Hi,

I am Jan, I am 48 and have six kids (ages 9, 13, 14, 26, 27, 30). I am working hard on taking control of my eating and activity level. We moved a couple of years ago into an area that I hate (sometimes) and I have been eating and loafing to compensate.

Anyway, I have a long way to go. My plan started simply by trying to cut out sugary drinks. Then fast foods, which I was eating a couple of times a day. Now I am on to more healthy foods in the home and adding in lots of swimming, hoping to get into walking soon, but a health condition holds me back, IBS-D.

I have a wonderful son who has autism and he and I are training Harmony, a golden retriever, as his assistance dog. I am a full time stay at home mom and I cyber school Charlie, because the local schools were not teaching him anything.

He and I swim nearly every day. But I tend to go through fads and I desperately don't want this to be a fad and I gain back all that I have lost. I have been swimming even though I have injured my right elbow (ulnar elevator muscle and induction nerve) and trying not to make it worse. It's getting better. For a long time I could barely lift an empty cup, now I can open doors and everything.

I guess I just need some friends and support and in return, I am pretty supportive and share my food/exercise diary.

Jan