Jul 22, 2009 update by Karen-216
<- Photo taken on	Jul 22, 2009
Journey start date	Jul 28, 2006	Currently at 25.96% of goal
Total loss since start	27 lbs	Now has 77 lbs left to goal
Since last update	Gained 3.5 lbs
Weight at this update	205 lbs
50 of 50
		My Picture Progress

Dear Health Stewards,   Thank you, all, for your notes and posts to me over the last few months.  I’ve been following most of your updates; I’ve just been in an emotional slump over the past few months and have been struggling with motivation in a number of personal areas, Health Stewards posting being among them.  I’m finally updating due to Lee and Tim’s encouragement (well, with Lee it was more like relentless prodding!).

As you can see, I’ve regained some of my weight.  The good news is that I have an all-clear from my doctor to exercise with no taboos.  I can still feel small cricks where I broke my fibula, but it isn’t painful.  I’ve been able to resume weight training and hikes at the Nature Center, and the normalcy has been a relief.    Regaining control of my food intake has been more difficult.  Shortly after my last post, I learned that a good friend had been diagnosed with colon cancer.  The cancer has spread to her lymph nodes, and I’ve been dealing with my grief and fear by eating and caretaking.  My friend is 47 years old, and has two teenage boys.  Her oldest is a good friend of our firstborn, and he will be staying with us later this week while his mom is in the hospital recovering from surgery.  Since they’re both high school seniors, I won’t need to supervise much—I’ll just need to be on standby for extra grocery store runs and an occasional hug.

On a lighter note:  we have a new baby in the house!  Pandora the kitten is now about four months old, and full of beans and energy.  We’re enjoying her antics, her 747-sized motor, and the patient disdain of our other cat when she attempts to engage him in her many games.  Watching the two of them interact is delightful comedy.   Thank you again for your encouragement.  It’s a great antidote for a heavy heart.   Love to all, Karen    

	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Shirley-261 from Tennessee on Jul 22, 2009 This just made my morning, to get up and click on HS and there you were.  Karen, I am so glad you're back and that you are WELL.  And you actually gained very little back... so don't be so hard on yourself.  It will come off quickly.  My best advice is to go back to what worked best in the past... and do that again.  You can do this today, because of Christ.  And to be honest, you deserve it.  The truth is that even though it feels like you will be letting go of something you love (food), in reality you will quickly begin to experience the peace and joy that comes from healthy eating and moving your body.  I'm SO glad you posted.  I've been hoping you would come back and when Lee posted, I knew you might be coming back too.  :)  I'm praying for you my sweet friend.  ~shirley~
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Mary-104 from Minnesota on Jul 22, 2009 Karen, so good to see you back! I'm glad you're cleared for exercise--and of course that really helps with the stress and depression. I guess a new kitty can't hurt either. Love the name Pandora!  I'm saying a prayer for your ailing friend. God bless her, and you, this week!
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Sarah-29 from California on Jul 22, 2009 Welcome Back! Looking good!  Your a new mother too, wow. Your brave to have that little claw baby in your house. My one fear in life... cats. Don't ask me why. I've always been scared of cats. LOVE dogs, but I never know if a cat is going to turn on me and attack.  We had a neighbor cat rubbing up against me purring and I was so scared! I can handle spiders, snakes, crazy cali drivers. But cats.... no way. Sorry, changed the subject to myself!  So glad your back and looking forward to future posts :)
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Lee-306 from California on Jul 22, 2009 I'm very glad you posted sweetheart.  Back into the saddle, here we go to continue the marathon race that is weight loss.  xoxoxox
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Betty-319 from Florida on Jul 22, 2009 Hi Karen, Sorry to hear about your friend. I lost a good friend last year. I pray your friend gets healed. My babies bring me so much joy. I have three dogs. Lets hope we get out of our slump soon. I've been making killer pizza and it's killing me.  God bless...Betty
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Tim-215 from Ohio on Jul 22, 2009 I thought I was relentlessly prodding too!      :) Karen, step away from the ice cream, and go work out.  Now can I be prodding too?
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Merry-315 from Washington on Jul 22, 2009 Karen, So glad to have you and Lee back! I'm sorry to hear about your friend, please let her know I will pray for her and her family. I wish you all the best as you get back to a routine again!
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Irene-277 from Michigan on Jul 22, 2009 Good to see your red leg gone!  The gain isn't much, and now that your free to move around you'll lose it.  Emotions - boy they sure can jar us - into eating and, for some, into not eating.  Strange beings we humans are.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Barb-144 from ON, Canada on Jul 22, 2009 Glad to see you back Karen and so sorry to hear about your friend.  I am glad that you can be a great support to her while she is in the hospital.  I know that she will be greatful that her son is well taken care of.  Not let's get back at it again! PRESSING ON Barb
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Carrie-259 from Florida on Jul 22, 2009 Oh, mercy... Hugs, hugs, hugs.... Glad to see you back in the saddle! Hang on.....
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Kathy-227 from Arkansas on Jul 22, 2009 Glad you're back! Eating right and exercising will help you a lot as you deal with your sadness about your friend's illness. It really will. I promise.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Dave-40 from ON, Canada on Jul 22, 2009 Hi Karen! Was great to see your kind & smiling face come up! :-) I'm sorry about your friend and her battle - so much hurt in this old world... But it does not need to affect what I eat!  Or you. Cast yourself into the care-giving (as you are doing) and seek fulfillment and satisfaction by "giving-care" to your own health and future. There's edifying in self-esteem - we just gotta re-think the soggy details, and grasp at a different handful of things than those edible "straws" we tend to gravitate to... Glad to hear you can move again with out pain and that you are doing so - that will help too, with the overloaded emotions thing, eh? I'm a clumsy comforter - but you know One that has all the right things to share at all the right times... Use Him. - Dave
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Lorie-137 from Arizona on Jul 22, 2009 Karen, it's sooo good to see you back.  Take care of yourself.  I'll be thinking and praying for you and your friend.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Kathy-227 from Arkansas on Sep 4, 2009 Thanks for your encouragement. I know I need to set my mind on the long-tern, not the short-term. I've GOT to EVENTUALLY get well! I agree so much about the McMansions. Simplicity is one of my most passionate desires.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Scheila-307 from Arizona on Oct 2, 2009 Happy Birthday Our birthdays are so close together...wanted to be the 1st to wish you warm greetings... I hope you have a wonderful day with your family and husband!!  Love you, Scheila
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Betty-319 from Florida on Oct 4, 2009 Hey Karen. Hope you have a great birthday. God bless
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Melodie-28 from Florida on Oct 4, 2009 Happy Birthday Karen!! Hope you had a GREAT day!! (((HUGS))) Miss ya!!
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Arnold-323 from BC, Canada on Oct 6, 2009 Happy Belated Birthday! I got wrapped up in the busy-ness of life and missed out on your birthday.  I hope it was a happy one! -Arnold
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Ray-230 from Kansas on Oct 13, 2009 Hello Karen, I am back to try again.  My hero, Winston Churchill said, "Never, Never Never give in."  You are looking sensational.  Ray
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Scheila-307 from Arizona on Oct 13, 2009 You keep coming to my mind... When I think of you I pray for you as well...Pray all is well with you and your family...Big hug!
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Brenda-159 from California on Oct 18, 2009 Hi Karen, Thank you so much for posting to my page. It was such a pleasure to meet you and Lee in person, you two are such a great couple. How fun you have a new kitty and I love her name!!! Hang in there take one day at a time and above all be kind and forgiving to yourself!
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Scheila-307 from Arizona on Nov 19, 2009 thinking about you I understand ... Slumps!!...smile Have a Thankful Thanksgiving...
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Scheila-307 from Arizona on Nov 29, 2009 Happy belated Thanksgiving... I'm sure everything was beautiful and full of faith and fun... I miss your presence around here...Please come back soon! Love, Scheila
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Scheila-307 from Arizona on Dec 14, 2009 Merry Christmas Karen... I miss seeing your face around here!
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Scheila-307 from Arizona on Mar 8, 2010 Your always on my mind Thinking about you and missing you and Lee very much!