Forums / Encouragement and Support

justify1 replied on: 3/13/10
NDKS, maybe everyone else will add five more things too to follow your example. I for one would sure enjoy reading more.
lizbeth replied on: 3/13/10
All these posts are so insightful. I also want to thank Diana for the great idea.

1. BS in Information Management Systems. I am thankful to have been working for the same employer for the last 30 years. With that said, I am looking forward to retirement. Every day is a struggle because my work environment has become so bureaucratic (betcha can’t guess who I work for?). It seems like I am surrounded by people who are self-important and only care about themselves instead of doing what is right. My immediate work group is the exception. For the most part, they are a great group. My honesty occasionally gets me into trouble, but I almost always get redeemed later on. Problem is that I suffer quite a bit until redemption comes. My sanity has been preserved by my side business---more about that in #2.

2. I started a pet sitting business 22 years ago and I think it defines who I am. I love all animals! My clients tend to keep me as a pet sitter for the life of their pet and I often do a lot of geriactric support care i.e. subq fluits, insulin injections, helping people understand the progression of various diseases so they know what to expect. I have pet sat for some of my clients for so long that I am now on their third generation of pets! Everyone says I should have been a vet. Funny, because I did all my pre-med but didn’t think I was smart enough to be a vet. I am often baffled at how I can be so well understood and liked by my clients, but not by my peers at my real job.

3. It’s a good thing that I have a lot of energy because I am an only child taking care of elderly parents. Part of the reason I started ichange is because my mother is very obese and I was headed in that direction. Mom first broke one hip and then another about a year apart. She has been in a wheel chair for the past 14 months, not because she has to be there but because she is not motivated to do the exercises needed to get back her strength. As I provide support care to my parents. I often wonder who will provide support care to me? I have no children. Who will be my health care advocate when the doc wants to give me a drug that is unwarranted for someone over 70 because of the high fatality rate? This recently happened to my Dad who is 80.

4. Some of the comments made in this forum that really resonated with me are: 1) Angie’s comment about not having many close friends 2) Alpha’s (I’m sorry I don’t know your name) comment about believing in God but not organized religion because people disappoint her 3) Diana’s motivation to hunker down and get through considerable challenges.

5. I didn’t meet the right guy until my mid forties – I am 53 now. Similar to Noreen’s comment, he makes me so happy and I hope it never ends. I just wish he didn’t like to eat out at fine restaurants as much as I do!
Alpha replied on: 3/14/10
Interest how different but also how alike we all are!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok a couple more thing you don't know about me.

1. Alpha Ent. is my business name for "New Beginning" which I thought was appropriate for my weight loss challenge.

2.My name is Kathryn Ilene and I go by Ilene my middle name.

3. I have been in direct marketing for nine years now and love the company I work for because I get to help people in a number of different ways in their lives. And my husband and I do this together and as soon as we can sell or find the right person to take over our conventioal business (Machine Shop). Then we can work Alpha Ent. full time.

4. We live on a farm and my profile picture is a view from my front yard toward the mountains.

5. I love working outside and enjoy raising plants and animals.
justify1 replied on: 3/14/10
Alpha, that's your front yard? I'm insanely jealous.
coll90 replied on: 3/16/10
Ok, here i go for the 2nd time...lol.....i got up to 5 and something happened and it all got erased. i was so bummed.

1. i studied photography at FIT in NYC and spent 15 years of my career working with top NYC fashion photographers and models.
even when i was thin, i was still not so thin next to those girls!

2. I married my high school sweetheart whom i have known since i was 12. I always wanted to be Italian, so i married into the biggest family i could fine. he is the 8th son and has 14 siblings. He is also a twin. We have alot of fun.

3. I was diagnosed with Manic/Depressive illness in my 20's and struggled for a good 5 years before i accepted and managed my
illness. I respect it, take my meds and have been without episode for
15 years. I never saw it as weakness, but as something that made me stronger!

4. I despise cell phones and even though i enjoy ichange, i am not so crazy about computers...i am scared as to the way the world has changed. i like how things were in the 50's and wish i could pop back to that time period! A bit more simplified.

5. I am born a Roman/Catholic and still practice, but i have been searching deep for my happy religious place. I consider myself very spiritual and do as much outreach work as possible. i like to do things that feel good for the soul.
diana replied on: 3/17/10
@coll90 Yes, sometimes that happens to me too. (losing all the good stuff that I type) If it's really long I copy it, just in case - that works well - saved me from cursing plenty of times.

I love reading all of these. Keep it up. 5 more if you so desire.
wisper replied on: 4/7/10
Wow guys, everyone is so open. Here are my 5

1. I have 3 degrees, BSc in Genetics and Microbiology, MSc in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Mainly because I did not know what to do, so I stayed in school. Now I run a lab that tests food and water for pathogens,

2. I don't hire people I adopt them. I hire right out of school because it is so hard for the babies to get their first job. I used to take it personally when they left, for the first few years, but everyone has to grow and move on.

3. My DH is still my best friend. We still run away together, every chance we get. We have gone to another country for the BBQ sauce. At least that was our excuse.

4. I started smoking at 10. I quit 5 years ago, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I still have the hand to mouth thing when coping with stress.

5. I have been studying astrology for 28 years.
SkinnySushi replied on: 4/8/10
1. I went to five colleges in ten years before finally completing my Bachelors in Art History and Classical Studies.

2. I am a classically trained opera singer who used to teach private piano and voice lessons and perform big band and Italian art songs at events, parties, and restaurants. The job was fun, the hours were awful, and the money was dismal.

3. I speak Italian pretty competently, and I am always trying to push through to fluency, but it's tough with no one to speak it to.

4. I have an incompetent cervix, which resulted in losing my son just before he was born, and then getting an emergency cerclage put in and spending five months on bedrest to make sure my daughter was born healthy and happy. She was, thankfully, and is now about to turn one!

5. I met my husband when we were kids. We dated a few times in high school before getting together for good in college. We had been together for six years on the day we got married. Just after the ceremony, our officiant came to me to tell me there was a problem... our marriage license had been issued for the city right next door, and so was technically not legal! We had to hop in her car in our wedding gear and drive six or seven blocks until we were inside the city limits, where we were technically married at a city bus stop with a city cop as a witness. It was easily the most awesome, hilarious, fun part of our wedding and also resulted in some of the best pictures of us under a cherry blossom tree.
MissyMaintains replied on: 4/8/10
Love this topic! Here it goes...

1. I am attending Institute for Integrative Nutrition and just became a certified health coach. I am ready to start seeing clients!! (I will be doing sessions over the phone as well if anyone is interested!)

2. I have a bachelors in Business Marketing but it did not help me at all in getting a job after college.

3. My mom is a bodybuilder. I grew up watching her on strict diets for her competitions. I didn't really eat what she ate and ended up being overweight.

4. I was in SHAPE Magazine this past January!

5. I still currently suffer from binge eating when I am alone but it is getting bettter. I am hoping to help others that also suffer from this through my health coaching practice.
ela replied on: 4/15/10
1. I have my BEd but have not professionally used it yet as I got pregant with my first child right before I graduated, but it was not a mistake - one day we desperatly wanted a baby, and other days we second guessed it and used protection off and on for a while - very silly!

2. I have a deep fear of getting cancer as all my deceased grandparents had some form of cancer.

3. I LOVE 80`s music and cartoons!! I ooohhh and aaaahhhhhh when I see Strawberry shortcake, Transformers and My Little Ponies and totally groove out to Billy Jean and hair metal!!

4. My whole family is Disney obsessed!! I think I own every Disney cartoon ever made and my mom has them all on both VHS and DVD! I have been known to say a Disney quote or two in conversaitions and want ``Once Upon a Dream`` to be played at my wedding!!

5. I finally, thank god, just got the baby fever kicked out of me!! Ever since my youngest was born two years ago I have wanted another and even dreamed of twins or sextuplets. My sister just had a baby and I was brought back to reality very fast - how would I ever manage my three and another (or in my dreams, another 6).

this was very fun!! thanks Diana