Plantar in both feet. After getting a great pair of supportive shoes and changing my workout to the treadmill and elliptical the excrutiating pain is gone! In changing my routine I got off a plateau...pounds weren't falling off, but inches definitely were! It is really making a difference in my mind as well as my body! I feel better than I have in a long time. It is helping me to keep up with my kids and their challenges. The changes I have seen are so much bigger than the scale. My clothes fit better, I feel thinner. I have more energy and more endurance. Update 2009: I am at 36 pound down! WooHoo!! I feel like I am finally finding balance of healthy eating clean (no preservatives or additives) and exercising. My goal has been to get 10,000 or more steps everyday and I have that mastered with walking on the treadmill with interval training and playing with my wonderful Border Collies and tiny Sheltie!! Diesel and Sunny are the best workout routine and we play outside several times a day no matter the weather! Soccer is our favorite and especially enjoy "snow soccer!!" The dogs and I prefer the cold, the rain and the snow!! I love the Wii Fit and Plus and do EA Active as well. My fave routines would have to be the cardio dancing, punching bag and boxing. What an intense and awesome workout! I will be stepping my workout up a notch with The Biggest Loser workout for Wii that I got for Christmas! AWESOME!! I have added a medicine ball and Kettle Bells to my weight and balance routine and continue to use free weights and core balance exercises. My balance has always been an issue but has really improved. The speed bag and punching bag are still a big part of my routine as well as the stacked weight training machine. I am using Biggest Loser DVD's like Bootcamp and Cardio Max which really ramp up intensity to my workouts. This is my life plan...forever and not just for me...for you too! If I can help make a difference in anyones life...I will go to any length to do it. I want to put smiles on people's faces! You are all so WORTH it!! Thanks for stopping by my Spark Page, Cathy

I want to be healthy, feel young and be active with my children. I want to live a long long time in a healthy way. I want to feel good about myself and look good. I want to support others in this same set of goals.

I work out at home everyday! I alternate with the following! My Fitdesk bike; treadmill; and elliptical. I also love walking my dogs (Great Pyrenees) I love working out with Wii Fit and Wii Active! What an amazing workout!! And it is so much fun! I walk on my treadmill doing interval training changing intensity, speed and incline. What a great and enjoyable workout! But I have to say that the Elliptical would be my favorite! That is the best workout and doesn't strain my joints. I also do strength training using free weights, a medicine ball, Kettlebells and a weight machine. I LOVE the speed bag and use it anytime I go on the treadmill! I have a 100# punching bag and love to kick and punch that sucker around as well!! It is a great stress reducer! I try to watch my portions, times of day I eat and what I eat. I eat 5-6 small meals a day and stay in my cal range.

I LOVE animals. Having my Great Pyrenees, Border Collies and Shelties is so good for me and my kids with challenges. I am outside daily playing ball and exploring. Love it rain or shine, but especially in the winter!

Favorite Movies: War Room, God's Not Dead, Courageous, Big Hero 6, Home and any disaster flick! Bed of Roses, Hope Floats, Field of Dreams, The Proof, The Lake House I love to photograph wildlife and my kids! I love to sew, love writing especially based on real life situations. I want to finish writing a book I started years ago based on my life and challenges. I love to sing and write music as well! I love feeling free and empowered when I exercise!!

Add a Link Cathy Co-Leader of Autism, Aspergers, Sensory, Oh My! and Leader of W.O.R.T.H. team and T.E.A.M. Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. Every man is a builder of a temple called his body. Thoreau All the Darkness in the world can not extinguish the Light of a Single candle. St. Francis of Assisi
Save Changes