Support

A few days ago, I had a meet-up at the Y with a friend I met on-line through my favorite weight-loss website, SparkPeople.  I have been "on" the site for over 3 years, and she is my very first "Spark Friend" I've met in person.

We didn't spend a lot of time gabbing; instead, we headed straight for the Cardio Theater and a 40 minute stint on the elliptical machines.  I am amazed at what a difference it made to have Sarah there; I really wanted to work harder and it all seemed less painful somehow!  We will be meeting up again!

This experience reminded me that support really is important. Finding ways to look forward to exercise, or to get myself there even if I think I don't want to helps.  Having friends who are working toward similar goals is uniting. Knowing I am not alone keeps me motivated.

After a busy summer of traveling and softball mom-ing, I am ready to get back to the school of fitness.  The support I have lined up for myself is this:

• Text my friend Colleen every day when I get to the gym (or later if it's not a gym day)
• I will send my regular support partner, Will, my ACE fitness plan model by next week so he can help me stay accountable
• Get together with Sarah at least once a week if she's willing
• Enjoy that walk to and from school with my little ones; they think fitness is just part of life!
• Encourage my girls in making their own fitness plans so we can encourage each other
• Talk to dear hubby about each of our exercise and rehab goals

What support systems are helping you reach your goals?

5 Cooking Tips I Borrowed from the Brits

Seeing all this London in the Olympics has me reminiscing about England and "my" Brits.  I love the culinary experience of travel and I really loved what my UK friends have taught me about cooking.  It was hard, but I managed to cull it to my top 5 tips:

Electric Kettles:  Why wait for the water to boil?  Just plug in the kettle and get your hot water fast and efficiently.  I use mine all the time for cooking, and less often for tea.  I can't believe I had to go overseas to learn this; they are only a few dollars in "big box" stores.

Salted Lemons:  They are called "Preserved Lemons" or pickled lemons in the US, I can find them in my African section of the local grocery or at the near-by Middle-Eastern grocery but you can also buy them on-line.  One lemon diced fine adds a wonderful flavor to cous-cous, salad and numerous other dishes.  Part pickle, part fruit -- it has endless uses.  

Love the Lamb:  I was a "lamb hater" until I stayed with some beautiful cooks in Manchester. They served a roasted lamb that was so delicious.  And you truly have not tasted Shepherd's Pie until you have it with freshly ground lamb.

A Good Curry:  The English love their curries.  It was quite surprising to me as I had stereotyped the English as bland-eaters.  Their love of the slow-heat is inspiring and I have tried quite a few more curries as a result of my British buds.

Fish Pie:  I know, it sounds awful.  It is like shepherd's pie but with the addition of boiled eggs (yes, really) and spinach. I first tried it based on a recipe by the British chef Jamie Oliver but a friend visiting from England last year revolutionized it for us.  He added Chorizo to the mix and our love of the fantastic fish pie was realized.  

Fish makes me think of Fish and Chips.  I am not a fan of pub food, mostly, but I do like The Ploughmans.  It was actually the inspiration for "the snack plate" I make for our Littles.  It's lighter and fruitier than a Ploughman's, and I cut everything bite sized, but it is their absolute favorite.

So maybe that's really 6 things.

Wait, 7:

There is always time for tea.  Tea in England taught me to slow my pace and sit down and savor the day -- before jumping up and resuming my normal dashing around!  :)

So what are your "borrowed from the Brits" favorites?  

An Apple a Day - Friday Tips, Tricks and Inspiration

I have neglected this blog lately; the reason is simple -- I had a big "no" in my head to the whole weight loss process.  I am still losing weight-- down 17 pounds in the last few months -- but occasionally I have a little tantrum about it.  You see, my belief is that I should lose 2 or 3 pounds a week and I don't like it when it's a half a pound a week.  Isn't that ridiculous?  It's so sneaky though -- I don't even notice I'm thinking it right away.  Now I've awakened and it is what it is; I'm staying the course until I get there!

Now for the news.  Some years ago, a study discovered an apple a day really is good for your health, especially your heart.  Now it looks like 2 apples is even better, especially if you're a woman.  My kids eat an apple a day; I guess I will start following their excellent example!  Your Friday tip is to make sure you are getting those 5 or more servings of fruit and veggies every day because I'm betting similar research on another fruit or vegetable would yield similar results!


Your trick of the day is to clean up your environment to protect your weight loss efforts.  FYI, that now might extend to avoiding food ads both in print and on TV.  If you look at photos of food it actually make does make you hungry.  Ghrelin is the hunger stimulating hormone.  A recent study confirms what we already guessed:  Ghrelin levels increase simply by seeing the foods and then you can no longer rely on your body signals!  Will power is the worst way to control weight, so definitely we can benefit by controlling our environment!


Now for your inspiration, I bring you London 2012!  Whenever I start thinking I'm not up to my little 300 calorie burn for the day, I just spend a few minutes watching the athletes who train 8 hours (or more) each and every day in order to be the world's best for a little while.  The dedication and discipline of this group of athletes is truly inspiring.

Have a wonderful weekend!

(not) Friday: Tips, Tricks and Inspiration

How much sitting around do you do?  And can you add in 2 minutes of moving around every 20 minutes of sitting?   If so, you may reap a huge reward!  This may be the best weight loss trick (or sobering warning) we've heard in a while.

My response to the article (linked above) is that I have begun a discipline of getting up at least every 20 minutes when I'm doing my office work or watching TV and completing one chore.  It can't hurt?  Right?

Honey buyers, beware!  I've posted this tip before but here is an update:  A lawsuit has been filed against major merchandisers hoping to bring about truth in labeling.  As for me, I've begun buying only locally produced honey; it has the most autoimmune benefits for our local family anyway! 

Need a little inspiration?  I'm still very unsure of the wisdom of this approach -- but it sure worked for this fellow.  If you haven't seen "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead," check it out.  I was able to rent in on Netflix.  Here is the link to the documentary's Facebook page. 


That's all for this week; we've had a busy day at DD13's softball tournament and more to enjoy tomorrow.

Cardio Theater is Saving my Life

In case you misread my title, I am not saying the "Cardiac Theater" is changing my life -- that's where they operate on your heart.  In this case I'm talking about the super cool Cardio Theater they have at our local Y.

In entering the room, it's completely dark except for "runway" lighting and the screen illuminated with a movie.  When the movie ends, the desk attendants restart it.  So wherever you come in, you are able to keep watching till it wraps (or until your tired from exercising). 

Of course there are no chairs in this room, just three tiers of machines.  The top level is elliptical machines, then treadmills and bikes on the bottom. 

On Saturday, I went in to burn 500 calories but stayed an hour and a half for 657 because I wanted to see the end of the movie!  I used all three types of machine.  I wound up leaving before it was over but I cannot tell you how great it was to enjoy a movie with not a single interruption but not feel guilty about all the sitting or the expense.  It makes me want to go to the gym, I swear!

Does your gym have a cardio theater?  Have you tried it yet?

Lose 30 pounds in 3 weeks - Top 5 tips

Lately I've had tremendous success in my weight loss.  I'm down thirty pounds in just 3 weeks.  After years of effort and research, I'm so thrilled things are coming together for me.  Here are my top 5 tips:

5. You may not remember that years ago, I wrote to PRECOR complaining about how treadmills and elliptical machines only go uphill (no matter how that little picture tries to trick you).  So imagine my delight when I got selected to beta-test the prototype of their new uphill/downhill treadmill.  I swear it's helping my weight loss and my calves look fantastic!

4.  My weight loss instructor loves to say "More is better."  Lately there is a ton of research showing how more sleep can aid weight loss.  So nowadays, when I'm not exercising, cooking, or blogging, I'm cuddled up in my bed sleeping.  More is better, right?  Thank goodness I've got two able-bodied teens to help out with the kids and the housework. 

3. For about 10 years, there's been research on female swimmers and how the exposure to the cold water causes them to add fat layers.  In light of this, I decided to stop swimming all together.  Now I just sit int the hot tub and relax.

2.  Recently a couple of studies have shown not only the health benefits of chocolate but that people who eat chocolate are thinner.  I took this totally to heart and thought "More is better," right?  I tripled my chocolate intake and now I'm not only thinner, I'm handling stress better too!

1. Finally, I did a health risk assessment that considers a person a non-drinker if they have fewer than 8 alcoholic beverages per week.  I figured that means that the first 7 don't count so I've added in gin at lunch.  I'm happy, my all-afternoon nap is going better and gin and chocolate make any day brighter.

Oh -- I almost forgot. Here's a picture of me, or less of me, I should say.  Ignore my plain old profile pic at right

[note:  I had trouble with my blogger form today.  Finally got the picture loaded below; you have to scroll down a bit.  ]

I am currently in "losing mode" (yay!) but you knew there was no safe way to lose 30# in 3 weeks, right? 

Health Risk

I haven't posted an update for a long time so here it is:

I saw an endocrinologist for a health risk analysis today.  I have no health risks.  My total cholesterol was 208 but that's because my HDL ("good") was very high; my LDL was quite low.

She confirmed my internist's conclusion of "fit and fat." 

So although I have been maintaining for some time (for the most part), well really dipping down verrrrrrrrrrrry slooooooooooowly, I am progressing in my quest for whole health.  She said she has only ever seen 2 clients whose cholesterol was over 200 due to high HDL.  Guess that steady diet of greens this winter is really paying off.

I have recently stepped up my workout routine and have had started losing again.  That is a trend I intend to continue!