On Leave

Due to a death in the family, I'm temporarily away from blogworld. I'm so sorry to be missing your postings, but I'm very much looking forward to catching up on the weekend. Until I do, I'm counting on you to stay on plan (whatever your plan is), to get your exercise in (I'll know if you don't), and to keep your chins (however many you have--I'm down to two, myself) up and your spirits high. You KNOW you can!

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

HYC Update Week 21

Ooomf. Eeek. Ouch. Up a pound this week. No good reason for it, so I'm hopeful it will go the way of all unearned pounds by this time next week.

Thanks to all who made suggestions for my uber-hunger problem on Sunday. As it turns out, I think the problem wasn't the bike ride, but more that it's just my "nibbly time" and that will soon be past. Still, though, your suggestions were good, and I'll definitely start next weekend's longer ride with something a little more substantial. I think it's high time I tried this oats & peanut butter thing.

Overall, nutrition and exercise were good last week. I probably pushed the calorie limits a bit much on Sunday and Monday, but if I did, they were good calories so I'm not going to sweat it.

I hope you all had a wonderful week and are looking forward to a bright and shiny week ahead!

~

Makeover Monday: The Eyes Have It

This week's Makeover Monday topic is right in front of your very eyes. That's right, we're looking at eye wear. And just in time to pick up some snazzy new sunglasses for summer!

A few months ago, I was reading in bed and my glasses slid right off my nose! I pushed them back up but a few minutes later, they slid right back down again. This happened a couple more times, so finally I got up and checked them out in the mirror. To my surprise, there was a good half-inch gap between my face and the frame temples--a gap that didn't exist before! The temples of my glasses used to touch my face. Holy moly! I've undergrown my glasses! LOL

When you lose a significant amount of weight, you expect (hope! pray!) to replace your wardrobe. You don't always think about those other things that might have to be replaced, things like eyeglasses. But it's entirely possible that the size and shape of your face might change as you lose weight. My "before" face was very (very) round, and now it's…less round. I don't know what it is, exactly, but glasses that looked good on Round Me, might not work so well on the Today Me.

Now, we all know how expensive glasses are and sunglasses aren't far behind, so here are some tips on choosing the best eye wear for YOU.

According Vision Council of America (VCA)[via allaboutvision.com], there are three main points to consider when selecting your frames:

• The frame shape should contrast with the face shape.
• The frame size should be in scale with the face size.
• Eye wear should repeat your personal best feature (such as a blue frame to match blue eyes).

There are other factors to consider as well, such as color and materials, and this link will provide more detailed assistance. If this site is correct, I've been wearing the wrong shape and color glasses for years. I just had my annual eye physical, and I'll definitely be going in for new specs. It might be time for a reevaluation of my sunglasses as well.

And speaking of sunglasses, while the basic tenets of frame selection are the same as those for eyeglasses, the most important thing with sunglasses is that you wear them! They're not just a glam accessory. Sunglasses actually provide just as much value as prescription eyeglasses by protecting your eyes from UV rays, wind, dust, and debris. They also reduce glare, which makes driving (or boating!) much safer for all of us, and makes your eyes oh so much healthier!

There are many considerations when selecting sunglasses, including lens material and lens polarization, and this link should answer almost any questions you might have.

And then there is that glam factor. Sunglasses can create an image of mystery and intrigue, especially if paired with a wide-brimmed hat (another great summer sun accessory), a look I've never managed to pull off successfully. I tend to look more like my grandmother headed out on a fishing trip than Audrey Hepburn meeting Cary Grant somewhere romantic. And sunny. :)

To sum up all this rambling, my basic message is that we shouldn't forget eye wear when choosing figure-flattering accessories. Whether you're choosing prescription eyeglasses or dazzling sunglasses, a few careful considerations will enable you to choose the styles that enhance the beautiful side of YOU.

Happy Monday, everyone!

photo by Starck Ting

An Uneventful Bike Ride

The ten-mile bike ride was completed early this morning, and I'm pleased to report that my lifesaving skills were not required today.

I set out at 6:20 a.m. and arrived at McDonald's 20 minutes and 2.5 miles later. With the light Sunday morning traffic, I was even able to ride on some of the busier streets. Woo-hoo! After a breakfast of Strawberry Yogurt Parfait, I set off again and rambled through a couple of nearby subdivisions. A dog gave chase at one point, but I think he saw me as a playmate, as opposed to a snack.

The only other mildly interesting event occurred when I rode up on some sort of soccer tournament for the local Hispanic and Latino teams. The colors of the team uniforms were brilliant in the early morning sunlight. I rode through the soccer park watching the various warm-up routines, but no one needed my help, so I rode on. I finished my ride at 10.3 miles, officially, and felt good.

And hungry. Very, very hungry. I made a Target run (merely as a hunger distraction, you understand), but the situation didn't get any better. Apparently, yogurt is not enough for this chubby body when completing a 10-mile bike ride. So I had a second breakfast. Scrambled eggs and wheat toast. I was still hungry! Not just Oh this sounds good! kind of hungry, but stomach-growling I must have food!, kind of hungry. Fortunately, a friend called and distracted me with a good long conversation. And then it was lunchtime. Whew! :)

I'll have to figure out a different way to eat on mornings when I'm riding or walking longer routes. The goal is to extend the distance, but if it also extends the caloric requirement, then I need to know how to manage that. Sounds like a trainer question to me. Or maybe a question some of you might have answers for? Pretty please?

No painting yet, due to an excessively humid spell we're having, but I did pick up a gallon of paint to try. Maybe tonight after the threat of storms has passed. I've been working on other items on the Cammy-do list, primarily sweat-inducing (and swear-inducing) gardening. I've also worked in a pretty good nap.

Oh! Target! I meant to mention for you U.S. folks that Target has a sale on some workout wear. Lots of pretty colors in their sports-bra offerings. They've also got Luna Bars and Clif Bars for $5 per box for a slight savings. (I believe they offer most of the sales online as well as at stores.)

And that's the Cammy Report. Tomorrow is a 5-mile ride early and a workout with the trainer late in the day. In between...who knows?

Hope your weekends are fun and eventful (the good kind of eventful, that is.)

~

On Tap for this Weekend

Happy Memorial Day!

My Cammy-Do list for the weekend is several pages long, and it's getting off to a s-l-o-w start. My legs are just about done in from tonight's exericse. I think I'll do a lot of "sitting and sorting" projects tonight. :)

If I may brag just a moment, I not only walked for 30 minutes after lunging and squatting and leg-curling and mountain climbing and planking for 45 minutes, but I also challenged myself to climb these steps near the end of the walk. I'm glad I did because it turned out they weren't that bad--just steep. :)

As I mentioned, lots to do this weekend: gardening tomorrow, mostly cleaning out weeds and such. Tomorrow afternoon I'll try to work in a walk, depending on how the gardening and a couple of other projects go. If I can't fit the walk in, I'll be more than glad to count several hours of vigorous yard work as my Daily Do.

On Sunday, I hope to start the day with a 10-mile bike ride. I also hope to primer and paint one bedroom wall to make sure I like the color once it dries. (Lessons learned) And maybe while the paint dries, I can finally replace my ratty mailbox. Hmm, now that I think about it, a coat of paint for it would be a good thing too.

Monday's exercise will be with the trainer and probably the same park I went to tonight. If the Sunday painting happens, I'll continue that project on Monday. Plus, as always, there's laundry and such to be completed.

I kind of wish I hadn't typed all that out. I feel myself fading already! Uh-oh, this calls for a motivation/reward plan, and I think I'll use reading your blogs during my rest breaks as a reward! That will inspire me!

Now I jut have to figure out how to keep myself from just sitting here and doing that all day long anyway. :)

A safe and happy Memorial Day to all!

~

Sharing the Love

Before I do anything else, let me first report that I've been a bad, bad blogger! In posting the Pumpkin Spice Cake/Bar recipe, I failed to give credit to the source! **Gasp** I apologize to SHESCRAFTY at Sparkpeople Recipes for the oversight.

Some interesting links I've come across lately:

From Dumb Little Man, one of my favorite blogs, this link will have you thinking twice the next time someone asks how you are and you say, "Fine."

From the sadly neglected folks at Sparkpeople.com (neglected by me, anyway), this link is useful for those who quake in their shoes at the very notion of eating healthy at a fast food restaurant.

In this link, from dietriffic, you can find a checklist of habits that might be interfering with your fitness efforts. Practical stuff most of us know, but it might be useful for a review.

And last but not least, another one from Dumb Little Man. For those of us who struggle with junk food and sodas, this link has a tippy toe approach to conquering those addictions that just might work.

I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and for those of you traveling on this (U.S.) holiday weekend, please drive safely! And don't forget the sunscreen!

Playing with Fire

I made the pumpkin spice bars, and I ate one. Or six. I forget. The picture below is the actual result of my efforts. Not bad. I took them to work to ensure they wouldn't all be cluttering up my belly. People seem to like them.

This recipe calls for a 15-oz. can of pure pumpkin and one box of spice cake mix. Stir it all together and bake in a greased (or Pammed, in my case) 13x9 in. cake pan at 350 for 38 minutes. Couldn't be simpler, and they turned out...okay. A friend suggested adding raisins to the mix, which I think is a great idea.

The one thing I didn't like about working with the pumpkin was the sticky factor. It finally occurred to me after I had wrestled the batter into the pan (not an easy task) that Pamming the spatula would have helped. Live and learn.

Thank you to those of you who offered additional pumpkin recipes. I may try a pumpkin smoothie at some point. I've also heard of just stirring yogurt and pumpkin together for a treat.

You might think that pumpkin bars were enough kitchen excitement for one night, but the fun didn't stop there. I didn't exactly "cook" my dinner, but it did involve reheating and stirring and, you know, multiple ingredients. To me, that's cooking.

My other culinary masterpiece was a healthy barbecue sandwich with coleslaw. I had some leftover barbecued pork loin from the weekend, and I wanted to make a sandwich with it. Unfortunately, I also love coleslaw on my bbq, but it's so calorific that I usually avoid it. It's just not a barbecue sandwich without coleslaw! It occurred to me on my way home from work that I could make my own coleslaw. Imagine that! So I stirred up some shredded cabbage, carrots, Light Miracle Whip (just a dab), mustard, celery seed, and fresh-cracked black pepper--voila!--healthy coleslaw! I had about a cup of it for 30-40 calories and loads of healthy fiber. (I'll be having it again this weekend with turkey dogs.)

Since I didn't have any sandwich buns, I used whole wheat hot dog buns for assembling my masterpiece, thus inventing The 'Cue Dog. (I had already invented The BBQ Taco and The 'Cue-rrito several years ago.) I tugged some of the "inside bread" out and filled the hole with coleslaw. Then a layer of meat, a layer of bbq sauce, and I was set. I wish I had thought to take a picture of it, because it was delicious!

All that cooking wore me out, and I went to bed early. :) It could've been the 11 flights of stairs I walked yesterday or the 2 miles I walked after that, but my money's on the extensive-for-me kitchen work. :)

I hope you all had a great day and an even better one today! And thanks again for the yummy pumpkin suggestions and other kindnesses!

~

HYC Update Week 20

Week 20???

My, how time flies...

Thank you all so much for your sweet, sweet responses to our Makeover Monday topic for this week. One thing I discovered yesterday is that the Forgiveness Declaration will be a living, breathing document. As I learn, it will grow. :)

Onto the update: you'll remember my carb-o-rama of the weekend? Well, it apparently did not cause a huge issue, because I lost 0.4 pounds for the week! While I would love to have lost more, I think I'll just smile gratefully and tippy toe away from the scale until next week. Turtle karma, indeed. :)

Let's see, what else...oh, I completed my requirements for last week's WOMAN Challenge, averaging 57 minutes of exercise per day. This week I hope to do the same, plus they threw in a bonus challenge opportunity. My challene will be to eat a fruit or vegetable I haven't eaten before. (You KNEW I'd choose the one that involved eating.LOL) I'm going with pumpkin and I'm making some sort of pumpkin spice bars.

Yes, you read that correctly: I'm cooking! (those of you who are laughing don't get any!) I'll try to remember to take pictures of the result. With any luck, they'll be delicious. If not, we can always use a good giggle.

And that's it for me. I hope you all have a healthy, happy week!

~

Makeover Monday: The "F" Word

Last Monday we pampered our external selves, but this week I want to take care of an internal bit of pampering. Since I write this blog for myself, primarily, this is pampering I need. If it's not something you need, I apologize for making you skip a week. :)

This week's makeover topic was prompted my my reaction to seeing a before-and-now comparison picture of myself, along with a brilliant post by The Diet Book when something similar happened to her. I can't speak for V. (though I would if she would only pay my commission), but my immediate response was the really ugly F-word.

No, not that F-word. That's ugly enough, but to my eternal embarrassment, there are times when it is the only word that will do.

Nope, the F-word I'm talking about is Failure. When I saw that picture of myself, that's the first word that leapt to mind. Not a happy memory of an office Christmas party (happy memories of those being a rarity), not a fond remembrance of my "sparkly shirt" which has long since been donated to Goodwill, not even an appreciative and well-deserved pat on the back for the progress I've made.

All I saw was the woman who was a failure at controlling herself. And that made me angry...and ashamed. I'm so much more than that. I was more than that then, too. When I look at those pictures, I want to see that woman. Yes, she was fat, but that didn't define her. Not really. Even friends who see the picture now are puzzled. They didn't see me as that size either. (What I get for having non-judgmental friends. *G*)

I know I'm not alone in this reaction. Some of you may not have the same reaction, but for those of you who do (or have), I'd love you to join me in replacing the ugly F-word--failure--with one that's much more beneficial: forgiveness. That's what I need, anyway. To forgive myself.

Here's my start: A Declaration of Forgiveness. A simple, yet extremely hard-to-write, statement of exactly what I forgive myself for. (Feel free to pass over it, or adapt it to your needs and choose whatever method works for you. Your blog, a private journal entry, a whispered promise--anything that will free you from your past.)

My Declaration of Forgiveness
I forgive myself for wasted opportunities, for not living my best life for the past 30 years. While I have many happy memories and have experienced great joys, I know now it was not my best life and I know that the the time cannot be reclaimed.

I forgive myself for the periods of gluttony, laziness, poor choices when I knew better, and a deaf ear when someone tried to tell me a better way.

I forgive myself for the damage I've done to my body over the years and commit myself to repairing what I can.

I forgive myself for letting down the people who loved me, those who wanted me to have a better life.

I forgive myself for existing in a world of anger, hurt, and sorrow and not recognizing it or when I did, for ignoring it or pretending I didn't care.

I forgive myself for the periods when I didn't even try.

I forgive myself for the times I did try and wasn't successful or gave up too soon.

I forgive myself for seeing myself as a complete failure when I've had so many other successes.

And finally, I forgive myself for the repeated attempts it will likely take for me to let go of the past completely and focus on the bright and shiny future I've created for myself. I will keep trying until the job is done.

Again, I apologize if this week's makeover was an area in which you didn't need any "re-work", although if you didn't, I'm extremely happy for you! I hope you understand my need to do it and that you'll...well, that you'll forgive me. :)

Happy Monday to all!

This post has been brought to you by the good F-words: forgiveness, freedom, focus, fitness, fun, and last but not least, fiber. :)

~

~

I Saved a Life Today

I wish I could find my Lifeblood button that has that saying on it. I'd put it on and wear it for all the world to see. Everyone in my subdivision, anyway.

On my bike ride this morning, I passed an apartment complex with one of those man-made "lagoons" (because, you know, Memphis is noted for its lagoons), and what should I see easing down the curb lane?

A turtle!

This isn't the actual critter, but it looked something like this one. It was about a foot long with its head extended and about 8-10 inches across. And it was crawling down the street! And not facing traffic, either.

Now, I'm not a wildlife kind of girl, particularly when the life is of the reptilian persuasion. (Turtles are reptiles, aren't they?) No matter. It had a scaly look about it, and that's enough for me. Besides, I don't know nuthin' 'bout pickin' up no turtles, and I was afraid I'd hurt it.

The goofy creature kept trying to crawl into the street, so lacking a better idea, I got off my bike and rolled it along between the turtle and the street, trying to keep him close to the curb and all the while trying to flag someone down as they blew by me in their gas-guzzlers. It was scary times, lemme tell you. Memphis isn't known for it's kindness to cyclists. I suspect turtles would fare even worse!

There was about 10 feet between us and the "lagoon", which I assumed was his home. I couldn't find a break in the curb anywhere that I might corral him through (turtle wrangling not being one of my strong suits), and I could only hope that someone would come along who would help.

The turtle and I reached the entrance to the apartment complex and asked two gangsta types lounging at the gate if they could help us. (I did most of the talking.) Sunday a.m. business being slow, they crossed the street to take a look, but like me, they were skittish about picking it up. Before they left, the guys confirmed my earlier suspicions about the life expectancy of the turtle by reporting (in vivid and colorful detail, thanks so much) that an even bigger turtle had been obliterated on a nearby cross street.

Pokey and I continued our torturous journey, he having some apparent destination in mind. Or so I thought. After a while, he stopped and stuck his head up, gazing longingly (it seemed to me) at the water.

And then a miracle happened! A car stopped in the turn lane and the driver asked what was up. I explained that I was just out taking my turtle for a walk, which he totally "got" as a joke and laughed.

I'll pause here to report that this guy was very handsome. Think young Denzel with a brilliant smile. I seriously regretted not taking the time to put my contacts in or a dash of makeup. Oh well, considering the approximate 25-year gap in our ages, it probably wouldn't have made a difference.

Back to the story: Denzel got out of his car and walked over to survey the scene up close. He didn't want to pick up the turtle either. I observed that if he had a cardboard box or even a piece of cardboard, we could maybe build the turtle a ramp to get over the curb. Denzel looked at me funny and started backing his way to his car. I was considering begging him not to abandon us, when he returned with a floor mat from his car! My hero! I mean, Pokey's hero!

We managed to scoot the mat under the turtle and carry it to safety. The ungrateful lout paid us back by peeing all over Denzel's floor mat and, since that was my end, my hand. Eeewwwww! Turtle pee!

With a smile and a wave, Denzel was on his way with my profuse thanks on Pokey's behalf, but alas, without my phone number. :( When he was gone, I pushed my bike alongside Pokey, much like we'd been doing on the street, as he made his way to the water's edge and dove in.

Dumbass landed on his back and had to thrash around a bit to right himself. I was NOT going in that "lagoon" after him. I suspect he's not long for this world. Poor Pokey.

What I learned from all this (other than to wear sunscreen for even the shortest of rides) is that I need to be better prepared on these excursions. I needed my cellphone to call Animal Control and ask how to pick up a turtle, and a towel would have been useful in place of Denzel's floor mat.
I could've also used a brick or two to toss through windshields of passing motorists and some disinfecting wipes (refer to turtle pee section). To that end, I think my 90-lb. reward will be a rack pack for my bicycle. Sure, I can use it for groceries and such, but it will also contain a Turtle Rescue Kit, just in case.

The rest of the ride was boring uneventful, but I cut it short at 30 minutes. Too much excitement in one day, you know. It's not every day you can get your cardio in and save a life.

And have a turtle pee on your hand. ::shudder::


How sad is it that I'm blogging this? :)

Not as sad as Monday staring us in the face. Have a happy one, everyone! And don't forget tomorrow is Makeover Monday. Something a little more serious on tap for this week.

~

All Carbed Out (and Nip It! follow-up)

What a great day! If you'll remember, today was my annual family reunion, and I had the pleasure of surprising folks with my new, fitter me! There were indeed dropped jaws, and many, many expressions of joy and pride.

And carbs. There were lots and lots of carbs.

Not to worry, as this was my splurge meal. I had a great workout with Trainer Kevin last night and plans for cardio for later this afternoon, so I dug in with relish. Well, not relish, literally, since there wasn't any on the table. There were some yummy sweet-dill pickles, though. :)

I skipped anything "normal" on the table. Things like green beans, ham, cheeses, breads--I have those frequently. I skipped the fried chicken because it was store-bought and NOT my Memaw's fried chicken. (Principle!) Instead I opted for lean roast pork, deviled eggs...and carbs: corn, baked beans, a dab of potato salad, and spaghetti. Not horrible, but definitely a splurge meal.

And then there were the desserts. My cousin had mentioned how she admired my willpower, but when she saw my dessert plate, she said, "I take it back."

I looked down at my thin (1/2"?) slice of caramel cake, my half-a-brownie, and my sliver of strawberry cake, and told her it WAS willpower, because that was about half of what I really wanted. :)

The hardest part of the day was trying to explain to people that I wasn't dieting, that I eat a healthy-ish diet 99% of the time with the occasional splurge. My parents, especially, kept asking me if such-and-such was on my diet. They just couldn't understand that EVERYTHING there was "on my diet." I could have any of those things any time I want, just not all in one meal. Not even all in one week. :)

Given the portions I ate, I would've probably been within my calorie count for the day without one or two of the desserts. I would've been out-of-balance on my carb:protein ratio, but that's what splurge meals are about. I hope I didn't get snippy with any of my "advisors", but I suspect I did. Sorry.

While it was fun to visit with family (most of whom I see at this one event each year), I was eager to get home and DO something. With all those carbs rushing through my system, my feet were practically itching to walk. And so I did.

I walked and walked and walked. Believe it or not, I walked FIVE MILES. All at once. Fast! I clocked in at 1:22:50, which even allowing for any erroneous mapmywalk mileage, means I walked something between a 15 and 16 minutes mile for FIVE MILES. I have never done that before! Maybe there's something to this carb-loading. LOL

At one point during the walk, I noticed my fingers were tingling and looking down, I could see that they were white and sausage-y. I don't know what that was about, but when I lifted my arms and started pumping them as I walked, the swelling and discoloration (decoloration?) was almost gone. They're fine now. If I opt for walking tomorrow, I will NOT be walking five miles. Maybe a 5k.

So I think the abundant carbs are gone now, but they sure were fun while they lasted! I'm back on plan and looking forward to a dismal weigh-in on Monday. :)

In response to excellent Nip It! comments, a little follow-up:
- Sagan Morrow and Nicole suggested tea as a snack replacement. (Sagan also suggested carrots--YUM!) I wish I liked tea. I've tried several flavors and it's just not doing anything for me. BUT you reminded me that I have some sugar-free cocoa (25 calories per cup) in the pantry, so I may have that the next time I'm feeling overly snacky.

- Pattie asked about any "busy hands" hobbies. Sadly, I have none. My main hobbies are reading and writing, both of which I need to do more of. Your question reminded me, though, that I have many "busy hands" projects around the house here, and a snack attack would the perfect time to accomplish those. (It would be nice to have my filing from the past...um, year or so complete, too!)

- tas asked about my hunger scale. While I'm certain I didn't invent the idea of the hunger scale, I can no longer remember the original source of the one I adapted for myself. Unfortunately, I can't find the index card I had it written on, but it was something along these lines:
Stage 1 - starving, legs jiggly, lightheaded
Stage 2 - major stomach rumbling
Stage 3 - "I could eat, but I'm okay."
Stage 4 - "I feel good."
Stage 5 - "I couldn't eat another bite."
Stage 6 - "I think I'm gonna hurl."

I also assigned "snack appropriateness testing" levels for stages 3-5 (mostly 4 and 5, because snacks are frequently okay in stage 3). I don't remember all the levels, but I know boredom, stress response, and Pavlov were in there somewhere. I'll keep looking for the card. Maybe it's in my box of filing. :)

Although yesterday morning's thoughts were frequently taken over by Barney's "Nip it!" voice, by afternoon I was able to convert it to something useful. I now hear my own voice, and it's saying:

Not
In
Plan!!

I am too corny for words sometimes. :)

I'm off to put my feet up! I hope you all had a super Saturday and are looking forward to an even better Sunday!

~

Nip It!

I am currently under snack attack, for some reason. Nothing devastating to the flabby waistline (an extra banana here, a sugar-free pudding there), but I don't like this deviation from my routine. I feel a little less in control, if you know what I mean. As I type this I've decided my best counter measure may be the retrieval from the desk drawer of my "hunger scale", which is an index card with ratings for the level of hunger I'm feeling (or think I'm feeling.) I suspect some of the snacking may actually be Level 1 "I'm really just bored" snacking, and that Will.Not.Do. In the words of the immortal Barney Fife, I need to "Nip it! Nip it in the bud."

Oh, terrific. Now I'm going to go around all day singing "Nip it!" in my head.

Wait, that might actually work.

::sigh::

The things I do to be fitter.

Before I return you to the normal world, I'd like to thank you commenter friends for giving me an awesome idea for my (pending, I'm sure) Goal Celebration! When I reach goal, I will post a photo of my very own feet! LOL Do NOT ask me why I think this is a good idea, but it struck my fancy and it seems like fun. And if we're not going to have fun here, then let's just all pack it in. (For the squeamish among you, I will try to figure out how to post the image behind a cut. I have awfully big feet so the image will be large by necessity. *G*)

Hmm, so other than the sincere thank you, I have nothing truly worthwhile to contribute to the community today. Time to sign off. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

And remember: Nip it!

Choosing a Different Street

At some point last year, something went Click! and I suddenly found myself able to control...well, me. I've tried and tried to figure out what that something was, but I've never been able to put my finger on it. Now, I think I realize that there was no "it", but rather a series of life experiences that finally coalesced into some sort of usable plan. I've discussed some of those here before, but one was lingering outside my memory bank until yesterday, when I was trying to find something to inspire a blogging buddy who'd lost his way.

How do you help someone change a mindset that, based on experience, expects to fail? Who knows a particular thing will lead to failure and does it anyway? I've done it myself so many times before. How am I able to avoid it now? I want so badly to know, to be able to share some valuable piece of insight that will help someone in need change his/her path.

Anyway, as I was pondering this question last night, a piece of prose I read eons ago (one of those life experiences I mentioned earlier) came to mind:

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
by Portia Nelson

Chapter One
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost....I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in, again.
I can't believe I am in the same place.
But, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in.....it's a habit....but, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter Four
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter Five
I walk down another street.


From the book There's a Hole in my Sidewalk by Portia Nelson

If you find yourself knowing you're going down the wrong road, one that leads to failure, and doing it anway, I hope you can find the strength to choose another street.

It's my greatest wish for all of us.


Happy healthy Thursday to all!

P.S.
As usual, these are not my feet. :) Photo by zen.

~
~

HYC Update - Week 19

Brief report, for a change. :)

Another pound gone. Cake Day + 1-lb. Loss = Happy Cammy!

This week's biggest challenge will be the family reunion (a.k.a. Carb Carnival) on Saturday. Naturally, it will be my splurge meal for May, unless I get lucky and everyone brings things I don't like. ::fingers crossed:: I'm taking pimento cheese salad and melba toast rounds and some sort of fruit. I see a long bike ride for my weekend. :)

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. Last year, I weighed 85 86 pounds more than I do right now, so there should be some dropped jaws. There'd better be.

I hope everyone had a successful week. I'm looking forward to reading your check-in reports!

~

Makeover Monday: Happy Feet

Second installment of Makeover Monday series

I'm going out on a limb (hee-hee!) here and assuming most of us have feet. (If any of you don't have feet, my apologies for the erroneous assumption. I hope you still find something of value here.)

You might think feet are a particularly un-glamorous topic for a makeover series, and you'd be right about that. But think about it: most of us are running and walking and pounding our feet more than we ever have before. We count on these babies, homely though they may be (or not—your mileage may vary), to carry us through our new, improved physical lives, but chances are we haven't really changed the way we care for them. (And let's don’t get started on the abuse they took when we were at our heaviest!)

The reason I chose feet as a makeover topic is that mine are bad. Really, really bad. So bad I had to buy a picture of feet for my sidebar. So awful I had to have surgery on my pinkie toes last November to try to reshape them and eliminate painful corns. (It only sort of worked.) Venturing further into TMI World, I also have dry feet and problematic heels. Simply put, my feet are pitiful. Pit-i-ful! And with flip-flop season rapidly approaching, it's time to pay a little attention to them. Feel free to join me.

There are three fundamentals of foot care:
• Wearing appropriate shoes
• Exercising your feet daily
• Pampering your feet after each exercise session

The End.

Just kidding! I wouldn't leave you hanging here! We'll delve into each area a bit.

Wearing appropriate shoes
Shoes that fit properly have wiggle room in the toe area and a heel that fits snugly enough that it doesn't slide up and down when you walk. Mash the toe area with your thumb; there should be a small gap between the top of your longest toe and the end of the shoe. The only way you're going to know this is if you try on the shoes (both of them!), lace them up, and walk around in them for a few minutes. Also, you should wear the same thickness of socks to the store that you'll be wearing while you exercise. (Can't tell you how many times I've made that mistake!)

If you're lucky enough to live near a running store or other fitness apparel store, you might want to check them out for advice on a good fit. Many stores have a gizmo for "blueprinting" your feet to help staff recommend the best style of shoe for you.

Exercising your feet
What? you exclaim. Haven't you been reading my blog? I exercise all the time!

Of course I've been reading your blog! I saw that you ran and jumped and swam and rode a bicycle and did yoga and kettlebells and everything else under the sun. But I haven't seen anyone post anything about exercising their feet. Gotcha!

Here are a few exercises that will help you maintain flexibility, strength, and mobility in your feet and toes:

Simple Foot Stretch:
Sit on the floor with your legs in front of you. Loop a towel around your feet. Keeping the backs of your heels on the floor, pull the ends of the towel to draw the mid foot and toes toward your body. Hold for five seconds, relax, and repeat 3-5 times.

Tennis Ball Roll:
Sit in a chair and place a tennis ball under your foot. Roll the ball along the entire sole of your foot to break up tension held in the feet. Of course, you should do this for both feet. Less tension = greater mobility.

Toe Clenches:
This one is too simple for words. Clench your toes, hold for a few seconds, then relax. Repeat 4-6 times. (Personal note: When I had toe surgery, I found out in a hurry that I clench my toes in my sleep. Youch!)

Foot Circles:
From a sitting or reclining position, raise your leg slightly and draw circles in the air with your feet. Move one foot at a time, first clockwise, then counter-clockwise five to six times. This is a great exercise for the ankles!

Pampering your feet after each exercise session
Ah, the fun part!

It goes without saying (or it should, anyway) that we wash our feet every day, but when we work our feet especially hard, we should pay special attention to the between-the-toes areas. We should also inspect our feet for red spots or burgeoning calluses that could indicate friction problems. A little Vaseline or petroleum jelly applied to the area should take care of the problem.

But that’s just the everyday stuff. To truly pamper your feet:

Soak them
Soak your feet in warm water (use warm milk for an added treat) for at least 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove hardened or rough skin
Pat your feet with a towel, but leave them a bit damp. Use a pumice stone to get rid of hard skin on your heels and toes. Don't be too harsh, though. It's better to remove build-up a little at a time rather than try to undo serious problems all at once.

An excellent and completely natural foot scrub is easily available in your kitchen. Mix together a cup of vegetable oil and a cup of sea salt. Cut one or two oranges into thick slices and dip into the oil/salt mixture. Rub the orange slice all over your feet, especially the areas with thickened or hardened skin. Rinse your feet thoroughly after scrubbing.

Cut your nails
Dry your feet thoroughly. Cut your nails in a straight line. Use a file to remove any sharp edges.

Moisturize
Apply a generous amount of cream (peppermint or tea-tree varieties are especially good for the feet. Massage your feet while the skin is absorbing the cream. Put some cuticle oil on and gently push up your cuticles.

Put your feet up
After exercising and pampering, put your feet up on a pillow for at least 15 minutes. Not only could they use the rest, it helps with water retention and swelling.


And that, my friends, is how we take care of our good pals: the feet. We give them properly fitted shoes, exercise them well along with the rest of our bodies, and then show the love when we’re done. In turn, they'll love us back, but it's not an unconditional kind of love. :)

For more info on foto care, check out the FDA’s article, or this link for the American Podiatric Medical Association.

And if you have tips and tricks of your own for excellent foot care, please feel free to share them in the comments!

Now, although I have many blogs to read, I must first go heed my own advice and pamper my p itiful, but entirely necessary, feet!

Danger in the House

I've done it now! I just came back from the grocery store where I purchased lots and lots of fruits and veggies...and a full-size package of Guiltless Gourmet All-Natural Corn Tortilla Chips! Not a snack-size suitable for one serving only, but an huuuge 7-oz. bag! I plan to combine lots of romaine lettuce with 1/3-1/2 serving of chips, a cup of Amy's Vegetarian Chili , and a sprinkling of low-fat cheese for a taco salad, of sorts. Oh, and possibly some Rotel tomatoes, if needed.

You know what this means, don't you? Well, don't you? This means that after two nights, I will have five or more servings of chips left idle in the cupboard. Open chips! Me, separated from the clutches of sublime crunchiness by a flimsy plastic chip clip. These will be treacherous days ahead.

::tremble::

Okay, not really. If the chips prove troublesome, I'll put them on the kitchen counter at work and they'll disappear in minutes. It's just much more dramatic this way. :)

In other news, I bent to the pressure of Irish Mom, DaDiva's Street, and Diet Book and joined the Woman Challenge. Since I'm already exercising six days a week, this doesn't require anything extra, other than a need to log my time. We're doing something similar to this at work for the next six weeks, so why not. I logged 45 minutes of walking today.

And finally, a reminder: tomorrow is the second installment of Makeover Monday. This week, the focus will be on a part of the body. Well, I guess it's really two parts.

How's that for tantalizing? LOL Stay tuned. :)

Have a nice week everyone!

~

In Lieu of Anything Intersting

How much did I enjoy reading your blog name origins?!! There's not a word for it. "Immensely" will have to do, I suppose. You all are a delightful mishmash of creative, thoughtful, practical, fun, and funny people!

So what did I do today? Well-l-l, after I read to Wally (I still need to explain that someday), I went to Macy's to pick up my Mother's Day gift for Mom. She's getting a lovely sterling necklace and a gift pack from Lush. (Note: I bought nothing for myself.)

Then it was off to lunch. To save your neck, I'll tell you that this is Holiday Ham & Deli, a.k.a. The Cake Place.

This, as you can see, is NOT cake. It's their tuna salad plate with tomatoes instead of cottage cheese. That's a paltry scoop of tuna, but considering they use real mayo, I didn't complain. Plus, it was, you know, enough. I won't be getting it again, though, as it's a little pricey for the serving.

And then there was cake. Strawberry Cake, to be precise.

I made a new rule during the Cake Choice Finals: Cake Day must be observed outdoors! There's no really good reason for this decision, other than it was a pretty day, although I suppose it will also help when I declare Cake Day Hiatus from mid-November through the end of the year.

But that's then and this is now. I just wanted to be outside today, so off I went to find a park with available tables, which was difficult on such a pretty day. It took me three tries, but I did and the cake was delicious!

I just don't want anything sweet for a while. :)

After lunch was a bike ride, the longest one yet: 10 miles! The first mile was the toughest, but some of the hills were a bit of a strain. It took me about an hour to ride it, with the only breaks being a brief stop to re-insert earphone and another to pick up some sunglasses that were in the middle of the road. (If you're looking for lost sunglasses in the Memphis suburbs, I put them on the curb on the west side of the road.)

And then what? Oh, a trip to the thrift store (nada!) and then to Barnes & Noble to pick up a book for my grandmother's Mother's Day gift and two books for myself. And then dinner and then home.

Now, wasn't that fascinating?! LOL I truly do hope your day was significantly more interesting, though I suspect it couldn't have been anymore enjoyable than the one I had.

Plus, I just noticed I've already accumulated 220 more points toward the next Cake Day!



~

Mommy, Where Do Blog Names Come From?

As I was touring my Google reader last night, I was struck by the...unusual nature of some blog names, especially among my fitness buddies. Some names are staightforward, some aren't. It got me to wondering how you all came up with your blog names or why you chose the ones you did.

For myself, if you've been here any length of time, you know that my approach to fitness is a gradual one. I've made small changes over time that have brought me to where I am now, and there will be more changes in the future. One day, pre-blog, when I was explaining this concept to a co-worker, and trying to emphasize the need for patience, she interrupted me to ask, "Yes, but what diet are you on?" I took a deep breath and said, "It's the Tippy Toe Diet. You sneak up on it."

She never did get it, but it was a lightbulb moment for me. :)

Later I extended the analogy to include an image of myself standing on my tippy-toes reaching for the stars. It works for me either way.

But enough about me! How did you choose your blog name?

Personal note: Thanks for all the kind comments and well wishes on my bling day!

~

HYC Update - Week 18

The extra two days until weigh-in paid off! Can you believe this?

Surprise Bling!!!

I stepped on the scale tonight and could NOT believe my eyes. Minus 1.7 pounds for a total of 85 lbs.! Talk about your "something wonderful". LOL

At some point over the past few months, I decided new bling equals new photo, so here we go:

This is Christmas 2004 compared to last week. I don't mind sharing with you that this one hurts a little.

Okay, a lot.

But that's the way it was. I have to quit thinking of that self as a failure and remember that she was simply someone who hadn't found her way yet. She didn't quit trying, even when she wasn't successful. And she had a nice smile. :)

Someday I'm going to have to deal with all that, but for tonight, I'm tapping into my inner Scarlett and pushing it off until another day.

Yet another wonderful thing that happened was that yesterday's post brought some new visitors to my blog! I thank you for stopping by, and I'm very much looking forward to checking out your blogs!

And for you "old regulars", I hope you know I adore each and every one of you! Your support and enthusiasm and good humor are the best bling of all!

I hope you're all having a wickedly wonderful week! I'm trying to catch up on the check in, so please forgive me if I haven't checked you out yet. I'll be there eventually! :)

~

Make Me Over May

I've mentioned that, with the arrival of May, I'm moving into the 12th month of my life change. Never in a million years would I have thought I would have reached this weight and this size within a year. I had been trying to lose weight in fits and starts for a year or so before last May, and even though I was moving in the right direction, I couldn't find anything that really lit the fire and got me enthused about it.

Enter the Style Network. This is a U.S. cable network that I had previously ridiculed as the biggest waste of air time on the planet, excluding recent State of the Union addresses. I'm not sure how my television landed on Style one day, but it was a life changing event. They were showing The Biggest Loser reruns and other shows that featured personal makeovers in a "Make Me Over May Style-athon". Seeing other people's successes night after night provided that spark I so desperately needed.

So. In honor of that, I thought it might be fun, but maybe not *G*, to turn my Mondays into Makeover Mondays. Each week, I'll find something to focus on making over, whether it's an internal or external thing. Hopefully before the month is over, one or more of these will be useful to anyone other than me.

For the first Makeover Monday, I'd like to focus on the biggest makeover potential of all: attitude. Changing how we view life and the world around us can be instrumental in our success. Or,at least, our perception of our success.:)

Motivational speaker Brian Tracy follows the philosophy that it's not that "we believe it when we see it", but that "we see it when we believe it." If we believe we are destined to fail, we will see our failures all around us. If we believe ourselves to be successful, we can fill up a page listing all the wonderful things we see ourselves accomplishing.

The concept made sense to me then, and it still does. But sometimes I need reminding, and that's when a little trick presented at the seminar comes in handy. It's a simple mantra, repeated ten times while looking myself in the eye in the bathroom mirror first thing in the morning. It goes like this:

Something wonderful will happen.

It couldn't be more simple, could it? Four little words. After you've repeated this simple little phrase over and over, it kind of plants the idea in your mind that it's going to be a good day and you start looking for all wonderful things coming your way. And guess what?

They always do.

Because you believe good things will happen, you will see them everywhere. What was a nice gesture from someone the day before becomes magnified when it's something wonderful. A parking place near the door becomes something wonderful. A simple compliment like, "Cute blouse", can swell your heart because it's something wonderful. An extra 0.10 mile on the elliptical when you were sure Death was imminent is an even greater accomplishment and something completely wonderful.

You see? It's a matter of perspective and attitude, and after a while you grow to live a life of wonder and joy. Yes, there are problems, ups and downs and turnarounds, but a few whispered "Something Wonderful Will Happen" reminders will usually get your mind refocused.

So far today, many wonderful things have happened. The sun is shining, the temperatures are mild, I had a simply wonderful blackened chicken salad for lunch, and the workday is moving along at a clippety-clip pace without a lot of drama and angst. And that's just scratching the surface. There have been a few grr-r-r moments, too, but with so many wonderful things happening, those moments are merely irritants, as opposed to pattern-makers.

What wonderful things happened in your world today?

Rolling Along

My bike and I went to lunch today. Nowhere fancy, just Subway. Not the Subway across the street, mind you, but the one 3.5 miles away. My bike and I found every single hill between here and there, hills that I would swear aren't there when I drive down the same streets in my car. What a workout! Seven miles later, my legs were screaming. And that was with a break for lunch.

Wanting to spend as little time as possible on busy roads, I mapped a meandering route through various subdivisions. I get really nervous (and unsteady) when I hear a car approaching from behind and riding on less-traveled roads seemed the way to go. Even so, I had to hit a major thoroughfare for about 50 yards. It was the fastest I've pedaled yet! Fortunately for me, no cars passed me for the duration.

I also completed the second day of my Exercise Challenge. We voted to work on core this month, and my core appreciates it. Since this is in addition to my 3-a-week workouts with the trainer, I'm starting out sort of easy. Today I did 4 30-second planks and one for a full minute, 3 sets of 15 bridge lifts, 3 sets of 10 reverse crunches, and 3 sets of 15 regular crunches. Add that in to the 50 minute bike ride and I came up with 60 minutes of exercise today. That pushes me over the 2500 minute mark for exercise again and you know what that means: Cake Day!

Tomorrow I have to work late so I'll miss my workout with the trainer. I'll also miss my weigh-in, so I'll have to wait for Wednesday to see if I squeezed any mercy from the scale this week. If I get off work in time, I'm going for a walk around the neighborhood. I have a pretty decent 3-mile walk mapped out. I wonder how many surprise hills it has. I'm not going to try any strength training without the trainer. I'm having a little bit of knee pain and some slight swelling, so I think it might be wise to leave the squats and lunges alone for the time being. I'll do another core workout instead.

I hope you all have a happy, healthy week!

~

Have Shoes, Will Travel

The really cool thing about walking as exercise is that you can do it just about anywhere. Take today, for example. I was in the middle of errands and I passed a pretty little park.

Hmm, I thought, I should plan to walk there someday. My toes were fairly wiggling in my shoes at the prospect. As I was pulling away from the corner stop sign, I realized that the shoes being subjected to all that wiggling were my walking shoes. My iPod shuffle was in my purse. I had nowhere to be for another hour. In less than a minute, I had successfully made a U-turn, parked the car, and was approaching the trail.

It's a nice little walk, about a 1/2 mile of crushed rock. Most of it is wooded, but there are a couple of short stretches of open field. I plan to take the bike there tomorrow as part of a longer ride.

Today's bike ride was cancelled due to excessive auto traffic in the neighborhood. It seems the annual neighborhood rummage sale was today, and I didn't really feel my navigational skills were up to dodging bunches of folks hopping in and out of cars to drive another 500 feet for the next sale. The thought of all those car doors popping open gave me the jitters.

I passed on the rummage sales, but I did make a trip to the local thrift store. I'm pleased to report that I found a pair of jeans that fit (size 10!!!) and look pretty good. They'll look even better with my shaper shell on. I also found a top, a purse, and a small carry bag for my bike. Total cost for all: $15.09. Score!

And it's really sad to say that the park and the thrift store were the highlights of my day. LOL A nice, boring Saturday. Those aren't so bad every now and then!

I hope you all had a lovely day!

Strategies for Success and Other Useful Links

Happy Friday to all...

Some Sparkpeople articles are sort of ho-hum, but I received one today that had me doing the "yesssss!" thing. Titled "5 Secrets of the 5%: What You Can Learn From Successful Dieters", the article summarizes into just a few key points the success factors of the legendary 5% of dieters [their term, not mine] who lose their weight and keep it off. What's especially neat about it is that the content reflects what many of us post about on a regular basis. Quick peek:
1) Make it public
2) Pay attention
3) Enjoy yourself
4) Make gradual changes
5) Allow yourself to fail

I'm definitely printing this one out for when I lose my way.

Another great link I found today was Prevention Magazine's My Walking Maps. I've got a couple of routes planned for bike riding this weekend, weather permitting.

Finally, just for kicks and giggles, this link from Jonathan Fields, Awake @the Wheel.

Believe it or not, that's all Chatty Cammy has for today. I hope you all have a healthy, happy weekend!

~