You've got to have FRIENDS!!

After reading YOAD, I explored the www.realage.com website. I joined the site on May 17th, 2007. I "lurked" around for about a month and decided to post on the message board. I had been reading numerous threads and decided I had found the group for me. On June 27th, I posted in the "Find an Exercise Buddy" section. That was truly a fateful day!

Since that day, I have made a group of wonderful friends on that message board. Each of them traveling through their own YOAD and life journey. Some of them are almost at their YOAD finish line, some are somewhere in the middle and a handful of them are near the beginning. I can honestly tell you that their support, encouragement, friendship and compassion has been a huge motivator for me. It's wonderful to know that they are always there to give advice, share laughs and to help each other "YOU turn" when needed.

It is crucial to have support along the YOAD journey. Don't "go it alone". I know that I am more successful because of my wonderful YOAD friends. I am also supported by my children, my husband and other family members. It really helps to have the fellow YOAD'ers though. They really understand what you are going through. It's hard to explain some things, to relatives. The folks on the message board though, can completely relate to me and I can to them. Whether it's the weight, stress, eating, frustration with family support, fear, happiness or just plain being there for each other---there just isn't anything better.

Thank you Jim, Diana, Janice, Rosemarie, Siri, Chris, Connie, Linda and all the folks on our message board! I really appreciate you for being on my journey with me!