About Me

Who am I?  And what gives me the right to blog about weight loss and life?  Oh, actually I changed my byline from “thoughts on weight loss and life” to say “on living a whole and healthy life.”  That’s better.  I know a little about that.  Just by virtue of the fact that I’ve been around for almost 58 years.  Eek.

I started this blog four years ago after losing 100 pounds.  I found a supportive community of weight loss maintainers on the internet.  Since then I have developed some real friendships with bloggers, and I have even been fortunate enough to meet a few in person!

The past few years have been stressful, with the death and illness of both my dad and his wife, along with some work-related stress.  I’m not excusing it, but that is one factor in my regaining 25 pounds.  I’m holding steady at 75 pounds lost, and continue to work on eating a very healthy diet.

I love to cook, and I love reading the latest information on nutrition, and finding new ways to incorporate good nutrition into old favorite recipes.  I have tried more new-to-me food in the past few years than in my entire life before then.  I eat completely differently than I used to.

I love to exercise.  That statement has been a long time coming!  In the past year I have had some knee issues, and some generalized joint pain, and finally have a diagnosis of moderate to severe arthritis.  So I am in the process of revising my exercise program.  Currently I lift weights, swim, and I still walk, just for shorter distances.  I have just added cycling into my rotation, and I am enjoying that new challenge.

Other stuff about me:  I am single, never been married, never had kids.  I love animals, especially dogs.  Currently four dogs share my little cabin with me–Noah, the big white dog (you can read his take on life by clicking the “Noah Speaks” category,) Sophie the mini dachshund, self-proclaimed queen of the roost, and then there’s Mr. Monk, the love  of my life (the pug, not the obsessive compulsive detective, although I love him too) and Bess, the newest addition to the family.  She’s a pug too.

I am recently retired from a major medical center, where I was a neonatal intensive care nurse for the past 23 years.  It was a privilege to take care of some of the smallest and sickest infants in our hospital.  Now I am a full time art quilter.  I am currently working on a collection of quilts for an exhibition.  They are called the housetop quilts, and you can read a bit about them here (on my quilt blog.)  I am thoroughly enjoying the time and freedom to create on a daily basis.

Over-riding all of my life is my faith in God.  Learning to live the life of love and peace that He came to offer us.  Incorporating that life seamlessly into all of my life.  Sometimes I am better at it than others.