A Perfectly Ordinary Day

How perfect a day did I have?

Oh, wait. I haven't told you, have I?

Here's what greeted me this a.m.:

The perfect sky.

Not a serious cloud to be found.

Though a few cirrus ones could be seen. :)

(Gotta love a little weather humor.)


I planned to spend the afternoon at a bike festival, so I spent the a.m. rummaging through yard sales as I meandered across town.

For $13 or so, I purchased:

• two cream-colored matelasse table runners
• an old suitcase perfect for holding my travel bags/containers on the closet shelf
• a cute little wrought iron table for my patio (will paint tomorrow)
• a bumble bee beanie (inspiration for a project I'm working on)
• 2 books and a magazine
• a small beaded evening bag (to use somewhere for something)
• not pictured, 8 Elvis-themed Greetings from Memphis! postcards

I got the Best Compliment Ever (or at least for today) at one particular sale. While I was pawing through some New in Package Spanx-type garments, the woman hosting the sale said, "Oh honey, you're way too small to need those. "

Tingle!

I'm not too small, of course, but it proved the camisole I was wearing under my t-shirt was doing it's job holding all my leftover jiggly bits in place!

Anyway, as we do here in the South, the woman and I had to exchange our entire life stories. She told me how she ended up with size L when she needed like a 2X (mother bought them on her behalf. Unsolicited. Eew.) I told her about my weight loss and showed her the type camisole I was wearing (Assets:Target), and she thinks she might try that brand instead. I swear, Target should really start paying me for advertising their product. I could be their Jiggly-Bits Ambassador.

That little interlude took up the rest of the morning. so it was off for a quick lunch at my favorite deli, Fino's on the Hill. Small little corner deli, Italian focus. Yum. Then it was on to the bike party, which was running a little late. Maybe they all had flat tires or something, I don't know, but they were still getting set up an hour after they were supposed to start.

With the sun beating down from that cloudless sky and me suffering some serious Caucasianism, I decided to wind my way back home. On a normal week, this would have been a great time for The Weekly Brownie, but given my boot camp status, I came home for some icy cold watermelon instead.

I'm not sure what happened to the rest of the day. There was a nap, some laundry, some reading, tuna salad preparation, more watermelon--a perfectly ordinary day.

Hope your day was perfect in every way, too!

~

Crises to the Left of Me, Perils to the Right

Some days it's just not easy being me.

Exhibit A:
Tuesday I had to deal with a potential fate worse than death when, approximately 1/10 of a mile into my morning walk, my iPod suffle DIED. I turned it off and then on again, only to watch the precious little green light flicker a couple of times and then go out.

Okay, death might actually be worse than a failed iPod, but WALKING WITHOUT MUSIC?? Oh, the agony! The entire hour I had nothing to listen to but the sound of my feet striking the pavement,birds chirping, trees rustling in the breeze, children playing--crap like that. It was disgusting!

Well not really. :) I decided to take advantage of the musical void by employing some neurobics during my walk. I reached up to touch leaves, stopped to smell flowers, walked with my eyes closed (for brief bits at a time!) and simply listened to my neighborhood. Very interesting, and oddly invigorating.

Not so invigorating that I didn't make a beeline for the computer when I got home to research the possible problem with my shuffle. As it turns out, all I had to do was re-install iTunes and re-charge. Whew. I'm happy to report that yesterday's walk was filled with the Black-eyed Peas and Fleetwood Mac blaring into my ear drums.

But I will take the opportunity every now and then to leave the shuffle at home.

Exhibit B:

Sorry for the grossness, but it's the only way I know to properly show every walker's nightmare: blister eruptus, caused in this case by letting vanity dictate choices in walking sockwear.

I was trying to avoid building a tan line above my ankle. Unfortunately, the selected socks were too low and I got a blister.

Fortunately, band-aids and proper socks are taking care of the problem. Pity they can't do anything for the chunky calves. :)

Exhibit C:
I've been making a project of exploring different deli-type restaurants in my area, and yesterday was Schlotzky's Deli. It's a chain, but I hadn't been there in ages so I decided to give it a try. Good sandwich, not so great on nutrition. Since the portion -size of the small sandwich was great (loads of lettuce and tomato and topped with mustard), I think the higher-than-expected calorie count was due to the toasting of the bun using butter or some sort of buttery oil. If I go there again, I'll know to ask for the sandwich "un-toasted". It will save at least 100 calories and a lot of ugly fat.

Since I was able to easily adjust my menu for the rest of the day, the sandwich wasn't the perilous part. The real threat was the delicious-looking carrot cake sitting at eye level at the cash register. What are these people thinking putting something like that within my easy reach?

Wait. We all know what they're thinking. :) But I escaped their evil intentions by promising myself a sugar-free Fudgesicle when I got home. Even though I did forget about that and had the world's most ginormous apple instead. Seriously, that thing had to be 200 calories of crunchy goodness.

Exhibit D:
I think it's great that people in my neighborhood love taking care of their property. I don't think it's great that they pile limbs, scrap wood, and trash bags along the curb in such a way that they spill over onto the sidewalk and block my walking path. Sidewalks are for pedestrians, not refuse. I shouldn't have to walk out into the street. More importantly, kids shouldn't have to walk or ride their bikes into the street.

Exhibit E:
Speaking of kids, how long before they're back in school? We've got a couple of teens zipping all over the neighborhood on motorbikes--sans helmets, I might add. Apparently it's fun for teens to ride back and forth multiple times along the very section of the street someone else is trying to walk and listen to her precious music.

The motorized kids aren't the only problem variety. The younger bunch on bikes are equally fascinated by walkers, frequently peppering someone who is trying to listen to her music with questions. Yesterday's interlude:

Kid: Hey!
Me: Hey yourself!
Kid: Where you goin'?
Me: Nowhere particular, just walking.
Kid: Ya gotta be going somewhere.
Me: Well, eventually I'll go home, but for now I'm just walking.
Kid: Why?
Me: It's good exercise.
Kid: I don't like walking.
Me, health ambassador: Good thing you've got your bike then. That's great exercise and will keep your body strong.
Kid: You're not supposed to talk about my body! You're a stranger!
Me: I meant in general, not--
Kid, riding off: I'm telling my mom!
Me, suspected neighbor perv: Tell her I'm walking to the end of this street and then turning left if she wants to talk to me.


Sigh. You see what I mean. Trying to be healthy in suburbia can be a bitch.

~

Tippy Toe Boot Camp

Re-entry to normal life has been uneventful. Some rain, some sun, some laundry.

A few too many splurges over the last bit of vacation, along with an upcoming carb-and-fat orgy known as my family reunion, has me paying extra special attention to diet and exercise for the next two weeks. I'm even putting in a few extra minutes (fifteen or so) each day of cardio, and forgoing any significant splurging. No weekend brownie, no weekly white food (except possibly a baked potato).

And that, in a nutshell, is my version of boot camp. Thank God it only lasts two weeks! :)

In an effort to practice what I incessantly preach, I'm purposefully NOT weighing until next Friday (day before reunion), because it truly is not about the scale, but the behaviors (along with the ability to button my pants.) I've had post-vacation weigh-ins that were up and some that were down. What mattered in the end was that I returned to my shiny new "normal" actions and continued losing or worked off the gain. I expect the same result this time.

Someone asked me last year why I didn't just take a salad to the family reunion and have that instead of partaking of the feast. As I explained, then I did skip all food at the reunion two years ago when I was first getting started with serious life changes,and I felt worse than if I had over-indulged. I think I was afraid one meal would derail me completely. (It had happened countless times before.)

The thing is that people come to our family reunion from as far away as Oregon and Arizona. Some get up at 3:00 a.m. to get to the reunion site on time. This is after they have spent several hours the night before preparing foods to bring with them. These are their "specialty dishes", the ones they're known for among friends in their local communities. They prepare these foods with joy, love, and delightful anticipation of our enjoyment. For me to refuse to eat any of their offerings is rude and disrespectful. I'm sorry I didn't realize that at the time, because I seriously hurt my grandmother's feelings.

Another thing I hadn't considered was that many of these folks are elderly. I won't always have the opportunity to experience my Memaw's skillet corn or potato salad, or my second cousin's caramel cake, or one of my favorite aunt's deviled eggs. As I learned the hard way a couple of years ago, some will be taken from us and won't return ever again.

Last year I took the approach of small spoonfuls of many dishes, but stuck to my guns on the fried foods, opting instead for small portions of the leaner meats. My major splurges were on desserts. I slivered and halved and quartered, but I did over-do.

And that was okay, in the end, because the day was about sharing the expression of love from my family members. (I'll admit to being hopeful that so many of them don't fry their love this year.) But it will be what it will be, and I'll enjoy the day for what it is before coming back to my real world.

I can always do another two-week Tippy Toe Boot Camp. :)


You know, one day I'm going to learn to write a short post. Until then, you suffer.

Hope you're all having a great week!

~

Makeover Monday: Aerobics for the Brain

I came across a new-to-me term the other day: neurobics. Anyone heard of it?

Neurobics refers to a certain type of brain exercise that encourages the activation of new brain circuits and helps to keep the brain fit, flexible, and alert.

According to Lawrence C. Katz and Manning Rubin, authors of the book, Keep the Brain Alive, mental exercises have to meet certain guidelines to be considered neurobic:

1. Involve one or more of your senses in a novel context. You can use additional senses to do an ordinary task by blunting the sense normally used. For instance:

Get dressed for work or take a shower with your eyes closed.
Eat a meal with your family in silence. Use only visual cues.

or combine two or more senses in unexpected ways:

Listening to a specific piece of music while smelling a particular aroma.

2. Engage your attention. To stand out from the background of everyday activities something has to be unusual, fun, surprising or evoke one of your basic emotions like happiness, love or anger:

Go camping for the weekend.
Take your child, spouse or parent to your work for the day.

3. Break a routine activity in an unexpected, novel way (novelty just for its own sake is not highly neurobic).

Take a completely new route to work. Shop at a farmer's market instead of a supermarket. Completely rearrange your office and desktop

I love the idea of combining mental exercise with physical exercise. Maybe it has something to do with pre-teen dreams of being a world-renowned pathologist AND a medal-winning Olympic gymnast. I dunno. Anyway, I was fascinated by the idea and pondered other possibilities during my travels. Here's what I came up with:

Teach someone else how to do something. It's one thing to know how to do something, but something else entirely to teach someone else how to do it. Your sense will be heightened as you work to ensure your "student" understands what you are saying.

If you can't find a willing pupil, write an article about a subject. Not knowing anything about said subject is all the more reason to research and write about it. I can see your brain expanding now.

Write a letter or draw a picture with your non-dominant hand. (I think I'm remembering this from a Julia Cameron suggestion, but I can't find my copy of her book.)

Set aside time for meditation, which stimulates the area of the brain responsible for advanced thinking. Incorporating deep breathing will increase oxygen levels and blood flow to the brain.

Work crossword or other types of word puzzles. They're invigorating and stimulating. To change things up, try working it from the bottom up, or in some other pattern.

Make up your own memory game. For example, while waiting for dinner to be served in a restaurant, take note of 6 objects or people, where they're located, and what they look like. After you leave the restaurant, try to recall the objects. (Engaging all 5 senses in creating the memories will help you recall them later.)


Since I haven't been doing my neurobics (having just learned about them), and it didn't seem particularly wise to jot down ideas as I was driving 75 mph down the interstate, that's all I can remember of my ponderings.

I'd love to read any of your ideas! Clearly, I could use the help!

~

Personal note: I am home. I'm both happy and sad about that.

~~

Breaking News: Blogger Meet-up

Taking a break from driving in the rain, which is fine because it gives me a chance to report in on my latest blogger meet-up. I spent a delightful and delicious couple of hours this a.m. with none other than Patty from Fit by My 50th and her charming hubby. It was kind of like a 2-for-1 special in that they are both lovely people, gracious and authentic--the kind of people you feel like you *know* the first time you meet. In other words, my kind of people. This will NOT be the last time we meet!

(thank you, Patty, for the gift of your time, your smile, and your thoughts!)

I'm still undecided on whether or not I'm going home today. I'm planning to stop in Birmingham to take a close-up look at the Vulcan Statue, which is featured in a series of mysteries by the late Anne George. I've seen it from the interstate, but there is apparently a nice park and observation deck now. With the rain and clouds, I'm not sure how much I could observe, but I'd like to check it out.

As far as rain, it is still with me. In a few miles of absurdity, it even rained while the sun was out. How cruel is that!

I did, however, finally come up with a bright spot to all the rain. It only took me 2-1/2 days, but I realized today that my car is not coated with dead bugs. And for that I'm thankful. :)

Time to get back on the road. Wishing you all a Super Sunday!


(Kathy, if you're reading this, know that I'm thinking of you as I sit here at the Talladega exit. *G*)

On The Road Again: near Atlanta, GA

I'm spending the weekend in Atlanta, GA, and it will surely come as no surprise to you that it's raining. It will apparently rain throughout the Memorial Day weekend here, and I see from the Memphis weather forecast, that it will rain most of next week when I get home.

While I'm normally a pretty happy person, I'm starting to feel a bit soggy.

The drive up here from Tampa was--surprise--rainy, but not a constant rain. It was one of those rain-for-a-half-mile-then-stop--then-repeat-unless-you-get-to-a-congested-area-and-then-rain-like-hell kind of drives. My biceps, the right one anyway, got a good workout from turning the wipers on and off for eight freaking hours.

I did stop in Tifton, GA, at Bell Plantation, home of the beloved by many PB2. No pictures, because it was raining and because...well, I don't really know how to tell y'all this in a gentle way, so I'm going to just blurt it out: The PB2 HQ is NOT coated in gold, nor do the workers have halos. I mean, I knew it was in town, so there wouldn't be fields and such, but this? This was all so very business-y!

I'm happy to report, though, that the two people I met were very friendly, and I even got the inside scoop on an upcoming event they're sponsoring: a 90 Day Fitness Challenge. It starts on June 6th at 10:00 a.m. at the TCHS-PAC (whatever the hell that is...maybe Tifton County High School something Activity Center?). Anyway, if you're in the Tifton area on that date check it out. Phil And Amy from last year's Biggest Loser Show will be there to kick it off. (P&A apparently now make a living being fit--who knew?)

{pause for lightbulb moment}

Saaaay, how would y'all feel about sending me $29.95 every month? In exchange, I'll send you tips on...well, I'll think of something. Just ponder it, and let me know if you want to send a check.

Where was I? Oh, the PB2 visit. I told them I'd remind everyone that BP is offering a $6 price break through the end of the month on 12-packs. Between that and the savings on shipping, I saved about $20 for stopping by. Plus, I found a cute little gift shop nearby to explore.

Today, I had every intention of going into Atlanta proper and going to the Georgia Aquarium, but the rain finally got to me. I wandered around a nearby flea market for a couple of hours, then came back to the hotel for a nap. The sun--THE SUN--came out for a few minutes, and I quickly found a McCafe with outdoor seating and luxuriated in a frosty Diet Coke and some natural Vitamin D. I sat there for over an hour, just reading and thinking. Ahhh....

Tomorrow, I've got an early blogger meet-up (yaay!) and then I'll either head home or stop along the way. I'm not about to start planning at this stage.

It is entirely possible, I have out-rambled my normally rambly self.

Hope you're all having a superb weekend!

These Are Days

I woke up this morning with one of my favorite songs EVER running through my mind: These Are Days by 10,000 Maniacs.

These are the days
These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky

That's me in a nutshell, blessed and lucky. One sweet day after another,so rich with laughter and joy and energy that I'm almost embarrassed by the luxury of it all. Read on, and you'll see what I mean.

Monday was a pouring rain kind of day, but that didn't (and couldn't) stop me from meeting with a long-time friend for lunch. It was so great to visit her (even though she seems to get younger every year, while I...sigh) and catch up.

Tuesday was another cloudy, sometimes rainy, day. Still, I got in a long, lovely beach walk and found some unusual shells. After a reasonably healthy lunch at a beach bar place, I did some window shopping in the village before heading back to Tampa. The sun peeked out a couple of times, as if in approval of my activities. :)

Yesterday was one of the highlight days of my trip. I spent the morning with Natalia of Embracing the Weight Loss and Diana of Scale Junkie fame.

That's right.

Them.

Me.

Same Starbucks, same table.

Thud!

To say I'm in awe of these two women is a whopper of an understatement. They are equally warm and funny (as in laugh-until-you-pee moments) and insightful (beyond their years) and generous (beyond any words I have.) I could have stayed with them forever.

And almost did. We were there for over 3 hours! :) Just us girls (and our apparent new BFF, a.k.a. Nosy Eavesdropping Guy at the Next Table) chatting about life and weight and blogging and dreaming. Truly a blessing, those hours. (Thank you, Natalia and Diana, for being you and sharing that with me.)

Today was even more rain, lots and lots of it, but the sun did come out for a while, and I was able to walk for almost an hour along the bay. I even got to see some dolphins feeding and playing. Quite a treat for me! (The dolphins seemed happy, too!)

Tonight I had to say goodbye to my lovely hostess, S, who was instrumental in making this one of the best vacations ever. If she just could've done something about this weather.... :)

Tomorrow I start meandering north again. I'm planning to make a stop in Tifton, GA, home of PB2 along the way. (Btw, they're running a special on the 12-pack: $6.00 off through May 31st.)

I'll touch base on the road and hope to have some downtime to catch up on all the goings on in your worlds. Meanwhile, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend (holiday weekend in the U.S.)!!

~

Makeover Monday: Happy Vacation Rain And/Or Shine

Hah! You thought I was so far gone to beach blissdom that I forgot it was Makeover Monday? Not at all.

I had planned to do a timely post on using sunscreen wisely, but as it turns out, I certainly don't need it in Tampa this morning.

Thunderstorms and more predicted for the remainder of the week. A definite bummer for the burgeoning beach bunny, but I'm not about to let a little (or even a lot) of rain ruin my vacation. There are still plenty of things to do!

While I hope you don't experience a similar situation on your vacation, weather happens. When it does, consider some of the following options:
- Do nothing. Put your feet up, relax, and let your mind wander wherever it wants.
- Visit indoor venues like museums, galleries, local shops and markets, etc.
- Book a spa visit. Use the money you would've spent renting a waverunner, and spend it on a splurge-y spa treatment.
- Read a book or magazine or both.
- Exercise. A good mid-vacation workout should boost your energy levels as well as free up sushine-y hours for other fun stuff.
- Watch TV. Choose a channel you don't normally watch--the Discovery Channel, for example--and learn something new.
- If you have access to a DVD player, rent a movie. Heck, rent 5 movies and have an unscheduled film festival. (My laptop's DVD player has come in handy for this on more than one occasion.)
- Order in or make a dash between downpours for some takeout and have an indoor picnic.
- Write a short story. Don't consider yourself a fiction writer? Who cares! You're on vacation, no one's going to see what you've written (if you don't want them to, that is), and you may just discover a hidden passion or talent. (If you're traveling with family or friends, write a 'round-robin' story or poem, in which every one takes turns writing the next sentence or line.)
- If writing fiction doesn't scratch an itch for you, write a wish list. Or a gratitude list. Or list the home improvements you'd like to make...someday. Let yourself dream!
- When all else fails and if lightning isn't a concern, get out and play in the puddles!

See? Rainy days don't have to ruin a vacation. Get creative and you can find a way to enjoy yourself anyway!

And for the sunny days, I'd be remiss in not including these sunscreen reminders from sunaware.org:

A - Avoid unprotected UVR exposure at any time but especially during the hours of peak ultraviolet radiation (between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM).

W - Wear sun protective clothing, including a long-sleeve shirt, a hat with a three-inch brim, and sunglasses, and seek shade.

A - Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher to all unprotected skin twenty minutes before exposure and reapply every two hours while exposed.

R - Routinely check your whole body for changes in your skin and report suspicious changes to a physician.

E - Express the need for sun protection to your family and community.

And there you have it. A few ways to enjoy your vacation--rain and/or shine!

Wishing you all a most marvelous week ahead!

~

Reward Day by the Sea

Somewhere along the minus 30 pound mark, I realized that being smaller and more physically capable would enable me to do some of the things I'd always wanted to do but was too intimidated by or physically unable to do. Riding a jet ski was one of those things. It looked like so much fun, and I love the ocean so much...but I wasn't about to put on a swimsuit and deal with the anticipated embarrassment of going through the process. Right or wrong, that's where I was mentally and emotionally.

Not anymore.



As I was making my way slowly through the no wake zone, I took a moment or two to reflect on the goal, the journey, and the personal significance of the day. A moment of pride, a tear (maybe two), and then I was clear of the jetty and could open up the throttle. I haven't quit smiling since!

I can't tell you how much fun I had! Despite being more than a little nervous at the beginning, I was soon zipping up and down the coast like a seasoned pro. I lost my hat within 5 minutes, but in an amazing combination of technical and acrobatic skill, I leaned over and skimmmed it back onto the jet ski as I passed it on the turn around. I was only sorry I was so far from the coastline so that no one could see my skill and daring. :)

My friend S. also took a spin on the beast for her first jet ski experience. I was as thrilled for her as I was for me, because I knew she would have a great time. And she did! :)

Lunch was a celebration of losing our jet ski virginity. Nothing would do but a cheeseburger at a beach bar (grilled cheese with mushrooms and tomatoes for veggie S), and we even got a discount!

I told the helpful guys at Jack's Boat and Waverunner Rentals in Madeira Beach that I'd give them a shout-out for being so helpful to this newbie, not to mention supportive after they found out my motivation. They made the event so much more exciting and rewarding. (And they didn't even give me a price break or a free hour for saying that, though now seems like a good time to mention that I'm here for the rest of the week. *G*)

Perfect day, shared with a fantastic friend (who we can thank for the pictures!), and it's not even over yet!

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! (It is the weekend, isn't it? I'm losing track of days. LOL)

~

3 Signs You Shouldn't Push Through the Pain

Something a little different today. If you haven't already met her, allow me to introduce you to our guest poster for todayAlisa Johnson, who brings us a timely (for me) post about distinguishing our normal whiny complaints from what might possibly be real problems. Without further ado, y'all say 'hey' to Alisa...

3 Signs That You Shouldn’t Push through the Pain

Working out and staying in shape can be challenging. It takes focus to eat right and discipline to force yourself into the gym on a regular basis. But just because the old saying is ‘no pain, no gain,’ doesn’t mean that all pain equals gain. In certain scenarios that pain may be a red light indicating that you need to pay attention to your body before you go past exercise and into injury.

What’s the real difference?

So how do you tell when pain stops being productive and starts being dangerous? As you might expect, there is no black and white answer to this question. What challenges one person can seriously hurt the next, and in today’s fitness environment missing the warning signs can be easy if you’re not looking out for them. The most important thing you can do is to stay in touch with your own body. No one knows what you are capable of better than you do; recognize that fact and keep it in the front of your focus as you train.

1. The Thrill is Gone.
The key to a rewarding exercise program is keeping yourself engaged. The best way to stay motivated is to enjoy working out. If you absolutely dread having to do a specific exercise or movement, that may be an indicator that it could be more than simply unpleasant for you. It could mean you are doing damage to your body. If you’re not sure follow the number one rule: when in doubt, get it checked out by a pro.

2. Listen to your body.
Listen in the literal sense. Many times problems associated with the movements of joints can begin without any physical pain. This means that if you can catch them before the pain starts you may have a better chance at correcting the problem before it leads to a true injury.

Often times the tissue connecting the joint can begin to develop popping or even squeaking sounds when certain movements are made. Focus on your body when you exercise and if you ever hear something funny, seek the advice of a professional.

3. When pain is no longer pleasure.
Many times athletes who work out frequently, describe the ‘pain’ that is associated with those workouts as pleasurable. As you begin to push your body in an effort to encourage growth you will notice a certain strain that is put on your muscles, joints and bones. Pay attention to the kind of pain you experience.

There is no diagram or chart that will direct you to an exact description of what ‘negative pain’ feels like, but you will know it when it happens to you if you are being aware.

It may help to think of ‘positive pain’ as a nice long stretch or yawn that slowly develops or spreads throughout the area that you are working out. On the converse, ‘negative pain’ will often be sudden and sharp, though it can also stem from the ‘positive pain’ previously described. Over exercising a muscle in a positive way can often lead to injury, so pay attention to the duration and stress you are putting on your body.

The bottom line.
The bottom line is listening to what your gut tells you. If you feel strange or certainly if you feel pain that you are questioning, seek the advice of a professional and prevent any long-term problems.

This post was contributed by Alisa Johnson, who writes about online nursing degrees. She welcomes your feedback at Alisa.Johnson1982 at gmail.com

~~

Thank you, Alisa! I may be scheduling an appointment with my doctor. Just as soon as my cobra kicks in. :)

Greetings from Florida

This was where I spent part of my morning: Destin, FL. Destin isn't one of my favorite places (too overdeveloped), but I do love the emerald green water. Unfortunately is was waaaay breezy and cool this morning--at least to me--so these little tippy toes didn't go anywhere near the water.

I've spent most of yesterday and today in the car, or so it seems. Yesterday was getting to the coast, and today was spent exploring small beach towns and fishing villages. I spent so much time exploring that I didn't make it anywhere near my intended destination for tonight, but it an always be explored on another trip.

Tomorrow I'm going into Tampa to visit with friends (maybe even some blog friends!), and my first stop is my friend's gym to get registered for a guest membership. Lord knows, I need it. My exercise over the past two days has consisted mostly of a bunch of short walks. :) Wednesday was supposed to be a rest day anyway, but today I needed the movement.

Nutrition has been pretty good, so far. I was feeling really snack-y yesterday, which I suspect was partially boredeom and partially a need to quell mild nausea. (I don't do motion so well.) Thanks to pre-packed snacks, convenience stores that sell 1-ox. packets of cheese, and Denny's restaurants, who offer raw veggies as an alternative to french fries, I think I made it through okay. Even if I was a little over normal rest day calories, the nutrtion was good.

Today I lucked onto a little restaurant in Carrabelle, FL that served bbq chicken sandwiches with a vinegar-based slaw. YuM-MMMEEE! Too bad it's about 12 hours from my house; I'd eat there every week. :)

I checked incoming mail while I was waiting on my lunch to be served and thought I'd share these interesting links:

From Woman's Day magazine: 10 Infomercial Products Reviewed

From WiseBread: 6 Cs to Keep You Frugal while Shopping

From zenhabits: 6 Small Things You Can Do when You Lack Discipline

Hope you're all having a great week. I'll be catching up on as many blogs as possible while I put my feet up tonight.

Tomorrow is a guest post. I hope you'll stop in and check it out!

Pampered and Packed

Vacation Eve, here, and I'm almost ready. I spent part of the day on a manicure/pedicure and brow waxing, and the other part of the day on other pre-trip chores. A nicely balanced day!

First up this morning, though, was a workout. I have been forgetting to add dumbbell swings into my workout periodically, but I tossed (hah!) some into the mix today. Definitely a love/hate relationship with this exercise, but it really is a good one!

I also did a pre-vacay weigh-in, and I'm starting out right where I want to be. Let's hope the damage isn't too bad. :)

Some of you commented on my organizational skills in my last post. While I appreciate your praise, what I have are organizational plans. There's a difference. :) As with weight loss, fitness, clutter, finance, and all my other "issues", I keep trying, bit by bit, to improve. Sometimes, it actually works!

That's it from me today. Next post from the road!

Makeover Monday: Road Trip!

Ahhh, it's finally here! My long-anticipated road trip to Florida begins on Wednesday. I'll be traveling along the Gulf Coast for a few days, then visiting folks in Tampa for a week, then moving up to Atlanta for a couple days before turning for home. (You will, of course, be receiving periodic updates.)

The great thing about a road trip is that "packing light" isn't quite as critical as it is when traveling by air or other commercial means. It's especially great because I have the WHOLE car to myself! I could take my entire wardrobe if I wanted to, primarily because my wardrobe is quite diminished these days, but also because I don't have to deal with anyone else's pesky needs. :)

But I'm the practical sort, and I don't want to take things I don't use or to need things that wouldn't have taken up much space to toss in the bag (especially if it's something expensive like an extra pair of contacts.) I've come up with my own methods and schemes over the years, and they work pretty well for me. As always, I'm sharing them here, in the event that one or two or three may be useful for you!

Cammy's Completely Random Travel Tips

Define the trip. By that I mean, what do you plan to do? The known events, not the things you might do. This will help separate what you must take from what you might take if there's still room.

For example: on this trip, I know I will be doing lots of walking, working out at the gym with a friend, going to the beach a few times, writing, and working on some non-Tippy Toe bloggy things. That's a diverse bunch of activities, which leads me to the next tip:

Consider multiple bags. Traveling by plane, we're limited to (usually) one checked and one carry on bag. By car, we have options! For this trip, I know that I will have the following:
- a PC bag with my pc (duh); extension cord; camera; adapters and power cords for phone, camera, etc.; flashlight for hotel room; envelope for receipts; and reading material
- an exercise bag, consisting of gym clothes and accessories, sneakers, shuffle, sports watch, exercise band, and new NURU exercise cards.
- a "panty bag", which is a tote bag with my toiletries, a nightshirt, and a single change of clothes. When I have an overnight stop, I can grab the panty bag and leave the big bag in the car.
- an insulated snack bag containing a few granola bars, some self-made 100-calorie packs of almonds, a tuna packet, and enough fruit for two days.
- the big bag, which is everything not packed in one of the other bags.

What I like about multiple bags is that I can keep the heat-sensitive things like toiletries and snacks in the car, where they have less chance of spoiling. My PC bag sometimes rides in the car, too, depending on where I'm traveling.

Make a checklist of ESSENTIALS. These are items you could not easily purchase if you forgot to pack them. For me, these include eyeglasses, medications, iPhone, wallet, and cash. (Yes, I once went on vacation and forgot to stop at the ATM on the way out of town. Fortunately, my bank has branches in the Midwest.)

Prepare and assemble as much as possible well ahead of the departure date. This includes laundry, dry cleaning, toiletries, medications, etc. This will help avoid overlooking things (or including truly unnecessary items) in the last minute flurry of departure.

Pack with a plan to avoid (or limit) wrinkles. I use two methods for limiting wrinkles: the "packet approach" and "roll-n-stuff".

The so-called "packet approach" is a way of folding pants and shirts (or skirts) in an interlocking pattern, so that you end up with a neat square:
--a. Fold pants lengthwise, seams aligned, and place left-to-right in the suitcase with overlap on each end.
--b. Next, place a shirt, sweater, or skirt on top of the pants, with overhang at the bottom (the side of the suitcase closest to you)
--c. Fold the left end of the pants overhang in, across the shirt.
--d. Fold the sleeves of the shirt in, and then fold the bottom of it in and on top of the sleeves.
--e. Fold in the right side of the pants overhang.

You should now have a nice little "packet". Repeat the process for additional packets and stack them on top.

**Note: Depending on the perceived wrinkle potential of the clothing being folded, I will sometimes place a layer of tissue paper or an old dry cleaning bag on top of the shirt before I begin folding a packet. (I then use the paper or plastic to line the drawer of the hotel room dresser. I'm squicky that way.)

I use the "roll-n-stuff" method for packing t-shirts, shorts, and jeans. Rolls can be carefully stuffed around the packets to fill the empty spaces in the suitcase.
--T-shirts: place t-shirt face down. Smooth material, then fold in sleeves. Roll up from the bottom, so that the collar is on top of the roll.
--Jeans: hold upside down by cuffs, and roll from the cuffs up.

Unpack as much as possible when you arrive at your destination. I used to live out of my suitcase for the duration of the trip, but I converted a few years ago. In addition to giving the clothes a chance to de-wrinkle on their own, it's also nice that they have a chance to air out. :)

Be prepared for disaster. If your luggage is lost or stolen, it's helpful to have a list of what you've packed. I email myself the list, figuring that the hotel or the police will have an internet connection should I be without my pc or phone. ::shudder:: I once heard or read that taking a photo of your luggage might also be useful for providing more than your average description.

If all of that wasn't random enough for you, here are a few travel links I like. Keep in mind that I haven't ever actually ordered from most of them. I just go there to drool. :)

• Magellan's Travel Supplies
• Minimus (all travel sizes, all the time)
• Skymall
• Travelsmith
• Walkabout Travel Gear

And YOU? Any travel tips, ideas, horror stories to share? I'll pop into the comments if anything else occurs to me.

~

The Crabbiest Person You Know Blogs Here

Thank you for your comments and suggestions for the new magazine. You guys are AWESOME. But we knew that already, right? Right.

As is my custom, I've moved on to another area of obsession interest now. Or maybe I'll just expand the empire. Investors (thank you all!) are lining up nicely, and we're upwards of $20 now in pledges. :)

Our new targeted takeover is the field of swimsuit manufacturers, in particular women's swimsuits, and in extra-special particular, swimsuits for women whose bodies do not lend themselves to necklines that plunge down to there, women whose there is good four to five inches lower than it was 100 pounds ago, perilously close to the other there, which is also not suitable for public display.

We will also target and eradicate from ALL swimsuits worldwide (and beyond) the most idiotic concept of all: the molded bra cup. Clothing should allow for some flexibility and adjustment in fit. Molded bra cups are an arrogant assumption that our breasts are standard across the universe and that all our bodies are proportional.

At what point will women's clothing designers understand that women's body parts do not follow a pattern? When will they get that it is entirely possible for a woman to have size 14 hips, wear a size 10 waist, and be a candidate for a training bra? Or vice versa. Some of us {points thumb at self} are built the other way round. (Yes, there are 7-10 women whose measurements DO match up perfectly to manufacturers' sizes, but we're working on having them deported and where will you be then, Mr. Manufacturer?)

You might have figured out that I've spent the week trying on swimsuits. The eternal week from Hell, my friends. I have gotten nekkid in strange places more times this week than the summer...well, that's just way too personal.

I am coming to happy terms with my less than perfect body. It is much more fit than it was 2 years ago, but after shedding so much weight (and turning 50), it's a tad saggy and droopy. That's not an indictment, mind you. My body breathes and all the parts move, and a lot of folks don't have that luxury. Plus, it looks pretty darn good when covered in regular clothes. The swimsuit is whole 'nother animal.

Eight stores. EIGHT. I quit counting at 30 swimsuits. I even tried on a maternity swimsuit at Target, and if they'd had it in small, I would've bought it just to have a swimsuit and be done with it. (All ranting aside, if you're built like me with a "rounder" belly and absent a bust to go with it, there are some cutecutecute possibilities in maternity suits, plus you can buy them in smaller sizes than you normally wear because you're not going to need the "extra" space to grow into. A free tip from me to my round-bellied friends.)

Anyway, I persevered and came up with a one-of-a-kind Cammy special: a tankini set from JCPenney and some swim shorts from Target to cover the saggy thighs. I look athletic, if a bit jiggly in the middle, and while I won't be strutting on the beach, neither will I be cowering in the car.

But it shouldn't have taken me 4 shopping trips to 8 stores and 30+ swimsuits to get here.

And accepting responsibility for my own role in this debacle, a swimsuit will never, ever reduce me to tears again. It's just not that important.

{/rant}

Ending the week on a positive note, I worked out my aggressions at the gym this a.m. and decided to do one of my periodic weigh-ins. Result: right on target! Maybe even a pound too low. An excellent way to start a vacation. :)

I'll return you to your lives now. It is abundantly clear that I am in need of a nap, and I think I'm going to indulge myself. Wishing you all a most magnificent weekend. I'll drop by your blogs when I'm no longer being Lady Crabcakes.

~

Cammy Rants and Rambles

I'm thinking of founding my own magazine. All I'm lacking right now is a measly few million dollars in seed capital and a modicum of skill. But I'm working on it, and here's why.

I met a friend at Border's for coffee/tea today. While I waited for her, I browsed the magazines. After I checked out the home decorating section (priorities, you know), I moved to the health and fitness magazines. Here are a few of the headlines that jumped out at me from the colorful covers:

Lose 14 Pounds in Two Weeks! (Don't know why they didn't just say 'lose a pound a day', unless that's what last month's article was called.)

Lose Your Belly Flab in Just 3 Easy Minutes Per Day!

Eat Your Way to Being Thin!

Get a Flat Belly Fast

And in a two-for-one cover: 20 Minutes to Slim and Get a Body You'll Love by May 31

And on and on. Nothing about health or fitness. All about physical appearance.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with wanting a better body, and there's a lot right with loving the body you have. I've been working very hard over the past two years to make my body better than it was and to love it even in it's current shape and size. Some of you have been at it even longer and are probably working harder.

After years of the dieting cycle, we know that significant and safe weight loss or body change is never easy, seldom fast, and rarely predictable. We also know that it isn't lasting without improving the biggest muscle of all: the brain. (Getting that muscle in shape rarely makes the cover pages.)

Clearly, most of these headlines are geared toward women who have very little weight to lose and most are focused on physical appearance. Just once I'd love to see magazine headlines the kind that reflect the realities of those of us for whom weight loss can't be summed up so easily:

Lose 2 pounds in 21 Days while Working Your Ass Off and Giving Up All of Your Favorite Foods!

12 Exercise Myths Exposed (alt. title: Why It's Physically Impossible to Put Your Eye Out While Doing Jumping Jacks

10 Reward Ideas for Reaching the 'teen' Sizes

"Onederland" is within Your Reach (this year, or maybe next)

7 Effective Tips to Eliminate Chafing


Or maybe...

How NOT to Throw-up During a Workout

Quit Reading This Magazine and Move!Move!Move!

Or what about...

5 Seldom Used but Effective Profanities to Toss at People Who Stare or Shout Insults at You While You're Exercising

Okay, these are silly, I know. But as silly as they are, they're more likely to be useful for those of us who have (had) many pounds to lose.

Which is sad.

Which is why I'm starting my own magazine. Venture capitalists, the line forms on the right. Cash only. Up front.

[/rant]

~

This Just In

Oprah's treating everyone to dinner. Everyone who lives near a KFC, that is. You can download the coupon within the next 24 hours HERE. It's good for the fried meals or the new grilled chicken.

I won't be downloading because local KFCs have decided not to carry the grilled chicken. Scandalous. Something about the grill equipment costing too much. Personally, I think it's something else.

I found this fun (and yet annoying) link via makeuseof.com. Sugar Stacks is a series of photos of common foods with corresponding amounts of sugar in each.

That's it for me today. Short and sweet. Can you believe it? I just finished a really long walk in 300% (or so) humidity, and I'm now off to the library. Will put up my feet and catch up on blog posts tonight. Yummy!

Makeover Monday Celebrates the One Year Mark!

Last year, on May 5th to be precise, Makeover Monday was born. It was my way of celebrating the 1-year mark of kicking this here fitness quest of mine into high gear. I explained the origin of the idea in THIS POST, and then went on to discuss one of my favorite fitness topics: changing our attitudes to change our bodies. From that post (bad grammar and all):

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.

The concept of expecting wonderful things served me well in the first year of my fitness efforts, when I lost 80 pounds. It was essential in the success I had in reaching 100 pounds lost in my second year. Entering the third year, six months into maintenance and facing a "life reboot", I suspect I'll be calling on this handy tool quite often. Good thing it works!

For the sake of nostalgia, not to mention a handy reference point for those of you who might be new here, all the Makeover Monday posts are listed and linked below. You can also read them in one continuous stream, though I can't imagine why you'd want to, HERE.

A Year of Makeover Mondays

Something Wonderful Will Happen

Happy Feet

The F Word

The Eyes Have It

Turn Up the Heat

Heads, We Win

To Sleep, Perchance to Be Fit

Healthy Travel

Beauty Shouldn't Itch

The Hot Body You Don't Want

Makeover Your Morning

Sitting Tall and Proud

A Matter of Time

Lighten Up!

Home Office Edition

A Moneywise Post

Walk This Way

Avoiding the Tooth Fairy

Eat Like This, Not Like That

Creative Gifting

Raise Your Hands

Please, Mr. Postman

Handbag Re-do

Higher Learning

Take a Deep Breath

DIY Facials

Fitting Fitness into the Holidays

Those Ugly Winter Flakes

'Tis the Season to be Cautious

Dreaming with Pen and Paper

Peace in the Family

Optimism: A Renewable Resource

Looking the Part

Testing, Testing

Pucker Up!

Have a Heart

Love is in the Air

Hair Today

Getting It Done

Zzzzzz

Shhhh!

Spring Cleaning with a Twist

First Aid Kit Check-up

On Hair Loss

EggMania!

Happy Feet, the Sequel

Take This Job...

Storganizing Your Off-Season Clothes


Can you believe it? I actually made it through an entire year of Makeover Mondays. Me! The one with the attention span of a gnat!

Thank you all for your continued support and for offering your valuable comments and insights along the way. I've learned a LOT from you! Since the MMs seem to be well-received, I'll continue them as long as I can think of topics. Life has a way of dropping them in my lap. :)

Have a Marvelous Monday and may the other days follow that pattern!

~

Cammy's Life Reboot - Day 1

Thank you all for your positive and encouraging comments. It's amazing what good wishes, a solid night's sleep, two naps, lots of fruits and veggies, and a nice long walk will do for a person's energy. :)

Yesterday was a good day. I purposely did NOT think about the future or try to make any plans or anything along those lines. Instead, I practiced what Anne Lamott refers to as "being where my butt is." In other words, I focused on the immediate tasks at hand, of which there were delightfully few.

My yummy cookie splurge hasn't shown up on the scale or my waistband...YET anyway. For now, I'm still in my green-for-go-go-go zone. The cookies may not make a difference, because I think my net calories weren't far off target for the day. The nutrition, however, was another story entirely, so to make up for it, yesterday had an emphasis on fruits and veggies. I must've had 10-12 servings, mostly veggies thanks to the fine folks at Jason's Deli and their scrumptious salad bar. While they do have the creamy salads that can ruin the best dieter's intentions, my bowl is always overflowing with the fresh veggies (dark, leafy greens, carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, and celery) by the time I even see the potato or pasta salad. No room at the inn, sorry. Jason's also has hummus and boiled eggs for some good protein. And organic flatbread with pumpkin seeds and....

Why am I yammering on about Jason's Deli? Especially since they're not paying me. Moving on...

All the coupons for free Dole Fruit Bowls with Sugar-free Gel that were requested have been sent. (If you don't receive yours in a few days, please let me know!) There's a vicious rumor circling the internet that the whole thing is a ruse for me to collect the addresses of all of you folks so that I can come for a nice long visit now that I don't have a pesky job to get in my way. NOT TRUE. Only people in coastal areas are in danger, at present. :)

Seriously, I still have a few coupons available, so if you'd like to get in on the offer, just zip me an email (see the side bar of my main page for the addy) and I'll get it in the mail right away! I promise I won't show up on your doorstep with all my worldly goods.

Okay, enough lolling. I'm off to the neighborhood rummage sale. I hadn't planned on going (really!), but it's nasty weather out and I know that will cut down on attendance. (Gosh, I'm a good citizen--such sacrifices I make!) Later this morning is strength training at the gym, and then we'll see where the day takes me. I anticipate another nap, given the dismal weather, and possibly a trip to TCBY.

What are YOUR plans for the day? Anything exciting going on in your neck of the planet?

~