Wii Fit: Helpful, Harmful, or Foreplay?

Portions of this post are adult in nature. If you are below the age of consent in your state, country, or region, go do something else for a while.

I don't have a Wii Fit, and I hadn't really considered getting one. Until now.

Amanda Flowers, a 24-year-old from Manchester, claims that a Wii Fit injury has turned her into a sex addict.
After falling from her Wii Fit board, Flowers reports that even minor vibrations--such as from a food processor, she says-- "turns her on." She was told by a doctor that she had suffered a damaged nerve that has provoked "persistent sexual arousal syndrome."

"It began as a twinge down below before surging through my body. Sometimes it built up into a trembling orgasm," Flowers says, according to the Daily Star's article "Nintendo Wii Made Me Nympho."

Read the rest on The Huffington Post including a link to some videos of other Wii accidents. Fortunately (or not, depending on your kink), no videos of the aforementioned accident or its aftermath.

Well now. That certainly puts a different light on the Wii Fit, doesn't it?

And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Actually, that's all I'm going to say about anything today. I've just completed a hilly ten-mile bike ride (sad to say, my longest of the spring, so far), and I'm headed for the comfort of my sofa. My DVD player might not be as--ahem!--exciting as a Wii Fit, but it's all I have.

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend! I'm back on Monday with a great book review! (Um, the book is great. Not sure how the review will turn out.)

Rambling about Designing Women

With news of the passing of Dixie Carter, I had a hankering to watch some scenes from "Designing Women", the show in which she co-starred back in the 1980s. I always enjoyed her rants as Julia Sugarbaker, but it was the ensemble cast that drew me to the show. There was something about each of the characters that represented a part of me, which was a large part of the show's popularity, I think.

My favorite character on that show was Suzanne Sugarbaker, as played by Delta Burke. If you never watched the show, Suzanne was a former beauty queen who was a vain and self-centered, but endearing all the same. Especially after Delta Burke's well-publicized weight gain. That was the first time I remember an actress's weight problems being discussed so publicly. (Wouldn't that be awful?)  As a "big girl", my heart went out to Delta Burke, but her performance in the show grew stronger from it.  The episode "They Shoot Fat People, Don't They?", in which Suzanne attends her high school reunion and overhears people snarking about her size and then wins the award for "Most Changed", is one of the best episodes of the series.

I searched for a clip of that episode online, but no luck. I did find a text version of Suzanne's acceptance speech, upon winning the award:

I guess maybe I deserve this award for the Person-Most-Changed, but (pause) not for the reason you think. Last night I got my feelings hurt because I came to this reunion thinking I was beautiful and what I find out was that I'm fat (pause) at least you think I am. But that isn't the biggest change in me. The biggest change is that the old Suzanne wouldn't have shown up here tonight. She would've just gotten thin before the next reunion and then she would have gotten even. But I'm a little older and I hope a little wiser than that person used to be.

A lot of things have happened to me. A lot of things have happened to all of us. Sandy Smothers was killed the night before we graduated. Diane Mitchell's got two sets of twins and Gayland Chadwick's working in the White House. We had a lot of dreams together and there's no point in pretending some of mine came true and some didn't.

I met a little boy from Africa tonight whose family died of starvation and I realized that I spent the whole day at home worrying about the fact that I had too much to eat. I'm not sure the old Suzanne would have appreciated the absurdity of that but this one does.

Some of you men wanted to know about my bra size, but I’d rather talk about my heart because (pause) it's a little bigger than it used to be. The old Suzanne wouldn't have forgiven you for the things that you said, but this one will. Because when I look around this room tonight, I don't see receding hairlines and the beginnings of pot-bellies and crow's feet. I just see all the beautiful faces of old girlfriends and sweet young boys who used to stand on my front porch and try to kiss me goodnight. And you can remember me any way you'd like, but that's how I'll always remember you.

And so I thank you for giving me this award for the Person-Most-Changed, however you intended it. I'm gonna treasure it because #1. I love trophies and #2. I earned it. Thank you.

If you weren't a fan of the show, or weren't around for it, that speech may not resonate so much. For me, it says a whole lot about self-acceptance, self-love, and personal discovery, not to mention the ability to see the best in others. Suzanne grew up that night, but not too much. :)

While I didn't find the episode I wanted, I did find a couple of scenes which find Suzanne dieting. And not too well. :)





I have to admit, I've been guilty of a few of those thoughts, too. :)

So much for 80s nostalgia.Fortunately, we've moved past the rice cake dieting days (or I hope all of us have!) and know a lot more about health, fitness, and what constitutes true beauty in a person.

Were you a fan of "Designing Women"? Did you have a favorite character? Okay, then, have you ever eaten a rice cake? With jelly? (Note: I used to heat them in the microwave and spread them with peanut butter. I dare anyone to top that! :))

Danger at Every Turn

Anyone know how many calories are burned while avoiding danger? If not calories, maybe good karma points? In either case, I hope it's plenty.

I decided to take advantage of mild temps and peek-a-boo sunshine to walk down to Subway for a turkey sandwich. Sounds lovely, doesn't it?  Well, look at what jumped out at me on the way:



Oh no! I forgot about the Girl Scouts! Some of ya'll will remember that I narrowly escaped these beasts of Satan little cuties last year. Apparently, word of my avoidance leaked out (perhaps they're spying on me here?), and they escalated their campaign this year by doing this:



They put photos of the cookies on the signs!! How despicable is that! These people have no shame!

But they don't know me very well, do they? I sailed right by, slowing down only to collect pictorial evidence of the crime scene, and continued my trek toward turkey sustenance.

And that's when I spotted this new threat, right next door to my neighborhood Subway:



A Mexican restaurant! Practically in my front yard!! Cheesy, spicy goodness that I have to pass to get to Subway or Kroger. My life is ruined!

Or maybe not. After all, I've avoided (more like delayed) going to the new Mexican restaurant that opened a mile or so away, and they've been open for months. Of course, we're also separated by a few hundred houses, and I don't pass it every time I travel south from my house.

Oh well, I'll just have to map out routes that always take me north. Or work out a whole lot more. :)

Okay, enough Sunday silliness from me. I hope you've had as wonderful a weekend as I have, and that you avoided the dangers of modern life! :)

For the Love of Chocolate

With my various home projects on hold, pending the return of the professional painters for their final final touch-ups, I decided to declare today a Reno-Free Day. The sun was shining, the temps were headed to the high 50s--a perfect day to be out and about!

So what did I do on my free day? Well, after a brief (hah!) stop at the dermatologist's office, it was on to another potential form of torture:

Yep, I spent part of my free day in the belly of the beast, so to speak, exploring the wonderful world of chocolate. Unfortunately, most of the actual chocolate was shown only in pictures. I suppose the risk of broken display cases was too much for them. :)

The exhibit is really interesting. The ecological requirements of our chocolate source, the cacoa tree, are presented:

 

So, if you're not inclined to protect the rainforests for their environmental benefits, do it for the chocolate!

The exhibit also covers the history of chocolate,  where it originated (with the Maya and Aztec of Mexico and Latin America) and how it became a global commodity via the Spanish conquistadors, European society, and then on to North America.  From there we moved to current technologies, including scientific discoveries such as the medicinal virtues of cacoa's components. All thoroughly interesting and without any effect on my waistline. :)

And yet...I still found it necessary to have a chocolate cookie afterward. :)  It seemed fitting...and the safer choice when compared to the frosted jumbo brownie in the museum cafe. But I made a note to go back for one of those brownies on another day. They looked yummy!

My other splurge was purchasing the book, The Emperors of Chocolate:  Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars at the museum gift shop. It looks like a good read, but I'll let you know if it turns out otherwise. 

I closed out the excursion with a 2-mile power walk and now I'm home and preparing for a 20-minute nap. All in all, a most excellent day and a great start to the weekend! We're looking at a couple more days just like this one, weather-wise, and I do NOT plan to be cooped up in this house!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead! Any special plans?

What Up?

I heard an older man greet a friend with that this morning: What up? I hope I'm that hip (and cute) when I get to be that age.

Lacking anything useful to report, I thought I'd take a moment or two to share my answer to a few What ups?

What are you wearing? The at-home uniform: jeans, red henley, sneakers.

What did you have for breakfast? Yogurt & strawberries. Normally I have two breakfasts, one at around 6 a.m. and another around 9:00 a.m., but I got a late start this morning and didn't have my yogurt until almost 9. So it looks like a lighter breakfast today. I'm sure I'll make it up later in the day. :)

What are you doing for exercise today? This morning, I'm doing about 30 minutes on the stationary bike. Then, because we have sunshine and warmer temps (50s!), I'm going to walk down to Subway for lunch and to Kroger next door for some cameo apples (on sale $0.99/lb.). After that, some yard work. Yesterday, I used my teensy reciprocating saw to cut up a neighbor's fallen tree limb, a victim of our recent ice stormlette. All that cutting and hauling gave me a nice 30-minute workout, which I followed with a brief stint on the stationary bike.

What are you listening to? Birds. A troop of robins is on worm patrol in my backyard. Awesome!

What are you reading? Kimberly asked me that, in response to my Lent-esque intentions. I'm actually reading two books (I do that a lot): Joining the Thin Club: Tips for Toning Your Mind after You've Trimmed Your Body, which I'm mostly skimming. I'm not connecting with the writers, and so far, I haven't seen anything new. I don't mind revisiting past lessons--in fact, I often benefit greatly from it--if they're presented in interesting or entertaining ways. See: Martha Beck...or the other book I'm reading, which is How To Play the Harmonica: and Other Life Lessons. I don't even have a harmonica, but it doesn't really matter. This is a book about unleashing the playful self to promote a happier life. As you probably know, playfulness is not a problem for me, which is possibly why I'm enjoying this book so much. It's laugh-out-loud funny. I like laughing.

What are you doing this weekend?I'll spend some time working on my 40 items, and possibly some time outdoors (clouds are returning), but beyond that, it's a wide-open weekend. Ahhhh....

What are you regretting from the week behind you? I'm kind of regretting that Free Cell "sacrifice". Just kidding. I felt I was playing it too much, but didn't realize how very much! I keep catching myself going for the icon. :) Other than that, the only potential regret I have is signing up to be part of the neighborhood security patrol at last night's neighborhood meeting. I don't have to do anything except ride around the neighborhood and call the police if I see anything suspicious, but I just know some serial killer will choose my day to run rampant through our 'burb. I'm not sure the magnetic 'Security Patrol' signs on my car door and the flashing yellow light on top of the car (the only reason I agreed to do it in the first place) are going to be much of a deterrent. Especially since my shift will be during the daytime, when the light won't be particularly noticeable.

And that's what's going on with me! I hope you all have a most wonderful weekend, but before I go, it's my turn to ask YOU: What up?

Rant: This Post May Have Been Stolen

Please pardon this departure from my normal fluffiness, but I'm feeling a tad cranky.

If you are reading this post on any site that does not have "tippytoediet" in its URL, then you're most likely reading stolen content.

If you are reading this post on a site with the words "thighs" and "thinner" in its URL, then you are definitely reading stolen content. The owner of that site has been contacted by yours truly numerous times since November 2009 and is no longer responding to cease and desist requests. GoDaddy and AdSense have also been notified of this copyright infringement, which is in violation of their stated policies, not to mention a direct violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and International Copyright Law.

And a certain indicator of bad breeding.

Sharing content around the blogosphere is absolutely acceptable, with proper attribution. It's how we share information and learn about other blogs. The more appropriate way to do it is to post a blurb about the article of interest and then provide a direct link to the original content.  It is a great big no-no to publish other bloggers' content in its entirety and present it as your own without express written permission. (Most people add "posted with permission" or words to that effect.). 

If you're a blogger whose content is being scraped onto a just-for-profit blog, there are steps you can take to stop the offender. The folks at NetConcepts.com have compiled a very useful article on how to stop copyright infringement. (See how easy that is?)

An easy way to find out if your content is being published elsewhere is to include the name of your blog in each of your posts or RSS feeds and then set up a google alert with your blog name in it.(You'll want to put the name of your blog in quotes, like this: "The Tippy Toe Diet" to make it an absolute reference.)  You can set your alert to notify you with each occurrence, daily, or weekly.


So, Mr. Content Thief, let's see if you scrape this post as you have done with all my posts since November 2009. As you do with the posts of many other bloggers.

Shame.

Thank you, lovely readers, for your patience in allowing me to take care of this little bit of annoyance. I'll be back tomorrow with my normal fluffy, perky self. Or as close as I can get on a Monday. :)

The Week That Was

This was one of those weeks that peaked on Tuesday and then kind of tumbled and stumbled to a dismal finish. Nothing horrible at all, for which I'm humbly thankful, but a couple of disappointing turn of events, a root canal with feverish complications (I look like a chipmunk!), the apparent death of my treadmill, and endless gray days have me very much looking forward to a fresh new week!

On the plus side, nutrition and exercise were pretty decent this week. When my treadmill went into a coma, I learned that my parents still had an old stationary bike I'd purchased years and years ago, so I hauled it to my house. It's pretty pathetic, as cardio equipment goes, but after I put on my 10-pound ankle weights, I was able to get in a good workout on it. Where there's a will, there's a way, eh? :)

Also on the plus side, I "discovered" a really cool international food market near my house that has fruits and veggies I never even heard of. It's been there for several years, and I only drive past it every two or three days, but I'd never bothered to stop until yesterday. My goal of trying new foods every few weeks just got a whole lot easier.

Another bright spot to the week was that a number of new-to-me bloggers dropped in to comment, and now I have some fun new blogs to check out! Following other people as they achieve their goals always inspires me to keep chasing my own. Funny how that works, isn't it?

Finally, these articles also brightened my otherwise gray-ish week:
- Kat over at BodyIncredible.com shared How to Boost Your Metabolism in 3 Minutes 29 Seconds (Caution: If you need to pee, I suggest you do it before watching the accompanying video.)

- The folks at Wisebread posted some great tips on Frugal Gluten-free Living. While I'm not gluten-free, I know some of you are, and these seem like pretty good ideas.

- Healthy Theory had this informative post: Not All Sugars Are Created Equal.

- MakeUseOf clued me in on this free online food diary, exercise, and weight loss tracker.

And last, but far from least, DumbLittleMan had an awesome post on 50 Ways to Create a Better Day. Today I'm focusing on #27 and NOT wallowing. :)

Hope you're looking forward to an amazing weekend!

~~~

Smorgasbord

Greetings from Sparkletown!  It's a nice trade-off for the inconvenience of the ice.

We never did get any real snow in my part of town, despite being promised LOTS of it. We did have lots of sleet, but the main roads were mostly passable.

I survived the weekend in healthy fashion, with no unnecessary snacking. I decided to log my food for the weekend, which may have helped me stick to the plan.

Or maybe it was the stress of hearing melting ice chunks crashing onto my roof from the tree limbs above. Who can say.

How'd you do?

In other news,RunningBetty kindly nominated me for Best Plus-Size Blog. Thank you, Betty, I'm honored that you thought of me! 

I'm not sure all the wheres and whyfores of this contest, but if you've got a second and would like to cast a vote, just click on the icon below:

Thank you.

A few links I bookmarked this week:

If you're struggling a bit staying on plan, maybe it's time to take a step back and focus on some basics with 7 Easy Ways to Lose Weight without Starving or Breaking a Sweat.

If you're like me and spend waaaay too much time at the grocery store trying to weed out the products with high fructosse corn syrup, the folks at StopHFCS have a handy listing of HFCS-free products. They also have a forum in which members share their finds.

Runners who are suffering from tight hamstrings and sore calves might want to check out Yoga's Benefits for Runners at Healthy Theory.

Last but not least, if you're the type who responds better to a little financial incentive, check out MUO's  review of Lose It or Lose It. I can tell you already that my money's on you! :)

And that's it for me! I'm headed to the treadmill and then off to watch "Worst Cooks in America", which is interesting but embarrassing, in that they're all 10 times better cooks than I am. :)

Hope you all had a great weekend!

A Different Kind of Snow Day

We're having an icy, snowy weekend here in Memphis, which doesn't happen too often, so it's a Very Big Deal. Traffic jams and crashes everywhere! And I'm not just talking about the streets--the grocery stores are almost as bad. I try to avoid them at all costs.


Unfortunately, I found myself in need of a non-food item this morning and while I would've preferred Target, the grocery store was closest and had what I needed. As expected, it was chaos. Carts crashing into each other, over-hyped children bouncing all over the place, desparate shoppers scrounging for bread--absolute bedlam! As I stood in the ultra-long self-check line, it was actually kind of fun to watch. (I'm sick that way.)

It was also interesting to observe what people bought in terms of "emergency" supplies. I understand the chili fixin's, the canned soups and crackers, and the milk, bread, cereal, oatmeal, etc. But multiple bags of potato chips, cookies, candy, frozen french fries, frozen waffles, and stacks of frozen pizzas? I suspect lots of New Year's Resolutions will be broken this weekend.

You can rest assured that three years ago, I would've been right in there with them! I stocked up on very little in the way of nutrition, but bunches of high-calorie, high-fat snacks. As you know, that's all changed for me now. But looking around at the carts around me, I was feeling a little deprived. With the scarcity of snow days around here, there's almost a festive air when we do. And festivities have snacks, right? :)

Well, yes they do, but there's a difference between having a tasty snack on hand and indulging in an all-out food orgy. I knew I already had plenty of snacks at home: yogurt, almonds, sunflower seeds, all manner of fresh fruits, and a fridge full of chopped veggies. If I want cookies, there are some animal crackers in the pantry. Any salty snack desires can be handled with some air-popped popcorn. All my usual...stuff.

But I wanted something different, something out of the ordinary  for this very out-of-the-ordinary day. Had I not already been in the check-out line, I might have gone off in search an Asian Pear*, which is tasti-licious, but pricey, so not part of my normal routine. Or I might have gone over to the health food section for some spelt pretzels. I haven't had those in a long time. But like I said, I knew I had good snacks at home, if I should want them, and there wasn't really any point (not a good one anyway) in buying more.

And then I saw them--two treats guaranteed to brighten my weekend into something special:

Perfect! A little dose of bottled decadence, and something to occupy my hands if the over-snacking urge strikes.Ahhhh....blisssss!

Admit it, you're jealous, aren't you? :)

No? Well, what two items would you have bought in their place? (Keep in mind, you're surrounded by crazed shoppers with snack-filled baskets when you make your choice.*G*)

Happy weekend to all! Be safe!

Oh, and as of this writing--no snow! :)

*If you've never had an Asian Pear, it's kind of a cross between an apple and a pear, or that's what it tastes like to me.

Happiness Is...

I'm notoriously pathetic with the blog memes that are passed around. Seriously awful at it. I kept a list and intended to catch up, but the list got buried (I'm sure it's here somewhere, though, as I haven't thrown away a piece of paper in eons.)  It's not that I don't appreciate it, that's for certain.

This week,Kimberly, Bella, and Lisa were kind enough to tag me with the Happiness 101 meme (thank you all very much, and if I missed anyone, I'm so very sorry!), in which we list 10 things that make us happy. They must have been reading my mind, because I'd been planning to do a Favorite Things post, anyway! (I love when that happens.)

So here's my list, in no particular order, and I did focus on things, not people.
1. Abundant Sunshine
2. My Netflix subscription
3. A long walk
4. My Sharpie collection
5. Books!
6. The Internet
7. My bicycle
8. The color red
9. Road trips
10. Chocolate! (You didn't think I would leave that off, did you?)

And those are a few things that make me happy. Blogs, and the people who write them, that make me happy are in a whole separate list.

Speaking of chocolate and blogs that make me happy, I've recently fallen into the evil clutches of Chocolate Covered Katie.  If you're interested in healthy eating, chocolate, and easy recipes, this is a blog you definitely want to check out. Today I made her Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Babies, and I cannot express to you the AWESOMENESS of this treat. I think she should call them 'jewels' instead of babies, because that's what they looked like to me: little chocolate-y jewels, all for me.

Please pardon the blurry photo. I was in the early stages of withdrawal at the time I took it.

You can check out the link above for the exact recipe, but it's basically dates, nuts, chocolate chips, and vanilla.  I actually forgot the vanilla in mine, which made them tough to form into little jewels, but they firmed up in the fridge, where I had to hide them from myself.

I will be having these weekly as a healthy treat!


I had already planned to blog about this new discovery when I learned that Katie is having a giveaway on her blog. One of the requirements to enter is that you mention it your blog. Oh, the dilemma that presents!

You see, she's giving away...a Vitamix 5200!!  Y'all know I've been drooling over that thing forever!  I even have dreams sometimes in which I have one on my (soon-to-be) new kitchen counter, and I wake up all feverish and sweaty...and sad because it was just a dream.  I had started a savings fund for one, but I used it to help fund my western excursion last fall.

So you can see why I'm hesitant to tell you all about the giveaway. I know that you're all going to go rushing over there to enter the contest, thus diluting my chances of winning it. That hardly seems fair.  Maybe if you tell her I sent you, I'll get double bonus entries or something! Yeah, that's it!

And if you don't tell her I sent you AND you win, you must promise to send me some chocolate something you make in it. :)

Wait a minute. I'm doing this wrong. Considering how much I yammer about thinking positively, I should look at this differently:

Things That Make Me Happy, cont.

11. The Vitamix 5200 I'm going to win.

There. It is written.

But you should feel free to go ahead and enter if you've just got the time to spare. (And seriously, check out the recipes--lots of wholesome goodness there!)

That's it for me today! I'm off to toss my old shabby food processor in the trash and get the cabinet space cleared for my new treasure! :)

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! It's rainy here, but that's okay. It's a pleasant sounding rain. (Oooh, make #12 on my list--a pleasant rainfall. )

Cruisin' into the Weekend

First, a big--and I mean BIG--thanks to those who offered up their favorite fitness sites. I'll get them compiled into a list over the weekend. Thanks to those of you who suggested my site. I truly appreciate it, but I don't really consider myself a 'fitness site', per se.

So how's everyone doing? On plan and full speed ahead? Stumbling, fumbling, but still making progress? Completely off track, but s-l-o-w-l-y moving back to center? Crashed and burned?

Wherever you are on the fitness scale, my biggest wish for you as we head into this weekend is that you know you have it within you to be successful. You deserve it. You are worth it. The victory is yours to claim.

“The first and most important step toward success is the feeling that we can succeed.” Nelson Boswell

As for me, I'm on target with nutrition, but not so much on the exercise. I've finally gotten my bathroom remodeling projects underway (pics later), and for this week, the tile guys and the plumber won the time battle. I managed a few walks and a Pilates home session (loved it!), but the week was not up to my exercise standards. Will reset and continue, starting this weekend when I plan to come up with some sort of "exercise obstacle course" to work in while I complete the massive dusting and vacuuming that must occur thanks to the tile guys and plumber. I'll let you know how that turns out and whether or not it was any fun. :) I guarantee you I will have a successful weekend! (she says confidently, but with her fingers crossed to be on the safe side.)

So what are YOU doing this weekend? Whatever it is, I hope you enjoy it immensely!

Why I'm Over (Mostly) Leo Babauta and What You Can Do About It

Yeah, the zenhabits guy who I might or might not have had a teensy faraway crush on at one time. But that's over (mostly.)

Yesterday, Leo posted a list of 20-plus Amazing Fitness Blogs to Inspire You*. Reading through the list and clicking a few links, you quickly see that there are, indeed, some good blogs on the list.

But when you move further down the list, you start to notice a disturbing lack of estrogen-ic representation. This is a list of the favorite male fitness bloggers of other male fitness bloggers, presented on the blog of a male blogger. I'm not a particularly demonstrative feminist, but t's enough to make me want to burn one of my sports bras. (One of the ones that's too big now, not one of the few I have that still fit.)

To be fair(ish), it's Leo's blog to do with what he wishes, and it makes sense that he would be drawn to bloggers with a similar mindset. You'd think, though, that if he planned to make a whole dramatic post out of it,  he'd consider that a goodly portion of his readership is female and maybe consider asking at least
ONE woman her opinion.  Sheesh!

And that's why I'm (mostly) over Leo. I hope he survives (and has a sense of humor.)


So here's what YOU can do to help me through this break up: I want YOUR five favorite health & fitness blogs.  They can be written by men or women or anywhere in between.  I, unlike certain other people, recognize that I have a diverse--if much, much tinier--readership. If I have enough (any) response, I'll compile a list and post it in it's very own post later.



(*In case you're wondering, I did consider not linking to the article, but that's just bad manners. Besides, those blogs I'm familiar with or checked out really do seem to be good blogs. In the end, it IS a good--if masculine--resource.)

One Big Happy Family

In case you haven't heard, there's a new weight loss reality show on TLC on Tuesday nights. One Big Happy Family follows the Coles family (Mom, Dad, teenage daughter, teenage son) as they work together to shed some serious weight, for serious reasons.They each weigh in at between 300-400 pounds, and mother, father, and son are experiencing health problems. So far, the daughter's ego seems to be the only thing ailing.:)

This is a family that seems to truly love each other. The teens are as obnoxious as many teens but seem to respect their parents. (I realize this might be for the cameras, but to me it seems genuine.)  Part of the family ritual is sharing meals together: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, lasagna, etc. (I'm not sure, but that might have all been in one meal.)  They like to eat and they like to laugh and aren't apologizing for either. When we first meet them, they all acknowledge the weight issues, but they don't seem to be particularly motivated to do anything about it.

That all changes when a series of doctor's appointments reveal the very real threat of serious health problems. Then Mama gets fierce and tries to get them turned around. The results are often thought-provoking, sometimes hilarious, occasionally sad, and refreshingly real. No trainers, no nutritionists,  no product placement (thank the Lord!). Instead, we see Dad learning that spinach can be served fresh. Mom broils meat for the first time ever (with Cammy-esque results.) The son has to endure the humiliation of an idiotic neighbor referring to him as "fat." The daughter breaks a chair she's sitting in and tries to laugh through the embarrassment. Many of us have lived these moments or moments similar enough to relate.


Some of the show's moments that ring most true to me are also generating some controversy. Critics claim that the show exploits the Coles and portrays them as exaggerated characters, not real people with real problems. I've tried to look at it from this point of view, but honestly, I just don't see the show in the same way. It has me wondering if there's some sort of cultural disconnect, but I'm not sure if it's related to size, or perhaps to race, or maybe a little bit of both. All I know is that each of these family members has said or done something that reminded me of ME 100 pounds ago. (Mom's healthy cooking efforts remind me more of me NOW.) These are my people.

Y'all remember how much I loved Ruby (Style Network, new season starts Feb. 14)? Well, I love following the Coles just as much! Led by one tenacious mother, with reluctant support from a family that doesn't exactly embrace change until they experience it, their efforts to turn their lives around the best way they know how has me wanting to stand up and cheer with each small victory. The Coles make my heart happy...and hopeful.


Okay, your turn. Have you seen this show? Like it? Had to look away? Fell asleep? Don't like weight loss reality shows in general? Please share.

Guilty Pleasures

Do you have any guilty pleasures? Those things you feel you probably shouldn't enjoy quite as much as you do, either because they're not necessarily the healthiest choice or financially wise?

I have lots of guilty pleasures--some food related, some not. Here's a sampling:
- Sugar free Jello Pudding (Yogurt is healthier, but face it: it's not Jello pudding)
- Sugar-free Fudgesicles (These frosty treasures helped get me through my first summer of eating less and the subsequent Little Debbie withdrawal pangs.)
- Blue Diamond Pecan Nut Thins (These are a new pleasure and are a tasty-but-not-nutrition-wrecking stand-in  for my once-beloved Ritz Crackers. These are made with rice flour and are gluten free. I wish they were calorie free and grew on a tree in my backyard.)
- Daydreaming/Taking time out of a busy day to just sit and let my thoughts wander where they will. (Some time spent in this pursuit is quite healthy.  It's possible that, on occasion, I mightmaybecouldbe spending too much dreaming.)
- Spending several hours in a bookstore, preferably one with a café. 
- Having a pastry or cookie from aforementioned bookstore café.
- Having a manicure/pedicure. (If it's followed by a trip to the bookstore, that's even more pleasurable.)
- Reading blogs instead of doing things on my to-do list.


Before I began adopting healthier eating habits and focusing on living life more richly, I don't think I ever considered this notion of guilty pleasures. I simply did what I wanted, when and where I wanted. While that may lead to a satisfied life, there's not a lot of joy in it.

Now that I'm more aware of my actions, I do recognize these guilty pleasures when they occur and take a moment to experience the joy in them and to be grateful. And sometimes, to caution myself against getting too accustomed to doing them! Life needs variety and a little bit of spice to keep it interesting, but too much of a good thing...well, it's just not healthy.

If you're wondering why I'm on this topic, I'm sorry to report that I have no answer. It's just what's on my mind, for some reason.

And I really am curious as to your guilty pleasures. Are they recently uncovered pleasures, or things you have long enjoyed?  C'mon, dish! :)

For Your Reading Pleasure...

If you find yourself wanting to nibble this weekend, take a few minutes to check out these little bits and pieces from here and there. They won't tell you how to eliminate the nibble urge, but they may serve as enough of a distraction to get you through it!

The writers at Dumb Little Man were on a roll this week! Here are just a few of the articles I enjoyed:
7 Exercise and Fitness Beliefs You Need to Overcome
Five Simple Ways to Relax at Work When Stress Strikes
How to Reach Your Goals by Keeping a Journal
If You Had a Fresh Start, What Would You Do?
6 Ways to Start the New Year Doing Instead of Dreaming

You see what I love about DLM? They're always offering some tidbit of information and/or inspiration that helps get me through the days. Funny, then, that I didn't think to include them in my list of health & fitness online resources. HUGE oversight on my part. 

Alexandra Levit had a great article on zenhabits this week: 5 Great Ways to Conquer Self Doubt.

The folks at MakeUseOf earned my eternal devotion (like they didn't already have it) by sending me to SpiceAdvice,  an online spice encyclopedia and usage guide. Perfect for my brothers and sisters of the non-cooking persuasion (united we stand!)

Also from MUO, 5 Websites That Will Make You Smile & Light Up Your Day

There. Nibble-itis gone? Nah, not for me either, but it was a nice distraction ,wasn't it?

Feel free to share any inspiring, informational, interesting, or funny articles you read this week. I'll check them out when I'm not cleaning.

Yep, that's my Big Plan for this frigid winter weekend: house cleaning, primarily emptying (and finding a place to store) all items from the vanities of both bathrooms. Oh, and at some point, I have to venture out to Lowe's and purchase all the fixtures, because the tile guys and plumber will be here on Monday a.m. to start the process. Yaaay! I'm only 6 months (or three years, depending on which calendar you use) behind schedule.

I'm also experimenting with a "Leftover Soup", which involves combining my last container of Taco Soup, with my leftover Progresso Southwest Vegetable Soup, some leftover green chilies, one tired looking tomato, and anything else I find around here that is starting to look suspicious. I may have to consult the SpiceAdvice people before it's over. I just hope I don't have to consult a physician. :)

That's it for me! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, wherever you are, and that the nibble gremlins stay in the shadows!

And the Progresso Soup Gift Pack Winner Is...

Kristi!

Kristi, I couldn't find an email for you, so if you'll send me your shipping info using the 'contact me' link in my sidebar, I'll let Progresso know where to send your gift pack.

Also, if you (or anyone else) can tell me how to get the 'digital' part of the digital jump rope to work, I'd be grateful. Until then, I'll keep using the rest of it for its intended purpose. :)

Thanks to all for playing!

For Whom the Scale Tolls

A friend asked me yesterday why I still blog about weight loss, given that I've reached my goal range. She seemed surprised that I'd bother. Obviously, she doesn't comrephend the dynamics of the fitness/weight loss blogging community.

As I mentioned the other day, online support and interaction has been (and still is) instrumental in keeping me on target. I can share my triumphs and my...well, let's be polite and call them less-than-triumphant moments, knowing that someone will understand. Some will have lived it, while others may not have had that exact experience, but they'll still "get it". And even if they don't, they'll still offer a suggestion or helpful hint, or maybe just a few kind words.

The other side of the equation is what happens when I visit other blogs. Any struggles I'm experiencing (real or imagined) evaporate when Betty Blogger reports yet another plateau week, or Bobby Blogger (no relation) posts that he's bored during his workout and requests suggestions for good MP3s for working out. Instead of heading for the pantry for more almonds, I read back through Betty's blog, looking for any clues as to why she might be plateau-ing and then brainstorm possible solutions while I'm on the treadmill. I forward Bobby a list of my workout faves and then spend a few minutes scoping out more tunes for my auditory arsenal. Later, when Betty breaks her plateau or Bobby's workout enthusiasm level picks up, I feel victorious (and relieved) right along with them. They succeeded, which meant I succeeded. One for all and all for one, etc. and amen.

What got me on this weird (even for me) little tangent was the sad experience of cleaning out my RSS feeds last night. So many people whose lives intersected with ours, and one day--poof! They just disappear from the blogosphere. No explanation, no farewell; they're just gone. It leaves me wondering if their lives became too hectic to blog (most of us know what THAT feels like), or if they fell off the fitness wagon? Egads, maybe they were run over by the wagon! We just don't know, and that leaves me sad and wondering.


I'm reminded of this quote from poet John Donne, which better describes my sentiments (and in fewer words):

Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee...

No doubt, he is getting quite the workout from turning in his grave over my abuse of his sentiment, but it fits my whacko thought train.


So, this is my round-about way of asking you to please stick around. We will celebrate during the good times and commiserate/pontificate through the not-so-good. If you don't want to blog about your troubles, reach out another way (email, twitter DM, whatever it takes), or take a break if you need it. But please don't let giving up and walking away be on your list of options!

As for me, I intend to be the oldest living fitness/weight loss blogger someday. I'll be posting tips on how to use your walking stick with the treadmill or how to work in a few planks while on your bedpan. Okay, maybe not. :)

But I'll still be here, and I hope you'll be here, too!

Before I go, reminder to join in the fun and sign up for my version of the Progresso Soup Contest and Giveaway. Deadline is tonight (midnight US Central)!

A White Christmas, of Sorts

So MizFit's having a Christmas Eve Blogger Virtual Talent Show. Tough for someone with no discernible talents to find a way to join in. Most days, I'm happy if I get through without requiring sutures or a straight jacket.

While I was pondering what "talent" I might possibly share, a news report flashed across the TV screen re: the blizzard/snow storm barreling across the country. The announcer commented on the bleakness of the snow scape, which I thought was beautiful (not having to live in it and all). And that reminded me...

Years ago, I took a fun little creative writing course. It wasn't so much about writing as it was about unleashing our creative selves. In one exercise, we had to choose a color and write from the point of view of the color. What I thought of as the "fun" colors were all taken, so I chose to go with something simple: white. The following was the result:

BASIC WHITE

I am a color that most people don't even see. When people do notice me, they write me off as plain or simple -- basic white. They don't recognize my true power.

The bolder colors know my power and fear me, for one drop
of my essence and black becomes gray, red becomes pink, purple becomes lavender.

Bold colors don't like that, and I must be careful. If another color invades my space, I cease to exist entirely.

No, my world is far from basic, for I am a color of intricacy and opposition, teeming with contradiction:

I am the taste of bitter, dusty chalk and smooth,
velvety cream.

I am icy stinging sleet on a frigid winter day and
the gently falling ash of a raging volcano.

I envelop a newborn child when he is pulled from the womb
and light the path to eternity as man draws his last breath.

I am the neon moon that gives shadow to the night sky
and the blinding noonday sun from which there is no respite.

In theology, I clothe the angels; in reality,
I costume the hate-mongering Klansman.

My skin is one man’s privilege and another man’s burden.

In many cultures I stand for innocence, purity and peace;
yet, I also embellish the crosses on the graves of men slain in battle.

I am basic white and rarely as simple as my surface appears.

::cue Ta-Da!:: (and possibly men with hook and/or straight jacket)

What occurs to me now is that my talent is not so much in writing, but in finding a way to work through almost any situation, whether it's a silly writing assignment or something more serious, like losing 100 pounds. :)

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, white or otherwise. :)

Just Say Yes!

The nice folks at skirt sent me a 2010 calendar. (I have no idea why, but it was very kind of them. Thank you, skirt! people!) I was idly flipping through it this morning, pretending for just a minute that I don't have a to-do list a mile long, and this lovely bit of prose jumped out at me.

Let each finish line be a fresh start.
Let there always be one more race to be run...
one more rung to reach...
the next novel waiting to be written...
a career change to be dared...
a higher mountain to climb...
Unexpected Love waiting to walk into your life...
dance steps to be learned...
the most daring adventure still to plan...
another painting waiting on the palette.

Let every safe harbor be a place to rest up, not rest on your laurels,
before you set off again for unknown jeopardy and joy.
Broken heart? Turn it into a happy beginning.
Layoffs looming? Start working your resume.
Empty nest? Try your own wings.
Sign up for Yes! instead of hanging on to yesterday.
Yes! to the blind date, the scary new job in another city, the next level of yoga.

Ready, Set, Yes!

You see why I'm so happy with the skirt! people.

I've had so many changes in my life over the past few years, but most of them were positive, largely because I learned to say Yes! to life, every single day. To give myself permission to be successful, to change, to grow. I plan to do it again next year, too, and I hope you'll join me. Paraphrasing from the calendar this time: We might flop or we might fly, but we might as well try.

Skirt! also sent me a pen, on which I just noticed this quote: Set your alarm for good times.

Oh yes, 2010 is going to be one awesome year!

For now, I'm going to say Yes! to a 30-minute nap! The to-do list will still be there when I wake up. :)

Wishing You a Meme-y Christmas

My friend Lisa sent me a fun Christmas meme over the weekend. She, as it turns out, is my psychic twin. :)

Anyway, you know how these things work. I'll share my answers, in hopes that you'll also share yours. It's fine if you want to post here, or you can pack up the questions and take them over to your blog. Just be sure to give us a link so we'll know where to find them! I truly enjoy these glimpses into other people's worlds.

Oh, and this is geared toward Christmas, but feel free to convert it to anything you'd like it to be.
And you don't have to answer all the questions, if you'd rather not. Far be it from me to instigate any stresses. Not on purpose, anyway.

On to the Christmas (or other holiday or anytime of year) Meme:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I use a combination of both.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Macrame, which I guess makes it artificial. It's hanging on my bulletin board. I got it at a yard sale for $1.00 last fall. :) I do have a tabletop tree--two of them, in fact--and decorations, but I usually don't bother putting them up.

3. When do you put up the tree? Sometime in early December, I think. When it involves a thumbtack and a macrame tree, it doesn't really register as an "event."

4. When do you take the tree down? We're supposed to take them down?

5. Do you like eggnog? Nope, it's Memaw's Boiled Custard for me, which is eggnog without nutmeg and cinnamon, but with the addition of vanilla. My grandmother serves hers with floating orange slices and has been known to lace her glass with "something stronger."

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My first 10-speed bicycle. My friend Alan got one too, and we spent most of a warm-ish Christmas Day out riding. I think I was 14 at the time.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad- has everything, wants nothing

8. Easiest person to buy for? My Mom- never met a gift she didn't love

9. How do you decorate your tree--matchy-matchy or hodgepodge? When I do put up an official tree, it's hodgepodge all the way, mostly ornaments friends have made for me

10. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve

11. Favorite Christmas song? Oh, Holy Night

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? September-ish

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, I'm pretty sure I have.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies! Fudge! Big ol' southern style Christmas morning breakfast! I like those bbq smokies, too!

16. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home, well seven miles south of home, which doesn't quite count as travel even though it's in another state.

17. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph. (I could also probably name the seven dwarfs, if pressed, but I'm embarrassed to admit I probably couldn't name all 12 Apostles. I suppose that says something about me. Something possibly not nice. Does it count that I could probably name at least half of them? Well, there's time to work on it before Easter, which is pretty much the only time some of them get any attention. But I digress. :))

18. What do you want to do for Christmas this year? Peace of mind. I'll work on the rest of the world next year.


And that's it for me! I'm dashing out and about, but this time I'm remembering to take my iphone with me. Your responses could save my line-standing sanity! :)

~

My Dog Ate My Workout and Other Randomness

My dog ate my workout? Well, that's a marginally better excuse than "I forgot to work out yesterday." But only marginally.

How does this happen? Something that's been a routine part of my day, six days a week, for two years and I forgot? Sad, but true. Yesterday was one of those runrunrun days, and I got a tad behind. It was only as I was on my way home from an art show last night that I realized I had never actually done my workout. It was planned for 3:00 (when Law & Order comes on TNT), but I was out delivering Christmas goodies then. The early evening was taken up with the art show, and I've learned not to work out after 8:00 p.m., lest I be sitting up , wide-eyed, at two a.m. So no workout for Cammy on a planned workout day.

I don't like to miss my planned workouts. It leaves me grumpy. I don't like being grumpy either.

I've missed a handful of workouts over the past couple of years, and I dealt with it by tacking on 5-10 minutes to workouts in the following days. It worked well, and I thought that's what I might do this time. Until I got up this morning and saw the large number of leaves in my front yard. I predict 2-3 hours, at least. More than enough raking, bending, stooping, lunging, and lifting to make up for yesterday.

Whew. Close call. :)

In random news, here's a lovely story from yesterday's local paper. It seems a young woman was trying to send a box of Christmas items to Australia. When the post office clerk told her it would cost $190 to ship, it was clear to all that it was more than she had expected. She stepped outside to make a few phone calls to see if she could find the money somewhere. While she was outside, the man who'd been behind her in line...paid for her postage! On his way out, he told the young woman that the clerk wanted to see her. He never mentioned that he had paid the $190 to ship her package. Needless to say, she was overwhelmed, as were many in the post office at the time.

Since this young woman didn't get to thank him, I will. Thank you, Post Office Santa Angel! You brightened more than one life this week!

Now that you're feeling all warm and fuzzy (and I wonder about you if you're not), here are a few interesting posts I've come across recently:

7 Great Lessons You Can Learn from Helen Keller

Wake Up! Five Ridiculous Alarm Clocks

Tiny Steps Make Major Leaps

How to Finish Something Hard


Random enough for you? Feel free to share any random and interesting links you found this week. It will give me something to read while I recover from all the leaf raking. :)

Happy Weekend!

~

I See Things

I had a wonderful pondering time this morning, mostly thinking about my future, both long-term and immediate. By immediate, I mean the weekend ahead. I'm a big believer in visualizing myself being positive and energetic and active and all the things I want to be in life. That way, I'll recognize them as they happen. :)

Anyway, as I sat pondering, the cautionary words of a former co-worker popped into mind:

"There's a mighty big difference between a vision and a hallucination."

Wise words, indeed, and it made me think about what I envision when I see myself being successful (by my own definition of successful).

Hallucination: I exercise two hours a day, 6 days a week, always giving 200% to my workouts.

Vision: I exercise 5-6 days per week, 30-60 minutes per day, giving 100% of my energy that day to my workouts.


Hallucination: I am at goal weight always. If my weight goes up, I increase my workouts to four hours a day.

Vision: My weight fluctuate but usually stays within 2-3 pounds of goal. When my weight goes up and stays up, I evaluate my nutrition AND my exercise to see if either needs to be improved.


Hallucination: I never eat chocolate.

Vision: I eat chocolate fairly regularly, but in tiny portions 98.521% of the time, excluding major holidays and vacations. (I consider a Hershey's Kiss to be an example of "tiny." Two is semi-tiny. More than that is a splurge.)


Well, you see what I'm getting at. All too often, we define our success by over-reaching measures that may not be attainable, much less sustainable. Weight fluctuates, schedules get crowded, and if we're lucky, LIFE happens. I'd much rather experience it than hide from it inside a set of rigid expectations. I want to live a vibrant life, healthy AND happy, and part of that is being available for it.

I'm not suggesting that we "lower the bar." It's good to have high standards for our behavior, especially regarding health and fitness. It's equally important that we be mindful of life unfolding around us and incorporate it into our visions of a successful future. And the future is beginning right now.

If you're still reading, I thank you. This was one of those mornings I needed to give myself a little preaching, and I appreciate your indulgence. If you got anything out if, all the better. :)

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

How I Scored $8 in Free Groceries

Good one-day sale at Kroger this morning, especially for fruit and nuts. Since those items are a staple for me, I was at the store bright and early. Four-pound bag of navel oranges @$2.50: check. One-pound bag of shelled walnuts @$2.99: check times two. Same price for almonds: double check again. Pears @ $0.99/pound: in my basket. And so on. I was pleased.

The pleasure ended as I reviewed my receipt on the way to the car. I try to keep up with it as the clerk is scanning, but the way they ring up sales is goofy (full price, then take off the sales price at the end), and my math isn't so perky early in the a.m. I had been overcharged for the oranges and one bag of almonds. Oh no!

When I returned to customer service to ask for the $2.50 difference to be refunded, I learned that the store has a policy of refunding the full price of any item that scans an incorrect price. Thus, my refund was $8.60. Free groceries! Healthy groceries, at that!

And all because I took the time to check my receipt!

Now that I think about it, I actually got a bag of Baked Lays for free too, using a coupon Kroger sent me as part of their store rewards program. That's another $3.79.

So what will I do with this minor cash windfall? Why, go out to lunch, of course. :)

Don't forget to check out the review and enter the drawing for the EatSmart Digital Scale. You have until Sunday night, so the clock is ticking!

Wishing you all a joyous weekend!

Fitness Wish List

I hope you all had a most marvelous Thanksgiving weekend! I sure did, which gives me even more reasons to be thankful. Funny how that works out, isn't it?

For those of you whom I left sitting on the edge of your seats all weekend, fretting about the value of my Sports Authority gift certificate...drumroll...$10!! (Everyone who is not surprised, raise your hands. Ah, a majority. :) ) Still, every little bit helps. I purchased new Duofold base layers (top and bottom, in black) and some Columbia fleece pants. I shall be nice and toasty warm now!

At another store, I purchased the Bender Ball (it was on sale AND I had a 20% coupon!) As of this writing it is serving as a paperweight, but I hope to use it later today.

It's interesting how many fitness-related items are on my Wish List these days. In fact, other than a new desktop computer (current one is about 8 years old) and a few household items, everything on my wish list is related to fitness. Since I grudgingly gave up visits from Santa so that he might focus on the children, I no longer send him a list, but if I did, it would look something like this:

- Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor or any Garmin, for that matter.
- Sunny Health & Fitness 25 Lbs. Adjustable Chrome Dumbbell - I like this one for compactness.
- Columbia Sportswear Women's Pagora Hiking Shoe - I'm thinking about joining a local hiking group, now that the snakes are sleeping it off for the winter.
- Bosu 3D System Balance Trainer - I loved working out with the BOSU ball. My balance is pathetic, which is part of what made it so much fun. I may have to make this a reward purchase for something big.

I should stop there. I could add bike accessories galore and sports bras in every color, but I don't want to look greedy. :)

Huh. I should stop writing about exercise and get out and actually do some. But before I go, I'm wondering what would be on your Dear Santa fitness wish list? (I'll take notes, in case I ever win the lottery.)



(Disclosure note: Any links to Amazon are through my Associate's Account. Should you make a purchase after following one of my Amazon links, I will receive a 4% commission. )

~

Ripped from the Headlines

News bits that caught my eye:

Kate Moss, professional Skinny Girl, created a minor ruckus last week, when she was quoted as saying that one of her mottoes is "nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." Apparently, in addition to being one of the stupidest diet-related slogans out there, this phrase is frequently used in pro-anorexia communities. (I had no idea.) Her reps are using the "taken out of context" defense.

You might have gathered that I'm not fond of this slogan. Actually, I despise it. This concept of "thin" as some sort of ideal is one of the reasons I became obese. I trapped myself into thinking that "thin" was the only acceptable result, and that just wasn't in my genetic structure. The inevitable failures led to me not liking me very much. And I'm really quite likable, as it turns out.

If I was forced at fork point to deliver an alternative to "nothing tastes as good as...", I'd find "being healthier feels" or "being in control feels" much more meaningful. But even those don't really work for me, because from my point of view, comparing taste and being is like comparing apples to shoe boxes . They're two separate entities. The only motto that truly makes sense to me is "nothing tastes as good as carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, but if I want to remain healthy, I can only have it every now and then." :)

What would your alternative slogan be? Do you have a motto that makes you back away from the carrot cake?

Moving along, Lincoln University is in the news for requiring that its students either pass a BMI test (30 or lower) or take a class called "Fitness for Life." The weekly 3-hour course has an exercise component and also presents health and fitness information.

Ah, so many issues, so little time. But in a nutshell...

First of all, thumbs up to the university's Powers That Be for caring about the health of their graduates and wanting them to go forth into the world with the knowledge of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. They deserve kudos for attempting to address the issues.

But--and you knew there'd be one--this requirement does raise my Big Girl hackles (yes, I still have those) in that it focuses on weight as opposed to health. We all know BMI and weight are not the be-all/end-all of fitness and just because someone falls into acceptable levels on those tests, that doesn't mean they're healthy. There are many lifestyle choices that affect health, such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, drug abuse, unprotected sex, etc. In my opinion, requiring that ALL physically-able students take and pass the course is a preferable solution.

Finally, big thumbs down to the media for trying to sensationalize the issue through misleading headlines, especially the ever-idiotic Fox News for reporting that "students must pass the BMI test to graduate." (That was the on-screen text I saw as I passed the television. I didn't watch their report.) The actual requirement is that students must score under 30 on the BMI test or complete the fitness class. They do not have to lose a single pound or lower their BMI even one point to graduate. I may not like the requirement, but it should be reported accurately.

Your thoughts?

And that concludes this cantankerous post. :) Hope you all have a magnificent Monday. I'm off to shop for countertops, but I'll be checking in on YOU later today!

WINNERS - DVD & Book Giveaway

Network woes this a.m., but with luck this will get through...

The random number generator has spoken and we have our two winners:

For the Just My Size Yoga DVD*, the winner is Nartzit,

For Megan Garcia's book, MegaYoga*, the winner is Hanlie!

Thank you both for entering, and if you'll email me (cammysaid[at]gmail[dot]com) with your shipping particulars, I'll get your packages out ASAP.

Thanks to all who played!

Pond's Gift Pack Winner

And the winner of the Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes gift pack giveaway is:

Wishing on a Star!!!

Congratulations, you got your wish! :) Just email me (see my sidebar for the address) your shipping info and I'll forward it to the kind folks at Pond's.

Thanks to everyone for playing! Come back next week for TWO chances to win! :)

Fun and Frugality (A Giveaway Post)

(Disclosures: No affiliation$ with any products or vendors linked within this post)

In addition to being on a time budget these days, I'm watching my wallet a little more closely, too. Who isn't? And will you adopt me?

One of the fun ways I've found to save money is entering contests and sweepstakes. I rarely win anything, but I do have fun trying. Here are a couple of contests for your consideration:

We're not traveling far for the first one. It's right here! You may remember a post from last week in which I mentioned trying out the Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes and pointed you to a $1.50 coupon. Well, the Pond's folks thought that was nice and have offered to gift one lucky U.S. or Canadian reader a pretty little gift pack consisting of a Nantucket Cosmetic Bag, water bottle, and a gym towel, as well as a package of Pond’s Towelettes to try. (I confess to being the teensiest, tiniest bit jealous over this giveaway.) Contest details are at the bottom of this post!

MyLifetime let me know that they're giving away Leslie Sansone's "Walk at Home" DVD sets to 20 of their lucky readers. The two-DVD set includes "The Big Burn: 2 Miles of Intervals" and "Walk Your Belly Flat: 3 Mile Walk" and normally retails for $30. All you have to do to enter is follow the "Walk at Home" link above and leave a comment on their post.

Want to hunt down your own contests? Two sites you might want to check out are Prizey (very Mom-centered) and Sweepstakes Advantage.

Another potentially fun path I'm considering in my frugality quest is joining eCoupons.com Grocery Coupon Trading Club. Apparently all you have to do is register, then send in your unused (but not expired) grocery coupons for credits, which you then use to "shop" for coupons you can actually use. I love using coupons, but since I started eating healthier and using fewer commercial cleaning products, there aren't that many coupons that are useful to me. eCoupons has several coupons currently available that would save me $7.00 on products I already use! All for the cost of two stamps and a few minutes clipping coupons to trade in!

Please do jump in to share any fun money-saving sites you're using!

Pond's Gift Pack Giveaway Details:
Just let me know in the comments if you'd like to enter! Contest is open until Thursday (Sept 24, midnight, central U.S.) I'll do the usual name draw for a lucky winner. Unfortunately, this one is limited to U.S. and Canadian residents. (Next week for the wide open giveaway, I promise!)

Does This Dress Make You See Red?

You may have seen the news that some Delta flight attendants are upset over the addition of a new uniform option designed by Richard Tyler. What makes this newsworthy is that the dress is available only to those who wear size 18 or lower--a "small 18", according to the union rep. Some attendants want that changed, arguing that other uniform options are available up to size 28.

My first thought (beyond why would anyone want that dress?) was surprise that some flight attendants would require a dress in plus sizes. When my aunt was a flight attendant (back in the day when they were called 'stewardesses'), there were strict height and weight restrictions and pre-flight weigh-ins with penalties for exceeding the guidelines.

But then I remembered reading reports several years ago that those restrictions had been "relaxed." Since I firmly believe that fitness and capability are not tied to a size, it makes sense to me. I'd much rather have a strong and able size 22 woman taking care of my flight than someone like my aunt, who was sometimes so weak from starving to meet the pre-flight weigh-in that she could barely stand up to deliver the pre-flight instructions.

But back to the dress. This story brought up some strong memories for me, primarily the overwhelming embarrassment at not seeing my size 3XL listed on an order form for a softball jersey or event t-shirts and having to ask whoever was coordinating the order if larger sizes were available.

Or another memorable moment when a co-worker kept insisting--in front of our entire department--that I try on a size medium jacket. I was probably 1x or 2x at the time, and I could look at the jacket and see that it was too small. (Another friend opined that our co-worker probably didn't see me as being obese, which is a good thing, but she should have hushed after my first no.)

The most recent memory occurred a couple of years ago and now that I think about it, it may have been one of the catalysts in my newfound resolve. It's a long story, but the short version is that everyone at the family reunion was taking turns having their pictures made in a specific shirt. (It was a joke for a cousin who couldn't attend.) I knew the shirt wouldn't fit me, and I tried to avoid the photo by being the photographer (raise your hands if you've ever done that!), but a well-intentioned aunt kept prodding me to put on the stupid shirt. After the third time, I told her that it wouldn't fit. She replied, "Well, you can just hold it up in front of you."

Um, no. I didn't care to have the moment memorialized forever in film, that I was too fat to fit.

And that brings me back to the red dress. In my 98% emotionally-tinged opinion, Delta should make the red dress available to all attendants. Even the guys, if they're so inclined. Not doing so sends a message that larger employees "don't fit" and that they're not valued as much as smaller employees. I don't like that.

All that said, I still wouldn't wear that dress.

It is entirely possible that I'm missing something big here (no pun intended), since I am awash in some ugly memories. What do YOU think? Should Delta provide the dress to all employees, regardless of size? Or do you think this is just one of those 'tough luck' situations?

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!

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!

~

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!

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!

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.

~