I haven't been around much lately because I am just very frustrated with the menopausal weight gain that unlike any other weight gain has completely changed my body shape which has always been hourglass no matter how much I weighed.

I just haven't felt like photographing myself as much or had the motivation to do the work necessary to really change this.. Until a few days ago that is....

I booked my first ever cruise! A girlfriend and I are heading to Bermuda in 10 weeks. I am so motivated, eating right and using my Pilates machine every day for the past 5 days since I paid for the cruise....This cruise came about because my friend just needs a break from her family situation and I of course volunteered to join her.

The best part of this is that it's the biggest thing either of us has ever done for ourselves and our husbands are seeing our Joy and loving it and being extremely supportive... They even encouraged us to go for the Unlimited cocktails package to ensure we have a wonderful time.

I have never felt so motivated , every day I just feel like doing more with my workouts and my lifesaver has been Tumeric which really erases all muscle pain... I was without it when I first began and was telling my husband how much I ached and felt my 50 yrs of age , something beyond any ache I had from workouts in the past. He ran to the store and got me some pills and a few hours later it hit me that the pain was gone.... I did 2 workouts today and have increased my reps from 20 to 40 with the goal of increasing to 100 by the time this ten weeks is up.

If you read this much , thanks for hanging in as this has been a very tough journey to gain weight after doing such a great job of losing the weight that piled on during the 4yrs I was my mother's care giver. I lost it because I knew she would hate it if that was her legacy.

Thanks for letting me share my Joy!