Happy Weekending!

Having a banner fun weekend! Friday night we went for a nice walk and included 2 big hills. Saturday we went to the Scottish Highland Festival and rocked out to the sound of the Wicked Tinkers - a totally fun musical band of bagpipes, drummers and a digerie do player. I know it sounds odd but it was super fun music!

Then we met friends for a special dinner at one of our favorite celebration restaurants - Vivace. The evening was awesome! I wore a dress that I bought 10 years ago. It is a white tank style linen sheath, long, with a sheer panel in the middle and a sheer panel beginning at about mini skirt level down to the lower calves. The dress finishes with a linen panel at the bottowm. so it is a dramatic dress and it was fun to wear! I enjoyed a glass of champagne and a glass of nebiollo with appetizer, pasta, main course and desert. It sounds like too many calories but I had saved up calories from earlier in the day and the portions were "tasting" portions so I actually finished the day just under 1500 calories.

This morning I did intervals during my hour of cardio (to burn extra calories) along with my hour of weight training, so I am sure my body is happy!

The desire to celebrate life, the discipline to prepare for the celebration and the dedication to happiness to allow celebrations!

Happy Father's Day!

Just returned from breakfast with Dad to celebrate Dad's day. I had juevos rancheros and asked for a non-fried tortilla, egg whites, guacamole on the side and no sour cream. Everyone at the table cracked up at how I ordered, but that is how I order things now.....THE WAY I WANT IT FOR MY BODY (damn it). And guess what - the waiter brought me my order as requested.

I gave the guacamole to my brother along with the bacon that came with and I enjoyed my egg white rancheros just as they were.

There is so much emphasis placed on food and calories..do you ever get tired of thinking about it? Or why people comment and care so much when you order something prepared in a more healthy way????

So, I am now going to do some yoga to re-center my brain, sort of like hitting a reset switch!

I hope you are enjoying your day and celebrating with or thinking about your Dad with a happy heart!

The BIG Payoff!

Couldn't wait to share with you all today! I officially hit 70 pounds gone!!! I weighed in this morning prepared for the plateau and was so happy when the scale was lighter!

YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! HOOOOOOOORAY!!!!! WOOOOOO-HOOOO! Now, on to tackle the final 14!!!

So go out and celebrate with me today! Walk an extra mile! Do an extra 25 abs! Add 5 pounds to your chest press! Munch an extra carrot with your herbal iced tea! Pick what makes you happy!

Thanks for being there for me on my journey. It helps knowing you are with me!!!

Desire to share happiness, dedication to inner growth and wisdom and the discipline to see it all through!!!!

Time to Eliminate All Sugar?

So I continue to stall at my current weight. So this week I am going to try eliminating all sugar, even fresh fruit. I will concentrate on lean proteins, vegetables, whole grains and fat free dairy like milk and yogurt. I am hoping I can accomplish a breakthrough on the scale. I will let you know!

On a positive note, my trainer had me doing one-legged burpees, you know....on one leg squat down, put your hands on the ground, jump back to push up position (still on one leg) do a push up, jump forward, stand up and jump up - staying on one leg. And I could do it on both legs! I was pretty happy I was able to do it! It was hard.

What is the hardest exercise you have done lately? Any suggestions?

Desire to try new things to be successful, dedication to keeping your goals in sight and the discipline to stand strong in the face of an extended plateau!

Compliments, Compliments and More Compliments!

The reason I was in KC was to facilitate a session with one of our sales teams. I work with this group annually at their sales meeting, so it has been about a year since seeing these guys, yes, they are all men.

It was a bit overwhelming that each one (32) of them made a point to compliment my new appearance. Many of them wanted to know the "secret" to having lost weight and were terribly disappointed to learn that it was boring old fashioned tried and true "diet and exercise".

Every time one of them complimented me, I simply responded with "thank you" or "I am pleased with my progress." One guy in particular asked if I was "done". I said I still wanted to shed more weight and he said....whoa....don't get anorexic....and I said...what are you.....an Italian grandmother??? It was a funny exchange. Trust me, I am not even close to being too thin!

It was interesting to be in travel mode because there are so many food triggers and I had to be completely vigilant to avoid "triggered" eating. I was successful!

We went to a friend's wedding yesterday and I indulged in wedding cake and tasting other desserts. It was yummy! Happy to report I did not gain any weight this morning!

Desire to continue striving, dedication to loving yourself because you are worth it and the discipline to recognize and avoid food triggers!

At a Meeting in Kansas City

As usual, NBF, nothing but food. They just brought in the afternoon snack which consisted of 2 types of cookies, chocolate brownies, blondies, chocolate dipped strawberries....

So I avoided it ALL and walked down the hotel hall and ordered a decaf fat free latte - about 120 calories, no fat, no sugar, lots of protien and calcium......

Desire to buy smaller clothes, dedication to my plan and the discipline to NOT EAT cookies!!!

Happy Memorial Day!

I believe it is so important to hit our own "pause" button to give thanks to all of the men and women who have sacrificed so that we can live in our wonderful free country. This holiday is more than another day off of work. It is a time for true reflection and introspection. A time for us to ask ourselves - are we doing everything we can do to support the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted every day.

So, if you can, please do something today to recognize all of those people before us who have sacrificed for all of us!

On Saturday evening, we had friends over for dinner, including my Godson. He is amazing! I could not be more proud of this young man if he were my own flesh and blood. It was awesome to see him, his parents and my parents. It was really easy to stay on plan too! For appetizers, we served raw veges and hummus, grilled chicken sausages cut up into pieces on toothpicks, and tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole. Dinner was a salad of cucumbers, basil, tomatoes, onions and mozzarella tossed with lemon and a drizzle of olive oil. Also, grilled ears of fresh corn, chicken and steak. So people could create a plate with whatever they wanted. Dessert was fresh pineapple and dates. We also served beer and wine but I choose to stay with good old H2O for the evening.

It was a wonderful evening of family, sharing stories and generational connections. It is so nice to be able to share family and food and stay true to a healthy eating plan! We will be with our dear friends from Arizona this evening for a beach BBQ. We are bringing BBQ chicken and marinated pork roast to grill. Also, ears of corn (again) and a salad of black beans, tomatoes, green onions and queso fresca. Another yummy dinner! I am also repeating the raw veges and hummus, but this time bringing chips and salsa, the baked ones. There will be teenagers so I am bringing potato chips and tortilla chips and chocolate chip cookies for dessert this time. I will avoid the chips and cookies!

I hope you are enjoying a nice holiday weekend filled with the desire to connect with loved ones (including yourself, the discipline to make healthy eating choices and dedication to your personal truth!