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Introduction Text I've reached a strange stage in my life that I never saw coming. I just turned 59. I recently found myself unemployed and finally had some time to devote to myself that I never had before. I wish I didn't have to worry about finding a job because I am having a great time with my HEALTHY LIFESTYLE MAKEOVER!!!! I started very gradually by increasing my water consumption and decreasing my coffee and diet soda habits. It wasn't long before I had given up both and I don't miss them one bit. IN fact, I find I don't even like them anymore. I was a self described Diet Coke addict since I was 16 years old so this by itself is amazing to me! Then I decided to start working on loosing the extra 50lbs I had been carting around more or less most of my life. Another diet....Herbalife, high protein. That gave me an immediate increase in energy but I wasn't having this AMAZING WEIGHT LOSS they claimed I would. Still I stuck with the program. Then I needed a tracker to calculate calories so I found Sparkpeople.....and this is where the excitment begins! I started tracking foods and saw I was very high on sodium and where that sodium was hidden. I always knew I liked my salt, but I have high blood pressure and should have been watching it. Now I do, thanks to the tracker and how easy it is to see what hurts me and what helps me. I was encouraged to get off the couch for 10 minutes a day. Well I could do that...I started walking. It wasn't long before 10 minutes turned to 20, to 30 and now I am walking/jogging for 60 minutes 3-4 times a week, Zumba 2-3 times a week, one day of rest. I have lost 16 lbs since I started this whole trip. It's been slow and gradual. At first that frustrated me to no end....but now I don't care. What I am more focused on is learning to control my binge behaviors, eating nutritious and healthy foods and getting the exercise my body needs. I have backed off the HErbalife system to 1 shake a day instead of 2 and choose healthy foods for 2 meals and 2 snacks. I will celebrate in a big way the day I find the exercise "tipping point" that Chris Downie claims will be mine eventually as long as I don't quit. Yes...eventually I need to find a job. Thats kind of scarey because I don't want to do the job I have done so well at most of my life. I'm tired of the sales pressure. I would love to find something that is soul satisfying for this final phase of my work life. I am hoping thru Sparkpeople to find out what that might be and work towards that goal, too. Thanks for visiting my Sparkpage. I hope I can encourage you to take better care of yourself and develope a healthy lifestyle that will take you thru the rest of your life. By the way...I also have learned thru Sparkpeople that a healthy lifestyle is not boring. You can still have your favorite foods from time to time...but as a treat on occassion, not on a constant daily basis. Once you work some of these toxins out of your system, the cravings will be lessened. You might even find you don't like some of those old nasty favorites anymore which is always a plus! Best wishes to you all. We are here for each other for support and encouragement. Thank you to my sparke friends and to Sparkpeople!

Reach goal weight of 154 Size 12 and I'll be happy Develope an active lifestyle I can stick with. Find more joy and pleasure in life.

My calorie target is 1300 to 1500 per day, protein 60-70g, low fat, 4-6 servings of fresh fruit and veggies, 8-10 glasses of water per day. Exercise 30 to 60 minutes every day. Track Nutrition and exercise daily....Very Important for me! SparkPeople, Sparkpeople, Sparkpeole helps keep me on track.

Born & raised outside Ann Arbor, Mich. LIved most of my life in Orange County, Calif. Moved to Houston Tx. 12 years ago. Still don't feel like a Texan. Married 12 years. Grandmother to 12. Lucky number must be 12!

I am a hugh Movie fan and love to read. I'm a homebody and a loner, actually. I am looking to broaden my world, get off the couch, find some fun in life, new challenges. I finally can't say I don't have time to exercise so there is NO BETTER TIME then right now to change my lifestyle!!!

Add a Link December Goals Dec. 6th - 180 - Done! Dec. 13 - 179 Dec. 20 - 178 Dec. 27-177 Jan. 3 - 176
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