Caution: School Zone

What??  Two posts in the same week?

I have a good friend a few years younger than me who is working on getting her Master’s Degree.  She also has five children (two of whom are in college, one of those about to get married), works a full-time job and is involved in all of her kids’ sports activities.  I jokingly said to her the other day, “You’re such an over-achiever!”  And truthfully, it was meant as a compliment.  That conversation, along with several other nuggets of wisdom I’ve heard over the years, has started me thinking about my own “education.” 

My first-grade teacher for as long as I can remember signed off on her letters and emails with “When you’re through learning, you’re through.”  Wise words, Mrs. Sharp…

My college Accounting professor, Margaret Wright, was the perfect picture of a professional who was always prepared and pushed us to expect more from ourselves. 

My mother used to borrow a phrase from Shakespeare, “To thine own self be true.”  I always took that to mean, “Don’t lie to your mother!”  (I think I had a guilty conscience!)  But I realize now she really meant me to stop long enough to consider not only what I was saying, but what I was doing…to take into consideration if what I was doing was beneficial and good for me and not harmful to others. 

For years my patient husband has said, “Eat less, move more.”  Never, ever in a condescending or critical way, just practical advice for staying fit and healthy.  Seriously, he deserves a medal for how patient he has been with me over the years …

My Weight Watchers leader, Ellen, is a former school teacher…every week her meetings are chock full of information that we soak up like sponges…information that is backed by research from a company that has been in business for almost 50 years helping people lose weight and get fit.  She gives us the tools we need to win this battle! Eat right.  Be active.  Stay on target.  Get up and go.  Power up.  Treat yourself.  And in good school-teacher fashion, she doesn’t just give us the answers … she makes US give HER the answers!  And … she gives BRAVO stars when you get the answers right!  Ellen has some amazing aides in her classroom … Cynthia, Gina and all the folks at the check-in tables weighing us in, giving us encouragement, celebrating with us, giving us a pep talk when needed … seriously, I look forward to Fridays just so I can see all of them!  Each of these ladies has been down the weight-loss road.  They are living proof that it can be done.  I’m learning a lot from them about losing it, maintaining it, but most importantly, living it.

So … if you’re ready to achieve more, if you’re not through learning, if you’re ready to do something beneficial for yourself … and if you’re on your own road to weight loss or fitness, consider Weight Watchers.  It’s a healthy approach to weight loss that will help you reach your goals ... one pound at a time.

Quarterly stats: Lost ~ 50.6 pounds (95 to go!)
                         Lost ~ 23.75 inches
                         Lost ~ 3 dress sizes

                         Gain ~ 50.6 pounds of mobility
                         Gain ~ 23.75 inches of flexibility
                         Gain ~ 3 dress sizes of confidence

A Few of My Favorite Things

My poor neglected blog...I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't let this happen...

Before I get started,  I have to say I’m “borrowing” this title from one of my daughter’s posts in her blog, although the content will be quite differnt.  Click to see her blog, The Dairy Queen ... http://www.thedairyqueenmama.wordpress.com/

As I’ve progressed down this weight-loss/health road, there are a few things I’ve come to rely on as my “go-to” things for success. 

Foods

Well, of course I would start with foods!  Most people who know me fairly well know that I am a BIG breakfast fan and a BIG breakfast eater.  There’s an old saying, “Eat breakfast like a King (Queen!), lunch like a Prince(ss) and dinner like a pauper.”  Don’t know how well that fits in the current guidelines for healthy eating, but if I could, I would eat this way every day.  Now back in the day, my breakfasts were very heavy, fat-laden feasts.  I’m still feasting these days, but much more sensibly.  Breakfast always includes some kind of fresh fruit (I’ll be sad to see the summer fruits going away soon), protein (typically egg whites and cheese), carbs of some sort (I like to indulge myself with a home-made flour tortilla or a whole-wheat sandwich round) and a glass of milk….oh, and salsa…always salsa!   I have a few other breakfast meals that satisfy me, and I just swap around each morning with whatever I either feel like eating or have time to prepare.   

I’ve become a huge snacker…I’m constantly eating…usually every 3-4 hours I’m popping something in my mouth.  Some of my current favorites are:  Mini Babybel Light cheese, whole natural almonds, Laughing Cow cheese wedges, Greek yogurt, graham crackers, a fabulous spinach dip that I pick up in the dairy section at Wal-Mart, Melba toast, 94% fat-free microwave popcorn, Jello-O sugar-free pudding, Lindy’s Italian Ice, Edy’s Pineapple fruit bars…oh the list is endless!  One of the great benefits of attending Weight Watchers meetings is that people are always sharing their favorite food finds that are PointsPlus-friendly! 

Exercise

My favorite and most-used exercise “tool” is my RunKeeper app on my iPhone.  I plug my headphones in, start my activity and away I go on a walk (or any other activity you choose) and the RunKeeper lady will cue me every five minutes on how far I’ve walked, the pace at which I’m walking and my current speed.  It’s become a huge motivator to walk farther and faster. 

I’ve invested in a few articles of clothing to make me feel super comfy when I walk (please note…comfy, not fashionable, is the operative word here)!  I’ve discovered that anything touching me on my arms or around my neck drives me crazy!!  I feel like I’m being strangled or suffocated!  So, because I’m still in the weight-loss process and haven’t wanted to spend a lot of money on clothes just yet, I’ve found that Danskin makes some great gear at a super price and they have a good selection at Wal-Mart…from shorts to capris to tanks or Ts and even sports bras (another essential)!  I have spent more serious money on two items…a great pair of running shoes and some compression/bike shorts.  Seriously, if you’re going to do any kind of physical exercise, invest in good shoes before anything else.  And get a proper fit…if you don’t know how your shoes should fit, go to a store where there are professionals who can help you with this.  It is time and money well spent.  And the compression or bike shorts…you know those super tight-fitting, hopefully moisture-wicking shorts that some people actually look great in?  I wear them under my regular work-out pants or shorts.  They have made a huge difference in my comfort level when exercising.  When you’re on a weight-loss plan and especially if you have a lot of weight to lose (or if gravity has begun to take hold!) these amazing shorts help hold things in place!  TMI??

So...discover things that keep you "in the game."  Your list of go-to items that will help you be successful on your own fitness journey.