You Will Be Tested

This morning, I was worried. My knee was actually popping. Not good. It wasn't really hurting more than usual and I could put weight on it. I figured I'd still get dressed in my work out clothes, go down, and well...at least do some arms and abs. As I was walking down the stairs, I felt a familiar pain. I held on to the banister and went slowly one step at a time. The cat, already down stairs, was cheering me on. "Meow...you can do it." Then again, maybe she was merely hurrying me along so I could feed her.
After my husband left for work, I started writing a list of things I had to get done today.
Let's see...cupcakes, laundry, take son to dentist, use Kohl's cash, blog, etc...I had to run out to the grocery store and get those little paper cups you put cupcakes in. All I had was ones for Halloween and Christmas..that wouldn't do... not in August. Was it still August? Well, with so much on my mind, I forgot about my knee hurting.
Without even realizing it, I went downstairs and got on the treadmill. Its habit, I guess. I was on my third mile before I remembered I was supposed to take it easy. Now that I knew, I could have ended my workout, but instead, I kept walking, waiting for the inevitable. I finished my five miles and stepped off. Hmph..no pain and it didn't give out. Alright then. Time for some push ups. I finished my normal routine then came back up. I showered, got dressed, and made my protein smoothie. By now, it was nearly 1000hrs, time for Kathie lee and Hoda. During the commercials, I knocked out fifty more push ups from the downward dog yoga pose (an idea I got from today's show).
After a trip to our favorite dentist and Kohl's, we headed home. I still had to make cupcakes for the Scout Court of Honor. They hold the Court of Honor every three months to recognize the scouts who are being promoted and receiving merit badges. They are a really big deal. The troop supplies dinner. The parents bring dessert. At our son's request, I made chocolate cupcakes with creamy white icing and sprinkles. He helped. He organized the tray making sure the cupcakes were in order of sprinkle color (that's my boy).
"Mom, how many cupcakes are we bringing?" "The covered carrying tray holds eighteen." "But you made twenty-four." "Mmmm, I guess those will have to stay home. None for me though. Agreed?" "Sure Mom, none for you. No problem (as he leaned over the sink while practically inhaling a cupcake)." Having a teenager in the house keeps me on track. He eats everything I shouldn't.
Tonight, I will have to eat dinner prior to attending. They always serve things the kids will enjoy. In other words, everything is unhealthy. Tonight, the menu will feature hot dogs and hamburgers (on white bread buns). I have sworn off pork and beef this year. So far, I'm doing good. I am not about to break my vow this late in the game. I know I could probably ask them to grill up a veggie burger for me (I have some in the fridge). But to be honest, it would prove to be too difficult. Its easier just to plan ahead and eat at home before we leave.
I know the smells will drive me nuts when I get there, but I'll be okay through dinner. The hard part will be when they open the line for desserts...
The last Court of Honor, I had a fruit tart. They are a lot like pie. I ate the fruit. My husband ate the tart. No guilt. But you never know what parents will bring to these things. I sure hope no one brings anything that will test my willpower. Maybe I should plan dessert too, maybe pack a 60 calorie Jello pudding...just in case.

Now, That's What I Call Medicine

Yesterday, we took a recovery day. My husband thought it would be nice to go over to Wegman's for lunch. We love the seafood bar. The food is so good, I count it as a date. The special of the day was Red Snapper with salad. Trust me when I say the photo doesn't do it justice. Later, because of our filling lunch, we had a light snack dinner...Francis Coppola Cabernet, with President brie, Sabra roasted red pepper hummus and Triscuit whole grain wheat Parmesan Garlic crackers...a couch picnic...romantic... Then, we had dessert...Sugar Free 60 calorie Dark Chocolate Jello Pudding. Mmmm...

I was back on the treadmill this morning. I would have gone for a walk outside on this beautiful day, but I need to be home. It's maid day. I had time to get in a good workout before they got here. I did fifty push ups, one hundred sit ups, one hundred butt lifts, three hundred five pound weight repetitions (three different lifts), and one hundred varied medicine ball lifts. I am limited to what I can do with the medicine ball because of my knee issues, but I do what I can.
Perhaps, you can do more...

http://www.performbetter.com/wcsstore/PerformBetter/catalog/assets/Excercisesheets/PDF/MedBall%20Handout.pdf

Last year, all I really did was walk. I lost weight, but it wasn't long before I found that I really wanted to tighten and tone something other than my legs. For one, I wanted strong, sexy arms. That's where the low weight, high repetition arm exercises came in. I am extremely pleased with the results. One thing about exercise...if you see results, you are more likely to do the work. :) So, make good choices...and see results. Better go. I need to pick up a bit before they get here.

We All Get The Urge Now And Then

There was no question in anyone's mind. After yesterday's sixteen mile hike from Mount Vernon up to Old Town Alexandria and back, we were taking a recovery day today. My husband and son both woke up with pain behind their knees. Strangely, my pain is pretty minimal this morning. I had quite a bit of pain yesterday, but once we'd spent some time in the Jacuzzi, I felt much better. Other than a sore back, I feel good (remember, I have been told I have a couple of bone spurs, a herniation, and a straightened C-spine). Nothing is twinging. Its just muscle soreness and that's a good thing. My husband asked me on the ride home if I felt accomplished. You know what? I do...and I think they do too.
He seemed a bit disappointed that I didn't want a birthday cake yesterday, but he quickly got over it. I am a different woman now and he completely supports that. The cake? It would have been for them, not me. Like I really wanted to blow out 48 candles...Ugh..I mean, the fire department was busy enough with all the hurricane aftermath.
Instead, I opted for a Jello temptation 100 calorie cup of Lemon Meringue Pie. Choices again. I love keeping the Jello desserts on hand. I must have one every night (Jello gelatin or Jello pudding).
I also love these new Extra dessert delights chewing gums. They are only five calories each and they easily satisfy the urge for sweets. Come on...we all get the urge now and then. There is Apple Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, and Orange Cream Pop. My personal favorite is the Apple Pie flavor. No, its not quite the same as diving into a real all American Apple Pie, but just like the Jello desserts, it is a healthy alternative. I'm all about the healthy alternatives. They keep me on track.
Sure...every now and then, I still have a slice of pie. But, when I do, I like to share. Just ask my husband. I always eat the yummy filling and he gets the crust. Hey, that is too sharing... :)

You Are Stronger Than You Think You Are

This morning, we got up and drove to Mount Vernon. Its my 48th birthday today and I told the boys all I really wanted was to walk from Mount Vernon to Old Town Alexandria, part of the Mount Vernon Trail. It totaled 16 miles there and back. It wasn't an easy walk. Hurricane Irene hit last night and there was a lot of debris left behind. There were several downed trees we had to literally climb over or through, and the path was covered in sticks, gum balls, and such. I must have twisted my ankle a half dozen times not to mention my knees.

We had packed only water, granola bars, and tootsie rolls (my husband packed the backpack), but we enjoyed every bit of it. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and, in the shade, there was a cool welcoming breeze. And we weren't alone. There were bikers, joggers, walkers, and even a few fishermen out enjoying the day. You never would have guessed a hurricane had come through just hours earlier. You know, we were all tested physically, but I know in my heart, this is a day none of us will ever forget. We'll, I'd better go. Time to join my husband in the Jacuzzi. Happy Birthday to me. Sweetie, where's my drink?

I Am Changing

When my husband came home last night, we went out to dinner. We picked a place where our son would actually eat. We went to Carrabba's Italian Grill. We had to wait 30-40 minutes for our table. Its a popular place. We ordered drinks and sat outside. I had a Cabernet. It wasn't long before I felt lightheaded, in need of bread or something else to soak up the effects of the wine. I am a bit of a lightweight (cheap date) now when it comes to alcohol. Normally, I bypass the warm bread. Last night, I had two pieces and two mozzarella sticks. Guilt? Not at all. I allow myself cheese. I probably shouldn't have had the salad though. I couldn't eat the main meal when it came. What did I order? It was called Pasta Sostanza. I ordered it with the whole wheat pasta. It was filled with good stuff like spinach, mushrooms, and artichoke hearts. I added the grilled chicken. The portion was huge. Now, most of it sits in my refrigerator. They are three boxes in there. We all had leftovers. I can't remember the last time we could finish a meal at a restaurant.
I couldn't sleep past 0630hrs this morning. My knee has been hurting since last night and when I woke, my back was aching. I needed to get up and move. I know its the impending hurricane. I don't feel anxious really. I know we have prepared as best we can. Its just that my broken body always reacts to weather changes. It has for years. As long as I am moving around, I am fine.
I came down, made coffee, turned on the tv, and fed the cat. She looked up at me, and seemed to say "What are you doing up so early?" Did I mention she has a limp? Her left paw bothers her. I think she also has a touch of arthritis.
I opened the fridge to get the Silk soy creamer. Our fridge is completely full now. My brother sent edible arrangements yesterday. I had to take out a shelf to make room. Did you notice all the chocolate covered stuff? I love my brothers. They always call, send a card, or send gifts on my birthday. I have been munching on the fruit since it came. The chocolate, I leave for the boys because over the past couple of years...I have been changing. I've tried to make better choices like low calorie, sugar free, or whole wheat. I've changed my attitude when it came to exercise. I say "I can and I will" instead of "I can't" and "it hurts too much". We can only do what we can...but remember...there is always something...we can do.

Have a peaceful weekend. Be safe. Together, we'll ride out the storm...

I am Changing ~ song from “Dreamgirls” (2006)

Look at me, Look at me
I am changing
Trying every way I can
I am changing
I'll be better than I am
I'm trying to find a way to understand
But I need you, I need you
I need a hand
I am changing
Seeing everything so clear
I am changing
I'm gonna start right now, right here
I'm hoping to work it out
And I know that I can
But I need you, I need a hand

All of my life I've been a fool
Who said I can do it all alone?
How many good friends have I already lost?
How many dark nights have I known?
Walking down that wrong road
There was nothing I could find
All those years of darkness
Could make a person blind
But now I can see

I am changing
Trying every way I can
I am changing
I'll be better than I am
But I need a friend
To help me start all over again,Oh
That would be just fine
I know it's gonna work out this time
'Cause this time I am
This time I am
I am changing
I'll get my life together now
I am changing
Yes I know how
I'm gonna start again
I'm gonna leave my past behind
I'll change my life
I'll make a vow and nothings gonna stop me now

Blackberries and Bare Naked Ladies

When I got up this morning, I decided to take of the advantage of the calm before the storm. I walked outside..about 4.5 miles around the neighborhood. It was a beautiful day and a lot of folks were out and about walking or riding bikes. I didn't see any runners today. The humidity was higher than usual, but there was a cool breeze.
On the return trip, the pain began. This weather is wrecking havoc on my old knee injury (one of my many personal potholes). Its going to be a big storm. I know because my knee hasn't felt this bad in a long time. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the music playing on my iPod. "There's a She Wolf in the closet. Let it out so it can breathe..." I love Shakira. I slowed my pace a bit, but eventually I made it home without breaking in to a limp. Whenever I feel the knee pain I remember the old ROTC Instructor who advised me, "Never let them see you limp." He did this because he wanted me to show strength in lieu of weakness. Today, my strength came from Skakira, Lady Gaga, and Pink.
I walked in the door and immediately downed a tall glass of water from the fridge. I sat down and contemplated whether or not I had the strength to walk down the stairs...to complete my workout. I did. 50 push ups, 100 sit ups, 100 butt lifts, 300 weight reps...bare minimum today was all I could manage. And to think, before I began my walk outside, I was actually considering doing both that and a treadmill incline walk. Not today. Still, I wouldn't get down. After all, I did work out and I most definitely broke a sweat/glow. My shower felt particularly wonderful today.
My son was watching television when I came back down. I went over to make my whey protein smoothie. I had forgotten. I have a new fruit for my smoothie. Mmmm. Blackberries.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/110325-blackberries-nutrition/
So, today I had a smoothie with one cup crushed ice, one cup water, one scoop 25g whey protein, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and a banana (two full glasses of yummy nutrition). I added another tall glass of water and sat down to watch Hoda and Kathie Lee on The Today Show. My knee already feels better. Hey, wait a minute...is that the Bare Naked Ladies? Awesome.

Keep Your Head Up

When I got up this morning, I knew it was going to rain. I felt it. Arthritis does that, and unfortunately I have quite a bit of arthritis. I still got up..and I still worked out. As a matter of fact, I cruised past the 900 mile mark. As of today, I am at 902 miles. I couldn't do the incline as much as I like but, if my sweat/glow was any indication, it was a productive walk regardless. And after a large glass of water, I finished up with 50 push ups, 100 sit ups, 100 butt lifts, 300 small weight repetitions and 100 varied medicine ball lifts (remember: low weight, high rep to tone and tighten). After my shower, I enjoyed a whey protein fruit smoothie with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and a banana. Mmmm. The new chocolate 25 gram pure protein mix is positively yummy.
My husband called. He is down in Florida on a work trip. Of course, if it was a pleasure trip, I'd be with him...me and my bikini. But, no...its a work trip. Well, he absolutely made my day today. He was telling me about all the folks he has seen down at the conference who are reading the blog. I was so happy to hear it. Sometimes, you never know. I suppose its a bit difficult to sign on as an official reader. No worries. I just want to say a special thanks to all those who are reading. I know how hard it can be to get motivated to work out especially when you have obstacles in your way. And we all have obstacles. I'm glad the blog is helping. If there is anything I can do, any subject I can research, please don't hesitate to let me know. I feel better now, at well...almost 48, than I did when I was 28..18 even. And that's despite all the broken parts that still plague me (my own personal potholes in the road). I want to help. Remember...what do I always say?

You are never too old and never too broken to be healthy and fit.
You can get there...one step at a time...one choice at a time.

Anyway, I heard on the Today Show that blackberries are one of nature's fit foods, that they have a lot of fiber. At my age, fiber is a good thing. So, I went to Target. Why not the grocery store? I needed cat food and Target always has good deals on fancy feast. Their grocery section saves me from making trips all over town (gas is getting expensive) and not surprisingly, they had fresh blackberries. Believe it or not, I've never had a blackberry. My son says they are tart. We'll see. Now when did he have a blackberry? It wasn't at our house.
I was in the car driving home when a song came on the radio. It was Andy Grammer's "Keep your head up". Before long, I was bebopping to the music. Ever done that? Of course you have. Yes, its pretty embarrassing when someone in the next car stares at you. Just smile. In my experience, they always smile back. Who knows? It might even brighten their day. It started to rain before I got all the way home. Instead of getting bummed that I was going to get wet carrying groceries in to the house (the garage door opener is one of the things that died in the last storm..power surge I think), I just smiled. After all, God was washing all the bird poop off my pretty red car and watering the lawn for us to boot.
We may have had a lot of damage from the recent storms, and my old army injuries might slow down my work outs a bit, but I wasn't going to worry about it. I knew it was going to be okay. I mean..I passed 900 miles today. OMG! Right? You know what? There might even be a rainbow after the storm just for me.
When I pulled up in to the drive way, I ran in the house and called to our son to help me unload the car. He even helped put stuff away. What a wonderful world this is. As I finish this blog, the sun is shining again. Its temporary though. Hurricane Irene is heading in our direction. Time to go batten down the hatches I guess. :)
I think I'll download "Keep your head up" on my iPod.

Finding Balance In A World That Teeters

Yesterday, everything seemed to be coming together. Sure, the storm had basically killed three televisions, the phones, the air conditioning, the coffeemaker, the garage door opener, and an electric reclining chair, but we were all safe. The internet still worked and we still had three working televisions, two with cable. The AC had been repaired and the cable guy had fixed the phones. And I learned something in the process of all this. Surge protectors are not infallible.
But the best part was, once the cable guy left yesterday, I was able to get on the treadmill and walk five miles. By early afternoon, all was well in the world. My knee was hurting but my morale was undamaged.
I was making my son a late lunch when I felt a rumble. Artillery practice at the local Marine base? No, it was all wrong. I braced myself against the kitchen island and when I had the chance, moved to a doorway. My son came running upstairs. When the shaking stopped, I heard a knock at the door. Many of our neighbors were outside. One lady was holding a cell phone, "They felt that in Pennsylvania". Its funny, but I thought it was all pretty exciting. I don't remember ever feeling scared or worried. Maybe its because I've been to war. I mean, let's face it...I've been through much much worse.
The only bad thing was, after the earthquake, I got a migraine headache. I haven't had one in such a long time, I wasn't prepared for it like in the past. My body just felt...off. I keep thinking it might be the barometric pressure or something (I can always tell when a storm is coming). I ended up just going to bed early. I lay my head on the cool pillow and closed my eyes. After a while, I felt a hand on my forehead. I opened my eyes just a fraction. My son had come in to check on me, check my temperature. "You aren't warm." He asked if he could get me anything. Military kids grow up fast, especially those who have parents with medical issues.
He was five when his dad deployed to Iraq back in 2002. Back then, I suffered from migraines nearly every day. I would leave work, pick him up at daycare, then come home and lay down. With chronic migraines, sometimes it was difficult to be "mom". With family back east, it was really just the two of us. He became the man of the house, often taking on the role of my caregiver. When I had the attacks, he would stay with me until they were gone, gently rubbing my shoulders with his tiny hands (the little entrepreneur later discovered he could make money from his babysitters by giving neck and shoulder massages).
Now that he is a young man, whether its a headache, a twisted back, a broken toe, or a tiny cut, he still steps up to render first aid.
Anyway, it was a long night. My head throbbed. I tossed and turned. I slept late regardless of my kitty alarm clock. When I eventually got up, I felt better. My migraine was pretty much gone. I dressed in my work out clothes and went down for coffee. The news was all about the previous days events. Still, I didn't really feel like walking the treadmill. So, I went back upstairs and convinced my son to walk the neighborhood with me. You know...I can't believe he actually came along. But he did. It was a good walk, a slower pace than usual, but good bonding time. We talked about entering high school, about what he was excited about, and about anything he might be worried about.
Then, we talked about the earthquake. "Its way too early, you know". It took a minute or two for me to catch on. He was referring to December 2012 and the Mayan calendar. As we approached our street I changed the subject. I asked, "So, if dad and I downsize someday, where would you like us to live?" He says, "Just don't move to California. Its going to fall in to the ocean someday. If you move there, I'll have to come save you guys." I had to laugh. As serious as I can be, he can always make me laugh. In a world that teeters, its comforting to know he'll keep me balanced.

Customer Service

The other day, I wrote "Mold Happens. Move On". On the same day, I sent a Facebook note to Chobani letting them know what happened. I never expected to hear back from them. Customer service nowadays is sorely lacking. One never really expects. One just hopes that someone is listening.
Well, the folks at Chobani surprised me. They responded to my Facebook note with an email address the same day. I emailed the address they sent and explained what happened. I sent them a copy of the "Mold Happens" blog. In addition, I sent the one I wrote where we did a Greek yogurt taste and Chobani won. They responded to the email the very next day. That was just a few days ago. Last night, I got mail. The folks at Chobani sent me a personal message, some very cool fridge magnets and about a dozen coupons for their products. I can't wait to go shopping for more of my favorite..."loving spoonful".

Unfortunately, I have to sit here and wait for COMCAST. Our phones have been out since the big storm. When we called, we got a pre-recorded message saying they were working on the problem. I really hate pre-recorded messages. Anyway, we waited and waited. Still nothing. No response. No land line phones (and they will probably still charge us for those days of no service). At least our Verizon cell phones are still working. Comcast repair is finally coming today...between the hours of 0800 and 1100hrs. Ugh! To make matters worse, that means I can't walk this morning. I am stuck sitting here waiting. In my opinion, that's not good customer service. COMCAST could learn a thing or too from Chobani. I guess its like they say..."Nothing But Good" and that includes how they treat the customer. Thanks Chobani.

Update: Jaime, the COMCAST/Xfinity repairman arrived around 0830hrs. Its 0955hrs. He just left. He was extremely nice and definitely the most technically knowledgeable repairman we've had from this particular company (In earlier cases, my youngest son did better at correcting the problem). We discovered a total of three televisions were basically dead and the box that makes the phones work..it was dead too. He corrected the problem with phones by swapping out the box. Then, he gave me his personal contact information so I could get him back after the televisions were repaired (and he promised...at no cost to us). I was, needless to say, pleasantly surprised by his customer service skills. Thanks Jaime.

I'm thinking maybe...a late workout. After all...Kathie Lee and Hoda are working out on their show today.

A Plan To Eat Foods That Heal

My Personal Workout Journey So Far

Total Miles Walked - 888//
Weight Reps - 45,120 (5lb weights, 10-15lb kettle bells, curl bar, 6 or 8lb medicine ball)//
Sit ups, crunches - 12,000//
Push ups - 5000 (added 21 February)//
Butt Lifts - 6900 (newly added 25 March)

This is where I stand as far as my workout goes, but how am I doing with my eating habits? So far, so good. Everyday, I wake up with the plan that I will try to eat primarily "healing foods" in addition to vitamins and a few supplemental boosters such as whey protein powder to help fill me up.
http://www.foods-that-heal.com/index.html (the information is all out there...and its free).

A typical day always begins with two glasses of water and a decaf coffee. Its usually 1000hrs before I've completed my workout and shower. After my workout, I follow with a whey protein smoothie. In my smoothie, I have the protein powder, but I also have lots of fruit...blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and banana. This gives me my post work out boost. With the smoothie, I always pour an additional glass of water on the side.
Two hours later, at around noon, I eat a high protein Greek yogurt and mix it with a serving of bear naked protein granola. I have a glass of water with this also. I have healthy snacks at 1400hrs and 1600hrs...usually fruits or nuts. For a real treat, I slice green peppers and dip them in Garlic or roasted red pepper hummus (better than crackers). In the evening, I prefer to keep it light. Sometimes, I just make a meal of veggies. Sometimes I eat seafood.
I love seafood. A good friend of ours gave my husband a supply of fresh fish, from his recent fishing trip in Alaska, when he met up with him recently on a work trip. That should last a while. I fill up on veggies like spinach, broccoli, squash, mushrooms, or cauliflower. The other night, my husband sliced two avocados. We put it in the fridge to chill and had them as a side dish with our dinner. For dessert, there are always low calorie jello and jello puddings in the fridge. And if we want someone really sweet, there is sugar free dark chocolate in the candy dish. We might also have hot tea.
Now, don't get me wrong. We don't eat only healthy foods. We love our red wine (Oh wait, isn't that good for your heart)

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/beverages/9198/2

Okay, I know for a fact we are sometimes naughty...

Wait a minute, I know...we had Chinese take out the other day. Hot and sour soup? Way too much sodium. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/soups-sauces-and-gravies/10653/2 Guess I'll have to cut back on that.

Okay, I am getting addicted to this nutrition data web link. Give it a try. Just type in a food and it gives you all the data you need to make smarter choices. Then go back to the foods that heal...
In the end, you'll feel better. Better go. Its time for my Greek yogurt.

Coupon Terry? Sure. And Have I Got A September Deal For You!

You read "Fitness" magazine, right? Well, I do and this month, I received an unexpected bonus from doing so. I've always been one of those people that clips coupons, then leaves them at home. Or worse, I wait absentmindedly for them to expire. Yesterday, I was glancing at my September issue of "Fitness" Magazine, the one with Olivia and Hannah. You know them. They were the sisters who won first and second place in the most recent "Biggest Loser" television season. Yes, I watch. I secretly dream of being one of the trainers. Ha ha. Honestly, could you see me on the show? I just know I'd be just like Jillian, challenging them like some kind of drill sergeant. "Give me twenty push ups! You call that a push up? Get off your knees and give me a real push up! You want to be fit, you have to want it! You have to work for it!"
Anyway, there I was reading the articles and I saw it...right there on pages 86 and 87, over $15 in savings on the products I buy. I pulled out the scissors and clipped away. I put them in my wallet just in case. Then, you know what? I forgot about them.

This morning, I used up the last of my whey protein powder. I was also out of raspberries, strawberries, hummus, bananas. Ever have one of the days when it seems you are out of everything you love? Today was that day. I didn't really feel like driving all the way over to Walmart to pick up Jillian's whey powder, so I just popped over to Target. I figured I'd find everything but the powder I usually buy. I was right. No Jillian whey protein, but they did have the pure protein whey powder in the 2lb size in chocolate flavor. Mmmm...chocolate. What the heck. I love chocolate. I picked it up along with my other purchases and headed to the cashier. Guess what? When I reached for my debt card, the coupons caught my eye. The first one in the stack wasn't just any coupon. It was a coupon for $4.00 off pure protein whey powder. Oh yeah! I was so excited, I nearly did a happy dance.
When I came home, I decided to see how much I had really saved by using the coupon.

The normal price for the 2lb pure protein whey powder is $21.47 if you get it on Amazon.com (plus shipping and handling), and the 1lb runs about $11.00. At Target, the 2lb tub was originally $17.89 (already a bargain). That means, after the coupon, I paid only $13.89 for the 2lb size and its huge! Think about it. That's less than $3.00 more than the 1lb size and I still get twice as much.
These coupons are also available in the September issue (same pages):

Pure Protein 23g shake 4 pack save $3.00
Pure Protein Protein Gelatin Snack save $3.00
Pure Protein Jillian's Whey Protein save $2.00
Pure Protein 78g bar save $1.50
Pure Protein 35g shake save $1.00
Pure Protein 50g bar save 75 cents

The coupons are good now, but they all expire on 31 October, so don't wait.

These are challenging times financially and I realize choosing products that help us maintain our healthy, fit lifestyle are not cheap. That's why it is so important to share great deals with those you care about. If we do, we all benefit from a healthier, happier world...
You know what? I still feel like dancing.

Size Matters

Our son is going through one of those growth spurts. It seems whenever we pass a mirror at the same time, he has to drag me over to measure how much taller he is. Fortunately for him, I am shrinking. When I joined the Army back in 1981, I was measured at 5'5". When I retired, in 2003, I was measured at 5'4 1/2". This morning, he went into my sewing kit and broke out the measuring tape. He is a perfectionist like his mom. He may forget to make his bed on occasion, but when it comes to numbers, he's a perfectionist. This morning, I measured in at 5'4" even. That's good to know. I guess I am now officially a petite.
My husband had to work today, so I told him I was going to head over to the mall, maybe do a bit of walking. What a madhouse! I really should have known better. Still, I walked around and tried to dodge shoppers going about their business at a snail's pace. I thought it would be easier to handle if I stopped in a few stores and tried on some clothes. After all, who doesn't like trying on clothes? Okay, maybe some folks don't. Me? I love it especially since I lost weight. I tried on clothes in Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, BCBG, Ann Taylor, and in Calvin Klein. I was there for a couple of hours and walked a little over 2.5 miles ( I spent a lot of time in dressing rooms).

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/nordstrom-rack
http://www.tjmaxx.com/
http://www.marshallsonline.com/
http://www.bcbg.com/home/index.jsp
http://www.anntaylor.com/
http://www.calvinklein.com/home/index.jsp

There is a lot of vanity sizing out there, which is extremely confusing. In an effort to make consumers feel better about themselves, some manufacturers adapt their sizes. The problem is no one designer is really on the same scale. I tried on one designer's line of dresses today. It actually had a separate card attached explaining their sizes compared to normal US sizes...and get this...it was made by an American designer. I had to put on my reading glasses just to figure it out...a 4 US was a 2 in theirs, A 2 US was a 0 in theirs. Not worth it. Too confusing. I moved on to another designer. I like Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. On me, they are about the size wise, and I like their classic look. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_sizing
I love to bargain shop, but I don't want it to be a painful experience. And I know size matters. As far as I'm concerned, this has gotten out of hand. The designers need to get on the same sheet of music. Forget vanity sizing. Consumers are not as vain as they believe us to be. I tell you what...just tell us what measurements fit what size, post in on the door like nutritional information at a fast food restaurant and we'll figure it out ourselves. Easy pleasey...happy educated shopper.
Oh, I did discover that, when it comes to clothes, I am really not a petite regardless of my son's measurements. I am a whole number (at least everywhere except Ann Taylor). : )

Struck By Lightning

From nineteen eighty-one to two thousand and three, I wore the patches of the Signal Corps. I was an Army communicator. The symbol of a communicator is often that of lightning. I've come close over the years, close to being struck, but I have never feared the lightning. Once, while on an ROTC land navigation course, I actually sat next to a fellow cadet who was struck and hospitalized afterwards. He recovered. Still, I felt no fear.
Last night was no exception. I was just beginning to drift off to sleep after reading in bed. It was around 2230hrs or so. The storm was picking up outside. I could see the lightning out of the corner of my eye. I could hear the thunder. It was getting closer. I wanted to close my eyes. I love sleeping during storms. They calm me. The wind and rain were beating against windows. Then, the storm got too close. I saw the flash even with my eyes closed. I heard the immediate boom. The security alarm sounded. It sounded like I was back in desert storm. There, the chemical alarms would sound waking us nearly every night. I know its been a long, long time, but I was braced for a scud attack. My heart was racing. My husband and I went downstairs to check the alarm. We could not get it to turn off. He temporarily unplugged the system. The phones were dead. Oh for a TA-312 when you need it. I smelled smoke. We eventually figured out that it was the phone with the answering machine. We had to take out the backup battery and bag it up. I felt my head spinning from the smell. We looked outside. The wind was howling. The rains were coming down the street like the waves on the beach. We checked the drains. I checked the tvs for news. Bad news. The tv wasn't working. We went back upstairs, armed with only a working flashlight. Nothing we could do tonight. I lay in bed, my heart still pounding. Could I rest, get maybe a few hours of sleep? I was in bed less than five minutes before I had to get up. The anxiety from the night affected me physically. Like right before every physical fitness test I ever had, I had to pee. Unfortunately, I had to pee every five to ten minutes for at least an hour. Before long, my body just gave out and I was asleep. Morning came too soon. Did I mention, my alarm clock? You 'll love this. We lost power. When we reset the switches, some things went haywire. My alarm clock for example, it didn't reset like the other clocks. It just died. I unplugged it and plugged it back in. It had been set for alarm but, instead played music when it was plugged back in. Nothing else worked. I couldn't even reset the time. What did it play? "Bad to the Bone"...
Even the coffee maker was acting up this morning, but I finally got that to work after playing with it a bit. Thank goodness. I was dressed in my workout clothes, but I honestly thought I'd have no opportunity to get in a workout today. While my husband was on the phone with the insurance folks, I did fifty push ups there in the living room. Then, while he finished getting ready for work, I called the AC repair folks. We've only had the AC a couple of months. We just replaced the whole system. When my husband went to work, I waited on the AC guy. While I was waiting on the cell call saying he was on the way sometime between then and noon (still no land line phone service), I went down and did five miles on the treadmill. I even had time to take a shower and have a whey protein smoothie before they called saying he was on the way.
He's here now. You know, its been a long night, but we are okay. To us old signal soldiers, it was just another "storm" we survived, but this time...no one was shooting at us.

Mold Happens. Move On.

Spike: There's something wrong with this yogurt.
William: Ah, that's not yogurt, that's mayonnaise...
Spike: Ah, right-o then.
[continues to eat it] ~ Notting Hill (1999)

This morning, I got up, had coffee with my husband, then went down to the basement to workout. I thought about walking outside. It was another beautiful day. The only reason I didn't was, on the treadmill, I can get a harder workout. More sweat, you know? Sorry, more glowing.
After my usual routine, I came back up and showered. It was 1000hrs by now and I was starving, so I made a why protein smoothie. I like to make them after my workout because they are filling. I added Jillian Michael's chocolate whey protein powder, one cup crushed ice, one cup water, one banana, and a mixture of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Then I added a teaspoon of wheat germ. yum. It makes two full glasses. I follow with a glass of water and I've good until lunch.
I had to head over to Kohl's. No really, I had to. I had $30.00 in Kohl's cash to spend. Sure, I know its just a ploy to get me in the store, but hey...it works especially when there are school clothes to buy.
When I came home, I threw some laundry in. It was around 1230hrs and I was hungry again. Time for my yogurt. When I opened the container, I was shocked to find it had mold. Yuck! Oh well. I took a photo for proof (and the blog), then tossed it in the trash. Then I went back to the fridge. I always have extra on hand. Oh well. That's life. Mold happens. Its a shame though. I was really in the mood for Chobani Vanilla (only 120 calories). Instead, I had a plain (100 calories) and mixed it with a half teaspoon of Nutella. Not so low in calories, but hey its chocolate and hazelnut..Mmmmm. You know what would be nice? If the Chobani folks would send me a case of vanilla to make up for what happened. I can dream, right? If they do, I'll be sure to tell you about it.

Wonderful World

Yesterday was difficult. It always is. Yesterday was the anniversary of Elvis' death. I remember where I was when we heard. We were returning from a family trip to an amusement park. I was sitting in the back seat. We were all listening to the car radio. When they announced it on the news, my mother began to cry. "Mom, don't cry. Its obviously a mistake. Just wait. They'll come back and say its all a big joke." It wasn't.
Elvis was, to us, like a family member. I would walk down the street singing his songs. I'm sure folks would just watch me and laugh. "Who is that little girl singing in the street?" I heard no laughs. I was dreaming of that "Wonderful World" Elvis sang about and it always made me smile. True fans never forget the love he brought us. We will always remember.
Elvis has been gone a long time now. But if you check out my mother's room back home, it is still filled with dust filled memorabilia she just couldn't let go.
Today, I still sing. I sing, not because I am dreaming. I sing because, at last despite many years of pain, I have found that wonderful world Elvis sang of so long ago.

This morning, my husband got up early for work. He kissed me gently, and let me sleep in. Strangely, even the cat let me sleep in. I rolled out of bed around 0720hrs, donned my work out clothes, and except for the absent spouse (no one to have coffee with), began my day much like any other. I walked five miles, did fifty push ups, did one hundred sit ups, one hundred butt lifts, and three hundred weight repetitions. Then I did an additional one hundred crunches. Why? Why not? It felt good.
When I came upstairs, our youngest was awake laying on the couch watching television. After my shower, he was still there. It was such a beautiful day, I asked if he would walk down to the 7 eleven with me. They recently made renovations and I wanted to see how much they had changed. I honestly don't think I've been in a 7 Eleven since my husband and I dated. We both had an addiction to Cola Slurpees. Well, I loved the renovations (lots of healthy choices now), but the Slurpee machine was out, so I bought a bottled water. Mmmm...would I have gotten a slurpee were it working? Who knows? He bought a bottled Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino. Then we walked home together adding two more miles to my walk for the day. As we walked home, I looked up. Not a cloud in the sky. It made me think of the song I used to sing as a kid. No. I didn't sing. I wanted to, but he would've been humiliated. He is a teenager after all. Maybe it was enough that I thought about singing.



Total Miles Walked - 871//
Weight Reps - 44,420 (5lb weights, 10-15lb kettle bells, curl bar, 6 or 8lb medicine ball)//
Sit ups, crunches - 11,800//
Push ups - 4850 (added 21 February)//
Butt Lifts - 6800 (newly added 25 March)

A Cereal Without Sugar? Yeah, right...

My husband asked me to pick up some raisin bran on my trip to Target last night, so I put it on the shopping list along with bananas and milk. When I was heading out the door, he decided to come along, a short break from sitting at the computer all day. It was nice to have company. We grabbed everything on the list except for Greek yogurt and cereal. They were out the Greek yogurts I like. I am leaning more and more towards the Vanilla or plain because of the calories. Unfortunately, it seems I'm not alone. Guess I'l have to try another store.
We went to the cereal aisle. He grabbed his favorite raisin bran. I said, "How about we try something new." He agreed. Let's check all the labels and see which one has the least amount of sugar. Next thing we knew, we had donned our reading glasses. We began grabbing boxes of cereal one by one and reading the grams of sugar aloud. "This one is only twelve", he says. "Ugh, I got a fourteen", I replied. "Fifteen",he says,"this is crazy. Can't we just get the twelve?" Soon, it became a game of sorts. We had drifted off the raisin bran and we were grabbing any cereal...surely there had to be something out there reasonably low in sugar.
Some lady saw us. "They all have too much for me, but then again, I'm menopausal. I can't lose weight no matter what I try." I fought the urge to talk about the blog. I just smiled and continued our mission to find a cereal that made sense...The lady walked away, on her own quest for pancake mix.
Finally, I found it. Fiber one original...whole grain guaranteed, 14grams of fiber (57% of my daily value of fiber according to the box), only sixty calories per serving, and get this...NO SUGAR. Jackpot! When I brought it home, I gave it a try. I mixed it with blueberries and my soy milk. The box had come with two individual bags inside, so I took one, clipped it together with a clothespin, and stuck it conveniently in the basket we keep our bear naked granola.
Well, our son came home and saw the bag in the kitchen basket. "Mom, Did we get turtles?" I gave him a strange look. "No, why would you ever think we bought turtles?" "You have turtle food." He pointed at the Fiber One. I laughed.
I'll admit, it doesn't look very appetizing. Had I not been on a mission, I might never have bought it. I can't remember the last time I ate cereal (primarily because of all the sugar). But you know what? This stuff is much tastier than it looks.
Oh, I forgot to mention. My husband got one of his own. He selected the Fiber One honey clusters. Its also whole grain, but it only has 13 grams of fiber (51% of your daily value of fiber), and one hundred and sixty calories (I know, right?). The selling feature? It is also low in sugar, only six grams. And its higher in protein than the original, three grams. The original has two grams of protein. I think we made some pretty good decisions, don't you? I guess my days of avoiding cereal are over.

I had a bit of trouble sleeping last night. I was up even before the cat. I got up at 0400hrs and, for some reason, could not get back to sleep. Not sure why. If I had had a bad dream, I can't remember it. Nothing hurt and I wasn't anxious about anything. I stayed in bed, but kind of just lay there. When my husband got up for work, I went down with him. "I'm going to walk outside today." He smiles. He likes to see me get out of the house. I walked down to end of the driveway and attempted to turn on my iPod. It had lost its charge. My husband was backing up his truck. "What's wrong?" "My iPod isn't working." In the past, I might have abandoned my efforts, but I really felt like stretching it out. So I walked the four mile neighborhood route with no music. It was quiet except for the traffic humming by. Still, it was cool and there was a nice breeze. My knee gave out once, but nothing I couldn't handle. I figured the big guy was telling me that rain was coming soon. When I got home, there was a note on the door. The maids, who were supposed to come at 1400hrs, had come at 0800hrs. Ugh. I called and they said they could come at 1100. I woke our son...lawn mowing day. I told him I was going down to the gym downstairs to finish my workout. When I got down there, I felt like I still wanted to walk more. I had enough time so I hopped up on the treadmill. I figured I'd walk until he finished the lawn. By the time he came down, I was working on my fourth mile so I just kept walking. In the end, I walked nine miles today. Why? In the words of Forrest Gump, "I just felt like it."
The maids are here now and yes, I am finally tired. Think I can manage a nap?

Honey, I Know What I Want For My Birthday

Fifteen years ago, we were living in Springfield, Virginia. I was a Company Commander at the United States Army Information Systems Command- Fort Belvoir. It was the summer before I was pregnant with our youngest. We were always trying new things back then. So, one day, my husband and I figured we'd give rollerblading a try. It seemed everyone was doing it. To be perfectly honest, I thought it would be easy. After all, I grew up roller skating. As a kid, I had even dreamed of one day becoming a roller derby star (that was a short lived dream..I just wasn't mean enough). So, we set out on our new adventure. He thought it would be nice to roller blade down the Mount Vernon Trail, break them in. He said it was scenic. I'd never been there before that day. We got to the trail, donned our equipment (yes, with helmets and safety pads), and began rollerblading. At first, I absolutely loved it. I was instantly transported back to my childhood skating rink...the wind in my hair, the rush of speed. I was in heaven. What a gift he had given me.
Then, all of a sudden, I realized I was going too fast. I was going downhill and racing rapidly towards my husband of little more than a year. I didn't want to crash into him, hurt him. He was a keeper after all. As I went further down the hill, my speed steadily increased. Impact was inevitable. That was when I made the decision to attempt a stop. Its all a blur now, but here's where I screwed up. In my panic, I didn't think to use my roller blade stopper. Instead, I tried to stop like one would if wearing roller skates. If you aren't a skater, the roller blade stoppers are in a different location on the skate than a roller skate stopper. Anyway, down I went. At high speed, I went sliding across the pavement. My safety gear protected me some, but I was wearing shorts. When I finally came to a stop, I had a huge road burn on the side of my calf. My husband came back to where I fell, lifted me up with ease, and carried me back to car (it wasn't far). "Are you alright?" Well, despite the pain, I couldn't stop making jokes. I felt so stupid and clumsy. What was I going to do? Cry? After that, we were done. I would not roller blade the Mount Vernon trail. As a matter of fact, I would never roller blade again. We ended up selling both his and mine at a yard sale. We decided to opt for safer activities in the future. We tried to go back later, once I had healed, on bikes. But my knees keep me from going far. It just hurt too much.

Well, about this time every year, my husband asks me what I want for my 48th birthday (28 August).
Here goes...
"Honey, I want to try again. I want to walk the Mount Vernon Trail on my birthday...8 miles to Old Town Alexandria and back...and I want you to come with me. My birthday falls on a Sunday this year, a perfect day for a walk in a beautiful scenic area located near our nation's capital." I figure, after 850 miles, I've pretty mastered this walking thing. Maybe I've lessened my odds of injury. :P

If you are in the area, let my husband know. Maybe you can walk a bit with us. The more the merrier, I say, especially when it comes to getting healthy and fit. If you come, pack your granola bars or trail mix and don't forget plenty of water.

BTW "Sweetie, if you really feel compelled to buy me something...how about a new camera? Something I can just point and shoot, not worry about that focus thing." I like keeping everything uncomplicated. :)

http://www.mountvernon.org/visit/plan/index.cfm/pid/29/

Daddy's Home

Its been a slow week. My husband was off on one of his work trips. I am used to getting up with him in the morning, having our coffee together, and starting my work out after he has left for work. I guess I should be somewhat thankful the cat kept me on track with her early morning wake up calls. I'm sure she was just hungry, but really how did she always have me up before 0700hrs? I mean, does she have some kind of internal knack for knowing when breakfast should be. Weird, huh? So, every day this week, I got up, fed her, and went down for my morning workout. Sometimes that meant a walk on the treadmill and sometimes that meant a walk outside. Yesterday was Saturday. Saturday is normally a recovery day, but I really wanted to get out of the house. I convinced our son to go to the mall with me. How did I convince a teenage boy to hang with his mom at the mall. Here is my secret. 1) Bribe him with a trip to the bookstore. I know he has a kindle and he downloads most of his books, but Bookstores still have items that you really don't want to download to a kindle like guitar sheet music. 2) Promise you won't hang if they don't want to. Teenagers need their space and they embarrass easily. As long as they have cell phones, the mall is a fairly safe environment. They can always flag down one of those security guards on their segways if need be. 3) Take them to Costco. Who doesn't love Costco? I love the free samples. It is the only place in town where I can get him to try new things, expand his foodie horizons so to speak. Yesterday, he ate roast beef. He even tried Salmon. I know, right? I can see a light at the end of tunnel...the end of grilled cheese, cheese pizza, cheese sticks, macaroni and cheese, etc...
I had my pedometer. We were mall walking. It was a good day. But the best part was, Daddy came home. Being a parent sometimes feels like a tag team wrestling match. I got this mission. You've got that. The constant comparing of calendars. Its like juggling, a continued effort not to drop the ball(s). But when Daddy is home, all is well. You can breathe, relax, even take personal time. We are so fortunate that the deployment days are over for us.
My husband got in late last night. This morning, he had to go back in to the office to pick up some paperwork. He invited me along. We stopped and had a lovely breakfast at Bob Evans. Luckily, when we got there..no line. On the way out, there were at least twenty-twenty five folks waiting. We both made smart choices too. I had one of those egg white omelets with spinach, green peppers, and tomatoes (no cheese), a side fruit cup, one slice of dry whole wheat bread, a decaf coffee and a glass of water. It was yummy and filling. I like Bob Evans. They have a healthy menu and they are always willing to make substitutions if you like. For example, I don't like uncooked onions, but I love green peppers. Check out their fit menu. http://bobevans.com/Menu/Category/71/Fit-from-the-Farm-
With Bob Evans, you can also order on-line or through an APP on your phone. How cool is that? I don't even have one of smart phones and I still think that is cool. If you haven't been in a while, treat yourself. The food is good and the service is as well...lots of pleases and thank yous...lots of warm smiles (I like to go places where the folks are friendly). Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Its going to rain here. Mmmm...I think I might go play in the puddles.

A Worthy Substitute

There I was, shopping for my usual Chobani Greek yogurt. Lately, I've been getting the vanilla flavor. Why? A week or so without the incline on the treadmill because of my foot injury. I was not burning the calories I was used too. The vanilla is only 120 calories compared to the higher calorie fruit flavors. The plain is even less (100 calories), but I have to beef it up with 1/2 teaspoon of Nutella to really enjoy it. Unfortunately, the Nutella is loaded with calories, fat, carbs, and sugar. Ugh! Too bad. I love Nutella. Maybe just a taste. "No", I tell myself. Be smart. Healthy choices.
Anyway, color me surprised when, there I stand in front of the grocery store's refrigerated yogurt section and they are out of Vanilla Chobani. This will not do. Then I remembered the commercial with John Stamos. I searched the shelves and there it was. Dannon Oikos Greek. As I remembered it, the Dannon had been high on our Greek yogurt home taste test. And you know what? They had vanilla. It was not as healthy as Chobani. The calories were the same, but it was higher in carbs (19 compared to Chobani's 13), higher in sugar (18 compared to Chobani's 13), and lower in Protein (12g compared to Chobani's 16g). But I picked it up and considered it. Was it a worthy substitute? I decided yes..for now. I need to have my yogurt everyday. Yogurt has literally changed my life for the better. I take one a day, just like my vitamins. Brands come and go, but that will never change. The doctor that advised me a few years ago to commit myself to eating yogurt every day to reduce perimenopausal symptoms? As far as I'm concerned, she was a genius. Between that and my overall healthier diet, mine are gone completely. Can I hear an Amen? Hallelujah and Hooah! Oh yeah! Life is good. Lady issues? Have you committed to yogurt yet?

When Was The Last Time You Pampered Yourself?

Before you ask, no...this is not a photo of me. For one, I am not a blond. Two, I forgot to ask the lady doing my facial to take a photo of me laying on the table. She was Korean and unfortunately there was a bit of a language barrier. Still, she did fine. For a while I felt like I was back in Waegwan, South Korea. That's where I was stationed in 1989-1990. I got a lot of facials in Korea (lots of time in the field getting dirty).
I miss the facials I used to have done back in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Wilma was not only my all around spa professional (hair, hands, feet, facials, massages, etc), she was a friend...and I hate to admit it, a pretty good Psychiatrist to boot. She was there for me on my first "single" tour there and again when I returned with my family. During the second tour, my husband was deployed for around 17 months of our three year assignment and I was dealing with a lot emotionally. Wilma was a better listener than anyone I knew and her advice was always sound. If you ever find yourself in Sierra Vista, Arizona (hey, it could happen), go see Wilma. Tell her I sent you. You won't regret it. I keep trying to work a trip in with my husband, just so I go see her again. Yes, she's just that good.
BTW...after a facial, expect some splotchiness. Its a bit dramatic, but it fades with time.
http://www.visageeuropeandayspa.com/home
After my facial, I went over to get my hair done. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I've been going to see a family friend for a long while now and I was used to her knowing what I needed, you know? I was nervous and uncomfortable meeting a new hairstylist. Still, I had no choice. My friend moved (military) and it was going to be a somewhat difficult task to see her for my regular appointments with over 300 miles between us. To make matters worse, she also did our youngest son's hair. Sometimes, I really don't like change. Anyway, I shook hands with the new hairstylist and she directed me to her station. She was extremely nice and easy to talk too. She asked all the right questions and made a few suggestions. In the end, it all worked out. I walked out looking younger (which is always nice), and I may have even gained a new blog follower (which is also nice). My only suggestion for the salon would be to ask the receptionist to smile more. She was very sweet, but she looked incredibly bored.
http://www.kingsandqueenssalonspa.com/
If I had to choose a place with the best front desk greeting, it would probably be Statements. http://www.statementsthesalon.com/ Mmmm...I wonder what Aaron is up to lately. He's the hairstylist who helped me with my donation to locks of love back in 2006. I was about 15 lbs heavier then.

I hear he's lost weight. Hey, Aaron, I lost weight too...and you should see my new guns. :)
You know, I will always miss my friend who moved away, but I'm sure glad there are folks nearby that can make me feel young and pampered. When was the last time you pampered yourself?

Small Ways To Make A Big Impact

http://www.bearnaked.com/sustainable.asp

Today, after my walk (5 miles and finally with an incline of 5), I packaged up my collection of Bear Naked granola bags. I'm going to mail them in for their sustainable packaging project (see link). Its just something little I can do that's positive.
Back before our youngest was born, I was a Company Commander for an Army unit here in Virginia. During the time I was there, we did our best to do what we could for the community. We collected for the local homeless shelter and every month, we gave blood. As a matter of fact, for several months running, our little unit had more blood donations than any unit on post. Why? I knew how important blood donations were. So, I made a deal with them. Donate blood and get a three day pass. Bring a friend or family member who donates and increase that pass to a four day pass. Of course, the specific weekends had to be worked out with their immediate supervisors, but in the end...the plan worked. I know it may seem like bribery to some, but I know in my heart they learned a lot about giving and in the process, we saved lives.
I can't give blood today. They turn me away because of the mad cow scare, because I was stationed in Germany back in the 1980's. Its a bit ridiculous if your ask me. Between my assignment in Germany and the time they stopped me, I had already given several gallons of blood with no issues. To this day, whenever I see a donation truck, I stop and ask if the rules have changed. In the mean time, I do what I can. I recycle. I have switched to drinking water out of the fridge dispenser and if you look at my driver's license, you will see that I am an organ donor. Now, all I need is a hybrid Mustang and I'll be set. Until then, I think I'll grab my reusable bags and walk to the grocery store. What small ways do you make a big impact?

Focus, Follow Through, and Make Good Choices

Our youngest once had a teacher in Elementary school who, at the end of each day, would say to the kids "make good choices". It not only stuck with him, it stuck with me. He was in Martial Arts at the time. So was her daughter. His teacher was close to my age and in excellent shape. I remember she would come in to the classes after running to pick up her daughter. She would always smile and say hi. I'll admit I was envious. She was in great shape. This was a time in my life that I might have looked okay, but I felt like a porcelain doll, small and fragile. At a minimum, it was a bad time for my migraines and I was consistently throwing my back out. I needed a change.
During this time, our son chose to participate in the charity board breaking drives to raise money for victims of the Southwest Asia Tsunami and later Hurricane Katrina. During the Katrina fund raiser, his instructor came over to me with two one inch boards. He said, "you will break these." I looked behind me. Surely there was a student standing there. There wasn't. He said it again. "You can. Just do it. Focus on seeing your hand on the other side. Do not hesitate. Hesitation will only hurt. Focus and follow through." Somehow, at that point, I knew I could do it. Maybe I just needed someone to tell me I could. Maybe I just needed someone to look at me and not see the word "disabled" printed on my forehead but instead to see the stronger warrior me. I made the choice to take a chance, say yes to this amateur attempt at board breaking. And you know what? I broke both those 2 inch boards. My hand was slightly red but it didn't really hurt like I imagined it would. Then he turned to my husband with 4 one inch boards. "You will break these." And with no hesitation, he did. That day, I learned two valuable lessons. One, nothing is impossible with a little focus and follow through, and two, everything it built upon your choices. That was a long time ago, but it still holds true today.

Last night, just as he was leaving to come home from work, my husband called. He wanted to know if we wanted to go out for dinner. I initially said yes, but as usual our youngest didn't want to go out. Thinking about it, I really didn't want to go out either. Before long, my husband was snacking (he's a snacker), "Want to order Chinese?" I started thinking about the idea of ordering Chinese food. Ordering take out seemed like an easy way out. After all, we had plenty of food here in the house. And did I really want Chinese?
Just a couple of days ago, my husband made the comment that we needed to eat the shrimp that was in the freezer. So, I persuaded him tonight was a perfect time for a shrimp and veggie night. We experimented a little. We tossed the shrimp in with green peppers and sliced pineapple. He added a touch of pepper and Teriyaki sauce for flavor. Then, he grilled. Men love to grill. I don't know if its being outdoors or just the ultimate feeling of control, but they love getting out of the kitchen, being the "Master of the Grill". I made it a point to make myself scarce when he is out there. Like any other man activity, grilling affords the man of the house time to reflect on life, or just being a man. Its one of his calming activities. And luckily for us, grilling food is a healthy option. Combined with the microwavable steam fresh veggie pack (broccoli, cauliflower, and sliced carrots), our entire meal was less than 200 calories...that is until we added the glass of Cabernet. :) I think we made good choices.
Later in the evening, we had tea and together watched "Paul" on demand. Very funny. If laughter is good medicine, then I'm thinking maybe we should buy this movie. It will keep us healthy.
I also had a 10 calorie Jello with a 15 calorie serving size of whipped cream.
I went up to read, had a good night's sleep (nearly 8 hours), then woke refreshed and ready to work out. I walked the neighborhood today, four miles, then came home to a quiet house. My husband had left already. Our son was asleep. It was only 0830hrs. I went downstairs to complete my workout. I did what I usually do, but I took it easy. It had been cool and moist outside today. Each of my knees had given out at least once (arthritis bites), and my recovering foot injury felt a bit like a rock in my shoe. I guess sometimes I have to remind myself that I am in fact a bit damaged. One step at a time, right?

Never Give Up, And Never Surrender

My 2011 Personal Workout Journey So Far

Total Miles Walked - 828//
Weight Reps - 42,720 (5lb weights, 10-15lb kettle bells, curl bar, 6 or 8lb medicine ball)//
Sit ups, crunches - 11,300//
Push ups - 4650 (added 21 February)//
Butt Lifts - 6400 (newly added 25 March)

Fifty push ups, one hundred sit ups, one hundred butt lifts, and three hundred weight repetitions. No problem. My foot is feeling better today, though I am still unable to manage an incline on the treadmill. I felt some pain initially in my right hip which makes me believe I'm still favoring one side over the other. I'm used to a little pain. A little pain, I can handle. I always say "pain is just a pothole in the road". You can't go through it. You have to go around it. Don't just stop. Slow down, focus, and breathe. Trust me. It works. My hip pain went away after the first mile of my walk. I did five miles today. And this morning, I was up to my normal pace. I am 172 miles from my personal goal for the year and its only August. No, I am in no rush. I walk when I feel like walking. My body will tell me if and when I'm pushing too hard and if need be, I'll slow down. I can always change my work out. I can even take days off if I wish. The important thing is that I do something positive everyday even if its something small.
Listen, I am here to tell you no one ever got healthy and fit sitting on the couch whining about their issues. I know. There is no magic pill to make things better. Life is not about should have, could have, or would have. Its about what you do from now on and you have to work for it. But, with a little time and effort, you can reach your goals. You may have a few potholes to go around (like a bad back, bad knees, screwed up feet). You may even have a few craters. There are always things you can do to improve your life.
Learn from that time you spent on the couch and take your inspiration from the movies...

“I’ve got to reach for the best that’s in me.” ~ The Natural (1984) Robert Redford

"Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome" ~Heartbreak Ridge (1986) Clint Eastwood.

"Never give up and never surrender" ~ "Galaxy Quest" (1999), Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver.

Personally, I try to remember to tell myself, "The only person standing in your way is you" ~ Black Swan (2010) Natalie Portman.

One Choice At A Time. One Step At A Time.

Last night, I was faced with a decision. Should I have my usual Sugar free Jello with whipped cream, ravage the decadent desserts leftover from Friday night's dinner with friends or go along with the family to Jo's Jo's Soft serve in Dumfries. It was our college kids last night before returning to school up in Massachusetts. I call this choice a "no-brainer". I wanted us to have family time. I even convinced my husband to come along. They seemed a bit shocked that I wanted to come along. After all, ice cream isn't exactly what you call health food. When we got there, I took a look at the menu. We finally decided on the root beer shaved ice. Sweet, but really how bad for you could it be, right? My husband and I shared...very romantic. One choice at a time.
When we came home, I went to take a shower. I like to shower in the evening. It relaxes me. Afterwards, I went to tape my foot back up, but could not figure out where we put the tape. I searched all over the house but never found it. Any calm I felt from the shower was gone by now. I was anxious and my foot was hurting. Its always worse at the end of the day. The boys were downstairs in the basement watching the Red Sox game. When my husband came up on a break from the game, I had finally given up on the tape. I asked him to help me find some. He asked me where I saw it last. Ugh! Seriously? If I knew that, I'd have found it. (Men! Well, at least the Sox won)
I took a deep breath and focused on watching my favorite Sunday night shows with my stepdaughter. I stayed up as late as I possibly could kind of fearing the bed. Would I toss and turn in the night? Its been six days since I injured my foot and its still bruised and swollen. I still don't know if its broken. I'll admit I don't want to go the doctor and have them cast it. How could I walk with a cast? Yeah, you know I would try. Years ago, when I was stationed in Arizona, I broke my wrist. I ran morning PT (physical training) a couple of times in that arm cast until someone with more rank than me said to stop.
Maybe, in a few more days, my foot will be all better. I did get up and walk this morning. I dug around in our son's scout first aid kit until I found some tape. I was able to do five miles on the treadmill at nearly my normal pace. One step at a time. I didn't risk an incline. I kept it at a setting of one. I also did fifty push ups, four hundred miscellaneous small weight repetitions, one hundred sit ups, and one hundred butt lifts.
Then, I came down and made my whey protein fruit smoothie drink. I went over to the couch, sat down, and elevated my foot. I don't think its ever been this ugly. I took a shower, then gave myself a pretty horrible pedicure. I focused on the day when I could get it professionally done again. Right now, no one is touching this foot.