Whatever happens at the weigh-in tomorrow will be okay.  I'm already gearing up for the next month to work hard again until Labor Day (like I said before, I didn't really get in gear for this contest until June 1st so I have a few more months to push myself).  Actually I've been thinking more about the fact that I have to have my picture taken tomorrow with a scab right on the end of my nose from where I bonked myself with a ten-pound weight the other night at exercise class (obviously I need to work more on my form!!).  I'm really curious to find out the official inches lost and the body fat percentages, even more so than the numbers on the scale.

Chris Powell (a personal trainer featured on the Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition show) uses the words "transforming" and  "transformation" a lot as he helps people on their weight loss journey.  (I know, I know -- I wasn't going to get sucked into watching another TV show where people lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time which is totally unrealistic for most of us, but I did anyway.)  I ended up really liking the show and it was encouraging in a lot of ways.  I tell Nicholas (one of the personal trainers/exercise class instructors at Slim & Fit) that he's my Chris Powell and is definitely being instrumental in my transformation!  He just laughs --

Transforming is a good word to remember when you're working on a healthy lifestyle.  We're "works in progress", with the emphasis on work. And it's never too late to start the transformation process.  Finish strong.....and then begin again.  Looking forward to tomorrow!

Barb

After finally getting a haircut yesterday afternoon, my head definitely feels lighter!  Too bad it won't help me in the final weigh-in on Saturday --

I've been thinking a lot about the papers that I found in the basement of my weight and measurements from eleven years ago, and that got me thinking about all the starts and stops, the umpteen exercise classes, all the different diets and all the different programs that have been part of my life.  Some parts stuck (two of my favorite after-workout stretches still are from the ancient Jane Fonda tapes -- minus the infamous leg warmers!), and at this time, I have a better idea of what I need to be doing (actually getting it done is the tricky part).  The Fitworks membership will be cancelled for now - and I say "for now" because it may work out for me at another time.  Right now the Slim & Fit exercise classes are a good fit because they're fun, each class has been different (which helps when you have the attention span of a gnat sometimes), and I'm finally making progress because the personal trainers make me work hard (harder than I would on my own right now.)

Nicholas had given us a "Skinny Jean Diet" at class which was seven days of meals & snacks to follow.  We were talking in class the other day about nutrition and one lady said that she'd tried the diet but it didn't work.  Turns out she tried it for only one week and not even a full week because she'd taken the weekend off.  One other thing I've learned is that you have to commit to working a program at least for six weeks - especially if it's been awhile since you've worked out regularly or eaten healthy.  And of course the mental preparation and mindset is the hardest to get started and then keep on track. 

The reason that you have to be prepared for a minimum of six weeks is because there's a good chance that nothing will happen the first three weeks.  (and this is only my opinion and experience). The first week your brain and other body parts are just laughing because they're saying, "What?!  She's going to try this again!?  What a joke - we'll just sit tight and let it  ride and she'll give it up."  The second and third week is when your brain and other body parts dig in their heels to hold onto the fat and bad habits.  But around the fourth week is when the other body parts start telling the brain that they just might be feeling better, they don't hurt as much, they have more energy, and maybe THIS time she's serious about this healthy lifestyle business, so maybe we should cooperate a little.   It's not until the fifth or sixth week (sometimes) when you may start seeing some noticeable results.  And it's hard.  And you feel discouraged and ready to give up too many times to count.  We're so ingrained with wanting immediate results and it seems like we're always looking for an easier way to get those immediate results and it just isn't going to happen.  You have to accept that this is going to take weeks, months, even maybe years.  And it's WORK -- hard work! 

Don't throw in the towel! (you'll need it to wipe the sweat off your face!)  The last weigh-in of this contest may be scheduled for this weekend, but it definitely is not the end of working towards becoming healthier --

Barb

After mowing the lawn and doing some other yard work this past weekend, even though the diet and exercise programs may not be progressing the way that I wish they were, I definitely have a prize winning farmer's tan!!

It's weird as I get older that it's so much easier to weed bending from the waist and not squatting down -- my neighbor drove by and hollered that she was going to get her slingshot.  But I just think of it as getting in a great hamstring & quad stretch -- that's the other great thing about getting older:  less embarrassment and not caring so much about what other people think and say (much to the chagrin of immediate family members!).

For some reason after walking the Johnnycake Jog Walk last Sunday, I guess I was thinking that was it for the exercise.  I haven't taken an extra walk all week!
I'm hoping to get back on track - I'm starting to look ahead to reach my next goal by Labor Day weekend, otherwise I might get in the mindset that after the final weigh-in this Saturday, that I'm done with extra exercise AND diet, and that's absolutely not true -- the "hundred pounds lost" light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer and I definitely want to celebrate that milestone this year. 

Here's to a consistent, healthy mind-set for the last week (of this contest)!
Stay cool!
Barb

Even though a person can definitely get overloaded with diet and exercise information, this internet article was really interesting.  Nothing new but good things to remember as you concentrate on eating lean.  Stay strong, drink lots of water, and keep cool!!

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/5-foods-that-keep-you-thin-2507875/

Barb
P.S. A special Happy Birthday wish to my mom in Kansas!

It was a HOT one today!!  When the temperature on the Lake County Fairgrounds sign says "84 degrees"  and you know it's at least ten degrees hotter when you're walking/jogging on Route 20 where the heat waves bounce off of the cement and hit you in the face -- just to finish standing up (and not throwing up!) is an accomplishment of which to be proud!  And our contingent of two walkers and three joggers DID finish standing up, and all of us even improved on our times from last year.  Hip-hip-hooray!  Last year my time for the 3.1 Walk was 44.41 and this year was clocked at 43.36 -- not quite at a thirteen minute mile yet but getting there!  I did see Vivian (and Bob), and read Michael's name in the paper so the Lighten Up contest was represented again this year.  

Last weekend ended with the air conditioner drain being plugged and leaking in the basement.  Thankfully there wasn't a lot ruined because the cardboard boxes absorbed the water -- but there's still a lot of sorting/pitching/cleaning to do.  As I'm going through boxes, I ran across papers and a chart from one of the numerous times that I've weighed and measured and said "This is IT -- this weight is coming OFF!!"  It looks like I stuck to a plan pretty well for a couple or three months, but then it ends.  (sound familiar?)  Plan A, Plan B, Plan C -- I've probably cycled through the alphabet countless times in trying to find a solution that will work.  Anyway, this chart was dated 1998, and I have to just shake my head when I think of all the time and energy that has been devoted/wasted to solve a problem that I created for myself in the first place!  And with more digging there's probably another chart that's dated earlier --

Keep moving, and keep working on finding a plan that will work for you. (trial & error!)

Have a good week!

Barb

Here's a great bread to try for wraps:   lavash   (at Walmart it's a "Joseph's" brand)

Betty and I were talking at work one morning about the food we eat and don't eat, and she mentioned that she makes up some "grab & go" wraps for the week with greens/sprouts, lean meat & a little of her favorite cheese.  Wraps aren't one of my favorites because the ones I've tried are too hard and you end up with more bread left after you eat the sandwich and then it just gets thrown away.  Anyway, she told me about the lavash bread she buys at the deli at Walmart (never heard of it before) and made up some to bring in to work.  It's delicious!  It's super soft and she cuts each flat bread in half so there's not any waste (and you get twice as many sandwiches out of one package!).  It rolls up really easily and is just enough to hold all the sandwich innards in place.  (It's so soft that you can't load it up too much either (as my youngest son found out), or it just falls apart.)  It's made of flax, oat bran and whole wheat - no cholesterol, high in protein and low in calories.  After doing some googling, the bread is Armenian/Turkey in origin and Jillian Michaels also promotes it in one of her books. (not that the last two items really matter but just some extra facts to throw in for the heck of it--)  Anyway, it's something new to try if you're looking for an alternative to regular bread for sandwiches.

Barb

It's been about six  weeks since I went back to the regular hours at the second job which means three nights a week.  It was very tempting to just stick with one night per week  but in order to pay the prices of the things I want to do, I have to pay the price of working extra days!  Now that it's been almost two months with a "regular" schedule, I notice that when I'm tired is when I lose the most ground as far as sticking to healthy eating.  Making sure there's enough sleep in the schedule is a definite must --

Did some cooking this week:  baked chicken, hard boiled eggs, turkey meatballs, beans & brown rice.  Having it ready to go makes it definitely easier for mealtime for me - especially since other cooking has to be done for other family members.  That's why grilling is so great in the summer -- lots of options can be cooked at the same time and then jazzed up as needed and wanted by each person.

Here's the saying for the day (read on a plaque in a magazine):  "I cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from passing over my head but I can keep them from building a nest in my hair."  At first I was looking for a bluebirds of happiness joke, but after reading it again (even though it's kind of weird), it does have a good message to remember.

Tonight was a beautiful evening to walk by the light of the moon--
Everybody have a good weekend!
Barb

Yes, the classes at Slim & Fit are for women AND men - there are even husband and wife participants.  You have to be willing to sweat and work hard and then sweat some more but even though I still have 50+ pounds to lose and have two bum knees, I can hang in there pretty good with most of the exercises. (and the sweating part is definitely NOT an issue with me since I can sweat walking up the steps to class!)  There are always different difficulty levels given for each exercise so everyone can get a good workout no matter what physical level you are at currently -- I have to modify a few but there's quite a difference between what I could do at the beginning of the sessions and what I can do now.  Go ahead and make the call and give it a try!  What do you have to lose?  Just pounds and inches!!

Barb

Time to re-group and re-focus!  Last week was busy with yard work:  mowing, weeding, edging, mulching, trimming trees & bushes, planting - you name it, we overdid it!  But the yard looks great and you can bet that I did indeed have an ice cream sandwich last Friday afternoon when it was 90+ degrees!  We spent some time with my sister down in the Cincinnati area for the holiday and had a great time visiting.

I did go to exercise class on Saturday morning since there was no class on Monday because of the holiday and I have to miss tonight because of Book Club.  I'm finally happy with the number that was posted after the last weigh-in but I'm even happier with how I'm feeling.  It feels better to be more on track with diet and exercise and I'm definitely taking steps in the right direction to reach my goals.  The knees and feet will feel better with less weight to carry, and that's what I keep telling myself to keep myself going sometimes.  (because, honestly, sometimes my legs just ACHE and even though I think it will feel better to sit and relax, it actually feels better to keep moving.)

I have to give credit where credit is due and the Boot Camp exercise classes that are now offered at Slim & Fit have been just what I needed to kick-start me in the right direction.  Slim & Fit is not an open gym and it's by appointment only, one-on-one exercise & nutrition sessions with a personal trainer which is really  the absolute best way to get in shape but in April they started something new by offering these exercise classes.  Class size is limited to eight and it's a good over-all workout (cardio, strength training, flexibility) -- bottom line, it's like a semi-private workout with a personal trainer!  And when you pay for the classes, if you have to miss one, you can make it up at another time so that you don't lose out.  The classes are priced a little higher than some exercise classes I've taken but even paying for 18 classes in a six week session is still cheaper than one day in the hospital for an obesity-related issue!  And frankly, the boost it's given me has been worth every penny.  During the summer there is a morning class offered Mon-Sat, and an evening class Mon-Thurs.  If you're interested in more information, call Slim & Fit at 352-4300 or email them at www.slimandfit.com. 

That's my plug for the Slim & Fit exercise classes but I also have to plug the local Senior Centers and the fitness equipment that they have to use for those that are 55 years old and older.  If you're reading this and fit into this category and haven't checked out the fitness rooms at your local senior center - plan on making a trip to visit and sign up!  There are about a dozen senior centers in Lake County and paying for an annual membership ($15.00 or less for the year) gives you access to their fitness rooms.  And some of them have quite the exercise equipment!  Even if you don't want to participate in any of the other senior center activities (but you may want to look into them also!), it's worth the price of the annual membership fee to have an indoor place to exercise.  I'm not old enough quite yet but you can be sure that when I am, I won't hesitate to take advantage of what's offered!

The goal for July is to beat the time I walked last year in the Johnnycake Jog Walk which means I'd better start picking up the pace --

Keep plugging away!

Barb