Mom of two sons that are in college, I'm trying to come to terms with being a middle aged woman and to get more active and lose weight. I have a bulging disc in my back and must slowly lose the weight and work on core strength to get better. I love gardening, hiking, walking, and am a soap maker by trade. I used to smoke, for 24 years, and quit 13 years ago, but I still haven't lost the weight I gained after I quit.