Weekend Wrap-up

Whew! I've made a good start on the holiday shopping, but I still have a way to go. The stores I went to were busy but not overrun with crazed shoppers. I'm not one of those people who will stand in line, even for a great "bargain", so I avoided the big box stores. I even avoided the streets where the big box stores are located!

I did get my new printer, so that's another item off my to-do list. I haven't had a chance to explore the features. I think there might be a microwave oven on it. :)

The one other thing I had hoped to accomplish, shopping-wise, was to complete the shopping for my Salvation Army Angels, and I did. I have two angels: an 82-year old woman and an 18-month old little girl. Their requests were simple, thank goodness, and I was able to get everything on their wish lists. It's a good feeling. If you have this program, or one similar, in your area, please consider participating. If finances are tight, you might consider pooling resources with a friend or family member.

Since this is primarily a weight-loss/fitness blog, I probably should mention that area of my life. :) If I had to give myself a grade for the long holiday weekend, I'd go with a solid B. I could've exercised more, but I ate healthy and filled a lot of the exercise time with movement of some sort (shopping, housework). My big Thanksgiving food splurge was a delicious slice of red velvet cake. And a corn muffin. Whoo-hoo! How'd YOU do?

Until tomorrow...

Black Friday

I hope those of you celebrating Thanksgiving had a wonderful holiday and that the rest of you had a day to be thankful for!

I missed Thrifty Thursday (I'll probably do that from time to time), but I did want to share this freebie from Oprah. I love holiday music, and free holiday music is even better.

I'm out and about on this post-Thanksgiving morning doing some shopping. I'm no Black Friday warrior, but I did hit up JCPenney at 4 a.m. (I was up anyway, thanks to the steroids, I think). JCP was hopping this morning, and I snagged a pair of work pants, a pair of workout pants, an exercise top, and two mock turtleneck tops for $50.

Now, I'm at McD's finishing up a yogurt parfait while I wait for Office Max to open. I'm hoping to get a new printer. {fingers crossed} After that, it's off to Dillard's, Sephora, and World Market. Or perhaps home to bed. Girls do need sleep. :)

I hope you all have a most marvelous Friday and one terrific weekend!

HYC Week 47

Greetings from Cammyland!

This is my first week flying solo on exercise. Sadly, I had my final training session with Fitness Together last Friday. I'll miss seeing those guys regularly, but I hope to keep in touch with them. When folks help you change your life, you like to have them around. :)

Last night I went to the regular old boring gym and did an elliptical 5k. I'm pleased to report that I completed it in 29:01 minutes at level 8! Previously I had been doing level 5, but Trainer Daniel went all Jillian on me the other week and ran up the level to 15 causing me to nearly die within 2 minutes. I don't like to be defeated by these machines, so I'm ramping up my elliptical program. Now that I've done the level 8 at 30 minutes, I'll move up to level 10 and see how long it takes me to get the time for a 5k under 30 minutes. It may take all winter! :)

Today, I had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. It does not appear that he will get to use his surgery knowledge on me, thank goodness. He thinks the problem is arthritis in my neck and some compression between two discs.(Amazing how a problem in one area [neck] can cause pain in other areas [shoulder/back/arms.]} His remedy, in addition to some anti-inflammatory and steroidal-type medications, is a few weeks of physical therapy. If insurance covers it, I'll give it a whirl.

With the doctor's appointment and the subsequent pharmacy run, I missed my self-imposed gym window, so I'm exercising at home tonight. My plan is to watch The Biggest Loser and do some sort of exercise at every commercial break, with a focus on core and cardio. I should be able to do jumping jacks or hops through a commercial break, right? Riiiight...

Good Lord, could I get anymore rambly? I'm off to check on how well you guys are doing while watching TBL. But not during the 1,273 commercial breaks. I'll be UP and MOVING then!

Makeover Monday: Fitting Fitness into the Holidays

Last holiday season was my first as a relatively fit person, and I handled it pretty well, if I do say so myself. I was recovering from foot surgery, so the exercises I could do were limited (no cardio!), but I could do some basic seated lifting and such. The bigger problem was the onslaught of holiday events and activities that interfered with my carefully crafted exercise schedule. I'm no social butterfly, but there was enough turbulence to cause me no small amount of concern.

It was useless worry, as it turned out. (It so often is.) With advice from my trainers and an internet filled with great ideas, I was able to exercise enough to net a mere half pound gain for the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Considering the average weight gain during the holiday season is as much asseven pounds, I was pleased with my results.

{pause for gratitude moment}

The biggest part of my relative success, I think, was that fitting in exercise was important to me. Where possible, I scheduled activities around my workout schedule, but there were some conflicts that were unavoidable.(It didn't seem right to ask people to reschedule their Christmas parties because I needed to exercise.) But I knew that I needed the exercise to continue building a healthier body and also to compensate for the extra calories I was enjoying here and there as part of the holiday tradition. (rotel dip=yum!)

In an odd turn of events, continuing to focus on fitting in exercise where I could had the added benefit of keeping me mindful of those extra calories.

You see? It's all a delightful circle!

Anyway, I jotted down notes last year, and I've added to them since then. Here's a sampling of tips and tricks to add exercise into your day...often where you least expect it! None of them requires special equipment, so you have no excuse. :)

At home:
- Easy schmeasy, tried-and-true one: exercise during the commercial breaks of your favorite holiday movies and specials. Planks, sit-ups, push ups, jumping jacks--there are dozens of things you can do!
- Work on balance and core strength by standing on one foot while you brush your teeth. Stand on the other while you apply makeup (or dry your hair or whatever). [Guys? Maybe not while you're shaving.]
- Making extra grocery runs during the holiday season? Toting a few extra bags? Consider doing a few bicep curls with your bags before you put them in the car and again when you take them into the house. While putting away those groceries, do a few overhead presses with your canned goods. (Assuming you're like me and buy canned goods.)
- Use telephone time to do squats or lunges. (I have a cordless handset, so that I can move around while I catch up on news with friends and family.)
- Since time is short anyway, do your household chores such as mopping, vaccuuming, or scrubbing at a faster pace. (I did that with leaf-raking/bagging all weekend, and beleive me, it pays off!)

At work:
- Don't use the restroom closest to your office. Go to one further away. If you work in a multi-story building as I do, you can work in a few flights of stair-climbing. (Considering I go about six times a day, this is a significant amount of climbing.
- Stand up every time your phone rings and if possible, remain standing for the duration of the call. Pull your belly in and hold it tight.

Out and about:
- Holidays are a great time to meet old friends and reminisce. Instead of meeting for lunch, why not meet for a walk? If it's too cold outside, meet at a mall or fitness center.
- An oldie but goodie: while out shopping, park as far away from the door as is safely and prudently possible.

If you have weights or other exercise equipment at home, you might want to check out 8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise and Anthony Robbins. It's filled with exercise plans that require a small amount of time each day. I've used it a few times in the past, and I plan to try it again during Christmas week, if life gets a bit hectic. (Note: In grabbing the link for the book, I noticed a similar book by the same authors: 8 Minutes in the Morning for Real Shapes, Real Sizes: Specifically Designed for People Who Want to Lose 30 Pounds or More. I haven't read that one, but I'm curious.)

That's it from me. No doubt YOU have your own tips and tricks and you'll be willing to share them with us in the comments! Pleeeaaaase?

Have a marvelous Monday!

Friday Drive-by

I'm on company time right now, so I'll be brief. With the economy being what it is right now, it's not surprising that several of us in fitness-blogging world have found ourselves jobless or soon-to-be-jobless. Scary times, these, and potentially dangerous to the evolving healthy eater.

But you know, it just doesn't have to be all gloom and doom. If you doubt that (and even I have my moments), check out Jonathan Fields's new e-book, The Fire Fly Manifesto. It's free and it's fantastic!

In other news, it's an exciting day in Cammyland! Remember the boots? Well, I'm finally wearing them (outside my house.)

From Blogger Pictures

It's a happy day! (Oh, and please don't pay attention to messy office. Or the messy hair, for that matter. *G*)

Happy Weekend!

Thrifty Thursday: Frugal Healthy Links

Odds and ends from around the web as I dash through on my way...shoot, forgot where I was going. It's been that kind of week. :)

First up, this article listing the cheapest produce, month by month.

Next, this article full to the brim with cost-free exercises.

Or if that one doesn't do anything for you, maybe this one will. It includes shopping as exercise. Can't go wrong with that. :)

That's it for this week's thrifty tips. I'll do better next week. Or I'll try, at least. :)

Personal note - candy update: bag still sealed.

HYC Check-In Week 46

Still in the yellow zone, but barely. I lost another 0.4 pounds, which puts me three pounds under goal. At this point, I have to laugh. I never thought I'd have this sort of "problem" with maintenance. :) I feel a cheeseburger coming on. (no fries, though.)

Trainer Daniel let me know tonight that my sessions are up at the end of this week. I'll be on my own starting next week. {tremble} I feel ill.

Just kidding. I may slip and slide, but I think I'm on the right track for the long term. I'll miss working out with the guys, mainly because I like them. Even when they try to make me do crazy things like pull-ups.

In my efforts toward combining fitness AND frugality, I'm trying something new this week. I've been keeping some sort of 100-calorie chocolate snack on hand for those days when only chocolate will do. The thing is, those 100-calorie snacks are kind of pricey. Delicious, but pricey. A six-serving box is usually $2.50-$3.00. Affordable, yes. Frugal, no.

So this week, I'm taking a DARING risk. I purchased an ENTIRE bag of Hershey's Dark Chocolate with Almonds Nuggets, and they're in MY HOUSE right this very minute!

A whole bag of chocolate, just sitting there!

The Plan is to have it on hand for those days, and then to have only two pieces. According to the package, a serving size is four pieces (220 calories), but I'm going to try just having two pieces, thus making it an approximation of the 100-calorie snack. I should get 18 servings from the bag, which was on sale for $2.29 at Target. Much more frugal, but time will tell if it's also more dangerous. I've already decided that one "overage" is tolerable, but if I find myself indulging too frequently, I'll cart the bag into the office and give the little chocolate-y jewels to my co-workers.

No one has ever fretted about a bag of candy as much as I have about this one. It feels like some sort of test. So far I haven't even opened the bag, so I'm hopeful.

That's it for me this week. Still stressing, still smiling. Hope you're having a great week!

Makeover Monday: DIY Facials

When I reached goal weight, several people suggested a spa facial as one of my rewards. I agree, that would be nice and I do intend to do it, but with finances being what they are and Christmas just around the corner, a professional facial is being pushed a little ways down the list. Still, that's no reason not to pamper myself. An at-home facial is easy, inexpensive, and a definite reward.

Due to my advanced years, I should do a facial once a week, but it's often—okay, usually, every couple or three weeks. I just don't take the time, even though it takes only about 30 minutes or so. I'm declaring tonight Facial Night, after my workout, and just in case you want to have a facial night too, I'll provide my version of a facial below, along with some handy links for other options. Keep in mind that my lack of medical knowledge extends into dermatology, so you might want to proceed with caution.

If you choose to play along and treat yourself to a facial, it's important to know your skin type and choose an appropriate product. Need help? No problem. Here's a link with some tips for determining your skin type. Go ahead and check. The rest of us will wait....

Ready? Okay. Without further ado, here is Cammy's non-Patented Facial Treatment:

I like to do a facial immediately after I shower. The warm water opens my pores nicely, and my hair is up in a towel or combed back from my face, eliminating the need for a headband.

I also like to have a scented candle burning. I'm not sure why, because the facial is no more or less effective with it. Maybe it enhances the idea that this is a treat (as opposed to basic Cammy maintenance which should be done weekly.)

My regular facial consists of four steps: cleansing, exfoliating, a mask, and moisturizing. If I happen to have some Biore Pore Cleaning Strips, I'll use one of those after cleansing, but I'm out of them right now, so my blackheads are on their own. (Usual disclaimer: no money from the Biore people, not that I wouldn't take it.)

For cleansing, I use an all-purpose gentle cleaner, usually either Basis or Purpose soap or Cetaphil cleanser. No doubt, you have your own favorite cleanser, but if you want to try any of these, they're available at your local drugstore, I'm sure.

There are plenty of exfoliating products on the market, but I often mix a little baking soda and water together into a paste, and use it instead. To me, it seems as though successful exfoliation is more in the technique than in the product. I use just the pads of my fingers to smooth the product on my face in gentle circles. I spend a little extra time on my "t-zone" since it tends to be a little oily. I also rinse vigorously, because exfoliates tend to be drying.

Next up is a facial mask, and this is the longest part of the process. Fortunately, it creates a built-in nothing-to-do-but-wait step that you can use for leg shaving, tidying the vanity area, or just sitting back with your eyes closed for a few minutes.

As with all "beauty products", there are many options available. Know your skin type and choose accordingly. Generally speaking, use a clay-based face mask for oily skin. For dry skin, go for a hydrating gel or cream mask. Or you can try one of the homemade masks I'll include later in this post.

When applying the mask, avoid the extra delicate areas around the eyes. Leave the mask on for the length of time recommended on the package directions, usually somewhere between 10-20 minutes, then rinse your face well.

The final step in the facial process is the moisturizer. Again, choose a moisturizer for your skin type and smooth it on your skin. I use this time for a bit of facial massage, using just the tips of my fingers in short, smooth strokes, working from the neck up to the cheeks bones (I actually have those now) and then smoothing horizontal strokes across those demoralizing forehead creases.

And that's my facial. I wish I could tell you I have peaches-and-cream complexion, but I don't. I do think my skin is healthier than it used to be, partially due to an improved diet and regular exercise, but also because of special treats like this!

As promised, here are some facial masks you can make at home:
Egg White Mask: I don't use this one often, because I usually don't have any eggs in the house. I've used it in the past, though, and it's really good for toning and tightening. Spread a thin film of egg white on your face. Rinse it off after 10 to 20 minutes. It's great for oily skin, but I've heard that you can add a spoonful of honey to it and use it for dry skin as well. I may try that this winter, when my skin dries out a little.

Oatmeal Mask: I've used this one as well. Oatmeal deep cleans pores without irritating or drying out skin. You'll want to use rolled oats (not the instant type) and you'll need to grind them into a flour-like consistency in the food processor. Any excess can be stored in a jar or other covered container.

To use the oatmeal mask, pour a small amount of the ground oatmeal into your palm and mix in plain water or milk (for extra moisture) to form a paste. Spread the paste on your face and leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse well.

Milk of Magnesia Mask: This is a quickie> and good for oily skin: Rub plain Milk of Magnesia onto your face, let it dry, then rinse with lukewarm water.

And that completes my repertoire of homemade facial masks. I've read about others, but I've not used them. If you're feeling adventurous, here's a link to recipes for more homemade facial masks.

Now, for my favorite part of Makeover Monday: What are YOUR home facial secrets? Any special techniques or products you want to share? I'd love to know, especially since I've declared tonight Home Facial Night in Cammyland!

Laughter as Therapy

Stressy weekend coming up as I debate some career decisions. I know now that I seek food therapy for stress, thus I've replenished my fruit bowl in anticipation. Bring it on, I say. (Meet tough, resolute Cammy.)

I also know (and always knew in the past but chose to ignore because chips and dip tastes so much better) that laughter is an AWESOME remedy for stress. Laughter is a great remedy for almost anything.

Just in case you're in need of a little laughter-as-therapy, I'm passing along these handy "therapeutic" tips which were sent to me from a friend yesterday. Unfortunately, there's no note of the origin so I can't give credit. Just know that I didn't come up with these myself. I am, however, possibly going to try a few. :)

To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity
1. At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.

2. Page yourself over the intercom. don't disguise your voice!

3. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that. (cammy note: I do this one already. What does that say about me?)

4. Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks .. once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to es presso.

5. In the memo field of all your checks, write ' for marijuana.

6. Skip down the hall rather than walk and see how many looks you get.

7. Order a diet water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

8. Specify that your drive-through order is 'to go'. (cammy blushing note: i have actually done this one, too. talk about mindlessness...)

9. Sing along at the opera.

10. Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you have a headache.

11. When the money comes out the ATM, scream 'I won! I won!'

12. When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling 'Run for your lives! They're loose!'

13. Tell your children over dinner, 'due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go.'

Hope you got a giggle or three. Even more, I hope you have a STUPENDOUS weekend!!

Meanwhile, share a funny with someone today, just in case they didn't make it to the fruit market to stock up. :)

Thrifty Thursday: Alternate Resources

I was scanning this article on dietriffic, always looking for ways to save money on groceries, when this little jewel jumped out at me:

“Supermarkets aren’t the only place to go for groceries.”

I agree wholeheartedly. Way back when, in my unhealthier days, I did most of my grocery shopping at Walgreen's, a chain drug store. Considering that the only groceries I brought home were chips, candy, cookies, ice cream, and the like, AND considering that Walgreen's always has great sales on those, it was a marriage made in Heaven. Or Hell. It depends on your perspective.

Now, on Sunday mornings, I always check out the Walgreen’s ad, but my motive is different. Who knew they also carry lots of healthier groceries as well and frequently have sales on those items. This week, for example, with store coupons, you could pick up:
15-oz. can of Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin, reg. $1.79, sale price
$0.99
Jif Peanut Butter, 18. oz., reg. $3.29, sale 3 jars/$5.00
Quaker 1-Minute Oats, 18 oz., Buy one, get one free ($2.79 total)
Jello Sugar-free, reg. $1.19 each, sale 4/$2.00
Morton Salt, ClabberGirl Corn Starch, Baking Soda, or Baking Powder, 2 pkgs/ $1.00
Splenda sweetner, 100 packets, $2.99

And you don't need a coupon for these sale items:
Walgreen’s Select Nuts, 9-11 oz., reg. $5.99, sale $3.99
Sun-Maid Raisins, 18 oz., $1.99
Sunsweet Dried Apricots, 13 oz., $1.99

Non-food products on sale:
Nature Made Vitamins and Supplements – buy one, get one free

And for the exercising types among us:
Coupon Salonpas Hot Patch – 2/$2
Gillette, Secret, Old Spice “Clinical Strength” deodorant/antiperspirant
$7.99

I'll be picking up some more pumpkin before the week is out, and possibly some raisins. (They can keep their dried apricots--ick!)

If you don't have a Walgreen's near you (here, there's one on every corner), chances are that your local 'big deal' drug store has sales as well. Just stay away from the candy aisles. :)

Another source for healthier groceries, especially if you live in an area in which it's difficult to find certain foods, is our fine friends at Amazon. Just now, they have promotions on Bob's Red Mill products (25% off) among other things. Everything I've checked out there has been eligible for free shipping as well.

Those are just two of the 'alternate resources' you can use to possibly save a few $$$ while shopping for healthier groceries. You can also consider your local farmer's market, discount warehouses like Costo or Sam's, and retailers like Target or Wal-mart.

What about you? Do you have any off the beaten path shopping resources for healthier grocery shopping?

(Note: none of these stores have sent me any money or coupons or even a kind word.)

You Matter, I Matter

He did it again.

Last week, I had the enormous pleasure of corresponding with Sam Parker, creator of 212 The Extra Degree, which those of you who've been here awhile may remember as the focus of one of our early Makeover Mondays. Sam (I hope it's okay if I call him that) has updated the video and you can find the new link here. Still powerful. Life-altering powerful.

If that wasn't enough, Sam also kindly let me know about his newest project, Smile and Move, a guide to mattering to the world, making a difference, and smiling while you do it. While it's geared to sales professionals, if you read it with a mind toward your everyday self, you'll find some gems. The book, which you can purchase (holiday gift idea!) or read for free online, is based on this simple concept:

It's one of our deepest, most human drives. I want to be needed. You want to be needed. We all want to matter to the world.

Don't we just?

Should you find yourself smiling less and complaining more, check out Sam's new book!

Note: I receive no compensation from Sam--he's nice, but apparently not that nice. I just like the concept.

For the record, YOU--your successes, your struggles, your enormous, beautiful hearts--matter to ME. I will always be grateful for your presence here, for your seemingly unending support and inspiration, and for your generosity in sharing your stories.

Leaving you with these words from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which I read for the first time on Sam's site:

After one has discovered what he is called for, he should set out to do it with all of the power he has in his system. Do it as if God almighty ordained you at this particular moment in history to do it.

Powerful stuff. Life changing even.

HYC Week 45

Well, I wasn't expecting this. In my new and evolving traffic light measurement system, I'm in the yellow zone (more than 2 lbs away from goal), but I'm on the minus side of the target. I lost two pounds over the past week. (Where was a nice 2-lb. loss when I was trying to lose weight, I ask you.)

It's not just the scale that has me a little concerned. Quite a few people have told me to 'stop dieting' over the past week or so. A couple even said that I could stand to put on some weight. These are friends-and-family types who have been amazingly supportive, so they have my ear.

For the next few days, I'm not going to do anything differently. This could be another weird scale bump. Lord knows, I've seen my share of those over the past few months.

I know there's a problem in the number of calories I'm taking in. I'm used to eating the way I have for 16 months, and it's tough to change. Basically, I need to add around 500 calories a day. Now, I would happily throw some Little Debbie's and/or some Cheetos in the mix, but that's not exactly a healthy lifestyle, is it? I think I'll use almonds and/or peanut butter instead. Maybe some more of the chocolate protein powder stuff. (MMM, maybe I can figure out how to use all three in some sort of hershey's with almonds meets Reese's cup kind of way. :))

I'll figure it out, I suppose. It's all a learning process.

In other news, BlogHer has announced their 2009 venue: Chicago! I'm planning to be there, and I hope bunches of you will join in the fun. I last attended BlogHer in 2007 and had a really good time. So start saving those pennies, nickels, and dimes!

Hope you all had a stellar week!

Makeover Monday: Take a Deep Breath

As I think I've mentioned a couple dozen few times, I've really been suffering from some back and shoulder pain. So much so that last week I took the step of getting a therapeutic massage. It was my first serious massage, and the results as far as the area that had given me problems over the past few weeks were great. No more pain there.

Good news, right? Yes, but now every other part of my neck, back and shoulders hurts. :) The therapist had warned me to expect that as an after effect of the therapy. There were big knots in almost every area he massaged, and the manipulation of those tissues will leave the area a bit sore. It's much better now than on Friday evening.

One bit of homework I have is to focus on breathing for relaxation. Besides relaxing my muscles, one of the benefits of massage of this type is that it improves oxygen flow and increases blood circulation, thus lowering blood pressure and heart rate. I like that. I like it a lot. I'd like it even more if I could maintain that improvement.

Enter, breathing exercises. Focused breathing is a great de-stresser, and since I tend to tense up during times of stress, it's a natural for me.

The breathing exercises below are easy. So easy that they may seem silly, but they work!

My favorite breathing exercise is one I've shared before: Breathe slowly, counting backward from 60, inhaling through your nose on the even numbers and exhaling through your mouth on the odd numbers.

I have no idea where I learned this method or why it works so well, but it really works at slowing things down for me, physically and mentally. I do this one a lot when I'm going to sleep, and also when I'm in the doctor's office for my blood pressure check-up. :)

---

The next exercise is a great one for calming down, too. You can do it for 3 or 4 repetitions or for several minutes as a form of meditation.You can also do this exercise sitting or standing, as long as you are in a relaxed position.
- Slowly inhale through your nose, silently counting to five.
- Exhale slowly, silently counting to eight as the air leaves your lungs.
- Repeat several times. As you breathe, keep your shoulders relaxed and let your abdomen expand outward instead.

---

Another super simple breathing exercise also focuses on the abdomen (getting the diaphragm to do it's job.)
- Sit comfortably in a chair, with one hand on your belly and the other on your chest.
- Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose. Feel the cool air on the tips of your nostrils. Focus on the way your stomach expands as your lungs fill with air.
- Exhale to a count of five, again focusing on the stomach as it deflates.
- Repeat several times.

---

Finally, here's a good breathing exercise for first thing in the morning. It's great for getting rid of the stiffness that sleep sometimes brings.
- In a standing position, knees bent slightly, bend forward from the waist and let your arms dangle to the floor.
- Inhale slowly and deeply, gently rolling or unfolding your body upward to a standing position again.
- Hold your breath and stand still for 2-3 seconds and then exhale slowly as you bend forward again from the waist, returning to the original position.

Easy, right? It's hard to believe such simple techniques are actually beneficial, but they are. They relax AND energize me, which seems kind of strange when you think about it. I suppose what they do is relax me so that my energy is redirected in a positive way.

I hope you can take a few minutes today to sit still and breathe. Your body will thank you for it.

New Weight Loss Reality Show: Ruby

In an effort to rest my back/shoulder by limiting computer time, I've been taking a bit of a blogging break this weekend. (More about that tomorrow.) How fortunate for me that during this morning's normal computer time, I turned on the television and caught the first episode of a new Style Network series, Ruby. The show will repeat tonight on Style Network at 8 p.m. eastern, 7 p.m central.

Ruby Gettinger of Savannah Georgia weighs in at almost 500 pounds. She's a beautiful young woman facing some serious health problems, yet she has a remarkably charming and resiliant attitude. As seen on the show, Ruby is the kind of person we'd all be friends with if we lived nearby. This show will chronicle her efforts to overcome the obstacles in her life that prevent her from living a fit life. If the first episode is any indication, I think we will all find some of our own truths in her words. I did.

The official show site has links to the schedule, videos, Ruby's blog, and even a sweepstakes (3 months of training among other things.) So far, I give it a two thumbs up.

Thrifty Thursday

Yes, something new. Who knows if it will continue on future Thursdays, but I thought the title was catchy. :) Plus, I found these nifty link I wanted to share.

We hear all the time about how much better it is to buy organic foods, which is all fine and dandy, except what if you can't find organic in your area? What if you can't afford it?

The Environmental Working Group has prepared a guide to help shoppers make the best choices possible when shopping for produce. It's available at no cost here.

I also found this link listing healthy foods you can get for less than a dollar.

That's it! Short and sweet today, due to pain in shoulder. (I have an appointment for a soft tissue massage in the morning.) I hope to catch up with you all tomorrow!

A Change Would Do You Good

I've been humming the chorus (or is it a refrain? I forget) of this Sheryl Crowe song all morning. Lots of folks talking about change this morning. Change...and hope, and those lyrics jumped in my brain and won't get out. It doesn't matter that the lyrics of the song itself have nothing whatsoever to do with the grand changes most folks are talking about today. I'm just singin' it because I want to.

Personally, I'm in favor of change. I don't always handle it so well, but I usually benefit from it. Somehow. (Finding that 'somehow' is kinda tricky, at times, but it's there if I look hard enough.) It may seem simpleminded, but I do believe that something wonderful will happen every single day.

The super-lovely DC asked a question in the comments section of yesterday's post about how I'm managing the change from losing weight to maintaining my weight. My first thought? "Very well so far, thank you." But I don't think that's what she meant. :)

The truth is that so far I'm not managing anything. I'm continuing to mostly do what I've been doing for the past 18 months. Since I built my "plan" around foods that I like and exercise I enjoy, it's been fairly easy to stay steady.

For three whole weeks. Something tells me it's not always going to be that easy. :)

I'm in a period of transition, of learning how to live healthy, and I don't have an official strategy outlined. The good news is that with the holidays approaching, I shouldn't have the problem of continuing to lose weight. If I eat and exercise at my current levels, with the additional measured holiday treats from time to time, I should stay pretty steady. And if I don't? That's all part of the learning process. (Be on notice that you will all hear about the successes as well as the slips and slides.)

There's a great parable I've used at work on the change of the caterpillar to a butterfly. The focus is on the stage in between, referred to as "a yellow, sticky, gooey mess." I feel like that's where I was, but I'm slowly (by design) emerging from that state.

Now, all I have to do is learn how to fly. :)



That's kind of how I'm feeling today about the world around me, too. We're on our way OUT of the yellow, sticky, gooey mess phase. and working together, we will all spread our wings and fly!

HYC Check-In Week 44

Good morning and Happy Election Day to those in the US! I'm heading out to vote in just a few minutes.

My official weekly weigh-in was good. I'm right where I was two weeks ago, which is 0.4 pounds below my target weight. I've declared that the 'green zone'. Two pounds below or above the target is green (go, go, go), within four pounds of target is yellow (meaning, I might want to proceed with caution), and five pounds from target is The Red Zone. I don't want to go there. :)

Today I'm going to make an appointment with an orthopedic type person and check out this shoulder/back pain. It's probably just a strain, but I want to rule out anything more serious. One thing that might help is skipping my Wednesday night strength workout. I've got to work late, and so I may just do squats/lunges/core stuff at home.

Last night I worked out with Trainer Daniel, the owner of the studio, and it was a nice change of pace. Each trainer has his/her own style, and mixing it up now and then is kind of fun. I'm really going to miss training with these guys when my sessions run out.

I'm out of time for today. Hope you all had a great week and are looking forward to a strong and successful week ahead!

Makeover Monday: Higher Learning

"I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma."
~Eartha Kitt

::happy sigh:: I love that quote.

With the approach of winter (not to mention the approach of a potential job loss), I've been thinking about taking a few classes. Two things have been holding me up: 1) I'm not exactly overloaded with extra time, and 2) I'm not exactly overloaded with extra money.

Those are stumpers, all right.

Not to worry. A little googling here, a little exploring there, and I think I'm onto a potential solution. A bunch of potential solutions, actually, and the good news is that they'll work for YOU, too, should you be inclined to wile away your wintertime in pursuit of higher learning.

First up, and this is a quickie with a health focus, this article from Yahoo!Health gives us some tips on supercharging our brains. (Mine could definitely use it!)

Next, and this is BIG: did you know that there are many colleges universities around the world that offer free online college courses? That's right, I said that magical word: F-R-E-E! Plus, all of the courses I explored were self-paced, meaning I can attend when it's convenient for ME!

Formats vary, but include everything from podcasts (available on iTunes and elsewhere), vidcasts, and web-accessible course transcripts. From introductory to graduate level classes, there's a little something for everyone. I'm not sure how one learns bowling and swimming online, but they're available (BYU)!

If you're interested, here are some places to start looking:

Open Learn (I may take the introductory Spanish course so that I can move beyond, "!Hola!)

Brigham Young University

John Hopkins (intriguing roster of courses on nutrition)

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center

MIT (P.E.720 (weight training) and PE.910 (Physical Intelligence) made my bookmark list.

Stanford University on iTunes

University of California Berkley

University of California Irvine

Some international colleges and universities with course offerings:

Paris Tech(Then you could legitimately start a sentence with "When I was attending school in Paris...")

University of Southern Queensland

You can also find a nice categorized listing of courses at OpenCulture. Most of these are podcasts.

So you've had enough college, you say? Well, there are also free online classes and tutorials on a wide variety of subjects at the following links:

about.com

Business Week

Small Business Administration

cnet.com(for tips and tutorials of a technological slant)

hp

learnthat.com

podclass.com

Suddenly the darkness of winter doesn't seem so bleak. :-)

As always, I hope you found any of this useful, and if you know of any additional online learning resources (keeping in mind the F-R-E-E part), please share.

I'm also curious as to what classes you WISH you could find online (and F-R-E-E). Maybe one or the other of us can help you out!

Another Unexpected Benefit of Weight Loss

We've talked before (here and on your blogs) about the wonderfully unexpected benefits of losing weight. Things like fitting in a restaurant booth, or a classroom desk chair. I'm here to report another one:

BOOTS! I can wear boots! These boots, in particular.

I've had boots in the past but suffered the well-known "muffin top" effect (think Pillsbury Dough-girl) and avoided them as much as possible.

I must say, with completely annoying (and yet, oddly enjoyable) immodesty, that my legs look mah-velous in these boots and my blue jeans. My iPhone was on 5% power, so I couldn't snap a photo.

My next frontier: a belt. I've never owned a belt. Not as an adult, anyway. The idea kind of terrifies me. :)

I'm pleased to report that the Cammy-do list was annihilated this weekend. Plus, I completed a few things I hadn't intended. The weather has been great, so I worked in frequent sunshine-y breaks amongst the errands and chores. Just a couple of small things left, then the last thing on the list: a nice hot bubble bath! Ahhhh...

The one thing I didn't get done this weekend was blog surfing, but I hope to reconcile that post-bath (if I'm not all noodle-y.) Hope you all had a great weekend!