Giveaway Post: Younger (Thinner) You Diet

I don't read many diet and/or fitness books. It's not that I don't think they have value; it's more that there are so many, each with its own set of experts and studies to prove their theories. Lacking a degree in bio-anything, I'm often left scratching my head wondering just who's right and how right they might be.

Two of the diet/fitness books I do have are from Rodale (8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise and Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding), and I enjoyed both of those, so when the kind folks Rodale contacted me offering a copy of of Younger (Thinner) You Diet by Eric R. Braverman, MD for a giveaway, I gratefully accepted.

I didn't read this book (merely skimmed it), but it seems well-organized and easy to read. The basic premise is that obesity is fundamentally a brain chemical imbalance that can be treated successfully with a combined approach of diet, nutrients, and hormones. Four critical brain chemicals--dopamine, acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and serotonin--and how they affect aging, weight loss, and health are discussed in detail, and recommendations and guidelines for ensuring optimum balance of these chemicals are provided.

In my not-reading-but-skimming session, it seemed to me that the nutritional recommendations are similar to those many of us follow (make that "mostly follow" for some of us): avoid sugar, choose lean protein and fiber-rich foods, drink water, eat fruits and vegetables, etc. In that regard, there wasn't much new for me here. What was a nice twist was the rather significant emphasis on using spices as a nutritional supplement. There are even tasty-looking recipes and shopping lists included!

One aspect of this book that makes me uncomfortable is that it includes suggestions for using bioidentical hormones. My discomfort is not in using these hormones, but in my lack of knowledge in this area. Given the recent controversy on the subject, I don't think it's something to be approached hastily. I do like that the author suggests talking to your doctor first, before following that path.

There is, of course, a chapter devoted to exercise, with recommendations for strength training (emphasizing weight-bearing exercise--yaaay!) along with aerobic activity. Again, though, not much new if you've been immersed in this for a couple of years. :)

If I had more time, I'd definitely read this book in greater depth and research some of the new-to-me concepts. It is well-written and easy to follow, even for someone who doesn't have a degree in bio-anything.

Should you be intrigued and want to explore Younger (Thinner) You Diet further, just leave me a 'count me in' comment below! (Oh, and I'm sorry to report that you should also live in the U.S.) I'll accept entries through midnight (US Central) Wednesday, July 1st and then use the random number generator to choose our winner!

Makeover Monday: You Were Saying?

I'm not a stupid person, but if you could hear me talk, you'd probably deduct a few (dozen) IQ points. While sounding a bit like a hick is not, IMO, a character flaw, I have other speaking habits that sometimes get in the way of good communication, and it's an area I would like to work on.

As I was going through boxes last week in preparation for the big garage sale, I found some notes I took at a communications workshop I attended several years ago. So many years, I'd actually forgotten the class. The title at the top of notes is "Conversational Quirks." I like that title, probably because I like quirky people, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intent of the workshop.

Anyway, here are the quirks and their "treatment", as I listed them:

Quirk: Too many speech tics like er and uh, like and you know.
Tics like these are usually used when we're planning what to say next and feel a need to fill the silence. Instead, we should slow down our speech, which will allow time to plan ahead. (This is very difficult for me, especially when nervous.)

Quirk: Over-using phrases like "I know exactly what you mean" or "I agree completely"
We often use these when we're uncomfortable with a lull in the conversation and/or we're unsure how we wish to respond. Unfortunately, using them too often can imply a lack of confidence in our own opinions and viewpoints. Nodding and/or smiling are good nonverbal cues that we're listening. Meanwhile, we can (silently) plan our responses.

Quirk: Frequently losing your place mid-sentence
This can be a sign of simple nervousness, or it could imply that you're a perfectionist, always searching for a better word. Unfortunately, many folks would likely view you as a space cadet. Instead of groping for words, go with your first instinct for the best choice, and if you should lose your place, relax and go back to the last words you remember. You might also use verbal bridges, such as "My point is.." or "What I'm trying to say is..."

Quirk: Over-apologizing
It's wonderful to care about offending someone, but saying I'm sorry too many times can make you seem weak or insincere, almost as though you're distancing yourself from you own opinions. So often we don't want to appear argumentative or confrontational, and we resort to phrases like, "I'm sorry, but I just don't see it that way." Instead, consider using a substitute "softener phrase", such as "That's interesting. I see it differently..." If you're the one initiating the discussion, consider a simple "I believe" or "In my opinion", as opposed to "I'm sorry if this offends you..."

Quirk: Finishing other people's sentences
I worked with a woman who did this constantly. She probably thought it showed how hard she was listening, but I always felt as though she was rushing me. A better choice might be those lovely nonverbal cues--nodding and smiling--to show interest and a firm clench of your tongue between your teeth.


I suspect the items I listed weren't all the items discussed but were limited primarily to what I perceived to be my own issues or those of a co-worker. As always, if you have others to toss into the arena, please feel free.

If I should ever have the opportunity to talk to you in person (and I hope I will!), please overlook the fact that I still have most of these quirks. Perhaps if I hadn't buried the notes in the bottom of a box of paperwork, I would have been more successful.

But it's never too late to try again! If anyone exemplifies that, we do! :)

I'll leave you with a teaser...tomorrow just might have another giveaway!

Happy Monday to all!

Since You Asked So Nicely...

Pardon my tardiness in responding to kind questions asked during the week. I've been running like a chicken without a head in preparation for my garage sale today. But more about that in a sec.

First, in the shocked aftermath of my having actually cooked (with my own widdle hands) a meal this week, the ever-lovely Hanlie asked: "What do you normally eat if you don't cook?"

Excellent question, Hanlie. One of the things that always stopped me in previous weight loss efforts was having to prepare my meals. I don't mind stirring or chopping or mixing now and then, but I just plain don't enjoy cooking on a regular basis. As I started my tippy toe journey, I decided to follow what worked for my lifestyle, which means meals on the go much of the time. At home, I eat lots of salads and fruit, tuna, yogurt, cheese, almonds, popcorn, peanut butter, etc. I'm very fortunate to live near several grocery stores that offer healthy prepared foods that I can buy in portions *I* determine. Even my local Kroger (a regional/national big box chain) has gotten it together and now offers a large selection of fresh, whole foods. When I'm on the go, I have easy access to a few restaurants (both local and chain) that offer healthier fare at reasonable prices.

It wouldn't work for everyone, but somehow it works for me. It does take a certain amount of discipline, and some places I now know to stay away from completely. But as the saying goes: Where there's a will, there's (usually) a way.

Next up, the equally lovely Sherre asked where she might find the Pancho's Taco Dressing.

Thank you, Sherre. I should have included a mention of that. Pancho's products are available in the dairy section of many grocery stores in the Mid-South: Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky.

If you don't live in the Mid-South, that doesn't do much good, does it? Well, here's a link to a "Copycat" version of Pancho's Taco Dressing. I might try to make it (I hear some of you laughing!) when my current batch runs out, but I'll cut the amount of sugar in half, at least. Since Pancho's packaging lists sugar as the fourth ingredient, and it doesn't set off my sugar-dar when I eat it, I'm thinking the copycat version might be overdoing the sugar a bit.

And finally, my delightful breakfast buddy Patty questioned my possession of a working stove. Yes, Patty, there IS a Santa Claus, and I do have a stove, a very ugly one, which is one of the reasons I don't use it. If I had a cute cooktop, I might cook more. (I've heard that if you say something enough times, you can actually convince yourself it is true.)

For the record, I also have a double wall oven. It is also ugly, which I can prove without photographs and in two words: harvest gold. It is, however, a wonderful place to store my phone books and my extra crockpot.

Thank you, Patty, for allowing me to assure everyone that I do have appliances. I just have to dust them before using. :D

In TippyToe500 news, I completed the first two weeks of training (pats self on back) and will perform an assessment on Monday. Day 6 (Friday) was a killer, and I'll probably repeat it on Wednesday and Friday of next week before continuing with the training program.

As a reward for my dedication and determination, I am gifting myself with a new download for each week completed. For Week 1, I chose "Boom, Boom, Pow" by the Black-eyed Peas. The lyrics are explicit (the ones I understand, anyway), but this song is PERFECT for me when my energy starts fading on a longer walk.

Still working on my week 2 download. Decisions, decisions...

Winding up what turned out to be a very lengthy post, I'm happy to report that my garage sale was a sweaty, steaming success. With a heat index of 107F, I probably lost 22 pounds, give or take. Since I don't own a scale, that's really a ballpark estimate based on sweat produced and effort expended. It could be a tad high. To combat any potential (or perceived) excessive weight loss, I declared today a Cake Day and had a slice of Strawberry Cake after the sale was over. Ahhhhh!

Tomorrow, I restore my house to its normal pre-sale messiness. I'm also setting aside the afternoon for a) catching up on blog reading, and b) napping.

Hope you're all having a great weekend. Sorry for the longwindedness! It appears to be terminal. :)

It's Always the Fine Print

I confessed long ago to having a deep love for the Little Debbie Swiss Roll. They are, however, the proverbial horse I rode in on, and so I have avoided them for two years and counting. It's not that I can't have them as an occasional splurge, but more that I would rather spend my splurge calories on something more grand. Like cake!



But that doesn't mean I don't still want a Swiss Roll from time to time. Thus, you can imagine my delight when presented with this while I was out shopping running important errands this morning:

Okay, so it's not Little Debbie. It's still a SWISS ROLL and it's only 100 calories! That's perfect!

Well, maybe not perfect. Even in my salivating glee, I couldn't help but notice the phrase "6 Twin Pack Snack Cakes." [emphasis mine]

I flipped the box over, mouth suddenly dry, praying harder than I did during the last round of thunderstorms, that this didn't mean what I feared. But nooooo, it's true! The '100 calorie' label applies to one roll only! {sob!}

Now most people would wonder why this was such a big friggin' deal, but YOU--my kindred spirits in oversnacking--understand that there is a 0.00-0.05% chance that I could ever open that twin-pack and eat only one Swiss Roll. Some of you would even understand the likelihood that the Tippy Toe guideline for 100 calorie snacks, which is 'one or two per week, if you absolutely MUST', would go right out the window. I'm guessing I'd be good for two twin packs per day. And that's not the way I want to live.

So the Swiss Rolls are still at the store, and it's back to Hershey's Dark Chocolate Nuggets for me. Two per day, maximum. It's the perfect serving size, actually, and I haven't gone over once. One bag lasted me over 3 months. {pats self on back}

The moral of the story? Same as always: Drink your water. Move your body. Read the labels.

Especially the fine print.

~

Casa de Tippy Toe and Other Happenings

Not to alarm anyone, but I cooked! With heat and everything. Granted, not Cordon Bleu fare. Just simple taco salad. And I do mean simple: lettuce, tomatoes, taco beef, a smattering of cheese, some sliced black olives, and Pancho's taco dressing. I also sprinkled a few crumbled blue corn tortilla chips on top and had a few along side with some salsa.

I lovelovelove Mexican food, both the real thing and the more Cam-Mex-ican variety, but I tend to overdo on the chips and dip so I rarely have it. Taco salad is a good way to get the spicy, meaty flavors without a bunch of calories. Plus, the good thing about the blue corn chips is that I only want a few. I could eat an entire bag of the yellow corn chips. But that would be wrong.

The taco salad was an excellent dinner last night and delicious as a re-heat for a combo lunch/dinner this afternoon, but I'm done with it for a while. I froze individual portions with the leftover taco beef for next week and the week after.

In other news, I'll be sporting new kicks on my next walk!

According to the salesman, my Mizunos still have some life in them but I'm not loving the feel of them on longer walks. I'll still use them for my running about town and zoo walks and such, but for my intentional exercise, I'm going back to Asics. I love the way they hug my feet.



As an additional treat for embarking on my Tippy Toe 500 challenge, I treated myself to new socks. Yeah, yeah, I know. I have loads of socks already. But these are low cut (no tan lines!) with a little tab thing that pokes up in back to keep them from sliding down like my other low cut socks did.

To compensate for the splurge, I'm putting my perfectly good Thorlo low-cuts in the donate bin.

Some interesting links to share:
From MakeUseOf.com:
WhatsOnMyFood: See What Pesticides are Used in Your Food
LifeTango: Goal Sharing & Tracking Tool

From unclutterer:
Convenient dry goods delivery from Alice.com

FromBalanced Health and Nutrition:
Nutrition By the Numbers – NuVal Grades Popular Yogurts

And that's all I have for today. It's back to cleaning and pricing items for the garage sale I anticipate having on Saturday. (One fun day after another here at Casa de Tippy Toe.)

Hope you're all having a splendid week!

Makeover Monday: The Energy Crisis

One of the benefits of weight loss is an increase in energy. Most days I'm overflowing with the stuff. And then there are the other days. The days when I can't seem to get one foot in front of the other without Herculean(-ette) effort. Of course, those are usually days in which I have a long must-do list and could use a little extra dose of energy.

I was having one of those days when I spotted an article in Good Housekeeping magazine's May 2009 issue: Solved-Your Personal Energy Crisis. I perked up a teensy bit just reading the title, so I had to share their tips with you.

Let some light in by opening your curtains and/or blinds as soon as you get out of bed. From GH:

"Sunlight is a powerful natural signal that can shift your circadian rhythms from drowsy to alert, whether you're sleep-deprived or not. The light that hits at dawn, just before sunrise, stimulates special cells in your eyes, which then send a wake-up call to your brain's internal clock."

An early morning walk is ideal. (I can hear some of you groaning at that, but it's true.)

Add some protein to your breakfast. Toast or a granola bar are a breakfast staple for many of us, but starting the day with protein will help prevent the blood sugar swing that an all-carb meal can. So add some peanut butter to your toast (or your oatmeal-yummmm). Or opt for whole grain cereal with low- or non-fat milk and fruit, or yogurt with berries and granola. You could also keep some boiled eggs in the fridge, ready to grab-and-go with your toast. Nuts are also a good (tasty, easy, quick) choice for a quick breakfast. (Of course, you could also eat a non-breakfast food, like chicken breast or tuna as I frequently do.)

Sip--don't gulp--your water. (That 'gulp' part was self-directed.) Apparently, drinking a large amount of water quickly sends the kidneys into overdrive and doesn't allow the body to actually use all the water.

Have a smart caffeine strategy. Rather than drink a couple cups first thing in the morning, consider sipping coffee (GH recommends 2 ounces every hour) until early afternoon.

Drink green or white tea. These teas have higher levels of l-theanine, an amino acid reported to improve memory, alertness, and attention.

Avoid high-fat lunches. As if. Around here, our lunches contain fruits and/or vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Right? Right.

Get up and move. Even a simple 20-minute stroll after lunch can boost your energy levels.

Take a nap. We've explored the joy of napping on a previous Makeover Monday. Catnaps of 15-30 minutes can boost your overall alertness and productivity.

Perk up with a splash of water. In addition to the internal benefits of water, splashing a bit on your face (or the back of your neck if you're like me and don't want to muss the makeup, although in the summer in the South most makeup is gone by mid-morning) can help you feel more awake.

Practice some DIY acupressure. According to GH:

"Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor found that a do-it-yourself version of this Eastern practice boosted alertness as effectively as a small cup of coffee. Volunteers activated energizing acupressure points by tapping their fingers on the top of their heads; massaging the back of their necks and the front and sides of their shins; and squeezing the pad of muscle between their thumb and index fingers for three minutes."

There are a gajillion or two books and videos on this topic, for your further exploration. I'll be checking into it.

Get a good night's sleep. Well, that one seems fairly self-explanatory, doesn't it? We all know the benefits of adequate sleep, and I can certainly testify that proper rest helps with weight loss/maintenance as well.


Those seem easy enough, no? Got some energy tips of your own? Please share.

Wishing you all a peppy week! I'm off to the gym to start week 2 of my challenge.

Melting but Moving Nonetheless

I knew this would happen. I complained about the lack of warmth and sunshine for two months. Now, after the first week of real heat, I'm back to complaining again. I've made a note for next year to remember that cool weather is annoying, but it is generally mosquito-less and doesn't require a change of clothes every four hours.

So what have I been up to? Not much but strangely busy all the same.

I completed day 3 of my "500" challenge without any problems, although I dawdled and dallied before getting to the gym. I don't know what that was about, but I had a great workout when I finally dragged myself in there. (Oh, and noting for the permanent record: weigh-in was on target.)

While at the gym, two women were doing crunches in a way I hadn't seen before: they were lying on the floor with their legs propped against the wall (think, the letter 'L). I didn't want to look like Cammy CopyCat, so I didn't try them yesterday, but they're on my list. Anyone ever try crunches in that position?

For my cardio yesterday, I dragged my bike out of the storage room (and cleaned out that area while I was at it) for the first time this season and rode for 30 minutes. I must have done several thousand lunges and squats since I last rode my bike, but apparently those aren't the same muscles used in pedaling. My legs were screaming for the first 5-10 minutes!

Today's cardio was delayed because I didn't want to get all sweaty and have to have yet another shower before our Father's Day/Memaw's birthday festivities (fried fish=indigestion). Then the heat was too bad, so it was after 7 p.m when I got started, just in time for the mosquito feedings.

Oops, I'm complaining again.

Back to the positive: The storage room clean-out turned up some old paint and stuff, so I had to make a run to the hazardous waste recycling center this morning. On the way there and back, I made a few stops at yard sales. Today's loot:

• The tower of "suitcases" is actually two nicely-sized storage boxes. Stacked, they'll make a nice end table in my den. A frugal purchase at $4 for both.
• The vase on the right now resides on top of the TV armoire in the den. At $6, it was slightly over-priced, but the seller was a nice old lady who was regretfully parting with many "treasures" from a lifetime of travel (the vase was not one of those treasures as it was mass-produced somewhere in Asia). She seemed so sad to see her things go that I decided to earn karma points by paying full price.
• Karma points were cashed in at the next stop, where I picked up the blue/white tote bag and small vase with multi-colored stones for $1 total. The tote bag will become a beach/picnic bag and the small vase will be used as a make-up brush holder on my bathroom vanity.
• The red Vera Bradley bag ($4) is my new toiletry bag for traveling. There are loads of pockets inside, perfect for small bottles and jars.
• Rounding out these purchases: a small journal and a picture frame (soon to hold my jetski photo), purchased for $1 each. The journal was a no-no purchase as I have a dozen journals in my supply cabinet, but a) it rounded out my purchase at that stop to $10 and b) I am weak.
• Not pictured are a book ($2) and a pack of index cards ($.25).

I am pleased. With the exception of the journal, all items have an immediate purpose, and two compensating items for each are headed out the door!

All things considered, not a bad few days! Tomorrow's plan is to get the cardio in early (going to try for a 5-mile walk) and then sit around and sip iced tea all day while I catch up on what's going on in YOUR worlds.

Dads who are dropping by, I hope you have a very special Father's Day! Non-Dads: Don't tell the Dads, but I wish you an equally special day!

Winner: Storypeople Cards

Big congratulations to Trisaratops, winner of the Storypeople gift card set! (Just send your shipping info to cammysaid @ gmail (dot) com. They're boxed and ready to go!)

Thanks to the rest of you for playing and for sharing some of your favorite stories! You pointed me to some stories I hadn't yet read, and for that I'm grateful.

Not to leave you in suspense, but I'll be back later to share details of my fascinating day. But first, I need a nap. (Well, shoot, now I've spoiled the surprise.)

Happy Friday!

Too Pooped To Post

Some rest days sneak up on you and others slam into your body demanding to be heard. I'll give you one guess which one I'm experiencing today.

I don't think my challenge workout is the culprit. The second day of the workout went well. I'm not only enjoying the challenge program, but the secondary workout is proving to be fun as well. I do see trouble on the horizon in that squats, in abundance, are boring to do. I'm going to try moving into the TV area of the gym on Friday in hopes that there will be something on there worth watching while I squat, squat, squat.

I suspect the reason for my fatigue is the walking I've been doing, or more precisely the HEAT in which I've been walking. We're in the mid-90s in temps now and with our ugly humidity, I'm just drained after a walk. It was a struggle to stay up past sunset last night!

So today I rest. If there's any walking to be done, it will be at stroll pace. That's really difficult for me now as I have so much more energy and tend to zip everywhere. :)

Before I zip--I mean, stroll-- out of here, I'll remind you of the storypeople giveaway. Tonight's the deadline, so go put your name in the hat if you're interested!

Have a wonderful day!

Cammy Has a Crush...or Two (a giveaway post)

Happy Tuesday, and congrats on making it through Monday! Let's celebrate!

As today's title suggests, I am besotted. It happened last month while I was in Tampa, when I stumbled across a shop with artwork by Brian Andreas. Am I the last person on the planet to have discovered his amazing Storypeople? Certainly I'm not the first to have developed a fairly significant crush. Although maybe it's the art I'm swooning for, since I've never actually met Brian Andreas and besides, I think he's happily married and I don't do that.

Anyway, the first piece I saw was Imagining World, in the form of a wooden sculpture inscribed with this bit of prose that grabbed my heart:

In my dream, the angel shrugged & said, If we fail this time, it will be a failure of imagination & then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand.

As I do so often, I immediately thought about my weight loss and how I now feel as though I have a brave new world in the palm of my hand, ripe for the taking. ::happy sigh::

Since then, I've visited the Storypeople site and browsed the brilliant stories there. Some favorites:

Big Plans
Your job is to focus on my personal happiness, she said, & I've got big plans, so break time is over.

My sometimes-mantra the past couple of weeks has been "break time is over." Works every time!

Hoping to Fall
Leaning out as far as she can, hoping she'll fall soon, so she can stop worrying about whether it will happen or not.

I think about this one in terms of previous efforts of fitness and wonder if I set myself up for some self-fulfilling prophecies along the way? Probably.

Life Plan
I asked her what she planned to do with her life & she said she was way beyond that point already. I'm just happy I remember to be there when it happens, she said.

This one is good for me when I'm trying to be where my butt is. :)

Hindsight
I didn't listen to her because she was my mother & wouldn't know anything until I was much older.

Finances willing, I found my next year's Mother's Day gift.

I'll admit that some of the stories I just don't get, but they all make me think or feel or laugh or cry or some combination of any of those things. Thus, I sent a fan letter to the Storypeople people, and guess what? They have graciously and generously gifted us with a box of all occasion cards!

Each set contains 3 cards each of the following stories:
1. Imagining World: In my dream, the angel shrugged & said, If we fail this time, it will be a failure of imagination & then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand.
2. Bittersweet : She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short.
3. Illusion of Control: If you hold on to the handle, she said, it's easier to maintain the illusion of control. But it's more fun if you just let the wind carry you.
4. True Things: They came to sit & dangle their feet off the edge of the world & after awhile they forgot everything but the good & true things they would do someday.

I bought this set of cards in Tampa, and I've framed three of them (1,2,&3) for hanging in my home office. The others will be shared at special times, with special people.

If YOU would like an opportunity to win this set, all you have to do is leave me a comment saying so. If you check out the Storypeople site and share the title of your favorite story, I'll give you two entries!

The contest will be open until Thursday (6/18) at midnight, US Central. I'll let the random number generator pick the winner on Friday morning. And this time, the contest is open to everyone on the planet, no US-only!

Thank you, Storypeople! (Note: I received no compensation from them for this review other than the cards, which they supplied expressly for the giveaway!)

In other news, you ALL have an opportunity to win $1,000. Not from ME; I don't have that kind of budget. Heck, I don't even have a budget other than postage. :)

Nope, this giveaway opportunity is located at the The 50 Million Pounds Challenge. This initiative, led by Dr. Ian Smith (object of my second crush, because he's cute as can be), is helping to unite people in their efforts to get healthier and lose excess pounds. The site contains tools for tracking food and exercise, as well as a journal and forums for sharing progress. Oh, there's lots of other stuff...and it's all F-R-E-E!

Also, from now (well, yesterday) through June 25th, for each day that you track your activities, you're automatically entered in a daily drawing for $1,000! (I was contemplating joining, but I don't think they'd be amused by my current goal of losing 1/2 pound to get back to my target weight. *G*)

Anyway, check it out for yourself and if you enter and win, thank the PR people for letting us know about this. :)

On a personal note, the first day of my new challenge was a success. Given my assessment results, I probably should have started with week 2 or week 3 but I've always been a bit of an underachiever, so I started with Week 1, Day 1. :) I added in some tricep pull-downs, lat pull-downs, low rows, and lunges with weights, along with some core work for a well-rounded workout! As the weeks progress, I'll probably have to jettison some of the add-ons, but for now it feels great!

Hope you're all having a spectacular week!


~

Makevoer Monday: Turning Junk into Cash

I've always loved garage sales. Besides the cost savings, I get to meet new people and rummage through interesting (and sometimes weird) stuff.

Almost as interesting as going to garage sales is having one. I say 'almost' because having a sale takes quite a bit of work. If you want to do it right, that is. I'm always amazed at the people who will simply toss some dusty old junk on their driveways (after grossly over-pricing it), slap up a teensy sign on the corner, and then wonder why "people just aren't buying."

Since I'm seriously considering having a sale in the next couple of weeks, I thought I'd share my garage sale hostessing methods with you, imperfect as they are. I realize that it's highly unlikely that anyone here would need the assist (you seem like such orderly folks), but just in case...

Note: These tips are based on local (Memphis, TN) experience. Customs in your area may be different. Feel free to chime in if they are.

Before the Sale
Most of the real work for a garage sale occurs before the actual sale date.

Pick the date and time. Well duh. That seems a little obvious, but there are some dates that are more lucrative (potentially) than others. Saturdays seem to have the biggest draw, and those that occur around the 1st or 15th of the month (traditional U.S. paydays) are especially busy.

As for time, know that garage sale people are notorious for showing up on your doorstep at 5:00 a.m. No kidding. At our last neighborhood sale, I had to chase away shoppers from my neighbor's house. They had pulled into her driveway and were using their car headlights to poke around her sale items, which were covered with a tarp! Sheesh. If you don't want folks showing up early, you'll want to say so in any advertisements. Which leads us nicely to our next tip...

Choose your advertising. Local newspapers are a good bet, but the ad will cost you. (I doubt I'll be using our local paper this time around, because the ad costs almost $30. That would significantly eat into my profits. They have an online-only option for $8 that allows pictures. I might use that, but another option is craigslist, which is free!) Be sure to include your sale date, address (you'd be amazed at how many people forget that), the start and completion times of the sale, and any 'rainy day' plans. You might also list any major items you have to draw shoppers in. Something I always include is an 'early birds pay double' warning, or simply 'no early birds, please'.

Another type of advertising is signs. Use lots and lots of signs. Cover every nearby major intersection and post them along the route through your subdivision. (Be sure to ask permission of homeowners and businesses first!) If you choose a single color (lime green, hot pink, day-glo yellow) for all your signs, shoppers can more easily find their way to YOUR sale. (And they'll really, really appreciate your efforts!)

One last word about signs: please--PLEASE--write in large block letters with a marker. I'm sorry if your address is really long, but let that factor into the size poster board you buy. I'm not getting out of my car, crossing six lanes of traffic, and pulling your sign up off the ground so that
I can read your address. I'm not! Also, if you live in a humid area (hello, fellow Memphians!), buy foam core boards, not plain poster board. The poster variety will do nothing but curl up and hide all your info. Also, you'll want to wait until the morning of the sale to put out your signs.
(See previous warnings about early birds.)

Assemble your sale items. Go through every place you can think of to gather items for the sale and collect them in a common area. Then go through those spaces again. And again, if you need it. You want to avoid that mad midnight-dash on the eve of the sale as you spot more things to be sold.

Clean your sale items. Please don't take something layered in 15 years of attic dust and plop it on a table. People don't want to leave your sale feeling like they need a shower. Or maybe that's just me. One thing's for certain, you'll stand a better chance of attracting buyers and getting top dollar if your items are clean.

Price your items. Please. I know it's tedious, but nothing is more frustrating than having to ask a price for every single item. (I usually leave those sales right away.) You should plan to mark each item, although you can group items like books and CDs and put up a single sign for those.

A good rule of thumb to start is 25% of what it sells for retail if--and this is a big IF--the item is in pristine condition. It's more likely that you'll end up getting somewhere between 10-20%. If things aren't selling, you can always put up a 50% off everything. (That's especially useful as the sale winds to a close.)

Map out your sale space. How many tables will you need? Where can you get them? How can you improvise? I'm lucky in that I have access to several banquet tables and card tables, but I've also used two kitchen chairs with a board between them for shoes and handbags. I've also used empty moving boxes turned upside down to hold luggage. I try to keep as much off the ground as possible, although if I had a bunch of kids' toys, the ground is exactly where I'd put them! :)

It's also a good idea to rig a way to hang up your clothes, especially any of your "nicer" items. Collect all of these display tools and have them ready before the sale.

Save bags and boxes. This is tougher to do these days with so many of us using canvas for our shopping needs, but it's helpful to have a few plastic or paper bags and a few extra boxes on hand for large purchases.

Get change. You're going to need to make change for all the big bills you're bringing in, so make a trip to the bank in the days before the sale. I usually get about $100 in smaller bills, mostly $1's and $5's, and a roll of quarters. That seems to work well, but be ye warned that you will get some bozo (or bozette) in there at 6:00 a.m. who will smile as she hands you a twenty and holds up a 25-cent item. I decline those sales, but I smile sweetly as I do so and offer to hold it for an hour if she wants to get some change elsewhere. Later in the day, it's a different story, but anyone out shopping that early is probably a garage sale hound and should have known better.

Assemble the tools of the trade: a measuring tape for measuring furniture and such, an extension cord for testing appliances, your change box (or a carpenter's apron, which is what I use), a calculator if you're not math-handy, and a notebook and pen just in case.

Get breakfast. Seriously. Plan for whatever it is you're going to have for breakfast the night before. That way you won't be caught off-guard by early
birds and find yourself famished at 9 a.m.

Day of the sale

Get up early and get moving! Enough said. (Oh, remember the breakfast thing.) Set up tables and put out previously-priced items. Group like items together (housewares, tools, books, etc.) Consider putting a "eye-catcher" item near the curb to draw people in.

Put out your signs.

Take a deep breath and smile a lot. Be open to meeting your neighbors, as well as a few folks you hope forget they ever saw your neighborhood.


After the sale
For any usable items, the Goodwill or other donation centers will appreciate your donations. For things not in working order, consider placing them at your curb with a 'free to good home' sign.

Put your feet up and congratulate yourself for a job well done!


Your turn!
Any savvy sellers out there who can help us out here? I'm sure I've left out a lot.

New Personal Challenge: The Tippy Toe 500

Good morning from windblown Memphis!

A major storm system blew through on Friday afternoon, and the area is still in clean-up mode. My parents got their power back yesterday afternoon, but my sister and her hubby are still without. It could take up to a week, according to the power people, but we're hopeful for less time.


For me, life just keeps rolling along. I've logged another successful week of maintenance and hit all my targets in that area. (I love when that happens!)

I've kind of grown bored with my gym routine, so I'm mixing it up again. I was considering resuming my 100 Push-up Challenge training (I stopped at 41), but while I was checking out the program, I noticed a link to the 200 Squat Challenge. Since I do squats as part of my regular training, I thought what the heck, I'll do the squat challenge, too.

Sounds like fun, right? Well, then I noticed the 200 Sit-up Challenge. "That would be craziness," I said.

"But you ARE crazy," I answered. "It's one of the things I like best about you."

Thus, the Tippy Toe 500 was born: 200 Sit-ups, 200 Squats, and 100 Push-ups. The programs call for a six-week training period, but I'm not getting hung up on that. I suspect I'll need longer--a LOT longer--than six weeks, and that will be okay. It will also be okay if I never complete all three programs. The fun will be in the chase.

The immediate plan is to complete the first two weeks of training, and then assess how I feel about continuing. I'd like to at least make it to the "250" mark (100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 50 push-ups), but if/when I catch myself dreading my workouts, then I'll press the pause button or maybe rewind a bit. Or eject the disc completely. :)

The fun starts tomorrow. Wish me luck!

For now, I'm going to return to a lazy Sunday morning. We have more storms rolling through, but nothing severe so far. Let's hope that continues!

Hope you're all having a marvelous weekend!

~

PB2 Winners

You folks blew me away with your responses to the PB2 challenge! Not only are you creative, smart, and witty, you're also rockin' and rollin' the fitness quests. Kudos to ALL of you!

Now, with thanks to the zany angels at PB2HQ, the winners of the PB2 prizes are as follows:

BarbecuedPeaches

Jean@SeeminglyEndlessPlateau (new to the fitness/weight loss blogging world, so if you have a spare moment or two, stop by and give her a big welcome)

My Sensei

Rebeca@AllVeggedOut

Congratulations, winners! Send your shipping info to me @ cammysaid [at]gmail[dot]com

For others, if you'd like to order some PB2, you can check out the company's website. Click on the tab for 'where to purchase' to find an outlet near you, or you can order from the website.

PB2HQ is running a special until the end of June. They'll send one jar of PB2 to the U.S. military serving overseas for each 4-pack or larger you order. Just enter the coupon code FREEDOM on the shipping info page. They're also offering a discount on orders over the 12-pack side. Info is on the main page of the website.

That's it for me for now. I'm off to some sales, then to the gym, then...who knows. I'll check in later in the day.

Happy Friday!

Helpful Links and Stuff

(Edited to add title. Sheesh.)

Wowza! You all have been very good to yourselves, haven't you? Lovelovelove the PB2 responses! If you haven't entered the giveaway yet, you still have time. Deadline is midnight (US Central) tonight.

A few newsy items today:

JD at Get Rich Slowly (and Get Fit Slowly as well) posted this great article: Eating Organic on a Frugal Budget

Then you can learn How to Freeze Fruit from TipNut.com (warning: website automatically plays a video with sound in the sidebar, so if you're sneak surfing at work, you might want to mute your sound first.)

Essential Keystrokes shares a link to a possibly neat-o product in this post: Turn Your Treadmill into a Workstation. (I'm considering one!)

Finally, I found this quote over on Stacks and Stacks Clutter Control Freak:

I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacation with better care than they do their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.~Jim Rohn

Kind of stung a little when it zinged me right between the eyes.

And that's it from me today. All is well in my little corner of the universe, and I wish the same for you!

~

The Heat is On (and a PB2 Giveaway)

Now seems a good time to remind everyone of the importance of taking extra care in exercising in the summer heat. For some good tips (if I do say so myself), check out this Makeover Monday post from last year: The Hot Body You Don't Want.

Yes, you've likely guessed it was a little warm and humid in Memphis today. Between a 3-mile walk and some yard work, I must've lost 17 pounds in sweat! (Y'all think I'm kidding, but if tomorrow's weigh in shows me down 17 pounds, I'm going straight to Olive Garden for some chicken parmigiana! :))

But enough about me! The REAL reason I popped in here was to announce a giveaway! Yaaay!

Y'all remember when I barged in on visited PB2HQ (a.k.a. Bell Plantation ) back in May? Digest: I was surprised that the workers did NOT in fact wear halos, despite the high esteem in which we hold them and their tasty products. Well, it turns out it must've been some casual Friday thing, because those zany folks have surprise-gifted us with a case of PB2. If that's not angelic, I don't know what is!

Since there's not quite enough for me to send some to everyone, we'll have the customary drawing for winners. FOUR winners, to be precise! Ooohh! Ahhh!

The Rules:
1) Unfortunately, this one is USA only. (Sorry, global readers. Please remember I adore you; I just can't afford you right now.)

2) To enter the drawing, all you have to do is leave me a comment describing two things you did recently that were good for you. One should start with the letter 'P' and one should start with the letter 'B'. (Get it? PB2! How deliciously corny!)

2a) If rule (2) should prove too difficult, choose any letters you want.

2b) If life has been really crappy lately, and you haven't done anything good for you, just leave me a comment promising me you'll do something TODAY, no matter what letter it starts with.

3) I'll leave the contest open until Thursday night (midnight, central US) and announce the winners on Friday a.m.

4) Each winner will receive 2 jars of PB2 and 1 jar of Chocolate PB2.

Feel free to spread the word. The more the merrier!

Good luck...and have fun!

~

Makeover Monday: Releasing Regrets

I'm usually a fairly happy passenger on my journey through life, but some days I wish I had a nickel for every time I've thought "if only".

If only I'd lost this weight earlier in life...

If only I had gone back to finish a degree...

If only I had saved more money...

I'm not sure exactly what it is I think comes after the dots, but it must be spectacular given the number of times I've let a wistful sentence trail off that way.

The thing is...I'm living a pretty blessed life, right here, right now. I'm healthier than I've ever been ("the sinus" not withstanding), and if I had lost weight earlier in life, I'd never have you people, would I? Lack of a degree isn't a character flaw, nor is it fatal, and as far as money goes, I have enough. It's a Very Good Life.

In her prologue to There's a Hole in My Sidewalk, Portia Nelson wrote:

My life has been a series of wonderful experiences. It's a pity I wasn't there for most of them.

I want to be here for this Very Good Life, and in order to do that, I need to focus on staying in it as it's unfolding. It's fine to use past experiences as learning tools or as reminders of times when life was better or smoother or healthier. Trying to live in those times, or to re-live them, as if the outcomes could be changed or recreated just from remembering, isn't productive.

Obviously, I don't have the answers for overcoming regrets, but I found a very good article that will get me (and anyone who wants/needs to join me) in getting started: Letting Go of Regrets by Arlene Harder. It's a quick read and has some positive action steps for those times when the "if only" thread thrums loudly.

I once heard Anne Lamott share some very good advice a friend gave her:

Just be where your butt is.

I've borrowed that phrase many times when I've been overwhelmed with too-much-to-do-itis or worry-mania, and I think it works well for dealing with regrets, too.

So for today, my butt is right HERE, wherever HERE happens to be at any given moment. I hope I'll do the same tomorrow, but I won't spend any time today considering that. Nor will I waste time regretting anything my butt might or might not have done yesterday.

Do regrets get in your way sometimes? Have any life-changing advice to share with us on how you keep the Regret Monster away?

Wishing you a regret-free week...wherever your butt is.


~

You Can Lead The Horses to Water...

...but they're not necessarily going to like your PB2 Pumpkin Brownies. Not when there are other possibilities, like caramel cake and Mississippi Mud Cake and peach cobbler. I had a dab of each, and even I pronounce the brownies as 4th runner-up.

Here is a blurred, but fair, representation of the finished product, as executed by yours truly. If I had to describe the taste, I'd go with...dense...rich...chocolate-ish...and pumpkin-y. In fact, the pumpkin kind of overwhelmed everything else. I didn't taste peanut butter at all, despite adding an extra few tablespoons of PB2. Defeinitely a recipe to play around with another day.

I was able to fit in a gym workout yesterday a.m., and I took a moment for my first post-vacation/post-mini-boot camp weigh-in. I'm happy to report that I was spot on where I needed to be, scale-wise, and that felt good.

I like having these little mileposts, so my next goal is to be at this same weight when I leave for Chicago in about six weeks. No boot camps, mini or otherwise, should be required. I'll just focus on doing the same things day in and day out.

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

~

Weekly Wrap-Up

Greetings to all and Happy Weekend! We made it!

I regret to report that I've got "the sinus." That's what some of my more rural older relatives call sinusitis. (Diabetes is called "the sugar", and hypertension is simply "high blood." We opt for the simple, basic approach to medicine down here. :))

The good news is that I don't feel bad. I'm especially happy about that since a) I don't like to feel bad (not when there's nothing good to watch on TV anyway), and b) "the sinus" is not likely to interfere with my appetite at the family reunion tomorrow. That would be depressing.

Speaking of the reunion, I haven't yet alerted the major media outlets, but I am actually planning to cook for the big event! I am making Peanut Proud Brownies, to be specific. I got the recipe from the fine folks at PB2HQ, and it seems pretty simple. I'll try to remember to take photos. Stay tuned.

I'm also taking pimiento cheese and wheat crackers for the pre-luncheon festivities. I've been wanting some pimiento cheese, and this seems like a good way to indulge that without having any pesky leftovers around the house. :) Crafty, ain't I?

Tomorrow's "coping plan" is to get a good gym workout first thing in the a.m. I'll use any carb-induced post-event excess energy to attack the suddenly plentiful weeds in my flowerbeds. We are promised abundant sunshine, so it should be a lovely day all the way around!

I'll dash for now (oven is on pre-heat), but I wanted to share a few interesting items from my RSS feeds and my inbox:

MakeUseOf.com provided a good listing of The Top 10 Grocery Coupon Websites for Cheapskates. Not that I think any of YOU are cheapskates, mind you.

George from Indonique Tea & Chai wrote to let me know about a special offer on his company's website:

[I'm] offering your readers a free bag of Yerba Mate with any purchase of $20 or more from my web site, www.indonique.com. Just mention the offer in the comment section when ordering to get the free tea. As always, 10% of every purchase will be donated to the communities where our teas are picked through Mercy Corps.

I've never used these products, but he was kind enough to offer, so I thought I'd share it with you all.

Also, Sarah from Kellog's wrote with this info about a new Special K Protein Shake:

This delicious beverage is shaping up to be one of the season’s hottest new products. While Special K™ Protein Shakes have temporary, limited nationwide availability because of high retailer and consumer demand, the Special K® brand is offering consumers a coupon to be redeemed once the product is available in their local store.

Again, not a product I've used. I'm just sharing for those who are interested.

And that's it for me. Wishing you all a most wonderful weekend!

~

Short Words, Small Changes, Same Impact

While cleaning out one of my short story folders yesterday, I found this short essay from Richard Lederer's The Miracle of Language:

When you speak and write, there is no law that says you have to use big words. Short words are as good as long ones, and short, old words--like sun and grass and home--are best of all. A lot of small words, more than you might think, can meet your needs with a strength, grace, and charm that large words do not have...

Short words are bright like sparks that glow in the night, prompt like the dawn that greets the day, sharp like the blade of a knife, hot like salt tears that scald the cheek, quick like moths that flit from flame to flame, and terse like the dart and sting of a bee.

(You probably noticed that his entire essay is all one-syllable words.)

I've always loved this passage for it's focus on simplicity and on using the best words possible. Amateur writers (that would be moi) sometimes tend to "go big" and write in an overly-complicated way that does nothing to further the story. Not in a good way, anyway, and I have boxes of bad short stories that prove it. :)

What the heck does this have to do with fitness, you ask? Well, think about it.

If you're like me (and I pray that you're NOT), your past contains multiple episodes of complicated weight loss and exercise plans...

First, there was the 'Lose Weight without Trying' approach:
Magical Fat-melting Medicine (available in 4 easy payments of $19.95)
Billy Bob's Fantastic Fitness Machine (available in 4 easy payments of $39.95)
Fannybuster's Fat-melting Miracle Bodysuit (available in 3 easy payments of $49.95)

Frustrated, ten pounds heavier with each effort, and now broke, you moved onto the magazine plans:
The Miracle Grapes-and-Turnips Diet
The Walk Backwards and Lose Weight Faster Exercise Program
The 40-Day Plan to lose 80 Pounds While You Sleep

Two years older and thirty additional pounds wiser, you decide to tackle the DIY approach: Three-a-day workouts, 800 calories, four gallons of water. No chocolate. Ever.

When that doesn't work, you try again: Four-a-day workouts, 600 calories, six gallons of water, and no one is allowed to even say chocolate in your presence.

Hmmm, that doesn't work and you decide it's the quality of your calories, so you cut out any foods that contain any of the letters in the word chocolate.

On and on it goes. Or maybe that was just me.

And maybe I'm being a bit silly with it. :)

My point is that I think we sometimes get so caught up in making plans on how we can lose weight (or maintain the loss) that we over-complicate things. We build training programs that most athletes would find difficult to maintain, programs that often lead to injury or overstressed limbs and ligaments. We design eating plans that are nutrient-dense and reality poor, at least for the way we live. Instead of laying foundations and building on them, layer by layer, we build dreams that are destined to die.

It only took me 15-20 years to figure out that small changes, like small words, can make a big difference and completely change the tone of our stories.

What small change will you make today?

Will you toss, roast, broil, steam, or stew?

Will you dip, lunge, press, squat, lift, crunch, walk, run, jog, push, pull, play, laugh, rest, sip, and/or chew?

Will you TRY?

Will you DO?

Will you have some choc-- shoot, I still can't figure out how to make that one fit in, but I'm working on it? :)

Wishing you the simple joy of success today!

~

Winner: My Yoga 2 Go Practice Kit

The random number generator has spoken, sort of, and it's fitting that the winner of the fantastic My Yoga 2 Go Practice Kit is none other than the equally fantastic lovebug6100! Congratulations! When you're finished hooping and hollering, email me your shipping info at cammysaid at gmail dot com.

Thank you ALL for playing!

In Lieu of a Tiara

The lovely Sahar at fatfightertv.com has honored me with a place on her Weight Loss WooHoos! Wall of Fame.


It goes without saying that I am slightly thrilled.

And inspired to continue. I can't let the rest of the Wall down, can I? :)

Thank you, Sahar! It's way better than a tiara!


Before I start my day, this reminder that the contest for a My Yoga 2 Go Practice kit is open until midnight tonight!

And now, it's off to read to Wally and then to the gym.

Wishing you all a wonderful, wonderful Wednesday!

Product Review/Giveaway: My Yoga 2 Go

I have an on-again/off-again yoga practice, mostly off these days, but I always circle back to it eventually.

One of the beautiful practicalities of yoga is that it's so portable. Or it should be. My biggest problem with developing a regular practice is that it's not always convenient for me to pop in one of my yoga DVDs, and--trust me--I'm definitely a Must-Have-DVD-for-Guidance student. That's why I had such a delicious tingle when I saw the My Yoga 2 Go Practice System. I'll wait while you check it out.

Too lazy busy to click the link? Okay then, think: one of those over-the-door plastic shoe bags meets yoga flash cards and you've pretty much got the concept.

There are 70 cards in seven different sequences, and joytotheworld THREE sequences are beginner level! Woo-hoo! My people got three sequences! Sequences include back strength, hip-opening, ashtanga, core strength for athletes, flow, energizer, and relaxation. To use the cards, you first select your desired sequence (and you can customize your sequence if you know what you're doing or you want to play). Next you organize the cards by pose number and put them in the display tote (previously referred to as a quasi-plastic shoe bag), and then hang the tote on a wall or doorknob.

Traveling? No problem! The whole system folds up into an amazingly compact portable tote (an engineering marvel!) about the size of a trade paperback book. (I just noticed that it even has an ISBN number on the back!)

The whole kit and caboodle costs $29.95, which one of you lucky readers will avoid paying because the kind, kind folks at My Yoga 2 Go have generously contributed one practice system for our giveaway pleasure. More wooing-and-hooing!

With my sincerest apologies to international readers, this giveaway is limited to residents of North America only. (I'll work on some more global giveaways in the future, I promise!)

For N.A. readers, there's only one requirement for entering the contest: You must take one minute to stop what you're doing, close your eyes, and breathe. Let me know when you're done, and I'll enter you in the contest.

Contest will be open until Wednesday (June 6th)at midnight, central U.S. time. I'll announce the lucky winner on Thursday!

Many thanks to the My Yoga 2 Go folks for their generosity and for their creativity in creating such a helpful practice tool for those of us who need the help.

~

Makeover Monday: Senior Moments

One of the greatest blessings in my life for the past 12 years has been my morning excursion to meet with Wally, a former neighbor who has macular degeneration and can no longer see to read. We meet each morning at 6 a.m. (7 a.m. on Sundays) at a local diner, and I read the paper for us while he has breakfast. We start with the sports page and then move on to other sections as time allows. (Since Wally is a lifelong Cubs fan, we usually have plenty of time for other sections. :)) In between articles, we talk about life and other things. I've learned a lot from him, and I hope when I'm 85, I'll have half the energy and spirit that he has.

We'll all be there eventually: senior citizen status. In fact, the fastest growing age group is 85 years and older! Most of today's seniors are not only living longer, they're full of life and eager for companionship and activity. Unfortunately, many lack the family support or resources to live fulfilling lives.

This is where we come in. :) There are a number of ways we can help our senior citizens. Here are a few:

1. Take a moment today to offer the elderly people you see a cheerful smile and "hello." If it's possible, pay for their cup of coffee or tea. (You may have to do it on the sly as many are quite proud.)

2. Contact a local nursing care, independent living, or assisted living facility and ask if they need volunteers. Ask about children or pets before you bring them, but most will absolutely allow both in restricted areas. (As long as all are housebroken. :))

3. Volunteer for a meal delivery program.

4. Offer to help an elderly neighbor with yard work or minor home repairs. Consider asking other neighbors to chip in and cover the costs.

5. Offer to help with errands such as grocery shopping, medical appointments, or even a trip to the barber/beauty shop.

6. Perhaps the best gift of all is the offer of your companionship. Ask questions about their lives and interests. Ask for their advice or their help. Make them feel like the valuable people they ARE!

I'm sure you can come up with even MORE ideas of ways we can show this segment of our community how cherished they are, and I hope you'll share your ideas here!

~