HI Everyone!
Maria, Babette, Laura, MaryEl (a friend of mine who was also interested in the topic), and I went to see Fed Up today. Fantastic Movie, and a real eye-opener. Not sure how long it'll be playing at the Hipp but definitely worth the trip!
We also went to Emiliano's afterwards for a little wine/water and light fare. Truly a lovely afternoon.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Week 2 ends Sunday- Points and Weight Due
Hi everyone,
We've been at it for almost two weeks! Don't forget to email me your points and weight tomorrow before midnight.
And don't forget to vote on the fruit/veggie poll - I'll make a decision by tomorrow whether we're changing anything for next week. Three people haven't voted yet, and it's neck and neck!
http://hhwlchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/05/fruit-and-veggie-poll.html
There's still a couple of people who haven't posted their bio - hopefully you'll have a chance to do that soon, I'd like to meet you :) And I would love to hear your impressions on the challenge so far - overall, is it helping you be on track, what do you find helpful, what do you find hard, what do you think could make this better?
I, for one, I'm glad we're doing this. I've been diligent about fruits, veggies, water, exercise, sleep, just about everything BUT the clean eating points. And it shows - I haven't lost any weight! But I'm maintaining, and overall making better choices than I would have otherwise. And the best part is keeping in touch with all of you, and meeting so many nice new people.
What about you? What's the good, the bad and the ugly?
We've been at it for almost two weeks! Don't forget to email me your points and weight tomorrow before midnight.
And don't forget to vote on the fruit/veggie poll - I'll make a decision by tomorrow whether we're changing anything for next week. Three people haven't voted yet, and it's neck and neck!
http://hhwlchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/05/fruit-and-veggie-poll.html
There's still a couple of people who haven't posted their bio - hopefully you'll have a chance to do that soon, I'd like to meet you :) And I would love to hear your impressions on the challenge so far - overall, is it helping you be on track, what do you find helpful, what do you find hard, what do you think could make this better?
I, for one, I'm glad we're doing this. I've been diligent about fruits, veggies, water, exercise, sleep, just about everything BUT the clean eating points. And it shows - I haven't lost any weight! But I'm maintaining, and overall making better choices than I would have otherwise. And the best part is keeping in touch with all of you, and meeting so many nice new people.
What about you? What's the good, the bad and the ugly?
Saturday motivation 5/31/2014
Happy Saturday! I had some work done yesterday to my mouth and I'm a bit tender this morning. I'm also on a more restrictive diet for the next few days while things heal. So, I'm giving myself a little pass and eating things I don't normally because if not I'll be living on water for the next three days! All's good, I won't be hard on myself-this to shall pass. In the meantime I can still go beast mode with my workouts! Make it great!
Check In
Got to Wi Fi and can use my IPAD. Been responding to blog posts with my phone but realized they aren't showing up :(. If any one knows any secrets to posting from your phone please LMK.
See that tiny sliver of light between me and my husband? That's the star if a waist! I was surprised to see it. See part of my weight loss journey has to do with paying attention. I gained my weight by not paying attention to myself, what I was eating, and what I was doing. Now I am paying attention to all of that and other things to like how healthy I feel, how I love to move, how I love a challenge, and how I look. Being with all of you in this challenge is helping me pay attention. Thankyou.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Who is up for an Ab Challenge??
Hello All!
I just saw that a friend on FB signed up for a squat challenge. I looked it over, but saw that they have an ab challenge that starts tomorrow too! I decided to do the ab challenge, as my abs need more work than my legs at the moment. Anyone else interested? I'm posting the chart here, in case you are not on Facebook, or have no interest in signing up there.
I'll give it a go... I think Day 9 is when it will start getting intense!
I'll give it a go... I think Day 9 is when it will start getting intense!
waitwhat just happened?!
Maybe it's just that I'm getting my "off week" out of the way...my eating has been fine but the water and exercise has completely gone out the window, along with my food journal and even checking in with you guys!!
HOWEVER.
I'm calling this week over (with 2 glasses of wine with dinner tonight), and back into the land of healthy living tomorrow!
Onward!
S. :)
PS: I wish I could make the movies with you guys, but my daughter is playing in a volleyball tournament. Yeah, her mom thinks she's kind of a big deal. ;)
Have fun, sweet friends!
HOWEVER.
I'm calling this week over (with 2 glasses of wine with dinner tonight), and back into the land of healthy living tomorrow!
Onward!
S. :)
PS: I wish I could make the movies with you guys, but my daughter is playing in a volleyball tournament. Yeah, her mom thinks she's kind of a big deal. ;)
Have fun, sweet friends!
The Hipp - Movie and Art Exhibit (Heidi)
Heidi is in Puerto Rico right now (so jealous!!) and has been having trouble posting, but she asked me to let everyone know about this:
For those of us planning on going to see Fed Up this Saturday at 4pm, Heidi's art is on display at the Hipp's Art Gallery, as part of the Repurpose Project. The gallery is open 4 - 9pm so we can stop by and check it out after the movie, and before going to Maude's to discuss. Looking forward to it! http://thehipp.org/explore/art-gallery
PS - If you're wondering how to make the links work, after you paste the address, highlight it and click on link on the tool bar to make it active.
For those of us planning on going to see Fed Up this Saturday at 4pm, Heidi's art is on display at the Hipp's Art Gallery, as part of the Repurpose Project. The gallery is open 4 - 9pm so we can stop by and check it out after the movie, and before going to Maude's to discuss. Looking forward to it! http://thehipp.org/explore/art-gallery
PS - If you're wondering how to make the links work, after you paste the address, highlight it and click on link on the tool bar to make it active.
Repurpose Project
April 4 - June 22
 |
Various Artists
After two years seeing photos of the amazing things their customers have created with salvaged materials the Repurpose Project put out a call out to local artists to submit "repurposed" works for an official showing. Repurpose is thrilled to showcase the talent they've seen in the Hippodrome Gallery. All the artwork is composed of at least 90% reclaimed materials illustrating the beauty and creativity that can be found in our “trash."
|
 |  |  |
Info: artgallery@thehipp.org
| Gallery hours* | |
| Tuesday, Thursday & Friday | 6:30-9:00 |
| Wednesday & Saturday | 4:00-9:00 |
| Sunday | 1:30-3:30 & 5:30-8:30 |
| Monday | CLOSED |
| *Hours are in general and approximate, and apply only when plays and films are running at the theatre. | |
Friday motivation 5/30/2014
Woot woot-it's Friday!! A nice, busy weekend (including minor oral surgery later today), but nothing outrageous. Hoping to actually go to the movies too! Ahh, a girl can dream...
Movies are a great source for encouragement and motivation! I often hear these words when I'm stressed and want to punch somebody in the nose. Elle Woods is right though: I exercise therefore I'm happy. Happy people just don't go around punching people's noses! Make it great!
Movies are a great source for encouragement and motivation! I often hear these words when I'm stressed and want to punch somebody in the nose. Elle Woods is right though: I exercise therefore I'm happy. Happy people just don't go around punching people's noses! Make it great!
Thursday, May 29, 2014
who is up for a trip to the Hipp to see Fed Up?
We could go see the movie and then go to Maude's for a cup of tea and discuss it. Seems like it might be good inspiration for us to stay off of sugar PLUS it would give us a chance to meet one another. Here is a review of it....
BUY TICKETS
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2014/05/07/why-we-all-need-to-see-the-movie-fed-up
FED UP
BUY TICKETS
May 31 - June 12
- Grand Jury Prize Nominee — Sundance Film Festival
"Soechtig puts mainstream clout to work to deliver a hard-hitting message. Her mix of archival material, punchy graphics and concise talking-head commentary traces a troubling modern history." —Los Angeles Times
"'Fed Up' has a fire in its belly to change things. Naïve? Maybe. So what. I say, Godspeed. Here is something rare at the multiplex: a movie that matters." —Rolling Stone
"Toggling between profiles of kids struggling with their weight and a wider look at the evolution of processed foods. 'Fed Up' presents a watertight case that there's something deeply wrong with the way we eat." —New York Post
For the past 30 years, everything we thought we knew about food and exercise is dead wrong.Fed Up is the film the food industry doesn’t want you to see. From Katie Couric, Laurie David (Oscar winning producer of An Inconvenient Truth) and director Stephanie Soechtig, Fed Upwill change the way you eat forever. The film opens in theaters across the country on May 9th. (C) Official Site
1hr 32min | English | PG
Tickets and showtimes will be available soon!
Directed by: Stephanie Soechtig
For the chocoholics
Healthy....One minute fudge
http://www.therawtarian.com/raw-chocolate-fudge-1-minute
http://www.therawtarian.com/raw-chocolate-fudge-1-minute
10 Mistakes Women Make in the Gym
So I've been blessed with two people in my life that are fitness instructors and my friends. Amy Hester, my running coach, I've known since elementary school and Girl Scouts, and Nathan Trenteseaux, my trainer and motivator, owns Underground Fitness Revolution in Alachua. I've know Nate since high school. Nate's the man! He tells it like it is and has the philosophy that women should be strong, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I go to Nate with all of my questions or concerns on weights and form. He's been a BIG part of my progress to date!
Amy has helped me get stronger and faster with my runs. I mostly run on the treadmill (I live in the country and often run at night, no safe place to run) and she's there to answer my questions about run simulation, pace, form, breathing, etc. I mention these two in case anyone is looking for additional help!
Nate shared this article (http://www.t-nation.com/training/10-mistakes-women-make-in-the-gym) on Facebook this morning and I thought it interesting. When I started with weights I was really scared because I didn't want to "bulk up and look like a dude". He reassured me that won't happen! He's right! With the weight off, I'm working to tone and get the body I want!
Amy has helped me get stronger and faster with my runs. I mostly run on the treadmill (I live in the country and often run at night, no safe place to run) and she's there to answer my questions about run simulation, pace, form, breathing, etc. I mention these two in case anyone is looking for additional help!
Nate shared this article (http://www.t-nation.com/training/10-mistakes-women-make-in-the-gym) on Facebook this morning and I thought it interesting. When I started with weights I was really scared because I didn't want to "bulk up and look like a dude". He reassured me that won't happen! He's right! With the weight off, I'm working to tone and get the body I want!
The Soylent Revolution Will Not Be Pleasurable
Came across this article in the NY Times today. I can't imagine using this diet, can you? But it is an interesting idea. I do something in the same vein to simplify healthy food preparation for the work day -- I tend to eat the same foods each day, and I've selected the foods to ensure intake of certain nutrients, e.g. almonds for vitamin E, bran buds for fiber, Greek yogurt and cheese for calcium and protein, a mixed vegetable lunch for those nutrients, etc. Then I eat very differently on the weekends, and I also give myself a break on many Fridays. A good thing about eating the same menu each day is that you can play with the portions (calorie content) and optimize to maintain or lose weight. This is much harder to do with a varied diet. We'll see if this plan works out for me over the next 6 and a half weeks (minus 9 China days)...
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/29/technology/personaltech/the-soylent-revolution-will-not-be-pleasurable.html?ref=business&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/29/technology/personaltech/the-soylent-revolution-will-not-be-pleasurable.html?ref=business&_r=0
Thursday motivation 5/29/2014
Happy Thursday! Yay-only one more day to go!
Feeling sad this morning with the death of Maya Angelou. A woman who stayed true to herself and on the path God set for her. Her obstacles were challenging, but she she rose up and kept walking, head high, smile wide. What a great lesson, eh? Looking back I've set (or had placed) obstacles that I thought were too difficult: starting a business, losing 80 pounds, regain some self-esteem. Each time I remember thinking "why"? But, as my sweet friend, the late, oh so GREAT Catherine "khaki" Jones would say, "why not"? Anything worth having is worth working for. Change your attitude, conquer the world! Well, obstacle anyway! It's always worth it in the end! Make it great!
Feeling sad this morning with the death of Maya Angelou. A woman who stayed true to herself and on the path God set for her. Her obstacles were challenging, but she she rose up and kept walking, head high, smile wide. What a great lesson, eh? Looking back I've set (or had placed) obstacles that I thought were too difficult: starting a business, losing 80 pounds, regain some self-esteem. Each time I remember thinking "why"? But, as my sweet friend, the late, oh so GREAT Catherine "khaki" Jones would say, "why not"? Anything worth having is worth working for. Change your attitude, conquer the world! Well, obstacle anyway! It's always worth it in the end! Make it great!
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Roasted chickpeas rock!
For all you ladies who crave snacky stuff (Lisa, for example), I made some roasted chickpeas today and thought they were delicious! Super easy and chickpeas are also full of fiber (Babette, I bet they taste better than bran buds!). People put all sorts of spices on but I ate them plain, didn't even add salt. They remind me a bit of corn nuts. For those interested, this is what I did.
Roasted Chickpeas
Roasted Chickpeas
- Take a can or more of garbanzo beans, dump on a strainer and rinse well.
- Cover a baking sheet with paper towels.
- Dump chickpeas on baking sheet.
- Cover with more paper towels and dry as well as you can. Also try to take off as much as the garbanzo "peels" as you can when drying.
- Take another baking sheet and lightly spray with oil (I used safflower).
- Put chickpeas in a single layer.
- Cook at 400-450 degrees for about 50 minutes, giving the cookie sheet a good shake about every 10 minutes.
- The chickpeas are done when they've turned golden brown and become hard. They will harden a bit more after cooking, but not too much. So make sure they're pretty hard when you take them out.
- Season to taste. Some people put lemon and rosemary, others make them Indian style, Thai style, season with parmesan cheese and even make them sweet. Look for inspiration on the web!
Note: Most recipes say you should mist the garbanzos with oil and salt them before putting in the oven. Somewhere (wish I could find it again) I read that it is best not to because it makes it harder for the garbanzos to dry out. Since the pan has some oil in it anyway, the garbanzos do get a little bit of oil in them.
Happy eating! (These are super good but remember they can cause some serious farting. So if you are going to eat a whole bunch, make some for your whole family so you can all make some merry music together!)
Selfie with my Poolside BFF
My family gave me a transistor radio for Mother's Day. I love it! Now I can listen to NPR as I tread water and the time goes by much more quickly. Yes, I am still alone, but my mind is occupied by interesting speakers and new information.
What are your tricks for overcoming your exercise excuses? I'd love to hear them, as a bag of tricks is better than just one!
I hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!
Superfoods to add to your diet
for anyone interested:
45 superfoods
Babette, this list made me think about those ginger shots we had in Miami! Haha!
45 superfoods
Babette, this list made me think about those ginger shots we had in Miami! Haha!
Wednesday motivation 5/28/2014
Happy Wednesday! Middle of the week and no stupid camel showing up on FB
so far-I think it's going to be a marvelous day (said as Billy
Crystal). With that, NOW is the time to get going on what whatever else
will make this a marvelous day, week, month and year for you! Don't put
it off until tomorrow, that's just silly! Now is the time, the right
time, the only time! Why wait really? Make it great!!
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Gollum vs Robyn...
Introducing Susan
Hi everyone. I’m
Susan Falsetti. I’ve been in Gainesville
for almost 18 years (except for the one year we lived in Sarajevo, Bosnia). I’ve
lived in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Boston MA, Long Island,
Pennsylvania and New Mexico as well!
My ex and I moved here when he took a job at UF. I have two sons: a 19 year old and almost 16
year old. I’m 53 and struggling to
rejuvenate my social life. Coming off of a rough year and a half with work and
divorce. I work for a software company as a quasi-technical/consultant/sales
person.
I would say that for much of my adult life I wished I was
about 10 pounds lighter. For about 5-7 years solid I achieved the weight where
I really felt comfortable. In my 40s I
bought my first bikini since I was probably 15 years old! I had a six-pack, regularly did weights and
was running 25-40 miles a week with friends. It’s been about 3 or 4 years since
I ran a half marathon.
In the last 3 years my running distance/speed/frequency has
dramatically decreased. As I heard someone say the other day, my eating is
outdoing my exercise. I eat when I’m down or bored. I love good chocolate and
my mom calls me a cream-aholic (give me fresh whipped cream any day)! I’m still
pretty good at turning down store bought cookies and cakes, but I also tend to
bake when I’m lonely or aimless and of course I only bake things I like to eat!
I don’t expect to get back to my lowest weight but would
really like to take 10 more pounds off. Like Babette, I’m only 5’2” so even 3-4
pounds is a new size in clothes for me. This time round I’ve tremendously
reduced my refined sugar intake and am generally avoiding bread, pasta,
rice. I’m not worrying about the
carbs/sugars in fruits or vegetables and am still eating fresh potatoes and
corn.
I’d be up for some company and motivation to do some 2-3
mile runs (if you can bear an 11 minute pace).
Thanks to all of you for the warmth, intelligence and
encouragement that comes through in your notes.
Susan
Hallelujah! I made it in the world of blogs!
Just got back from my second time at week 2, day 3 of couch 2 5K. I got sick after the last time I finished week 2. so I repeated. I have to say that I think it got hotter in the mean time. I will properly introduce myself soon. Had a busy weekend, a Monday always busy with sorting veggies, a 24 Anniversary last night and a book club meeting tonight. No complaints, just a busy spell.
GO SHANNA!
Shanna is in the lead for Weight Loss Percentage this first week - GOOD JOB!!
Heidi asked me to look into her weight loss percentage because she thought there was a mistake, and she was right. I had entered an initial weight that was several pounds higher than it should have been, so it looked like she lost 8 pounds instead of 2. Sorry about that, it has been corrected and now Heidi is still in the lead for HH points, but Shanna is ahead on weight loss - go Shanna!!!!
And in case you're wondering how I could have thought Heidi lost so much in one week, on the first week of our HealthyWage competition she lost 11 pounds - mostly water, but that girl can do it!!
Heidi asked me to look into her weight loss percentage because she thought there was a mistake, and she was right. I had entered an initial weight that was several pounds higher than it should have been, so it looked like she lost 8 pounds instead of 2. Sorry about that, it has been corrected and now Heidi is still in the lead for HH points, but Shanna is ahead on weight loss - go Shanna!!!!
And in case you're wondering how I could have thought Heidi lost so much in one week, on the first week of our HealthyWage competition she lost 11 pounds - mostly water, but that girl can do it!!
Tuesday motivation 5/27/2014
I get asked a lot about where I workout. Home is my gym, primarily because of an insanely busy work schedule and somewhat because gyms/health clubs became a source of discouragement for me. I know, being around other healthy, motivated people should inspire but for me, it in the beginning, it just reminded me how overweight and out-of-shape I was. The beginning is the critical time when starting a new lifestyle-nothing should sway you! Wherever or however you choose to get your exercise, just do it! We won't look pretty at the end but we'll feel amazing! Make it great!
Monday, May 26, 2014
Heidi's Intro.
Hi Everyone,
I am Heidi. I have lived in Gainesville for about 15 years. I work as a Private Speech Language Pathologist. I am married to Taylor and have three children Rachel (14), Lucy (9), and Joe (4). We hope to add a dog this summer :).
I LOVED the Heathywage challenge and I found my motivation there, with Maria, Kristina, Carter, and Cami. Before that I refused to pay attention to my weight and felt like it was a battle I couldn't win. Attempts to lose weight were too much work and something and I felt picked on for having to do it. With that challenge I lost nearly 40 lbs. I loved doing it and I saw my health improve too. I didn't need naps, was a lot less tired and cranky, and physically I Was able to do more and more like run across the street without getting out of breath. After the challenge I felt really lost. I knew what I needed to do and each day I would say I would do it, tomorrow. I really needed some accountability and really didn't want to lose all I worked for. I am sooo thankful for this challenge.
I lean towards whole foods/clean eating naturally but can sway due to convenience. I am best at communicating in small groups of two or three. I love secondhand stores, making art, adventure travel, long walks, bike rides, anything related to water, and girlfriends.
I have been friends with Cindy, Julie Ann, and Stephanie since before kids. I was lucky enough to meet Maria 14 years ago and she has been my regular work out buddy and mental health counselor :). I know Shanna through church and her unbelievable hugs and several other people through kids and mutual friends. Again, I just feel incredibly thankful for this group and the chance to participate.
I am Heidi. I have lived in Gainesville for about 15 years. I work as a Private Speech Language Pathologist. I am married to Taylor and have three children Rachel (14), Lucy (9), and Joe (4). We hope to add a dog this summer :).
I LOVED the Heathywage challenge and I found my motivation there, with Maria, Kristina, Carter, and Cami. Before that I refused to pay attention to my weight and felt like it was a battle I couldn't win. Attempts to lose weight were too much work and something and I felt picked on for having to do it. With that challenge I lost nearly 40 lbs. I loved doing it and I saw my health improve too. I didn't need naps, was a lot less tired and cranky, and physically I Was able to do more and more like run across the street without getting out of breath. After the challenge I felt really lost. I knew what I needed to do and each day I would say I would do it, tomorrow. I really needed some accountability and really didn't want to lose all I worked for. I am sooo thankful for this challenge.
I lean towards whole foods/clean eating naturally but can sway due to convenience. I am best at communicating in small groups of two or three. I love secondhand stores, making art, adventure travel, long walks, bike rides, anything related to water, and girlfriends.
I have been friends with Cindy, Julie Ann, and Stephanie since before kids. I was lucky enough to meet Maria 14 years ago and she has been my regular work out buddy and mental health counselor :). I know Shanna through church and her unbelievable hugs and several other people through kids and mutual friends. Again, I just feel incredibly thankful for this group and the chance to participate.
Tips and Tricks for Eating More Fruits and Veggies
Regardless of what we decide about the rules, I think we all agree that we should be aiming for at least 3 servings of fruits and 5 servings of veggies per day. So I thought it would be good to share some of our tricks to do this.
To me it all comes down to advance planning - when I'm hungry and tired, pizza always sounds good, but if I know what I'm cooking and have all the ingredients, I know my healthy meal will take just about as long as the delivery guy or the frozen pizza in the oven. So I'll start with some of my own tips:
To me it all comes down to advance planning - when I'm hungry and tired, pizza always sounds good, but if I know what I'm cooking and have all the ingredients, I know my healthy meal will take just about as long as the delivery guy or the frozen pizza in the oven. So I'll start with some of my own tips:
- I hate to have fresh produce go bad and used to buy very little for fear of having to throw it out. Now I plan my weekly menu so I know exactly what I'm cooking that week, and shop for all the necessary ingredients, but don't overbuy.
- I joined an organic vegetable club where I get a box of fresh veggies and fruit every Monday night. I actually get my veggies from Cindy (when are you going to post your bio??) who's one of the coordinators for Annie's Buying Club here in Gainesville, but there are many options including CSAs or going to the Farmers Market every week. I usually plan my menus on Sundays based on the list posted on their website, starting with the veggies and building the meals around that.
- We eat lots of main dish salads (in summer) and soups (in winter). They are loaded with veggies but also protein (meat, chicken, beans, lentils) and usually some cheese, nuts, etc on the salad. They don't feel at all like diet food, and they do fill me up, but overall they are a lighter meal than eating lasagna would be :)
- Monday dinner is usually a veggie stir-fry or something like that, using lots of the veggies while they're really fresh. And I plan the other meals depending on how much time I'll have that day to cook, and how sturdy the veggies are, saving the more durable ones for later in the week.
- I plan on cooking enough so I can bring leftovers for lunch to work the next day. If there's enough leftovers, I save them for a second family meal, or transform them into a new meal.
- A big pot of soup made on the weekend gives you lunches for every day of the week!
- For a really quick breakfast, I make a frittata full of veggies when I have time - always caramelized onions with some other stuff added like spinach, zucchini, peppers, etc. After baking it, I cut it into individual portions and freeze them in zip-loc bags so I can microwave one when I need protein in the morning, and get a serving of veggies in that way. A 9x13 pan gives me 12 breakfasts.
- I also love lots of berries with a bit of plain greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey. Can get two fruit servings that way, a little protein, and it tastes like dessert instead of breakfast!
- Bananas, apples, grapes, clementines are all easy to stick in a lunch bag and have handy for snacks. Pineapple and melon can be just as easy if you cut them up as soon as you get them home and pack them in 1-cup containers - 2 servings right there!
- For snacking on veggies, Heidi introduced me to her party tray that lives permanently in the fridge and actually gets eaten by the whole family, kids included. Just wash and chop the veggies so they're ready when you're hungry. She serves hers with ranch dressing for the kids, I prefer hummus.
- After dinner if I'm tempted by dessert, I try to follow Michael Pollan's advice: If you're not hungry enough to eat an apple, you're not hungry. And if you are, then eat an apple!
Memorial Day
Fruit and Veggie POLL
Ok, so the poll widget on the right doesn't seem to be working :(
I googled it and found that some people were complaining about it being broken just last week, so maybe is not me messing up... In any case, here's another try:
See Results: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-WF7RR6P/
I googled it and found that some people were complaining about it being broken just last week, so maybe is not me messing up... In any case, here's another try:
See Results: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-WF7RR6P/
Wow, Heidi!!!!!
Way to go on the weight loss percentage, Heidi...what would you say was the number one thing that helped you reach such an awesome achievement this past week?
Monday motivation 5/26/2014
Happy Monday! I hope this long weekend has treated you well so far! Please take a moment today and remember the men, women and animals whose lives have been sacrificed for our freedom!
Also remember to treat yourself well today. As so many continue spending time with family and friends, the choices we make have consequences. Sure, a little now and then won't hurt but if you've been eating and drinking sugary fun for the last three days, it will take a toll! Moderation and water will be your greatest allies today! Make it great!
Also remember to treat yourself well today. As so many continue spending time with family and friends, the choices we make have consequences. Sure, a little now and then won't hurt but if you've been eating and drinking sugary fun for the last three days, it will take a toll! Moderation and water will be your greatest allies today! Make it great!
Check Your Points!
Hi everyone,
Apart from the heated discussion on partial points, we need to clarify the rest. I've gotten a lot of questions through private email which leads me to believe we're NOT all doing it the same way. Some categories we have some leeway, but one person reported 303 out of 302 points so I know something's wrong!!
Contact with Teammate - this week is double points but that is ALREADY reflected on the 2pts per day. Other weeks it will be only 1pt. This includes emailing the group, posting on the blog, or one-on-one communications with another member.
64oz Water - all or nothing points
Stop Eating before 9pm - we changed it to Stop Eating a Few Hours Before YOUR Bedtime / Go to Bed Hungry. Not starving, but not stuffed.
3 Fruit Servings and 5 Veg Servings - for this week we're doing all or nothing points. The discussion is still ongoing. I think we need to hear from EVERYONE so maybe I'll do a poll. Not that I like to change the "rules" but I feel we're still figuring this out.
Clean Eating / Best Choices / PROUD points - are you proud of your choices today? This is the category with the most leeway and people are holding themselves to different standards, but that's the whole purpose of this category!
Keep a Food Journal - this can be the one provided or any other format, electronic or paper. Again, each day you get all or nothing.
Exercise - this one we copied from SixSisters and never debated but I wonder if people are following correctly. Each day you get 5 pts if you exercised for 30 min, 7 points if you exercised for 45 min. BUT it says you only get points for exercising 5 days a week.... so you get two days off. So no one should have more than 35 points for the week in that category. Should we consider giving points for EVERY DAY instead, in the spirit of pushing ourselves to do better? If you're training hard you need a day off, but if your exercise is walking, doing it every day is better!
Sleep - you give yourself the points if you slept 7 hours LAST NIGHT. That is Monday points are for your sleep Sunday night, so by the end of the week you can actually report, and not have to guess! And again, this is open to interpretation a bit, since some people need a lot more, others less, others want to count quality sleep, etc.
Maintenance - this is done weekly, 50 points added if your weight at the end of the week is NOT higher than your lowest weight so far in the competition. For this first week, just compare it to your starting weight. If you've lost or maintained you get those 50 points. For the next few weeks there'll be a spot on the worksheet where you'll write the lowest weight so far and that's what you'll compare it to.
So please check your points and let me know if they need to be adjusted.
In terms of the rules, I do believe that partial points for fruits and veggies and every day points for exercise should be discussed. We had a lot of back and forth about the No Sweet Treats points (which you should look up in Urban Dictionary, BTW) and changed it to Clean Eating, and also discussions about the 9pm rules and sleep. The purpose of the categories is to help us do better for our own well being. Some of us are competitive (hi Annie!) and some are not (hi Cami!) so what motivates one person does not work for another one. Here we want EVERYONE to be motivated and no one is allowed to quit, because you would be quitting on yourself! So let's work on finding a way to motivate every single one of us.... and still make sure that the prizes go to those that are working the hardest!
Maria
Apart from the heated discussion on partial points, we need to clarify the rest. I've gotten a lot of questions through private email which leads me to believe we're NOT all doing it the same way. Some categories we have some leeway, but one person reported 303 out of 302 points so I know something's wrong!!
Contact with Teammate - this week is double points but that is ALREADY reflected on the 2pts per day. Other weeks it will be only 1pt. This includes emailing the group, posting on the blog, or one-on-one communications with another member.
64oz Water - all or nothing points
Stop Eating before 9pm - we changed it to Stop Eating a Few Hours Before YOUR Bedtime / Go to Bed Hungry. Not starving, but not stuffed.
3 Fruit Servings and 5 Veg Servings - for this week we're doing all or nothing points. The discussion is still ongoing. I think we need to hear from EVERYONE so maybe I'll do a poll. Not that I like to change the "rules" but I feel we're still figuring this out.
Clean Eating / Best Choices / PROUD points - are you proud of your choices today? This is the category with the most leeway and people are holding themselves to different standards, but that's the whole purpose of this category!
Keep a Food Journal - this can be the one provided or any other format, electronic or paper. Again, each day you get all or nothing.
Exercise - this one we copied from SixSisters and never debated but I wonder if people are following correctly. Each day you get 5 pts if you exercised for 30 min, 7 points if you exercised for 45 min. BUT it says you only get points for exercising 5 days a week.... so you get two days off. So no one should have more than 35 points for the week in that category. Should we consider giving points for EVERY DAY instead, in the spirit of pushing ourselves to do better? If you're training hard you need a day off, but if your exercise is walking, doing it every day is better!
Sleep - you give yourself the points if you slept 7 hours LAST NIGHT. That is Monday points are for your sleep Sunday night, so by the end of the week you can actually report, and not have to guess! And again, this is open to interpretation a bit, since some people need a lot more, others less, others want to count quality sleep, etc.
Maintenance - this is done weekly, 50 points added if your weight at the end of the week is NOT higher than your lowest weight so far in the competition. For this first week, just compare it to your starting weight. If you've lost or maintained you get those 50 points. For the next few weeks there'll be a spot on the worksheet where you'll write the lowest weight so far and that's what you'll compare it to.
So please check your points and let me know if they need to be adjusted.
In terms of the rules, I do believe that partial points for fruits and veggies and every day points for exercise should be discussed. We had a lot of back and forth about the No Sweet Treats points (which you should look up in Urban Dictionary, BTW) and changed it to Clean Eating, and also discussions about the 9pm rules and sleep. The purpose of the categories is to help us do better for our own well being. Some of us are competitive (hi Annie!) and some are not (hi Cami!) so what motivates one person does not work for another one. Here we want EVERYONE to be motivated and no one is allowed to quit, because you would be quitting on yourself! So let's work on finding a way to motivate every single one of us.... and still make sure that the prizes go to those that are working the hardest!
Maria
Sunday, May 25, 2014
A little more water motivation
Came across this link and had to share! I want to do all I can to encourage and motivate you to get in your water! I know it's hard but your body will thank you for it!
http://www.fitnessrxwomen.com/?s=Water&submit=Search
http://www.fitnessrxwomen.com/?s=Water&submit=Search
Shanna Intro :)
:)Hi all!
My name is Shanna Johnson, I was born in Tampa but moved to G'ville when I was 2 months old so I count myself a native. :)
After I graduated from PKY, I "took a year off" and moved out from the folks house and got a job at the original Bageland, back behind the old Purple Porpoise? Once I got tired of making minimum wage while waiting on students, I ended up heading back to school when I was 22 (yes, 1 became 4), landing in Asheville, NC and attending a small liberal arts college called Warren Wilson. I lived up there for 9 years (I am KICKING myself for not buying property back then!!), but once I met my husband the heart strings started pulling me back to my friends and family, so in 2001 we moved back here and got married in 2002. My husband Glenn was born here, too, but when he was 5 his family moved up to Athens, GA, so yes. He's a Bulldog. But we have come to terms with our mixed marriage, we somehow make it work.
I've always thought that I've struggled with my weight, but in looking back I was unfairly comparing myself to others, when in actuality I was just right. Damn that 20/20 hindsight...
My struggle truly began after my daughter Ella was born in 2002, I put on about 40 pounds. After a few months of wallowing I went on the Atkins diet and actually got back to below my preggie weight, which felt right where I needed to be...but alas, I got pregnant with my son during the hurricanes of 2004 (big baby boom came the following June!), found my love for carbs too hard to fight and promptly put on 60+ pounds with Nate. Unfortunately for me, he wasn't a 60 pound baby...
Pile on the following years with anxiety, stress, an Autism diagnosis for my son, my mom breaking an arm, breaking a hip AND fighting breast cancer, losing 2 friends to suicide in less than a year and the death of 3 family members (and don't EVEN get me started on the sister-in-law from HELL) and I'm now at the heaviest I've ever been. To deal with the depression I found myself in (which I had never experienced before, a truly scary thing), I finally went to see Dr. Gabby (Gabrielle Peterson, I can't say ENOUGH about that amazing woman!) and she helped me go through all that grieving that I never let myself do. See, I'm a perpetual volunteer (which Heidi, Cindy and Steph can attest to!), I want to help make things better for others, however I can. My issue is, I need to put the care of myself within the top 3 of things I need to take care of; the problem is, I'm lucky if I ever make it ONTO freaking list! I figured out when it was time to leave Dr. Gabby when we spent 30 minutes talking about our favorite parts in The Walking Dead...I LOVE zombies.
Heidi, Cindy and Steph have all been amazing friends to me these last few years, I've been blessed with their love and light in more ways than I can count, so it's fitting that I do this challenge with them, loves that I feel the most safe with. And by proxy I feel safe with this new group of women, all on the path of health and well being. :)
So that's me, Shanna. :)
PS: My posted pic is my official "before", taken on May 5th, a day after I had wrenched my knee (hence the scooter). The knee is better, but when I originally went in to have it looked at, my BP was 140 over 85, which freaked me the F*** OUT. I've always had really low BP, like 105 - 110, so I knew something had to change. I started the 17-day diet (which Glenn has been AMAZING with his support, cooking everything!!) and have lost 20 pounds since this pic was taken. And when I went in for a progress check on my knee? It was back down to 113 over 75. I am SOLD on this healthy living thing. :)
My name is Shanna Johnson, I was born in Tampa but moved to G'ville when I was 2 months old so I count myself a native. :)
After I graduated from PKY, I "took a year off" and moved out from the folks house and got a job at the original Bageland, back behind the old Purple Porpoise? Once I got tired of making minimum wage while waiting on students, I ended up heading back to school when I was 22 (yes, 1 became 4), landing in Asheville, NC and attending a small liberal arts college called Warren Wilson. I lived up there for 9 years (I am KICKING myself for not buying property back then!!), but once I met my husband the heart strings started pulling me back to my friends and family, so in 2001 we moved back here and got married in 2002. My husband Glenn was born here, too, but when he was 5 his family moved up to Athens, GA, so yes. He's a Bulldog. But we have come to terms with our mixed marriage, we somehow make it work.
I've always thought that I've struggled with my weight, but in looking back I was unfairly comparing myself to others, when in actuality I was just right. Damn that 20/20 hindsight...
My struggle truly began after my daughter Ella was born in 2002, I put on about 40 pounds. After a few months of wallowing I went on the Atkins diet and actually got back to below my preggie weight, which felt right where I needed to be...but alas, I got pregnant with my son during the hurricanes of 2004 (big baby boom came the following June!), found my love for carbs too hard to fight and promptly put on 60+ pounds with Nate. Unfortunately for me, he wasn't a 60 pound baby...
Pile on the following years with anxiety, stress, an Autism diagnosis for my son, my mom breaking an arm, breaking a hip AND fighting breast cancer, losing 2 friends to suicide in less than a year and the death of 3 family members (and don't EVEN get me started on the sister-in-law from HELL) and I'm now at the heaviest I've ever been. To deal with the depression I found myself in (which I had never experienced before, a truly scary thing), I finally went to see Dr. Gabby (Gabrielle Peterson, I can't say ENOUGH about that amazing woman!) and she helped me go through all that grieving that I never let myself do. See, I'm a perpetual volunteer (which Heidi, Cindy and Steph can attest to!), I want to help make things better for others, however I can. My issue is, I need to put the care of myself within the top 3 of things I need to take care of; the problem is, I'm lucky if I ever make it ONTO freaking list! I figured out when it was time to leave Dr. Gabby when we spent 30 minutes talking about our favorite parts in The Walking Dead...I LOVE zombies.
Heidi, Cindy and Steph have all been amazing friends to me these last few years, I've been blessed with their love and light in more ways than I can count, so it's fitting that I do this challenge with them, loves that I feel the most safe with. And by proxy I feel safe with this new group of women, all on the path of health and well being. :)
So that's me, Shanna. :)
PS: My posted pic is my official "before", taken on May 5th, a day after I had wrenched my knee (hence the scooter). The knee is better, but when I originally went in to have it looked at, my BP was 140 over 85, which freaked me the F*** OUT. I've always had really low BP, like 105 - 110, so I knew something had to change. I started the 17-day diet (which Glenn has been AMAZING with his support, cooking everything!!) and have lost 20 pounds since this pic was taken. And when I went in for a progress check on my knee? It was back down to 113 over 75. I am SOLD on this healthy living thing. :)
Julie Anne's Introduction
Hi, there.
I'm Julie Anne & am very glad to be a part of this group. I've been in the "I really need to do something" mindset for so very long, and this has finally given me the impetus to get off my duff and actually start making healthier choices (thank you, Heidi!).
I am one of the rare native north Floridians. I grew up about 30 miles away in Starke (I'm a 5th generation Starkite). I'm the oldest of 4 kids. The rest of my family still lives in Bradford Co, which is nice as they are close (and my kids have lots of cousins with whom to play). I moved to Gainesville in 1994 to start graduate studies in Botany. While in graduate school, I met my husband, Chris. He is from Saratoga Springs, NY. After graduating with his forestry degree from SUNY, he came down here to visit his best friend (who introduced us), and luckily decided to put down roots here and has adapted very well to the Southern life. He got his master's in forestry from UF, I got another one in PA studies, and we've lived in G'ville ever since. We've been married 17 great years, and have two children- Magnolia (above with me in the picture), age 9, and David, age 6. Rounding out our household is our elderly cat, Mewl (named after a blues song, but spelled like the sound he makes).
I enjoy reading, gardening (I have dreams of an "edible yard"), swimming, stand-up paddle-boarding, walking, and I have aspirations to be a knitter. Thus far I can only make scarves, but they're pretty, mistakes and all... I also love antiques- I collect Depression glass and teacups. I love a good estate sale, so if anyone hears of one and would like some company, give me a holler! Chris is a musician, and plays in a local bluegrass band called Boilin' Oil (they play at Satchel's the second Friday of most months). So a couple bluegrass and folk festivals also play into our family schedule each year.
My main goal for this challenge is to lay the foundation for healthier lifestyle habits, to start to lose enough weight that I'm comfortable with myself again, and to get back into a regular exercise routine (not necessarily the SAME exercises every day/week, but just to be doing something most days of the week). I've lost significant amounts of weight in the past (fen/phen back in the day, phentermine combined with 500 cal protein/day, and oddly enough after both pregnancies), but have never managed to keep it off and now am back again at my max weight (*sigh*). I'm the only overweight member of my family, and don't seek to be thin, but rather to be healthy and comfortable. For the past year or so my perfectly-proportioned 9 year old little girl has made the occasional weight-related comment about herself, which makes me sad and angry at the same time. I want to be an example that you can be healthy and happy at a range of sizes, but have some work to do regarding the 'happy' portion of that phrase. Baby steps...
Hello from Laura
Hello,
I am Laura and happy to be here as well. I am a Kansas girl but moved to Gainesville when my husband, Paul, accepted a position at UF...we have been here 6 years now! We have 5 kids...our oldest daughter lives in San Francisco, the next daughter lives in Atlanta and is about to present us with our second grandchild in July. We have two boys, one just graduated from UF a couple weeks ago and the other is a sophomore at Santa Fe. Our youngest daughter is Lily, who is also participating in this Healthy Habits Challenge. I will let her give you her own scoop.
As I like to say, I do not come from dainty people. So, I have had to watch my weight for my entire adult life. I have a stubborn 20 pounds that come and go...right now I am 10 pounds above that magic number that makes me really happy....but, I fully expect this challenge to get me heading in the right direction!
My biggest weakness is sugar. love, love, love dessert. So, I try not to eat it at all because it is such a slippery slope for me. I applaud all of you who can have "just a little bit" of something but that does not work for me.
Three words....creative, energetic and optimistic (which often drives family and friends nutty)...I love to walk or play tennis for my exercise but I do go to the gym with Lily a couple times a week.
I am feeling great because the scale moved the right direction this week...thanks to this group!!
Laura
An Introduction to Lily
Hello, I'm Lily, Laura's daughter. I am almost certain that I'm the youngest person here, as I'm not even technically an adult (I turned 17 in April). I lived in Kansas until I was 11, and then 6 years ago we moved here.
I'm about to finish my junior year of high school, which means I've been looking at colleges. So far, my 3 main choices are Mount Holyoke (a couple hours outside of Boston), Pratt Institute (NYC), and U of Chicago (Chicago, obviously). I want to either be an actor or a novelist, which aren't super employable jobs, but its what I love so it's what I'm going to pursue.
For a big chunk of this Healthy Habits journey (half of it, I think) I'll be in California at a camp at Cal. college of the arts, where I'll be partaking in a month-long creative writing intensive, which I'm SUPER excited for. However, I'll be on my own for meals for a month for the first time in my life, so it'll be a real test of my resolve.
Is this too long? It might be. Sorry if it is. I'll cut it off now.
-Lily
I'm about to finish my junior year of high school, which means I've been looking at colleges. So far, my 3 main choices are Mount Holyoke (a couple hours outside of Boston), Pratt Institute (NYC), and U of Chicago (Chicago, obviously). I want to either be an actor or a novelist, which aren't super employable jobs, but its what I love so it's what I'm going to pursue.
For a big chunk of this Healthy Habits journey (half of it, I think) I'll be in California at a camp at Cal. college of the arts, where I'll be partaking in a month-long creative writing intensive, which I'm SUPER excited for. However, I'll be on my own for meals for a month for the first time in my life, so it'll be a real test of my resolve.
Is this too long? It might be. Sorry if it is. I'll cut it off now.
-Lily
Hi from Babette!
I came to Gainesville in 2004 for a job at UF and also because my parents live a couple hours away, as do other relatives. I'm single, and I spend most of my time on the following activities: work (but I try hard to save weeknights and weekends for myself), playing tennis (though right now I'm working on healing tennis elbow so I'm not playing as much -- if I had my way I'd play 5-7 time per week!), cooking (mainly on weekends), traveling, reading, walking (there is a 5.4 mile walk from my house that I love and do as often as possible, though sometimes I run 3.4 miles instead) and socializing with friends and family. In the recent past I was also into sprint triathlons, and maybe will pick that up again, especially if the tennis elbow doesn't heal.
I've watched my weight since high school, so there are not a lot of tricks that are new to me in that regard. I've never gained a whole lot of weight, but I have fluctuated in a 15-20 lb range, which is a lot since I'm only 5 foot 2. Most of the reason for that high range has been medication that I've taken since 2004, which has wonderful side effects such as causing diabetes, and for me it effects a double whammy of decreasing my metabolism and increasing my hunger. Fortunately I've always been on a very small dose, so no real danger of diabetes, and despite the dose that I was on since 2004, I managed to finally lose the 15-20 lbs I'd gained and get back to my youthful weight, as of around 3 years ago. However, 1.5 years ago I had to double my dose of medication...so now I've gained 8-10 of those lbs back. I'd be happy with my weight and would fit into most of my clothes and even my bikini if I shed 4-6 lbs from where I am today. NOTE: I wore yoga pants almost every day of the winter and spring. But I don't know how possible shedding 4-6 pounds will be. I've been working on that goal for 1.5 years and I've been stuck where I am on the scale, despite eating fairly healthy and not even eating that many calories. The only exception was for a few months last year when I tried out halving the dose again, lost 4 pounds, returned (unfortunately) to the doubled dose, then quickly regained the 4 lbs. My main weaknesses are coffee (which made me hungrier so I cut that out and replaced it with green tea -- actually there were other reasons for that too), chocolate or some other dessert after lunch (to reward myself for eating my 5 servings of veggies at that meal) and wine and beer and the occasional cocktail. Also I like tortilla chips, especially the spinach and kale ones at Publix -- but despite their healthy appearance, the chips still have a lot of calories. My proud days require not having any of those things. This first week I didn't have any desserts except for on Saturday. And I've only had 3 servings of alcohol this week, which may not impress you but for me this is hard work (I like a glass of wine after work and a beer after tennis or both!).
I just returned from a 3 week vacation in Australia and New Zealand, during which I ate and drank EXCESSIVELY. It was completely wonderful. And amazingly, I only gained 1 lb. I can't begin to understand how that happened -- I wish I could eat like that in Gainesville and not wind up looking pregnant! But it was a nice surprise. This challenge came at a good time, just after the trip, when I needed to get back into the healthy eating habits. In addition to the healthy habits on the list, I also try consume a lot of fiber, including bran buds several days per week (YUCK!), because my doctor said to increase fiber and also because both of my grandfathers died of colon cancer and my Dad has had polyps.
I go to China June1-10 so I will put this challenge on hold during that time, though due to this challenge, I will probably make healthier choices there than I would otherwise.
3 words to describe me (in the eyes of others): inquisitive, energetic (when I'm not sleeping, as I do 9 hrs per
night), and analytical (sometimes overly so :-)).
Here are two of my favorite photos from the recent trip.
Good luck to everyone with this challenge!
I've watched my weight since high school, so there are not a lot of tricks that are new to me in that regard. I've never gained a whole lot of weight, but I have fluctuated in a 15-20 lb range, which is a lot since I'm only 5 foot 2. Most of the reason for that high range has been medication that I've taken since 2004, which has wonderful side effects such as causing diabetes, and for me it effects a double whammy of decreasing my metabolism and increasing my hunger. Fortunately I've always been on a very small dose, so no real danger of diabetes, and despite the dose that I was on since 2004, I managed to finally lose the 15-20 lbs I'd gained and get back to my youthful weight, as of around 3 years ago. However, 1.5 years ago I had to double my dose of medication...so now I've gained 8-10 of those lbs back. I'd be happy with my weight and would fit into most of my clothes and even my bikini if I shed 4-6 lbs from where I am today. NOTE: I wore yoga pants almost every day of the winter and spring. But I don't know how possible shedding 4-6 pounds will be. I've been working on that goal for 1.5 years and I've been stuck where I am on the scale, despite eating fairly healthy and not even eating that many calories. The only exception was for a few months last year when I tried out halving the dose again, lost 4 pounds, returned (unfortunately) to the doubled dose, then quickly regained the 4 lbs. My main weaknesses are coffee (which made me hungrier so I cut that out and replaced it with green tea -- actually there were other reasons for that too), chocolate or some other dessert after lunch (to reward myself for eating my 5 servings of veggies at that meal) and wine and beer and the occasional cocktail. Also I like tortilla chips, especially the spinach and kale ones at Publix -- but despite their healthy appearance, the chips still have a lot of calories. My proud days require not having any of those things. This first week I didn't have any desserts except for on Saturday. And I've only had 3 servings of alcohol this week, which may not impress you but for me this is hard work (I like a glass of wine after work and a beer after tennis or both!).
I just returned from a 3 week vacation in Australia and New Zealand, during which I ate and drank EXCESSIVELY. It was completely wonderful. And amazingly, I only gained 1 lb. I can't begin to understand how that happened -- I wish I could eat like that in Gainesville and not wind up looking pregnant! But it was a nice surprise. This challenge came at a good time, just after the trip, when I needed to get back into the healthy eating habits. In addition to the healthy habits on the list, I also try consume a lot of fiber, including bran buds several days per week (YUCK!), because my doctor said to increase fiber and also because both of my grandfathers died of colon cancer and my Dad has had polyps.
I go to China June1-10 so I will put this challenge on hold during that time, though due to this challenge, I will probably make healthier choices there than I would otherwise.
3 words to describe me (in the eyes of others): inquisitive, energetic (when I'm not sleeping, as I do 9 hrs per
night), and analytical (sometimes overly so :-)).
Here are two of my favorite photos from the recent trip.
Good luck to everyone with this challenge!
Introduction-Lisa
HI Everyone,
I'm Lisa, and I'm a Gainesville native (yup! Born here). I know Kristina and Maria mostly because our kids went to the same elementary school (Littlewood) and we worked together to start an exercise program called Morning Mile there. We've been good friends ever since. Basic stats about me: 52 years old, married almost 25 years, one daughter(age 14), I work as a veterinarian, have two wonderful four-legged children (dogs) named Cliff and Snert (both rescues from the shelter). I know many of the other members of this group thru Littlewood, mutual friends, and book club, but I am looking forward to getting to know the rest of you better!
My personal health goals: I have always loved exercise, and for the most part, I feel like I eat a pretty healthy diet. But have found as I reach this "golden era" of my life, that 10-15 lbs have crept on over the last few years without my permission! I also have a few weaknesses food-wise that I know are unhealthy and just never seemed to be able to stop (mainly snack type salty treats…french fries, chips, cheezits etc…) So my diet plan is simply stopping those, and I'm also trying No wheat and No added sugar for a few months. So far I feel much better and I'm hopeful I will achieve my "fighting weight" again in a few months. It really helps listening to everyone's helpful tips and support though. Especially about the water thing!! I THOUGHT I was a decent water drinker, but when actually measuring it, I found I fell way short of what I SHOULD be drinking!
Favorite exercises: running, yoga, and Jillian Michaels exercise videos.
Three words used to describe me: (provided by my daughter): Naturalistic, fun-loving and wrinkly :-)
Cheers, Lisa
I'm Lisa, and I'm a Gainesville native (yup! Born here). I know Kristina and Maria mostly because our kids went to the same elementary school (Littlewood) and we worked together to start an exercise program called Morning Mile there. We've been good friends ever since. Basic stats about me: 52 years old, married almost 25 years, one daughter(age 14), I work as a veterinarian, have two wonderful four-legged children (dogs) named Cliff and Snert (both rescues from the shelter). I know many of the other members of this group thru Littlewood, mutual friends, and book club, but I am looking forward to getting to know the rest of you better!
My personal health goals: I have always loved exercise, and for the most part, I feel like I eat a pretty healthy diet. But have found as I reach this "golden era" of my life, that 10-15 lbs have crept on over the last few years without my permission! I also have a few weaknesses food-wise that I know are unhealthy and just never seemed to be able to stop (mainly snack type salty treats…french fries, chips, cheezits etc…) So my diet plan is simply stopping those, and I'm also trying No wheat and No added sugar for a few months. So far I feel much better and I'm hopeful I will achieve my "fighting weight" again in a few months. It really helps listening to everyone's helpful tips and support though. Especially about the water thing!! I THOUGHT I was a decent water drinker, but when actually measuring it, I found I fell way short of what I SHOULD be drinking!
Favorite exercises: running, yoga, and Jillian Michaels exercise videos.
Three words used to describe me: (provided by my daughter): Naturalistic, fun-loving and wrinkly :-)
Cheers, Lisa
Is the Blog Thing Working for YOU?
Please leave a comment below letting us know if you can read the blog and comment, and if there's anything not quite working for you...
If you have accepted the invitation to be an author you should be able to start your own posts. Look to the top right corner, make sure you are signed in, and find the link that says New Post.
If you don't want to bother with figuring that out and are happy to just read and comment, that's fine too. There's a box on the right where you can sign up to follow by email. And if you email me your bio I'll be happy to post it for you.
Hoping we can make this work!
Maria
If you have accepted the invitation to be an author you should be able to start your own posts. Look to the top right corner, make sure you are signed in, and find the link that says New Post.
If you don't want to bother with figuring that out and are happy to just read and comment, that's fine too. There's a box on the right where you can sign up to follow by email. And if you email me your bio I'll be happy to post it for you.
Hoping we can make this work!
Maria
New Mindset
Hi everyone,
We've been at this a week and I hope it has been a positive experience for all of us, making us more mindful of our eating, exercise and sleep habits. Of course we all know that, in the long run, doing the right thing will help us be healthier and avoid disease, but hopefully we'll also notice immediate effects in our mood, energy level, digestion and overall well-being. And if we need extra motivation still, there's the prizes we're competing for!!
So don't forget to report your POINTS and WEIGHT tonight by midnight. The week includes Sunday, so you won't be able to tally your points until tonight. And there's a few people who haven't paid their dues yet, so please remember to do that too.
This is not just about losing weight, it's about being healthy. And for that we need to make permanent changes in our lives. It's not a quick fix, but a process, a transformation to a new way of living that it's really hard for some of us at first, but needs to become our new normal. And there's a lot of trial and error until we find what works for each of us.
I want to share with you an article from SparkPeople entitled Six Things Successful Dieters Have in Common. The link to the article appears below, but I copied the last paragraph here:
Sustained weight loss requires a new mindset. In order to be successful, you must resist looking in the mirror and still seeing the old you. Permanent success requires you to think and act like a thin person even before you reach your goal. If it initially feels awkward, remember the old adage, "Fake it 'til you make it." The more you behave and think like a successful dieter, the sooner you will be one. Being healthy and thin will become part of your identity. It's time to leave the old one behind. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=2000
Happy Sunday!
Maria
We've been at this a week and I hope it has been a positive experience for all of us, making us more mindful of our eating, exercise and sleep habits. Of course we all know that, in the long run, doing the right thing will help us be healthier and avoid disease, but hopefully we'll also notice immediate effects in our mood, energy level, digestion and overall well-being. And if we need extra motivation still, there's the prizes we're competing for!!
So don't forget to report your POINTS and WEIGHT tonight by midnight. The week includes Sunday, so you won't be able to tally your points until tonight. And there's a few people who haven't paid their dues yet, so please remember to do that too.
This is not just about losing weight, it's about being healthy. And for that we need to make permanent changes in our lives. It's not a quick fix, but a process, a transformation to a new way of living that it's really hard for some of us at first, but needs to become our new normal. And there's a lot of trial and error until we find what works for each of us.
I want to share with you an article from SparkPeople entitled Six Things Successful Dieters Have in Common. The link to the article appears below, but I copied the last paragraph here:
Sustained weight loss requires a new mindset. In order to be successful, you must resist looking in the mirror and still seeing the old you. Permanent success requires you to think and act like a thin person even before you reach your goal. If it initially feels awkward, remember the old adage, "Fake it 'til you make it." The more you behave and think like a successful dieter, the sooner you will be one. Being healthy and thin will become part of your identity. It's time to leave the old one behind. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=2000
Happy Sunday!
Maria
Sunday motivation 5/25/2014
Happy Sunday! Hoping this long weekend is shaping up to be all you needed! It's hard to believe the unofficial start to the summer season is here! So many folks around the nation suffered such a horrible winter, I know they love the warmer temps! This start also means breaking out the swimsuit or buying one. I've not purchased a new suit in over 15 years! I don't swim (serious water issues) and when you've been unhappy in your own skin, the LAST thing you want to do is wear less! I've lived in sweatpants during the summer for so long it was just a way of life!
Not this year! This is the year of the new swimsuit! I now understand the anxiety woman have about this shopping excursion. I'm a little nervous but this will be another HUGE victory for me! Since I've documented everything else on FB, I'll post pictures once the deed is done. Pray for me (and my friend, Chelsea, who gets the unfortunate, er, glorious task of shopping with me in a few weeks. Welcome home, Chels!)! Make it great!
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Robyn: an introduction
Hi all!
Robyn here! Born in Canada, moved to Gainesville in 1978 thanks to my Grandmother visiting friends and falling in love. Attended all Gainesville schools, including Santa Fe Community College where I earned a scholarship to UF. When I graduated university, my parents gave me two Golden Retriever mix puppies. They changed the course I mapped out for my life!
While weighing in at 236 pounds in March 2010, I launched my pet business, Paws Here, LLC. Two months later I started the pet sitting side of life, Paws at Home. I did this while working full-time (not recommended). I worked to get some of the weight off during this year, but March 2011 my father died and that set me back. I'm an emotional eater. The stress of Dad's death, the rapid growth of my business and being terribly unhappy with myself in other parts of my life compromised my immune system. By March of 2013, weighing 210 pounds, I was so sick, being pumped full of various drugs and not able to stand on my own due to an aggressive virus that attacked. My doctor, he's been with me since I was 12, begged me start making changes. He got me healthy and in July 2013 his team changed my nutrition and outlook. I was put on Phentermine for some time as well to aid in the weight loss and curb the cravings. In January 2014, I reached goal weight and ran my first 5k! I'm now 9 pounds below goal weight looking forward to running my first half marathon next February! I've used a food journal almost everyday since July 23rd and truly believe it's key for weight loss! I count carbs, not calories and my issue right now is finding the balance between eating the right number of daily net carbs and exercise so I don't keep losing weight.
I'm single but not yet emotionally healthy to be in a relationship with a man that doesn't have four legs and fur! I still work 3/4-time at UF, which has helped me get stronger! I drink water like a fiend, believe in clean eating, can say 'no' to the cravings when they hit, and need to workout as much as I need to breathe! I read and research everything on ways to be and stay healthy! Even looking into becoming a certified nutritionalist and trainer! The only thing I'm more passionate about are animals!!
Three words to describe me: boisterous, determined, caring
Favorite workouts: 21-Day Fix (Beachbody), free weights (dumbells and kettlebells), running, barre work
I'm so excited to be a part of this team! You ladies are going to rock and I know reach your goals!!
Robyn here! Born in Canada, moved to Gainesville in 1978 thanks to my Grandmother visiting friends and falling in love. Attended all Gainesville schools, including Santa Fe Community College where I earned a scholarship to UF. When I graduated university, my parents gave me two Golden Retriever mix puppies. They changed the course I mapped out for my life!
While weighing in at 236 pounds in March 2010, I launched my pet business, Paws Here, LLC. Two months later I started the pet sitting side of life, Paws at Home. I did this while working full-time (not recommended). I worked to get some of the weight off during this year, but March 2011 my father died and that set me back. I'm an emotional eater. The stress of Dad's death, the rapid growth of my business and being terribly unhappy with myself in other parts of my life compromised my immune system. By March of 2013, weighing 210 pounds, I was so sick, being pumped full of various drugs and not able to stand on my own due to an aggressive virus that attacked. My doctor, he's been with me since I was 12, begged me start making changes. He got me healthy and in July 2013 his team changed my nutrition and outlook. I was put on Phentermine for some time as well to aid in the weight loss and curb the cravings. In January 2014, I reached goal weight and ran my first 5k! I'm now 9 pounds below goal weight looking forward to running my first half marathon next February! I've used a food journal almost everyday since July 23rd and truly believe it's key for weight loss! I count carbs, not calories and my issue right now is finding the balance between eating the right number of daily net carbs and exercise so I don't keep losing weight.
I'm single but not yet emotionally healthy to be in a relationship with a man that doesn't have four legs and fur! I still work 3/4-time at UF, which has helped me get stronger! I drink water like a fiend, believe in clean eating, can say 'no' to the cravings when they hit, and need to workout as much as I need to breathe! I read and research everything on ways to be and stay healthy! Even looking into becoming a certified nutritionalist and trainer! The only thing I'm more passionate about are animals!!
Three words to describe me: boisterous, determined, caring
Favorite workouts: 21-Day Fix (Beachbody), free weights (dumbells and kettlebells), running, barre work
I'm so excited to be a part of this team! You ladies are going to rock and I know reach your goals!!
Cami - Introduction
Hello everybody!
My name is Cami Ripol and I am Maria's sister. That means I am also Puerto Rican of Cuban parents. I live in Orlando with my husband Scott, our two kids, Mati and Diego (6 and 8, respectively), our cat Severus and our dog Jango, who became part of the family in January and now pretty much rules our little kingdom.
I am a Spanish editor and translator at Walt Disney World. We moved here from Denver 10 years ago so I could accept the position. Love my job, hate the bureaucracy and red tape that comes with it.
If you haven't noticed from my posts, I curse like a sailor. I can control it most times. I can also be pretty raunchy. I also can control that most times.
I am a chronic migraineur, which means migraines affect my life more than 15 days out of the month. It wasn't always that way, but several years ago I got a migraine that didn't go away for about two years. It's a long, complicated story with a good ending: I now take daily meds that allow me to function at a pretty high level a lot of the time, even if I feel migraine symptoms. During those two years I gained twenty pounds, which I've since lost (plus an extra 10) by doing the previous challenges with Annie, Heidi, Kristina and Maria. I still want to continue being as healthy as I can be, partly through eating well and exercising, which is a big part of why I am doing this challenge with all of you. I'm telling those who don't know me because often, if I am having a crappy migraine day/s, that will make for crappy decisions when eating and exercising, and make me whine a bit (no, honestly A LOT) before things go back to manageable.
Three words to describe me: mercuric (according to hubby), compassionate and happy.
I love to hike and swim. I normally exercise at the gym or walk outside. I try to climb up from the first to the fourth floor at work every time I need to go the bathroom to get some more exercise in. But you can imagine how that is going with all the water we're supposed to be drinking!
I love to cook but am prone to relying way too much on convenience food during the week if things get hectic. I love to travel and explore near and far from our home and live in a constant state of wanderlust. I like to do arts and crafts to relax and center myself.
I am so happy to be doing this challenge with all of you! Looking forward to meeting so many new people and keeping in touch with those I already know.
My name is Cami Ripol and I am Maria's sister. That means I am also Puerto Rican of Cuban parents. I live in Orlando with my husband Scott, our two kids, Mati and Diego (6 and 8, respectively), our cat Severus and our dog Jango, who became part of the family in January and now pretty much rules our little kingdom.
I am a Spanish editor and translator at Walt Disney World. We moved here from Denver 10 years ago so I could accept the position. Love my job, hate the bureaucracy and red tape that comes with it.
If you haven't noticed from my posts, I curse like a sailor. I can control it most times. I can also be pretty raunchy. I also can control that most times.
I am a chronic migraineur, which means migraines affect my life more than 15 days out of the month. It wasn't always that way, but several years ago I got a migraine that didn't go away for about two years. It's a long, complicated story with a good ending: I now take daily meds that allow me to function at a pretty high level a lot of the time, even if I feel migraine symptoms. During those two years I gained twenty pounds, which I've since lost (plus an extra 10) by doing the previous challenges with Annie, Heidi, Kristina and Maria. I still want to continue being as healthy as I can be, partly through eating well and exercising, which is a big part of why I am doing this challenge with all of you. I'm telling those who don't know me because often, if I am having a crappy migraine day/s, that will make for crappy decisions when eating and exercising, and make me whine a bit (no, honestly A LOT) before things go back to manageable.
Three words to describe me: mercuric (according to hubby), compassionate and happy.
I love to hike and swim. I normally exercise at the gym or walk outside. I try to climb up from the first to the fourth floor at work every time I need to go the bathroom to get some more exercise in. But you can imagine how that is going with all the water we're supposed to be drinking!
I love to cook but am prone to relying way too much on convenience food during the week if things get hectic. I love to travel and explore near and far from our home and live in a constant state of wanderlust. I like to do arts and crafts to relax and center myself.
I am so happy to be doing this challenge with all of you! Looking forward to meeting so many new people and keeping in touch with those I already know.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Introduce yourself - Maria
Heidi, MARIA, Cami, Kristina, Carter
Hi everyone,
Annie had a great idea that we should introduce ourselves. So here I go...
My name is Maria Ripol and I have lived in Gainesville since 1994. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, of Cuban parents. I went to grad school at Cornell in upstate NY where I met my husband, Jim Hobert. We got jobs at UF when we finished grad school and have been here ever since. I teach very large introductory Statistics classes and take the summers off. We have one daughter, Marisa, who is 15, and one dog, Kirby, who is considered by some to be our second kid.
I like to read, cook, eat, travel, and while exercise is not my favorite thing to do, I love to walk with my friends while chatting the whole time and solving all our problems. It's better than therapy, and it's free! I've been walking regularly with Annie for 15 years, and with Kristina, Lisa and Heidi for about 5.
I was a skinny kid growing up and only started gaining weight after I got married and learned how to cook. After having my daughter I went back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but as the years passed it slowly became an extra 40 pounds or so. I eat when I'm happy, I eat when I'm stressed, I eat when I'm bored... you get the picture!
At the end of last summer, Kristina, Cami, Annie and I participated in a Healthy Wage team challenge where the winning team got a $10,000 prize. We didn't win any money, but the support we gave each other through those 12 weeks really helped us keep motivated and we all lost quite a bit of weight - about 25 pounds for me.
When that challenge ended in December I wanted to lose another 10 pounds or so. After the holidays, including a trip to France, I was maintaining my weight loss, which was encouraging. But by the end of January I realized I was finding it very difficult to find the motivation again, so we decided to form a new team for Healthy Wage. Annie had been our fearless captain, but she had lost so much weight that she couldn't really be a part of the competition. Our fifth member (who shall remain unnamed) was a pain in the a$$ who lost maybe 4 pounds total and didn't really care about the challenge, so she was out. So we recruited Heidi and Carter (Kristina's husband) and did it again. This time I lost another 15 pounds - you can see our Before and After pictures up there. We didn't get the big prize, but we are so proud of ourselves!!
This second challenge ended a month ago, and here we are, looking for motivation and support again. This time my goal is to learn how to live a balanced life. Six months of counting calories was exhausting. My plan now (especially now that I'm back from my trip) is to focus on eating a healthy, balanced diet, where nothing is forbidden but portions are controlled. I didn't do anything unhealthy for the team competition, but I did restrict my intake pretty severely a couple of times, and it always backfired. I hate to be told I can't eat something, even if it's me telling myself...
Three words to describe me, with a little help from my family: stubborn, resourceful and spunky.
Favorite workouts: walking with friends, Zumba, hiking, and I do go to the gym although I have to make myself, so having a partner helps a lot.
RULES and STUFF
8-Week Healthy Habits and Weight Loss Challenge
Adapted from SixSistersStuff.com
HOW IT WORKS:
This is an 8 week challenge where you can win a prize two different ways:
Maintaining Healthy Habits and Losing Weight.
Healthy Habits Challenge:
- You can get over 300 Healthy Habits points each week for specific things, following the checklist you can get here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qkt5n-dQuuCIiaApxrpHsq_rzzIfh1uUYYryCWmnlMo/edit?usp=sharing
- Print these 8 pages to keep track of your Healthy Habits Points. It should only take a couple of minutes each night to determine if you get points for each habit for that day, and then a few minutes to tally them up at the end of each week.
- Each week there is a double point Healthy Habits challenge highlighted in yellow.
- For the Clean Eating / Best Choices category you will evaluate your eating each day and award yourself the points if you feel you really made the best choices you could, given your circumstances in general and that day in particular. Note that this will mean something different for each person, and even for one person on different days. On an ideal day this may mean all meals home cooked with local, organic ingredients and nothing from a box, bottle, etc. If that's where you are on your healthy journey, then kudos!!! But I know for some of us it may mean eating whatever your hubby prepared for the family (if you're lucky enough to have one of those!), but loading up on the veggies, skipping the garlic bread and not sneaking any chips /ice cream / candy from the kids stash. Or on a day when you're traveling this may mean choosing the best thing from the menu every time. On a special holiday or celebration, or when dining at a friend’s house, this may mean eating and drinking in moderation, choosing only one small piece of the special homemade dessert and forgoing the store bought ones, etc. So in my head I've sort of switched to calling it "Proud" points. If at the end of the day I can honestly say to myself "I'm proud of my choices today" then I get my bonus points. They should be achievable every day, but you would need to really push yourself to get them. Now, that said, this is a challenge, so think about how you can improve your diet, wherever you are right now. Here’s an article and a video to help you set some goals for yourself: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/23/health/clean-eating/ http://ninamanolson.com/what-to-eat/
- You can exercise each day, but you will only receive points for exercising 5 days a week.
- 1 cup of 100% fruit /vegetable juice (100%) can count as ONE daily serving of fruit OR vegetable.
- 1 cup of Lentils or Beans can also count as ONE daily serving of vegetable.
- Alcohol can be consumed without penalty (other than its high caloric content).
- Tea counts towards your water intake.
- You can use your own kind of food journal to keep track of what you eat, including apps such as LoseIt or websites like SparkPeople but these are NOT necessary. You can print out this very simple, one page weekly food journal to use instead: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K7jXe_NVxMBxZABxAMASzDF75qByhF4QjZTItkHvMDc/edit?usp=sharing
- A big part of this challenge is supporting each other, so you also get points for daily contact with teammates. You can email, call, or text someone on your team to encourage them to have a healthy day. You can get together to exercise or share a healthy meal. It helps knowing that we are all in this together and makes you accountable for what you do or don’t do.
- No Eating After 9pm / Go to Bed Hungry - you should not eat a heavy meal within a few hours of going to bed, since it’s hard for the body to digest it properly.
- You will also get 50 points each week for maintaining the lowest weight you have achieved since the start of the competition.
Weight Loss Challenge:
- Weigh yourself each Sunday, trying to be consistent on how you do it (morning/night, empty/full stomach, using same scale). You can weigh yourself more often, but only Sunday weights are recorded.
- Report your weight to the coordinator, rounded to the nearest pound. For example, 173.4 will be reported as 173 lbs and 173.5 will be reported as 174 lbs.
- The coordinator will compute your percentage weight loss each week: initial wt - current wt initial wt100
- Your weight will never be posted publicly, just your percentage lost.
Determining the Winners:
- Each participant must report their weight and Healthy Habits points weekly to the coordinator. If you don’t report by midnight Sunday you receive no points for that week. Note that even if you’re traveling and unable to weigh yourself on a Sunday, you can still report your Healthy Habits points. You would not get any points for weight loss or maintenance, but, really, you are traveling, so what are the chances?
- The coordinator will compute everyone’s standings on Monday and publish them here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UbsdL1QF4gZQphZZ2CtHcOqMJavBn6t04pLIRX5hiFU/edit?usp=sharing
- At the end of the eight weeks, cash prize money will be divided equally between the person who loses the largest percentage of weight and the person who has the most total Healthy Habits points.
- In the event of a tie within one challenge, that part of the prize will be split.
- In the event the same person wins both categories they will only be awarded the prize for Weight Loss and the runner up(s) in the Healthy Habits challenge will get that part of the prize.
TO PARTICIPATE:
- Challenge starts on Monday May 19, 2014 and ends Sunday July 13, 2014
- Each person will pay $25 up front to enter the challenge, which must be paid by Monday May 26. Payment should be in cash or check, given to Maria Ripol in person or mailed to 2906 NW 12th Pl, Gainesville FL 32605.
- Email Maria your initial weight by midnight on Sunday May 18.
- Each Sunday after that you must email Maria two pieces of information before midnight: your Sunday weight and your Healthy Habits points for that week.
RESOURCES AND INFO:
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