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Introduction Text ABOUT ME: All these photos are old, so I will have to update them soon. I am 43 years old and I live in Cartersville, GA. I just purchased a new home that I adore! I live there with my boyfriend and our 1 dog ... soon to be a 2 dog family. I have no children, but I do have 4 "step-children". We love the outdoors and especially the beach and pool. We travel a lot during the summer in our Camper and just love it! I am a Business Manager at a childcare center in Atlanta and I enjoy it very much. I am an easy going individual, a good listener, a good cook. I enjoy spending time working around my house or just chilling. I can be a loner at times, so I enjoy my peace and quiet. UPDATE: FEBRUARY 2016 Well here I am again!! I am hoping this time I am going to be able to get through this. I have regained 30 pounds back from my original weight loss. I have been spending time trying to figure out why, but what I think it is is restrictions that were placed on me and that I placed on myself in the past. Well, I need to let go of my past and stay in the PRESENT!! I have restarted my journey on February 22, 2016. I am concentrating on Mindfully Eating and trying to understand my need to eat. I have noticed changes in my behavior in regards to food over the last couple of years that is not good. I need to reset and refocus. I have neglected myself for too long. Being back on Spark and looking at my old photos has kind of turned a light bulb on ... I just worry the light bulb will not stay on. ASK YOURSELF WHEN FOOD SEEMS TO BE YOUR ONLY ANSWER: What Do I Want and Feel I Can Never Have! - My answer to remember .... DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS! UPDATE: AUGUST 2014 So I have been off Spark for a long time now. My life took some really sharp turns and I'm reaching back out to the Spark Community for support and motivation. I used to be a motivator, was a Motivator of the Day! I still have had great success but my life has taken over my body and I'm ready to take it back. I actually opened a Fitness Studio and became a Personal Trainer but the stress of owning my own business and going through divorce changed my outlook on myself. Ending a 3 year relationship and a divorce really took a toll on me emotionally and having to close my studio even more of a toll. But I'm ready to get back to where I was emotionally almost 4 years ago. I know I can do this because I have done it before. Just gotta get the brain on the right track and get back my love for exercise that I used to have. In a new relationship now with a great guy that supports me and loves me. Started a new job that is working out great! So on my way to big changes in my life for the better. Starting Weight: 161 Goal Weight: 137 ORIGINAL POST 2008: Well, it is just the right time for me. I've been struggling with my weight all my life. It got out of control about 10 years ago, when I met my now husband. He is one of those people who can eat anything they want .... and I'm not!! He loves me no matter what and has never been an issue. UPDATE: JANUARY 2010 It has now been 2 years since I started on this journey. It has been an amazing time. I've maintained my current weight for almost a year now, but I do fluctuate a few pounds, just depends on how good I eat. For 2010, I really want to focus on my nutrition. I'm in the process of getting certified to be a Personal Trainer and hope to open my own studio soon. I love aerobics and strength training, so that will be my focus. I hope to help others achieve their goals in a REAL way. I've never been this thin and healthy and fit in my entire life and I don't think I'm going back ... I WILL BE that 5% who doesn't gain it back. Thanks to SparkPeople!! I'm still adjusting to this new body, though. Working through the emotional side of it is much harder. I was in a fat body for 35 years, so letting go of that will take some more time. I usually don't realize how thin I am until someone takes my picture or I put on a size 4 pair of pants. I think it is good motivation though ... I hope the amazement of my achievement doesn't wear off. UPDATE: JUNE 2009 Well, it is just about summer time and I'm wearing a bikini at the pool!!! Amazing. I can't believe how far I have come and what I've accomplished. It has been a long and worthwhile journey and I've learned a lot about myself. I really want to lose another 5lbs, but I don't think my body wants to do it. So I'm moving into maintenance and I'm a little nervous about it. I'll just take it slow. I also started P90X and it is AWESOME. I love it. I love building muscle and feeling strong. It is so empowering and challenging and I love that. I've posted pictures and my start and I will update them as I go through the next 90 days. I'm headed to beach next month so I hope that my six-pack abs will be starting to show by then!! "Is your body doing what your mind wants?" Love this saying from Tony Horton on P90X. Sometimes you have to push your body to do what you want and achieve your goals. Our minds are much more powerful than we all think!! UPDATE: October 2008: Well it has been 10 months on my weight loss journey and it has been great! I have officially lost 50lbs!! It is an accomplishment I never thought I could reach and I'm amazed every day about how I feel and look. Sometimes I don't recognize myself in the mirror. I'm on my way for 10 more pounds and I know I can do it. I'm just going to let it happen and take however long it takes. Now I have to think of a super-duper fabulous reward for myself! UPDATE: January 2009 Well, it has been 1 year so I started on this weight loss journey and ya know, it really hasn't been that bad. I'm so proud of myself for accomplishing what I have so far and cannot believe that I have done it. After so many years of struggling to get the weight off, something just clicked in my head 1 year ago and the weight has been so easy to take off. I think I just finally gave into the fact that food isn't everything. Exercising has been a big motivational factor for me. I know I can allow myself to eat a little bit more if I exercise. I know that I will feel stronger and have more energy if I exercise. MY GOALS FOR 2009: 1) Lose at least another 10-15 pounds. Maintain my loss by weighing myself 1 time a week and only allowing a 2-3 pound fluctuation. 2) Continue to track my calories and fitness minutes on a daily basis. Tracking really helps me because I know if I eat it ... I gotta put it down. 3) Stay within my calorie range every day until I reach my maintenance level. 4) Add more flexibility exercises like yoga and pilates to my routine 5) Add more strength training to tone up and get ready for swimsuit season ... my best ever!!!! NEW YOU BOOTCAMP: I joined the bootcamp and I just love Coach Nichole's routines. I did the Swimsuit one last year and loved it. My goal is to lose 5lbs plus the 2 I gained over the holiday during the Bootcamp. I hope to lose a few inches total as well. CW: 148.5 GW: 141.5 Waist: 28.5 Goal Waist: 27.5 Bust: 37 Goal Bust: 36 I don't think I can get smaller, but I will try Hips: 40 Goal Hips: 38 I would like to be in a size 8 by the end of the month, but I will be alright if that doesn't happen. At least I will be stronger!!

My goal is to be healthy and strong! Being physically strong gives me the confidence to be strong in all aspects of my life. GOALS FOR 2016: #1 Focusing on me and turning my light back on. #2 Eating mindfully and with purpose!! #3 Being a better dog owner #6 Being the best me I can be #7 Losing 30 pounds #8 Rediscover my love for exercise and taking care of myself

I'm strictly a calorie counter and I exercise as much as I can. It is the only thing that has ever worked for me. NEW FOR 2016: Eating mindfully!!! Chewing my food at least 10-20 times. Placing my fork down between bites!! NEW FOR 2010: Joining a gym, because working out at home has become a little too easy.

In a relationship with step children, living in Cartersville, GA Have 1 Australian Shepherd mix named River If you want to connect on Facebook, I'm under *** heathers323 @ gmail dot com *** Just let me know you are with SparkPeople. Love to have you!!

Love to shop for anything! But usually never have any money :)

Add a Link Heather Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow. -Mahatma Gandhi
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