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Introduction Text It is now 2016 and I am going to be 69 in March. I have been elevated to great-grandmother with a 2 1/2 year old greater-granddaughter and 1 year old great-grandson. Life has changed for me and I have maintained my current weight for two and a half years now. I radically changed my eating habits so that I do not eat any "white" floor or processed for. My bread is Ezekiel and grains include faro and quinoa. No rice, white potatoes, unsprouted wheats, sugars, etc. I navigate restaurants and parties without a problem. Not as restricting as you would think. I am still swimming competitively and since a hip replacement in May of 2014 I am swimming even faster than I was in my early 60's. Keep up the good work! It is all worth it! 61 year old grandmother who still swims competitively. Been depressed, inactive, now suffering with wicked heartburn--trying to get my life back on track. In the water, slimmed down, eating healthy, sleeping regularly. For reaching my weight goal, I will reward myself by shopping for good bras! Weird, I know, but mine are all going to pot! LOL I changed my goal weight because over the years I have shrunk in height and I only found out this July. So I'll put off that search for good bras for another 10 pounds! I think when I reach the original goal, I'll treat myself to a day spa visit! Well first goal gone by and close to my second goal. I am so grateful for this site and all my fellow Sparkers I have met along the way. I have to say that I am off two of the three medications and loving my new lifestyle. Even though I am still on anxiety/depression medication, I really believe that if I was retired from my stressful job, I could drop that one too. Thank you SparkPeople and especially thank you fellow Sparkers. You all rock! Update, 2-October-2008: I am still teetering on the 5 pounds to go mark. I know I will fall over the mark soon. My life is so changed since I have started SparkPeople. I really am taking control over my own destiny now instead of letting things happen to me! What a difference a couple of months can make when I work hard on making small changes. My eating patterns have changed drastically in the amounts I take in and what I take in. I am gravitating towards organic produce and whole grains more and more. I believe they taste better and are better for me. My exercise routine still need work. I have the cardio down pat--I need to incorporate strength back in consistently. I think my biggest problem is that I jump in with both feet and get overwhelmed. I am trying two exercises at failure weight on strength days now. I can add to it when the habit is formed. Emotionally and financially, I have been taking a good look at what was going on in my life and making significant changes there as well. Spark People and spark friends rock! Update, October 26, 2008. Today is our oldest son's 40th birthday. We were on vacation and I gained one pound--not bad since I was at the mercy of restaurant and snack eating. I put eating second instead of first in my mind. I set my mind to enjoying the vacation and my husband and friends. Well, that certainly kept me centered! The vacation was wonderful. I will be staring blogs over the next few weeks giving a blow by blow with a picture for each blog. I will also post on Flickr and pass on the URL to anyone interested for the complete set--almost 680 pictures. I hope I don't bore myself or anyone else.......... I have to say that I missed my buddies on SP and especially my dog and my cat! Glad to be home and overwhelmed with all I have to do to catch up. Maybe I won't--maybe I'll just start over from here. LOL! Be well! Update December 19, 2008: Ugh, the holidays are upon us full force. I am holding even with 5 pounds to go to goal, but still not worried about it. I still have people telling me I am skinny. I am competing well in swimming. The singing was spectacular in our Winter Concert (Rossini: The Petite Solenelle Messe and songs of the season) I am working hard on self-improvement and letting my inner child out to explore possibilities in my life. I continue to eat consciously making choices both good and "bad", but making effort to asses every mouthful. My wish for you all is that you enjoy this holiday season however you do or don't celebrate it. Every day is the first day of the rest of my life! Update Jan. 1, 2009: Happy New Year! I have reassessed my goals and my attitudes. I decided I was overextended in my team and other goals, so I have pared back the number of goals I have to track. Many goals were duplicates, so all duplicates are removed and adjusted so that in each team, I have one thing to concentrate on. I have been feeling overwhelmed with all the tracking each day and essentially stopped doing it. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I want to live it to the fullest without pressure to post all the goals each day--so streamlined we are. Have you reassessed for 2009? Update, February 3, 2009: Well here I am at 150 pounds and holding. I have decided my body is very happy at this weight and is resisting all attempts to go lower. I have also decided that is okay with me. I feel good and fit all my clothes, so what the heck. As long as I don't back slide up towards 160, I am all set. I keep taking little vacations from being on-line when I get overwhelmed with all that I am doing at work and at home. I try to fit on-line time in during the day to spread it out. If I had my way, I'd probably spend about half my awake time up here on SparkPeople, but then when would I swim, sing, clean, exercise, walk, play with the dog, redecorate,.....oh, you get the idea. Anyway, happy to be here and still loving this journey.

I have several goals. Long term-live a happy, healthy lifestyle. Short term-(1)get my weight under control; MET (2) get back in the exercise/training groove; MET (3) get off anxiety/depression medication. MET

I joined SparkPeople and am following the nutrition plan, the fitness plan, and several teams

Carol Yunker, 61 years old, happily married, wanting to retire from work and worried about my youngest son. We live in Massachusetts near the NH border and near the ocean--since 1985--previously an NJ native (Jersey Girl!)

I am a sucker for chick flicks--Pretty Woman tops my list. I read fantasy and mystery/suspense mostly. Occasionally, I read non-fiction like self-help, but it really has to grab me! My favorite past times at home are gardening and spending time with my family. Out, I like to sing, play the piano for a small violin group, swim, and dance.

Add a Link Its all about the journey! Go where your eyes are looking! Perfectionism blocks creativity! Just do it!
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