Spark Spotlight: Melissa "Milly" (MILLYMAE1)

By , SparkPeople Blogger
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.

This Week's Spotlight: Melissa "Milly" Jones (MILLYMAE1)
Age: 45
Location: Webb City, Missouri
 

Milly's Small Success of the Week

Losing 15 pounds!

What's your overall goal? 

My overall goal is to reach a weight of 175 pounds. While still technically overweight at 175 pounds, I think I wold be able to maintain this weight easier than 155. At my heaviest, I weighed 243 pounds. I am currently at 213. 
 
How is SparkPeople helping you get there? 

SparkPeople is helping by making me accountable for my food choices, my exercise and even my attitude. I use the Nutrition Tracker every day and see when I make bad choices, and see how they affect my health and attitude later on. I track my exercise as a way to motivate myself to move.

What's your biggest challenge right now? 

My biggest challenge is my health. I have fibromyalgia, GERD, high cholesterol and several other health issues that seem to conspire together to keep me from exercising. My doctors tell me to keep active, and I have been doing better since my GERD diagnosis in 2017. I will be having surgery soon that will help my GERD, but I have been told that I still need to lose the weight or I run the risk of more health problems. 

What advice do you have for someone who just joined SparkPeople? 

Track your food and exercise. Know what portions are. These two are important, because you never realize how much you're really eating until you see it on the screen. And to see that your portions are larger than you believe is an eye opener. I would also advise them to ask for help. Get a buddy. You shouldn't try to lose weight by yourself. You need friends, family and Sparkbuddies! 

Want to be the next small success we spotlight? Share your successes on the goal feed or in the comments below, and you might be the next person we contact!