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Click Here To Read Teresa Devlin's Fitness Blog

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Report Cards: Track Our Participants' Progress

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Hello everyone! I am a 52 year old, recently retired grandmother that has decided to be a 2009 Get Fit participant. Now that I have retired I feel that I finally have time for myself. I have worked for the federal government for 30 years and like many working mothers, I always put myself down the list of priorities of life. I knew when I got home I had to cook dinner, wash the clothes and try to keep my house clean and in decent order. Then my children grew up, married and moved away, but I still had to work until I could reach the age of retirement. So what has been my excuse for the past 10 years since my last child left home for not taking better care of myself? Simple, laziness and lack of dedication and commitment. Oh sure, I bought a treadmill, I started dieting (about a 100 times) and there were times I did lose weight, felt healthier and actually used that treadmill. But there was always something that came along to give me an excuse to stop the exercise and dieting. I've had some difficulties and some life event changes also in the past few years. I survived a divorce and my elderly mother had to come live with me. But I also met a wonderful man, remarried, retired and moved to the Glen Dale area. I did all of this (retire, move and remarry) all in the last 6 months of 2008! Whew! I lived in the Charleston WV area for about 16 years and prior to that I've lived in the Huntington WV area about 8 years, the Williamson WV area for about 5 years, and Dayton Ohio as I attended school. I'm orginally from Williamson WV which is in the southern part of the state, on the KY border. I began working for the Social Security Administration at an early age of 21, quit when my youngest daughter was born for a short time and then returned to work for them within a year. In the last 5 years I have had some health issues that concern me. I don't know if they are from the 50 pounds I have gained or my age. I just know that I don't like taking pills! My doctor has raised my blood pressure medication twice and my cholesterol is on the border of needing medication. I have osteoporosis and we all know the story of a fragile old lady with brittle bones falling and breaking a hip. I don't want that to be me! I can't stop the aging process. I know I'm not 21 years old anymore. I love and embrace the role of being a grandmother. But I don't have to give in to illnesses and medication when I know that I can have an active part in controlling my health to some extent. I want to be able to run with my grandchildren. I want to live a long life to cheer for them as they play in ball games. I want to hear their piano recitals. I want to see them graduate college and watch as they marry the love of their life. I know in my heart that I can do all of these things if I just take better care of myself. So participating in the Get Fit program is not just about losing weight for me. It's about becoming healthier. It's all about living a long wonderful life that is ahead of me with my family that I dearly love. So if you are reading my blog, and especially if you are a grandmother like me, please take better care of yourself. Do it for you and your family, I am.

Aim to be healthy!