Breaking News!!

I hope I've caught you before you heard this on CNN or BBC America or...egads, I just heard the president has called a press conference. I hope he's not going to blab. Damn those White House leaks!

Quickly then, here's the scoop: After 500+ posts on blogger, I am moving up (or down, depending on your POV) the blogging food chain to Wordpress. Blogger has changed what and how they support blogs like mine, so I'm taking my toys and going elsewhere. (Caution: If you have google stock, you might want to watch the markets carefully after this news hits the airwaves.)

(Note: If you have google stock, are male, 45-55, and are unmarried, drop me an email.)

Okay, so the move is scheduled for later this week (so much packing and cleaning to do!), and in a perfect world will mean no changes to you whatsoever.  RSS feeds will work, archives will hop where they're supposed to, and so on and so on

Um ,yeah. This is ME we're moving, and my world is blessed but not perfect.  Since the last thing I want to do is lose you , I wanted to offer you an opportunity to sign-up for a courtesy email letting you know when the migration is complete.  If all goes well, you'll already know because your feed or email or click-through worked, but if changes are necessary for updating your feed (and I hope you will!), I can let you know via email.

If you'd like to sign-up for the FREE! post-migration Cammy-gram, you can fill out the form at the bottom of this post, click 'SUBMIT', and we're done!  If you aren't able to use the form below, you can use the form here instead.

Or you can just email me your address using the Contact link in my sidebar. 

Or you can just roll the dice and see if the RSS feed works like we hope!

I'll still be posting here this week, as time allows, and I'll provide updates, if needed.   Meanwhile, I'll be working out, having carpet installed in part of my house, overseeing the outside painting and gutter installation, and hanging out on your blogs.

Oh, and I should probably learn to use Wordpress at some point, shouldn't I? Any resources I should know about? :)



Thanks so much for reading The Tippy Toe Diet!

My (Current) Top 5 Exercises

I change my exercise program fairly regularly. That's partly by design; we're supposed to change things up fairly regularly to keep our bodies guessing and to make sure we're covering all the vital muscles. Changing things up is, for me, also necessary to keep me interested and challenged. And sometimes I have to change an exercise because some jerk fellow fitness friend is camped out with whatever apparatus or weights I need. That's okay, though. Change is good.

Since joining the new gym, I've noticed a few exercises that keep working their way into the line-up. Oddly enough, most are exercises I detested when initially learning them, but now--please don't tell my former trainers--I look forward to them! So much so, that I've now decided my Friday workouts will be made up of all my current favorites, with a few extras as needed to cover all the bases. Who ever thought I'd be using exercise as a reward?!

Wanna see which exercises are on my fave list? Geez, I thought you'd never ask!

BOSU squats w/Medicine Ball I'm using an 8-lb. ball until I have my balance issues tamed. Not to mention that the medicine balls at my gym don't have those cool handles on them and can be hard to hold onto when wearing weight-lifting gloves.

BOSU pushups These are tough for me, but when I remember that I couldn't do any real pushups in the beginning (I did elbow creases and only three of those), I'm inspired to push-push-push!

Swiss ball jackknife I'm embarrassed by how much I used to whine about this exercise, but I'm also happy when I see how much more stable I'm able to keep the ball now. Before, I was all wiggly. :) Even now, I can't hold back those odd little grunts on the third set.

Face pulls with lunges I couldn't find a pictorial demo of this exercise. The link is to a standard face pull. I add a reverse lunge to it, so imagine an older, squish-bellied brunette in a t-shirt stepping back into a lunge with each pull. And again with the grunty noises midway through the final set. When I stop grunting, the weight gets increased. It's the price of success. :)

Bird Dog This is one of my final exercises, and I do it a couple of ways. First, I'll do a couple sets in which I hold the poses for a 2-count, and then I do fewer reps but longer holds on the final set. I've seen this exercise recommended for "6-pack abs", but I like it for how my back feels when I do it.  I've been doing this exercise for over a year and not a 6-pack in sight. For me, it's simply a great way to end my workout with a happy sigh.

Those are my current favorites. For this past Friday's workout, I filled in with some chest presses, lat pull-downs, step-ups w/weights and back extensions. Seems like there's something else, but I'm forgetting it now. The main thing (for now) is that I got all of the favorites in! I'll probably do a few of them throughout the week, but on Fridays, I get to do them all! Woo-hoo!

I know the roster of favorites will change as I discover new exercises or variations on old ones. At some point, I hope they include unassisted chin-ups. Since I'm currently at zero on reps completed, I've got a ways to go. :)

What are your current favorite gym exercises? Do you have any nominees for me to consider adding to my list of favorites?

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! We've had a stormy start to it, but it's all blue skies right now!

For Your Consideration: A Day of Rest

Now that I seem to be past the worst of my allergy/sinus woes, I've got an Energizer Bunny thing going on. And on and on. As with most things, this has both positive and negative effects. Yes, I'm getting things done, but I have to wonder what that costs me sometimes. All that activity is good for my body and my to-do list, but what about my mind and soul? Am I doing enough to ensure that they get the attention they deserve? I'm guessing that 15 minutes a day of doing nothing and a new-to-me annual Lenten observance probably aren't sufficient for maximum mental and emotional health. And since one of the big lessons learned in losing my weight and maintaining the loss was the importance of nurturing body, mind and soul, it's time for some re-thinking.

Enter: The Sabbath Manifesto.Have you heard of this movement? It was created by a group of Jewish artists belonging to a group called "Reboot", which is attempting to adapt Jewish culture and traditions to modern life.The Manifesto itself is a series of 10 principles designed help us "unwind, unplug, relax, reflect, get outdoors, get with loved ones and, if we’re lucky, get some booty, too. The ten principles are to be observed one day per week, from sunset to sunset."

What I like about this project is that it's so all-inclusive. You don't have to be Jewish (or even particularly religious, for that matter) to benefit from a day spent unplugged and focused on self, family, and friends. You can adapt these principles to your current Sabbath day, or if you're not religious, choose any day to practice them.

You can also interpret the principles in ways that have meaning to you. For example, principle #1, Avoid Technology. For some, there are religious or cultural requirements for what technologies they can or can't use, but for many of us, this principle will have different meanings based on our needs and desires. If you want it to mean "avoid technology except to connect with long distance relatives or friends", that's fine. If I want to go completely off the grid, that's fine, too.  (Though not likely to ever happen, to be honest.)

The purpose of a sabbath day (in addition to worship, for some) is to make time for relaxation, reflection, and restoration. By making it a structured part of our week, we ensure that we don't get so caught up in attending to our physical needs and desires--and those of others--that we lose ourselves along the way. If we're going to be truly healthy and fit, we need all three pillars standing tall: body, mind, and soul.

I'll be exploring this project in my tried-and-true tippy-toe way, by tackling a few principles at a time, tweaking them into something that works, and then adding more. I'm looking forward to the experience! Especially that #8 - Eat Bread. :)  (Just kidding. I'm still pondering what that one means to me and how I'll observe it in a meaningful way.)

So, without getting too personal (yeah, why stop now), do you take a full day each week to "unplug"? If you clicked the link to check out the ten principles, do they seem like actions that would add benefit to your life?
Any tips or ideas on how to implement them?

I know, I know: too many questions, not enough time. :)

Wishing you an awesome weekend, and a Very Good Sabbath, if you observe!

Gotta Keep Movin'

It's the time of year in Memphis when you don't dare stand still outdoors, lest you end up covered in that powdery-green finery known as pollen much like this car:

Between the air outside and the remodeling paint fumes, this has been the toughest year ever for me, allergy-wise. I think the worst is behind me, though, and we have a nice little thundershower going on just now, which should help clear the air.


I did manage to quickly get my summer crops planted: 2 tomatoes, a cucumber, and a bell pepper. As a fledgling gardener with limited prepared space, I thought it prudent to start small. (That tippy toe thing, again.) I also bought a new rose bush: Zepherine Drouhin, an old bourbon rose from the late 1800s.

Mine doesn't look quite like this, and most likely won't this year, but maybe next year or the one after. :)

Beyond that, I finished painting two rooms, completed the first-of-the-year lawn mowing, and napped a lot. You wouldn't think sniffling would tire a girl out so much, but I've been pretty zonked. Still, I've managed to burn 500-600 extra calories per day and that's what I needed. (Say, I wonder if sneezing burns extra cals?)

Anyway, I'm waaaay behind on reading blogs, having just managed a few each day this week, but I'm hopeful I can be back on track by the end of the week. *fingers crossed for return to routine!*

I hope Spring is being kind to you ( if you're under allergy attack, know that my sympathies are with you!), and that you're getting to enjoy some warmer (cleaner) air.  Are you planning a garden? Looking forward to the farmer's market? Practicing safe tanning? How are you celebrating Spring (or Autumn for folks south)?

A Life Worth Breathing (Book Rec)

Happy Easter to those who observe and celebrate it!

I'm making a guest appearance on AFG today (as opposed to just loitering there like I usually do), but I wanted to take a moment to share a delightful new find with you.

I had the great good fortune recently to be asked to read and review Max Strom's new book, A Life Worth Breathing: A Yoga Master's Handbook of Strength, Grace, and Healing, which has just been released.

The ultimate goal of this book, in the author's words, is "to live a life you have always known you could live, a life with meaning, a life full of love, a life worth breathing."  *contented sigh* Doesn't that just sound heavenly?

Using a nicely-woven series of stories and exercises (some physical, some not), Max Strom guides the reader through explorations of the what he calls the Three Pillars of Transformation: the body, the mind, and the soul. An accomplished yoga master, Strom cautions that physical movement alone is not enough to live a life of  authenticity, we must heal our internal selves as well. And we begin that by focusing on the breath and what it tells us about ourselves and what it can do to help us heal.

If you're looking for change, for better health, stillness, and/or contentment, you might just find some answers in this book. I suspect I'll be finding answers to it for years to come. It's that kind of book.

I could go on for hours (and already have to a couple of folks) about this book, but in a weirdly ironic twist, I have a massive head cold/allergy thing going on and my head feels like an overstuffed watermelon. Must get it cleared so that I can get back to proper breathing and life transforming.

Help for the Fashionably Clueless?

Adopting a healthier (mostly) lifestyle helped me lose weight, and as a result, I've seen big benefits:

• Lower blood pressure
• Stronger muscles
• Greater self-confidence
• More energy for things I want to do

Surprisingly (or not), I didn't see any real progress in these areas:

• Meeting and, absent any silly pre-nup, marrying George Clooney
• Developing any sense of fashion or style

The former was slightly outside my control (although I did drive all the way to Los Angeles last year), so I'm not surprised it hasn't worked out well. Nor especially disappointed. He's already been cheating on me with some Italian woman, so it's not likely our relationship would have lasted anyway.

I was, however, bewildered by the lack of improvement in fashionistic intelligence. During my 20+ years of plus-size shopping, I was convinced that if I could somehow lose my excess weight, cute outfits would magically appear to me, everything would fit properly, and I would be even more adorable.

Needless to say, that didn't happen. Oh, I'm still adorable, but it's mostly on the inside. And I'm okay with that (thrilled, even.) So what if my wardrobe consists mostly of jeans, t-shirts, and workout wear? Who cares if I have four pairs of running shoes and five pairs of flip-flops in my closet, but not one single pair of spiky heels? Not me!

Well, not much. Every now and then, I wish I could match up my adorable inside with my Über-casual exterior, so when I saw this book at the library, I grabbed it like the proverbial drowning woman grabs at a straw.

The rose should have been a clue. I didn't notice it when I picked up the book, and I don't like the message (real or imagined) that it sends. No WAY do I want to look that thin!

But since I 'd already checked out the book, I decided to flip through it for some helpful tips. Surely, out of 330 tips, I'd find something useful!

Results were mixed, but entertaining. For a few minutes, anyway.





Potentially useful tips:
#38: "Never repeat a shape you want to disguise. If your face is round, avoid a round hat. If your face is large and square, avoid a large, square collar or pin."
This is also true of eyeglass frames, and possibly more useful since I don't wear hats (other than baseball-style caps) or large pins of any sort.

#73: "The V-neck pullover sweater can look great on every figure type! Wear it long, of course, but not wide or sloppy."
They had me until that 'sloppy' part. Plus, this tip doesn't do me much good with a) Spring, and b) stores that carry a full line of scoop- or boatneck style sweaters, but I'll keep it in mind for next year.

#131: "If you are tugging and pulling at clothes--they don't fit! You shouldn't even be aware that an article of clothing is on your body."
I'm guilty of excessive clothes-tugging. Sometimes I'm just hell-bent on wearing something, even when it doesn't fit well.

#155: "Do not always wear drab colors. You may look a bit thinner, but you'll feel drab as well."
As someone who owned almost 40 pairs of black pants at one time, I can attest to some truth in this tip.

Dubious tips:
#20: "A large, bulky label can create an unwelcome bulge behind the neckline."
Maybe it's just me, but of all the bulges I'm concerned about camoflauging, the back of the neck really isn't a priority.

#27: "Stirrup pants are a great addition to your wardrobe."

That one had me flipping back to the copyright page. Nope, it was published in 2002. Didn't stirrup pants go out in the 80s? Never mind that I wore them well into the 90s, I just thought we were done with them. (Juicy Couture says no.)

#35: "Know the widest part of your body and don't wear tops that end there."
Not a problem. My shoulders are the widest part of my body.

#42: "Fabrics such as velvet, velour and corduroy actually reflect light--and are therefore not recommended."
So if you've been wearing your velour running suit over your stirrup pants, you can't say you haven't been warned.

#3:  "Clothes should fit loose and easy at your trouble spots. Do not wear clothes that are too tight!"
#71: "[The] Lycra/stretch Coolmax fabric will stretch practically forever without losing its shape."

It's a self-published book. I'm sure a professional editor would have noticed the contradiction. An amateur bulgy person (even yours truly) knows that one should not be stretching one's clothes "practically forever" if one expects to look good.

Confusing tips:
#50: "Wear coats a bit on the long side. This is important."
They don't say why, and I'm afraid I'm going to inadvertently unleash Armageddon by wearing my hip-length coat.


Unfortunately, I can't share any tips beyond #176: A brightly colored purse or leather bag can be fun and take attention away from a heavy figure."
This is when I threw the book across the room. (Note to librarian: It wasn't damaged.) I may not know fashion, but I do know that my ginormous handbags never, ever hid the fact that I was 100 pounds overweight.

I'm sure the authors of the book meant well, but their best advice was contained in a single tip: #28: "A smile is the fastest, most efficient, most inexpensive way to improve your appearance.
I do this one a lot, and I do look better. Feel better too! (Oddly enough, the people around me seem to feel better as well, making this one a definite fashion-forward tip!)


Those times when I'm able to put together a marginally stylish outfits are nice, but I've come to realize that I'm much happier in my jeans and t-shirts than I am worrying about finding the latest trendy clothes in a size/style/color that flatter me.  I'm looking at it as acceptance, rather than surrender. What's most important to me is that I feel comfortable and confident and healthy.

Besides, I'm still adorable, no matter what I'm wearing. (Tip not in the book: So are you!)

But only if a smile is the brightest accessory!

Mea Culpa: Re-Evaluating The Diet Cycle

I owe Larkspur a kidney. Or maybe just a chocolate Easter bunny. Something, anyway. In her post yesterday, she discussed an article I linked to last week, an article I apparently read after a hit on the crack pipe.

The article in question is the one on Diet Cycling. When I read it, I thought the author's focus was on eliminating severe restrictions in our diets, to instead move toward replacing unhealthy foods with healthy ones. Since that's what I've been doing (and continue to do) and it worked so well for me, I agreed heartily. My yo-yo years of "dieting" were caused, in part, by eliminating everything I liked and trying to force myself to eat foods I didn't like. Overwhelmed with the stress of denial, I'd eventually fall off the wagon. And that's what I thought the article was saying.

After reading Larkspur's post and re-visiting the article, I see that I missed a primary point with which I emphatically disagree:

"If you’ve ever been on a diet where you restrict your food intake and avoid specific foods, but allow “cheat days” to release the restrictions, that process can be very dangerous."

Yeah, well, crossing the street can also be dangerous, but most of us manage to do it frequently and with great success. Or maybe we're just lucky. Whatever. The point is that many people (specifically, Yours Truly) manage to have splurge meals and lose weight AND keep it off (though, not without the occasional Squish Belly.)

I apologize (profusely!) for not reading the article more closely and processing more completely the fact that it was, at least partially, in direct contradiction to the "tippy toe approach" I advocate so strongly. Those of you who've been hanging out here awhile know I love my splurges and have them regularly. Between my SMART splurging and my beloved Cake Day, I'm able to have fond favorites often enough to keep me happy, but not so much that I gain weight. It's worked for me so far, and I'd hope it would work for you, if for no other reason than I hate to think of you living without {insert your pleasure here} forever!

And that brings me to the point of the lovely Larkspur's post, which is that we're all different people and what works for one will not necessarily be the best solution for someone else. When we find something that works for us individually, we should embrace it for all its worth, regardless of articles like this that would seem to imply we're doing it wrong. (Don't I wish I had a dollar for every time someone told me I couldn't lose weight eating carbs!)

One of the things I love most about participating in our awesome online fitness world is the giving and receiving of ideas and suggestions. I do both freely and gladly, but always from the perspective of what works for me now and what's likely (or not) to work for me in the future. (Sorry, vegan pals!) Should I ever suggest something to you, please know that it is merely for your consideration and not meant to imply that you're doing it wrong.

As for the advice you give me, I always take it in the same vein. If you do indeed think I'm doing it wrong, you're going to need to say so outright. I don't read between the lines so well. As is abundantly clear in the fact that I recommended a habit that I don't follow myself. Again, my apologies for that little mishap!

I'm off to pay penance by forcing myself to lie upon my bed with my eyes closed for a half hour. It's tough, but that's life in my own personal Blue Zone.

Re-entering the Work(out)force

Completed my second workout at the new gym today to great success. *pats self on back* Within five minutes of arriving, I was approached by a chatty helpful gentleman member, who offered to answer any questions I might have. He apparently is the resident cheerleader, as I saw him speaking to pretty much everyone there at some point. That's a nice departure from the old gym, where I felt like the lonely little gym bunny.

I'm somewhat surprised that I'm able to use the same weights that I used when I last worked out at the gym. Apparently, my random at-home workouts and functional exercise served me well. (That's nice to know for those times when my to-do list trumps the gym.) I haven't pushed too hard so far, limiting my strength training to 30 minutes. If I don't notice any significant aftereffect tomorrow, I'll add the other 15 minutes in and be back to where I was. Yaaay!

One thing I did let slide a little too much this week was the post-workout stretching. Lesson learned. I'm okay with muscles that protest a little the day after a workout, but they shouldn't actually hurt. Not if I'm using proper form and stretching adequately.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a gorgeous day, and I'll do either a long walk or a bike ride. Or maybe both. :)

But that's tomorrow. Right now, it's time for dinner (tuna salad and tomatoes and celery and salsa--oh my!, followed by a yogurt/chocolate granola sundae)! But before I go, let me declutter the starred items of interest from my reader:

How to Get Back into Your Routine after a Break, from DLM. While I didn't take a full break from exercise, I did break the routine I'd used for a year-and-a-half. This pretty much summarizes my approach to re-establishing my schedule.

A brilliant rant on plus-sized shopping at Wisebread this week. I'm keeping it starred as a reminder that I do not EVER want to deal with plus-size shopping again!

Rebecca Critchfield explained why Diet Cycling Leads to Overeating, Anxiety and Withdrawal and got a big Amen! from me. Seriously, it took me my whole adult life to figure this out. Where was Rebecca 20 years ago? She could've saved me a lot of turmoil.  :)

You know what? It's Spring! (Or Autumn!, depending on your hemisphere) and you should be outdoors, not indoors reading blog articles. No matter how good said articles might be. So be gone! Get out and move, or just soak up some Vitamin D and be still. Whatevery you need.

Happy Weekend!

Movin' On Up

I am pleased to announce that I have a New Gym.

First, a quick update: I did receive a courteous and professional response to my note to The Power That Be at my old gym, ATC Fitness. He explained that all existing or former members are required to pay the sign-up fees as their previous contracts expire. It's not a penalty so much as a new way of billing that results in a lower monthly fee. And it does. The $15 monthly fee is about half what I paid under my previous enrollment. That's a little more palatable than the shoulder-shrug response I got from the desk clerk last week.

But I had already started touring other gyms, and I was curious about what else was available. So I kept looking. You'll remember that my only parameter was that my eventual choice be within easy walking/biking distance from my house. What a surprise to find so many candidates:

Physiology Associates
The Jewish Community Center's Wellness Center
Curves for Women
YMCA
24-Hour Fitness
Germantown Athletic Club

My primary focus for now is strength training and cardio workouts, but I do like to shake things up now and then. ATC has the standard cardio stuff (upright bikes, recumbents, treadmills, ellipticals, and stair climbers), circuit machines, and free weights. Oh, and they have a stability ball, a few mats, and some resistance cords. In other words, the essentials. (Excluding the tanning beds, which I think are ridiculous for a business that's supposed to be focused on health.) Still, I accomplished a lot while I was there, so no regrets!

Almost all of the other gyms I toured had the standard equipment and more: BOSU balls, multiple stability balls, medicine balls, cardio steps, workout mats, rowing machines, cross-ramps, and so on and so on. Most also had pools and group classes.

In the end, I decided to go with 24-Hour Fitness. I had the opportunity to work out there on Wednesday, and I felt completely comfortable. I was impressed not only with the staff, but with the friendly customers as well. It seems to be a fairly diverse clientele, with respect to age, gender, size, fitness level, etc., which I find appealing.

I was able to take advantage of a $0 initiation fee program and a discount for paying for a year up front. When all of that's netted together, I'll end up paying about $8/month more (about the cost of one lunch out) than I would've paid at ATC, but I'll have access to many more workout options and more locations when I travel. Oh, and I get 3 free sessions with a trainer! Woo-hoo! Plus, if/when I'm ready, I can take spinning and yoga classes without going elsewhere and paying extra!

I'm not even thinking about the p-o-o-l yet. :)

I'm so excited! This is definitely feeling like a lemons-to-lemonade situation, and while I still have the 'squish belly', I do NOT have the blues. I thoroughly enjoyed my workout yesterday (Yaay BOSU ball squats!), and I'm looking forward to working out again on Friday. Thanks to the BOSU reunion and a 10-mile bike ride today, my legs say tomorrow is a rest day. :)

Oh, and speaking of my bike ride, I passed a trail area called Turtle Bayou today and caught a glimpse of the Turtle Bayou Mass Transit System in action:



If you look in the upper left section of the photo, you can see the log stop where more passengers are waiting. :) (larger photo)

I love Spring!

Gym Evaluations are Underway!

In my last post, in addition to entertaining you with some of the finest blues music in recent history, I also did some crying over my encounter with the desk clerk at my gym. Once I got that out of my system (and aren't you all sweethearts for listening?), I set off to see what other options were available within easy walking/biking distance from my house, which would be about 2 miles. I was surprised with just how many options I found:

Physiology Associates
The Jewish Community Center's Wellness Center
YMCA
24-Hour Fitness

While these all cost 2-3 times as much as my gym, they also all offer lots more, including swimming pools. I've toured all except 24-hour Fitness, which I'll be visiting via a 7-Day Pass next week, and I've been impressed with the friendliness of the staff at each facility. They actually come out from behind their desks and mingle!

Another option I checked into, just because it was located near one of the other gyms, was Curves for Women. To be honest, I'd never considered Curves before, and I'm not sure why. I dropped in at my neighborhood Curves, and I have to tell you, I was impressed! As the name implies, it's a workout option designed for women. It's all based on hydraulic resistance equipment and cardio (not regular old gym equipment), and you follow musical/voice prompts to change machines. The standard workout is scheduled to last 30 minutes (but you can go longer if you wish), which includes time at an amazing stretching apparatus. Seriously, if I hadn't given them my real name wasn't such a moral and law-abiding citizen, I'd be backing up my Dad's truck to their door some night.

There was a feeling of camaraderie and "belonging" at this Curves location that I haven't experienced at any other gym I've worked out in. Granted, part of their job is to sell a membership to me, but it really came across more as, "Come play with us!" I like that! Staff members are available to help (and push you!), which almost felt like having a personal trainer.

The cost of a membership, which permits unlimited visits, is $100 sign-up and $34/month. For the month of March, though, they're waiving the sign-up fee in exchange for a bag of healthy groceries to be donated to a women's shelter! (This is apparently a program going on at all Curves, not just my local facility.) There are now Curves franchises all over the world, and you get guest privileges at all of them, plus they have some online activities and support as well.

By now you're probably thinking I'm being paid by the Curves people, but I'm not, I promise. Simply put, I was impressed with the place and honestly do think that it just might be a good resource if you have avoided working out at a gym because you felt intimidated or self-conscious. As for me, as much as I'd love to hang out with them and be part of what looks like a fun and supportive group, I think I'm at a point where variety in my workout is important. Besides, I have you guys for fun and support. :)

I'll make a decision next week and have an update from my gym. Until then, I'm going to have fun exploring and perhaps even widen my search to the five mile range just to see what else is out there!

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

The Squish Belly Blues

*cue harmonica*

Woke up this morning, my to-do list a mile long
That’s okay, ‘cause I was feeling good and strong
Started putting stuff back where it belong

*harmonica*

Passed the mirror and caught a frightful sight
Inhaled real deep, pulled my core in tight
And wondered how this happened overnight

*harmonica*

That’s right, that’s right: I got me the Squish Belly Blues
How to fix it, I got some clues
But my *#%@ gym raised my dues... .


Okay, so Memphis may be the Home of the Blues, but chances are this little ditty will never be housed there. :)

While I don't think the cold days of winter resulted in any significant weight gain (clothes still fit), I did notice this morning that my abdomen is definitely feeling...well, squishy. I lost 100 pounds near the age of 50, so my abs were never of the "rock hard" variety. Even so, they looked better two months ago than they do now.

Okay, I thought, time to quit fooling around at home and get back to the gym for full workouts. No problem! I've been looking forward to getting back into the swing of regular strength training, and eradicating The Squish is a good challenge!

Imagine my dismay when I arrived at the gym and found that my key card didn't work.

My membership expired last month, and they won't extend my membership. The desk person said I have to enroll as a new member and pay a new member fee of almost $100.

(Don't worry, my neighbor just came over and confiscated my harmonica.)

This is a Sad Day, indeed. I signed up for that gym before it even opened, paying for two years in advance. I had only lost 20 pounds at that point, and I was feeling super motivated. This is the gym where I bawled like a baby when I realized I was actually going to achieve my goal. The gym where I bravely ventured into Manville for the first time ever. My gym. *sniff*

I've written to the Powers That Be to try to have that enrollment fee waived. Considering how many people I've referred to them, that I've already been a member for two years, and that I'm willing to spring for another 2 years up front, I'm hopeful they'll see the value in waiving the fee. (I might have also mentioned in my note that I'm a blogger .*g*) Keep your fingers crossed. If this doesn't work, look for a Waive Cammy's Fee page on Facebook.

I'll be using my non-gym time to check out other options in the area. One of the things I like most about my gym is that it's open 24/7. It doesn't offer much besides workout equipment, showers, and an old scale (along with tanning beds that I could care less about), but it's cheap, relatively clean, and less than a mile from my house. Other gyms in my neighborhood are closed at least one day per week and cost more. Oh well, it doesn't cost anything to look.

Meanwhile, I'll keep exercising at home.

And playing my harmonica.

~~

What do you like/not like about your gym? What do you look for in a gym? (I just want the free weights and cable machines.)

Some Friday Topic Hoppin'

Greetings from the tiredest person you know. This home remodeling biz will definitely take the wind out of your sails. Having paid someone to paint both bathrooms, with less than remarkable results, I've decided to tackle the next paint project myself. They're two itsy bitsy rooms (guest/exercise room and home office)--what could go wrong? Next week should be fun. :)

In some good-Cammy news, I received the lab results from my recent doctor visit! I'm sharing them here as a measure of my success:

Results	Factor	Goal
168	Total Cholesterol	Less than 200 mg/dL
101	LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol	LDL cholesterol goals vary.
		Less than 100 is Optimal
		100 to 129 is Near Optimal/Above Optimal
		130 to 159 is Borderline High
		160 to 189 is High
		190 is Very High
55	HDL (“Good”) Cholesterol	50 or higher
58	Triglycerides	150
120/80	Blood Pressure	120/80
76	Fasting Glucose	100

I am quite pleased, especially with that "good" cholesterol number. It was 30 last year.

I am also pleased with my snazzy table and sincerely hope it displays properly in your browser. I used a nifty little online app called Tableizer, which requires only that you copy/paste your spreadsheet contents into a little box. Then, presto! They generate the code. FOR FREE! Next, I'll learn how to align it properly. :)

Oh, and in the event you're like me and didn't understand why total cholesterol didn't equal HDL + LDL, you have to add in 1/5 of the total triglycerides. I've checked this off my to-do of "learn something new every day."

Okay, on to starred links from my reader:

From Lifescript Health Bistro: Women: Critical Tips to Recognize a Heart Attack or Stroke

From MakeUseOf: A review of a new app - BetterMe: Self-Improvement with Anonymous Feedback

From Healthy Theory, a post on one of my favorite topics: Napping Does a Body (and Mind) Good

And with that, I'm ready for the weekend. Nothing going on here but work, work, work. Unfortunately, the two rooms I've decided to paint contain all my computers and related peripherals, books, office supplies, files, and exercise equipment. And that all has to be relocated somewhere else in this house.

So unless you can give me a good reason why not, I'll expect you all here tomorrow a.m. at 10:00. How 'bout it? What have you got going on this weekend that's somehow more important than helping me move heavy crap a few things from room to room?

Whatever it is, I hope you enjoy it! :)

By Request: Doing Nothing, Almost Explained

After my post yesterday, several of you asked about the concept of "doing nothing." (If you missed it, I first mentioned it in my quasi-book review of Martha Beck's The Joy Diet last week.) What follows is my interpretation of Martha Beck's suggestion to "Do nothing for 15 minutes every day."

I once read a quote attributed to Dr. Stephen Covey that went something like, "A ladder leaning against the wrong wall will only get us to the wrong place faster." We get so caught up in doing every day that we sometimes lose sight of what's truly important to us. The purpose of the daily exercise of doing nothing is to filter through our thoughts and feelings, to tap into the core of who we are what matters most to us.

The only hard-and-fast rule for doing nothing is that you have to remove yourself from the distractions of your life. It may mean that, for fifteen minutes, you have to leave your house, or lock your bedroom door, or sit in your car in the parking lot at work. Let anyone and everyone know that you are off limits and assure them that they will possibly survive it. Then walk away.

The next step is to find inner stillness. Martha Beck suggests either stilling our bodies, or if that feels too restrictive, then to engage in some sort of repetitive motion (walking, jogging, etc.) that requires no conscious thought. [Note: The motion thing doesn't always work so well for me, as I'm sure the startled driver I stepped in front of will agree. It does work well on the treadmill or the elliptical, though. And also while washing dishes, oddly enough.]

As we enter this zone of inner stillness, we should begin to observe the thoughts flitting through our minds, almost like watching them on television. Or, if you have a big life, perhaps a movie theater screen. Ms. Beck suggests visualizing these thoughts on a ticker tape or waterfall or some other moving instrument. {My thoughts ride past on bicycles. :)) Let them go by without judgment, assigning a name or short phrase to each as it passes through.

And that's the point of it all: we're letting these thoughts pass through. We acknowledge the emotion or feeling they create, but we don't let them take root or even find a resting place. Not for these fifteen minutes.

The final component of the exercise is to find our "happy place," a memory of a time when we felt at peace. (If you don't have one, make one up for yourself.) Recalling these times during our observations is relaxing and reminds us that even during times of stress or turmoil, the good things in the Universe are still with us.

It took me a few days to get into the flow of it and to understand the intent behind each of the actions and how they work as a whole together. At first, my thoughts went along these lines:
-I'm tired.
-No, you're lazy.
-Now, I'm being judgmental.
-I'm doing this wrong.
-Oh look! That woman should NOT be wearing that shirt with those pants.

After a few days, it became the intended stream of consciousness stuff:
-Not having a job scares me.{fear}
-The sun feels warm. {gratitude}
-I wonder why I'm so sleepy.{curiosity}
...and so on.

I became more aware of patterns, which is how I figured out I was feeling more anxiety than normal last week. When fear, worry, and nervous appeared multiple times in one day, I kind of took that as a clue. I'm quick that way. :)

I'm sure I've muddled this layman's explanation of doing nothing, and I may not interpret it as Martha Beck intended. You're probably better off reading the book and figuring out a way that works for you. That said, I'll be happy to return to the comments and mop up any muddy water. :)

Chime in with whatever you're thinking, or be on your happy, contemplative way! :)
Hope you're all having a wonderful week!

My First Lent, My Way

As an unaffiliated (or non-denominational, if you wish) Christian, I've never observed Lent. Many of my friends do, however, and in past years, I've simply nodded to show my attentiveness as they described what they intended to abstain from during the countdown to Easter. Chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, bread, and other such foods were the usual victims, but sometimes activities or perceived bad habits made the hit list: the snooze alarm, unnecessary spending, smoking, watching television, etc. All very interesting, but never enough to lure me into the observance of it.

Easter, on the other hand, has always been one of my favorite holidays. There are spiritual reasons, which I won't go into, but there are also mental and physical components to this holiday for me, probably because it's so handily observed in Spring, when my mind and body are beyond ready to be rid of the winter doldrums. Whatever the reason, I always feel more energized and alive around this time of year.

If you've read here for any length of time, you know that I like to shake things up now and then, to toss something new into the mix. Some things "take", some things don't. The joy is in the trying. And that's why I've decided to observe Lent this year, for the first time in my life.

As I understand it there are three general areas of focus in Lent: prayer, sacrifice, and charity/almsgiving. I've got the prayer/meditation thing covered, which leaves abstinence and charity.

You're probably on the edge of your seats now, wondering just what I plan to give up, aren't you? Well, if you guessed anything food-related, guess again! :) Now that I've cleaned up my daily diet, there's not much to sacrifice without giving up a nutritional component. Not a road I care to travel.

No, I've decided to go another route. When I think about some of my daily practices and habits, along with the ways I want to grow, I've chosen three Lenten-ish sacrifices (I chose three because it's such a big deal number in Christianity):

1) Reading fiction - I don't consider any reading to be time wasted, but I've been spending an inordinate amount of time with my nose buried in a cozy mystery or silly romance novel. I have a shelf full of unread non-fiction books, all obtained with the purpose of enriching my mind and/or spirit. For the next six weeks or so, I'll direct all of reading time to these books and the stack of unread magazines that have accumulated since the beginning of the year. In addition to a recharged inner self, I'll also accomplish a bit of decluttering. A two-fer sacrifice, if you will.

2) Free Cell - I have a healthy practice of using a few minutes of Free Cell play as a reward for getting some task accomplished. Finished my workout? Cool down with a few games of Free Cell. Complete a somewhat difficult item on my to-do list? Two games! Or I'll use it as a distraction from nighttime snacking urges. No problem there, and much healthier than large amounts of popcorn or chocolate. Lately, though, I've noticed that I'll head over to Free Cell when I want to avoid doing something difficult. I recognize it now as a form of fear, a way of hiding from risk, and it's NOT healthy. Taking away Free Cell as an option will give me more time to spend on more enriching pursuits. More on that in a minute.

3) 40 Personal Items & 40 Books - I've been blessed to live a life of abundance, and I'm grateful for that. I'm also embarrassed about the amount of stuff I have. While I've been made progress in ridding myself of some of it, I still have things I don't use, need, or love. In addition, my bookshelves are spilling over again, and many of those books will never be opened again. I've set up two boxes in my office and for the next six(ish) weeks, I'll be filling them with 40 unused items from my house and 40 books from my shelves. The purpose of this sacrifice is two-fold: to rid myself of unnecessary clutter and to put some useful-to-someone-else items back into circulation via a charitable donation.

Speaking of charity, for that component of Lent, I'll be attending a weekly series of Lenten lectures at a nearby church. They caught my attention with this title: Just Eating: Practicing Our Faith at the Table. Some of the topics look very interesting:
A Call to Action - changing our lives with faith in action steps, making our eating just, our bodies healthy & energizing our spirits to serve others.
On Nutrition - food as fuel, how our choices make a huge difference in our energy & our health as we make caring for our body a priority.
Food & Community - creating community with food, the importance of gathering at table and the power it has to nourish our bodies and souls.
Food & Environment - food and our environment, awareness of local cuisine and how to build ties between farmers, food artisans and community.
Food & Hunger - the problem of hunger in the Mid-South. Needs in our community can inform our actions & inspire us to examine our lifestyle.

I expect this series to be personally enriching and also to educate me on how I might better serve my community.

(Any Memphis people plan to attend? Give me a shout! The church is on Quince, just West of Kirby Parkway. There's a Starbucks around the corner that would be perfect for a meet-up! No pastries allowed. Not where I can reach them, anyway. :))

So this is my version of Lent. I'm sure to be breaking some sort of rules, but I don't particularly care. I'll be pushing aside some things (panicky note to self: fiction=temporary) to allow time and space for building a better me, both on the inside and on the outside, to the community at large. That seems to be the purpose of Lent, within my limited understanding of it. And who knows? If it works well, I may create a Supplemental Lent to follow it. :)

Feel free to chime in with your own Lenten intentions. Or not. I know it's a highly personal thing. :)

Whatever your beliefs, I wish you peace...

Blogging with My Heart

I’m asking a special favor of you today. It will only take a minute. Literally.

For just one minute, I’d like you to sit back, close your eyes, and think about all of the influential women in your life, past and present, those who have loved you, taken care of you, taught you, supported you, and inspired you throughout your life. Let your mind's eye see their images: the wisdom and compassion in their expressions, the laugh lines around their eyes, the joyful glow that lights from within. Think about the powerful effect these women had on your life and what your life might have been like without their positive influence. (Guys? You are not exempt. Get to it!)

One minute. Sixty little seconds. Go on, I’ll wait…

…If you’re like me, that minute of reflection overflowed with influential women: mothers and grandmothers, sisters, daughters, beloved aunts, teachers, doctors, friends, co-workers, mentors, and maybe even women we don’t know, like athletes and actresses, writers and musicians.  Bloggers even!   (And yes, I do mean YOU!)  We are all richly blessed by the positive influence of women.

The reason I asked you to join me in this one-minute exercise was not only to honor these amazing women, but to also point out something you may not know: In that single minute of reflection, a woman in the U.S. died from cardiovascular disease. A woman who, no doubt, would be counted as someone else's life-changer.. Mother, sister, mentor, friend--she made a difference in someone's life. And now she's gone, one of the 450,000 women--about one every minute--who die each year from heart disease.It's a sobering statistic, to say the least.

This statistical woman now joins the influential women in my life, and they're ALL why I'm joining the American Heart Association and fitlosophy, inc. in encouraging you to...

Go Red and Go Red For Women are trademarks of AHA. The Red Dress Design is a trademark of U.S. DHHS.

When you consider the following stats from the Go Red for Women organization, it only makes sense:

• As mentioned earlier, cardiovascular disease kills approximately 450,000 women each year, about one every minute.
• While 1 in 30 American women die of breast cancer, about 1 in 3 die from cardiovascular disease.
• More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.
• Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
• Only 1 in 5 women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat.
• Heart disease is largely preventable. In fact, 80 percent of cardiac events in women may be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking.

What do you get out of it?

• Research shows that women who “Go Red” are more likely to make healthy choices.
  
• More than one-third have lost weight.
• Nearly 55 percent have increased their exercise.
• Six out of ten have changed their diets.
• More than 40 percent have checked their cholesterol levels.
• One third have talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans. 

Almost anyone who's reading here is in search of a healthier life. We're making wiser food choices, we're exercising, and we're learning to take better care of ourselves every day. So why not add a little spark to that fire and take yet another minute to explore the Go Red site and check out the available information and programs?

And then share it with every woman you know. YOU can be the difference in someone else's life!

I'd be honored if you wanted to give a shout-out to any of the influential women in your life--either here, or on your blogs. And maybe give a nudge to your readers to check out the Go Red for Women campaign for themselves.

We CAN make a difference!

Personal note: This post is dedicated to my friend, Kathleen, who died last year of complications of diabetes and heart disease, at the too-young age of 59.

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!

~~~

Happy Healthy Hearts

February is American Heart Month and National Heart Month in the U.K. and Canada. It's a great time to learn about or recommit yourself to heart healthy strategies. I blogged about Heart Month on this date last year. Check it out to learn more about heart disease, especially as it affects women. (Note: As far as I can tell, the HEART for Women Act is still stuck in some Senate committee and has not been passed.

Friday, February 5, is National Wear Red Day (February 11th in Australia. Show your support for women's heart health--Go Red! Get your co-workers to do the same. My office did it last year, and it was soooo energizing to see how many people--women and men--showed their support. You can see me in my red finery by clicking here.

In New Zealand Annual Appeal Week will be held February 8-14th. I'm not sure exactly what that is, but it sounds like a fund-raiser to me. So if you're in NZ, give early and/or often! :)

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

In other news, my heart is very happy today! Lots of reasons, but not the least of which can be found at #11 on my List of 10 Things That Make Me Happy. If you recall from the aforelinked post, I had entered Chocolate-Covered Katie's Vitamix Giveaway and in a burst of positivity (and general silliness), added it to the list of happy-inducers at the last minute. Well, guess what?

I won!

Yeps, out of the gazillion people who entered, my name was chosen. (Bless you, Katie! and thanks to all of you who cheered!) After years of pining, I will soon be the proud owner of a Vitamix 5200.

And with fresh strawberry season just around the corner...

Be still, my heart.

Wait! I don't mean that literally. My heart should keep on pumping like it's supposed to, only happier and healthier. :)

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Wishing you all. a heart-healthy and heart-happy February!

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!

Nutritional Self-Check: Two Years Later

I was searching for something in my posting history the other day, and I stumbled across this old post, which was a nutritional self-check based on an article I'd read. I thought it might be helpful to share the message again and fun to see how (if!) I've improved in two years.

What I liked about the original article was that it suggested a series of small and reasonable changes that could be implemented and/or improved upon over time. At the time I read it, I had been "transitioning" over a period of seven or eight months, and it fit right with my Tippy Toe sensibilities.

Suggestions from the article are shown below in bold italic, with my 2008 responses shown in italic.

Don't skip meals; plan for three meals each day.
- Like that's a problem for me. :) I absolutely certify that I am having three meals each day. I excel at it even. Grade A+
-2010 Update: Eating enough is still not a problem for me. Imagine that. :) I have 3-5 meals and snacks every day. Grade A++

Start reading food labels so you'll become more aware of what you're putting into your body.
- I'm better at reading labels, but I still don't have all of the bad stuff memorized. Grade B-
2010 Update: The amount of time I spend in the grocery store has doubled, especially when I have to buy anything from an aisle. As we all know, that's where the processed stuff is, which requires a "flip the box" approach to shopping. You'd think I was on an archeological dig, given the amount of time I spend scrutinizing labels.  Grade: A+  (Btw, if you have no idea how to read a food label, here's a good primer with which to start. We'll get to ingredients another day.*G*)

Plan for healthier snack choices at work.
- I take fruit to work every day, and a protein snack bar if I have a workout scheduled, but on the odd day I'm caught without, I'm blessed to have a company cafeteria with lots of fresh fruit, yogurt, and other healthy options. Grade A+
2010 Update - Well, there is no workplace now. Fortunately, my kitchen--much like my former workplace--is filled with fresh fruit, yogurt, and other healthy options.

Between lunch and dinner each day, aim for five servings of fruits and vegetables.
- Hmm, I'm not sure what this means. Between those two meals and snacks, I probably get about four servings of fruits and veggies. I also have fruit in the morning, and sometimes as an after dinner snack. I've also been known to snack on carrot sticks in the evening. So I'll give myself a B+. After all, they are healthy snacks no matter when I have them.
2010 Update: Still eating my fruits and veggies. I didn't do as well during the holidays as I would've liked, managing only 3-5 servings on a few days. I'm back on track completely now, and I'll give myself an A+ for overall practice. :)

Stop adding salt to foods.
- Er. Better than I was, not where I should be. Grade C.
- 2010 Update: Much, much, much better. I do sometimes add salt to certain foods, but rarely and sparingly. I'll give myself a B+.

Eat nothing after 8 p.m.
- Er again. Grade D. (So sue me, I get hungry at night. Again, I stick with the healthy stuff.)
- 2010 Update: I'm not convinced eating after 8 p.m. is a problem. What I eat after 8 p.m. is what counts, IMO. Christmas cookies in great numbers? Not good. A serving of yogurt or cheese? Not a problem in my book. But grading according to the article's author, I'd have to go with a C.

Try a new food each week, to help you introduce more variety into your diet.
- How far do good intentions get me? Grade N (Not attempted)
-2010 Update: I don't try something new each week, but I do try new foods (or variations of "old" foods) every few weeks. I'll give myself a solid B. (I know, I'm pretty generous with myself.)

Eat less meat to reduce your fat and cholesterol intake.
- Grade A+! I never did eat a lot of meat anyway; however, back then I replaced the meat with chocolate, a methodology that didn't work so well for me. :) I'm 98% lean meat/protein now. I allow myself one beef-oriented meal weekly, but many weeks I pass it up.
2010 Update: Still sticking with lean meats. No change here.

Make sure that your breads, cereals, pastas, and crackers are made with whole grains.
- Along with the one beef serving each week, I give myself a 'white bread' option. This helps if I want my red meat splurge to be a burger or a burrito or spaghetti. Again, many weeks I pass on it, but every now and then is okay. Grade A-
2010 Update: I've improved in this area, having learned to look for the "100%" indicator on whole wheat products. (It should be the first ingredient listed on the label, not third or seventh or beyond.)

I see that I'm still grading on the curve, and that's okay. I'm still progressing and that's all I ever really asked of myself. Getting to the 100%healthy/100% of the time stage hasn't been a goal and isn't likely to be. I do feel best when I'm in the 90-95% range, though.

So, are you already following any of these suggestions? Or do you see one or two you might want to tackle over the next few months? Don't be shy about singing out if you're just getting started and need some help! I may not be much of a guide, but some really smart people read here and I'm sure they'll be glad to pitch in! :)

Goin' Out with a Bang

Two years ago, I started a new New Year's tradition. On New Year's Eve (day) I have an excellent workout. On New Year's Day, I have an excellent workout. I consider them an open and closing parentheses for the year. During the NYE workout, I try to summon up any and all lingering malice or ill feelings leftover from the preceding months and let them roll off with the sweat. (You'd be amazed how well this works!)

On NYD, my workout is all forward focused. I don't imagine what the year ahead might bring, since I can't possibly know that. Instead, I think about the steps I know I'm taking in the months ahead, and I imagine how good I'll feel when I've successfully tried them. Note, I said tried. Some of these things may not work, but I'll be enormously satisfied for having given them a shot.

I like this bracketing of my year with exercise. It's fun, it's energizing, and it reminds me that no matter the caloric excesses of the holidays, a vigorous workout is a really good treat for myself! (Who is this strange woman inhabiting my body?)

Happy New Year to all! 2010 is going to be a blast--I can feel it!

The focus is there, the confidence. You can see it in everybody's eyes - the eagerness, the desire, the want.   ~ Danielle Ward

Time Flies: Celebrating the Second Year

Two years ago tomorrow (Monday), I posted my first entry on The Tippy Toe Diet. I had been blogging about my weight loss journey on my original-and-now-defunct blog, Singlespace, but that was mainly for myself and a few friends. By the time I started this blog, I had crossed the halfway mark (50 pounds lost) and felt secure enough to share with the outside world. (Trivia buffs will remember that my blog name came about when people kept hounding me for the name of my diet, and they didn't seem to believe me when I told them I was simply making small, cumulative changes here and there. Finally, and partly from frustration, I blurted out, "It's the Tippy Toe Diet--you sneak up on it!" )

Last year, I posted a 2008 year in review entry, and I thought I'd do the same this year. Lots happened, that's for sure.

2009 Year in Review

I declared my 2009 Rest-olutions and kept most of them. I never did explore the concept of the power nap, mostly because....

...It went right out of my head when I appeared in my first (and last) ad campaign for Fitness Together, the training studio that helped me make such great progress.(Note to PR folks: Am still available to be your brand ambassador and have added many, many areas of expertise since the original post.)

I went on a sock diet and had quite a bit of success until November, when I bought 4 pairs of Under Armour Crew Socks. In my defense, I didn't own any crew socks, and my ankles were freezing.

I discussed the gifts we have and the debt of honor we owe ourselves to use these gifts.

Geez, Louise, I'm in the news again, at the state level this time.

I politely suggested you all go SWOT yourselves

Cammy - 1, Girl Scouts - 0: the Girl Scout Cookie Attack.

I survived the loss of my job of 23 years. I might have even thrived a little bit.

One of the happiest days of my life: I rode a jet ski for the first time ever!

On that same trip, I got to meet Natalia of A Little Bit About a Lot of Things and Diana of Scale Junkie fame. I was still thrilling over that when I had the opportunity to meet Patty, now blogging at Our Nutritional Endeavor.

The lovely Sahar at fatfightertv.com made me a Woo-hoo! I had never been a Woo-hoo! before and was quite honored. I'm still all warm and fuzzy over it.

I wrote an open letter to the guys at my gym. Shortly thereafter, I switched to a Sun., Tues., Thurs. schedule and had a much nicer experience. I even got a "You're rocking those push-ups" from one guy. Be still my heart.

I somehow managed to work Samuel Coleridge into a blog post on weight loss: Put the Block on Porlock! A little weird, but it worked for me.

During the summer, I attended BlogHer '09 and met some interesting people and was overrun with swag: Report 1, Report 2, Report 3.

I found the secret of Mo-Mo.

And then there were some marginally interesting insights on weight loss, transferred from my life in Corporate America.

I even began to cook, if only a little.

And then I left town for a month-long road trip to the western U.S. One of the highlights was riding a tram up to the top of Sandhia Mountain in Albuquerque. Other highlights included riding bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and hiking a bit in L.A.'s Griffith Park. Some pictures can be found here.

National publicity in the form of a wee mention in Woman's Day magazine, along with other fitness bloggers, Roni and Shelley.

I presented some tips on finding the tiger inside ourselves. Not the lying, scheming, adutery-committing Tiger (unless that's your thing, and who am I to judge?) but the one that makes you want to FIGHT for a better life for yourself.

The rest of the year is kind of a blur, to tell you the truth, likely caused by the sugar increase of the holidays. But all things considered, not a bad year at all.

And I passed my first year in goal weight range---whew!

YOU are a large part of the reason I continue to blog. Your input, your support, your guidance, and your wisdom inspire me, motivate me, and enchant me. It may sound hokey, but the greeting card had it right: "When I count my blessings, I count you twice."  Thank you for letting me play in your world for another year!




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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!

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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. )

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One Holiday Down, One to Go

As splurges go, this annual event wasn't particularly spectacular. Oh, there was a slab of chocolate cake, sure. But that's pretty much it. I tried to splurge on catfish for dinner, but I had only two small pieces. One serving of mashed potatoes, one serving of green beans (country style), and a wheat roll. I'm probably pretty close to calorie count for the day. I failed the Splurge Test. Me!!

Oh well, at least my nutritional goals were shot. I guess I'll have to hold on to that. And try harder at Christmas. :)

It was a beautiful Thanksgiving Day in Memphis, and I had the bright idea to ride my bicycle to the restaurant where I was meeting my family. It was an easy 5 mile ride, one way, and it gave me time to contemplate my blessings and to be thankful for them. I also gave thanks for making it to the restaurant without getting squished by a turkey-dazed motorist.

On the way home, I happened upon a cute little dog running across a fairly busy street. I stopped and tried to catch him, but he wasn't interested. He darted back into the street and into the path of a car. Fortunately, the driver slammed on his brakes and while the car did make contact with the dog, it was apparently a glancing blow as the dog got up and dashed across the street again. I followed and found him visiting with some dogs (properly behind their fence) on another street, probably bitching about the car that got in his way. I hope his owners found him. He wouldn't let me near him, before or after the incident.

With the great dog adventure, I wound up taking a different route home and eventually rode 12 miles. That's a decent ride for me, and I am pleased.

So tomorrow is the so-called Black Friday. I'm no hardcore participant, but I will be at Sports Authority when they open the doors. The first 80 people in line receive a gift card with a value from $10 to $500 (who wants to bet mine will be worth $10?), and I need some new Duo-fold thermal pants. I would also like to find some fleece pants. If I should happen to get the $500 card, I'll be bringing home an elliptical. :)

Other planned stops: Bed, Bath, & Beyond, Pier 1, and Target, if the parking lot doesn't look too crazy. Oh, and maybe I'll stop at this store:


Obviously a typo, but wouldn't it be nice? :)

Hope you all had a wonderful day today, whether you were celebrating Thanksgiving or just enjoying a beautiful Thursday!

Hello, Woman's Day!

The December 1st issue of Woman's Day magazine has a wee article mentioning three weight loss/fitness blogs and just who do you think was among the three? If you guessed The Tippy Toe Diet, you'd be correct! I'd heard about this but hadn't mentioned it because I hadn't seen it with my own four eyes. Today I saw it.

From Blogger Pictures

To be mentioned at all is quite flattering, but to be included with Roni and Shelley is beyond awesome as they're spectacular bloggers.

Big thanks to Woman's Day for the article. We all know the importance of the community aspect of blogging, and it's nice to think other folks who are struggling might give it a try. I only wish they hadn't titled the article, "Blogging Your Way Skinny." Given that the three blogs mentioned have a specific focus on becoming healthier (not skinny!), the title makes me cringe a little. Oh well, if it catches someone's attention and convinces them to give blogging a try, I guess it's worth a little suffering on my part. :) But to clarify to any Woman's Day readers checking in here: I'm not skinny and don't care to be, so if you see me on the street, don't get the wrong idea that I'm letting myself go. :D

(Disclosure: I don't have any affiliation with Woman's Day, although I do have a subscription to their magazine. I'm pretty sure they didn't make the connection. :))

Tippy Toe Re-Start

Boy, you leave home for a month and the routine is hard to find again. Three time zones changes, the change in Daylight Savings Time, and two strong bouts of PMS haven't helped. :)

While it feels as though my vacation was one month-long splurge, when I think back on it, I realize that I really didn't stray too far from The Good Path (if you exclude Las Vegas which is now just a sugary blur.) I had more beef in one month than I had in the previous twelve (FOUR cheeseburgers!), and more sweets than I did in the previous two years, but other than that, it was mostly lean meats, veggies, and fruit. I'm feeling pretty pleased about that. It feels like I passed some sort of test.

Exercise wasn't much of a problem on the trip. I didn't do much in the way of structured workouts, mainly because I was too busy walking and biking so much, but most days had some sort of activity built into them. Some days had LOTS of activity.

I haven't gone back to the gym--or the scale--yet, as I've been busy catching up (17 bags of leaves, so far.) I've bicycled some of my errands, and I'm counting two hours of leaf raking/bagging as one hour of gym time. I'm using the fact that all my clothes still fit, and that I (mostly) like the way I look in them, as permission to continue this path. Until Sunday, at least, when I plan to begin with structured workouts again. :)

Having the opportunity to take this trip was truly a gift. I had never seen the southwestern US or any part of the Pacific coastal areas, although I always wanted to. I can't say that the itch has been successfully scratched. More like, whetted my appetite to see moremoremore!

Favorite places: San Francisco (CA), Albuquerque (NM), and Venice Beach (CA)! All very active and vibrant communities in which I felt very much alive and at home.

Close runners up: Lake Mead (outside Las Vegas) and the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Peaceful and hauntingly beautiful.

A few photos are here: Cammy's Western Tour. I took a gajillion more photos, but after a jillion, the desert shots start to look alike. :)

With that, we return to our previously scheduled blogging.

(Edited to fix photo link: Thanks for the heads up!)