Yep, resolution time!!

Why do we set new resolutions?  I pretend I don't but I actually have a mental running list that evolves along the way but remains pretty solid year to year.  Lose weight (no matter size small or size large), exercise (wish I could get over my lack of enthusiasm) and eat healthy (love veggies but love sugar more)!! Never veers far from this list.

Add to this year's list...meet an interesting man! Plan my 50th birthday party (yes, I am throwing myself a party...maybe small but I am having one!). Do more charitable good (actually charity is almost always on the list but it goes without saying, if I can I donate...this year I want to actually do charitable deeds).

Although I do want to focus on growing my business, the resolution is to balance my personal and professional life.  The past few months have not been balanced and I do feel my healthy life-style has suffered a bit (not happy with my food choices or lack of exercise) but I am focused....re-focused, renewed, re-energized!

Hope you all find a surge for 2012 that will help you stay on track with your personal goals.  Wishing everyone a blessed New Year.  Not my best pic....but I am going to post one every month for motivation!

Ooops!!

Well, It has been a while since last post...oops!!  Not trying to hide but work has been all consuming and I am just taking a little break before going back to work...yep....on a Sunday night.  We have a HUGE presentation on Tuesday, then head right into Christmas!!  Where has this year gone?

To catch up, I have not been doing well with food or consistency.  I feel like I have been working round the clock and ignoring all my personal priorities....eating well, exercising, staying on track with personal commitments.  Ugh....really hate that my work once again is consuming me.

So a week before Christmas!  My gift to myself this year is a renewal of focus and commitment.  I need to get through this week, then hopefully things will settle down and I can get this show on the road.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and I will see you in the New Year!!

Great start...I think?

I started this week with an AM walk with the pup, then cardio-blast, fruit smoothie for breakfast, soup at lunch and tuna salad for dinner finished off with my PM walk!  So that is a great start....then I had the beer and chips!! Crap!!! 85% is better than nothing but I want a week of no bad choices! So my goals this week are each day to improve the "good" percentage!!

I have decided to approach exercise as a ritual....like brushing my teeth or washing my face...every day no excuse because who walks around with dirty teeth and face! Same logic applies to exercise and making the right choices for food.  This might be the key for me.....maybe?

33 days and counting until the New Year.  I am using the next 33 days to set a great platform for 2012.  No excuses will be allowed after 2012 starts....even if that means a daily blog log of my activities and every little thing that goes into my mouth.....EVERYTHING!!

I know this is achievable!  I just need to keep setting the small goals for myself until I reach the big one!

Thanksgiving all year long!!

So I decided to stay in Virginia this year during Thanksgiving for a multitude of reasons but money and work being primary.  I am sad that I will not see all my kids at once which brings me such a great sense of "family" and unconditional love as I have ever experienced.  In that context, there is not amount of money I wouldn't pay to have one hour with them.  Heavy heart...and the hope of seeing them soon.

I have managed in spite of my stressed work schedule and erratic eating to lose weight.  I honestly can't figure it out.  When I try the hardest, it sticks like glue and when I throw it all to the wind, I lose! Stupid!

Regardless, I have come to the realization that I like feeling better about the way I eat when doing it "right" and my meager attempts at physical activities.  Walking my dog still seems to be my favorite form and one I can not deny especially when little brown eyes are staring me down.  Smartest decision I ever made.

I hope to walk 5 miles in the AM with my "Ladies of Fairfax" group then maybe a special breakfast at Bob Evans then a movie with popcorn with a dear friend later.  I am sure I will speak to family and friends throughout the day but nothing will ease the pain of being alone during the holidays.  Big girl made a bad decision!!  Next year I am planning to be in Alabama come hell or high water....now who's with me....Bev??

Okay, enough for the pity party.  I truly wish everyone the best for this Thanksgiving and the rest of the year until we find ourselves here again.  It has been a great year, new beginnings, and positive outlook ahead.  I am blessed, happy, and enjoying this last year of my forties.

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!!

New York has come and gone....

Lot's of fun in the Big Apple, made great connections that may lead to new projects, saw friends in the design industry, cool new product and one fabulous Todd English restaurant.  May have to incorporate some of the ideas into a future project.

Best part of the trip was seeing my friend Ginger and her babies.  Miss Casey is 16 months old and a complete baby-doll!! I love any little girl that wears pink and looks so cute in mommy's glasses!  Big brother Aaron loves his little sis too!  Too little time!

Big confession....no surprise....I went off the rails on food and drink while in NYC! Refuse to step on the scales until this time next week!! By then I will have gotten back on my narrow track and back into my exercise routine and hopefully have leveled out some so my over-indulgences aren't so devastating. 

Okay, two steps forward, one back, keep trying, one foot after the other! I will get there....one step at a time.    Next milestone is getting through the holidays (Thanksgiving-New Year) without gaining weight....and hopefully losing some.  High priority is getting Cardio Blast into a 3x week program.

So with cold weather on the way, black bean soup is in order!  May need to make a big batch this weekend to last through the week.  Yummy!

Cardio Blast!

Well, I started with Cardio Blast yesterday! So far no sore muscles....which for someone who does not lift anything heavier than a fork...that's saying a lot.  I may need to increase the weights to actually feel pain but right now I am concentrating on balance and fluidity!  The biggest obstacle being my "work-out" space which is in the bedroom.  To further challenge myself, the bed is blocking the TV when I am doing anything "low" but I will hopefully learn the routine soon enough to not need the video as much.  Below is a link if you are interested in seeing what I am up to these days.

Halloween wasn't as bad as it could have been.  Thankfully I did not have candy in my house and other than my dipping into the stash Monday night and two reeses cups at lunch Tuesday, no sugar since.  I think I dodge a bullet this time.  Now if I could just get through the holidays without indulging in my sweet obsessions!

Started doing a fruit smoothie with Almond milk for breakfast this week.  Can't figure the right ratio of fruit to milk yet but it's getting there.  Not bad, but I want it to be a little "smoother" than it has been.  Any good recipes out there send them my way.  Prefer to stay with almond milk rather than soy or rice.....but otherwise open to ideas.

Added MorningStar Farms® Meal Starters® Grillers® Recipe Crumbles to my favorite black bean soup recipe and was not overly impressed with the outcome.  It was not bad but it changed the taste enough that it wasn't worth the effort.  I might try them again with my chili recipe.  I had a really good lemon chicken Greek soup Wednesday I wish I knew how to make.  Any recipes send them my way.  If nothing, then I will continue to stop in for this little treat at my neighborhood Greek restaurant.

So far a good week for both exercise and food.  Still holding steady but maybe with the weekend activities (extra long walk Sunday AM planned and a Ghost Tour in the evening) I will be able to see some movement on the scale.

Next weekend is NYC and I know that there will be some indulgences...moderation is key!! But I am going to enjoy my time there!! Yeehaw!

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Halloween and Candy

Well here we are on one of the toughest days for a candy junkie like me.  Seriously!  And like any good addict...I agreed to pass out candy for friends while they walked around with their boys.  So far 6 fun bite sizes....and I think I am done....I hope!!  I avoid buying candy for my house because I know who will be eating most of it....yep....ME! Even if I buy stuff I don't like....I eat it!

My goals this week are to eat clean and lean.  I made vegetarian soup this weekend and plan to eat soup, salads and fruits for the next two weeks in an effort to shed the last four lbs before my NYC trip.  I know I can do this and feel confident that I will reach my goal.  When I return from NYC, my next milestone will be set.

I am also going to incorporate a Step Class into my work out routine starting tomorrow.  This class focuses on toning muscle and something I desperately need.  Primary focus being my large rear-end, flabby arms and middle section.  I really don't think I can do much with the boobs except a new bra!!

So no major set-back last week, no highlights either.  Sometimes holding steady is an accomplishment too!!

Jazzercise is Back!

So happy to report that my cable is back in order and my Jazzercise class is ready when I am.  I still want to supplement the walking and Jazzercise with one more at-home routine.  I have the Elliptical but lost my TV in that room...I guess ipod will have to substitute until I can afford to replace my little 13" vintage friend!

I managed to shed 3 lbs of the 7 lbs gained while in CA....Yeah!!  My goal is to shed the remaining four before I head to NYC in November.  I would hope with my head on straight even more than 4 lbs is possible.  I will be seeing a ton of business associates, vendors and potential clients...need to look professional and feel sensational!!

I am struggling with my sleep these days...not sure if it is hot-flashes or something else but I keep waking around 3-4 am and immediately need to shed covers.  I haven't changed my hormone dosage in the last few weeks so very puzzling.  I may try a few days of full dosage and see if that helps.  Nothing is worse than facing a full day of work and trying to stay on my path with little sleep.

It's definitively Monday!  I started my day at the dentist which due to my sensitivity makes even regular cleanings painful, followed by a full day of work with fire's to put out, ending in a drenching tonight while walking my pup.  Yep....Monday!!

All things considered, I feel confident that the week will be great.  Lots of small goals to face and hopefully most will be met.  Hope you all are on track as well.

Oh Sweet Temptations!

Yes, I caved!  I have this awful river of sweet-loving temptation that flows through my veins.  I was doing so well ( Mon-Tues) when it hit me on the back of the head and I caved into baking cookies.  Luck would have it....I was out of vanilla extract and substituted with almond extract.  I also used almond milk rather than cow's milk.  Let's just say that they were not exactly what I was hoping for and they are not so tempting now!  Saved by the "I-can't-cook" bell again!

The good news....I am out of refined sugar and will not replenish!  I also finished "Skinny Bitch."  That was one hard read!  I honestly had to skim through a lot of the slaughter house part.  I realize being a farm gal, what goes on to get meat to my table but this was too much.  If you are not a vegan for health reasons alone, do it for humane reasons!  I am inching closer. All vegan so far today!

Last soda was Sunday.  Not replenishing those either!  I am not a soda junkie but one is too many when you consider the chemicals.  I actually love water and tea so no real struggle on this one.  Coffee...GET-YOUR-MITTS-OFF! No how-no way am I ready to give this one up! Move on to the next item on the list!

Dog and I did our 1.5 mile walk this morning but had to cut our evening walk in half.  Started out with a little mist...hat....check!  Before long it started to come down harder and less than a mile later we both were soaked and cold.  Time for hot tea, snuggie and my two cuddle buddies.

Oh...before I forget! I did watch the DVD sent by BKD of Fast and Furious.  Not sure if I can do all that jumping around yet but the instructor is a little hottie and worth watching!!  I promise to give my honest assessment of my performance once I get out of the chair and lace up the tennies.

First Day....AGAIN!!

Okay, dang it....I am so frustrated with myself! This is the true first day, first week of my 50 to FIT in 50 challenge and I am up 7 lbs!! How the heck did that creep up you ask...follow me my friend and I will tell you.  It all started with a trip to wine country...and ended with an Octoberfest last night.  And that is the only story I am telling.  It is the past and I am moving forward.  Unfortunately for me, one week of damage takes four weeks to remove....if I follow my plan to the letter.  Guess I have my work cut out for me.

Okay, so the day after my 49th birthday....yeah me!  Made it this far so lets keep moving.  Keep moving.  Today I am doing a charity event with my walking ladies (live painting for hunger relief...fun!) and then I am going to plan my week of food, exercise (popping in Fast and Furious), and preparing myself for an extremely busy work week.

It has been a beautiful fall weekend and most of the people that matter most to me have remembered to call for my birthday.  I love hearing the voice mails left by two of my nephews...hope the other two sweeties will call today.  I am up to 10 saved VM all from my babies.  I hope blackberry never loses them.

So the good out weighs the bad this week.  I am moving forward and this will be the last time I see that number on the scale (even if I have to drown that fancy scale in the tub)!! Love and Light!

Wow! A week late!

I actually thought I would post last week mid-week and another on the weekend! Time flew by and I missed both dates.  I can only hope this is not a sign of things to come.  Busy with work and preparing for the trip to California just zapped all my personal time.

I can't blame my bad behavior on CA....nope that is just about bad old ME creeping back around.  She has been on my back all last week and still hanging around this week.  Less walking than I like and eating a few unmentionables!! I think reading "Skinny Bitch" is not having the desired effect like I had hoped.  The book actually (while having some good information) has managed to turn me off a little with their style of writing.  I get it....your cool....hip...and playing to a younger audience...but COME ON...really?! Every sentence is meant to "shock" the reader into jumping on the band-wagon and giving up all their "shitty" ways and how else to do this than to speak the lingo of the younger generation....when all else fails and proper English just won't do....CURSE!!  Now anyone who knows this gal knows I curse like a sailor with the best of them.  Where I take offense is that my niece and other very young girls like her are reading this book and I just think the message gets lot in all the bullshit.  Yep, I cursed!!  But hey....it sold millions of books and I have a blog with three followers....Asshole, mother-fucking skinny rich bitches!! Not bitter....and still not skinny....always a bitch!!

So...I have promised my loyal follower Bev that with her Fast and Furious CD in my possession, I will be blogging about my attempts to do the fast and furious program.  Yippee....can't wait! More cursing in my future for sure!  I appreciate the support and will make her proud!!

I have a red-eye flight tonight which will put me home at 7:00 am with a day of serious work ahead of me.  I hope to be in bed by 9:00 pm on Thursday night.  If I make that time, it will be a first since I was a child.  There is something wrong with a gal that can't fall asleep before midnight!

Thanks ladies....keep following and maybe you will see me succeed in reaching my goals...or just learn more about my insane internal conversation than you ever wanted to know.

Skinny Bitch here I come!

I picked up the book today from the library and will be reading about why I shouldn't eat anything with a face or mommy....gross!  While at the library I saw a book about fighting your sugar addictions....my next read....which is my real problem.  I am not alone either.  Seems most women are prone to crave carbs (sugar being the biggest culprit) while men crave protein.  How 'bout I crave them both!

It rained yesterday and today and we still got in our three mile walks.  Rain will not stop us.  Once bundled up you can barely feel the drops.  We do need to get my little guy a rain-proof jacket.  The oven-mitt just doesn't keep the rain off his back.

I did manage to lose a pound...now if I keep this up and lose a pound a week...happy dance happy dance happy dance!!  I personally prefer it come off and stay off one pound at a time.  I know where I failed this past week and I know when I was able to stay on track and overall it was a great week.  I can do this!!

So, going to find my DVD's and plan the next week's schedule! Oh...trying Almond milk in my cereal this week.  My first concession to nothing with a face....and naturally lactose free!  It's going to be a nice crisp week with plenty to do.  Check back with me mid week.... hopefully I will have something interesting to write. 'Nite!

Rough close to the week

Very stressful day.  I'll refrain from writing the boring details but needless to say I popped a cork around noon!  Two glasses while I dealt with the issues at hand...by 6:00 pm, I needed to end my work day or start on a third glass!!

Couldn't even sleep late this morning....had a very spookie dream I was being stalked and it was way too real so up at 5:30 am sending my first work email.  It has been a messy day and one I am ready to end.

Overall the week has been good.  I have walked my pup morning and night averaging minimum of 3 miles a day...know this is not enough and will try to supplement this coming week with some exercising.  I have a few DVDs purchased over the past decade that are sure to work plus I have a fabulous elliptical machine in my home! So that is # 1 goal for week two...add in some exercise at least three days a week.

Did OK on food but could leave off the wine, beer, french fries, popcorn....I am sure I am forgetting something!  My true goal is more fruit and veggies.  I have been wanting to read "Skinny Bitch" and may do that this next week.  Just a little scared of the ucky details about meat.  Will post as I wade through that one!

So-so on the Bible reading, getting more sleep, getting up on time....yada yada yada.  Maybe that attitude is my problem....just sayin!

I am still committed.  Still hopeful.  Still going to make this work.  Wish me luck!!

Thursday let down

I am starting to feel "bluesy" a bit.  I am all geared up at the beginning of the week then I fall out of love with my new goals.  UGH! Fatigue already!  Maybe I am just sleepy....but I have made a decision that my posting can not be an every night function.  I will post either Sat or Sun and fill you in on the highs and lows.  But since we started with this week let me finish today and Friday for the record!

Walked the pup as expected...yeah! This evening it was actually chilly and a very welcome change.  The weekend will be even cooler and I may take my pup for an extra long walk somewhere fun. Maybe down by the river.

Breakfast and dinner were on track....lunch I had fries with my grilled chicken...oh well.  My goal is next time to cut out the fries.  Or maybe skip fast food completely.  The problem is that food is boring to me especially when I am cooking so I look for my excitement in a little fast food or junk ever once in a while.  I just wonder if I could cook it would be different??

I am heading to bed and I hope to sleep in tomorrow morning because I can. :-) although Scooter will not let me sleep too late regardless! Good night!

Hump DAy

Well, I have had three beer so no telling where this is going to go…I am really sleepy and want to go to bed now….but I must walk the dog (really not much of a walk) and read my Bible (although I will fall asleep in my mind even if I do manage to keep my eyes open)…need to wash my face too!!

Got up late but got my morning and evening walks in, ate healthy each meal (with the except of three beers…remember from above) but I did not drink enough water today and I am dehydrated….and sleepy….mentioned that already too….

So boring and sleepy is going to bed!!

The SALAD and Green Rice!

Okay, let's start by saying...I did read my Bible last night...check!  I did make it to bed by 11:30 pm...check!  I did get up on time...check! I did walk Scooter 1.5 miles....check!!

Today was project related....met a rep for lunch and viewed furniture for a project.  Blah...blah...blah! Let's get to the most important part of my day....the SALAD!! My favorite salad with grilled chicken and pita chips.  To die for and I do every time.  I crave this and I DON'T crave salads....EVER!  There is no way to describe how yummy and perfect this salad is...just trust me on this.

And here is where it goes off rail...I caved into my sugar chocolate beast and had the new Reese's Mini PB Cups...pure evil for them to do that.  Mini's?! Really! No unwrapping...just pop them in your mouth.  And due to rain, Scooter and I opted to hit the dog park before the rain hit us.  So no walking. Boo.

But I still had the SALAD so my day was great!

Also Yummy...just keep in mind if you use Basmati, it takes 50 mins for the rice to cook so factor that into the total time spent on the stove!!


Recipe: Green rice pilaf by Mark Bittman
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons neutral oil (like grapeseed or corn)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cups rice, preferably basmati
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock or water, or more as needed
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh cilantro
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh mint
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Soy sauce for serving
Preparation
Put the oil in a deep skillet or large saucepan over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the rice
and cook, stirring, until glossy, about 1 minute. Add the stock or water and a good sprinkling of salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
Turn the heat down to low, cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is almost entirely absorbed, about 15 minutes. Uncover, remove from the heat and stir in the
herbs. Replace the lid and let rest off the heat for at least 10 minutes or up to 20 minutes (50 mins for Basmati). Uncover and stir in the lemon zest; taste and adjust the seasoning. Fluff the pilaf
with a fork, and serve warm or at room temperature with a drizzle of soy sauce.
Time: 30 to 40 minutes

Monday...all day long

I did not get off to the best start...slept horrible which broke first rule...go to be early, get plenty of rest, rise early! But Scooter and I made it out the door for our morning 1.5 mile walk and a repeat 2 mile walk this evening! Check!

So today I end with a preview of some of my goals which I will update as I go....
1) Go to bed before 11:30 (which means doggie pee-break by 11:00) and do not watch Chelsea Handler! Sleep!! And get up when the alarm goes off at 6:30...if not out of the bed...at least pretend until 7:00 that you are getting up.
2) Walk minimum 3 miles a day...easy with restless, energetic puppy.  Been doing this one for a while. Check!!  Jazzercise class on TV is not available anymore so looking for alternate class options...more to come.
3) Eat more whole fruits and veggies! Easy for the most part but some days I crave (cave) for carbs like cereal, popcorn, toast (I'll just have toast! :-)), anything chocolate (anything with sugar), pasta....you get my drift.
4) No processed food!  It is possible since I have been doing this pretty much since last year except for the exceptions....see # 3 (second part)...and was on track until vacation hiccups (beer, wine, chips, and one unfortunate incident with a can of frosting....thanks for opening that Cynthia).  In my efforts to cure myself from life-long intestinal  issues, this step and # 3 (first part) have gone a long way to getting me pain free.  Removing dairy from my diet was the biggest success!!
5) Read the Bible daily.  For many years, this has been a morning exercise I almost always did before work.  Somewhere along last year when I started stressing over losing my job...I stopped.  Doesn't make sense to me either.  I needed it then....and I really need it NOW!!

Okay, so let's recap...# 1 failed last night which lead to a late start today, # 2 check, # 3 veggies at dinner only, # 4 failed - cereal for breakfast and rice (home-made green rice-yummy) for lunch, and # 5...planning to right between walking dog and going to bed.

Enough for tonight.  More "rules/guidelines" to come as I think of them.  Plus I'll tell you about my Tuesday lunch!  Good night!

My first day

I will be turning 50 soon...in 54 weeks! So I have been trying to come up with motivation to make myself fabulous at 50! Getting Fit, Healthy, Energized....all the things I am not currently. I am healthy but I mean really super health conscious in every aspect of my life…sleep, food, exercise, mental, emotional, spiritual…full-body full-on Healthy!  With the main challange defined, “how to start” was my next challenge.  I want to be accountable. I want to commit and stay committed.  How better to do this than to expose myself to your critic.  I may start and stop several times before finding my stride but I do believe it is possible for me to do this challenge. I am not sure of the relationship I expect from you but here you are and here I go…on my mission...50 weeks to Fit at 50 years of age!!