162 and counting...

Ok.  This is it.  This is my 102 day count down to getting married.  Getting married is a way bigger commitment than I am about to make... So why have I been hesitating to put this other commitment in writing????  Because I am afraid I will fail!!!!  That's why!  I haven't been particularly successful  yet.... Of course I haven't committed to it wholly yet either....

Oh... Are you wondering what I am talking about?  Losing ten pounds before the wedding, that's what!

I believe this is harder for someone like me.  I eat a healthy diet.  I don't eat fast food.  I don't snack on pretzels and candy bars.  I do exercise.  I eat tons of veggies.  I am a woman over fifty--so I have hormones-gone-crazy. 

I don't have fifty pounds to lose, just ten or fifteen--I would be delighted with ten!  It's not like I can give up snacking and voila!  Ten pounds melts away!  Or start exercising and poof!  There goes that flabby middle.

No, I need to rethink portions.

I need to vamp up my exercise.

And... I need to start now!!!!  

Every day, I have the opportunity to choose differently.  And so far... everyday I have not made the choice.  Days slip by, unobtrusive... and nothing is noticed... nothing changes... it is the easy path. Why do I choose the easy path which does not get me to my goal?

Maybe the goal is too big, and the action steps too fuzzy.  Maybe I haven't asked for support, out of embarrassment or self-consciousness.  Time to change that.

This is me.  All 162 pounds! 

 

And I am asking for your support!  It can be in the form of sending positive messages.... or mental thoughts.... or not offering cookies when you see me!  I tried my wedding dress on... yup--definitely will look better sans 10 pounds!!!!

I pushed the RESET button today-- I started a five day sugar cleanse!   I will let you know how I did after the five days!

Are you hiding behind those same old resolutions again...?

Have you ever been in that place where you you've made an announcement... Like " I'm going to lose 10 pounds" and then not followed through?  Have you ever complained about your job and insisted it was time to make a change, and then stayed put?  Have you ever made a New Years resolution?

I've been thinking about how sometimes, our intentions, goals, vision boards may in fact hold us back.  When we don't follow through, a small part of our attention stays stuck in that place--the place where we feel we failed.  We walk around a little embarrassed, wondering if people remember we said we were going to lose those 10 pounds by now... And haven't done it.

We don't pick ourselves up and start over.  We burrow a little deeper inside of ourselves, we get a bit more stuck, we become a bit less engaged.  Over time, these pile up and by the time we are middle age so many of us live a life of resigned acceptance that we aren't going to have the life we want.  That this is all there is.

Well poop.  Shake off that mantle and shake things up!  So what if you didn't lose those 10 pounds, look for a new job or learn to play the piano.... Start today!  Yes, you have to admit you didn't do it when you said you would.  Yes, some people will say, "oh there she (he) goes again," --and who cares what anyone else thinks?  They will likely still be sitting on their duff complaining about others next year too --do you really care?  And do YOU want to be one of those people?

Just like music swells....then gets quiet... Then gets loud and fast and crescendos... your life is like that too.  Go with it.  There will always be ups and downs.

Remember all of the famous people that have failed....

• Oprah was fired from one of her first jobs because she was unfit for TV!
• Walt Disney was told a mouse would never work... --right.
• J.K. Rowling was on welfare.
• Jerry Seinfeld was booed off the stage his first time at a comedy club.
• Stephen King received 30 rejections for "Carrie."

Can you imagine NO Stephen King novels?  NO Oprah?  NO Mickey Mouse???  Of course not.  The only difference between you and any of these people, is they didn't give up.  They didn't turn inward. They got back on the horse.

  A friend gave me a quote to hang on my wall a while back.  It said:

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, 

but anybody can start today and make a new ending."

I love that thought, because it gives any of us hope!  It reminds us we ALWAYS have choices.

So, did you say again that this year you would lose that 10 pounds?  Make this the year you change your behavior... You choose healthier food, you choose to exercise, you choose to live healthier!

The only one in your way.... Is you!

Live Life in Crescendo!

I recently heard this quote, and I am sorry, I do not know who to attribute it to.  It is this....

"Live Life in Crescendo!"
 

What a great thought.  How often have you met a 60 or 70 year old who is trudging through life, bored, waiting to die.  Or a young gen Y who is sliding along, not paying attention to what is important to him or her, rather bored with the whole thing called life.

It gets my dander up, I'll tell you!  Life is for living!  It is about choices!  It is about the present moment!  Why choose boredom?  Why not choose adventure?  Why not take a risk? 

I recently heard a doctor talking about Type 2 Diabetes.  HE said, it is a choice.  Did you know that Type 2 diabetes was called Adult Onset Diabetes not long ago?  Why did they change the name???  Because so many children are now getting diabetes that it was no longer just an adult disease.  And why are more children getting it???  BECAUSE  THEIR PARENTS ARE CHOOSING TO REMAIN IGNORANT ABOUT HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES.  BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ARE CHOOSING TO GO THE FAST ROUTE FOR FEEDING THEIR CHILDREN AND NOT THE HEALTHY ROUTE!

Every time you choose MacDonalds over a healthy meal, you are choosing Type 2 diabetes.  Every time you choose high carb, high sugar meals, you are choosing type 2 diabetes.  Your choice.

But I am not just talking about health here--although, if you know me, you know it is one of my passions!  I am also talking about your job, your daily activities, where you live... everything!  When I chose to retire from Montessori and move to the NYC area... that was pretty risky!  It has certainly been challenging at times, but I have grown from it.  I have not been bored, I can tell you that!  And, I am different because of it.  Better I hope, but definitely different.

Choosing to be an Entrpeneur--that is challenging--and growth inspiring! Moving from a definite paycheck each week to a residual income that is entirely dependent on my daily actions--well that is anything but boring.  And, coupled with physically moving from rural to Metropolitan, which has been uniquely difficult for me, really mixes things up.  So here I am, a year later, honking horns with the best of them!  Yes, it has forced me to grow and to change.  Yes, it keeps me in the present moment.  Alive.  Aware. Engaged.  

So--my new motto is definitely,

"Live Life in Crescendo!"

 

No boredom allowed around here--there is too much to do! Too much to see.  Too much to experience.  Go ahead, take a chance on something different.  It doesn't have to be huge--it could be a new hobby.  It could be trying out ballroom dancing-- canoeing-- painting.  Just remember--we all have choices in life.  We all can choose to stay engaged in life.

Gotta run--there are things to do and places to go!

 

Me? Deny my humble,farm girl upbringing???

Recently I had some house guests. We were getting ready to eat --grilled burgers, salad, etc. When I pulled out the cloth napkins, along with plates, silver wear and glasses to set the table. One of my guests asked me if I didn't have paper plates and napkins.... Actually, I didn't.  I do use them on occasion, when I am not home, but at home, I prefer 'the real deal', so to speak. Am I putting on airs? Am I too good to use paper products? Am I denying my humble, farm girl upbringing?

Not one bit.  But do I like to eat at a well set table?  You bet.  Do I like my home to feel beautiful and well-kept?  Uh-huh.  Why?  And what does this have to do with health anyway?  Well, initially, I was just thinking about why I prefer "real" table settings.  For one thing, ecologically, it is a better choice.  I have to remind myself of that as I wash, dry and fold the 40th napkin of the week... but yes, I believe it is the right choice.  But as I thought about it, I realized there was another reason. 

It feels better.  It feels special.  It feels fancy.  It feels luxurious.  And I deserve to feel all of that.  I deserve to feel good--to feel pampered--even by myself and my choices. 

So what about health again?  This is a health blog after all. OK, here is the connection--the ah-ha moment.  I think when we get to the point of valuing ourselves, of loving ourselves -we take better care of ourselves.  We eat better.  We exercise.  We choose healthy food.  We take vitamins.  We drink water.  We get the right amount of sleep.  Because it feels good.  Because we deserve it.  Because it feels special--fancy--luxurious.  We care about our bodies to the degree that we feel worthy.  Of what?  Of existing.  Of taking up space.  Of being loved. 

In one of my early blogs I wrote about getting naked in front of a mirror and learning to love yourself--every naked pound, saggy butt, and ounce of cellulite.  I think this is connected to that.  I think that we have to accept and love our physical body--and I think we have to emotionally and spiritually accept and love ourselves.  Then we will be motivated to take the first step on the path of health and wellness. 

So stop 'saving' the good china, pull out the cloth napkins and use the family silver!  You deserve it!  Regardless of the lack of love or acceptance growing up... at this very moment you can choose to love and accept your self.  You are worthy of a cloth napkin, the best china and a healthy body!  You are loved.

A Scientific Thought for the Month of Hearts, Flowers, Chocolate and Love...

This article appeared in my inbox from Usana Health Sciences... now you all know I sell their products.  You all know I am a true believer!  Amen!

  But... I am not just a "believer," I like to have some data to back up the healthy lifestyle I choose!  Read on... and if you want supplements that make a difference, click on "shop online" to the right.  For the best grape seed/vitamin c supplement, you can order "Proflavanol" right from here!

I want to add--and this is not particularly scientific, but definitely my experience--as I have seen people dropping like flies from colds and the flu over the winter season, I have increased my grape seed/ vitamin C intake and stayed healthy... I'm just sayin'...

A Scientific Approach to Heart Health

USANA scientists recently conducted a study in conjunction with a research team at the Boston University School of Medicine. The study showed that grape-seed extract and vitamin C may be beneficial for people who already have a form of cardiovascular disease called coronary artery disease (CAD).

Here’s a little bit of background: Oxidative stress may impact the heart’s ability to effectively pump blood. Over time, this impaired function has been shown to be an important factor in the progression of CAD.

Grape-seed extract and vitamin C have been shown to significantly protect against oxidative stress, as well as to have positive effects on blood flow. The USANA/BU team suspected that the powerful antioxidants could support healthy blood flow through supplementation of these two key nutrients together.

Researchers gave study participants, who were already diagnosed with CAD, either a placebo or 450 mg of grape-seed extract and 1500 mg of vitamin C. Blood samples were taken four hours after receiving the first dose, then again four weeks after taking the same dosage every day.

Those in the treatment group showed improved antioxidant levels. Blood flow response also showed significant improvement following the 28-day treatment relative to the placebo group.

These results suggest that grape-seed extract and vitamin C, working together, may help improve vascular function in people with CAD, even in tiny peripheral blood vessels.

The results of this study were so impressive they were shared at an event sponsored by the American Heart Association.

I Am Living to be 125 years old!

Many of you have heard me say this.  I used to state I was living to be 100 years old--but let's face it, every Tom, Dick and Harry is living to be 100 these days.  So... I upped the ante!  I figure medical science will stay ahead of me so I have a pretty good chance!

But, I am not just relying on medical science to keep me going. (though the Bionic Man did look pretty good!)  There is a lot of reliable research out there giving good information on what I can do to increase my chances of a long and healthy life.  For instance, I usually think in terms of needing an hour a day to exercise.  And yes, that would be wonderful and best.  But in a study of 416,175 Taiwanese adults published Aug. 16, 2011 in the Lancet, exercising for 15 minutes a day is linked to a longer life.  Whoopee!  That means instead of searching for a way to insert an extra hour for exercise into my day, I can squeeze in 15 minutes on those busy days and I will still be increasing my chances for 125 years of healthy living. 

What the researchers found was that those who exercised 15 minutes a day lived three years longer on average than those who exercised less.  And... that more was better--every additional 15 minutes cut the risk of dying over eight years by 4%. 

So, I guess I better stick to finding an hour... but still, during the busy holidays... 15 minutes (and three extra years!) are better than nothing by a long shot.  Gotta go...have to fit in that 15 minute walk and then wrap some more presents!

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