130 Pounds of Weight Loss Using My 4 "D" STRATEGY

Before I turned 40 I lost my weight! What is happening now that I approach 50?

2013-09-05T13:22:00.001-04:00

It has been awhile! My prevention photo shoot was September 2010 that promoted me to log back in today to share how my life continues to transform.

I have been on a roller coaster of weight gain, weight loss! Finding that the closer I get to 50 the more I need to change and modify exercise and diet. What worked back then no longer works now!

I decided to join a YMCA and was offered a few free training seasons. Even though I felt I got this, I decided to take the free offer.

Low and behold I met Rick. A 65 something gent who is in better shape then people more then half his age. In better shape then me. I want to share something he said that made me laugh and yet inspired me. He said, "Linda if I live to be 85 and beyond I want for people to say look at the guns on this guy!".

As I approach 50 within a bit more of a month my focus is strength. As a woman I need to be very conscious of Osteoporosis and ways to fight my destiny of aging.

As far as diet I am keeping it simple these days. Not fussing over types of foods I want to eat. Eating with balance and a thought of survival. When I focus less of the food and more of how I feel after I eat it I am able to turn away from temptation more times than not.

So as many go back to school try this homework assignment. Next time when making a food choice when eating out or preparing dinner. Stop.....remind yourself of the way your body felt after you ate it? Remember exactly how much of it you ate! Recall what you did after you ate it! Remember how you felt the day after!

The word to zone into is STOP! Don't put the food in your mouth without knowing what comes next! Be sure to zone into those mind thoughts that are often forgotten during mindless eating.

Follow with me along as I continue to blog of more thoughts that are racing my mind these days.

Fun fact! When at the gym the other day I got a wink and smile from a 20 something young man. Does that mean I am qualified to be considered a senior cougar? Thought that was a hoot...

Be well and continue to aspire a better life for yourself!

One Step Further

2013-02-20T15:31:00.000-05:00

Hello again;

Time to take food options one step further. Are you with me?

I have supported weight watchers as it did help me in my journey. These days I am taking it one step further.

Choosing foods based on a number of calories I can have to loose/maintain. With exercise or without. This makes me look clearly at the food before me. Weight Watchers does allow me to have the cake, pizza and all those things. As I get older I am really seeing the need to limit even further.
I am choosing the better food options for the value they add to my body. If it isn't going to help me then I find one that will.

That is a hard discipline to follow but I assure you when you grab it food will never be the same again.

Think of the last time you ate that amazing meal you so desired. After you ate it did it give you pain within your body? Did it give you pain within your mind? Will you see a change overtime to yourself by continual satisfying desires?

If you answered yes to any of this I urge you to make a change.

The word is not DIET. Its change your life. I always say...it will be the one of your dreams.

Happy are the days of better health for all my friends.

Linda

Where have I been?

2013-02-20T12:11:00.002-05:00

Hello Friends;

Sorry I have been out of the loop for so long. Here is the long and short of it all.

Rented a house, bought a house, got married! Lost a job, got a job! Gained a few pounds more then I need to have. I am back to basics.

I am on a restart to Fab at 50! Stop thinking the TV diets by famous doctors and TV and talk show hosts are going to be your get fit and healthy option. I will admit you may shed pounds quickly but the long term learning tools will not be learned.

Don't reach for a freeze dried meal, a meal in a box or drinks for a few meals. Most won't need to pay money for gym memberships or plans that require weekly fee's.

Believe me when I say my long term weight loss is still gone. What came back was laziness and excuses for lack of time, energy and not preparing.

Those days are gone. Glad to be back.

My Less Year - Beggining it now!

2012-09-13T09:27:00.002-04:00

Good Morning;

Whenever my birthday is in reach I tend to review the year before.   This one takes on even a greater review and plan. When my birthday arrives I will begin the year countdown towards 50! I am very excited about that. I honestly never thought I would see that day come as a youngster..lol.

I wrap my head around a concept. The one that is making be blind like a flashing sign that I keep staring at. This sign that gleams at me all the waking and sleeping hours is LESS!   Please tell me you can see it too!

If you can't see it let me hold it up. LESS!   My 50 year is about LESS.

Will try and write LESS..lol.   Will release more stress and live with LESS. Will own LESS. Will owe LESS. Will weigh LESS.

Here is to the year of LESS. Look for me holding up that flashing sign of LESS...to get you to join me.

Have a super September!

Time to work on BALANCE! - This weekend sounds good to me!

2012-08-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends

Thought for today. What provides BALANCE in your life? How are you able to juggle your work, kids, pets, family, house chores, eating right and exercising, and helping others? How are you able to lead the life I keep talking about. That is your best life possible?

It all begins with Balance! Is there something on your to do list that you can let go of or have help with? Can you lighten your load a bit within your personal self to allow you to be able to be sure to balance your exercise and healthy eating?

I admit that is my struggle. Lightening up on my worry over my children. That worry at times does cause me to fall of course. That worry could lead me not to exercise and spend the time to prepare healthy meals! We call that in a simpler word Stress..lol. A whole blog post could be devoted to stress and how we manage it but it brings me back to balance! We must always balance a schedule, a lifestyle that works towards our happiness and fulfillment in life.

A bit off course but this is something that helped me achieve balance better. I have come to the understanding that I do need a certain amount of time each day for just little old me. That time to take away distraction and sort of zone into me. I have added that time to each morning and also to the end of each day. It is not a lot of time but just enough for me to have time to tap into my inner self.

There was a glorious day last week after work. The sun was out and beaming and even the humidity was low. Inside was the dinner to cook, the laundry to do and even the house to tidy. I grabbed my glass of ice tea and headed for my serenity spot in my back yard. That is just a cozy chair that I can de-stress in. Everything was peaceful and serene until the family wondered what I was doing and felt the need to join me..lol. So it is often easier said then done. The time for me sometimes is before they get up and after they have fallen asleep.

Have a weekend of balance and enjoy!

Life Signs stand out for a reason

2012-07-26T12:45:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends;

I had an experience yesterday that I just had to share. Who better with then with my blog friends. I took a much needed day off to travel to the Jersey Shore. The drive is just about an hour and a great place to feel the ocean breeze and recharge batteries.

Some people may call this ironic, a weird event, or just some odd occurrence. I always believe that signs are given in life to make us change. Whether it be the sign or words from our doctor saying you really need to loose weight or quit smoking. Possibly it is the sign that you get when you go dashing up the stairs realizing you are not fit enough to do so?

I had one of those Life signs yesterday. I decided to park the car closer to where I needed to get the beach pass. Got the pass and then went to enter the beach through the closest gate. I came upon a sweet older woman who asked to see my cooler contents. The cooler had bottles and bottles of water, and fruit. Was given the okay on the cooler and the noticed she had by her side the 2010 Prevention Article that I was featured in. I could not help but ask why she was reading such an old mag. She mentioned catching up reading and needing to loose weight. I showed her my article in that magazine. We were both in amazement at what had just happened!

The odds of that happening are small to say the least. That article is long gone. The thought that it could be helping someone still till this day just amazed me.

My blog post today is to ask you to pull from your library things that have inspired you. Is it a person, or was it something you read? They may help you to see the Life Signs that could be standing right in front of you.

Be well and Happy Today and Always!
Linda

Step it up this summer!

2012-06-11T12:14:00.000-04:00

The beginning of summer for me is off and running, with juggling work, family, friends and the never ending to do list. It is always a challenge to step it up with workouts. If you are like me you are already getting up at 5:30 am to get ready to go to work. You may also not be going to bed until 11:00 because there is more work to do when you get home. So if you want to add a workout in the am that means getting up at say...4:30...lol. Not I! Or it might mean trying to get one in at the end of the day when your energy level is down and your stress is up with knowing what that to-do lists awaits at home? Does this sound familiar?

That is the ups and downs of my day in a nutshell. What I must do is put me on that to-do list. I don't need to always assign a specific time. I could be assigned to the hours of 8 and 9 pm. And now to what to do during that hour.

After watching a show last night I needed today to share a great couch potato workout in the event you missed it. When your favorite show is on during the commercials do

15 - squats
15- sit ups
15 - push ups.

Do it with your spouse or your partner. Make it fun and encourage each other. You will be surprised at after that hour long program is done what progress you will make in a short time. Add to that a brisk walk with the dog and you got yourself a workout.

So if you are agonizing of when to exercise. The clock is just a clock and does not say that you can't fit it in....lol. It says you can!

Have a great week and a wonderful start to this summer. STEP IT UP!

My Blog A,B,C's

2012-04-11T15:25:00.000-04:00

Hello today friends;

I write to thank all of you that make comments on blog posts that I have written. Thank you all for your kind comments and support of my blog. I welcome your comments always.

What I must do is always delete comments with links attached for products/services that I have no or little knowledge of and or cannot express a comment or an opinion on. I hope that makes for understanding and support!

The simple babble of my mind is to be put on the printed page and make for easy light enjoyable reading for those with similar life struggles and those desiring a better life.

May my blog find you in a thought of desiring a way to live your best life possible with the life that you have been given.

Keep up the good work
Be well and happy always!

Spring cleanup time! Inside our house - Inside our Minds!

2012-04-10T14:54:00.000-04:00

I love this time of year! Time to cleanup and get fresh. For me it was a cluttered basement, a cluttered office space and still the disorganized closets to still do.

It is also the time to cleanup my mind. Clear away thoughts away of failure! Clear away thoughts of family heartache and family worries. Let go of those things I cannot control!

Leaning to live life fully does come with the letting go of interior and exterior things. Like the things that were bought without thought ( mindless shopping)..lol. At the time I did think I needed a bread maker. Does that make sense..lol! Its also letting go of my children that are trying to become men! Allowing them to make there mistakes and learn from them.

This is the same for our weight loss journey. Let go of the person that you are looking at today if she or he displeases you! It is that easy! Today is a brand new day and I am seeing you in a different way...are you?

When you let go you are honestly lighter! You weigh less even if the number on the scale is the same. That's the way I see it. You will hold your head higher and even appear taller. You have gained more then the scale will show today so take that and celebrate it!

I say the mind cleanup comes first simply because of this. When we realize and discover why we bought it in the first place, why we are the way we are with our weight the changing comes next. We need to take the first step in our cleanup journey. Spring is the best time to take that step!

Be well and happy always!
Linda

April Showers bring what..lol

2012-04-03T18:42:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the month of April. That silly phrase is April showers brings May flowers. Here I go again putting my friends to challenge to change that phrase..lol.

I will throw one out at you and lets see if I get any takers. April showers bring May Powers? Am liking that thought and creative mind thinking.

I go through these spurts of thoughts that keep me on track and get my mind in sync with my body. ON the subject of power it is simple. Knowledge is power! When we have the knowledge that brings us the power we can accomplish great things for ourselves.

I make my life commitment of always seeking knowledge and trying new things. The spring time is about the bulbs bursting and the grass growing greener. Life is anew. How about you think of gaining some knowledge this spring that can make you grow stronger as well?

Enjoy the beauty of the season and have a joyous and blessed Easter.

Linda

A fearless Friday...grab one yourself

2012-02-10T12:47:00.000-05:00

Hello blogger friends. Happy Friday!

I will share something personal. Please don't say TMI! There really is always a moral to my babble. Today I had a mole removed on my back. That mole was there since I was a child. While being obese it never seemed much to matter if that makes sense. Even 12 years after that ended I still wore that ugly mole on my back.

I was so conscious of its appearance. It kept me from wearing those great sun dresses in the summer. I always need a bathing suit with a high back and the list goes on and on about my attempts to cover it up. If I experienced all those feelings what was really going on?

I am thinking it was fear. Fear of the procedure? Fear of the thought of it being cancer? For me today was a big deal. I walked into the office with complete nervousness. I was escorted to the room and was then told it would be a few minutes. Talk about the nerves heating up..lol.

The great doctor came into the room and within 10 minutes from start to finish it was gone and it the bottle for testing.

I conquered a fear today. A fear I have carried around for I don't know how long. I wont say it was at the top of the fear list but it must have been there for me to have carried it that long. With my mole removed I feel like weight has been lifted off my back literally.

We can't face all are fears at once for sure but if we chip away at them bit by bit...just imagine how light on our feet we will be!

Now to just facing the fear of those silly small bugs that make me run away and scream..lol

Have a Happy Valentines Day Weekend!

ps...its not just about romantic love. It could be children love, friendship love, pet love and here is one for you...LOVING YOURSELF!

WE ALL ARE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!

2012-02-06T12:32:00.000-05:00

A good day it is! Reflecting on growing up with a mom and dad who were football fans tried and true. My dad being a devoted and loyal Philadelphia Eagles fan and my loving fighting mother being loyal to her team The New York Giants. I liked the Giants because of being from New Jersey and them aka the New Jersey Giants. Stayed a true fan for sure. My son even became a devoted and loyal fan and has supported our local economy by buying Giants merchandise left and right. Each championship game with new gear...lol.

I am recalling those last moments rather seconds of the game as priceless. All of the players wanting to catch that final throw. All of them jumping up to catch at the very same time. The reality was someone had to win and someone loose? That is the sport of it all. We call Manning and the team Super Bowl Champions. Those guys and even us fans at home had our Super Bowl Moment. Mine was wearing pj's jumping up and down and sending a text to my son who was working..lol.

Why the super bowl babble you might be wondering. Each of us can have a game moment that leads us to champions. Possibly we already are? Your super bowl moment could be that you resisted having too much chocolate today. Well you might not jump up and down and go to Disney world because of it ,but the reality is for some of us that is just as much of the same feeling.

When we are able to overcome an obstacle we are Champions! My thought is to make a Super Bowl moment for yourself each day the rest of the year.

A exercise worth trying. Get a notebook and write down a super bowl moment you have each day moving forth till the next super bowl. Do something each day that promotes a healthier lifestyle. That one small step will have you wearing your jersey of pride before you know it. Why not? You deserve to wear that Championship Pride. Wear it bold and wear it Proud!

Congratulations to the New York Giants on your Super Bowl Championship!

My profound thought to begin 2012

2012-01-07T22:15:00.003-05:00

Hello blogger friends;

This post comes with how my mind works. Often with great thought and creativity..lol. Might it inspire you in the same way it will inspire me.

Those of us that aspire to have better health eat to live not live to eat! This came to me just the other day. Words so simple that make a statement so profound!

When we eat to live we eat for nutrition and its health benefit. It is for the means of survival. We have our emotions in check and we make wise choices. When we live to eat we sometimes eat for anything but nutrition. We eat using our emotions. Not our minds. We tend to not make wise choices during those times.

Eating to live will never leave you feeling like a stuffed turkey. All that will be stuffed is your mind with healthful thoughts and choices that will change your life forever.

May the beginning of 2012 be your personal journey to EAT TO LIVE!

Happy New Year.

Linda

Its almost a new year...almost a new me!

2011-12-28T13:58:00.000-05:00

Hello Blogger Friends!

It pleases me to blog today and share a great new gift I got. I so desire to make 2012 another great health year and accomplish greater things within myself.

I was given a gadget called fitbit! Take a look at it if you get a chance. It records your whole day if you so desire. You can sink it to your computer or Internet device and see what you are actually doing. You can also use it to track your mood and your food.

I work at an office desk for 8 hours a day. Spend another 1 1/2 hours commuting to and home from that office desk. Those hours at work are the best of the hours of my day. Those are the hours that I have the most energy. Those are the hours that I need to be active. The fitbit has enabled me to see how really sedentary I am during my workday. When I see two hours sedentary it just burns me up. It makes me get up and run the flight of stairs and make a circle around to go up and down the flights three times an hour. I do look a bit silly but so what. That is 5 minutes for each hour that I am making the choice to get up and move. These 5 minutes will get my heart rate moving but not break a sweat. It is 5 minutes that I am seeing are adding up to in just two days a great reward. It is a goal of mine to do better then the previous day..lol.

I call the fitbit my personal trainer at work. Logging on and checking progress takes just seconds. I am also finding I am more productive during my workday by taking those 5 minutes per hour away from the desk. While I may not be able to do it always because of a meeting etc I will aim for it regardless!

It truly is about moving more and eating less. We have heard that over and over again. Sometimes it speaks louder then other times. The fitbit spoke loud and clear to me that statement. MOVE MORE AND EAT LESS. If you care to look at it google. www.fitbit.com.

I don't have the i-phone, the i-pad or any of those expensive technology items. I tend to believe in purchasing or desiring only those items that will change my life and make it better. This be one of those items.

Have a wonderful New Year. Wishing all my friends a year filled with good health, happiness and love!

Linda

Do we really have a choice?

2011-12-01T19:31:00.000-05:00

Hello Blogger friends;

While working out tonight with my trainer it was like another beaming light in front of me. He was adding more weight as I was doing a chest press machine. I was on the second set and Andrew said, "how is it feeling." My response, "well its not like I have any choice."

We both stopped a moment and pondered and discussed as the workout continued that very concept. When looking at exercise as having no choice it does seem easier to digest. Do you agree? I say this simply because we don't have a choice if we need to pay bills, eat and feed our families to go to work. We don't have a choice if we want to live longer and have a better life to not exercise.

The list goes on. If we want to keep our teeth and be pain free we don't have a choice to skip brushing and flossing.

Truth be told we always have a choice. We could choose to skip exercise to stay home and watch a favorite program on TV. We also no that with the choice that we make comes a reward or a consequence. If we make the right choice and do the workout instead of just watch the movie the reward will be a step towards a longer healthier life. If our choice is to stay on the couch then the consequence is we take a step back towards our unhealthy life. We honestly do shorten it.

From experience I speak this sincerely. Your life is never really your life until you take control of it. If you are eating out of control, not exercising and not wanting to live better you are actually living someone else's life in my opinion. Your life will shorten with each step backwards. You will loose a bit more of it each time you make a wrong choice.

It is the season of giving. Give your self the gift of life. Take your life back and live it.

Be well and happy always friends.

Linda

Turkey & Trimmings - What to do about that?

2011-11-21T10:14:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving blogger friends.

The shopping is done and the family awaits the traditional meal they are expecting to be delightful. Each year I slide in a few changes that lighten things up. Doing a big one this year..shsh....don't tell.

My turkey that is normally stuffed with sausage will be stuffed with turkey sausage this year. As always it will be mixed with light butter. They will not notice those changes and the meal will taste as it always does delicious.

My son asked me with help this weekend with trying to take off a few pounds and is worried about Thanksgiving coming and gaining weight. Here would be my advice for the added eating and slower pace that will occur on that day.

Remember that Thanksgiving is just one day! It is not the day before and is also not the day after. Eat sensible and enjoy a few special treats but don't leave the table feeling stuffed like the turkey and you will be okay.

Here is my plan. I will get up early and go to the bakery to get my rolls. Come home and put the bird in. Walk the dog and then go to the gym and have a cardio workout all before 10am. Come home and enjoy the rest of the day with those I love most. You bet I will be having some sweet potatoes and will have the pumpkin pie. With sincerity I will have a taste of everything I prepare but my plate will not be overflowing and there will not be seconds. The key is to eat slower. Drink some sparkling water with lemon and enjoy the blessings of sharing memories at your table with your loved ones. Those will be strategies that I will use to keep my eating in my control.

We tend to believe that it is okay to over eat during the holidays. From my experience that can add to at least 5 pounds of weight gain from Thanksgiving to Christmas alone. There is no acceptance from eating out of control other times of the year so why Thanksgiving. We can enjoy the holiday and enjoy the meal while remaining in control always. We need not mindless eat.

You are in total control of your portions and what does get put on your plate and put in your mouth. Make sensible choices and when the day is over you will feel even more blessed for being in control of you. I know you can do this.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving friends!

Food for thought Monday

2011-10-24T13:36:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday blog friends;

A dear friend shared this with me this morning so I must share it with you.

If you fail to plan; then you plan to fail. Am thinking that should be in all caps..lol. There is nothing better said then that very line.

This morning I planned the breakfast, the packed lunch and the dinner and snacks. I planned the exercise routine after work and the walk for the dog. I am planning on walking her in a cute Halloween dogie sweater..lol. I even planned to do one hour of work at my home office desk, do a load of laundry and even have time to chill and watch a favorite TV show.

I plan to succeed. In order to do that the prep needs to be there. It requires not only writing the to do list but making sure I check them each off every day. If I need to take one off it has to be one that does not effect my health and lifestyle. For example time could run short. I could get held up at work or the dogie wanting to play more. In that case the laundry might wait and I might have to cut down on the time in the home office or even cut out the TV show! The meals and exercise cannot be cut short.

This weekend I decided to see my trainer from years back. I could feel that while I have still been active the decline in specific weight training was changing my strength. My overall numbers are not where I want them to be. I need more muscle in my body and in order to do that I need to plan.

I need to plan specific days, times and develop a plan to make that happen. I cannot rebuild those muscles in just a day and it will take my ability to commit to achieve success. That I know how to do. Success with a healthy lifestyle is what I live for. It is what moves my mountains each and every day of my life. I will never go back to the gal that had no strength. A gal who was without strength in her muscles and at the same time without strength in her mind. Without a plan I wont be able to achieve success.

Adding to the thought of the plan. When you strengthen your mind you have the ability to strengthen every difficulty in your way. Educate, Inspire and Desire to end this lovely October Day.

Have a great week friends.

Linda

Mirror..Mirror on the wall!

2011-10-17T12:47:00.001-04:00

When was the last time you did what they suggest you do quite often. Take it all off and see yourself in the mirror? That can be a quite scary thought for some.

Looking in a mirror can be a way of letting go and starting over. It's almost like those biggest looser contestants that step on that scale for the very first time. They look at the number and just let go of that large person they have lived with for years. They let go of the lifestyle that has made them out of control with eating and exercise. They walk off that scale and then begin the biggest journey of their life.

So do like I did today as soon as possible.  Take a look at yourself, eyes wide open in the mirror. First look deeper inside of the person that you are beneath the skin. Give yourself three cheers for all the good of the person that you are. You are a great mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, friend. You are loving, caring, kind and honest. You are sincere and will always be there to lend a hand. Remind yourself all the good of you in that mirror.

Step 2 - Look at your face. See your bright eyes and see the love that they are able to see in others. Give a big grin in the mirror. Smile. See how the smile brightens your face. Then look at the rest of you. You may see areas of weakness as well as areas of strength. Your arms may not be as firm as you would like them to be today so make a note. Make a note of physical flaws that you see. Take a good look at yourself and decide is there something that you see that you can change? Something about the physical appearance that you see that you wish too look different?

Step 3 - Put those clothes on and get busy..lol.. Write down your mirror date and make a date to meet you again. Keep that date just 7 days later.  Write down all the good of you and all the things you can work on to change. Keep that mirror image in site in the written words as you may not be able to see that clearly the rest of the day or days to come. Refer back to that mirror writing every day and let it help guide you.

Sometimes our eyes are not opened as wide simply because of our busy days and nights.    Taking a few minutes to have our eyes wide open each week can really put a perspective on you that you may not seem to find the time to discover. When you are in your mirror on the wall don't ask it to tell you who is the greatest of them all. Make sure you end by telling it. I'm the greatest one of all so lets get working on that shall we..lol.

Have a super week blog friends.

Linda

Motivation Monday..here for you!

2011-10-10T10:47:00.001-04:00

Hello Friends

Do your Monday's bring you a sense of excitement like they do me, or do they bring the sadness?  Could it be saying goodbye to a bad week and saying hello to one we are hoping is better?  I am saying Hello Monday! Welcome to the start of the next (7) days. All with my desire to accomplish more, be happier, and stay in control of me. Live well, eat well and stay committed towards achieving greatness in thyself.

Wow..that is a mouthful..lol. What I want to say is motivation is within each of us.  Sometimes we just need to find it. What motivates you? It it getting to the end of the week..lol. Well if that is then we can do something about that to accomplish a lot and when it gets here you will be better then you were for sure on Monday! Make your weekly plan that includes a healthful diet and exercise.

I suggest aiming for the following with your workout plan.  At least (2) strength training workouts for 30 minutes.  They can be free weights, weight machines and even toning like yoga or Pilate's. If you are wanting to loose weight do aim for at least 3 times of week of cardiovascular training. Also for 30 minutes. Make that fun. Change it up. You could do the elliptical trainer, run the treadmill, or ride your bike all in the same week. Put on a dancing video and dance your heart out as well. You do not need a gym membership to get this workout really or even one for your strength training ones. Many a workouts of mine included the use of vegetable cans in the beginning and many a miles on the sneakers around and about my town. Also be sure to warm up and cool down and be sure to do at each workout 10-15 minutes of flexibility training. Stretch, stretch, stretch! Lengthen your arms and legs! Reach for the moon above your head. Flex your calves. Feel the stretch all over your body.

I am not a trainer nor a doctor so these are my opinions and success on what has helped me. You should always consult your doctor before beginning any training plan and I also suggest when working out with weights become very educated before you begin. The risk of injury is great for beginners.

If you are able to develop a plan for just the next seven days and follow it to a "T" you will have done your mind and body good. It is just (7) days of commitment. You are committed towards caring for your family and your dog this week right? You are committed to working for your employer and for doing those dreaded house chores right?  Just like brushing your teeth and reaching for 8 hours of sleep you can commit to taking care of you as well for the next week.

Fill your calendar at work, at home with your next (7) day plan for you! Make a meal plan that will enable you to eat right and stay healthy. It takes planning but not that much really. Add your exercise plan and make it fun. Get a walking buddy!  Call a friend and suggest a longtime overdue chat date.  Walk with your conversation flowing.  Pick up a hula hoop and swing it around a few times..lol. I tried that at a party awhile back. The younger kids were hooping me out of the picnic. Get a jump rope going in your driveway. There are great stats on jump roping. Just 10 minutes of that can equal a whole cardio workout. My babble is simply to say no matter what time you have you can get something done.

Stop making excuses and get moving.  It is Monday. When the darkness comes tonight over me I want to feel I made my day great. I did the best I could today. I took care of my employer, my family, my dog and ME! Yup me! Join me and say the same.

Have a super week friends.

When the world changes because of one!

2011-10-07T15:56:00.001-04:00

Hi;

I am speaking of Steve Jobs! What a genius, what an inspiration, what a innovative mind! I want to share something I have been looking at each day since his passing.

(Please Share This In Memory Of Steve Jobs): "Your time is limited so don't waste it living someone Else's life. Don't let the opinions of others drown out your own inner voice. And most important, to follow your heart and intuition. Somehow already know what you want to become. Everything else is secondary." -Steve Jobs.

These words are so profound to me! I sat at my dinner table last night and could not help but think of his life. What a meaningful life. If we could all live and feel these words within our heart I could just imagine what our world would be like? I could just imagine how our personal life would change. This seems it could be easier said then done for most of us, agreed?

What also came to mind is his passion! If we tap into our inner passion we can accomplish all that we desire. He grew with a passion that fueled him. He changed the world with that passion. I find he was a very fortunate man. Not just by being who he was with his fame and wealth but by living his life fully! Very few of us are capable of tapping our mind and living our passion to its greatest potential. I have tried to emulate him in many ways of my life but reading the statement above makes me realize more needs to be done.

Steve Jobs was the Idol of my son Nick. Others may choose sports stars or entertainers. Nick choose him many years ago. I will never forget the day I gave him a hardcover book of Steve Job's Apple Journey and have added to his collection with posters of him for his room. We were speaking about his passing the night he died. Nick mentioned how he found it ironic at how he hand picked his next in line. Not someone everyone has heard of before? I said to Nick. What Steve Jobs has left me and I hope all of us is the understanding that our innovative mind needs no hand picking. It is up for grabs to each of us so lets go grab it.

In my conclusion thoughts I say just that! Go and grab your creative innovative mind! Who knows...that mind could change our world!

Happy October!
Linda

September 21, 2011! - International Day Of Peace! Makes me wonder!

2011-09-21T12:19:00.000-04:00

Hello blogger friends;

I pulled away the calendar page on my desk this morning to reveal this day as an International Day of Peace! When I see these days that are created by others I try to find a way of creating one that helps me..lol. I mean that sincerely.

I wish each and everyone of us out there a Happy Peace Within Thyself Day! With that wish comes the instruction to find a few minutes of peace for yourself. If you enjoy reading pick up the book for a few minutes. If your love rock and roll and it gives you peace..yikes...let it play loud!

Sincerely finding peace within each of us is so hard! At least for me it is! Peace accepting things out of our control. Peace accepting the way our lives are now! Many of us led better lives financially before the decline in our economy. Having more money made it easier at least for me it did! These days we need to be at peace with the way we have altered our life to accomidate our struggles at home! Peace with less that truly does give you more! Isn't that the truth? I love finding this out! We find a way to treasure less and make it so much more meaninful.

Peace is the laughter I got from a friends facebook post. Peace is the calm that comes over my body when I don't allow the worry of my sons illness to overcome me! Peace comes over me when I accept the gal that is here writing today! A gal that has her struggles and has her challenges to overcome. A gal that holds her head high and gets up even when someone has knocked her down. Peace within my inner heart! For a gal that loves completely and desires and expects the same of others and will stand for nothing less.

Peace on this day comes to everyone of my friends. I consider anyone reading this to be one!

Linda

Back to school - Back to Basics!

2011-08-30T12:11:00.000-04:00

I just love September! The smell of sharpened pencils and the sound of school kids and buses in the neighborhood. Watching the kids run to the bus stop carrying their new lunch box and wearing their special backpack! The memories of those days when my children were young bring me great joy to remember!

When back to school begins they start off the year with a refresher of last years knowledge! I am thinking we could all do that. Go back to school and refresh our knowledge of our healthful lifestyle. So what is little old me going to do about that? Do I really need to refresh? Most definitely.

I just joined weight watchers and committed to two months of education again! I have not been a participating member for many years. I don't have to loose much weight but I for sure will regardless. It will help to be under a goal weight by a few pounds to get ready for the holiday season. That is always a goal of mine. My real reason for joining is for the refresh. The plan that helped me loose over 130 pounds of weight 11 years ago has changed. I am hearing about points plus? All new! They also have new ideas and new tips that I have not tried. It will also be great to have the refresher on what I already know works.

I say sharpen your pencils and refresh! Possibly it could be taking the clothes off the stationary bike and refreshing on how to use it. Get on it! Possibly going to the gym that you have been paying for! Any of this sound familiar? For me its weight watchers knowledge. Find what it is for you!

By Halloween and fall events we could be well on our way to becoming stronger in our minds and body. We can get the "A" grade inside our inner self.

Be well blog friends! Share your back to school refresher if you care too! Lets inspire each other!

What happens when you revisit old habits?

2011-08-03T11:06:00.002-04:00

Yikes...we all know that well and good that is a recipe for a disaster right?

A group of us gals were getting together to go out and spend some time together. These are childhood friends that I grew up with and have just recently reconnected with.

We decided to eat at a restaurant that used to be the landscape of our elementary school. In Jersey we can also make a good cheese steak! In this town it is called Pete's. We were going to go there! Why did I decide that? Not at all a good healthful choice and seems like a different one would have been a better option.

I haven't had one of those in awhile so I thought why not! What is the harm in just one and a big plate of fries on the side? For me it is big problems. I don't need to be reminded of my old lifestyle. What I need to be reminded of is my new lifestyle.

That is the one that is easiest to forget so I need to be reminded always of making the right choice. Learning how to stay away from these temptations is quite hard. It seems as if we always relate to fun times around dinners and parties. That I need to change.

I am meeting my niece this weekend to do something fun. We are taking a canning class in the morning. Of course I should add a meal to that either way. I am choosing a panera bread lunch. I know what I am going to eat and know I will remain in control. I need to think clearly always to make the right choice! Again affirming that when we act on emotion (the cheese steak and not having one) we make the wrong choice always. By the way...we didn't go and it got cancelled. I told the gals no way to the cheese steak place for me next date.

My simple moral of today. Don't revisit old habits. Revisit new ones! Those are the ones that need reminding of and hardest to keep in control of.

Have a wonderful day today and a wonderful week ahead.

Do memories of tragedy bring back memories of old lives?

2011-07-26T09:22:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Friends;

Today marks a memory of a great tragedy for me. Thirteen years ago today I lost my Mom. It was completely unexpected. A few days earlier I took her to the hospital because she was complaining of stomach pains. She was treated and was expected to come home from the hospital within a few days. On this day I was at her bedside chatting with her. She gave me a big smile, closed her eyes, and then her heart stopped beating. I can recall the rush of medical person coming in and asking me to leave the room.

I sat in a chair outside her hospital room. I remember the tears flowing like never before and the immediate response to pray out loud. I said please " God do not take her from me now! I cannot do this alone. You took my brother, my father and you cannot take her not now!" I need her more then you do." Please please don't do it." My mother did pass that day and I recall this as one of the darkest days of my life.

It was a very long, dark night. The kitchen coffee pot was all that I desired. I grabbed my cup and sat at my side door with it open gazing out. A big black bird came up to the door and was squalling at me. Just opening his beek squalling at me. I can recall this memory as if it was today. He was so loud that my husband had came out and said what is that sound and saw him. I told him it was the death bird telling me my mother is dead. A truly dark time in my life.

Today 13 years later the sun is shining! It is going to be a beautiful day. I gazed out my window this morning to see a small bird at a bird feeder. He was not squawking at me but enjoying his early breakfast. The sound I was hearing was birds chirping. It was a beautiful sound.

I share because when tragedy strikes us we tend to wallow in self pity so much that we are unable to rise above the pain that we are feeling. We can never diminish the pain but what we can do is find the peace within the pain. My mothers death was inevitable. We all must die sometime. A simple principal but because of the love we have for our loved ones so hard to just rationalize. We are human and simple principals don't apply all the time. Our hearts bleed with sorrow and sadness so how do we overcome that feeling.

Here is my opinion. Take the sadness and turn it into happiness. These days I recall fond memories of my mom. I listen for the chirping birds these days not the squawking ones. I live, love and laugh like my mom. She is a part of me always. Her spirit lives within me. That will never die. That cannot be taken from me.

My life is meant to be enjoyed and lived fully. Times for memories do bring tears for sure. I wipe them away and carry on. If I spend the entire day enduring tears I will miss all the good of the day. The beaming, sun, the chirping birds and the cool breeze that the night will bring.

Possibly I will have a glass of wine at dinner tonight! I am making something my mom used to make.."stuffed peppers." I will raise my glass to her at my dinner table and tell her above how much she meant to me and how I do miss her.

The rest of my day will be as it should. Drinking plenty of water, making good food choices and finding some time to get a work out in.

Have a wonderful happy day today. We must always think that their is the possibility that today could be our last? We need to live it as if it were!

Linda

Do we live with Jealousy & Envy?

2011-07-15T09:05:00.000-04:00

Just a fine topic to babble about this fine Friday morning! Seems like it was the discussion that I had with my morning cup of coffee with my partner in crime..lol.

I do find that those two emotions can really drive us to make wrong choices or compel us to do better with our lives. ie: you could be jealous of how fabulous your girlfriend looks wearing that dress that you wanted to buy. That jealousy could drive you to take control and buy and even better dress. Does this sound familiar? Or that jealousy could just eat away at the inner core of the good person you are! You could begin to loose your positive happy attitude! What to do with those feelings?

Are you envious that your neighbors house looks just prettier then yours on the outside? Do they just seem to have the better lawn/landscape then you? Okay...for me all true..lol. Well here is my resolve with that emotion. I cannot afford to deploy funds or take the days off from work it would take to landscape and make the curb appeal like my other neighbors have.

Here is what I did. I took a shrub that was way overgrown and even professionals have told me take it out. I trimmed this shrub like no one has ever done. It now is a tree..lol. Can you call it an eye soar. Possibly! Then under that shrub that now I call a tree I planted just some simple annual flowers. I trimmed all the other overgrown bushes and picked up a few bags of mulch to clean up the other beds and added a few simple plantings from the Depot. As far as my front weed lawn that I was given simple. For the record...weed killer does work. My front lawn was 90% weeds and putting it down did kill them. Most of them. So these days my front lawn has a mixture of bits of grass, bits of weeds and a brown straw like material. I happily go out each weekend and edge and mow this lawn..lol. It doesn't look pretty, and it doesn't have the curb appeal but I do like the thought that I can control the emotion of patience.

I will be patient for when the cooler weather can come and I have saved a bit more funds to be able to tackle that project. The envy for me has turned to building upon my patience skill.

Again..why Linda that babble. Take the emotion of jealousy, envy and build upon another skill set. To say that you are never going to have those emotions might be difficult. Just recognize them and transfer that energy into something you can build upon. Patience for me has always been hard. One thing for sure being a new homeowner of a home that was not cared for takes allot of that!

So from this brown dead front lawn, hideous back yard gal....Have a super weekend! Me and my weeds and straw are going to have just a fabulous one!..lol. Weekends and this gal do just fine!