Day 25 - Meet Barb - Tips and Tricks for Friday

OH YAY, I'm so excited about this post. It's Friday, you see, and I've decided to do something AMAZING today - and every Friday for the next trillion years or so.

Enter Barb.

Barb is a new friend of mine that I met in Philly while attending the casting call for Biggest Loser. We actually met the night before at a wonderful meet 'n' greet, hosted by another fab new friend (more on that some other time OR you can wait for the book, geesh).

ANYway, Barb is part of our little group of go-getting weight loss champions on Facebook (hosted by ANOTHER fab new Philly friend - stay tuned for my post about Steffie soon enough, too) and Barb began a wonderful challenge for us, nearly 3 weeks ago.

Lose 1000 pounds.

WOW. That's a lot of butter, folks.

But what a great way to share support and encouragement. 15 of us signed up and we are well on our way - with 118 pounds lost so far - to saying ADIOS to those pesky 1000 pounds.

YAY!

One of the BEST parts of Barb's challenge is that she sends out a daily tip, Monday - Friday, to each of us in the challenge. These tips range from what to eat to how to stay focused; and are really helpful in keeping us all on track. Members of the challenge can then respond with their input and because we are all different, with different ways of doing things, it's really been AWEsome to see what everybody is doing to help us reach our goal.

So now that we have a good two weeks worth of tips under our belts (and tucked away in a special folder at my email) I have decided - with Barb's blessing - to bring these tips to all my readers.

We'll do it once a week, on Fridays, so all of you can learn what's working for us, which will THEN help you be successful too. YAY!

Ready for Barb's first fabulous tip?

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FITNESS TIP #1:  Make YOU a priority.

Life is busy...practically crazy at times...kids, a job, community involvement, playing taxi driver...

But as you embark on this new journey into better health, you need to make YOU a priority.  Let your family and closest friends know that you're serious about losing weight and that you need their support and help.  Are there things that you currently do that you can let someone do for the next couple of months so that you can give your weight loss a strong beginning?  For example, maybe you don't like how your hubby loads the dishwasher, but would you be willing to let him help with some of the chores?  Or perhaps you're involved in an organization or hobby that consumes a lot of your time. Consider stepping away from it for a few weeks/months.

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Making YOU a priority is ABSOLUTELY KEY to your over all weight loss success. So go on, do as she says: share your goals, ask for support, lessen your focus elsewhere, and ....WAIT a minute...

I can't let Gary load the dishwasher. I can't do it. He may be good at a LOT of things, but loading dishes isn't one of them...unless that's been his evil plan all along...

Acck, sidetracked. 

ANYway, you've got it, this first tip. 

Now IMPLEMENT. 

Thanks to Barb for a GREAT first tip. See you all next Friday for Barb's Fabulous Fitness Tip #2. 

Till next time!

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August 100 Miles Challenge Update: 

Sandi: 22.25 miles

Anna:  24.6 miles

Kathy: 22.55 miles

Steffie: 27.30 miles 

Bernie: 4.3 miles

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Remember, if you want me to track your miles for August, just shoot me a note and I will add you to the blog. If you are here already and I've got your numbers wrong, just shoot me...no, no, just let me know and I'll change it. I'm good with that. Cheers!

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I am a Priority

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Day 24 - White or Brown Rice - What's Best for You?

Rice.

It's good for you - in lots of ways. These days I'm partial to the white rice; though I don't have it too often, maybe once a week.

But what I really want to talk about is brown rice.

Let me tell you a little tale...

The other night, long after my kiddo was supposed to be in bed, she bops downstairs to my room and says, "Mommy, I don't have any volume on my phone."

(She was attempting to watch a show until she fell asleep and it appeared that her headphones weren't working.)

I said, "Hmmm, let me see"...

Nope, no volume. Gary played with it. We called the phone. He played some more. No volume, in any way, shape, or form on Maggie's phone.

...and then she spilled the beans.

Apparently, earlier in the day, she had dropped her phone (that was ORIGINALLY ONLY SUPPOSED to BE for EMERGENCIES) into the toilet. She retrieved it immediately, dried it off, and then promptly forgot that it had gone for a swim.

Fast forward to this late night and once told, the tears started flowing.

She's sorry, she's panicking, she's scared, she's...

...not getting a new phone, I can tell you that.

So, while this whole weepy mess was going on, Gary was on his phone, looking up our options.

Enter the brown rice. It was all we had, probably about two years old by now, since we aren't eating it currently in our diet. Brown rice in a little jug, just waiting to be thrown out.

Or not.

I lumbered (yes, I did) down the stairs and retrieved said rice. I have never heard of this rice/iPhone trick actually working and truly was skeptical.

Even so, in went the phone, for 48 hours. The good part was that everything seemed to be working with the phone EXCEPT the volume. The water hadn't done too much damage, thank goodness. But we would see.

Two (very) long days later, at bedtime once again, Maggie asked if we could check the phone. I told her no, not till today (if 48 hours was good, lets do 60, right?).

But as G and I watched some TV, we decided, heck, let's just see...

It worked. As if taking that chilly dip in the toilet was but a fantasy (weird, but who knows what iPhones fantasize about?).

WOW. Mom is impressed. Maggie is thrilled. Gary is further vindicated that (i stuff) is AWESOME.

And we have a new use for our brown rice.

So, whether you prefer white or brown rice, if you have a smart phone, I would consider keeping a bit of both on hand, just in case. This kind of 24 hour iPhone tech support is second to none. 

Till next time!

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August 100 Miles Challenge Update: 

Sandi: 21.25 miles

Anna:  24.6 miles

Kathy: 22.55 miles

Steffie: 21.25 miles 

Bernie: 4.3 miles

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Remember, if you want me to track your miles for August, just shoot me a note and I will add you to the blog. If you are here already and I've got your numbers wrong, just shoot me...no, no, just let me know and I'll change it. I'm good with that. Cheers!

Day 23 - Taking That First Step

Yesterday I managed to take almost 15,000 steps; tallied by my trusty new BERNdometer (I love that thing).

My goal for this week is to walk at least 10,000 steps per day and yesterday surely was a GREAT start - just over 7 miles total.

But I want to talk about the first step...

da da DA (famous three dots in thriller movies and the like).

Taking That First Step.

Well, I can assure you, most sadly and sincerely, I have taken that first step more times than I care to count or admit.

Haven't we all?

THIS time I'm going to do it.

THIS time I'm going to lose this fat.

THIS time - say Monday - I'll begin my new life.

THIS time I'll stick to it.

THIS time - blah blah blah.

Been there?

Yep, we all have.

So what makes THIS first step different?

Ahhh...

Who says it's different?

I do. Because it is. THIS time I am doing it. I am losing this fat. I did NOT begin on a Monday. I am sticking to it.

This time the first step isn't going to be followed by blah blah blah.

Why?

Because after taking all those other first steps, missed steps, steps backwards and sideways, I now realize that the most important part of taking that first step is believing that I am worth taking the second and third and fourth and the millionth. All the way to the last step, when I've reached my goal and I can happily and healthfully say - THIS time I took that first step toward the rest of my life and I darn well deserve it.

And so do you. 

So here's to that first step, and the second and ALL the steps you'll take upon your journey. Every day, every moment, remember you deserve this, you ARE worth it, and even if you misstep, you will KEEP ON stepping toward good health.

So, go on, get to steppin'...

Till next time!

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August 100 Miles Challenge Update: 

Sandi: 19.25 miles

Anna:  24.6 miles

Kathy: 16.23 miles

Steffie: 21.25 miles 

Bernie: 4.3 miles

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Remember, if you want me to track your miles for August, just shoot me a note and I will add you to the blog. If you are here already and I've got your numbers wrong, just shoot me...no, no, just let me know and I'll change it. I'm good with that. Cheers!

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Realizing She Had More Freedom with Every Step

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Week 3 Complete - Whoopee, Look at Me!

It seems like just yesterday that we were getting in the car to head to Philly for the Biggest Loser Season 14 casting call.

Fast forward 3 WHOLE WEEKS (wherein a LOT of stuff happened, geez laWEEZ) and here we are - at the beginning of week 4; which means week three is OUTTA here.

Let's see how I did...

The (now famous) Recap:

Day 15: 291.6 - Never going to see THAT number again!

Day 16: WooHOO, the 100 Mile Challenge. How are YOU doing so far?

Day 17: It's all about life and chicken today.

Day 18: My letter to Floppy Boobie Lady - Hope she's doing well!

Day 19: My new BERN...er...BURNdometer (try saying THAT 4 times fast). YAY!

Day 20: More food; donuts this time, those evil little morsels of crappy goodness.

Day 21: We talked about food events - celebrate but don't make it a royal wedding kind of thing.

Day 22: 289 - How wonderful to be in the 8's. I even wrote about it once (well, DUH, lol), see my wonderful Eights article linked below.

Wait, hold on, WHAT?

Firstly?

I'm in the 8's. And I LOVE eights (written out or numbered, they are just the wicked sexiest number EVER!), click the link above and you'll see why!

Secondly?

Even with Aunt Flo here, I still managed to lose 2.6 pounds in week 3. Impressive numbers for sure as I am now down 17.4 pounds total in 3 WHOLE WEEKS.

YAYAYAYYAYAYYAYAYAY!

(Please let it be known, right here and now, that I have, throughout this blog, gone back and forth between numbering and writing out the numbers. EVERYBODY KNOWS 1-10 is supposed to be written BUT this is MY diary, 'nuff said.)

Okay, so what about Week Three, anyway?

I knew going in that there were going to be some challenges. Punky is home now and it's not ALL about me, as it was supposed to be till mid August. We're making that work, though. I've got her drinking more water, and I'm weighing her portions, AND she's walking all over the place with Mommy, too - today, a 5 mile round trip to the library, YAY!

I also had the icky challenge of getting through Aunt Flo's visit (won't you be glad when SHE'S gone so I stop bringing her up?), which can be a KILLER every month. Seriously - I make THAT visit an event, normally. Chocolate celebrations, wine and vodka, pizza and other salty good things. I can tell you true, all I gave in to were 2 tiny powdered donuts and I am pretty darn pleased with myself. Take THAT, Aunt Flo.

I had hoped, had actually thought, that I might be a tad less on the scale this morning - seriously felt like maybe 287. But I'm not bummed. With HER gone tomorrow, I do believe this week will be AMAZING and I cannot wait to see what good things LIFE will bring.

Remember my goal for week 3? To stay focused and true?

Done.

My goal for week 4?

Walk at least 10,000 steps per day, which equals about 5 miles per day and will totally ROCK the 100 Miles in August Challenge!

So Cheers to Week 3 and a 17.4 pound loss.

And HERE'S to Week 4, let's git 'er dun in style.

Till next time!

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August 100 Miles Challenge Update: 

Sandi:   12.25 miles

Anna:  24.6 miles

Kathy:  6 miles

Steffie: 21.25 miles 

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Remember, if you want me to track your miles for August, just shoot me a note and I will add you to the blog. If you are here already and I've got your numbers wrong, just shoot me...no, no, just let me know and I'll change it. I'm good with that. Cheers!

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I Need a Pedi, Yikes!

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Weekly Recaps:

Week One

Week Two

Week Three - is all that stuff above, sillies!

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Please always note: Any links contained within my blog posts will take you to sites that I have personally visited and consider safe to click. Whether it's a link to one of my Yahoo!Voices articles, another post in my blog, or another blog, etc., you may click each and every link with confidence!

Day 21 - Food is NOT an Event

Gary said something interesting to me the other day:

One must savor one's food. <-- paraphrasing to include everyone, not just me...

I disagreed...at first.

Because I have spent most of my adult life savoring food. Heck, I make it an event just about every time I sit down to eat.

This isn't about food that surrounds events (e.g., weddings, birthdays, cookouts, parties, etc.). This is making the actual meal an event.

I do that. A lot.

I get food placed in front of me and (as Gary says) it's almost ritualistic for me. The planning that goes into preparing to eat it, how every bite has to be the best bite, how it takes me the longest to finish my meal...

It has been said that those who chew their food well, taking time to enjoy it, rather than inhaling it all down in 5 seconds, SUPPOSEDLY weigh less.

In our house, I am the slowest eater by far; and the heaviest by far, too. So we KNOW that's not working.

Because I tend to make every meal an event.

It's not. Or it shouldn't be.

Food is meant as sustenance. A way of giving our bodies what they need for life. Keeping us healthy, strong, fit, balanced.

I am learning that.

And I am learning to savor my food. One healthy bite at a time, I am learning that while it shouldn't be an event, I most certainly must take the time to enjoy what I am putting in my mouth.

My body thanks me every time I do and that's certainly worth the next event...er...healthy meal.

This post is a bit jumbled, I think, sort of ambiguous (which is rare for me since I tend to OVER explain EVERYthing). However, I do believe you will understand what I'm trying to say.

And hopefully (if you recognize yourself, even a tad...) you can work your mind toward enjoying your food, really SAVORING it without hiring the band, blowing balloons, and hanging signs every time you sit down to eat.

Thank you, Papi, sincerely, for that!

Till next time!

NEXT TIME?

Whoa, cheesits. Tomorrow marks the first day of my fourth week, meaning today is the end of week 3 already. Boy, time flies when you are having fun getting fit. Meet me here tomorrow, where I'll break down the week, share my scale 'n' toes, and give you some insight about where we're headed. YAY!

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August 100 Miles Challenge Update: 

Sandi:   13 miles

Anna:  28.4 miles

Kathy:  6 miles

Steffie: 14 miles 

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Good FOR You, Not a Party!

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Day 20 - Powdered Donuts Can't Get Me...

Muuhahhhhahahhaha.

That's my evil laugh (if ya didn't know).

So let me tell you a little story...er...a long story, but worth it, I promise:

The day after Gary and I returned from the Philly Casting Call (for Biggest Loser 14, and yes, someday I'll share that story OR you'll have to wait for the book...) I went to the grocery store.

I went to the grocery store to purchase food (uh, duh, right?).

Healthy food. Veggies and Protein and Gluten free pasta, oh my.

I did all that.

I also purchased a bag of Hostess Powdered Donettes. You know, the mini powdered, cakey, oh so GOOD donuts that come in a bag of 20. I love these little donuts; these one bite donuts of goodness. I love them so much that on many occasions in the past I have eaten an entire bag in one sitting.

Yep sirreeee, I have.

So I got home and put all the groceries away, including those tasty treats of sweet goodness, and continued on with my life.

I was beginning the rest of my life that day and I was entirely prepared for what was to come...this time. I mean it.

Fast forward two weeks.

I found that bag of donuts while digging for some white rice one night.

"Oh, yah", I thought, "I remember these. Well, I'm not in the mood for them, now, so they can just sit there some more."

And they did. For another whole week.

And then I received a visitor of the cranky, crampy, downright bitchy kind. Yet I still didn't think about the donuts. Mags had found them earlier in the week and even she didn't say anything about them, knowing mommy was on a mission.

Then comes day two of Aunt Flo's visit.

I thought about those darn donuts all day long. I spent hours (in my head) discussing whether I should crack that bag. WHY I should crack that bag. IF I cracked the bag, how I could restrain myself from eating the WHOLE DARN bag.

By the time Gary got home from work I was ready for donuts. I told him during dinner that I had thought about those (by now, stale old donuts) all day long and after much reflection, decided that I could have 8 donuts with a glass of milk and still be under my calorie count for the day. This would satisfy the Auntie and I wouldn't be going crazy (like eating the entire bag).

HE said, "why don't you split that in half then, and just have four."

Hmmm...that's a thought.

So I went about doing my nightly things, including tucking Punky into bed. And then I went downstairs and got that bag of donuts out of the cupboard, grabbed a solo cup to measure out some milk, and having done so (5 ounces of 1%)...

Proceeded to place 2 of those OH SO TASTY, GOTTA HAVE 'EM donuts onto a plate and went upstairs to watch the Olympics with Papi.

I'm not sure who got more applause that night, me or Missy Franklin. But I can tell you that I savored every bite of those two donuts and drank every drop of that milk.

The donuts?

Were stale. Still worth it for the moment. But then I realized...

I've GOT this. I can DO this. I can be a food addict who recognizes my issues and works daily (moment by moment) to overcome my problem.

I may falter, I may fight, I may twist and turn and justify till I'm blue in the face.

And once in awhile, I may even give in.

But I will not fail. I will not allow those donuts or anything else to get in the way of my end goal.

Today?

Those donuts hit the trash. Stale old donuts that I wouldn't even let Mags eat. (Oh how she tried to wheedle just one...)

I'm teary-eyed at the end of this post. Sounds silly, right?

Maybe. But maybe you've been there too.

So here's to us. To overcoming temptations, hollow justifications, and (incredibly strong) weaknesses.

We can DO this. WE are worth the struggle and we WILL win this fight.

Till next time!

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August 100 Miles Challenge Update: 

Sandi:   9 miles

Anna:  24.6 miles

Kathy:  6 miles

Steffie: 14 miles 

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Remember, if you want me to track your miles for August, just shoot me a note and I will add you to the blog. If you are here already and I've got your numbers wrong, just shoot me...no, no, just let me know and I'll change it. I'm good with that. Cheers!

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No Big Bad Wolf is Going to Get ME!

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Day 19 - My New BERN...er...BURNdometer

OMG, so yesterday was BZZZZZZZZ Y!

I spent the bulk of the day running around with my kiddo - errands and back-to-school shopping and...oh, hey, I think I wrote about that once (are ya surprised? HA).

Check it out:

Hottest Backpacks for Girls - which reminds me, we have to head to Freeport before school starts.

ANYway, I want to talk about my package.

The one I received when I returned home (EXHAUSTED) yesterday.

PREZZZZZZIES!!!

I love presents.

Okay, I'm a tiny bit all over the place today. Let's get focused.

So, the other day I was on the Facecrack and my dear new friend Bernie sent me a link to Amazon for a pedometer that she had just purchased. I had planned to go on Thursday to buy a pedometer but my car schedule got switched and so I was just going to grab one Friday. Till she sent me this AWESOME link.

Here it is, if you are interested:

Ozeri 4X3Razor Digital Pocket Pedometer

...and it ROCKS! Heck, it does everything BUT walk your steps for you, YAY!

The price is right too, which is good because I'm on a budget and I don't like spending money on just me stuff most of the time. For less than $20 you can have the pedometer of your dreams (or pretty close to it, since what I LUST for is the FitBit, though that will just have to wait...) AND be walking/running/jogging (with proper support) your way to healthy.

This fancy pancy BERN...er...BURNdometer even tracks your calories burned, as well as keeps track up to 99 days for ALL steps taken...

But WAIT, there's more...

BAHHAHAHAHAHA.

Did I sound like Billy Mays (RIP) there for a minute?

ANYway.

I have named my new pedometer, in honor of the woman who linked it to me.

BERNdometer...or BURNdometer, if you're so inclined. I'm BURNING cals and BERNIE recommended it so there ya go.

Well, actually, Mr. Bernie found it but that's a whole nother story.

Now listen, my dear friend Bernie is not just a linky loo. She is totally awesome in all sorts of other ways too.

She blogs. Go on, click the link (I said); it's a crazy mixed bag but you won't be sorry.

She loves dogs. She's funny and smart. And she happens to be afflicted with much of the same crazy I have - though I will leave that up to you to decipher.

So that's it, all about my new little friend that is now attached at the hip (NOT Bernie, sillies, my new BERNdometer) and happily helping me on the way to a healthier ME.

YAY!

Till next time!

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August 100 Miles Challenge Update: 

Sandi:   6 miles

Anna:  18 miles

Kathy:  6 miles

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Remember, if you want me to track your miles for August, just shoot me a note and I will add you to the blog. If you are here already and I've got your numbers wrong, just shoot me...no, no, just let me know and I'll change it. I'm good with that. Cheers!

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Sasha Loves the Catnip

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