New Year's Eve......

I wanted to finish the new year out on a high note.......I took my first jazzercise class since March!  It hurt...and I was leery of the movements but I moved and it felt good!  I remember now what it is like to be a new person taking class for the first time.  It is the first time in 17 years that I have taken time off for such a long period of time.  Sweating felt grand!  

I know I will be cautious over the next weeks as I take more classes but I am also now not afraid to try some things at the gym.  I have been the worlds greatest scardy cat.  Afraid I would re-injure the ankle; afraid that I would not be able to do my favorite Jazzercise...funny how fear is so paralyzing.

I had a wonderful dinner with family and now I am ready to call it a night.  I reflect on all the people who have passed in this last year......you will be remembered fondly; reflecting on all the new experiences and people I have been blessed to meet......I hope you are all still in my life but if by chance you are not, there will be sunshine filled memories to carry you with me.

Happy New Year everyone.....let's make it grand!

The year is coming to an end.....

I have been doing a lot of reflecting over the last few weeks.  So many changes in life that we have to roll with the flow.

Just before Christmas, I lost one of my uncles.  It was unexpected, shocking and brought back all the memories and feelings of my dad's passing.  Uncle Paul was 75.  My mom called to remind me she was turning 75 (yesterday) and that I better be extra good to her!  Gotta love it......I am the good one!

It also reminded me of all the people we have lost in the last year.....family, friends, celebrities.  My niece and nephew have no idea who Charles Durning was, Elizabeth Taylor, Chad Everett....these people were icons.  Their films and acting were grand.  They are more aware of the rappers or sports figures who lost their lives to stupidity playing with guns and drugs.  (I wonder who their icons will be ......if they are not all dead in their prime)  I was also reminded that the man who founded the company I work for passed.  It was the first year when profit sharing was distributed there were no jokes about peoples initials, the laughter when he put a check for a missing employee in his pants 'because he got to keep it!'.  Even as I write this I feel tears coming......but now they are happy tears with the memories and smiles in my heart.

I also reflect on all the changes to weight watchers over the years.  We now focus on portion control.......even on the items that have 0 points.  I recall one meeting I used to go to where the leader told us she brought the biggest Tupperware of salad she could manage every day AND ATE IT ALL.  I know salad is filling but was it necessary to put that idea in my head (yes I tried it!).  Now I am trying to really work the program and understand that even good food can't be consumed to the point of being uncomfortably full.  I want to try to eat to live not live to eat.  I know, a novel concept!  I have a great leader in our WW at work.  Deb is great and the guys are also a great inspiration.  Shoot, the guys have lost so much and I can't say I have added much to the mix except I do know how to persevere.  Ergo, I am tracking.......the good, the bad and the ugly!  Being aware and accountable are so important.  This I will continue to do.......tracking is key and being true to me will help me reach my goals.

Exercise has been lacking in my life since I started with a foot/ankle problem.  The reason for the surgery was clear (bone pressing on a tendon) and it is healing well but there is still substantial swelling and stiffness.  I am going to take my first class in 9 months this week.  Jazzercise, how I have missed thee!!  Slow and steady will win the race......but I need to get moving again.  I have lost so much of my fitness.  Grrrr.......time to take that part of my life back!

My dog was diagnosed with diabetes.  We are still trying to control it and we will get there but until then my pooch needs me and my loving care.  2 shots per day and need to get her out walking more too!!  She misses the exercise.  God how I love my dog.

I started this out by saying the year is coming to an end.  Not the world (Mayans..you were wrong!); not my life........just this year.  I am looking forward to what it will bring.  I promise to be more active in my church (I am joining the prayer shawl group to crochet some shawls), be more active for me.  I promise to finish my second masters, get my health back in control.  I will look for my special someone (not stalk him) because I believe he is out there....he just can't find me yet.  I will continue to pay it forward and do random acts of kindness.......it fills my heart to know I have done something nice.

I also promise to blog more often.  I love writing and it helps me clear my head!

Happy New Year to all!!

Taking time for me

I learned the hard way this past weekend that me time is important.  How you wonder?  I blew up screaming at everyone in the house when my brother and niece were goofing around.  The problem was she was screeching like only a 16 year old girl can.  My nephew, sick with a cold, would not blow his nose or wear a jacket....but the night before begged me to get him sudafed PE.  My brother was complaining about my dog's toys........

Enough....all of you can use inside voices.  I don't want to hear how sick you are if you won't wear a jacket and that nose thing is making me crazy.  CAN YOU DO JUST THESE COUPLE OF THINGS FOR ME!!!

Maybe it was not appropriate to scream back but I needed to be heard.  I have been spending so much time planning stuff for the weight watcher meetings, getting to jazzercise every morning even when I can't move without pain.  Planning the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award roll out, getting the dog's pill/nails trimmed...this on top of my every day requests at the office.  I was at my max.

I love taking the dog for a walk.  We do it nightly........no matter how much pain I might be in with my plantar fasciatis.  Usually by the end of the walk my muscles are warm and not as aggravated.  Nice thing is I have a smile on my face and am ready to sit in front of the tv or veg in front of a 'words' game (words with friends, scramble with friends, hanging with friends).  I also love looking at my fitbit (pictured on the side of this blog) checking to see how many calories I have burned, steps I have taken and looking at the encouraging statements that flash across the screen!

I love making time for me and wandering the malls.  I don't have to buy anything but just going in and out of the stores to see what is out there.  If something strikes my fancy I have been known to make an impromptu purchase.

Cooking helps me relax too.  The repetition of cutting, the smells melding together and of course the end result of a (hopefully) good meal.

It seems I have a full plate but will continue to look for more.  Gardening will be on my agenda again soon.  I want to try raspberries this year.  I never plant before mother's day (isn't that an old wives tale?) but will get the pots ready for the raspberries.  According to the books I need to really fertilize the soil in the pots.  Living in a townhouse complex I can't plant in the ground but can have a crazy time with pots.  My pretty pot garden!  I have never tried them before and am always up for a challenge.

Ashton Kucher convinced me to get a Nikon 1 J1 camera this weekend too. (we are close personal friends......NOT)  I am looking forward to wandering about the Morton Arboretum snapping shots of nature.  I am excited for the fact that when I take sassy to rescue events she can be a star with her pug friends and I can capture these moments.

I am really looking to spread my wings and try new things this next season....how about you?

Being the Pied Piper...

I feel like the Pied Piper of wellness at the office.  Maybe my enthusiasm is contagious, but I truly believe that moving more and eating well (and clean) are huge.

I am also the pseudo HR assistant here at the office.  I see the insurance expense and exposure.  If we all did something just a little better today than yesterday, how much better would we feel?  Down the road, how many health meds (bp, cholesterol, diabetes, etc) would we be able to stop taking?

When I have had spots of time with nothing to do (truly does not happen often) I contacted the insurance administrator to ask what could the Company do to promote wellness?  What wellness programs are available, low to no cost, and easy.  Let's face it, there are not more than 24 hours in a day!!

The first thing I promoted and pitched to the company was Weight Watchers.  Would Elite be willing to comp out a small portion of the bill?  While the boss contemplated that, I called weight watchers to see what it would take to have on site meetings.  I needed to get 15 people to commit to the program and weekly meetings.  Have I mentioned in the past that I work in an office with 3 girls and 50+ guys??  It took me 2 months, lots of begging/cajoling, and offering the deal to some friends outside of the office but we finally got there.  On a weekly basis I have 4 girls and 11 guys attending meetings.  To help them along, I have posted Points Plus Values (ppv) on the vending machine in the kitchen, by the candy jar (chocolate candy) on my desk.  It is odd to hear the guys talking up the ppv on different foods, to hear them say "that is not worth the points"....didn't we think only women felt that way?!  Everyone is having success, the guys are moving faster than the girls but they always lose faster.  Grrrr!!

This pied piper then set up a wellness screening at the office.  Everyone was offered the opportunity to do a short fasting blood screening.  There was a brief questionnaire that needed to be completed.  I had about 40% participation.  It is a start.  Again, to hear them talking about their cholesterol and what it takes to get it lower makes me smile.  The best part is it was free to all employees and their family.

In the spring I will be putting together a wellness fair where different vendors/stores from the area will stop by with a service/sample/etc to make the employees aware they are here in the area, participating in our PPO.

These are all great strides......and speaking of strides I have purchased pedometers for anyone in the office who wants it.  Truly no cost to them.  I am also rolling out a walking program.  There is a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award that I am asking the guys to join me in.  Get steps/activity anyway they want, just record it.  If they can't figure it out they can give me the information and one time per week I will update the forms.  I have offered them a discount on Jazzercise classes (my favorite form of exercise) but not many have taken me up on the offer........what?  Are they afraid of a little spandex??!!

All of these things will make us a healthier, happier work force.  I have had a few guys come up to me to tell me that  their doctors are impressed with the strides they have made to date.  Again, a big smile on my face to think I might have had a little something to do with it.

I am their cheerleader and support.  If they have questions/concerns they know if I don't have the answer I will find it.  I see people all around me (at work/ facebook buddies) that are doing it and doing it consistently.

Maybe that is the key?  Consistently moving, eating better and not stressing about it.....whoodathunk?

Better than I used to be.....

In case there was any doubt, I am a huge country music fan. The stories they tell in their music usually hit me right where I live. I am loving a new one by Tim McGraw. The man is gorgeous, is a great family man, and can tell a story better than most to music. His latest hit really spoke to me.....let me explain.

I ain't no angel
I still got a still few more dances with the devil
I’m cleanin up my act, little by little
I’m getting there
I can finally stand the (wo)man in the mirror I see
I ain’t as good as I’m gonna get
But I’m better than I used to be


I try every day to be the best person I know how to be. Not only for myself (and my health) but for the people around me. It would be awfully lonely if I could not be friends with people because of a flawed ego/personality. For my health, I watch my diet. Some days are better than others. The last few days have been more of a struggle and I think I know why. Let me start by standing up and saying "Hi, my name is Elaine and I am an emotional eater" (you all respond..Hello Elaine!). Humor aside, I have been eating off my normal plan for about a week. My counselor would say it is grief but that I have made great progress in seeing it, and trying to change it before it gets too out of hand. I wonder though, how far is too far? Tonight I ate half a small cheese and spinach pizza. Regardless of the vegetables (seriously? A little spinach does not count for much) I still ate far too much. I will freeze the rest and revisit it when I have a bit more control. I am guessing this is one MY dance with the devil.......




I’ve pinned a lot of demons to the ground
I’ve got a few old habits left
There’s one or two I might need you to help me get
Standin in the rain so long has left me with a little rust
But put some faith in me
And someday you’ll see
There’s a diamond under all this dust


Part of this journey is forgiveness......forgiveness of myself. Most days feel rather comfortable; then there are days that feel like sheer hell. It is the days in the latter part that I need to take a deep breath and move on. The hard days are the ones where I surround myself with my friends and let them carry me because I am weary. When I have refilled my spirit, I thank you all graciously and continue. Please know that I am always here for you too. It is the best part of friendship. Part of this journey is learning to surround myself with an environment that is conducive to the life I want to lead. If I surround myself with junk, all that can come out is junk. Being good to myself is feeling good and I finally believe that I am worthy of the good fortune sent my way.


I know how to hold a grudge
I can send a bridge up in smoke
And I can't count the people I've let down, the hearts I've broke
You ain't gotta dig too deep
If you wanna find some dirt on me
I'm learning who you've been
Ain't who you've got to be
It's gonna be an uphill climb
Aww honey I won't lie


Although overall I feel I am a pretty good person, I know I can be a stubborn old ass. It is part of my heritage and family! It is a trait that I am not always so proud of...but it is also the other side of the strong person who will have my friends' back if need be and hold steadfast to my beliefs. As much of a good person I can be, I can be a stinker. This is not only outwardly but inward too. I have been listening and watching how I treat the people I love and it makes me smile most of the time. I know I have hurt people's feelings and can be cruel, but it is not who I want to be. Life teaches us many lessons......and knowing we can continue to grow and evolve excites me.


World, I am stepping out of the box and out of my comfort zone. I want to experience anything you can throw at me. Understand that if I crawl into my crab shell (my illustrious zodiac sign) it might just be to take a break but I will resurface stronger and wiser. Or at least that is the plan.


I ain't no angel
I still got a still few more dances with the devil
I’m cleanin up my act, little by little
I’m getting there
I can finally stand the (wo)man in the mirror I see
I ain’t as good as I’m gonna get
But I’m better than I used to be


I took the lyrics from Tim McGraw's latest song out of sequence but I think you understand what they mean to me. We are all diamonds in the rough and I hope we all move in a direction that allows us to shine!

In memoriam.....

I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that it is almost 1 year since my dad passed. Lord knows I loved my dad.......I talked to him almost everyday, especially if he was in the hospital. I had a nice chat with him the night before he passed. For that I have no regrets.


I do realize that my dad was his own worst enemy. He loved his wine (and vodka), he loved to eat. There was real passion in his choice of meals. He smoked, did not exercise and until he got sick never went to the doctor....and he appeared to be healthy. I have learned the difference.


Admittedly, I learned to make spaghetti gravy and Italian sausage from scratch from my parents and my maternal grandmother. Spaghetti gravy making was a family affair that once we moved became an extended family affair by corralling any friends to the process who wanted to join in. Deciding to make Italian sausage was also a huge undertaking by cutting up pork butts and seasoning them properly to then fill casings and tying off large ropes of pork waiting to be cooked and put into a spaghetti pot.


My love of sweets.....oh dear Dad. He loved his fudge. Knowing he was diabetic and having to choose sugar free fudge was hard BUT he was willing to make that compromise. If it was my chocolate chip cookies........there was no compromise there. Extra insulin might be required at the end of the night because he was NOT giving up any of my home baked treats. I may not enjoy the home baked items as much as he did BUT I have not met a pretzel or chip I have not liked!


We all have our vises.....and Dad battled those. Drinking to excess on occasion and his love of cigarettes made me shake my head. I did not understand the hold....or maybe I did. The cigarettes than anything had a hold on him. How ridiculous is it to have to carry oxygen and use a scooter to turn to oxygen tank off to have a cigarette? I will admit to disappointment in seeing that happen but I understand the hold a demon has on us. In the same vein I can be that way with food in general. I have, a time or two, eaten a meal and then see something even better (perceived or otherwise) AND have eaten again. It is MY demon talking to me.


This is not meant to talk about Dad and his vices, but more of what I have learned and try to share everyday with my friends and associates if they ask or listen.

Dad, you taught me that exercise and diet are important. I have seen diabetes take hold of so many people in our family. Most of it was adult onset diabetes......as a matter of fact it has ALL been adult onset. Being overweight is a key component. Being sedentary is also key. As much as I love you and our family I do not want to have to stick my fingers several times per day or shoot myself full of insulin because I chose to have a carb laden meal. I don't want to lose my breath taking a walk and talking to a friend; I want to enjoy the scenery and chat with my companions.


I was taught about cooking from scratch and not depending on processed foods for meals. I will never forget making the spaghetti sauce and freezing it; making the Italian sausage or other delicious meals that were made and frozen for a later date. I will always remember our holidays and how we would bake for weeks on end (ok, it was all me baking) but all the Christmas eves we had with friends and family. We would make shrimp, spaghetti aioli, garlic bread, stuffies...the list went on. We almost never went out to dinner growing up, but I learned to make a mean sandwich steak with tons of sauteed sweet onions. Between mom and grandma we NEVER bought a pizza until we were much older. It was always home made with the freshest ingredients. How many BBQ meals did we have with friends and family? It was all fresh........not store bought meals.


By watching you go from doctor to doctor with various aliments you have taught me to have my annual exams. I want to be proactive rather than reactive to a situation. Wellness checks are easier and less expensive to handle.


Dad, I know you are watching me and I hope you are proud of me. I am most assured you are. I want to share my experiences so maybe someone won't worry every time the phone rings and sees a phone number from family 1200 miles away wondering if it is bad news. I want to encourage friends to take their health seriously. As much as I love you dad, it frustrated the hell out of me when I could tell you were out smoking. You knew it was bad for you but you could not shake that monkey on your back just as I battle my emotional eating. I am winning the battle as you did the last year or so of your life.


You and mom have instilled values and lessons I am grateful for. I hope I can share just a little of what you gave me to help enhance someone's life just a little. You both have given me so much.


All that being said, Daddy I miss you. I would love to hear your voice one more time or get onee more hug. I love you and miss you.......

until we meet again.........xxoo

Health and Wellness.....

I made the decision this year is going to be my year........in so many ways. First and foremost with health and fitness. If I don't feel my best I can't look my best or even be my best. I accept that there are degrees of my best (especially on a bad day when I don't hit the shower until the end of the day!) but I am, and always will be, a glass half full girl. In my head I can hear my parents telling me to comb my hair, make sure my clothes are clean and mended (who wants to be in an accident with holes in your underwear......and have your mother find out!)

In wanting to share, I asked the boss if it was ok to look into various wellness programs. I want to know what is available. The first thought that came to mind was we truly are an office with girth! Granted, not everyone is overweight but a good majority of us are. It might be only 10 or 15 lbs but most of us have much more to lose than that. I contacted weight watchers to see if they would do a program here in the office. They were very open to the idea........the only caveat was that I needed 15 people to officially open the meeting. With 55 guys in the office I knew this was going to be an uphill battle. I had 6 people contact me immediately they were interested. I sent email after email encouraging people to join us. The company even agreed to cover 25% of the cost. How cool is that?! I called every friend I knew who might have an interest in WW. Mostly I got shot down but the same thing was happening in the office. With much persistence I got my 15 people!

Although not everyone is participating, they sure watch what the rest of us are doing!

After the first meeting one guy brought in 4 boxes of donuts.......and that is ok. What we all are learning is that we have choices to make. We choose to eat candy, healthy food, donuts. We have our points and need to use them wisely. It is funny to hear at lunchtime the guys asking each other how many points their meal is!

It is not all about weight watchers either. We know it is important to know our numbers. This means weight, blood pressure, cholesterol. Knowing that information gives us another tool to good health. I am talking to the insurance company about having a health screening here at the office. Their will be a blood draw and specific information will be given to the employees. From there we can decide on other things to offer assistance with. Sometime in spring we will be having a health fair. Imagine vendors of all kinds wandering about the office......my favorite one will be the chair getting back rubs! I am sure the line will be the longest for that one! It is amazing the vendors who want to get their names out and their services made known.

I have started a walking group. We don't walk together but we all wear our pedometers and are tracking in a log book. Again, my insurance group has provided the pedometers (not great ones but for starters are fine) and the log books. It has made people aware of how few steps they take each day. I struggle for my 10K........well, not struggle if Sassy wants a walk (and who knows a dog that does not want to wander about the neighborhood!). But I am aware of how many steps I take in a day and try my best to get to 10K. I also believe when I don't quite get there I have done my best to do the largest percentage to the goal. It is all a positive experience.

We all are moving, sharing, eating better. We are looking better, feeling better. The impact on the insurance will not be reflected for a couple of years but it is going to happen. If we get healthy, our families and friends may join us too. It just makes for one big happy, healthy group of friends who will get to party together for a very long time. And with our company supporting our endeavours we can't help but succeed.

100 day journey and other odd tidbits

I am loving the book 100 days of weight loss...and I am taking my time. I have thought seriously about days 7 thru 9. In my heart I am taking it as 'do unto others as you would have done onto you'. Part of a huge lesson of life. I know I am a huge supporter of my friends and their journey to better health. I also have thought long and hard about, suggestions I have offered over time. Maybe saying nothing and waiting for them to bring up the subject is a better approach unless I am offering a compliments is a better plan. In any case, I have defined for me what is acceptable and what is not. I have written comments, very broad, as what I am open to hearing and what I am not. Now for the full implementation. I have a friend not long ago tell me she was thankful I had not asked her how she was doing with her journal and her healthy life. I know I wanted to. Sometimes , as friends, we have to step back and wait for people to offer their hand for help....or as the Godfather said '...be my friend...'

As I have also learned about boundaries, I talked to my therapist about the fact I have planned some deviations to my healthy eating plan. Because this is truly a lifestyle change it has become second nature for me. I know when I don't start my morning with my protein drink I feel a little off balance! Not logging into myfitnesspal.com feels odd and checking my fitbit for my total steps of the day is as much of my habit as filling my water bottle. I am not perfect but in my new lifestyle I don't have to be. 80/20 is a great balance and I am very content.

The best part is that I am not feeling all consumed with this process. It has been several days since I sat down to write but let me say that I am experiencing good slow losses. As my leader said the other day, I don't need as many bites to make me happy.

More to follow........

Just sayin'

Do you ever wonder what the master plan is? We all know WHO makes the master plan, we just have to figure it out!!

I knew I needed to dust, dry mop and get laundry done along with finishing the de-cluttering in my 'cave' aka bedroom. I have been avoiding a couple of baskets for a week now. I kept saying there is always tomorrow and the weekend is coming. Yeah, I have been saying that for a couple of weeks.

Yesterday I purchased a fitbit. It is on the idea of a body bugg but it clips to your clothing and tracks activity. As a user I need to enter all food intake and identify exercise.

I was very excited. I got the unit charged up and this morning I got dressed and put it on. I took the dog for a walk, came home to get the bags that were going to amvets, and did some general cleaning. I sat down with a cup of coffee and thought 'hey...why not see how many steps I've done so far'.....and it was GONE. I was sick......I felt the wind come out of my sails. I thought hard and figured it popped off when I was bending over upstairs. So up the stairs I go, check the linen closet (nope), the walk in closet (nope), under the bed (OMG)...still nothing.

I then decided it had to be downstairs. I fed the dog, filled her water bowl, etc....maybe it fell off there. Still nothing.....looked under the bakers rack, the funiture in the living room....still nothing. I wanted to cry. This was an expensive unit.....similar to what Weight Watchers is (or will be) offering.

Last choice was I lost it on the walk. I retraced my steps including going down to the dumpsters. I wandered up and down the complex looking for my black and purple friend. Once I got home, saddened I did not find it, I decided maybe I just missed it in the house. I grabbed my dry mop and went upstairs. I dusted under the bed (rabbits were there......no bunnies!), under the dresser. I dusted the hallway/landing and the stairs. I continued the dusting in the living room under the couch (the cousins to the rabbits were there!) and the chairs, by the printer and under the stairs. I ran up and down the stairs with more and more ideas as to where my contraption was.

Well, once all the dusting, dry mopping and laundry were done I figured I had to give it just one more shot through the 'hood. As I was walking I started talking to 'Tony'....or St Anthony to those who are not on a first name basis with him! St Anthony, St Anthony, please look around. Something is lost and cannot be found. Please help me find my fitbit!......it was like a chant as I was kicking the snow as I walked. I got all the way to the end of the complex....*sigh*....chat with 'Tony' again and voila! Fitbit found!!

Now that I have 24+ hours with my new friend, I have to say I don't like when it tells me that I have spent x hours doing nothing. Sometimes my brain is working when my body is not moving BUT I have to admit it is making me rethink when I say "I was crazy busy all weekend". Now I would have to say I sat on my butt because my fitbit said so!! Being active is a good and healthy thing....something I have been trying to do (and saying that I am doing!)

Another thing, I have never been a big fan of crockpotting. I spend a lot of time cooking and sometimes I get frustrated that it takes so long and I am not out enjoying doing things. I have always been the type to cook on the weekend and reheat all week long. I did ask for a new crockpot for christmas so I guess I have to use it! Friends have told me for years how they love their crockpots and I would pooh pooh them. Shame on me because I am LOVING it. I have been able to make black beans (delish...thanks to my friend Peg); last night I made a quick pork roast with onions and apples.....and I don't have to spend my whole weekend in the kitchen listening to how my friends are out having fun. I can set the crockpot before I go to bed and have a great meal done that I can port to work for lunch.

Lastly, being that I love the store Sur la Table and work with all their great gadgets I got myself a vitamix. Want to talk about over the top blending!! At first I did not use it much.....it was a show piece. How silly!! Since getting over the fact I can play with a new toy I enjoy I make a wonderful yogurt smoothie every morning. (Fat free greek yogurt, banana, frozen fruit, spash of milk and ice cubes). The best part though is after eating some canned tomato soup and realizing it was over 200 calories for tomato soup with water. How crazy is that for something in a can that I could not just heat and eat. Dieting and trying to eat clean has make me think about doing things differently. That being said, I was able to make some roasted tomato soup from scratch. Once all the tomatoes and vegetables were roasted they were plunked into the blender. Seeds, skin and all! Once I heated it all up you could never tell that there was so many vegetables in there in their semi cooked natural state.

Now that I have rambled on.......I'm just sayin' that life is good! HE is making me think and be good to me....and I am loving it!

100 days.......

A lot can happen in 100 days. If you are in payroll, quarterly taxes are due; some schools are having exams.....or you could be reading the book "100 days to weight loss" by Linda Spangle. A friend of mine is working the book (sort of like the diet version of a Love Dare!!) where there is something to think about every day. Journaling thoughts, actions and contemplating life as we know it and how we want it to be.

From what I have read in the preface of the book this is a different way to take the concept of dieting and make it our own. Each day we have a task; something to think about. What has been an eye opening experience for me is all the examples given so far about how we can be wishy washy about dieting is all me! I so recognize myself. I am praying for the wisdom to understand what will propel me forward to my ultimate goal....weight loss and well being.

I find it odd how as a society we are always on the look out for the next miracle that will give us the results we are looking for .....whatever it might be. Are we looking for the best fry pan that nothing will stick to? Are we looking for the rotisserie that will cook all food by setting it and forgetting it? What about stain removal?? I know there are hundreds of diet books. Everyone has an idea as to what we, the overweight population, are doing wrong. Not one of these books ever says "Just keep eating and you might lose weight"! What is so different about this book?

It has told me that whatever diet I choose this CAN be a path to success. It is not suggesting I give up bread, or eat all the fat and meat I want. It is not saying that frozen foods are the way to go or let's drink our health is funky shakes.

I am encouraged that I am being asked to think about what I want and what am I willing to put forth. It is telling me that being perfect is not a requirement but I need to truly have a commitment (not to be confused with being committed!) to myself and my health.

I have worked the first 3 days and find that I am pleased with myself and lessons read. Today was not perfect but not once did I throw in the towel and say to heck with it. I made minor adjustments and continued to make the day a success.

Making 10k steps each day is on my agenda.....still not liking the correlation to walking a professional golf tournament but trying. 6" of snow makes it a bit difficult to take a long walk with the dog but it won't stop me tomorrow when I feel the need for some retail therapy!!

First weigh in of the year....

Ok, I realize that it was the 12th yesterday, but it was my first appointment with the doctor. I got my blood pressure taken (136/79), pulse (72)...and other stats. Um, yes and the scale. I could not remember what the last weight was so I had no idea if I was up or down....then she told me....down 2.5! That was huge considering the holidays had just passed.

I met with the exercise guru, Joey. He is a sweetie. I told him I had not been as good about following his routine set up...I had a couple of bouts with the stomach flu and my persistent issues with my knee and the surrounding muscles. We chatted about stretching and not to over do it ( I had no clue you could over do stretching!). He did up the number of reps so I guess I need to get on the stick with it.

Next I met with the nurse practitioner. I cannot say I was impressed with her. I may have to make that known but in the mean time I guess I need to see her again before I make a formal complaint. First thing was that she was offering me stronger drugs for my muscle aches. I am not so inclined to take lots of drugs. I will stick with ibuprofen for now.

Lastly I met with Dana, the dietician. She is pretty cool. We walked about eating clean. We talked about Paleo. We talked about fiber and protein. I got kudos for making my fruit smoothies and for using soups (broth) as ways together large volume foods for little calories.

I am full of ideas for the coming weeks. I am scouring my cookbooks to see what trouble I can get into. I am publishing my exercise plan for this new week (as it has taken me a few days to get this far!!)

Monday.....day off

Tuesday....Jazzercise in the am and in the pm

Wednesday....light weight work as per Joey

Thursday....Jazzercise

Friday....Jazzercise / stretching in the evening

Saturday.....light weight work as per Joey

Sunday...Jazzercise

Each day I will strive to hit 10,000 steps. There is a new commercial that says if you get 10,000 steps it is like walking a professional golf course. For me, they need to change the analogy....I hate golf. It ruins a perfectly good walk!!

One small step for me.......

One giant step outside of my comfort zone! I have been trying to help a friend get started on her road to losing weight and feeling better/stronger. I have been encouraging her to 'step out side of the box' and do something different. We all know that doing the same thing over and over expecting different results does NOT HAPPEN. Imagine my surprise when I had a session with a counselor hearing my words come back to bite me in the butt.

I was asked what I did in the past when I had success that was different than today. That made me sit back and think....and think.....and think. I can honestly say I was still cooking (my comfort zone). I did, however, move more. A lot more! I was walking every morning with a friend at 5am (days before I had Jazzercise early morning) and we would do between 2 and 3 miles depending on our energy levels or work committments. I walked the dog for nice walks every day. Later in the program I did work with a personal trainer. Since my knee scope I have some limitations. I have cut back on some of my jazzercise..I am now doing 4-5 classes per week. My girlfriend that I walked with got married and moved away. After my knee scope I have lost some range of motion and stopped working with the trainer. What are all of these comments? EXCUSES!

I am now going to post what my 'dates' with exercise are going to be. It is how I got started with Jazzercise 16 years ago (omg...it almost hurt to say that!!). It is not hard to do. I need to be honest with myself. I need to make a committment to myself and my fitness. This is not going to be a 'biggest loser' kind of exercise program but one that I am very confident with that I can meet.

Along with the exercise, I do wear my pedometer daily. Regardless of the exercise I track my steps for the day. My goal each day is 9000 steps with a stretch goal of 10,000 steps. That being said, here is the plan for week 1.

Sunday: Jazzercise in the morning/take sassy for a minimum 40 minute walk
Monday: light weight work (following the routine the trainer gave me); walk the dog for a minimum of 30 minutes; walk at lunch weather permitting
Tuesday: Jazzercise in the morning/ Jazzercise in the evening; walk at lunch time weather permitting
Wednesday: Yoga or stretching; walking at lunch weather permitting; light weight work and resistance ball work
Thursday: Jazzercise in the morning; walking at lunch weather permitting; walk the dog for a minimum of 30 minutes
Friday: Jazzercise in the morning; walking at lunch weather permitting; stretch or yoga in the evening.
Saturday: House cleaning; walk the dog for 1 hour

With all of this, I will continue to cook good and healthy food. This does not mean that it does not have taste! I love spices and vegetables to spice up food....it is not all done with oil and fat. I will be journaling my food intake every day online (not here) to be sure I am meeting the requirements of the doctor I am working with.

I am taking a big chance on myself. I am doing something DIFFERENT hoping for new and lighter results.

I will keep you posted!

Happy New Year 2012!!!

Here I am late in the afternoon on the first day of the new year. Following through on the non-alcohol induced resolutions, I have gotten over 6500 steps (goal of 10k per day) and have eaten pretty clean today. The only processed food I have had was the creamer for my coffee...otherwise I cooked it all. Fresh. From scratch. Locally grown. What more could a girl ask for..

I have tracked my food...everything has been added into my fitness pal account. At the end of the day. I will also post my steps.

This has not been a hard thing today. I really find that I enjoy journaling. What is frustrating is when I pick a meal that I don't plan for. I am pre planing my meals... I want succes. I can see it....there is a newer little black dress in my future. Isn't that a pretty dress?!

There are many things I want to experience and accomplish in the coming year. I will take care of me first and listen to my body relating to both food and exercise.

One goal is to take a boot camp from the Culinary Institute of America. There is one coming to Illinois in March. I am checking it out......more to follow!