Sharing ....a HEALTH post...

"As you get older, you may notice that maintaining your usual weight becomes more difficult. In fact, the most profound weight gain in a woman's life tends to happen during the years leading up to menopause (perimenopause). The hormonal changes of menopause may make you more likely to gain weight around your abdomen, rather than your hips and thighs.

In addition, muscle mass naturally diminishes with age. If you don't do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose, your body composition will shift to more fat and less muscle — which slows down the rate at which you burn calories.

 If you continue to eat as you always have, you're likely to gain weight.

The bottom line? Successful weight loss at any stage of life requires permanent changes in diet and exercise habits. Take a brisk walk every day.

Try a yoga class. Trade cookies and candy for fresh fruit and vegetables.



 Drink more water, and less sugary drinks,  Commit to the changes and enjoy a healthier you!"

All of us read these little tips and articles and warnings throughout the year. We all know what it is talking about. But as it says...the BOTTOM LINE is whether we COMMIT............

When I came back  after my Summer and Fall blogging break, I mentioned that I had been through some health challenges that I wanted to touch on later, in case someone else was possibly going through the same thing....unknowingly...just like me.

In January 2011, at the ripe old age of 50, I committed.  I surpassed my goal and lost 28 pounds. I then determined to hold to that healthy weight.

After the move to Iowa...I slowly but surely began to gain weight. I worked like a fool to take it off, doubling my workout routine.

NOT ONLY COULD I NOT TAKE IT OFF....I COULD NOT NOT NOT STOP THE GAIN! For the first time EVER in my life, I was unable to LOSE weight.

The further along this went *(with me chalking it up to perimenopausal symptoms and working harder to fight against it), the more I went downhill... Many more symptoms cropped up, including mini-bouts of Vertigo, which finally brought me to the realization that it COULDN'T be all "mid- life" changes...

Come to find out....it wasn't. I had a mal-functioning thyroid.

To make this already long post shorter...I have now been on a supplement for 4 months that has enabled my thyroid to operate properly again. My metabolism has once again ramped up and the 25 pounds that came BACK ON TO MY BODY ... are coming off. I have 9 pounds to go to get back to where I was.

I hope this helps somebody who is going crazy feeling blue/depressed,   experiencing moments of brain fog,  low energy/exhaustion, too much hair in your hairbrush, not enough sleep, and no matter what, cannot stop gaining weight.  You might check with your doctor and ask for a Thyroid Test!!  It may NOT just be "Mid-Life" changes.

I am NOW on my way to feeling much much better. The Thyroid works very slowly, so it took 8 weeks before I actually noticed a difference in how I felt, even though after 4 weeks I had "magically" started losing weight once again with my normal workouts and diet. Take care of yourself...Don't ignore symptoms that seem "Abnormal" for YOU...you know yourself better than anybody else!!

 Slow and Steady wins the race. :-)


I wish good health to all of my visitors and bloggy sisters who pop in here. As 2013 approaches, I pray that it will be a year filled with God's best blessings from Heaven, and that you will have a VERY HEALTHY journey.

COMMIT TO IT.  There's no better time than the present. As my husband says...."You gotta start somewhere."

Sending out little heartfelt hugs to all of you this day. Thankful to ALL of you who have covered Justin and his battalion in prayer as they were deployed and now returned safely to the States. We get to have him here in our nest starting next week, and are excitedly looking forward to it.