Thanks Jennifer! Yes here's to good health to all! It's a road we each have to walk ourselves when ready. NOT easy to stay on for many of us (speaking for myself) but I realized i was giving the "gift" to myself to start over with my life and im glad I stepped up to the plate. It would have been so easy to just give up that day in 2001 when i was 51 and 60lbs overweight , I was ready to give up and just be "matronly". BUT something kicked in and i caught myself from falling into that. SO many ills (especially in the USA) are the direct result of horrible FAST FOODS we created for the busy family! Kids and adults eating McDonalds and Kentucky Fried chicken and sugary sodas and desserts every day. ...enormous amounts of processed sugars and additives/preservatves. . Add in NO exercise as well and it's recipe for obesity and inflammation that will cause disease.

Kids don't play outside any longer on skates and bikes and walking and running all over their n'hods! Due to the "dangers" out there of kidnapping etc (what a world! right?) kids stay indoors. You RARELY see kids in n'hoods alll playing outside anymore. Adults created computers so now .. they are in their rooms watching TV or on their computers or phones for hours.. Obesity in adults and kids is rampant. My two grown sons were looking at my 1964-68 HighSchool annuals ) and they were both blown away how there were NO overweight teens in any of the class photos and other photos! A few may have some extra lbs here and there but it was NOTHING like looking around schools today starting in Elementary levels as well! OR just looking at the general public in most American cities. FAST LIVING = FAST FOOD add in No exercise due to stting at desks or at home on computers and choice of 500 channels on TVS and it all adds up to a nation of very sick citizens. Add in the fact we have so many living at or under the poverty levels and their ONLY food choices to feed the family are those $2 meals at Fast Food places.or processed food they buy in bulk. That then all adds to both Mental and physical illnesses. whew..

Anyway I was on that a yo-yo treadmil for years and finally got off it. I feel so much better now at almost age 70 then I did at age 51. I ve been doing a (daily ) walk since 2001. First just a 20 min flat walk then few mos later a 20 min hills walk found n'hoods that had some steep sidewalks ) and now since 2008 have been doing a daily 25 stairs walk (I moved to tiny condo that is right by the "secret stairs of La Mesa"! 300 stairs day and sometimes i do the other 109 set too) It's my "gift" to myself and to my family! to try to keep myself as mobile and healthy as I can. I also do some floorwork (20 mins combo yoga/pilates) But this ALL started that day before the mirror at age 51 so overweight and unhappy and unhealthy.
AND i still have to fight those old food addictions time to time! But not a day goes by I don't exercise Keeps my MIND strong so when i do fall off a wagon its only for few days and then i MAKE myself get back to eating right. As a gift to myself and my family.
Ive been a singer and guitar player for 52 yrs now in clubs..... but I go to Rest Homes to sing for folks too time to time over last 40 yrs .Its pretty eye opening now as I myself am getting closer in age to some of them in those Rest Homes (and often due to illnesses like diabetes etc. . , Those in wheelchairs remind me to continue to appreciate the fact I can walk because One day i may not have that privilege. SO true! BEST LUCK to us all! to be proactive and at least try to stay healthy and figure out those things that work for us and those things we have to stay on top of! I put a few THEN and NOW shots too! They too help keep me on track!

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