MY STORY - journey of weight loss & good health!

Whatz the Skinny?......my story, 2010: Wow, How Things Have Changed is posted on the Atlanta Track Club's (ATC) blog today.  Check it out.

2010 has been another fabo year and we still have 2 days left!   I'm going to do what I can to make it the VERY best 2 days!!!!  I'm starting with another looooong run along the Pacific Ocean.  My last day on the West Coast before heading back East. 

My "T" score

Being football season, I'm guessing most people think a T" score has something to do with a touchdown?  Haha, not even close and if you know me, I follow the Florida Gators and that's about it....except what the heck happened to them last night against SC?!  Ooooooh, no Atlanta trip this year. 

Back to my "T" score..........as in my BONE DENSITY results.  I had a bone density test last year as I was just starting to work out with Dan + all my cardio.  Last year, spine was good, left hip good, right hip not so - beginning stage of osteopenia.   This year, I'm so excited that my right hip has moved into the green zone and is GOOD.  My doc said he rarely sees this kind of one year improvement.  WooHoo! 

I'm excited not only because I'm a results oriented person but this is huge!   It changes my perspective on my journey.  It's certainly @ the "mirror test," how I look & feel but now it's about my HEALTH.  For now and the future. 

Wow, I wasn't expecting that.........

I had an awesome pre-long holiday weekend workout with Dan last night.  I felt great and was looking forward to a long weekend.  As I was leaving, I saw a fellow Body Solutions member that I haven't seen in a while.  She is the kind of person that when she walks in and says hello in her sweet southern accent, everyone smiles. 

I stopped by her workout for a quick hello and she shared that she recently had a not so good biopsy and required chemo (details are a private matter).  WHOA!  I wasn't expecting to hear that.  We won't see her for a few months as she travels home to take her treatment.  The good news is she said its treatable, she's young, healthy & strong and all that works in your favor for sure.  My thoughts & prayers are with her. 

As I was driving home this is all I could think about....this fellow workouter and that you never know what you'll hear or experience so make each moment & day count for the most.  I guess that's why they call the "present" a "gift." 

I know she'll do well.  She's a strong girl, great mom and she has all of our thoughts & prayers from Atlanta with her every step of the way.  If she reads this some day.....just like when we are at Body Solutions trying to lose weight or lift weights - we are all in this together!

Is getting healthy making me sick?

This sounds like such a strange question but I'm left to wonder / question.  I started my weight loss and journey to better health with Dan McGrath in February 2009.  It was great.  Loosing weight & inches and feeling wonderful.  I was not sick a day in 2009.  It was spectacular.  I missed all the colds, flu's and everything else that went around.  Now 2010 rolls around and I feel like I've been nothing but sick.  UGH!  It's awful. 

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night with a sore throat and fever.  Burning up!  That's a whole other question - how do you go to bed feeling great and get sick in the middle of the night?!  Since the beginning of 2010, this is the third time I've had a sore throat.  The last two times rolled into bad, bad colds.  I'm so hoping this one doesn't go that way. 

I don't get it.  I eat healthy; healthier than I ever have in my life.  I exercise regularly, never did that before.  I get good rest, at least 8 hours / night.  My stress level is manageable, lower than prior years for sure.  So what gives?  Why do I keep getting sick? 

Sunscreen - new favs

I got the opportunity this weekend to really put my two new sunscreens to the test.  I've been using them at home for everyday use but haven't "sat in the sun" until now.  Yesterday I sat on the beach for a couple of hours and today at the pool for an hour or so.  Did I mention this weekend was the first time I've put on a bathing suit since 2008.  That was pretty show stopping in and of itself.  Back to sunscreen. 

I'm pleased to share and recommend my two new favs!  I found them both through research on Environmental Working Group's cosmetic dbase. Both are rated high or rather rated low in toxins.  I'm not being paid or sponsored by either of these and this is really my opinion only.

MyChelle - on my face!  It's not oily/greasy at all.  I got some sun on my face but no burning.  It didn't leave a white residue (zinc oxide) either.  It says "non eye irritating".  I didn't do much to irritate my eyes so I'll leave that for another day.  No smell to this one - love that. 

Badger - on my body!  This one too seemed to work or at least kept me from getting fried.  I can tell because there are places that I apparently missed and they are fried.  This one DOES leave a white sort of film, leave behind but pleased to say it soaked in or faded fairly quickly.  The tube states that it "contains a high quality pharma grade zinc oxide..."  This one smells like typical health food store type product.  It too faded pretty quickly or it would have been off my list. 

I've started to pay closer attention to what I'm putting ON my body as I continue to be improve what I put IN my body.  Both of these sunscreens stood up to FL summer day on the beach and at the pool.  That's a pretty good first read for me. 

If anyone has tried some great sunscreen products, please share.

Weil, Gupta and Kessler - Atlanta 2010

Tuesday night, my co-worker and I attended the Public Forum.  These guys were the panel for discussion and took questions from the attendees.  Pretty big crowd in the Omni Hotel ballroom.  Very interesting.  Go good health! 

Some sound bites from this night...........{no particular order}

• The bill - it's really about health insurance reform vs. healthcare reform
• Gupta - "disease management vs. health promotion"
• Prevention vs. intervention
• Intervention - lifestyle, low tech, low cost vs. pharmaceuticals
• Kessler - it's all about "fat, sugar, salt - 24/7, socially acceptable, 'food carnival', food is entertaining"
• Healthy food choices does not mean giving up
• Make good choices - eliminate or limit refined, processed and manufactured foods (is that really food?)
• The obesity problem in the US is close to national security risk.  Higher and higher % are being turned away from joining the military. 

Great day ahead..

My day starts off @ StoryCorps.  Ever heard of it?  I never had until last week.  Very exciting morning ahead.  StoryCorps is a non-profit that helps Americans record their stories.  I'm going with Gloria O., founder of Day of Beauty.  Her story is being recorded and I'm interviewing her!!!   The interview will last 40 minutes.  A little nervous so I prepared questions in advance; I think we'll be OK.  The Points of Light Foundation recommended that Gloria do this and hopefully her story will make it into Points of Light's annual conference this summer.  It's all about volunteering and service.  How cool is this.

Then there's work and the typical day stuff but the day ends with hearing Dr. Andrew Weil tonight.  He's the Harvard Med grad and the guru of integrative health.  This week is the Nutrition & Public Health conference and tonight is a public forum open to all.  My co-worker and I are going to check him out. 

So not bad for a Tuesday!!!!!  The only not so good thing @ today is I had to cancel Dan tonight.  Yep traded Dr. Weil for Dan.  Oooooh..

Before and.............AFTER

Jomal - lost 22 lbs in 3 months!  Congratulations this is spectacular!  Check out these Before and AFTERs. 

How awesome does he look?!  Jomal is a fellow Body Solutions person.  He is a wonderful, inspriring guy - happy, smiling and always greets me with a big hug.  He's quite famous too.  He is one of the winners of the Body Solutions "I'm in Love with a Loser" contest and his story is being followed by Fox News.  Jomal's wife submitted his name and I think he had mixed emotions in the beginning but now I'm thinkin....he's lovin it!  The whole family must be lovin it!!!

I remember meeting Jomal his first week.  Dan asked me if I had any "words of wisdom" and I can remember saying - "cheese is not a diet food."  Jomal was like "oh no"!!!!

We've all come a long way.  Jomal and I talked the other day that going crazy on eating no longer was the same.  We know when to WALK AWAY.  You know my life and lifestyle have changed; I think Jomal's has too.  Way to go dude.  So proud of you! 

When you lose weight, Jomal and I both experienced that people say "you've lost so much in YOUR FACE."  When and WHY didn't anyone tell us our faces were so fat. I'm starting a group/club, maybe even a FB page :-)  FORMER FAT FACES..........This is the club to join!!!! 

The Dirty Dozen OR Clean 15

Some where along the way last year, I decided low calorie wasn't good enough.  I wanted low calorie AND healthy, nutritious food.  I can't remember when this interest started; Dan probably can I'm sure of that.  He'll remember when the barrage of questions started. :-) I began reading everything I could get my hands on and became more and more confused as I went.  There is SO much information out there and much of it is contradictory so who do I believe.  What's a girl to do?!

I still feel this way on many days but the one thing I'm solid on is buying organic.  At this stage (beginning healthy eater), I am picking my shots.  And just like I picked sunscreen vs. makeup for now, organic is it for me.  I buy organic whenever I can for several reasons - 1). pesticides (why the &^%$# would I want that in my body) and 2). organic tastes better!

 I've been following the dirty dozen lists.  A new one just came out - check out EWG's 2010 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides.  This organization is awesome! 

The most amazing weekend.......

I'm back from NYC and my head is spininng (again).  It often does this after a school (IIN) weekend.  This past weekend was the most outstanding.  My mind was really opened up for lots more research and experimenting.........

We heard from so many incredible people - all who are not just experts in their fields, more importantly all these people are TAKING ACTION. 

Some were former IIN grads - a NYC public school principal from The Marie Curie School in NYC who is changing the world one school at a time; a teacher/mother who started Wellness in Schools; an attorney who's daughter spoke @ a hearing on school lunch programs.  Incredible, inspiring - all of them. 

We also heard from some well known experts - WOW!

John Douillard - Dr. Douillard has been teaching Ayurvedic medicine, natural health, fitness, and nutrition internationally for 22 years.  I knew nothing @ the concepts of Vata, Pitta and Kapha and boy do I have some interesting research ahead of me.  I have an Ayurvedic questionnaire if anyone is interesting in finding out where they fall. 

David Wolfe - He's leading the Raw Foods revolution.  David is considered one of the world’s top authorities on natural health, beauty nutrition, herbalism, chocolate, and organic superfoods. You wouldn't believe the smoothie he made in class - I'm clueless and again lots more research to do.  I need to get my "jing" going! 

David Katz - "Act with feet & forks not stethoscopes & scalpels"!  He's international authority on nutrition, weight management, and the prevention of chronic disease; internationally recognized leader in integrative medicine and patient-centered care.  I expected a typical MD approach and was pleasantly surprised and pleased - check out thefuntheory.com and rfrk.com.  More cool stuff.

I'm sure anyone that reads this can see why my head is spinning and I'm psyched.  This was the best school weekend and it reinforces that I'm doing the right thing for me in continuing my education around nutrition/healthy living and pursuing my Health Coach passion! 

Down for the count..........again!

I've never had an allergy problem in my life but this season is kicking my ass!  This is the 2nd time this season I'm out of it.  It's unreal and awful.  Ugh, I now understand what all the allergy complaining is about.  Stuffed up, congested, achy and all out feel like shit. 

Enough said.....My friend text'd me last night a remedy to try so I'm on it.  Breaking out those essential oils - inhale peppermint & lavender 1x hour - drink thieves (clove, rosemary, cinnamon), lemon & honey in hot water - rub thieves on feet day & night - neti pot (don't own one, never done that).  Gotta run cause got some allergy fighting to do. 

Before I sign off, rather than repeat, I wanted to share a post I read today from Weighty Matters - Susan G. Komen for the Cure doesn't understand breast cancer.  Check out Yoni.  Would love to hear some thoughts on this?!

Sunscreen - how do I choose?

I should think @ this all year but frankly haven't until recently.  In my teens and into my 20's and 30's, I was a sun worshiper.  I loved the beach (still do!) and would sit out all day with NO sunscreen.  I grew up in the era of using baby oil + iodine.  Not only would I never do this now, I try to limit my "laying out" to the early part of the day and I use sunscreen - all over.  This has most recently been top of mind because of my running.  Plus I'm paying close attention to what I'm putting IN my body, should what goes ON my body get equal attention?!  I need to get it together. 

Next I Google suncreen and sit back.....TOXINS!  Holy @^%$#!  I can't even pronounce these words which is my first tip.  But there's more.

It's reported that some sunscreen ingredients absorb into the blood and some are linked to toxic effects. Some release skin-damaging free radicals in sunlight, some could disrupt hormone systems, several are strongly linked to allergic reactions, and others may build up in the body or the environment.  Look for the following; read the labels, do some research and use discretion.  Just look at these words!  UGH!

 -Benzophenones (dixoybenzone, oxybenzone)
 -PABA and PABA esters (ethyl dihydroxy propyl PAB, glyceryl PABA)
 -p-aminobenzoic acid padimate O or Octyl dimethyl PABA)

 -Cinnamates (cinoxate, ethylhexyl, p-methoxycinnamate)

 -Salicylates (ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate)

 -Avobenzone (butyl-methyoxydibenzoylmethane; Parsol 1789)

 -Digalloyl trioleate

 -Menthyl anthranilate

 -Propylene Glycol: Called a humectant in cosmetics, it is industrial antifreeze, and the major ingredient in   brake and hydraulic fluid. - YIKES!

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are thought to be two of the safest sunscreens. Instead of being absorbed into the skin (and other body organs) to react to ultraviolet light so that the skin does not burn, they keep the light from penetrating the skin in the first place.  

I checked out sunscreen products using the Environmental Working Group's 2009 Sunscreen Guide.  What a great tool.  There's a great, hot summer ahead and preparation is key.  Got my hat and going sunscreen shopping this weekend.  I think I'm ready.........

How can I lose weight?

Can you say - bathing suit season!  The media is bombarding us with a gillion ways to lose weight, get thin fast, have incredible bodies, etc.  In these ads, I haven't seen much regarding getting healthy, staying healthy or if the product will even damage my health?!  Hmmm. 

I googled "diets" and it returned 19,900,000 results - that's 19 MILLION results.  As compared to googling "lose weight" which returned 43 MILLION. 

Over the last week, I've been thinking @ possible ways to lose weight:

• Diet Pills - Alli
• Supplements
• Drinks / Powders
• Surgery - bypass
• Fasting
• Lipo
• Some sort of spa treatment where they wrap you in plastic
• "Diets" - Atkins, South Beach, Grapefruit, Mediterranean, Lose Weight Fast, Detox, Flat Belly, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Celebrity and millions more
• Exercise - can you lose by exercising and not change eating?
• Lifestyle change - what I eat, how often I eat, portion sizes, exercise, fun activities.......

The Health Coach in me is bothered (I guess cause there's so much of it right now) by all the "stuff" screaming and in our faces @ quick solutions.  What are the lasting results of these?  Are they positive / Does the weight stay off?  And perhaps more importantly, are the longer term results damaging? 

I was talking to someone the other day who went the bypass route a few years ago.  She reduced over 100 lbs.  Two years later, she says her health is not good.  Are these two connected?  Does one lipo lead to two, three...?  

I chose the lifestyle method.  Slow, steady, healthy and lasting!  I didn't make it into a bathing suit the 1st summer and not yet where I want to be for the 2nd summer but I'm working on it every day.

It's heatin up out there........

Not sure where you live but here in the South (Atlanta) it reached close to 90 yesterday.  That's hot considering we went from about 60-70 straight to 90 degrees.  The forecast calls for some rain tomorrow and then some spring-like weather for the balance of the week.  It is beautiful although very YELLOW. 

The annual invade of the YELLOW stuff - yep, POLLEN.  It appeared within an hour one day and now we are covered up.  Yesterday while running, we saw what appeared to be a dust storm ahead - the stuff was blowing off the bldg roofs and man o man!  I am SO fortunate to not be too bothered by this and I feel for those with allergies.  I have my calendar marked for March 2011 - start with bee propolis every day!!!

Even with the heat and yucky yellow stuff, yesterday was a healthy day for me!  My eating was right on, I journaled everything and I ran/walked my 1.5 miles in 18 minutes.  I'm starting over and that was my goal so I'm pleased.  I started back my workouts with Dan last night (took a week off).  OMG, I don't think I've sweat that much ever.  It was a great workout - I loved it.  Stairs first - didn't beat my 3.03 time but I did OK.  Quickly followed by jump squats, then inside for pull ups, dead lifts, cleans, bent over rows, military presses and snatches!  Wow! And of course followed by my all time favorite.............the STRETCH! 

A friend just joined Body Solutions and I bumped into her last night too.  That was fun.  I'm not sure I'm a large group exercise person but I love to run or workout with a couple people so call me a small groupie. 

Today is my day off from exercising.  I'm looking forward to the one shower day.  Having 50th birthday lunch with my sister-in-law and dinner with friends.  Another great day ahead........

The mental puzzle

Yesterday was a great day!  FREEZING in NYC but a great day.  Day 1 of class and I connected first thing with Bianca and Jamie.  Both I met through IIN.  I also met another great person yesterday, Caroline.  I didn't get her contact info but she has mine.  I hope she reaches out to me; really cool girl.  That is one of the great things @ a 900 person class.  There are SO many cool and talented people to get to know.  So much to learn. 

I went to lunch with Bianca and learned more about her - accupuncturist (hello, for the NY Ballet!), aromatherapist and more - completely fascinating and she educated me a little (we only had @ 30 mins) and really peaked my interest on essential oils.  What an interesting person. 

Day 1 started/continued the "mental puzzle."  After lunch Sally Fallon, Weston Price Foundation, spoke - nice sense of humor, very passionate, not shy and advocate of nutrient dense foods, no refined foods, animal products, cooked & raw, etc.  Whole milk, whole butter!!!  There was alot of grumbling behind me during her talk.  Not sure what I think just yet.  Taking it all in. 

Keep in mind, the school does not advocate any particular nutritional model or theory but is introducing us to over 100 and "one size doesn't fit all."  The term coined by the founder of the school, Joshua Rosenthal, is "bio individuality."  Each person is different, has different needs, desires, etc.  What a great term!

Day 2, today, we'll hear why vegetarian is the only way.  Not sure who's speaking but the mental puzzle begins......continues.  It's actually quite interesting.  Each is so passionate, has "scientific research" to support their position and very convincing. These are leading "experts" in their model/theory; known throughout, authors, writers, researchers, speakers........So, can they ALL be right? 

It's time to weigh in and it ain't going to be pretty......

This past week, under the "I'm not feeling good," I abandoned most of my basics; good health habits and choices I developed during my weight loss journey and over the last year.  I hardly ate any veggies the whole week.  I ate only a of couple apples; I always have an apple in my handbag.   I ate way too many sandwiches - PB, egg salad, cheese - whatever I could put between 2 slices of bread.  My protein was so/so - not great - no chicken, turkey once and that was last night, no fish - I guess mostly eggs now that I think @ it!  I didn't workout except for yesterday so I cut back my food intake thinking that would offset the no workouts.

Everyone has a bad week, right?  Now as I sit having my am coffee, getting ready to go for my weekly weigh in, I'm thinking @ what was so wrong with the week.  How come I didn't lose any weight?

1. From my home scale I stayed the same - which is 2.5 lbs up from my goal weight.  But I ate less?!
2. I DIDN'T JOURNAL ANYTHING this past week so I really can't recall what I ate.  Ugh, I haven't mentioned anything @ the ice cream and all the nuts I ate.  Nuts are good for you but high in calories!  Cheese, the "it's not a diet food."  May have gone over on that too.  Ooooh what did I eat that I can't remember?  Oh yea, Dots yesterday but only 2 mini boxes. 
3. I don't think I ate enough this past week.  Not small, more frequent meals like I typically eat. But I wasn't exercising so was that still necessary?!
4. Outside of Sun-Tues, I didn't drink enough H2O.  I know I didn't yesterday cause I have a hangover today and I had no alcohol last night.  When I don't drink enough water, this happens to me. 

Oy!  What a week and this is only what I remember.   OK, Ethel Merman I need you NOW......starting here.........starting now!  The sun is out today (we've had nothing but rain for the last 4 days) and it's going to be beautiful weather.  I still don't feel so great but today's a new day.  I'm headed to Body Solutions to weigh in (miracle? miracle?) and workout with Dan.  I have a busy weekend planned with lots of great stuff packed in so I'll start over today!  Dust off my journal, slice my apple and throw it all in my bag. 

Round, round.....my head is spinning

There are so many things going on right now and so much I want to blog about that my head is spinning.  Random as it is but crowding my little brain are topics like:

Obesity (everywhere and especially among our kids), Sugar (OMG the cereal aisle), Cravings (I'm intrigued by this), Running a 5K (my new nickname is Budweiser...sound like a Clydesdale), St. Baldrick's (we are 1/2 way to goal and 5 days left), My Day of Beauty (still need volunteers and donations), Journaling for good health (we are writing one), New business for my company, My clients, IIN (our 2nd weekend begins), My brother turns 60 & the family arrives......

Now that's a start.  I guess writing it all down is a good place to begin.  What does this all have to do with my health?  How much of our health is impacted by our emotions, our "feelings" and what is crowded the brain? 

There are so many articles these days (just "friend" a couple groups on FB - Active.com is one of my favs) that talk @ diet (nutrition) and exercise.  What @ how we "feel"?   That emotional stuff goin on............What's the impact it has on our health?!

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!!! (Thanks Pointer Sisters!)

Two more days......I'm leaving Friday for NYC and Saturday is my first class @ the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).  For one weekend a month, February - July, you can find me in NYC at this program.  I'm really excited @ this program - 1000+ students and all this new learning. 

So cool, my favorite city and my passion.  What a great way to spend a couple of months.  And at the end, I'll be a certified nutrition counselor. 

This is going to be so great.  I am certain there will be many blogs devoted to IIN and all that's happening during the sessions.  Plus there's a side benefit to my trip this week.  You know I'm a new runner right.  I fly in on Friday in enough time to run in Central Park.  I'm really looking forward to that too.  I so hope the weather cooperates.  This is going to be a great weekend!  Many, many firsts......What healthy stuff do you have planned?

"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!

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?!