Weigh in day......

After 3 weeks of weight gain, I finally lost 1.5 lbs!  I think the only thing that helped me this week was that I ramped up the intensity of my workouts.  I know I ate more chocolate this week than I think I've eaten in the last year!!!! 

These past two weeks have been brutal because yep due to our economy and tough business, I had to layoff several of my nearest and dearest coworkers.  We've been together for as many as nine years.  They are my family.  This was and is AWFUL.  We'll find a way for this to end well but in the meantime, it stinks and I leaned on chocolate alot.  PS - I am happy to report that one coworker already got a new job (yeah!), another has a promising interview coming up and another secured a temp role for a few weeks.  I am so, so happy for this. 

I don't know how I would have handled this if I hadn't been working out these days.  Well I have an idea...the old me would have had many glasses of wine, been very edgy, hair on fire, tough to be around and in general not the person I'd want to be.  I'm thankful (and think those around me are too) that I'm able to release some negative energy and pressure through working out and eating well.  If my change in lifestyle ever came in handy, it's been the last two weeks. 

Before I sign off, I have to brag on my team of Girls on the Run.  We ran two miles on Friday (partly in the sleet and rain) - our first time ever!!!!!  Way to go girls - you know who you are.  Proud?! Oh yeah!!!!!

T.G.I.F.

It's been five days since my last post and while I would have liked to stop time or jumped off the world for a few days, I'm still here.  The week has been a blur and I think my daily food choices have in some part been a blur too.  Tomorrow when I have some time, I'll look back over my food journal and see just how I did this week.  I hope I wrote everything down! 

One thing I struggled with alot this week was CHOCOLATE.  I could not get enough of it; I craved it constantly.  Anyone have any suggestions for me on this?  I need help.  The dear Tauheedah suggested a sensible swap - vegan choco chips.  I love them and they worked for me on a few days but were often followed by organic choco dipped bananas/apricots (these are awesome-Next Organics) or WW ice cream chasers!!!!  I don't think the scale will change much @ tomorrow's weigh in.  

Oh well, *&%$#@ happens, right?!  It does and now I need to learn from this as opposed to letting one week stretch into two.  Thank goodness, I've been exercising a bunch.  I think that has been as much for my mental health as it's been for physical or weight maintenance. 

Girls on the run (my co-workers and I) have moved up to 4 miles now.  We tried a trail yesterday, Rottenwood Creek in Cobb County (Atlanta, GA).  It's a beautiful two mile (each way) trail with 1/2 of nothing but hills.  My running coach reminds us constantly, "hills are a girl's best friend."  If you want leg and butt work, take to the hills girls.  Fortunately Rottenwood has @ a mile of fairly flat also.  You can walk, run, bike; great sounds and will be spectacular when things start blooming (hell on allergies for sure).  The girls want to go 6 miles today.............Actually 6 miles may have been thrown out by me.  I'm always up for a new challenge.  What's your new challenge? 

Day of Beauty for special needs young adults!

I am so proud and excited, I just had to blog @ this event.  The 7th annual Day of Beauty event is coming up on Monday, May 3.  My cousin's daughter, Rachel, is a BIG fan of this event.  She looks forward to it every year and talks @ it all year long.  After being a volunteer last year, I can now understand why.  It is a day I'll never forget.  It was so much fun.  100+ loving young adults who are being pampered, a Day of Beauty, many for the first time in their lives!   

If you are reading this and are in the Atlanta market, consider volunteering.  There is so much to do.  Please also spread the word.  Gloria (event founder & organizer) needs all kinds of "talent" (stylists, nail techs, chair massage and more) plus "no talent" (like me, we get the kids to their next appointment, etc).  Lunch is provided for all so she needs food donated too.  This event is 100% free of charge to the students and their teachers and is 100% due to Gloria's labor of love along with the many volunteers (individuals and businesses).  So tell whoever cuts your hair, does your nails, massage, do you eat lunch @ the same place every day?!!!  Lots of volunteers and "stuff" needed. 

Visit the website for more information and/or to volunteer.  http://www.mydayofbeauty.net/. 

Enjoy the beautiful "after" photo of Rachel (2nd on right) and her friends and former teammates from the Special Olympics swim team!  Love those nails!!!!

I'm thankful for....

How much of the weight loss and journey to good health is emotional?!  This must vary by person and by moment.  Are we on this journey for ourselves, spouse/SO, parent or someone else?  Article after article says "take care of yourself first" and all the others will be taken care of in turn.  So true.  As we increase our own confidence and self esteem, all the other relationships will fall into place, are easier to handle, become more meaningful, etc. 

I have said so many times before, I am grateful and thankful for many people and the impact they've had on my life especially this past year.  Sometimes I didn't even know the person.  I remember one time in the protein drink aisle of Target, a woman and I began talking @ weight loss.  We shared our stories.  She lost 70 lbs on her way to 100 and I think I was @ 30 lbs lost.  It was awesome!  I was inspired to keep going. 

As I begin my new journey of maintaining my weight loss, I hope for the continued support I've received in the past, new support from where I may not have expected and the opportunity to lend support and encouragement to others.  I want to be open to the unexpected and be smart enough to realize it when it comes.

Expect the unexpected............today I received a note in the mail that my six year old niece wrote in school.  The very unexpected.  This sentiment is my new journey "anchor."  When I don't feel like working out, when I want to eat everything chocolate in site...I'll look to this note as it will remind me of all that I am thankful for in my life.  Take care of myself and the rest will fall into place.

Girls on the run.....on the town?!

Well maybe not  "on the town" but over to Body Solutions for their launch party.  What a blast!  Check out the "girls" with our Body Solutions' fitness coaches.  Can you tell who's who??!!!

Last night we had the best lo-cal mashed potatoes I've ever had from the Everyday Chef.  He gave out recipes which I promptly declined (if you want the recipe, email him I'm sure he'll share it).  I don't cook, only warm up.  One of our "girls" won the Everyday Chef personal chef raffle - lucky her. I wish I'd won that one!  Our great friends from Lululemon Buckhead were there.  If you've never been to this store, go there....and ask for Mike.  He's the best!  Kenari - every tried it?  New to me. This is an awesome beverage and produced in our very own Roswell, GA.  Check out this drink (Whole Foods) and look at their website.  Interesting farming community concept. 

Fun night with lots of energy, met new folks, good to be w/friends, enjoyed learning @ new stuff and as always had some great laughs!!!!  Great, great night!

Girls on the run

During my weight loss journey, I was fortunate to have a strong supporter in one of my coworkers.  If you read my blogs, I'm talking @ the Marine; I've mentioned her before.  She soon after joined me and began her own journey of weight loss and better health.  NOW, we've recruited another coworker who just returned from having a beautiful baby boy.  (Yep, I've blogged @ her too).  We are there for each other; pushing, prodding, checking food journals, comparing workouts, sharing aches and pains and in short, we are each other's conscience.  When we really want to skip the workout, we just look at each other and know THAT'S NOT AN OPTION. 

Our Marine took us on our lunchtime (60 and sunny in Atlanta today - beautiful) walk/run today.  This walk/run always includes our Marine's favorite........the HILL.  We took it today!  It was great to do and great to be done with it for the day.  Don't you just love getting it behind you. 

So how do we look for 2 miles and a hill?!! 

Random but good........

Yesterday's added post (THE STRETCH) was a random entry but it's really @ doing something for yourself!  I got lots of feedback that the stretch is very important.  While physically I agree (who am I to disagree?!), mentally it's over the top especially when you have someone stretch you out.  You work hard during your workout and then you get to lie down, relax and have someone stretch you?!  What a gift!! 

If you don't have someone to stretch you, take the time to do it yourself.  I usually rush through my stretch if I'm doing my own, ready to get going, and it really is a great time to decompress and ready myself for what's ahead.  Take time for ourselves even if its just a few minutes.  And have a great MLK day.  What a man and a DREAM. 

It's all @ THE STRETCH

Yeah, yeah, yeah "Dan's great"...."working out makes me feel better"...."I'm happy to fit into smaller pants"....."I have more energy" and all that stuff.  But the real reason is THE STRETCH.   Just imagine, you've just finished one hour of a hard workout - lifting weights, planks, lunges, squats and then there's THE STRETCH. Check it out for yourself.   Awwwwwww!!!

Stella (Sara) lost her groove

.....Fell off the wagon....or however the sayings go.  I've been MIA since last Tuesday and it's time to get back to it.  What a week!  You feel that way too?  Maybe not this past week but if you are on any kind of journey, you know what I'm talking about.  It's Sunday, the start to a new week and no looking in the rearview mirror. 

Lessons learned this past week - DON'T go to a Brazilian steakhouse.  OMG, the food never ends.  The endless salad bar led to endless meat (stopped cause got tired of chewing) which led to DESSERT.  Oh yea!  Ate the whole thing. 

Try running (or some new activity) - I survived my first Women on the Move training session.  It was cold, cold to start but quickly warmed.  I made it through #1 and I'm going back on Tuesday for more!  Our leader/coach, Tina, is great.  The day after she emailed me to see how I was feeling!  That kind of support is a gift.

Relationships - make new and visit ones you've been missing.  I couldn't have made it through the week w/o this.  I connected with a few people that I really like but haven't talked to in a while.  It made me smile and felt good to get back in touch.  I needed the new energy.  I couldn't do w/o my steady friends and I'm always grateful for that.  I really went looking for positive energy and support this week.  What a difference! 

Use those coupons, gift cards - I rarely keep up w/these but I used a coupon for a facial with Liz @ Institut DERMed.  Such a relaxing hour and Liz is a doll.  Then I headed to Karen @ Soge for my monthly cut and color.  Back to "merlot."  Visiting w/Karen & Cookie is always a good time.  They are the best!  (Check out Karen cutting her nephew's beautiful hair w/niece looking on - teenagers!). 

Do something for someone else - whether they know it or not.  Haiti needs our continuous support; it's heartbreaking.  Love the text donation, give @ the supermarket (round up @ Publix & Kroger) or whatever.  Closer to home, I helped a friend reach a little closer to his goal this week.  He probably doesn't know it but I do and that's enough.  I even responded to a blogger (that I do not know) with some new workout music.  It's a cool thing.............

It's a rainy Sunday here but the fog is lifting and I'm heading out for a run.  Pretty funny as I don't think I've ever said that before.  Life changes..........

"We’ve nothing to lose by going to learn and everything to gain by going to lose!"

Are you open to reading, listening, watching or attending something new?  Learn new ways to weight loss, better health, exercise, making good choices, nutrition.....? 

This quote was the last line of an email I received from my cousin regarding a good health event.  Thanks Marsha, this puts it in perspective! 

Don't wish it, I WILL it and let's make it happen!

A must read...Inner Workings of Weight Loss

You have to read Dan's post today on his blog - Body Bytes.  It's a must read for anyone trying to loose weight.  Whether it's calories or metabolism; check this out.  I remember the day my metabolism turned on; it was so cool and what a difference!

The onion rings were........

OVER THE TOP.  My nephew just got a promotion and he (and his girlfriend) is moving to Dallas so last night was his farewell Atlanta party.  Yep, I ordered the onion rings, ate every one of them and loved every minute of it.  Sometimes a girls gotta do what a girl's gotta do.  Right? 

Fortunately today is a new day and I have the good fotune to start new!!!  How about you?  "You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there." (Author Unknown)

Great looking couple!!!  (no onion ring photos)

Climb every mountain.......

Let's start with running a 5K!!!  A girl's gotta have goals. 

The new year is here (how long can you say Happy New Year?!) and with it I started with no real fitness goals.  For a goal oriented person that's like walking around blindfolded.  I'm happy to say I'm getting closer, not there yet cause shortly I'll be meeting with Dan to map this out.  He challenged me to pick a direction - do I want to be an "ice skater" "hula hooper" or what?  He's a riot.  Decisions, decisions....

Thursday night during my training at Body Solutions, in the middle of doing my deadlifts and jump squats, Dan says out of nowhere - "you should join the Atlanta Track Club."  Huh?  What?  Now where did that come from.  He said it's the next step in developing running and good comraderie.  Dan knows me well enough that an idea planted often grows and quickly.  So Friday morning, I'm on the ATC website, looked into Women on the Move and talked to the person who will be leading it.  I'm sure you know what I did next - yep,  I signed up!  11 weeks of training leading to a 5K, I became a Fan on FB and then........I ran 1.5 on the treadmill.  Second time in my life.  NOW I'm feeling better. 

Whether I run a 5K, 10K or marathon, it doesn't matter to me.  THIS girl's gotta have goals.  It's the same as when I began this journey, I had 2 goals -loose weight and prevent falling.  I had NO idea where that would lead. 

So all the time I'm asked, how did you do it - loose 50 lbs, go from a 14 pant size to an 8?  I just STARTED and built from there.  I'll save these details for another day.  Stay warm and have a spectacular day.  

Day 6 of the the New Year......

How is 2010 going for you?  I hope it's been great for everyone and when the tough moments hit, whatever they're about, keep this in mind..................

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.

The results are in...........

Thank you to those who participated in my amateur poll regarding New Year's resolutions.  All of you are making them and the top resolutions are - weight loss and start exercising.  Anyone surprised?!  Not me.  Remember in January 2009, I woke up and had enough.  I'm almost to my one year anniversary.  Friday, February 12, 2010 will be one year that I began my weight loss and good health journey with Dan from Body Solutions Atlanta.  How should I celebrate?! 

If you are embarking on your journey now, take it one day at a time.  Celebrate all successes, even the smallest ones; don't fret the screw ups and just keep going.  You too can do this.  Get someone to do it with you because remember...it's contagious.  I'd love to hear how you are doing and your stories.  Most importantly make it fun! 

Momentum

Over the past few days, this word keeps coming up.  It's stuck in my mind.  What is Momentum?

Velocity.  Acceleration.  A force.  In motion.  Direction. 

The Atlanta Hawk's ticket advertising suggests - "This is what Momentum looks like." Weight Watcher's Momentum program states - "loose weight in the real world."  Training w/Dan on Saturday, he says "use your Momentum and you can do it".

Momentum is everywhere.  So how can I get it and keep it?  Million dollar question?!    

In 2007, Jon Gordon published the following 3 Ways to Gain Momentum in Life and Work
1. Find a Coach or Accountability Partner
2. Get the Right People on The Bus and the Wrong People Off It
3. Choose the Right Fuel

It's time to apply this to my good health.  After all, is there anything more important?!

First day of the New Year...started w/a thud....

.....but she rallied!!  OMG, I can't believe what I ate today not to mention, I feel sick now.  It started with Hoppin John (this year couldn't pass up the oppty for luck and money) then a bag of chinese noodles (the crispy fried ones) courtesy of my bro's chinese restaurant, pistachio nuts (what the &^%$# were they doing in my house) with a couple WW choco bar chasers.  All while watching Julia & Julie.  I loved the movie AND it was the inspiration I needed.  Perfect timing!   So after my nap (I'm a great napper) I went to the gym for an hour workout. 

The bottom line this year and every year is we all fall off the "program" occasionally and when we do, sometimes we have to LOOK for inspiration to get us back on track.  We are lucky when inspiration finds its way to us but if not, go looking for it.  Today I was re-energized by Julia & Julie.  They were both so committed to their passions that in spite of obstacles and their personal meltdowns, they rallied and kept on going.  Never giving up!  Julia Child even had the support and encouragement of someone she didn't know and only kept in touch with as a pen pal (for those too young to know what that is, google it). 

Inspiration, motivation and energy is often in places you'd never have guessed so be open to it and if it doesn't come when you need it, go find it.  It's there for you, just email me! 

I hope the New Year brings you good health, great times and meaningful relationships.  Happy New Year!