Losing It!

January

2012-02-01T00:01:00.047-06:00

Day One: 52 minutes on the Wii
Day Two: did things around the house, including giving a wiggling dog a haircut! That should count for something.
Day Three: missed today. Didn't get home from work and meetings until 8 and Billy is out of town
Day Four: about 10 minutes on the Wii
Day Five: about 10 minutes on the Wii
Day Six: about 10 minutes on the Wii
Day Seven: danced, danced, danced at a Mardi Gras party
Day Eight: mostly rested but also worked on my dance routine for the Call-Out Ball. Not strenuous but I was up and moving
Day Nine: missed today. Billy's been sick and last night was the first in several that either of us slept so I didn't get up early and after work there was a board meeting and a football game.
Day Ten: about 10 minutes on the Wii
Day Eleven: 31 minutes on the Wii (hard minutes!) and I walked from one client to another for a presentation and then back. Felt get to get outside, if only for a few minutes
Day Twelve: sore muscles from boxing last night. Just got in a few balancing games on the Wii.
Day Thirteen: missed but totally worth it! Had a Mardi Gras duchess party tonight so no time to exercise. Better yet, barely had time to eat.
Day Fourteen: had to work, but that included moving and setting up new computers and walking around the office and so forth, not as sedentary as usual. Nothing I can quantify, but I did stretch some muscles.
Day Fifteen: kind of a rest day, but not entirely. I had to finish up with the computers this morning, still moving and stuff. Then I did a few things around the house and did some grocery shopping. So, again, nothing I can quantify but better than just sitting around.
Day 16 to Day 20: rough week. Worked out of town. Went to work early and stayed late at the client to maximize our time on-site and we ate out every meal. Tried to do okay with the meals but got very little exercise until Friday night rehearsing for the Call-Out Ball.
Day 21: Dancing at the Call-Out Ball! Tons of fun and good exercise!
Day 22: Had to go clean up the City Auditorium after the Ball. Carried furniture, walked up and down the stairs in the sections. Maybe nothing quanitifiable, but still moving and working the muscles.
Day 23 to 27: Another rough week. Was home, but Billy left on Thursday and it seemed that being gone for a week everything in the office piled up. Too much stress this week.
Day 28: Decorate the Community Center for the Dukes and Duchess' party and then danced at the party itself. No small feat in 6 inch platform boots.
Day 29: A few minutes on the Wii - balance games, some aerobics. Trying to stay in the habit before it leaves me completely.
Day 30: Needed a break. Mentally and physically. Being a "single" mom of 7 when Billy is out of town, in busy season, is draining.
Day 31: Not feeling well. Nothing major, mostly tired. Had to prepare for board meeting tonight so not much exercise other than climbing the stairs several times today - but that still counts for something!

Monthly Reports

2012-01-31T21:36:00.000-06:00

One of the things that helped me the most when I first started this journey was the weekly meetings of HealthQuest.

The weekly weigh-ins, I should say.

In typical, Deanne-the-perfectionist-fashion, I didn't want to somehow "disappoint" the lady recording my weekly weight in my log so I was always certain to make sure it went down a little each week. Some weeks were, obviously, better than others but it was the knowledge that someone other than me would know how I did that helped keep me focused.

Have no fear, I am not ABOUT to tell you how much I weigh. No way, no how. But I am going to give you my exercise "journal" each month. It will post at midnight on the first of the following month.

Which means I have to keep it current or you'll know I've failed at even the most basic of tasks. I don't expect comments or that you'll even read them but it is ME knowing I'm putting something out there PUBLICALLY that I HOPE will keep my focus on the exercise.

Because for me it is all about the exercise.

I can eat a lot or little but if I don't do something physical it just sits on me the same way.

So, you all are my public watchers. You will know if I tried or made excuses; if I stayed on task or wandered off the path; if I cared enough to try.

Be kind.

The Small Victories

2012-01-29T14:58:00.000-06:00

I want to share this picture with you.

Not because I want to name drop (Duece McAllister), and not because a friend saw it and thought I'd dropped 10 pounds (but who wouldn't when standing next to that brick wall of a man!) but because of the jacket. Yes, I think it is lovely and all Mardi Gras-ish and festive, but more importantly because I purchased it in the early 1990s.

For those that, like me, don't realize it, it is 2012 and the early 1990s were almost 20 years ago.

I share it because I needed the reminder of how far I've come. There were many, many years that I couldn't wear that jacket. I know because I tried. A few times I managed to get my arms into the sleeves but it was nowhere close to closing in the front.

It fastened when I wore it on Thursday night. Easily, and with room to spare.

So, to myself, good job on not losing faith in yourself and continuing to focus! Despite the crazy schedules and traveling and stresses. It would be so easy at this point to just give in to all the comfort foods and bad habits and all that accompanies those. But I won't.

I am too important to me.

I am valued, and valuable, and my health is the most important thing. Without it, nothing else will matter. I wouldn't be able to enjoy whatever Life was handing me.

So, if you find yourself in a rut or feeling discouraged or just down about it all, find your small victory. That mile that comes easily now that you couldn't walk a year ago. Or that dress you'd thought you'd never wear again but hadn't donated to charity yet because you loved it. Or playing with your children or grandchildren or puppies or whatever that maybe you couldn't enjoy a few years, or even a few months, ago.

It is the small victories that truly count the most. They are what keep us motivated and moving in the right direction. The small victories are what add up to the bigger ones, which ultimately culminate in our overall goals.

So celebrate them!

Do Over

2012-01-17T19:24:00.000-06:00

Perhaps I should have read my post from last May after I wrote it. Like, several times so it would have taken root.

Doctor's office called today. I didn't want to take that call. You know when everything turns out well you get a letter. Phone calls mean something.

Now, with all the testing that was done, I did get the best of the not so good news. My cholesterol clocked in at 240.

240.

I'm supposed to be under 180.

I'm nowhere close.

So, it's back to another doctor, another plan, a real goal this time. A true mission.

Wish me luck!

Thought for this Tuesday

2012-01-10T05:38:00.000-06:00

Saw this in my Denise Austin newsletter this morning: make peace with your past - so it won't spoil the present!

What a great thought! The past is just that, past. Over. Gone. Done with. Every day is chance for a new beginning. A fresh start.

If you're not where you want to be, get there. Get started. There's no time like now.

The Best of Intentions

2011-12-31T17:30:00.000-06:00

I never intended for a post on May 1, 2011 to be the last one of the year. With this one, it won't be.

I became the "poster child" for what stress can do to you - physically, emotionally, all the "ally"s - this past year. For those that don't read the Random Thoughts blogs, my brother-in-law was killed in an accident on June 7, 2011. That single-second event changed our world in so many ways. Because Billy was gone so much helping his family, I had more to do here at home. Which meant less time for me. And once I got really out of my routine, that was it. And as the stress and strain of Life continued to mount, getting back into my routine was almost lost forever.

I checked my Wii calendar the other day and you could see it. Right before your eyes, in living color. January, February, March - never missed a day. The height of busy season but I was dedicated. At least to weighing myself and monitoring when I did get to exercise. In April, the only days I missed were those when I was in Washington DC becoming a certified fraud examiner and then one more that I can't figure out what I as going that day.

Missed a few more in May, but not many. In June, I missed the day of Dale's funeral, and then more towards the end of the month as Billy became busier.

In July, it was obvious. I barely made it at all. I never missed an entire month in the last six, but it got awfully close a couple of times. It appeared I turned on the Wii more out of guilt, or as an afterthought.

And it shows. I have a long road to hoe to get back where I was.

On the plus side, I have gotten healthy before and I can do it again. This time, though, the reasons are a little different. I will admit to a mild case of depression this summer and fall. I wasn't getting up and exercising because I was barely getting up in time to get to work. I didn't let it completely take over my life, but I did let it get to a very big part of it. Thing is, if I could have exercised, I know I would have felt better and helped combat some of that depression. But depression is very real and has its own agenda.

But I'm better. I'm doing the things I enjoy again, like writing and exercising and reading and so forth, but still not to the same level as before. But at least I'm not sitting and staring off into space. I am doing something.

As I tend to do, I look for opportunities for fresh starts. I've been on the Wii every day but one since last Sunday. Wanted to start again and come up with a new plan so I started on a Sunday - beginning of a new week.

And tomorrow is a new week, new month, new year.

An excellent opportunity to get on track and start working towards getthing healthier - both mentally and physically.

And I'll be looking to you all for support. Those are my intentions for the new year!

Happy, healthy, 2012!

197

2011-05-01T11:32:00.000-05:00

Fortunately that was my last cholesterol count, not my weight. Although there are days....

No, really, I am pleased to report that my last cholesterol check was 197. Only a slim hair under 200 but still better than 231. Wish I could say I contributed to the decrease, but I don't really think I did much. I think it was the difference between a fasting draw and one right after lunch. The other good news, at least for now, is that even though my internist had a note in my file to discuss Plavimox with me after receiving the 231 count from another doctor, he said my good cholesterol was really very good and that was a mitigating factor so we could hold off on a medication for right now.

And we all know what boosts our good cholesterol, right? Right? EXERCISE!

I didn't get a whole lot of that in the last few months. Very little in fact. But, today is a new day, a new week, and new month and you know how I feel about starting things on the 1st of something.

I have renewed my commitment to myself. The sixty plus work hours will be back down to 45 to 50, which is still a lot but saving 10 hours a week actually saves me a week over the course of the month. I went from 280 hours in March to only 220 in April. I played in a kickball tournament yesterday, although my participation was mostly organizational. I did kick the ball three times though, no strike outs, and got to at least run halfway to 1st base before getting out.

It was a start. And a start and a spark can sometimes be all we need to get things back blazing! I didn't even let my sprained ankle, that is still the size of an orange, get in the way of having a great time.

Nor am I using it as a complete excuse to put off what needs to be done.

So, today I'm firing up the Wii again for an hour(ish) long session - not too strenuous but getting all the parts moving again. I still want to be able to walk tomorrow!

Will today be the day you renew your commitment to yourself? It's the perfect day.

A New Mission

2011-02-16T20:07:00.000-06:00

I was given a new challenge last week. I would have thought that dropping almost 1/3rd of my body weight would have solved a lot of health problems but that is not to be.

The blood work from my annual checkup indicated my cholesterol is 231.

231.

That's considered borderline, but when the end of that "border" is 239, who are we kidding?

I have high cholesterol.

For a diabetic, I have extremely high cholesterol. It should be less than 180 for me.

Technically, I've fought my cholesterol for years. Through all shapes and sizes. This time the doctor said the one thing I've been waiting to hear.

"It may be hereditary. You're so small".

It isn't that I want to be let off the hook. I'm a big proponent of personal responsibility. But i don't want to frustrated by trying to work hard on something that isn't going to work anyway. And I really have been trying to eat better and I get fairly regular exercise. So there may be some truth to it. I don't particularly want to take more medications, but I will if that will help.

I'm going to schedule a follow-up appointment and look into some options. But don't be surprised if you start to see some cholesterol tips.

And I'll gladly take any and all suggestions from any of you. I will need them.

A Gift to Me

2011-01-30T19:34:00.000-06:00

I did something last weekend that is very rare for me.

I went shopping.

I've said before I hate to shop. Still do.

But, true to my norm, I went with a purpose. I went to replace a long string of fake pearls. I had a long one that could be doubled, used to could triple it before Scooter broke it the first time. And I found one. On sale even. Could have left then.

But the store was having a 50 to 70 percent off sale.

Surely I could look at the just a couple of sweater dresses? That wouldn't hurt would it?

Well, I spent too much money, but I got several very nice sweater dresses and one suit for work. With busy season hours, the sweater dresses are nice. They are comfortable for all day and still look nice.

But here's what I want to share. I've said before, and will continue to say, I'm more than just a number. I'm more than the number on the scale or the one on the label in the clothes.

But, true confession time now, it was really quite nice to be able to look at the rack where the size in the label is a single digit. Or a single letter that is not an L. It really made me feel very good inside. Because it's been a long time since I could. I believe I was just out of college the last time I could buy single-digit sized clothes.

I know that wasn't the purpose of the weight loss. Wasn't really even a consideration. I went two years before I even started buying new clothes so it wasn't foremost in my mind.

And I fought having to shop even then!

So it really was a pleasant surprise when I walked up to a rack and realized I was starting in the smaller sizes. Sort of like a bolt from the blue.

Lots of programs tell you to reward yourself with non-food treats when you meet goals or reach an achievement. And I have to agree. It was really pretty cool.

Now, when I got home, I laid the receipt on the bar, which is the rule in our house, but I circled in a BIG circle the amount SAVED. I felt like that would be the place to start. I did save more than I spent. Which is a very good thing.

So, if you're having trouble meeting a goal, then pick a reward. Maybe it's a massage or a facial. Maybe a new swimsuit. Find something you want and go for it!

Sometimes focusing on the reward at the end is easier than focusing on the journey to get there.

Know the Signs, Save a Life

2011-01-22T05:11:00.002-06:00

Such an important reminder. This is the Denise Austin Newsletter for January 21. 2011.

Here in the United States, we're fighting a very tough killer: heart disease. Every year, 1.2 million people suffer a heart attack, and almost 40 percent of them die. It doesn't have to be that way! The faster a person having a heart attack gets medical care, the better his or her chances are for survival and recovery. And you can do something about that!

Whether you're 25 or 85, it's important to know the symptoms of a heart attack. While heart disease is more common among older individuals, young people sometimes experience heart attacks, too - many times without any history of heart disease. Even if you know your heart is strong and pumping, you probably come into contact throughout your day with people who are at risk. A simple way to be prepared is to make sure you recognize these signs of a heart attack, from the American Heart Association, so you can respond ASAP!

Chest pain or discomfort
Discomfort in other areas of the body, such as the arms, back, neck,
jaw, and stomach
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Nausea and vomiting
Light-headedness
Jaw pain

If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack, call for emergency help right away!

As the new year brings new resolutions to exercise and get in shape, we sometimes overdo a good thing and add stress to our hearts. Hearts that may or may not have been given the best diet of late, if you know what I mean. Our hearts are so important and have to be taken care of! Part of that care is knowing the above signs (NEVER knew about jaw pain!) and paying attention.

Minutes matter.

I'll share a short story. In 2007, I found that I was having numbness in my right arm. I couldn't grasp things with that hand very well and it just didn't seem to work right. But it was intermittent and I just blew it off. Until one day at work the numbness started and was followed by a pain going across my chest. So I called my doctor's office and asked to speak to a nurse. I barely got the first sentence out of my mouth when she stopped me and said "get to an emergency room, now".

So I did.

I'll never forget calling Billy from the emergency room. Fortunately it started with "everything's ok but...".

I was lucky. A car wreck earlier in the year had messed up my neck and the pain and numbness were from a buldging disc in my neck. Another problem that actually could have caused a lot damage if I hadn't gotten to the doctor when I did.

My point is this. A lot of those warning signs are not big, dire, bells going off indicators. They are common, every day symptons that can easily be ignored or brushed off. Especially for those among us that think we're Super Woman and must do everything and do it all ourselves and so on.

You know who you are. Or you know someone does and needs you to keep an eye on THEM.

So, know your family history, know the signs, and get yourself checked as needed.

It's important.

Not just to you, but to all who love you.

Have a great weekend!

Who, Me, Stressed?

2011-01-18T21:23:00.001-06:00

I finished Week 2 of my 9 week challenge.

What was I thinking?

Who starts a 9 week, 4 day a week, workout plan when they have to work 60 hours a week?

Honestly?

I finished last week 27 calories and about 20 minutes short of the goal. But I couldn't have worked out another minute if I'd wanted to. There was just too much going on.

Then Saturday came. Week 3. And that's when I decided to put the plan on hold. I had to get up, dress for work, work most of the day, and attend a Mardi Gras party that evening. Adding a 35 minute workout didn't seem feasible. Next thing I knew it was Sunday. Church, work, cooking, you name it. Then I fell asleep. But not before I'd spent the day trying to see if I could somehow squeeze out an hour and do Saturday and Sunday's scheduled workouts.

And it hit me. Exercise is supposed to be fun. At least enjoyable! Not an added stressor in my life. So my approach is going to be to workout on the nights I feel like it and not get all bent out of shape if I miss one. Or two.

Don't misunderstand-I'm not giving up. Not by a longshot! No, I'm just trying to work within my own limitations and make the best of it.

Today, for example, I rode my bike to work. Home for lunch then back again. A good way to squeeze in some exercise. And I'll keep using my Wii in the mornings and do the workouts at night as I can. Exercise makes you feel good, think better, stay healthy, and reduce stress.

As long as trying to exercise doesn't create the stress. Then, it's a chore. Work. And I already have plenty of that.

Count On Yourself

2011-01-09T21:18:00.000-06:00

Week One. Completed.

I told you all earlier that the EA Active 2 goals for this week were 4 workouts, total of 2 hours, and to burn 600 calories in the process. The 4 workouts were no problem. I picked the four days that I thought would be easiest and got up in the 4's a couple of mornings to get them in. I had planned on one of the nights being Wednesday but I put in an extremely long day, out of town, and I was just too exhausted. Even though I did it the next morning, it still counted as a miss, but I did get all four in.

I started to get concerned about the other two goals by the third day. The programs that it had for me didn't last 30 minutes a piece and the anticipated calorie burn was less than 150 each. On the last day, when I discovered the workout was not going to meet the last two goals I actually got angry.

My initial reaction was that the game had set me up to fail. It didn't structure my plan to meet the goals!

And then it hit me. I wasn't supposed to ONLY count on the game. I had to count on myself as well. There was nothing to say I could ONLY do 4 workouts, that was just one of the goals. And, furthermore, the goals for the week were actually 3 separate and distinct goals. Not one collective goal.

It hit me on the last day when I burned up more calories than expected (144 compared to 139). Maybe it was the anger fueling it, but I had pushed myself harder than what was expected of me. I could have been doing it all week.

That would have solved the calorie goal issue. I was less than 50 from that benchmark. The time, though, would have only been met with one extra workout. And not even a long one. Each day the workout got a few minutes longer than the previous so I probably only needed about 15 minutes.

All I needed was to raise my own bar above the expectation. Simple enough. The only person responsible for that is me.

I learned today that I have some control over the setting of the goals. I didn't have to just accept the "trainer's" recommendation. Since I didn't know yesterday that I was supposed to reset the goals myself, yesterday's workout didn't count. So I dialed all the levels back a little to account for it. It's not really cheating, I did the workout. 30 minutes and over 150 calories burned.

3 workouts, 499 calories, and 90 minutes to go.

Motivational Monday

2011-01-03T05:38:00.000-06:00

From Denise Ausin's Newsletter this morning:

Rethink Your Habits One Step at a Time!

I am a big believer in the power of small victories! The best way to get healthier and more fit is to take baby steps, to introduce good habits a few at a time.

When you try to overhaul your entire lifestyle overnight, it's easy to burn out. But when you start with one small change and put your energy into making it a habit, the chances are a lot better that it will stick! Did you know that it takes about three weeks to establish a habit? If you can take a small, achievable step and make it a regular part of your life for three weeks, you should be able to stick to it permanently.

If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by the number of changes you want to make in your life, or if you're not sure how to get started, try this: Make a list of the changes you'd like to make, big and small. Include anything you can think of. Now go over the list and pick out one change to start with. Make it something that you feel is achievable at this stage of your life - for example, you may not be able to make over your entire diet, but maybe you can fit in one more vegetable each day in place of a less healthy food. Or you may not have time to join an aerobics class, but maybe you can start taking a walk most nights after dinner. Pick something you think you can accomplish, and put your energy into making it happen! You'll be so happy when you can check this item off of your list.

Once you feel confident that you've accomplished this small change, add another item from your list to your efforts. And don't forget to keep track of the changes you've already made! Nothing is more inspiring than knowing that you can - and have - accomplished changes in your life. Be proud along this journey!

And, by the way, feeling muscles this morning I'd forgotten about after Day 2 on the EA Active 2. Roughly halfway through this week's goals: 55 minutes and 274 calories. And I'm just marginally ahead of what the game predicted so the next two workouts must be a little longer and a little tougher to get to 2 hours and 600 calories. Good thing today is a rest day!

And thanks for all the positive comments on the first post. TOGETHER, we can do this!

New Day, New Year, New Plan, Same Goal

2011-01-01T15:25:00.000-06:00

I hope to blog more in the near future. Even if no one else reads it, it helps keep me accountable. 1/1/11 and all is well.

At least so far.

I journaled my weight and food eaten and exercise. Just like I used to. Which I know works.

I started the 9 week fitness plan on the EA Active 2 game for the Wii. It works you out for four days a week for nine weeks. There are also weekly goals. This week the goals are 4 workouts totaling 2 hours and burning 600 calories. Today, first workout done, took 25 minutes and burned 134 calories.

I'm on my way!

Happy New Year to everyone! May you aim for the stars and reach your goals in the process! My wish for all is a happy and healthy 2011.

Tomorrow is Another Day, and Year

2010-12-31T06:34:00.000-06:00

I always assess my year on New Year's Eve. Highlight the good stuff; analyze the bad stuff, plan for new stuff.

While I'm not thrilled with how this year went, fitness-wise, I do subscribe to the Scarlett O'Hara Philosophy of Life which is "Tomorrow is another day".

And in this case, another year.

Each day that we get up is another day to make positive changes. Or a chance to at least stop doing something negative. A new day, a fresh beginning.

I let a lot of things slip these last six months. A lot of things. Things that I need to re-implement.

And there's no time like today - unless you want to wait until tomorrow.

Yesterday I rode my bike to work and walked Riley. The first real, organized and planned exercise I had in weeks. The holidays are crazy! You get lots of walking when you're shopping, but you're also eating things you might not otherwise eat; at times you don't normally eat, and (possibly) have one more glass of the good stuff than you normally do.

Which is all fine. Life is to be enjoyed. But to be around to enjoy it even longer, those lapses in routine and good judgment need to monitored and tempered a little.

So, I will get up tomorrow with a new plan and new direction. I got a new Wii fitness game to try and some other modifications to my daily routine to implement. Maybe it's all psychological, but I like starting new things or changing my routines on the first of something - first day of the week, month, and, in this case, the year.

So, here's to 2011! A fresh start and a new chance to do all the things I didn't get done last year.

May you all have a blessed and safe new year and may 2011 be all that you want it to be!

Eat Right! Get Your Superfoods!

2010-12-01T05:29:00.002-06:00

I know I've run this before, but it bears repeating. The following is from Denise Austin. She runs it pretty regularly herself so it must really be worth reading again.

And trying.

On Sunday morning this past weekend I made my own fruit smoothies. I purchased a bag of frozen mixed mixed berries - red raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries - and dumped them in a blender with a large container of plain yogurt (next time I'm going to try vanilla for just a little different flavor combination). Then I added just a little Splenda, which you could do to taste. Hit the button and Viola! smoothies for about 4 days. I divided the pitcher into 4 smaller containers and froze three and ate one. Very good! And simple. I thawed a second one out and ate it yesterday morning before work. So, minimal chemicals or preservatives. Just good, honest, wholesome foods. The same thing would cost about twice as much if you buy the Yoplait brand - and it's the same thing. I know, because I have them in the freezer as well. You can't tell the difference. Save money, eat well, and KNOW what you're putting in your body. Sounds like a winner to me. But here, let Denise tell you.

Looking for a way to get even more bang for your nutritional buck? Try these "superfoods"! They're loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to help you feel great, and they even help fight disease! Incorporate them into your diet today!

Almonds: A source of "good" fat, almonds can help your heart by lowering bad cholesterol!

Berries: They're jammed with vitamins - particularly vitamin C - but new research has found these sweet little sensations to be ace disease fighters too, helping to prevent bladder infections and even cancers, among other illnesses.

Broccoli: Folate, vitamin C, calcium - broccoli is packed with all these awesome nutrients. Now researchers think it might also fight cancer!

Avocado: The large number of calories in a serving of avocado is totally worth it! This source of healthy fat contains a ton of vitamin K and potassium and is also associated with lower cholesterol and even the prevention of breast cancer!

Salmon: Low in calories, easy to prepare, and amazingly good for you - what's not to love about salmon? And the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon are great for your heart!
Olive oil: Another good fat! Besides making your food incredibly tasty, olive oil can also protect you from heart disease.

Green tea: So much research has touted the benefits of green tea, it's hard to know where to begin! But here's a sample: A Japanese study in 2006 showed that green tea lowered the risk of death from all causes. How's that for a superfood?

Eat well, live long, and have a wonderful day my friends!

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

2010-11-26T10:15:00.003-06:00

How does your garden grow?

Might be a little tough to see, but there's a ton of greens in there! I told you all we were trying our first cold crops and here some of them are! We did the rest from seed in our flower beds (hoping to keep the animals at bay) and the little seedlings are sprouting up all over! Expect more pictures as they get bigger and become more recognizable.

I'll let you know when it's time to harvest!

The Stark Reality

2010-11-13T17:25:00.010-06:00

Before I start, let me start by apologizing for any visuals this blog creates.

I stayed in a hotel four days this week. You all know what hotel bathrooms are like. You throw back the shower curtain and there you are, in all your "glory", in the mirror opposite the tub. One day, instead of hurriedly wrapping the towel around me, I stopped and looked.

I took inventory.

I decided that I wasn't all that bad for a 44 year old. ( and no, I don't enjoy looking at myself "that way").

Let's face it, I'm not rocking any washboard, six-pack abs and the back of my thighs look like a cottage cheese dieters' paradise, but there are some good things.

My legs may never run a marathon. But they're going to walk a 5K in two weeks for charity and they can run as far as friend in need when necessary. My arms still have a little flab between the shoulders and elbows but they are strong enough to give good hugs and hold on to those I love. My shoulders slope some but they have borne the weight of the world on more than one occasion and held the tears of friends' eyes. My back is a little crooked but it is strong and straight enough to stand up for what I believe is right.

So, I may never weigh 120 pounds again but that's OK. I'm at a healthy weight and a lot closer to 120 than I used to be. I've dropped a lot of weight and given my heart a chance. I'm making healthier choices more often than not and giving my body a chance to be it's best.

I'm taking care of me. So what if I'm a little soft around the middle? I am loved. Just the way I am

And that's alright with me.

That's not to say I'm giving up on trying to be even better, but that's all gravy at this point.

No, I'm not perfect. But I'm not bad either.

And neither are you. Wherever you are in your journey.

Pilates

2010-10-28T10:47:00.004-05:00

Trying something new!

I attended my first Pilates class last night. A friend gave me 10 sessions as a "thank you" for a favor I did for her. She needn't have done anything, but was it was a very nice gesture and I was glad for the new exercise.

New exercises are always good things.

Now, I've done Pilates DVDs in the past. I like Denise Austin's standing Pilates in particular. But that is nothing when compared to using all the machines! The instructor had most everything on the lowest setting for me and they were still very challenging.

They say you should change your routine up every 6 weeks or so. So, here I go. I'll keep you posted!

We Are What We Eat

2010-10-15T05:58:00.008-05:00

I remember this as being sort of a "catch phrase" in the 70s. I also think a lot of folks pooh poohed it as a bunch of hippie nonsense.

I beg to differ.

Earlier this year I started doing some research on breast cancer. Not because I have it, but because I am a woman and the possibility always exists in the back of my mind. I do have some of the risk factors so I am ever vigilant.

One thing I did was to follow a blog. Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin was diagnosed in the fall of 2009 with Triple Negative breast cancer. She chronicled her journey. Some posts were tearful, some joyous.

Her treatments completed, and successfully, she changed some of her focus to prevention. Many of these posts relate to the foods we eat.

So it got me to thinking - always a dangerous thing! - about what all we ingest around here. Because I believe there is a lot of truth to the research.

I don't think our bodies were ever intended to process all the chemicals and preservatives and other ingredients with names that read like alphabet soup. They were meant to use as fuel those things that we can grow.

Of course, the new buzzword for all this is "organic". We have a new little store in town and his specialty is organic spices.

Spices, you say.

Aren't those already natural?

One would think, but go read a label. There's tons of stuff in there that you can't pronounce. Most of it says "added to keep it free flowing." Slick Rick's says "shake it to wake it." Free flowing once again.

So, at our last "family meeting" - which is really any time the two of us are in the same room - we decided to start working our way towards organic. I'm going to try to grow my first "cold crop" - lettuces and such. Peppers and tomatoes I've got down pretty well. And we're starting to read labels more. We'll get back to cooking more foods from fresher ingredients and doing things from scratch.

Because let's face it. All those ingredients are added to foods to give them longer shelf lives and add to our convenience. We can grab out of the pantry or freezer something that is meant to sit for a year and cook it in a matter of minutes. Fits our busy lives and schedules, right?

So what are you going to do with all that "extra" time you are creating? Cram more meetings or activities in? Or will you be spending it in a doctor's office. Attached to tubes and wires and receiving treatments? Or could you be enjoying some quality, healthy family time?

Now, I know there are plenty of people that smoke and eat junk and never get a cancer cell. Alternately, there are those who have lived a clean life and still get sick. I wouldn't wish cancer on anyone. But if there is solid research that indicates that something as simple changing our eating habits can really help prevent even the possibility, why wouldn't you think about it?

I hope to borrow from her blog over the next few weeks and start sharing that research.

I'll start with her last one: Watercress. Eat it.

http://jengriffinblog.blogspot.com/

Another New Thing!

2010-09-24T06:17:00.004-05:00

What a week!

Yoplait has done it again - Splitz. Three new dessert flavors masking all the goodness of yogurt.

I had the Rainbow Sherbet yesterday at lunch and will have the Strawberry Sundae this morning. I'm probably going to skip the banana split. Not a fan in real life and so many yogurts have Strawberry Banana flavors and I just don't care for those. Banana yogurt just seems wrong somehow.

It took a long time for me to like yogurt. Matter of fact, it took being desperately hungry on a long flight one time for me to even try it. I was looking at a "snack box" for breakfast and there was very little in there I was interested in. But the yogurt was Yoplait Custard Style. No fruit on the bottom that had to be chewed. No runny melted ice cream looking yogurt. Good solid yogurt that I thought I could at least tolerate if it just slid down my throat and didn't require any actual eating.

Turns out it was good. Very good, in fact.

Which goes to show you that sometimes you just gotta step out of that comfort zone and give something new a whirl.

So, now I eat a lot of yogurt. Mostly Yoplait. I still don't really care for the ones that have real fruit that you stir up. I like the thick kinds that are more dessert-like than yogurt-like.

So, a growing girl can never get enough calcium. I take the supplements but it's always always always better if you can get your nutrition from foods.

So, add it to you grocery list this week and see what you think.

And have a great weekend. Should be a good one so get outside and get moving - and easy on those football snacks. :)

A New Thing

2010-09-23T06:21:00.003-05:00

Always on the lookout for new, healthy things to share with you all.

I think I hit the jackpot on this one.

I've talked in the past about my limited likes of fruits and vegetables. I've talked about how much I like V8 Fusion - a full serving of fruits and vegetables in one glass. We've also discussed the benefits of green tea. Which I like, but hot, not cold.

V8 has put it all together. They've mixed the V8 Fusion, which tastes like fruit juice, with green tea. Awesome! (Cold even!)

There were 3 flavors at the store the other day and we bought a couple of each. I've had the Pomegranate Blueberry and the Pineapple Mango. Both are excellent. Small, portable bottles so there's no excuse not to grab one on the go.

Give your body something new to love.

No Harm, No Foul

2010-09-08T20:23:00.007-05:00

I spent a week in New York and came back less than a pound heavier than when I left.

Folks, I consider that a moral victory. Rarely can you say that a vacation did not significantly add to your waistline.

Here's the problem. I should have lost weight given all the walking we did.

Miles and miles of walking. One day I managed to take an hour to get to a pizza place that ended up being only about 4 blocks from where we started. Lesson learned on at adventure - don't trust a subway map if you're above ground. It doesn't show all the streets - only the ones it needs to.

So, why, you ask, did I not drop all the unwanted pounds at which I've been chipping away?

Simple.

There was gelato at the wax museum. An Italian ice from a street vendor in Little Italy. An ice cream cone at Coney Island. A small, vanilla milkshake from McDonald's one night after sitting in record heat all day. Our post-theatre dinners at 11 and 10 PM were McDonald's chicken nuggets or fillet of fish sandwiches and fries.

Just about every rule I could break, I did. Every good habit I have, ignored. If not for all the walking who knows what would have happened!

I guess that one of the good things about vacations - you do things you wouldn't normally do, and that can be OK. I have returned to breakfasts of mini-wheats, whole grain breads at lunch and sugar free mousse for desserts.

In other words, I'm back on the wagon.

I'm still facing down about 6 pounds, but that's better than it was a few weeks ago.

I can do it. Being healthy doesn't mean not having fun. I'm not going to have any regrets. It's not the way I roll.

That also doesn't mean that I don't care. I know I have to be healthy in order to be able to take the next trip or do the things I want to do. There's give and take.

So, enjoy your life, but find some balance. If you want to eat something just remember the laws of physics: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Eating a cupcake may mean walking a little further or giving up something else later in the day (which is why planning is so important!) or passing up a second helping for a chance at a dessert later. Or just learning to love the taste of sugar free ice cream!

I also think this is a good time of year for fresh starts. The fall is always the start of a new school year and I think I look at it as a time for "newness" also. The summer was fun. We indulged. Life was disorderly. Whatever. Fall = structure. So, if you, like me, have slid a little lately then make that resolution early. Get back on track with a new month, a new season, a new goal.

Let's go for it!

Checking In

2010-08-26T18:42:00.007-05:00

Well, it's been a couple of weeks. I have really struggled. I've only managed to lose about 3 of the 8 eight pounds I needed to - just to get back to where I'd left off before. No vanity pounds, there.

I never underestimate the effects of stress on your body. Sometimes it can assist you making bad decisions, but it also does produce actual biological changes - including weight gain.

I've really been under the gun since my last trip to get one job out the door and another one started before my next trip. I worked the last 3 weekends and late every night this week but I will be delivering a draft audit report tomorrow on my big job and the other big one started on Tuesday. I have a really good staff person who can work fairly independently in certain areas and she's been clicking right along while I worked on the other audit. That really has helped a lot.

I had wanted to be back down at my "fighting weight" before we left on vacation Saturday but it hasn't worked. Vacations are opportunities for bad habits to rear their ugly heads so I wanted to at least have a running start! I will say, though, most years we get a lot of exercise on this trip. One year we walked 10 miles just in one day! So, that helps offset some of the late night eating of fried foods.

Like everything else in life, this is journey. Even if you reach the end of one road you have to make a decision - turn left, turn right, or turn around. So it never really ends.

And that's good. That means there is always something else I can be doing to make myself a better me. A healthier me.

Which I hope, and HOPE!, starts with a little less work, a lot less stress, and a little more opportunity to focus on what all is important in my world.

Blamin' It On the Gummy Bears

2010-08-08T09:00:00.010-05:00

They say the first step to solving a problem is to first admit you have one.

I love Gummy Bears.

There. I've said it.

I know there are no nutritional, redeeming values to Gummy Bears but they taste good, are fun to eat and make my mouth happy.

I'm also sentimental towards them. On our very first date Billy picked me up at my dorm at Hendrix with a teddy bear and a bag of Gummy Bears. And not just a convenience store bag either. This was one of those little white deli bags that he got from the candy counter on the third floor of Dillard's in North Little Rock.

In other words, he made an effort to get them for me.

I successfully, or so I thought, swore them off when I decided to take my insulin problem seriously. After all, if you're going to cut out sugar, Gummy Bears would seem to be an obvious choice.

I've done well for the last several years, even when Billy would bring them home and snack on them. And then it started.

And you know, once you start, it's hard to stop.

A couple of Bears turned into a few at a time. Which became a palmful. Which grew to a handful. Which morphed into "I can't get this fistful out of the bag without spilling a few!"

In other words, it got out of hand. Literally.

When Billy left last Sunday morning he left me with a full, unopened, bag. And not the little small bag either. The economy size.

So I ate them. A few when I'm come home to let the pack out. Few more at lunch. Again at dinner.

You get the picture.

Bag is empty now. Has been for several days. I won't be replacing it. And if Billy buys some I'll just have to say no. I did it for a long time. I can do it again.

No. Such a small word. Yet so powerful.

No, I will not sabotage myself and my successes.

No, I will not beat myself up for a bad choice.

No, I will not stop in the ongoing battle for a better me.

No, I will not love myself any less.

No, I will not let a setback have control of my progress.

Yes, I will go have a better day today.

And yes, I hope you do as well.

I Need You!

2010-08-01T20:08:00.003-05:00

Apparently part of my continued success depends on me talking to you.

All of you who are still out there.

I guess I need to think someone is watching and caring in order to stay on top of the weight loss. Whether anyone really is or not, I need to at least believe it.

I've used every excuse in the book the last couple of months - weddings, stress, vacations - and it shows.

Boy is it starting to show.

The Wii is most displeased with me and my handheld daily calorie tracker is now showing an upward trend and reporting how much I've gained (in RED!) instead of the daily (GREEN) number of pounds I've lost since I started using it.

I'm not happy people!

But, I lost this 7 pounds once and I'll lose it again. Hopefully for good this time.

So, stay with me!

Let's see if we can keep Losing It!

Denise Austin's Thought for Today

2010-05-30T07:53:00.001-05:00

Don't be your own worst critic. Wipe away those negative thoughts, and be kind to yourself!
- Denise

You CAN Do It!

2010-05-26T06:27:00.003-05:00

One of the comments on my Day 730 post was from my cousin. She said she knew losing was hard but I was making it look easy.

I was never trying for easy (but feel kinda good if I did) but I was trying for attainable.

I've always wanted everyone to see that I'm no different from anyone else with weight issues. I just made up my mind to do something about it and did.

Anyone can do it that wants to.

No tricks, no gimmicks, no pills, no shortcuts, no surgeries.

No nothing other than making new decisions, forming new habits and sticking with it.

Ain't easy.

Some days are a struggle. I've tried to chronicle those here as well. Some days I want to just give in and have another slice of pizza or one more scoop of (sugar free, low fat) ice cream. Some days I do give in but I work really hard the next day.

I don't give in permanently.

That was how I got into that shape in the first place.

Day 730

2010-05-21T14:21:00.005-05:00

Yep, today was day 730 with me and my Wii.

2 years.

Thought I do a little status check.

Two years ago today I was 21.5 pounds heavier than I was this morning. On that day I was exactly 30 lighter than when I had first started the journey.

One year ago today I was about 1.5 to 2 pounds heavier than today.

Basically the same.

Which is telling me that I am officially in the "maintenance" phase.

And that is fine.

It is also telling me that I'm doing a pretty darn good job with it.

I've been watching and monitoring long enough to know. I have about a 5 pound range that my body likes to be in. That's why I tell people that I've lost about 50 pounds. On any given day it could be 48 or 53 or anywhere in between.

I'm also getting the hint that it is time for a wardrobe overhaul. I've been pinning things and putting off making purchases until I knew for sure I was finished losing weight.

I'd have to say, that time has come. I've done a pretty good job, actually of cleaning out, just not replacing or altering. I have a lot of really good clothes that just need a little altering and I would prefer that to starting over. Took me 20 years to amass that work wardrobe and I REALLY don't want to spend that long in do-overs.

So.

Next steps.

I will keep you all updated. I still have some good ideas that I want to share, and talking to you all helps keeps me on the straight and narrow. So have no fear, the journey isn't over. We've just all turned a corner.

Can't wait to see what lies down this road!

My Horoscope for Today

2010-05-14T14:41:00.001-05:00

Taurus
April 20 - May 20
Be disciplined about all areas of your body, Taurus. Take extra care to eat healthful, balanced meals. Make sure you get enough sleep. And even though you gripe about having no time, get out there and exercise. Don't wait for an emergency before you take action. You and you alone control how you feel. Your health is essential to your well-being, not to mention your life!

Pretty good reminders for the rest of you all, too! Have a wonderful weekend!

What A Week!

2010-05-09T11:52:00.002-05:00

Talk about a fitness buster!

Thank goodness I have a good, realistic attitude about all of this.

I made two trips to Houston this week. Each was a day trip. Each leg is 6 hours.

24 hours in the car.

4 meals eaten by drive-thru.

No exercise.

One of those days I got home at 4 in the morning. Just in time to get ready for work.

Breakfast that morning was Pop Tarts and coffee.

By lunch, I was starving and almost manic from the sugar and what caffeine I do get from drinking half-caff. Yes, I know - I'm supposed to have virtually eliminated caffeine from my world right now but believe me, desperate times called for desperate measures.

The last day, more Pop Tarts for breakfast as I was pretty much exhausted by then and didn't get up in time to really even fix a bowl of cereal. It was a grab-n-go kind of morning.

So, yesterday, I tried to make up for it. Now, I know that you can't undo several days of bad decisions in one day. But I walked two dogs, rode my bike, made homemade frozen yogurt and stir-fry for dinner.

It was a start, right?

Yes, I am also aware that there good choices now at the fast food places. Well, maybe "good" is not the right term but "less damaging". But I rarely pick those. I don't like vegetables so ordering a salad is out, most sandwiches come with lettuce and tomatoes and to order without those always seems to involve a wait, or pulling up past the second window so they can bring it to us. I tend to pick the chicken nuggets since they need no "adjustment". And I will confess here and now that I had one of the best chocolate shakes EVER at a Jack-in-the-Box.

Yep, you read that correctly.

It may have tasted so good because it has been so long since I had one, but ice cream is a comfort food (at least for me) and by this point in my week, I needed it and I didn't really care.

Yes, the Wii let me know this morning that I had my work cut out for me this week. But that's OK, too. Taking care of yourself means the mental as well as the physical and sometimes you have to let one take a backseat and focus on the other.

For me, the stresses of the week - work and family - had led me to a place where I just had to take care of Deanne, if only for the few minutes it took to enjoy the shake.

Guilty, not one bit. I took two years to lose the weight and have successfully maintained that loss for over a year now and I know I can't undo all of that in one week.

Vigilant, yes. I do know that I could very easily undo all of that if I were to continue that behavior. But I won't.

I'm proud of myself. Of my accomplishments. And the fact that I do have control over this aspect of my life. While my food choices were not the best, they were conscious decisions. I knew what I was ordering and why I was ordering it. I wasn't fooling myself.

So, my lessons for you are these: We're not all perfect. Even those who have reached their goals or seem to be so in control all have bad days. Days where other things are more important than worrying about what you eat or if you got in 30 minutes on the treadmill. Prioritize. Do what you need to do.

Then get right back in the saddle and continue to ride the straight and narrow path.

Right past the drive-thrus....

I Feel Good!

2010-04-26T05:53:00.002-05:00

Can you hear James Brown in the background?

I knew that I would now!

An unusual thing, at least I think it is, keeps happening to me. I had thought about blogging about it but hadn't, and then my friend Lou, one of the blog readers and a friend since elementary school possibly even kindergarten, told me it was happening to her.

People seem to wonder if we're sick.

Seriously.

I get asked all the time - how much weight have you lost? Did you mean to? Are you OK? Are you sure?

Her conclusion is that it is an age thing. If we were younger, folks would probably just congratulate us and move on, but since we're over 40 ....

It is just funny, though, because we're healthier than we've been in years. (She recently tried gluten-free living and dropped about 12 pounds I think she said, in a fairly short amount of time.) We both feel better than we have in a long time. And things are good. I recently wore a dress to work that was my traveling dress when I got married.

For those going to check the calendar, that dress is over 20 years old. But it fit like a dream and because I tend to spend my money on classic pieces over trendy stuff, it didn't look like it was 20 years old.

So, I'm in better shape than I've been in for years. Healthier. Able to do more. All that stuff.

And still you get asked the same question - Are you OK? You aren't sick are you?

All I can do is smile and say No.

The Good Stuff

2010-03-23T13:53:00.003-05:00

Typically, I am not a fan of Daylight Savings Time. Especially since we stay on it so long that I think it should be Standard Time - but that's another post. (Literally another post - it was a Random Thought). But here is the upside.

Even after working 12 hours a day there is still enough light left that I can walk Riley after supper. Which is good because I really hate eating at 7 at night.

I read an article not too long ago that said the premise of eating late would make you gain weight was a myth. I'm not sure I believe that. I am, of course, no expert but it seems to me that eating and then going to bed can't be a good thing. Now, if you are a night person and eat at 7 and stay up until midnight doing stuff that's a different story. But I like as much time as possible to burn up my calories before I lay down for 7 hours. So the walk is good.

Some experts also say you shouldn't exercise before you go to bed since that can get you all reved up and make it hard to sleep. But I've rather enjoyed the fresh night air and find that I'm sleeping better - as long as the Elite Eight sleep also.

So, with more sunshine and longer days there are less excuses available for not getting out there and getting some good, old-fashioned exercise. Do it with your kids or spouse - make it a family affair!

The benefits of exercise are way beyond just weight management. Exercise relieves, or at least reduces, stress (VERY important for me this time of year) and releases all those feel-good endorphins to make a little pleasanter to be around.

So, quit burning daylight and get out there!

Conquering Your Cravings

2010-03-16T11:48:00.008-05:00

OK, this post was supposed to be really cool. I had read the best article about the different personality types when it comes to cravings and it even had a little quiz to help you figure out what type you are. There were also some really good tips.

Here is the bad news. I was sitting in a doctor's office when I read it (see - you guys are ALWAYS on my mind!) which means I have no idea what magazine it was or even how old the issue was.

Truly a Deanne if I ever pulled one. So I've been looking and can't find it and I'm going to wing it.

First of all, personality types. Apparently there are people that can satisfy a craving with one little bite of something and be fine and others that having that one bite unleashes a torrent of more cravings. Those are the ones that just have to say no. They need to go get a glass of water or follow one of the other tips listed below. Chemically, their brains can't get that one little taste of what they need and be satisfied. They just keep wanting more and more and that leads to any manner of problems for them.

I fall into the middle (and yes, there was a category for that. I didn't just make it up). I find that I control my cravings by controlling my environment. If I want a bite of chocolate I can be satisfied with just one bite, as long as there aren't any more than that lying around. If I have 3 pieces in my desk drawer, I'll eat all three. If I have to walk to the front counter for a piece, that is the only one I'll have and I won't go back. I'm good.

Some of the tips they mentioned - chew gum or at least sniff some mint. OK, one of my weaknesses is mint chocolate chip ice cream so I don't think sniffing mint is going to help, but I do chew a lot of gum.

A LOT of gum. I'm a chain chewer. All sugar free.

It is supposed to make your brain think you are eating and make some of the cravings so away.

The reason I chew it is because it helps you think. I read about a study that was done with kindergartners that showed that chewing gum improved their brain function. (Problem is, you can't give kindergartens gum on a regular basis since it is subject to get swallowed or stuck some place it shouldn't be!). So I chew and hope that it helps me work.

This time of year I'll take anything I can get to help me work.

So, think about your personality and watch how you handle your cravings. Like anything else on this journey, a little knowledge goes a long way.

Knowing yourself will help you help yourself.

Now, go have a wonderful day!

Peaches and Pop Tarts

2010-03-07T19:55:00.005-06:00

I am ashamed to admit that this was my lunch one day last week.

I figure I gotta be honest, here, right?

Last week was rough.

For those that don't know me personally, Billy works out of town part of each month. We also have 8 dogs, but he takes one with him, so that leaves me with 7 to feed, water, exercise, etc, etc. And one of those dogs, our sweet Riley, is epileptic and has a very regimented routine and medicine schedule.

So, my day gets worked around Riley's needs when Billy's gone.

One of the important parts of his day is his walk - for two reasons. One, routine is important and keeps his anxiety in check which usually helps with everything else. Second, the sunshine is very beneficial (he has a holistic vet on his team and she agrees with me on that). I also happen to think that all the good endorphins and other things that get released when you exercise are good for him.

So, when you have to work 10 hours a day (or more if you can take it),trying to find time for a 30 minute walk can be a challenge.

Trust me on this.

Two days last week it was raining so I had to find a break in the drizzle - which occurred about 6:30 at night. I don't much care for walking after dark when I'm alone, but you do what you have to do.

Imagine my delight when Wednesday dawned a glorious day. That day's walk would be in daylight and dry!

Normally, this time of year my lunch is only 30 minutes, but I figured I could always work later so walking at lunch seemed like a good idea. After I let everyone out, I just grabbed a half can of peaches (in Splenda). Now I grabbed something because Riley gets medicine at 1:30 so instead of going to lunch at noon as usual I was going about an hour later. I was starving and I grabbed something handy.

So far, so good. Canned peaches, with some exercise looming.

Ok, for some reason, Riley walked just about as slow as he could without completely stopping and all I could do was keep staring at my watch. (I know a lot of people wouldn't do this for a dog but we believe that caring for these guys is part of our purpose for being here so we'll do whatever is needed.) By the time we completed our route my time for lunch was more than up so I reached in the cabinet and grabbed the first thing I could that I could eat without cooking.

Yes, I eat my Pop Tarts cold.

Horrible choice! Yes, Pop Tarts can be a nice occasional treat. They are not a good meal. There is very little of any nutritional value in them, lots of sugar, and nothing to fill you up. So I was hungry again not very long after.

A bad choice.

A bad choice made worse by the fact that I had a house full of things I could have microwaved in two minutes or less. Good choices. (If you haven't checked out Lean Pockets lately, you should. These are not your kids Hot Pockets! I tried a Lean Pocket with grilled chicken in a whole wheat crust with cheese and a garlic white sauce - very grown up! and very good! only 260 calories,)

So, even though I know all the right things to do and try really hard, I slip up. It happens.

But it was one slip. Didn't derail the train. I made good choices for dinner and the next day.

Matter of fact, with everything going on last week, I actually lost 2 pounds. But most importantly, I didn't beat myself up, didn't give up on myself. I recognized the situation for what it was - an inappropriate response to a stressful situation and a bad choice.

But it was only one choice. Not a life-altering event.

Your bad choices aren't either. Make them, but let them go.

A Potpourri

2010-03-03T05:00:00.002-06:00

So much to share, so little time.

I find that while I think about things to add to blog all the time after spending 12 hours at the office I rarely want to sit in front of the computer once I get home and write.

Even though I love to write.

If this whole blog thing ever gets voice activated then look out!

Anyway.

First, my plan seems to be working. By moving daily exercise on to the "must" do list instead of the "I will if I feel like it" list I have seen some good results in the last week. Way back down under my ceiling weight. I also know that adding back some variety in my workouts is a good thing. I pulled out the EA Sports Active Wii game from last summer (that I did for about a month or so) and my legs were sore for three days from all the lunges and calf work I did - in just one night!

So, keep your body guessing! If it doesn't know what you're going to next, it can't outsmart you.

I did have to vary my initial plan a little last week due to weather conditions and other events, but I made it a priority to do something physical every day except Friday. That was pizza and movie and Olympics night. And this week's plan just says "Walk Riley" every day. It's my week and that will probably be the only physical activity I get until Billy gets back home.

Second item. For reasons that I don't really want to get into here, I have been asked by one of my doctors to cut back on the caffeine.

Truly not words that I wanted to hear.

In reality, I don't drink all that much, and not near as much as I used to or as much as a lot of people I know. But still.

So I started yesterday. Only one cup of coffee in the morning instead of two and a 7Up for lunch instead of a Diet Dr. Pepper or Coke Zero. I made sure the herbal tea in the afternoon was decaffeinated.

Woke up with a headache this morning.

Still nursing my one cup. But there is more in the pot and I might have to ease into this whole thing. After all, he said cut back, not cut out. We are also going to try and make the coffee 50/50 after Billy gets home. He said he was up for it. He does try to support me in every way possible.

I'll be interested to see if less caffeine has any other effects with the healthy lifestyle.

Here's the other really cool thing. This doctor is brand new in town. I'd never seen him before. I only went this time to get a second opinion - and from someone who was not tied to Natchez. So he's going through my history and all. In discussing my habits and lifestyle I mentioned the fact that I had lost around 50 pounds over the last couple of years.

50? he said.

Yes.

Asked me what I weighed now.

Told him without hesitation.

Raise your right hand, he says. Swear to me you won't get any skinnier.

Y'all that hit me like nothing else.

I had one doctor here in town that would almost berate me about my weight every time he saw me. Even if the ailment I was there for was in no way, shape or form effected by my weight he would bring the conversation around to it. I didn't stay with him long. Not because he was wrong, but his manner was. He wasn't helping me by trying to make me feel bad about myself. He did nothing, actually, to even try to help or offer solutions.

So, my next two doctors never said a word, even when I was at my heaviest, unless I brought it up first. I liked that better. I knew what I needed to do but just had to get right in my head and make up my mind to do it. (For the record they were both wonderful doctors but one died unexpectedly and the other moved out of Natchez).

But enough about that. It just felt good to think "I've arrived" as far as the medical community is concerned.

So, there are more good things to come. But I've been up since 4:15 this morning and it is time to get ready for work.

The Reasons Why

2010-02-24T14:14:00.004-06:00

I have been deeply effected by the recent death of a childhood friend and classmate. In trying to lighten my mood yesterday after I learned of my friend's passing, Billy tried to joke that we were "getting into that age group." I told him I didn't know how old he thought I was, but 43 is NOT "that age group."

But he meant well and said it out of love so I let it go.

My friend died of heart complications arising from weight gain. He died at 375 pounds. At age 43 or 44.

It has really hit me, for a lot of reasons, but mostly because THAT is the whole reason I started this journey I'm on.

I did not want to be that person. Worried about my heart. Wondering what damage I was doing to my body.

Cutting my life short.

I will probably never share the number on the scale that was staring back at me that first day. The one that scared me so badly. No one knows it except the lady at HealthQuest and she won't tell.

But it was so much higher than I ever thought I could weigh. My 6 foot 4 inch husband no longer outweighed me by much.

It terrified me and shook me to my core.

That was the point that I realized I had to do something.

Apparently my friend had encountered some of Life's difficulties and handled them the way we all do sometimes - turning to food for comfort, withdrawing from our friends and coworkers, convincing ourselves that we're handling it when we're really handling nothing.

I have been saddened by his passing - the wondering what ifs and so on, but I'm also resolved to keep going with what I started. Keep pushing myself to make the healthy choices - even when I don't want do or they aren't as much fun. I did indulge myself a little last night, bit of a pity party after a rough day, but today the day dawned brighter and I remembered that I don't have to end up like that. I have the power to control my choices and my responses to what Life hands me.

I may end up making a lot of lemonade with the lemons I get handed, but I don't have to drink it.

It's all up to me.

Having a Plan

2010-02-22T06:02:00.002-06:00

I've been a little disappointed in myself lately.

Not necessarily because of what the scales do or don't say. But in my approach to things.

See, when I set out to lose the weight I did so like I do everything else in my world - organized, planned, thought out.

I set alarms so I would get up and go walk at the local mall in the morning. I did research on how much I should eat at a meal and devised methods of tracking it. I attacked the "problem" like I do anything. I developed a plan and I executed it.

Well, I might add.

Then came maintenance, though. I got pretty haphazard. And, let's face it, maintenance is really the biggest part of the whole overall plan. I mean, really, what is the point of losing the weight if you aren't going to work to keep it off.

So, after a year of just "doing" I have started back on developing a plan. I am an extremely organized person but I don't want to take this to the extreme. It is still my life and still supposed to be fun. I'm not looking to obsess about anything, either. (Very often, though, I envy Martha Stewart and her need of only 4 hours of sleep. I could get so much more done with just a few more hours in my day!) I have worked out a fitness calendar for the next few months to follow. It doesn't leave the day's workout to my whims and how I feel. It is on the To Do List and should be checked off accordingly.

It will mix the different tools I have on different days - some days cardio or strength or yoga or a mix, with 3 Friday nights a month off for a break. Hopefully, that will shake my body up a little.

Get it back jump started.

Because as much as I love my games, and I do LOVE my games, it is easy to get complacent or de-prioritize the fitness piece of the puzzle or just do the really fun ones and skip the ones that may actually be doing the most good.

And I know that for me, exercise is really the key to keeping the weight off. Not so that I can eat more but so that my body will always be surprised and keep using the fuel I give it efficiently. So that really is the area that I have to focus on the most.

I know that every body has its "happy place" that it settles into. I'm fine with that. But I know that it settles there when I'm doing all I can to be healthy. So if I'm not doing my part I can't reasonably expect my body to hold up its end of the deal, now can I?

So, I'm on Day 3 of my plan. Today will be a bit of challenge to get in since it is bunco night, but I'll figure it out. Somehow.

Because I love checking things off the list!

The BLTS

2010-02-13T12:54:00.007-06:00

Wish I could take credit for thinking of this one, but I am not quite this creative.

I have written a few times about one the tools that has really helped was to write everything down that I ate.

If you bite it, write it.

On more than one occasion that process has stopped me from eating something. I simply didn't want to have to write it down and see it staring back at me.

I am no good at inserting links into these things but I'll try, separately, to see if I can link up to a blog that my aunt passed along to me. On this particular day, the author was talking about all the decisions we have to make all day, especially when it came to weight control.

She said it wasn't the things she was actually eating that were causing her problems, it was the BLTS.

Bites

Licks

Tastes

Sips

The little things that we do, sometimes out of habit, that can add up when you aren't looking. I mean, really, who doesn't want to lick the beaters if you've made a cake? Any good cook will tell you that you need to taste the food as you're cooking, to adjust the seasonings and all.

But it is that unconscious behavior that can be the most damaging.

Every bite counts. Every bite of everything, pretty much, has calories so if you're watching and keeping track of what you're eating, you've got to include those as well.

Notice, I didn't tell you not to do it. Would not dream of that. Life is to be lived and cooking and eating is fun. No doubt about it. People love to eat and it is very much a social activity.

But I am reminding you to be aware. Trying to keep your calories under a target goal is a tough challenge in and of itself. Trying to convince yourself you've stayed under that target when maybe you're being less than honest with yourself about what you have truly eaten that day is an even tougher challenge. We can sometimes easily look for excuses for failure, reasons to give up trying, without really looking honestly at the situation.

So, go have a wonderful day, and try to save those BLTs for the summer. When the tomatoes are homegrown and the bacon is turkey.

Too Good to Be Real

2010-02-05T15:04:00.001-06:00

This is kind of a crazy society we're living in. I've been thinking about how to best approach this subject.

You see, I'm a little mixed on some of it.

A recent cover of People Magazine showed a young (23) television personality who underwent 10, yes 10, plastic surgeries at one time.

And this was not her first time under the knife.

Nor will it be her last. She still wants bigger breasts.

Ten surgeries.

This, to me, is 1) having more money than sense, and 2) such a sad commentary on how people (male and female) can view themselves.

Who, at 23, truly and honestly needs 10 plastic surgeries? She had her ears pinned back, chin reduction, liposuction, nose job, breast enhancement, you name it. And y'all, she looked wonderful to start with.

She was already a television celebrity.

I don't get it. But she said she wanted to feel "perfect".

I say perfection starts on the inside.

And there are no surgeries for that.

But it shows you some of the issues that we all face. She has a career that many people dream of, she is newly married (for the record, her husband was very much against the surgeries but supported her right to do it), and is living a life that many would envy.

Yet she wasn't happy.

Now, what part of this am I mixed about?

I don't agree with what she did, but I respect her right to do it.

I understand what it's like to want to look different. I wish I were taller, but there is no surgery for that. High heels are the best I can do on that front.

I do color my hair when I get dissatisfied with it.

I'll try every product that Oil of Olay can make to try and get rid of bags under my eyes or wrinkles.

And while the impetus for me to work on losing the 50 pounds I've dropped (so far anyway) was for health reasons I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the way I looked.

But I have never suffered from the confidence problems that this young woman obviously does. I never really associate what I look like with who I am.

I am me. Wife, daughter, sister, friend, "mother" to the puppies, CPA, partner. Doesn't matter if I'm blond, brunette, short, tall, whatever. All of these I accomplished because of who I am on the inside, who and what I was raised to be (thanks Mom and Dad!), how I view myself.

Unfortunately, though, that kind of self-awareness doesn't always translate. So, I actually feel sorry for this young lady.

Sorry that she can't see how beautiful she was before. Not that she isn't beautiful now, but it just isn't the same.

Sorry that she didn't opt to work on the inside first, before spending all that time on the shell.

Because, in reality, our bodies are simply that - shells. Delicate, fragile shells that hold an even more fragile and delicate soul on the inside.

And, like so many other things in this world, it is only the inside that counts.

Motivational Monday Get an Appetite for Life!

2010-02-01T05:50:00.003-06:00

This post is from Denise Austin's newsletter this morning. Thought it was worth sharing.

When you take the focus of your life off food, it sometimes leaves behind a big (doughnut-shaped!) hole. So much of life revolves around meals and eating - shopping, cooking, entertaining. In a given day, you might go to a restaurant for lunch, meet your sister for coffee (and cake), then plan a special dinner for your kids.
Suddenly, when you can't eat all the goodies you'd normally buy or make, it's hard to know what to do with yourself. It's difficult to make fried chicken for everyone but not have a piece yourself. When the aroma of your cobbler or cookies fills the house, how can you not break down and take a taste?

Challenge yourself to get out of the way of temptation! You need to decide that until you meet your fitness and weight-loss goals, you'll let someone else whip up the goodies (even if they won't be as great as yours!). Furthermore, it's all right if you bring fruit salad instead of layer cake to a family cookout, or a plate of cut-up veggies and some light dressing instead of a baked macaroni and cheese to a party. You have the power to take charge of every situation, so use it! Don't be afraid to suggest buying coffee to go instead of sitting near all those muffins and scones at the coffee shop. Your sister or friend will understand and support you - she might even thank you!

There's no time like the present! What healthy choices will you make today?
- Denise

My favorite line: You have the power to take charge of every situation, so use it!

I have a hard time getting others to understand that and it wears me down sometimes. I control my insulin problem through both diet and medication. I don't know how many times I've declined birthday cake at work or a dessert at a family function only to be told "one little piece won't hurt you". You know what, its my call not theirs. I try to be polite. I never want to offend my host. But it is my health and my body and no one else can take care of it like I can. So I have to stand firm.

You can also. Don't let anyone bully you into making a less than perfect decision for you. Take charge!

Easy Come, Easy Go....

2010-01-26T17:18:00.002-06:00

NOT!

Still struggling to get back down to my "fighting weight", as my daddy would say. It is just amazing to me that letting loose for only a couple of days - and that is all it was - has taken me almost a month to get over. I exercised over the holidays. I didn't seriously overeat.

Couple of extra little pies here and there that my body wasn't used to, but not like a whole pie anything like that!

And this is my toughest time. With busy season it is so hard to get up early and really exercise and I'm often too tired when I finally get home at night. And it is a constant battle not to snack.

But I know I really have to try and stay on top of my healthy habits. I will ultimately feel better and get more done if I'm staying on track.

I did walk home for lunch today and back so that helps a little. Breaks the day up, gets the mind working for the afternoon and all of that. Billy isn't crazy about me walking to and from work when its dark so I may have to just reserve that for lunchtime.

So I am trying, and I am chipping away at it. I can see the arrow going down a little bit every day but I really thought it would go much faster than this!

Billy picked up the new Jenny McCarthy's Your Shape disc for the Wii and I've been trying it for the last couple of weeks.

It is a very good workout and somewhat customizable. I'll report back after I've done it a little longer and give a review.

Have a great week everyone!

A Shout Out!

2010-01-18T11:27:00.005-06:00

OK everyone, click on over to Darla's blog here and check her out!

I am SO PROUD of her!

Way To Go Darla!

Is This Too Big?

2010-01-15T07:47:00.007-06:00

Billy had to smile this morning, which, in turn, made me smile.

I broke down the other day and bought two new suits and a sweater dress. Belk was having a really good sale. They are also remodeling the store so they've cleaned out a lot of the areas and I could actually see the clothes for a change and it was not an overall unpleasant experience.

Some of you will remember that I have said on more than one occasion that I hate to shop. Always have. It just isn't fun for me.

Anyway, I went in looking for the sweater dress. I wanted just a plain black dress, preferably turtleneck, to go with several new scarves I got over Christmas. Sounds simple enough but that has been the task for the ages.

Spotted one, not a turtleneck but it would do.

As I was headed to the register I saw all these two-piece pantsuits.

My standard work attire.

And they were on sale.

I bought two.

I am very short so I almost always head for petites.

One of the suits didn't come in a petite so I got the regular. The jacket was just too gorgeous to pass up at least trying it.

Needless to say, there was more than enough extra material in the pants. I had them all scrunched up and they still fell below the bottoms of my high-heeled boots. But, as Billy pointed out, the pants were black and there is no shortage in my house of black pants so I just swapped them out and wore the jacket.

Which I thought also looked a little big.

Today, I have on the sweater dress. I bought a large because I don't want it to be all tight and clingy. I just wanted to hang nicely.

For the second morning in a row I walked into the kitchen and asked "Is this too big?"

After assuring me that it wasn't Billy just looked at me and said "You always used to ask if something was too tight. Now you're worried about too big."

I realized that I have come a long way in the last 3 years (January 2007 was my start month for this quest for fitness). I saw some of my charts earlier in the week and I could see the progress that I'd made.

And it makes me smile.

Am I where I want to be? No. I'm still not back under my ceiling weight that I thought I could reach so easily. I'm closer - more in the attic than on the roof, but one day this week I was on the top of the chimney so it has been a struggle but I am headed in the right direction.

But sometimes you just have to step back for a second and appreciate what you have accomplished to date. Doesn't mean you give up on your ultimate goal or get complacent with where you are - you just take a minute, or more, and recognize those accomplishments and milestones you have already made and then go from there.

Maybe you do it in a new black sweater dress.....

Simple Substitutions

2010-01-11T19:29:00.009-06:00

This process doesn't have to be an all or nothing. With a little effort you can actually find foods that can stand in for some of your favorites but save you some serious calories, fats, or carbs.

For instance, did you know that substituting ground turkey for ground beef can save you almost 40 calories a serving (and the turkey serving is one gram larger) and 4 grams of fat? Now, if you eat ground sirloin the difference is less significant, but no everyone grabs the ground sirloin.

Whole grain pasta instead of regular enriched pasta saves another 50 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, and adds 3 more grams of fiber. (Having the protein-enriched pasta doesn't really change things too much from the regular spaghetti but makes a good choice if you don't have a meat sauce.)

Now, I wouldn't share that if I didn't eat it. Although my family tree doesn't show it, there HAS to be some Italian in there somewhere! I love a good bowl of pasta (had one tonight as a matter of fact) and I wouldn't eat it with whole wheat pasta and turkey if it wasn't good.

And I almost didn't. The very first time I was served whole wheat pasta it was disgusting. It was cooked to absolute and complete mush! But it made an overall negative impression so it was a long time before I tried it again. Yes, it does taste a little different. But it isn't intolerable and with a really good sauce you don't even know the difference!

Now, Billy and I have not (knowingly) eaten red meat since the mid-90s. We gave it up for humanitarian reasons and didn't look back.

At all.

With ground turkey you may need to season it a little more during the browning process, but you're really adding another layer of flavor. And that is a very good thing.

If you're not into meat at all or want to cut down on it, there are veggie alternatives out there. Morningstar Farms makes meal started crumbles - regular and sausage style that stands in for ground beef or Italian sausage. Only 90 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates, no fat and tons of protein! (I will say that we found them to be a little bit on the salty side so we had to make some adjustments when making tacos or chili or other dishes where we needed a seasoning packet of some sort.)

Like I said, I'm trying to toss out ideas that I've actually tried and like. I'd be more than happy to get your suggestions for simple substitutes that don't make us feel like we're giving anything up.

Getting, and staying, healthy doesn't have to be a chore or a pain or an unpleasant process. We've just to look around, do a little research, make some better choices.

And be willing to push our envelopes and get outside our comfort zones and try new things.

So, add your thoughts and help me branch out! I'm ready!

Meltdown

2010-01-05T11:37:00.000-06:00

OK, I had a bit of meltdown yesterday. Not proud of it, but facts are facts.

I was pleased as punch yesterday morning that 2 of my unwanted pounds had dropped off. Moving me from the roof to the attic, so to speak. One step closer to my ceiling.

Back in December I bought several bags of candy for the office. We keep a candy dish on the front counter for our clients and we all will occassionally take one from the dish. I liked having to walk all the way to the front of the office, in full view of everyone, to get one small piece of candy. Felt like it was keeping me honest.

For reasons that I have yet to understand I decided to keep one bag in my desk drawer. It was the bag with all my favorites in mini size. You know the size - less than 1 inch square.

Should have moved it after my post about the 3 Ds, but I didn't.

Anyway, we had a bit of a rough weekend with Seizure Dog and Billy told me that he would not go to Arkansas as scheduled yesterday if Riley wasn't doing better. I would have thought that having a completely unexpected seizure on Sunday afternoon and the period of blindness and pacing 6 hours later to qualify as "not doing better".

Side note - the blindness and pacing are considered part of the post-ictal phase and do typically signal the end of the whole seizure episode, which in this case had been since Wednesday last week. But we'd had a much smaller similar episode on Saturday morning which is why the Sunday afternoon seizure was such a surprise to us. So, in Billy's defense all indications were that there would be no more seizures, which would qualify as "doing better".

So when I called home to check on everything mid-morning yesterday and found out he was planning on leaving, I turned to the chocolate. This got progressively worse as the financial statement I was working on yesterday just refused to work.

I was really not doing well.

A serving size of these mini candy bars is 5. 5 pieces, 210 calories.

I counted 17 wrappers in my trash can last night.

17.

Half my daily calories yesterday came from candy bars.

I tried to salvage the day by eating soup for supper but I was still over on the day by 300 calories.

And it showed on the scale this morning. Back up 4/10th of a pound.

On the bright side - and there is always a bright side, you just sometimes have to really search for it - I am still down a net 1.6 pounds from Sunday morning; today dawned much brighter after a good night; and I actually have gotten things accomplished and off my desk so far this morning.

There. We all have set backs. No I haven't moved the candy, yet, but I think I need to leave it there as a lesson. A reminder that the answer is not wrapped up in that little square of chocolate. Might make me feel better temporarily, but won't actually solve anything.

Only I can solve my problems.

Now, go have a wonderful day!

Turn Out The Lights

2010-01-03T17:22:00.004-06:00

This party is over!

I have SERIOUSLY overindulged this holiday season and it must stop. Simply because bad habits are soooo much easier to establish than good ones.

I have in my mind a "ceiling" weight that I try to stay under. It is pretty much just below the borderline of "normal" and "overweight" on the BMI chart. So it really isn't unreasonable. It is just a mark that I keep in mind so that I stay aware of where I am and what I'm doing.

I'm now on the roof (meaning I'm over the ceiling).

Not by much, but still. I have totally enjoyed myself, and I wouldn't change that part of it, but it is time to get back on the wagon and engage in some "clean living". I honestly think that is all it will take to get at least back to the ceiling mark. Not to get back to where I was - that will actually take work. But it can be done.

Time to bust out the 3 Ds again - Dedication, Diligence and Discipline.

Dedicate yourself to your goals, no matter what they are. To exercise every day, to lose 10 pounds, to run a marathon, whatever.

Be diligent about your environment and how you are working towards your goals. I probably don't need to bake any more cakes and pies to have sitting around if I know I need to cut back on extras.

Use your discipline, especially if your find yourself in tempting situations. Tell yourself your goals are important and you need to work hard to stay on track. Remind yourself of how good you feel after a run to help you get motivated to get out of bed. Hang that dress in plain sight that you want to get back into.

We can do this! We can help each other make 2010 the year we hit the goals we set. We can make it our finest hour!

So, I'll keep you posted on my progress and I'd love to hear from you with yours. We're all in this together!

Let's go get 'em!

Success Stories

2009-12-30T08:54:00.000-06:00

Denise Austin's Newsletter of 12/28/09:

There's a reason why people like hearing and reading success stories. These feel-good tales are constant proof that others have had similar struggles - and, most important, that they've gotten through them!

Especially moving are stories that begin with someone who's made unhealthy choices that lead to such life-threatening diseases as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, or cancer. And when that person is a friend or relative, the message is all the more powerful. Fortunately, what these accounts teach us is that by eating right and exercising regularly you do have the power to turn your life around - and prevent these ailments from happening in the first place!

So on those days when you're lacking willpower, think of those success stories. That formerly obese 40-year-old mother of three who now looks and feels like she's 30, that 60-year-old woman who runs marathons, that 55-year-old man who was able to reverse his type 2 diabetes by adjusting his diet and hitting the gym. They all made it to the other side, often emerging stronger - physically, mentally, and emotionally. That can and will be you!

In 2010 let's hear some of YOUR success stories. Small successes or really big news, let's share them all!

Good Things - 12/28/09

2009-12-28T08:56:00.002-06:00

The Gift of Forgiveness.

OK, if you are like me, forgiveness is a big deal right now. I love the holidays and all the baked goods. Love to be in my kitchen making new things and feeding others. I also love college football and Bowl Day has turned into weeks but you can't watch the bowl games without snacks.

Lots and lots of snacks.

So, I am cutting myself a little slack. Only a little, let's not get crazy here, and enjoying the time left before I have to totally and completely get back on the wagon.

Life is for enjoying and I get so little time with some of my family and friends back home that I wasn't going to not do something or try something simply because it didn't fit in that day's calorie count.

So, I forgive myself for the extra cookies, and the Punk Pink Cosmo at TGIFriday's, and the birthday cake for my mom, and so forth. January is just around the corner and a new month is always a good time to start, or restart, new habits.

Now, go have a wonderful day!

Good Things - 12/21/09

2009-12-21T00:01:00.005-06:00

The Gift of Love.

Love yourself.

Remember, if you don't love yourself then it will be almost impossible for others to really love you. I say that because when we don't love, or even really like, ourselves then we put up subtle and subconscious barriers to others. We close ourselves off and don't let in the people that we need the most.

I had someone tell me once, after I'd lost all the weight, "you are so beautiful now!". I know the intent was to pay me a compliment but I looked this person in the eye and said "I was beautiful before also."

And I meant it. Not in a completely physical way. I would never dream to call myself "beautiful" in that kind of way. But I never really considered my physical appearance to be a hindrance to anything I wanted to do.

I believe myself to be basically a good person. I try to be kind and helpful and considerate and all other manner of positive attributes. I like to think that spilled over into a positive mental attitude that wasn't concerned with the size on the label in my clothes.

I loved myself. I loved myself at my heaviest, and I still do. I loved myself enough to make the changes I needed to help improve the odds that I get to enjoy this life for a long, long time. I know that none of know how long we'll be here on this Earth but you can certainly do things to help make your journey as long as possible.

So, love yourself. It is one of the most important steps you can take.

Now, go have a great day!

Too Good Not to Share

2009-12-17T06:16:00.001-06:00

Sums up everything I try to say:

Success isn't determined by pounds, pant sizes, or inches. It is determined by your ability to make positive lifelong changes every day.
- Denise (from Denise Austin's newsletter 12/17/09)

Now, go have a wonderful day!

Good Things - 12/14/09

2009-12-14T11:18:00.004-06:00

The Gift of Freedom.

Freedom to try the egg nog or just one more appetizer.

Freedom to not worry, for just a little while, about one extra cookie.

Freedom to enjoy the holidays, secure in the knowledge that you'll be back on track in a a couple of weeks.

But not to run hog wild and pig crazy, as my daddy used to say. Everything in moderation. You can enjoy your holidays and still maintain that healthier lifestyle you've been working so hard on.

Now, go have a great day.

Good Things - 12/6/09

2009-12-07T13:51:00.003-06:00

Words of Encouragement.

In the spirit of Christmas I thought for the next few weeks I'd try to focus on what we can give to others rather than just what we can do for ourselves.

Words of encouragement sounds like an easy, no-brainer kind of thing but it can sometimes be more difficult that we think.

I'm not really talking about compliments here; I'm talking real, honest-to-goodness encouragement. Helping each other when we're down. Boosting each other over the humps that we will inevitably hit.

Still sounds easy, doesn't it?

Here is what I sometimes find. Even though women all talk about sisterhood, we can be each other's worst enemy. Sometimes we start to view someone else's success as a reflection of our own failure. We go from "Boy you look beautiful" to telling someone else "I can't believe she wore that dress!" We compare ourselves in negative ways so therefore we start to not truly encourage but to secretly hope for failure.

We don't tell someone that they shouldn't eat that cake because we don't want them to lose more weight than us. We don't offer to go on a walk with them and help them with their exercise because they might look better at the Christmas party next week.

That kind of makes us ugly on the inside, doesn't it?

We should, instead, help each other. Confident in knowing that we will be the recipient of that same help when we need it.

Wars are not won by individual soldiers. Football games are not won just by the quarterback.

This is a team effort I'm talking about. Everyone reading this does, or at least should, have someone that is supporting them. You know you've got me at a minimum. Likewise, I know I have all of you.

So let's remember to help not only each other, but everyone that we come in contact with. We don't always know what someone may be struggling with, but if we can somehow lend support, then we should do it.

So, my words of encouragement to each of you are these: Love yourself. You look marvelous no matter where you are in your quest for your goals. Don't give up hope when it seems impossible. Be fair and honest with yourself.

And above all, enjoy the ride. Life is a journey, after all.

Eat Right!

2009-12-05T06:04:00.000-06:00

Borrowed from Denise Austin's Newsletter on 12/2/09:

Looking for a way to get even more bang for your nutritional buck? Try these "superfoods"! They're loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to help you feel great, and they even help fight disease! Incorporate them into your diet today!

Almonds: A source of "good" fat, almonds can help your heart by lowering bad cholesterol!

Berries: They're jammed with vitamins - particularly vitamin C - but new research has found these sweet little sensations to be ace disease fighters too, helping to prevent bladder infections and even cancers, among other illnesses.

Broccoli: Folate, vitamin C, calcium - broccoli is packed with all these awesome nutrients. Now researchers think it might also fight cancer!

Avocado: The large number of calories in a serving of avocado is totally worth it! This source of healthy fat contains a ton of vitamin K and potassium and is also associated with lower cholesterol and even the prevention of breast cancer!

Salmon: Low in calories, easy to prepare, and amazingly good for you - what's not to love about salmon? And the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon are great for your heart!

Olive oil: Another good fat! Besides making your food incredibly tasty, olive oil can also protect you from heart disease.

Green tea: So much research has touted the benefits of green tea, it's hard to know where to begin! But here's a sample: A Japanese study in 2006 showed that green tea lowered the risk of death from all causes. How's that for a superfood?

I know we've talked about a lot of these before, but a little reminder never hurts...

Now, go have a great day!

I Went, I Saw, I Ate

2009-12-02T06:07:00.005-06:00

Tiramisu, Gelato, Cannolli

Pizza, Pasta

Fortunately, I also walked.

A lot.

Miles. Easy to do when you keep getting lost.

Here's the really cool part (not that all of the above were not really cool) - I came home from Italy having lost 2/10th of a pound.

I say that not to brag. I think the real victory was not in losing but was just not gaining. (I've managed to do that since I got home and am no longer walking miles and miles every day).

My point is this, and I've said it before, don't let your quest for a healthy lifestyle ruin any fun. Yes, I paid attention to what I ate. I ate gelato once. We split the tiramisu and the cannolli. But I didn't miss out on a truly wonderful experience with food because I was watching my weight.

You still have to experience life, just do it smartly.

I've always said your brain IS the most important tool you have in this battle so use it.

Just for grins, here are the pictures of our Thanksgiving lunch. While all of you were eating healthy turkey and vegetables this was ours:

Spaghetti and Grilled Sausages over French Fries. I didn't have a vegetable for over a week. Couldn't find green beans on the menu....

Good Things - 11/30/09

2009-11-30T09:51:00.003-06:00

Sorry I'm late! Too much to do last night and couldn't stay awake long enough to do it!

Today's tip - the entire Special K family of products.

Kellogg's has gone above and beyond in the quest for fitness. They have developed so many different things, besides their cereals, to help in this battle of the bulge.

I have tried the cereal (4 of the 8 flavors), the cereal bars (4 of the 7 flavors), Bliss bars (tried both), waffles (have had both)and the snack crackers (both flavors). They also have protein drinks, protein bars, protein meal and protein water mixes.

I have, so far, missed the protein line.

I like that the snack foods are packaged in 100 calorie or less sizes.

I like that they are portable - couple of them made the trip last week and I keep some in my desk.

I like that there is enough variety that I don't get bored.

I like that some of them taste like I'm splurging but I'm really not.

They also have a nice website to help you design a plan, tips and tools, recipes, and so forth.

I think they are committed to better health, and that is what we're all about.

So, raise your spoon to Kellogg's and Special K!

Good Things - 11/23/09

2009-11-22T16:55:00.003-06:00

Red Wine.

I hope I don't lose a lot of you with this one, as I know that some of my readers don't drink for a variety of reasons, but, as I always say, I'm saying what has helped me. I'm not stating that my way is the only way or even the best way.

When I say red wine I'm talking about one, four ounce glass with my evening meal. Not a lot. Nothing to excess. I'm not overindulging or doing anything stupid.

There is scientific evidence that red wine is good for your heart, lowers cholesterol, and, more recently, may even help in the fight against diabetes.

Here is what I know. For diabetics the high end of cholesterol is 180. Mine went from 187 to about 132 in one year after adding red wine to my daily diet. I had gotten it down from over 200 to the 187 mark with some other food changes, but the red wine was the only change in the second year.

My A1C test, a test of the last 90 days readings of blood sugar, was 4. That is comparable to a non-diabetic. The normal range is anything below 7.

So, it is only a suggestion. Just noting some things I've done to help myself take care of this one body I have. You can take it or leave it, as is the case with everything I put here. If you disagree that is fine, I can respect that.

But, I am currently in the heart of wine country and a lot of experts say the Mediterrean diet overall is a good one. I'm willing to keep sampling and see. :)

Ciao!

WOOO HOOOO!

2009-11-18T09:23:00.003-06:00

BB (one of our occasional contributors) got some wonderful news the other day. She finally got good results from her bone density test! She has struggled for about 4 years with osteoporisis and has tried 4 different medications to find one she could tolerate.

But the medication was only an assist. The exercise she gets - swimming, walking and Wii-ing - are the real champions here.

So, let's all give her a high 5 and hip hip hooray!

Good Things - 11/16/09

2009-11-16T09:51:00.003-06:00

Green Tea.

Now that the weather is getting cooler, I enjoy a cup of hot green tea. I will confess that despite all the positive properties about green tea, I don't like it cold and I will only drink the hot if it is flavored. But when I start drinking it in the fall and winter, I usually end up drinking at least two huge mugs a day.

Green tea, according to sources, can help with preventing heart disease and certain types of cancers. Although it has not been scientifically proven - yet - I do fall into the camp that also believes that green tea helps with weight management. I have found over the last 3 years that I shed weight easier in the cooler months. This goes a little against conventional wisdom in that we tend to be less active when it's colder and it seems that, like the animals, we tend to add "insulation" in the winter months to protect us from the cold.

There are other reasons that I like hot tea for a healthy lifestyle. First of all, typically when you make a cup of tea you are having to stop what you are doing. You have to heat the water, wait for the tea to steep. I know you can get a cup of tea at Starbucks, but it still doesn't seem quite the same kind of "on-the-go" drink as a cup of coffee. And when you drink it, at least in my case, I'm actually just sipping on it so I'm slowing down. And slowing down can help reduce our stress levels.

And it has been proven that added stress equals added pounds. Certain hormones get released when we get stressed and we add fat.

There are some varieties of tea that help you sleep. A good night's sleep is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and a rested person is usually just better all the way around. And I would think that a natural sleep aid would be overall preferable to taking a pill. Call me crazy.

So, put the kettle on, grab a bag and a mug and enjoy a cup, or two, of good hot tea. I think you'll thank yourself later.

A Little Out of Character

2009-11-12T18:15:00.002-06:00

OK, I don't normally share things like this. I've tried to be real low-key about all these lifestyle changes and such. But tonight was kind of cool.

I attended a Chamber of Commerce function. Standard stuff. Lots of people milling around, shaking hands and so on. And I went to speak to an acquaintance from one of our local hospitals. The hospital that helped sponsor the HealthQuest that started me on the right path. She'd been involved from the sponsor side so she'd seen the changes over the last couple of years. I was also in a play with one of her daughters so she'd seen me before HealthQuest as well.

She looked at me, paid me a compliment and then invited me to be a part of a wellness program that the hospital and the local nursing program were putting together (I'm also friends with the head of the nursing program). She said she wanted me to be in it because I was her inspiration.

That is cool. I guess its one thing for your family and close friends to call you that, but when someone really outside of your "circle" notices your changes and you leave that kind of impression - well, it just felt a little different.

Those of you that have read this for a while know that I really never wanted to draw attention to myself. I deluded myself into thinking that I could lose almost a third of my body weight and no one would notice.

But I've always said that if I can help someone, then that is what I need to do. That is why we blog. (Emphasis on "we") To help each other, to be supportive, to inspire, if possible.

So, it looks like there may be a new program on my horizon. I'm sort of excited about the possibility since there is no telling what all I'll learn that I can share with you. I hope a lot!

And I'll I have all of you to keep ME on the straight and narrow.

My reminder to all of you - even when you feel down, feel like giving up, don't see the point to all of this, someone might be watching. YOU are inspiring someone with your lifestyle changes, even if you don't know it yet.

So keep it up. Plug through the hard days, work through the plateaus. There is a reason. Like a lot of things, that reason may be revealed in its own time.

Perfect!

2009-11-09T19:40:00.003-06:00

That is what the Wii Fit said this morning after I headed all the soccer balls. Didn't miss a one!

Score of 655!

It was a perfect start to a Monday.

And just so you know, I played the soccer heading game 303 times before today. Every morning it is the first thing I do. Helps me get loosened up and makes sure everything is in working order.

So practice plus perseverance equals perfection!

Wonder which one I can capture next.....

Good Things - 11/9/09

2009-11-09T00:10:00.003-06:00

Total Cereals

If you haven't checked them out lately, you should. This is not the same old boring flake cereal of yesteryear.

Everyone (at least those "in the know") will agree that getting your nutrition from your food is preferable to getting it all from supplements and vitamin pills.

Total makes it easy, and tasty!

In addition to the original whole grain cereal they now have Blueberry Pomegranate, Cinnamon Crunch, Raisin Bran, Cranberry Crunch and Honey Clusters. You can eat cereal 6 days a week and not eat the same one twice.

Great flavor and 100% of a ton of vitamins and minerals, at less than 200 calories a serving.

And did I mention the whole grains?

A great start to your day, a light supper, or a healthy snack. You choose.

I can testify to having tried, and enjoyed, all the flavors. There are currently two in my pantry as we speak.

So, take your vitamins if you must (and I must) but remember to boost that with natural sources wherever possible. I know a lot of you that read this are very "good" eaters, but there are also a bunch like me that do not fall into the "good" category. (We're just eaters.) So, anything that I can eat and that scoots me over closer to the positive side is what I'm looking for.

So, go grab a bowl, and, as they used to say at the service stations, "Fill 'Er Up!"

Get Inspired!

2009-11-03T16:56:00.001-06:00

It's working!

I'm not going to extol the virtures of the Wii Fit Plus since I know you all are tired of hearing about it.

But I will tell you what having new challenges is doing for me. That is the important part.

If you've read lately you know that I was getting a little down about not making any progress lately, and trying to be "OK" with where I was. I talked about how maintaining my weight loss was harder than actually losing it to start with.

BUT - since I have something that is challenging me again, things are changing. Those little niggling pounds that weren't coming off, as well as those "prodigal pounds" (the ones that went away and then came back!) have gone away. I've almost gotten back to my original goal of 53 pounds - which I touched earlier this year before the rebound.

As of this morning, I was about a pound away.

But, most importantly, I'm having fun again. I'm excited about working out. Billy and I got to play tennis again a few weeks ago for the first time since I hurt my foot in June. When I was out of town on business I worked out twice a day and logged anywhere from 90 to 110 minutes a day. And I still didn't want to stop. I'm having a ball right now!

So, find your challenge. I still have ballet lessons on my To Do list but because of work trips and pleasure trips and holidays I wasn't going to be able to do the whole 6 week class and I want to do the whole thing. No halfway for me!

Think about something you've always wanted to do. If you run, sign up for a 10K. That might work into a half-marathon, then the full thing. Take dance lessons. Buy a bike.

Find a challenge and get inspired!

Your body will thank you - well, not right away maybe, but eventually.

Good Things - 11/2/09

2009-11-02T00:01:00.002-06:00

Hostess 100 Calorie Packs.

Betcha didn't see that one coming!

Hey, I like sweet stuff just as much as anyone, I just need to be a little more careful.

There are so many times when you just want that one little bite of something sweet after a meal. Just a taste.

I find these 100 calorie packs to be just the thing.

And I am singling them out from other 100 calorie snack packs. I like the Hostess because there are 3 single bite snack cakes.

It makes it much easier when all you truly want is just that one bite. I don't have to try and ration out a bag of lots of little pieces, or feel like I need to eat more than I want to.

Yes, it is hard but sometimes I really eat the pack one cake at a time, all spread out during the day.

Call me crazy!

So, the upsides: instant portion control, sweet enough to be satisfying, many different flavors to choose from.

The downsides: it is really, really hard not to eat all three at once.

Good Things - 10/26/09

2009-10-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

Splenda with Fiber.

Studies indicate that most adults need between 20 and 25 grams of fiber each day.

Trust me, that can be harder to achieve than it sounds. Especially if you don't just want to each a fiber bar two or three times a day.

Each packet of Splenda with fiber contains one gram of fiber.

It just got a little easier to work towards your goal, depending of course on your use of sweetener.

I use 4 packets each morning in my big coffee mugs.

I get 20% of my daily recommendation without really even trying.

Which is good since the other 80% can be a challenge.

Now, the downside: some people have experienced a little gastrointestinal upset if you try to get all 20 grams just from the Splenda right off the bat. Might want to ease into it.

Achieving a healthy lifestyle isn't always easy. This is one just little tip to make the journey a little simpler.

Got Whipped!

2009-10-22T13:54:00.002-05:00

OK, to everyone out there who thinks the Wii is just a game, I have one word for you -

WRONG!

I got my tail whipped last night on the cycling game with the Wii Fit Plus. I kid you not - I had to take a shower when I was finally finished.

You step up and down on the balance board like you are pedaling a bike and ride around collecting flags.

I couldn't find some of the flags.

I pedaled and pedaled and pedaled.

The game kept asking me if I wanted to quit.

HECK NO!

I just kept pushing and pushing.

I did two new levels and it gave me some step to miles equivalent -

almost 25 miles between the two.

I was exhausted, dripping with sweat.

Beat to a nub as we say at my house.

But I sure had a lot of fun doing it!

Can't wait to go again tonight!

Good Things - 10/19/09

2009-10-19T06:06:00.003-05:00

V8 Fusion Fruit Juices.

That is my plug for this week.

You get a full serving of fruits and vegetables in an eight ounce glass.

Here is why I love it. I'm not a huge vegetable eater. You can only eat so many green beans. And I get physically ill at the mere smell of tomato juice - including and especially v8 Juice.

I can't stand that smell.

I don't know what it is exactly. I don't have the same reaction to tomato sauce, just the juice.

But the V8 Fusion tastes like fruit juice. It is delicious! And good for me. So I am enjoying doing something good for me.

The positives: there are probably 7 or 8 different flavor combinations and I like most all of them; one 8 ounce glass equals one serving each of fruits and vegetables; and each glass has between 100 and 120 calories. There is also a light version that has half the calories.

The downside: one glass has 20 to 25 grams of sugar - but it isn't added sugar it is natural sugars which your body processes differently. But that still isn't a great number. So, I usually save the juice for the weekend when I'm probably going to get more exercise to offset it and I'm probably not going to eat as well so getting at least some fruit and vegetable nutrition is a bonus.

It's a good thing.

I'm SO Excited!

2009-10-15T19:47:00.007-05:00

I am an overgrown kid.

I admit it.

I'm not even ashamed of it.

I got the new Wii Fit Plus today and it is so much fun!

This basically takes the Wii Fit and adds to. All I had to do was put the disk in and all my information transferred over. Took less than a minute.

You also get to add pets and babies. There is now a Mii for Frankie and I know that she weighs roughly 68 pounds. Since I have to pick the dogs up to register them I can promise you that at least 3 won't make the game. Too big, not an option.

The Plus also counts calories for you, has 15 new activities - mostly for coordination and balance - and a few new yoga and strength exercises. It also has the added benefit of preset and customized workouts. I only briefly I investigated those tonight.

So I'm motivated again. I like new toys! And I believe that once I get really back into a good rhythm again (this rainy, blah weather lately has truly dampened my desire to workout) I'll see some positive changes.

Next week I'll be on the road so we'll see how I do. The hotel has a fitness center and I'll have no family duties so there really won't be much of an excuse to not work out at least once, if not twice, every day.

I'm looking forward to the weekend and seeing what all I can do and then hitting it good next week. I'd like to get my good habits in full swing before the holidays.

And yes, the holidays are not that far away.

No time to waste!

Good Things - 10/12/09

2009-10-12T06:17:00.005-05:00

OK, I'm borrowing a little from Martha Stewart.

I am the World's Pickiest Eater. It isn't a title I'm proud of, but hey, someone has to bear it.

So, when I find foods that I like I want to share them. Thus, I'm starting a new segment - Good Things. I hope to post this once a week. (And feel free to send your ideas as well. Remember, this blog is supposed to be a group effort.)

For the inaugural:

Yoplait Delights.

This is some of the best lowfat yogurt that will ever hit your tongue! It is thick and rich and tastes/feels more like a pudding dessert than a yogurt.

It comes in four flavors - Lemon Torte, Chocolate Raspberry, Creme' Caramel and Triple Berry Creme'. I have tried all but the last one. Billy hasn't been able to locate it for me yet. He even ate the Lemon Torte while at his mom's house last week and loved it.

So, the positives: tastes great, lowfat, only 100 calories, and still packs 15% of the recommended allowance for calcium.

The downside: it does have about 12 grams of sugar.

It makes a nice midmorning or midafternoon snack if you aren't into a sweet breakfast.

Try it, you'll like it (also borrowed but I can't remember from whom right now)!

Bliss

2009-10-09T14:51:00.001-05:00

I guess when the New Age Gurus tell you to "follow your bliss" they aren't talking about the Hershey candies.

Man those things are good!

Everything in moderation.

Breakfast!

2009-10-07T08:21:00.000-05:00

Sausage and Cheese Scones

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups whole-grain pastry flour
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
4 turkey breakfast sausage links, crumbled and browned
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese
3/4 cup reduced-fat buttermilk
1 large egg white, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the pastry flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, mustard, and pepper. Add the butter and blend with a pastry cutter or two knives until the dough is crumbly. Add the sausage and cheese; toss to combine. Add the buttermilk and stir until the dough comes together.

Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead for about 30 seconds. Pat the dough into a circle, approximately 8 inches across and 1 inch thick.

Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet and brush with the egg white mixture. Cut into 10 equal wedges. Pull the wedges apart to separate slightly. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the scones are lightly browned. Cool slightly and serve, or cool completely, wrap individually in air-tight covering, and freeze for future use.

Makes 10 scones

Per scone: 156 calories, 16 g carbohydrates, 7 g protein, 7 g total fat, 22 mg cholesterol, 2 g dietary fiber, 388 mg sodium

If You Bite It, Write It!

2009-10-05T06:28:00.003-05:00

This was the title of an article in my diabetes newsletter. I didn't actually read the article, but it reminded me of probably the single most effective tool when I was losing weight.

Write down everything you eat. Every bite, every lick. Everything.

I didn't start keeping a food log to make it into a food diary. I didn't want information about WHY I was eating as much as WHAT I was eating. Maybe it is just my nature but I wanted to see evidence that I could analyze.

I needed to see what I was really eating in a day. What food choices were costing me the most calories? Where could I make some positive changes?

I think keeping the log does more, though, than just give information. It keeps you conscious, engaged in the process. You start to really think about everything you consume. The hard part is all the little stuff. Maybe you lick the beaters when making a cake for your family. Or take little bites of cookie dough. Or grab a Hershey's kiss.

It isn't that these things are bad in and of themselves, but they do have calories and they do add up.

And they are sometimes hard to quantify.

For me, after a while of tracking everything I found that I would really stop to think - if I eat that I'll have to drag out my log and write it down, do I want it that bad? Answer became No a lot of times. Whatever that food was just simply lost its appeal at that point.

Helps those small calories go away.

It also started to show me where I was making smart choices. I wouldn't get upset if I was over on my calorie goal if it was due to a good thing - an extra serving of a high fiber cereal, or a glass of V8 Fusion, something that was positive for my health.

Unfortunately, it was also the second thing I stopped doing and probably need to start back up. The first thing was actually measuring servings. You get to where you think you are eyeballing it pretty well. Truth be told your "eyeball" starts to get a little bigger each time and pretty soon you're eating more than you intend.

Both of these slights on my part are easily remedied and will be resumed.

As I've said before, maintenance is tougher than losing. But the lessons learned are the same and it just has to be habits - like everything we do in life.

Thought for Today

2009-10-04T08:19:00.001-05:00

From Denise Austin's Newsletter, but it echoes what I keep saying!

Your great choices today are your rewards tomorrow. Plan ahead!
- Denise

Status Check

2009-09-30T20:26:00.008-05:00

First of all, I nearly panicked this morning. I started my day as usual - by firing up the Wii.

Only nothing happened.

Now, I've been gone for 4 days and I knew it was working before I left. I hit every button, pulled the plug and replugged, you name it.

Then I asked Billy to look at it for me. In reality I thought he'd confess that he did something accidentally to it while I was gone - hit it with the vacuum or something - but he didn't. He even started working on it while I was at work. When I came home for lunch I tried the one last thing. I moved it to another plug.

Worked like a charm.

We didn't think of this before because the Wii, surround sound, television, satellite, and everything else is plugged into the same multi-outlet unit so it didn't seem reasonable that everything would work except that one thing.

But that was it. Apparently the middle two of the six outlets had gone bad.

So, with the crisis adverted, I went on about my afternoon and exercised tonight.

All of that to say nothing really.

The main point of all this was to check on my progress. I noted one day last week that I was on Day 490 of using the Wii. There were gaps, of course, but I'd had started using it 490 days ago.

On that day, I had logged 100 hours on the Wii itself and 223 and half hours of total activity. That averaged out to 27 minutes a day.

I think that's pretty cool. The guidelines are 30 minutes a day, about 3 days a week.

So, I'm on target.

When you think about all the days that I didn't get to exercise in the last 16ish months, I'm really rather proud of myself. It says to me that I am making the most of the opportunities when they present themselves.

All I have to do now is keep it up. Ramp it up a little. I know that I tend to slack off some in the heat of summer so today's cooler temperatures were very welcome. I even walked to a meeting today and started planning how many days next week I could walk to work and home again.

I'm still looking for something else to add to the mix. Apparently I need to stretch or something more before I jog because the last few times I've done it have resulted in a painful hip for a few days following.

I am still looking into the ballet but I want to wait until I can reasonably do all 6 weeks. I don't want to get started if I can't give it 100% attendance and effort.

Anyway. Things are looking good.

I'll keep you posted.

Thought for Today

2009-09-21T11:40:00.000-05:00

From Denise Austin's newsletter this morning. Wish I had thought of it!

"The road to success has many tempting parking places and rest stops. Just keep going!"
- Denise

How Time Flies

2009-09-19T17:19:00.002-05:00

I think this is the longest I've gone without an update. Or at least a note telling you why I haven't updated.

This has been a rough week in the Tanksley household. There was hip and back pain (mine) and a seizure week for Riley. I posted on my other blog under the influence of pain pills on Monday and just hoped for the best. On Wednesday night Riley was back home but was awake and pacing all night long. And I mean that literally. We were so exhausted by Thursday night that I went to bed at 8:30. All of the sudden it is Saturday.

With everything else going on I haven't monitored myself too well this week. That is not necessarily a bad thing since it indicates, at least to me, that I still have my priorities straight.

Family first.

But, I am trying to set a new goal. I think I need one. As I have said before, losing the weight was easy compared to maintaining it. My original goal was 53 pounds. I did hit that, once, and have continued to hover between 48 and 51. But just trying to lose a couple of pounds, while yes it has proved to be challenging, isn't really the goal I need.

On the flip side, I am no longer convinced that I need to hit my "ideal" weight either. My ideal weight is 64 pounds from where I started. Another 14 pounds away.

I honestly think that would be too small. I don't know why I say that except I really think it would be. I look at myself in the mirror and like what I see. Wouldn't mind seeing a little less but I am nothing if not reasonable.

I also know this would entail ramping up the exercise since I can see no way that I can eat less and still be relatively healthy. Your body does have certain needs that have to be met.

So, my first goal will be to determine my next goal. Then I can decide how to work towards it.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Stay tuned!

No Permanent Damage

2009-09-10T10:09:00.002-05:00

OK, the verdict came in. I checked with the Wii on Monday - wanted to wait until after my mother-in-law had left the house and after enjoying a post-vacation weekend.

I did gain 2 pounds in the 9 days. Not bad. Especially considering all the factors working against me last week.

As of this morning I had lost 2.9 so I'm actually better off than when I left.

So, here is what I've learned: I can go enjoy myself. I was totally conscious of the choices I was making but I didn't obsess on it the whole time. I was able to have fun and still fall back on the new habits I've developed. I've also learned that I can get back on the program when needed.

I can allow myself the leeway I need, when I need it, and still maintain my healthier lifestyle while out of my regular environment. It may not sound like much but that really is a big deal for me. I tend to be a Type A personality and a feeling of control is a major component. We don't like when things get outside of our comfort zone and we don't feel like we can control the situation. Well, now I know I can.

That is worth almost as much as losing the 2.9 pounds!

I'll Take That To Go

2009-09-04T19:09:00.002-05:00

Eating while traveling has to be my biggest challenge. I'm out of my routine. I don't perceive that I have as much control over my choices.

This vacation week has been a rough one. We've eaten dinner at 9:30 and 10 at night (normally doesn't happen past 6 PM) and I think I've eaten more french fries this week than in the last 6 months collectively.

On the plus side, I walked an awful lot. Especially the last two days. During tennis we sat for hours and hours at a time, but climbed a lot of stairs. Yesterday and today we walked miles and miles. Hopefully there will be some offset there.

I'm not looking forward to stepping on the scales this weekend and seeing the damage. But here's the thing. I can't beat myself up. If losing weight or maintaining a lifestyle seems to be a chore then it is work and work isn't fun. The occasional indulgence is needed and necessary.

I just can't make a habit of it.

Laugh If You Must

2009-08-27T08:15:00.002-05:00

OK, I have never, EVER, pretended that coordination is one of my strengths. There is too much evidence to the contrary. Me and Dance, Dance Revolution resembles more the flailing of arms and legs than dancing, but I am trying. I tried gymnastics when I was growing up but that didn't last too long - I believe at the instructor's request, not mine.

But I am a dreamer. And I'm thinking about following a dream.

I always wanted to take dance when I was younger. All my friends seem to do it but I never did. I told my sister years ago that I wanted to find a ballet class - for adults. I think when she stopped laughing she realized I was serious.

I have found one. I think I will start the second week of September, after we get back from vacation.

I spoke to the instructor several years ago when we were both working on "Chicago" at the Natchez Little Theatre. She was the choreographer and ran the sound; I was the lighting technician. So we had some time to chat up in the booth. I told her about my dream and she let me know that I was not alone and she was actually surprised by how many adults had contacted her about holding a class.

I found out, second-hand via Facebook, that she is holding one right now and I am welcome to join it.

So I'm thinking about it. I keep saying that you have to surprise your body every now and then and try new things, work different muscle groups, stretch your limits. Maybe a ballet barre will be just what I need - for now.

And I can say I did it.

That is one of my favorite phrases.

Living Life, Learning Lessons

2009-08-24T21:30:00.002-05:00

Sorry to the Random Thought readers but this one seemed to work for this blog as well.

When I was in the 6Th grade the President, Jimmy Carter I believe, started promoting a new fitness program for youth. Part of the program was a test at the end. You had to run a specified distance, throw a softball and hang from a chin bar (boys had to do pull ups).

I was fairly "sickly" (as the old folks would say) as a child. Sometimes going outside to play could very literally be a matter of life and death. I remember many times being rushed to the doctor after just a regular afternoon of being out.

So, the fitness test seemed to be pretty much out of the question for me.

Now, the rewards for all this "fitness" were patches. Not sure where you were supposed to put the patches but there was white for the third level, red for the second level and the Presidential medal for the top level. Your level was determined based on how fast you could run, how far you could throw and how long you could hang.

I really couldn't do any of the three.

And the prospects of achieving of these skills in a really short period of time were fairly nonexistent.

My 12 year old brain thought surely if my doctor explained to the teacher that I couldn't physically participate then I would be excused and there had to be patch for that.

Had to be.

That was 30 years ago. In today's society I probably would have been correct. Now everyone gets a reward just for participating. (Some of you may argue with me but you know deep down that I'm right.)

But my 12 year old brain didn't think it was fair to be "punished" for something that I couldn't do. It wasn't that I didn't want to or wasn't trying, I just couldn't.

To both my parents' credit, they agreed to let me "train". This had to be hard for them. I'm sure that every time Daddy and I went to the high school track for me to run 40 yards or we went out in the front yard to throw the softball they probably held their collective breaths. A parents' first instinct is to protect their child and those asthma attacks could sneak up almost without warning.

And inhalers for kids weren't invented yet.

Daddy and I worked for whatever time we had, maybe a month or so, and then the big day came.

And I did it.

I earned a white patch.

I doubt there were any extra seconds on the run or the hang and no extra inches on the softball throw, but I did meet the minimum requirements.

I had achieved what I didn't think I could.

This story occurred to me as I was jogging the other day.

Yes, I said it - jogging. She who couldn't run to the corner and back can almost run a mile and half now.

And I thought to myself, what if I'd been allowed to just get a patch for participating? What if Mom and Dad hadn't been willing to let me try? I'm sure one asthma attack would have put a stop that. What if I'd been willing to settle, to not push myself?

What are children learning today - those that don't get to keep score so no one loses, those who all get a reward no matter what they do or don't do? They may not ever learn to see what is on the other side, to see what all they are capable of, to know the real feeling of accomplishment.

And I think that's kind of sad. Everyone needs a goal. We need to be able to handle defeat and feel the pride of achievement. Because life is full of both. We all need to push ourselves a little and expand our boundaries and horizons. Not just always accept the situation on its face but work to do things better or differently. Challenge ourselves.

What is life without a challenge?

I hope I never find out.

Alphabet Soup

2009-08-19T09:59:00.003-05:00

Some of the benefits of exercise

E Endorphins, which bring

X X-tra

E Energy for

R Reducing

C Calories and

I Increasing

S Self-

E Esteem

Robert Frost and Lord Byron I am not.

Have a great day!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

2009-08-15T20:20:00.006-05:00

I am the world's biggest pack rat. Huge! Billy has threatened, and actually tried, to get rid of some of my stuff when I'm not home. I came home one day and found a bunch of stuff out on the curb waiting for the trash pickup and went in the house and asked if we were moving.

That is what it looked like.

This time, it is by choice.

My closet has been the project of 2009. Its origin was the back porch of the house that was closed in. A single light bulb was added, shag carpet installed and paneling on the walls. Which is to say that it has not been updated, obviously, since the 70s.

So, demolition started in January. Billy likes to work on demolition projects during my busy season. Makes the time pass for him or something. The thought was that when I freed up I could help with the design and reconstruction. So I pulled all my clothes out of the closet and stacked them up around the guest bedroom (yes, my closet is in the guest bedroom. Houses built in 1893 did not come with closets) and there they have sat. This was an unusual year and my busy season didn't end in March but extended until July.

I have a lot of clothes. I'm a pack rat. I can give you the history behind just about every article of clothing and why I'm still holding on to it.

Until today.

My sister-in-law will need to sleep in that room when she comes to help out with the puppy-sitting when we go on vacation later this month (my mother-in-law sleeps in our room). There is MUCH to be done in the next two weeks.

So I bit the bullet. I took a long, hard look at the clothes.

Most of them are way too big now. Most of them are old - still in good condition, but dated.

Here is my second problem, and part of what leads into me being a pack rat. I hate to shop. Hate it. Have for most of my life.

Today I decided that the closet will be my incentive. I've worked very hard achieving a major accomplishment. I am going to have new, bright, clean closet and it is only fair that there are some new clothes in it. And if I get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit, and isn't worth having altered to fit (like my work suits are), then I have incentive to keep the weight off.

Because if I have to shop I only want to do it once.

Simple Steps to Live Stress Free

2009-08-14T12:42:00.003-05:00

This was the Denise Austin newsletter this morning. I liked it and thought I would share. One of the tips is about rewarding yourself, but not with food.

I caught a little flak about my confession the other day. Emotional eating with a healthy snack like Cheerios rather than ice cream was viewed as not really being all that bad. Not much of a confession.

OK. The lesson there, I guess, is two-fold. One, try not to give into emotional eating at all. Use exercise or any one of the tips listed below to try and relieve the stress being caused by the situation. Two, keep relatively healthy snacks on hand so that if you do give in to the emotion and eat you can at least minimize the damage.

So, I was not proud of the act but I was proud that I have developed some better habits so that the snacks I have around are not just pure junk food.

Better?

Had a run-in with your boss or a fight with your sister - and can't stop thinking about it? Are you overloaded with projects at work and errands at home? Our lives are jam-packed with stress - and that can take a toll on our body and health. Long-term uncontrolled stress can cause chronic conditions like high blood pressure, headaches, and ulcers. Stress can also weaken your body's natural defenses so you're likely to get sick more often.

You don't have to live with stress! There are so many simple ways to cut stress and take back control of your life.

Say no!
If you don't have time for or can't realistically accomplish someone's request without straining yourself, do not agree to it. In most cases, people will understand that you need to put yourself first. If you can't say no to your boss, for example, try not to take on more than you know you can handle.

Set priorities.
We don't always have the luxury of saying no to daily tasks, so stay organized by making a list of everything you need to do. Prioritize your list so you can take care of the most vital items first.

Stay positive!
Stress is not inevitable; it's the way your body reacts to the situation you're in, so it's completely controllable. Keep yourself calm by maintaining a positive attitude. It helps to choose an inspiriting mantra that you can repeat to yourself or image that you can visualize.

Burn off your stress!
Go for a brisk walk or bike ride, or lift weights to let off some steam. Exercise causes the body to release endorphins - chemicals that help you feel better - which help reduce your stress level.

Practice deep breathing.
When we get stressed out, our breathing tends to speed up. So take a break and sit somewhere comfortable and quiet to focus on taking deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Playing soft music can enhance the calming effect.

Treat yourself!
If you had an unusually stressful day or just finished a big, stressful project, go ahead and reward yourself! Not with food, of course, but with something that will help you relax. How about a pedicure or massage, a long bubble bath, or a great book you can curl up with?

Reach out to others.
We can't do it all alone, so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. A co-worker or supervisor may be able to shed light on a work problem, while your spouse or kids can pitch in to help with household stresses. Even if you must take care of some task or problem yourself, it still helps to talk it over with a friend.

There's no reason to be bogged down by stress for another day. There are seven stress-busting strategies here - put one of them to work every day in the coming week!

No, go out and enjoy the weekend!

Confession

2009-08-12T18:51:00.002-05:00

As Darla said in her other blog, confession is good for the soul.

I gave in to emotional eating today.

There. It's out there.

My boss/partner upset me this morning and it bothered me. So I reached for a snack. Emotional eating. On the plus side, it was a bag of Cheerios Snack Mix so it really wasn't all that unhealthy in and of itself, but still...

Normally I would take a walk around the block or do something like that to "shake it off" but I was fairly confined to my desk today working on some deadlines so it was easier to just open the drawer and grab a handful of snack mix.

Lesson One: don't keep the snack mix in the desk drawer.

Lesson Two: do what you know is right and don't look to food to solve the problem.

Lesson Three: shake it off and don't repeat the process tomorrow.

There. Feel better already.

The Secret

2009-08-09T15:15:00.005-05:00

Move More, Eat Less

That, my friends, in a nutshell, seems to be the secret that everyone is searching for.

Sounds simple enough.

Four small words.

Easy concept.

But, oh so tough sometimes.

I seem to have had a lot of people noticing lately the weight loss. People around town that I haven't seen in a while and so forth. So I have had to answer the question quite a bit lately "How did you do it?"

I think most of them are a little disappointed that I didn't join Weight Watchers (very big thing to do around here) or have any medical procedures. I think people really are looking for a quick fix and it just isn't out there. Taking control of your life and health is work and it has to be treated as such. It is your job and no one can do it for you.

Much as we'd like them sometimes.

You have to face every day and make choices - about what you'll eat, how much you'll eat, what kind of exercise will fit into your day and so forth.

It isn't easy. It isn't always pretty.

But anything worth doing is worth doing well.

So go for it.

And remember. Even at your real job you sometimes have a casual day or a work day or some kind of day out of the normal routine. You'll have these days in this also. Days where you don't make the healthiest choices. But, just like in real life, your same job is still waiting on you the next day and if you slip a little one day with this then you just get right back on the program the next day.

You can do it!

Before and After - Part 2

2009-08-03T15:58:00.008-05:00

I wouldn't do this for just anyone, but I think you guys can handle it.

Class of 1984, 20th High School Reunion

Class of 1984, 25th High School Reunion

Proof positive that you can make any changes or do anything you want to. There was nothing wrong with the 2004 "me" in the picture but the 2009 "me" is very different. So all I'm saying is that you need to love yourself no matter what, but if you do want to make some changes let NOTHING stop you. Not age, not anything.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Now, go have a great day!
<

My Sister the Coach

2009-07-31T15:25:00.002-05:00

and Cheerleader!

If you don't already have your own Andrea, go get one. And no, you can't have mine. She's taken! I have waxed poetical about how wonderful she's been through this journey but it never hurts to say it again.

She sent me a very positive text message after my first day on the beach in Florida with a two-piece suit on (smart enough not to say it out loud, only where I could read it). And she didn't tell my mom how much I weighed despite my mom asking her repeatedly (because she knows the numbers are sensitive subjects with me). Then she responded to my rhetorical questions with a solution.

Resistance Training.

What was I doing for it, how often, and so forth. I had to confess that it had been over a month since I'd done anything other than my cardio workouts.

So we discussed squats, and girl push-up, and weights, and all the other stuff I should be doing to help my body be its best.

So Tuesday night after we talked I did 30 girl push-ups and 10 squats and told her that I had done 20 jackknifes after my jog on Monday night.

And this is what I got back: "That's my girl!"

Gotta love her!

Sometimes all you need to get over that hurdle is just a little push from behind.

Rhetoricals

2009-07-27T06:17:00.002-05:00

Why is it that when you gain a pound overnight the Wii wants an explanation but doesn't care when you lose a pound overnight? I want to tell it what I did right, not what I did wrong!

Why is it that you can gain 2 pounds overnight (and you can, it has happened to me more than once lately) but it will take a week to lose that same two pounds? Isn't the phrase "easy come, easy go"?

Why do I have these thoughts?

I'm starting to think that losing the weight was the easy part and the maintenance is going to be tough. I would have thought it would be the other way around since I maintained my old weight for so long. (That one is a joke)

Everyone, have a wonderful day!

Denise Austin's Swimming Tip

2009-07-21T06:02:00.001-05:00

Go Swimming Indoors!

Did you know you don't need a pool or ocean to go swimming? "Swimming" is one of my favorite Pilates exercise moves because it really works your core, arms, shoulders, legs, and chest — it's essentially a total-body workout! All you need is a mat or other comfortable, firm surface on which to "swim"!

To start, lie on your stomach with your arms extended over your head. Press through your fingertips and toes to create length in your spine. Then exhale and raise your right arm and left leg a few inches off the floor. Lower your right arm and left leg slightly and raise your left arm and right leg, keeping all four limbs off the ground. Then alternate your arms and legs as if you were swimming! It's easy, and it's really effective for toning your arms, legs, and backside.

Kind of sounds like fun! I might just give it a try later.

Back on Board

2009-07-18T20:58:00.004-05:00

OK, vacation is over.

Time to get back with the program!

I actually made pretty good choices while I was gone. No fried food. Everything was grilled or broiled. Problem was I ate late and I didn't eat my four small meals and the plates were too big. It was breakfast after my walk and then hours until a light lunch and then a big dinner. Just before bedtime.

So, sunburn (fluid retention), a few extra adult beverages, and the items noted above added a few pounds to the frame to this past week. But not to despair. I got back on the wagon today. Light breakfast, light lunch, exercise, and a salad plate for dinner. Granted dinner was Italian with garlic bread, but still... I ate less than I did at Olive Garden last week.

Vacations are nice. Very much needed to keep your spirit in shape. But real life does come calling and we must answer the door.

So if you, like me, occasionally take a break from your program don't let it derail your overall progress. I just had to look at myself in the mirror this morning and go back to doing what I know works best for me.

And by the way, I did wear the two-piece suits on the beach. Figured who cared - I wasn't going to see those people again anyway and my family had already been warned. But no, there aren't any pictures. Some things don't actually need to be documented for posterity.

Blogging from the Beach

2009-07-12T19:19:00.003-05:00

Exercising in Florida is pretty cool! I took a 2 mile walk down the beach today. Saw one guy doing his yoga. This was about 6:30 in the morning (my body clock does not take a vacation so I was up at 5:30 as usual) and I thought to myself how wonderfully peaceful that must be. Yoga with the waves in the background. Morning sun and peaceful silence.

Hopefully I won't indulge too much this week. I finally broke through my slump and 5 of the last 7 days have been decreases on the scales. Finally happy with my numbers again.

Taking a vacation doesn't necessarily mean a vacation from doing what you know you should. Yes I may eat a little more but I'm also getting more exercise. I've walked the beach a couple of times and then up to the room and back and so forth. So I'm trying to do the right stuff.

And "stuffed" is how I feel after dinner at the Olive Garden!

Everything in moderation.

Change

2009-07-10T06:16:00.003-05:00

ALL CHANGE INVOLVES leaving behind something known in order to move toward the new and unknown. It means releasing the way things were in order to embrace the way things are and the way things will be. … Understanding our past is important, but our lives are meant to be lived in the present and into the future.

- Leigh Harrison
Birthed in Prayer: Pregnancy as a Spiritual Journey

From p. 53 of Birthed in Prayer by Kim Barker, Linda de Meillon, Leigh Harrison. Copyright © 2008 by the authors. Published by Upper Room Books. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore

This was my devotional lesson this morning, but I felt like it would really apply here as well. Change is what we're all doing. Changing our habits. Changing the foods we eat or the ways in which we prepare them. And letting go is hard. We get comfortable and comfortable is easy. But we have to let go of the things that aren't good for us and make those changes. And one of the keys, at least to me, is understanding our pasts to improve our futures. Nothing exists in isolation. I didn't just wake up one day overweight. I woke up one day, realized and accepted it and decided to do something about it, but the problem had been growing for quite some time.

Anyway, I liked the passage. Hope you do as well.

Now go have a great day!

Good news!

2009-07-06T07:46:00.000-05:00

For those who may have missed my Facebook post the other day: I have dropped my cholesterol level from 202 to 180 in the last year. Yea!

I did find it amusing that my 40ish and over friends all commented postively. I got more comments on that than a lot of others. My younger friends were all probably thinking "and?????".

They'll learn.

Recipes - continued

2009-07-04T07:43:00.002-05:00

From Denise Austin this morning:

The recipe here is for four pepperoni pita pizzas, but you can double - heck, triple! - this very easily. To round this out for a full lunch - more than a snack, less than a supper - add a lettuce salad or some cut-up veggies and a low-fat dressing for a dip. The best part is that the kids can even afford to have seconds! (But not you!)

Pepperoni Pita Pizza

Ingredients

2 whole-wheat pitas (6" diameter)
1 cup pizza sauce
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 oz. sliced turkey pepperoni (about 32 rounds)
¼ cup chopped roasted red peppers
4 tsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Split the pitas in half to form circles.
Place the pita halves on two baking sheets. Spread ¼ cup pizza sauce on each pita half to within a half inch of the edge. Sprinkle each half with ¼ cup mozzarella. Arrange pepperoni slices on top of the cheese. Sprinkle each pizza with 1 tablespoon peppers and top with 1 teaspoon Parmesan.
Drizzle the oil over the pizzas.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Remove to serving plates and cut into quarters.
Makes 4 pizzas

Per pizza: 241 calories, 27 g carbohydrates, 13 g protein, 9 g total fat, 16 mg cholesterol, 4 g dietary fiber, 704 mg sodium

Thought for the Day

2009-07-01T16:05:00.003-05:00

This is today's quote on my calendar. It is not credited to anyone.

"Love yourself. Cherish your developing strengths and capabilities."

I thought it fitting for our journeys.

Have a great day!

Words Have No Calories

2009-06-27T19:02:00.005-05:00

and it's a good thing because I may have to eat some.

I realize some of you will think this is silly. I may, also, in a week or so.

I previously stated after seeing Valerie Bertinelli on People Magazine in a bikini that, while she looked awesome, I just thought that after a certain age women shouldn't wear one.

I might have been wrong. We're all going to the beach in a couple of weeks and I was looking through my swimsuit drawer. I cleaned it out not too long ago but I kept a few two-piece suits. Not really thinking I'd actually wear them but they were still in good shape.

I tried them on this morning.

I have to say I was not displeased with what I saw in the mirror. Not perfect by any stretch, but not horrible either.

So I asked my husband if I would embarrass him if I wore them. He is brutally honest and won't just tell me what I want to hear - believe me! (I will also ask my sister when we're together since she is also honest.)

Billy said it wouldn't embarrass him but he is also the one who called me out for the whole "too old for a bikini" thing. It was pointed out that I no longer felt the same because I now had the body to do it.

And in a sense, he has a point.

Like I said, the body isn't perfect. There is still work to be finished. But there was a definite boost and a sense of pride when I looked in the mirror. Now these are not teeny tiny skimpy bikinis. I'd say they are modest two-pieces. If that isn't an oxymoron. So I don't think I'm trying to look like a teenager or anything. But I have worked hard and have achieved a major accomplishment and that can be celebrated, right?

And hey, Helen Mirren is rocking a two-piece at 60 so maybe 43 isn't too old, yet.

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!

2009-06-23T09:33:00.002-05:00

Maureen McCormack is the latest celebrity to announce a major backslide. In last weeks' People Magazine she talked about losing 34 pounds while appearing on Celebrity Fit Club only to have regained 43.

My first thought, and I don't think I'm too far off base, was that she didn't do it for the right reasons. I could be wrong. I'm sure she did want to lose the weight but she wasn't really committed to making the lifestyle changes that go with it. She participated, possibly, for the attention and notoriety and a chance to get back in the spotlight.

Now, she has also recently admitted to past life of drug use and such so I applaud her for kicking those habits. It also says to me that when she is ready to tackle the weight problem, REALLY tackle it, she has a wonderful chance at success since she has proven herself in the past.

I wish her luck.

As I do all of us as we work towards our goals, or maintaining them once we reach them. If you really get your head in the game and approach this quest mentally first and then physically, I feel certain you will get there.

Now, go have a great day!

Update

2009-06-16T18:18:00.002-05:00

Sorry, it has been a while. My June 30th deadlines are quickly approaching and I haven't had a spare minute lately!

I will finish my 30 day challenge tomorrow. I haven't lost any weight or broken through my slump - yet - but I can tell that my body is more toned. I should have taken measurements before I started but didn't think about it.

I did a little shopping lately and actually bought sizes that I honestly never thought I'd wear again. And was perfectly happy in that knowledge. I was able to wear some 4s and 6/6 petites this week. That's a long way from pushing out of a 12.

I try not to get caught up in the numbers. The day I was shopping I was also wearing pants that were a size 10 and the tank top was a large so sizes don't mean much and I don't get put much stock in the labels. BUT - it is pretty cool and it gives you a bit of a mental lift to actually see those sizes go down.

And I've always said that losing weight and getting healthy is actually mostly mental.

Hope everyone is having a great day and working towards those goals! I'd love to hear about your progress.

Reminders

2009-06-07T09:31:00.003-05:00

Slumps and rebounds are the pits. No two ways about it. Seeing your progress slowed, or reversed is just downright depressing. Can even make you want to give up.

I know. Be there, done that, doing it again.

Now comes the purple shirt. I'm sure I've shared this story before but I'm doing it again.

Several years ago my mom gave me a beautiful two-piece outfit. The skirt is a shiny purple snakeskin print material and the top is a soft, deep purple short-sleeved button up blouse. Now, while the outfit was my size when she gave it to me it really didn't fit. The buttons were stretched across the bust and the sleeves were so tight on my upper arms that Billy would have to hold them and pull down on them to help get me out of it.

Needless to say I didn't wear the outfit very much. But the color is so beautiful and is one of my good colors so I did suffer and wear it every once in a while. Since it wasn't a "go to" outfit it got sort of buried in the closet. That closet is now under construction so I've rediscovered a lot of things that I hadn't seen in a while.

Including the purple outfit.

I wore it the other day and almost cried. I went to the kitchen and had Billy look at it. The top hangs on me and the the sleeves don't even touch my arms.

Its a reminder of how far I've come. No matter that the scales haven't moved lately; they have moved. I can't get discouraged - I have achieved.

And I needed that reminder.

It doesn't matter if you've only lost 10 pounds or 50 pounds. Every pound is a struggle and an accomplishment. Be proud and don't give up.

I also reminded myself that muscle weighs more than fat so it could be that all the toning that I've been doing is working and the number on the scale may go up for a little while. No one but me knows what that number is so what does it matter?

Sometimes it is best to not look at that daily ups and downs but to remember the big picture. Remember where you started and take encouragement from that. Don't let yourself get bogged down in the short term issues but remember that bigger long-term goal and just keep working. You WILL turn it around and break through that wall and then just start tumbling down the other side.

Trust me. Be there, done that, can do it again.

Earning Your Rewards

2009-06-03T06:22:00.003-05:00

My cousin Darla has another blog and yesterday she mentioned her kids not needing to eat breakfast since they were getting donuts. I told her I was going to let that comment pass. She assured me that the kids, and not the adults, get donuts at Sunday School on the first Sunday of the month.

Still gonna let it go since they are kids and all kids love donuts, but eating habits are formed in the young.

Anyway, it brought to mind my own childhood. My mom and dad taught my 5th grade Sunday School class. Actually, Mom taught and Dad was "crowd control". He was kind of a big man and could be pretty intimidating to rowdy 10 and 11 year olds. My mom used donuts as a reward for learning the books of the Bible. You got a donut hole if you like 5 or 10 straight, a donut if you did a whole Testament and a Texas donut if you could name all the books of Bible in order without a mistake.

Texas donuts were the size of dinner plates.

Have I mentioned that I am an overachiever?

Food is often used as a reward. While I'm not necessarily against that in principle, you do have to watch it if your goal is to lose weight. Having a bowl of ice cream or a piece of cake or an extra slice of pizza because you dropped a few pounds or ran an extra mile or rode your bike today really can be counterproductive. Not in an individual case so much as the pattern you are establishing.

The opposite is true also. Food shouldn't be used when things are going well. You can't allow yourself to let up just because you've hit a wall. You can't just give up and say one of this won't hurt I'm not losing any weight anyway.

Food is the fuel for our bodies. No more no less. We can still enjoy it and have celebrations with it but you can't give it a power that it doesn't possess. It is what it is.

So look at non-food rewards for those milestones. New clothes or shoes or a massage or whatever. And when you hit the wall or a slump, as I have right now, then change something up. Add a new exercise, or push your comfort level a little on an existing routine. Surprising your body is usually the best way to get to wake up and respond.

Now go have a great day! (Hopefully easy on the donuts)