Oh Happy Day!

Yesterday I was thrilled to find pumpkin fat free frozen yogurt at my local Golden Spoon store. YAY! My favorite flavor! Such a fun treat and if consumed in a small portion....quite legal too!!

I am composing this post on a new LG tablet that will soon be available through T-Mobile. I have to admit it is pretty cool. It is really small, light and runs on available Wi-fi or the T-Mobile 4G network. So I can take it anywhere and be connected. Since I am having to learn how to use a new electronic device, I consider it to be an important part of my healthy journey....flexing and developing my mental muscle! You can teach an old dog new tricks, the dog simply has to want to learn- woof woof!

So watch out I-pad cuz this thing is way cooler!

Later today I will make onion rings ala Hungry Girl recipe: 12 crispy rings only 150 calories, 3 grams of fat, 9 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein......looking forward to trying something new!

Desire to flex and build mental muscle. Dedication to finding a satisfying new crunch. Discipline to stick to the recipe.

The Temptation of Birthday Cake

Last night we celebrated 2 family birthdays, my nephew and my brother. They both ordered a chocolate cake for their birthday. The good news is that I resisted having any cake. Even though I like chocolate occassionally, it is one of the few cakes I can easily resist! I did have 2 bites of pistachio ice cream, though. That is much harder to resist!

What are your temptations? And how do you say no?

I am struggling to figure out a way to shed more weight. I am considsering all sorts of options. My workouts are going well. I am thinking about taking some new classes to create a different burn for my body. Research tells us that our bodies grow accostomed to whatever exercise we do and we need to change it up to increase the burn!

I just read that, at rest, a pound of fat burns 2 calories an hour and a pound of muscle burns 32 calories an hour....what more evidence do we need to convince us that weight training is the way to go! It is so important to include weight training in your regime! Not only will creating more lean muscle mass burn more calories at rest, but you will be proactively combating future problems with osteoporosis by having more muscle tissue!

Please send me a message and let me know what you are doing that is working for you!

Desire to learn from other's success. Dedication to build lean muscle. Discipline to find a way to shed more weight!

Home Again, Home Again

I am so happy to be home, I can't even express how happy I am! All the way home on the flight, I reflected how challenging it is to stay really healthy while on a business trip. Then I think about how much I travelled in my former job and it is no small wonder how my health, weight and stress levels all became so comprimised.

I managed to do 4 workouts in the space of 8 days. Definitely better than nothing, but I didn't burn anywhere near the same number of calories as I do at home in the same space and time. Also, I made good food choices, even packed my own snacks to combat travel day temptations, and still I know I consumed more calories than normal.

I had planned to hit the ground in San Diego and go to the gym as my re-entry process, but the universe conspired to direct my attention elsewhere. My Dad is experiencing more coronary issues and I rushed to the hospital instead. They found a blood clot in his ventrical and are now treating it aggressively with a med to break-up the clot. Please send up a prayer that this episode will have a very positive outcome!

While at the hospital, Dad asked the attending cardiovascular nurse, what should I do differently during this treatment. Her answer was insightful, wonderful to hear and very heartwarming. She said: Look at the two of you (my Mom and Dad), you are in your 80's and doing really great, especially for your age! You eat right, don't "live at McDonald's", don't eat fried food, you exercise and are not sedentary, you love each other and are surrounded by a strong support system and you have a positive attitude, and I have found that a positive attitude is more than half the battle. You look and act at least 10 years younger than you actual age! I wish more of my patients were just like you!

So I leave you with this thought:

Desire to live a long healthy life well into your 80's with a high quality of life. Dedication to generating and sustaining a strong loving support system of family and friends. Discipline to eat healthy and keep moving your whole life!

Fun on the Road!

First of all, a GREAT BIG shout out to Helene! I saw her last night and she looks AMAZING! She is dangerously close to being a skinny b-e-a-t-c-h! She has clearly achieved much success on her healthy journey. I am so proud of her! She looks happy, beautiful and is full of energy! What a great visit we had!!!

I am completely enjoying my visit with my borther and his family. They are such a fantastic family! The "boys", now 14 and 16, are both taller than I am!!! It is SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO great to see them! I miss them like crazy and am just grateful that I get this visit with them!

Yesterday I went to a local Y and did a weight and cardio workout. I channeled my very best "Kathy" (my trainer) and did a circuit in the weight room and hopped on the precor runner for my cardio. Surprise - a drop in fee at this Y was $22!!! In my neigborhood, the local Y charges $5 for a drop in visit! Then this morning I took a long walk around their beautiful neighborhood. It was chilly and I had on 2 heavy sweathirts and worked up a nice sweat.

So, I have managed to keep up my workouts so far. The next few days will be more challenging because I have to be up very early every morning and I have a business dinner every night.....uuugggghhhh. I plan on having grilled salmon and veges every night. Should be yummy and healthy!

Desire to maintain balance while on the road. Dedication to family, friends and self. Discipline to honor fitness and nutrition.

Going to New Jersey!

I am so excited. I am going on a business trip to New Jersey and I am so excited because I get to visit my brother and his family who moved there last summer! YAY! I will also see my BFF, Helene! Double Yay!

I will eat healthy for the week I am gone, including bringing my own snacks on the cross country flight. Even though I will be in a happy celebratory mode, I plan to stay true to my eating plan.

I am switching my workout energy. Instead of working always in the evening, I am going to try early morning cardio on Monday and Tuesday morning. I will keep Wednesday evening with Kathi, my trainer. I will keep Thursday evenings for yoga. Friday is my day off. Saturday, my double day, is an hour of cardio and an hour with my trainer in the morning. Then Sunday morning is reserved for the outside workout with my hubbie.

The big difference will be 2 morning workouts, leaving 2 evenings a week free each week.

I hope you all pay attention to the rhythm of your life and be open to shifting and trying something new to see if a redirection of your energy will be good for you!

Desire to try a new workout schedule. Dedication to listening to your inner rhythms. Discipline to keep working out at any time of the day.

Happy Valentine's Day and I'm Struggling.....

First of all, Happy Valentine's Day (tomorrow) to everyone! I hope you spend it with someone you love, could be another person, a furry person and/or yourself!

Last night I made a special dinner for my Valentine and also included my parents. It was their 60th Valentine celebration together! Allen proposed to me 24 years ago on Valentines Day! My idea was to serve food that was either pink or red. We started with a glass of blush champagne and a bruschetta with a spread of ricotta, sun dried tomatoes, basil and prosciutto on top. Then we had a cabernet with our sliced steak (pink in the middle) steamed crabs legs (pinky and white) and a vege of radicchio, red cabbage, red onion and red pepper. Desert was an angel food cake sliced into 3 layers with rasberries, strawberries and whipped cream between the layers. Very light and yummy. Our last course was chocolate truffles with a glass of ruby red port.

An indulgence? You bet. Was the celebration oflove worth it? You bet!

So, I am struggling because I have not lost a single pound this year yet. And I have been plateaued since last September. I recently had a doctor check up and something dawned on me....last August, I began a course of bio identical plant based cream hormones. I am convinced that this treatment, which is helping my body to regulate in other areas, is actually also stopping my body from shedding weight.

So, I will continue to strive on my healthy journey. This is the start of year #3! I am very proud of myself that I have found a way to stay forcused. I will shed more pounds this year. I just think I have to be extra patient and dilligent and watchful of my intake and exercise, while persevering.

Desire to be a lighter (15 more pounds please) version of myself. Dedication to a lifetime healthy journey, not just a temporary diet. Discipline to keep my eye on the prize - GOOD GREAT HEALTH!

What Is Your Superbowl Menu?

We are enjoying the game...so glad Green Bay struck first blood! (I don't want the Steelers to win because of what Rothlesberger did - he is sum) I don't usually care about football, but, of course, it is fun to watch the commercials! And Fergie/Black Eyed Peas are performing at half time....and Lea Michelle sang beautifully at the opening!

So, just wanted to share how I am making it through this tyical day to overeat. Of course, we bagin the morning with an awesome workout - we walked our favorite beach route with the 5 big staircases. Today, I ran up all 5.

We have family over for the game and we are eating chicken drummettes roasted in the oven, sliced chicken sausages with 2 different mustards for dipping, pop chips, hummus and lots of raw veges: brocolli, celery, carrots, cucumber, carrots, gold peppers and red peppers. YUM-O!

My Dad also brought over some fresh pork ribs. I tasted them and they are delicious!

BTW, at dinner at my folks house on Friday night, homemade cookies were served for desert and I did not even have one taste. My Mom's cookes are my kryptonite....I need to avoid them or I go crazy!

I hope you are enjoying a fun and healthy day too!

Desire to enjoy all that life has to offer to the fullest! Dedication to planning for healthy choices. Discipline to resist the urge to overindulge.