Starting a New Year with Good Health

It’s the official start of the month as the work week goes into full swing and the world will start ticking along as usual.  Some people may have made their new resolutions to include getting fit, losing weight, doing more exercise.  Sadly the statistics say that over 80% stop doing whatever they planned in less than a month; however for those of us who have endurance let’s get cracking!

Richard Simmons’ link is back on “active” on my side panel and I encourage those who want to stay motivated to take a look at his daily message from time to time.  He is always so enthusiastic, has great advice on both exercise and eating habits that will help keep you on track.  Weight Watchers number one tip, in my opinion, is to track what you put in your mouth.  Those who write down what they eat have a higher rate of losing weight and keeping it off.  I know it is a pain to do but facts are facts.

With respect to exercise, I think the simplest, cheapest form of exercise is walking.  Whether you own your own treadmill or simply walk outdoors, just put on good shoes (or boots) and get moving.  Walking outdoors has the extra benefit of getting Vitamin D from the sun’s rays and lots of fresh, bracing air.  If all you can do is walk to the end of your driveway the first few days, well that’s something.  Walking around the block, down the street and back, or to the corner store, that is bonus points.  I have found that walking a set distance most days of the week is an excellent routine, even before I retired.  Now that I have retired I have made walking, and exercise, my first priority.  Five days a week I get on my treadmill and walk between 40 and 55 minutes first thing in the morning.  The goal is to do 60 minutes but at the moment I have wrecked my knee (again) so I’ve had to slow down a little bit.   But the point here is that I am on the treadmill daily, 5 days a week.

As someone who has worked all her life I know the challenges of fitting in exercise regularly but even when I was working I made time to walk 2 to 3 times a week over my lunch hour.  For those who like to get out into the mall, or to a food kiosk, just think of the money and calories you would save if you changed those missions into walking.

I am also a great fan of yoga but any sort of stretching exercise is excellent, and again, costs nothing but your time and attention.  Once upon a time I had a fitness instructor and he said crunches should be done daily (crunches also known as sit ups), once again, no equipment required.

So here’s a round of applause to everyone who has made a resolve to get healthy.  Good for you!

Habit Forming

We’ve all heard that doing something for 3 weeks (or seven) will groove some things into a habit but have you noticed that all the evil things only takes one try (like crystal meth).  I have tried to make exercise a habit but it is  darned hard one to break in.  But my brother Erik tells me that it can be just like a drug once you get into the way of doing it well.  It must be something that takes years of practice at and I still haven’t got to that point. 

       When I read how other people have got into doing something (in the way of exercise) I think that it sounds too easy and I wonder if they are really just pulling our legs.  They probably got liposuction and stomach stapling and heavens’ only knows what all to get into shape.  Yes, that’s the discouraged soldier talking.  I did manage to climb on the treadmill yesterday but all I could do was walk since I am still suffering with my back, shoulders, spine, and other parts of my body that shall remain unnamed.  The good news was that once I was done the 30 minute walk I actually felt a lot better.  It’s still feeling pretty good this morning so when the Dreaded Trainer comes tonight I won’t be able to whine “I’m hurt”.

       Actually Erik has a passion for running and he is trying to encourage me into taking more interest in all aspects of running.  He called me up on Sunday to tell me that the Sportscheck in Chinook Centre had a sale on shoes.  He was being very optimistic in thinking that I would drive to Chinook at any time, never mind late on Easter Sunday!  I told him that I’d let my running shoes wear out before I spend $150 on a pair of “sale” shoes.  Then he mentioned a book he had lent me some years ago which he wants me to dig out of my basement and start reading as it will encourage me to get to “the next level”.  I’m at a level?  Well, I guess that is encouraging as I can only go up from here.

       Seriously though, having someone to encourage and motivate one to get up off the couch is so important.  What you don’t need is the devil’s advocate that pats you on the back and allows you to eat 6 more cookies and another cup of coffee.  And a little bit of guilt can go a long way in pushing a person out of the sofa.  Knowing the Dreaded Trainer was coming tonight I knew I had to get in the Monday night work out so I wouldn’t hurt myself tonight.  There are ways, and there are ways.

       Major goal over the 6 months is to learn to love running.

Richard's MAY YOU's

Richard has a nice blog today "May you, count your blessings . . ." He is just so thoughtful and inspiring in gentle and fun ways. I hope you take a minute to read his blog today. May it help you through the month of May. :)

A Good Cry

Sometimes I read or see something that almost makes my heart burst and I have the sensation of almost crying in my heart. I was reading Richard's blog just now and that is how I felt. This man is one of the most endearing, loving creatures and it makes me ashamed when I don't emulate the values a Christian is supposed to have. He said "Everyone I meet I greet with unconditional love" or words to that effect and it just made me want to cry.
Today please give yourself that pleasure - especially when you are on the road. God bless each and every one of you!

Richard Simmons on Energy

I encourage everyone to read Richard's blog today. It is about energy and where it comes from and I found it very inspirational and motivating. Day - here I come!

socks, shoes, and such

Oh my goodness but I do get a kick out of Richard Simmons. This morning's blog is about Happy Feet and he just made me laugh. No more feeling sad about snow - I'm working on happy feet!

True Confessions

So much for the glamour of the Oscars, now it’s time to get back down to earth and forget about trips, happiness and flag waving, not to mention figure hugging gowns. So let’s get serious about something that is usually preying on every woman’s mind during the winter months. Weight gain.

I expected to lose some weight while I was away but when I went on the scale yesterday I discovered I weighed the same as when I left. At least I hadn’t gained any weight. While away I read Richard Simmon’s blog every day and I have certainly learned a lot from him. A lot of what Richard writes about is wisdom we all know, having learned it from other sources over the years. I find Richard very inspirational and the only reason I wasn’t staying on course was because there was no room to exercise. I couldn’t even walk very well because the terrain was unsteady (and sometimes muddy).

But no more excuses. It’s time to get control of my eating habits and my exercise. I say that with a box of Pot of Gold at hand (my brother gave them to me for Valentine’s Day). Chocolates are my true weakness. I can forego cupcakes, cookies, chips, buns, and so forth. But it is really hard for me to say no to chocolate. The last couple of years I wouldn’t buy any candy over the Christmas holidays but I was weak this year.

Onwards and upwards. Richard lead the way!

Day Ten - Sort Of

Technically this is Day 10 since I started on Dec 21^st but let’s give me one more day. You might have noticed that I have not been going whoohoo the last couple of days. Yes, I had some upward mishaps but have since gone down but so far not beyond my 2.6 lbs that I worked my way towards. The good news, however, is that I have not tipped the scales upwards another 5 lbs over the holidays, as I have been wont to do the last 10 years. So that is a big plus. Three cheers for “watching what I eat”. Also, doing some workouts has helped quite a lot as well. [I am back down 2.4 lbs, which is a miracle].

I think key to losing weight or maintaining your weight is to be focused, to be determined and to not give up. It is easy to get discouraged, absolutely, but I hope that you have taken my lead and are taking a look at Richard Simmons’ blog every morning. He is so upbeat and encouraging he just can’t help but kick butt. Do yourself a favour, if you aren’t up to following two blogs, follow Richard first, me second. That is, if you are on a weight loss program. I am not here to do that, it’s just one of the things that a middle aged woman naturally has on her mind.

Menopause is brutal to women in so many aspects of our lives, but one of the biggest and most noticeable is weight gain. For women like me, who never had to think about diets until she got well into her forties, it is a struggle that I bitterly resent. But some 12 years later I think I finally have some solutions to my problem, and one of them is simply recognizing that I cannot eat without thinking. I have to pay attention to what I eat. If I don’t I am going to be really depressed when I get on that scale. The other thing is that I have to step up my exercise and/or activity regime. It is fatal to stay on the couch watching television. Most of the time I am not even really watching TV, I am just vegging. Since I started blogging at least I am sitting down with my hands busy on the keyboard so I don’t have to keep them busy stuffing food in my mouth. For a while when I first hit menopause I was cross-stitiching like mad and that kept my hands busy, but since my eyes (another issue I have with menopause, the eye thing) have deteriorated to such an extent that dim light (aka night time light) makes it impossible to do good work while cross stitiching, I’ve had to give that up as a nighttime hobby.

So Day 10 is a Victory Day for me. One of loss (the good kind), of recognition and of MINDFULNESS.

This picture is of me at Skagen, Denmark, with my feet in 2 oceans.

Day Three - minus 0.2 pounds

Early morning, breakfast eaten, on the scale, still downward though slight. I am happy.

I had a lovely meal yesterday at the Chicago Chop House, deep fried jumbo shrimp (2) as an appetizer. Then 4 little lamb chops with baby roasted potatoes, and my first ever crème brulee (delicious). Not huge but definitely a rich lunch. Two days before Christmas Eve and the traffic was unreal as it took us 40 minutes just to get out of the downtown core. Naturally I was exhausted when I got home. I crawled into bed at 7:10 with 2 baby belles and a half glass of sherry and a couple of breadsticks for supper.

Happily, I did 40 leg kicks yesterday and once this blog is done I will do some more today. I went around yesterday thinking about Richard for a good chunk of it (yes my friends, I really did).

Then I got distracted by something quite exciting. I happened to go down the elevator with a gentleman from my work and we were chatting away about his script writing as his hobby. I confessed that I was a closet writer also and currently writing a blog. He absolutely startled me by asking me if I would consider being profiled in our company web site. (Up to now only the President and VP's have been profiled) He could see I was surprised and hesitant so he asked me to think about it over the holidays and he would ask again in the new year. Should I do it? What if they name the blog and my boss reads my scattered, weird and disconnected thoughts?

Alright, I can already hear Gillian say that he probably already recognizes those traits in me. I hear you, missy. But tell me truly, should I be interviewed? What would Richard say? Oh yes, that’s right “let it all hang out.”

So that was my day yesterday. Another lunch before the big Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow night and then the trump must blast in earnest. (what does that mean? Me and my clichés)

And people, be safe and careful. Don’t drink and drive. Please be safe and smart.

Richard Simmons & Kicking Up Some Fun

Just a little aside today. The picture I posted of my sisters and I yesterday now links with Richard Simmons' site when you click on it. It was serendipitous that his blog today is about leg-lifts as I had no idea when I posted the picture.