At SparkPeople, we love helping people accomplish big goals—but we believe it's equally important to celebrate the small successes along the way. Each week in the Spark Spotlight, we'll check in with a featured member about his or her proudest moments, biggest challenges and advice for others on living, thinking and feeling healthier. We hope these quick snapshots will help motivate you to keep moving steadily toward your own goals, week by week. GERI, COMEBACKKID12Hometown: Ontario, CanadaAge: 50 What's your overall goal? My overall goal is to not go to extremes when it comes to losing weight. Every year, I would lose weight, get healthy and skinny and then immediately gain back the weight. Either I didn't know my limits when it came to eating my indulgences, or I couldn’t maintain a healthy lifestyle long-term. How is SparkPeople helping you get there? SparkPeople is helping me with this because I am more accountable. When I post what I’ve done toward leading a healthy lifestyle, I get that pat on the back from fellow members. It’s very encouraging, and it perpetuates healthy behavior. You don't want to break all of the streaks you’re on. Currently, I’m on a streak for tracking my food, and at times, I have streaks with exercise. I refuse to buy fitness or health magazines anymore because Spark has all the informative articles I need. There are great exercise resources, too! I also love the caring and encouraging postcards from members I have never even met. It’s always a treat when I get a kind email. I wrote an award-winning blog and it feels so good to touch others. I've also read great blogs from others and been touched in return. What are you most proud of this week? This week, I’m most proud of going back to the gym and trying out new classes on my own, and also making new friends. I tried the Body Walk class at my local YMCA, which has a weight training component. I may also try the yoga class soon. What's your biggest challenge right now? In mid-October, I had a blood test and discovered that I have high cholesterol. It was shocking to me since I’ve eaten lots of vegetables every week and have worked out regularly. But it runs in my family, I didn’t have a handle on my junk food at times, and I probably didn’t set enough boundaries for myself. You can’t be too complacent. I’m not on medication for this; the doctor said to change it through my diet. Need to make changes. What advice do you have for someone who just joined Spark today? Be bold! Be brave! If I didn’t toot my own horn, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I wouldn’t have met as many supportive people, my SparkFriends. No man or woman is an island. Tell us how you’re doing, good or bad. Tell us what you’ve done. Tell us about your family and your pets. Tell us about the good and the bad in your life right now. SparkPeople has helped me so much, and I trust it will help me as I continue with a healthy lifestyle. |
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