I’ve been noticing that my calendar is starting to fill up a bit lately, which I’m assuming has something to do with the arrival of spring. Yes, it’s just around the corner, a mere three weeks away! It’s exciting for me since it means I’ll be traveling to several areas of Michigan and striving to motivate people to live a healthier lifestyle, my true passion.

But I’m not the only one that has noticed a fuller schedule for the upcoming months. Lately I’ve spoken with people who have informed me they, too, have seen an increase in activities scheduled for the months ahead. What surprised me was that many of them said they’ve come to dread this time of the year. Of course they enjoy the fact that winter will be over and warmer temperatures are on their way. But what they don’t like is that busier schedules mean less time at home. And less time at home means less time to do those things that must be done — specifically preparing dinner for the family.

I know how busy evenings can be, especially when you have children that are involved in sports or after school activities. There were days when all three of my kids had something to practice for or attend… and I felt more like a taxi driver than a mom. Once all family members were home (usually by late evening) my kids were, as they called it, starving to death! My first thought was always to just order out — it sounded pretty easy to do, but that was not a solution because I wanted my kids to eat healthy, obviously. So I had to find something that would work for us. Something simple, inexpensive and healthy: a Crock-Pot!

Crock-Pots, or slow cookers at my mom always called them, are great. You just place the ingredients in the crock before you go to bed, place it in the refrigerator overnight, and take it out in the morning, plug it in and the Crock-Pot does the cooking all day for you. It’s pretty simple and works great for those with a hectic schedule; plus you can prepare an economical meal that is healthy for your family — three big bonuses in my book.

In fact, I thought I would make it even easier for you as I found a great site with some healthy slow-cooker recipes for you to try.

I have a recipe below that I’d like to share, one our family really enjoys: “Crock Pot Chicken Stew.”

Crock Pot Chicken Stew

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in 1-inch pieces
2 cans  fat-free chicken broth
3 cups potatoes, peeled & cubed
1 cups onion, chopped
1 cup celery, sliced
1 cup carrots, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2  teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
6  ounces tomato paste
1/4 cup cold water
3  tablespoons cornstarch

Directions

Combine all ingredients, except water and corn starch, in Crock Pot. Cover and cook on low for six to eight hours. After the time has passed, turn on high. Mix corn starch and water, stir until smooth. Stir into stew. Cook uncovered 30 minutes more or until the vegetables are tender.

Do you use a slow cooker for family meals? What recipe is your family’s favorite?

Photo by Matthew Saunders

Balance Good Health and Being Busy With This Recipe for Crock-Pot Chicken Stew is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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I had the pleasure of presenting at the Winter Warm-Up midpoint event recently at the Lansing Mall. I spoke about the importance of exercise and how to fuel your body before and replenish your body after a workout. I also had a table where I set up a trail mix bar so everyone could make their own trail mix. Trail mix is a great snack to enjoy before or after a workout.

The Winter Warm-Up is a free program that offers resources and other help to encourage people to adopt positive habits like exercise and healthy eating into their daily routines. There are three more weeks left in the Winter Warm-Up events that occur every Saturday in Lansing. I thought that it would be a great opportunity to share this information here.

The beauty of exercise nutrition is that what you need before a workout is very similar to what you need after. The most important thing to remember is to listen to your own body. I know for me, I can’t have too much to eat before a workout or else I cramp. After a workout is my time to really get in some good nutrition.

Fueling Your Body

Here are some things to keep in mind before you work out.

Discussing the importance of eating nutrition rich foods before and after a workout

Hydration — Water is essential. As many of you know, you should get at least half your body weight in ounces of water or about 64 ounces of water daily. While you exercise, keep a bottle of water handy so you can replenish some of the water you lose to sweat.

Timing — What you should eat before a workout will depend greatly on how long it was since you last ate and what you had to eat at that time. My recommendation is if it has been longer than three or four hours, be sure to have somthing to eat before your workout.

Carbohydrates — Carbs are the body’s main fuel and energy source. Ideally, these would come from fruit, whole grains or dairy. My recommendation is to keep it to one to three servings, or 15 to 45 grams of carbs depending on your height, weight and what kind of exercise you will be doing and for how long. If you’re a small body type and plan to do a less-intense workout, you’ll need less, whereas you’ll need more carbs if you are taller and plan on exercising harder or for a longer period of time.

Protein — Protein is another main nutrient that is important for the muscles of the body. Protein acutally takes longer to digest than carbohydrates, so by adding some protein it will help sustain you throughout your workout.

I recommend trying some of these pre-workout snacks:

• An apple with peanut butter
• Half a sandwich
• Low-fat Greek yogurt
• Trail mix

Or try my healthy green smoothie recipe below. Liquid nutrition seems to work best for me before a workout because it digests quickly and it is not too much food, so no cramping.

Healthy Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of clean spinach leaves (fresh or frozen)
• 1 banana
• ½–1 cup of fresh or frozen fruit (I prefer mangos, pineapples or lighter-colored fruit, so I can see the green color of the smoothie)
• 1 cup of light or low-fat milk of your choice (soy, almond, rice, coconut or cow’s milk
• 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
• Ice

Preparation:

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend on high for about 40 seconds or until smooth and frothy. Pour into glasses and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Trail Mix Bar (from top left to bottom right): baked cheese crackers, mixed nuts, shredded wheat cereal, sunflower seeds, dried tropical fruits, pretzels, sesame sticks, and dark chocolate chips

Replenishing Your Body

Getting the workout in is obviously important. And now you know that having enough fuel and energy before the workout is too. But making sure you replenish your body after is just as important and often gets overlooked.

Hydration — This is so important. When you exercise, you lose a lot of water through sweat. Since our bodies are 70 percent water, you can easily see why staying hydrated is good for you. A general rule of thumb is that you should get 16 to 32 ounces of water after every hour of exercise. Sometimes I enjoy a coconut water for flavor. Sports drinks are not actually necessary, unless you are an athlete in training. Also beware because some sports drinks are filled with sugar and unnecessary calories.

Timing — Since exercise is a natural appetite suppressant, you may not be hungry right after a workout — and that’s OK. So start with some water and maybe a shower, but make sure you do consume something after your have burned all those calories. If you’re starving after a workout, do not overeat or eat too quickly, since this will throw your workout away. Instead of just snacking after a workout, another idea is to enjoy your next meal.

Carbohydrates — Once again, the same pre-workout rules apply: You want to get some good carbs with fiber into your body. Fruits, veggies, whole grains and dairy are great options. The nice thing about dairy, like low-fat milk or low-fat yogurt, is it also contains protein.

Protein — Lean protein sources will help you rebuild your fatigued muscles and help keep you satisfied. If it is not time for a meal after your workout, try some of these post-workout snacks (or make them into a meal):

• Low-fat white or chocolate milk
• The green smoothie recipe above
• Peanut butter and bananas on rice cakes or whole wheat crackers (one of my faves)
• Trail mix
• Hummus and whole wheat pita with cucumbers
• Low-fat yogurt with berries
• Half a tuna sandwich with lettuce and tomato on whole wheat bread
• Turkey, apple and Laughing Cow cheese roll-ups (one of my favorite snacks). All you do is take about 3 slices of lean, low-sodium turkey, spread the soft cheese inside a turkey slice and throw in some apple slices and roll it up. Delicious!

Don’t forget to take care of your body. It is the only one you have. What do you enjoy before or after a workout?

Photos by watchmojo and Tom Derocha

Exercise Does a Body Good: How to Fuel and Replenish Your Body for Workouts is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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The Academy Awards is a popular evening for more than just the famous people. Oscar parties are popping up all over the place; some even require formal attire to attend.

I have not hosted or been to an Oscar party but think it would be fun. I do, however, like watching the Oscars (even though there always seems to be a movie I haven’t even heard of that is nominated). I like to see how the Hollywood superstars are glammed up and what crazy outfits they are wearing.

Oscar Snacks

If you are hosting or going to an Oscar party this year, here are some ideas for healthy dishes to make and share:

• Open-faced silver dollar sandwiches — Save some calories and have just one piece of bread. Put any low calorie and low fat meat on it with a dab of fat free cream cheese.
• Turkey pepperoni and cheese stick — Cut a couple slices of turkey pepperoni into four slices; pair that with a couple cubes of low-fat cheese, put together on a toothpick and serve.
• Veggie tray and Ranch dip — Serve any and all veggies sliced alongside a packet of fat-free sour cream mixed with one dry Ranch dip packet.
• Fat-free Jell-O with berries and fat free Cool Whip
• Fat-free pudding with fat free cool whip
• Fruit smoothies

Here are more healthy appetizers, desserts and drinks.

Whether or not you are going to an Oscar party, watching the show in your comfies at your house (or not watching it at all), these healthy food options are great for many occasions.

Do you have a favorite food to make for Oscar night?

Photo credit: nicogenin

How to Eat Like the Stars on Oscar Night is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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Week of Feb. 19-25: America’s most famous adventurous eater finds weird things to consume in Detroit; an Upper Peninsula couple’s winter wood shipment; the Grand Rapids Lip Dub gets its due; Lt. Gov. Brian Calley’s charity polar plunge; and a report cites Michigan as the model for economic rebound (really). You can’t find these links at Eastern Market.

• Q&A: Andrew Zimmern on pie, salty fish and betting on Detroit (Detroit Regional News Hub)
• Bizarre Foods: Detroit (Travel Channel)
• Grand Rapids Lip Dub, Status Creative wins inaugural Earnie Award for breakthrough social media campaign (MLive)
• “Honey, our log truck of firewood is here.” (Lake Superior Spirit)
• U.P. for fun? Try Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in winter (AP)
• Metro areas may lead turnaround, report says (Freep)

And last but not least, the Calley Cannonball:

Photo by scook48227

Weekend Hot Links: ‘Bizarre Foods’ and Cannonball Edition is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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This is the second entry in a six part series brought to you by Healthy Blue Living^SM, a highly successful health care plan that rewards people who commit to making better health choices by focusing on six high-impact measures of health. Healthy Blue Living is celebrating its Fifth Anniversary by inviting YOU to make a pledge and tell us what you will do over the next five years to improve your health.

Depression is an affective disorder that falls under mental illness, and is distinguished by sadness, loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable, discouragement, despair, fatigue, fluctuation in weight, and other symptoms. Besides being the number one cause of disability worldwide, depression can increase a person’s chance of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Here’s what you need to know about depression:

Misconceptions

Depression is frequently misunderstood as a sign of weakness and not recognized as an illness. For this reason that depression is often left untreated, which can lead to relationship struggles for the individual at home, at work and in other public settings.

How to Recognize Depression

Everyone can relate to being in a bad mood, feeling sad or down once and a while.  With depression, that “bad mood” feeling lasts for weeks, months or even years. Depression interferes with a person’s concentration, energy and motivation, and affects those who interact with a depressed individual. If you think you may have signs of depression make an appointment with your doctor to talk about how you are feeling.

Healthy Blue Living Connection

To earn the enhanced benefit level with lower out of pocket costs, Healthy Blue Living members need to work with doctor to get any depression symptoms they may be experiencing into remission.

How to Combat Depression

There are many ways you can fight factors that contribute to depression, including:

• Regular exercise
• Regular sleep
• Don’t smoke
• Don’t drink alcohol in excess
• Eat nutritious foods

In addition to the suggested lifestyle changes to combat depression, try your best to think positively and approach each situation by making an honest effort to look on the bright side of things. Most importantly, remember that depression takes time to treat and you need to have patience with yourself.

Blue Care Network also gives customers access to behavioral health services 24 hours a day seven days a week by going online or calling the number on the back of their ID card.

Depression information used in this blog post came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Photo credit: Depression-survival.com

What You Need To Know About: Depression is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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Here I am ending the third week of my attempt to get fit fast. The update for this week is that there is both good and bad news.

I like to start with the positive, so the good news is that I lost 1½pounds from last week (insert applause here). The not-so-great news is the weight loss wasn’t due to my toning schedule, which I didn’t accomplish this week.

Excuse Me?

So the reason I wasn’t successful in accomplishing my workout schedule this week is I have had two strained muscles in my neck and back. By this I mean any normal movement would send me twitching and making weird noises. So, I decided to take it easy and rest my muscles. The treadmill was out because of twitchy Magee and I certainly wasn’t about to do any balance or strength training exercises either.

I think of the mantra I’m fond of from The Biggest Loser this season: “No Excuses.” So I am wondering if my back and neck ailments were technically excuses or if I shouldn’t be hard on myself this time because I was physically unable to workout. I like the later of course and am going to push extra hard when I get better!

A Pound is a Pound

That said, I still managed to lose a pound and a half, which I am very excited about. I had to very carefully watch the amount of calories that I took in and make sure I ate the best foods. I tend to stick to the same snacks whether or not I am able to work out simply because they taste good and they are good for the body.

Here is a list of workout friendly foods that I really like:

• Bananas
• A tablespoon of peanut butter
• Low fat string cheese
• Low fat or fat-free yogurt
• Low fat or fat-free cottage cheese
• Low fat turkey slices
• Half a whole grain English muffin
• Almonds
• Oatmeal
• Tuna fish in water with veggies or whole grain crackers
• Low fat or skim white or chocolate milk

You can have any of these foods before or after a workout; the key is to watch the portion of your snacks and get a good balance of carbohydrates and proteins. You don’t want to eat too much before you workout because that could cause cramping since your food is trying to digest, so keep it light.

Have you been doing the workouts with me? If so, how is it going? Remember one thing: “We are not asking for perfection, we are asking for progress” — anonymous.

Do you have a favorite food to eat before or after you workout?

Photo credit: Sashala

Get Fit Fast, Week 3: My Favorite Workout-Friendly Foods is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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If you’re a daily walker like I am, and you live in Michigan or somewhere else that got snow, you’re probably debating whether or not to walk outdoors today or look for an alternative exercise. Yes, it appears as though the snow is here for the day and it’s the heavy stuff, which does not provide the best traction when trying to walk at a brisk pace.

When the snow falls at the rate it’s falling today, I find that I enjoy walking on the treadmill. Sometimes I prefer to walk indoors at the mall. But today I’m going to bundle up and get myself outdoors to do a little shoveling!

I will not allow any snow to stop me from exercising; in fact, sometimes it’s a nice change of routine. Snow shoveling is a great exercise, burns hundreds of calories and forces me to use muscles that I don’t use while walking. But please understand that shoveling snow can be a very intense, aerobic activity, so take a moment to read these safety tips before heading outdoors with your snow shovel.

Shoveling snow is not the only winter exercise; many activities can help you burn off hundreds of calories and they are enjoyable too! The list below shows the number of calories burner per hour, based on a person who weighs 150 pounds. Note that the more you weigh, the more calories you burn while performing these winter activities:

 
Think of the fun you could have this weekend taking the family on a cross-country skiing adventure; everyone would love it. And when is the last time you went ice skating? Honestly, not much beats the feeling of lacing up your blades and swooshing your way around the skating rink, the warmth of the sun reflecting off the smooth ice, the lively music blaring from the rink’s speakers, the effortlessness of the glide… well, you get the picture!

And you have to admit that the kids would love it if you decided to surprise them with a day of sledding too. Grab that sled or toboggan from that dusty corner in the basement and head towards the hill of your choice. I could go on and on, but my point is this: No matter what the weather is, find a way to incorporate some form of exercise into your day. It’s fun, it’s a change of scenery, and it’s good for you (and your heart!).

How do you plan to get out and enjoy the snow?

Photo by Brian Giesen

Scared of a Little Snow? There are Plenty of Ways to Burn Calories Outdoors in Winter is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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Besides being nominated for Academy Awards for 2012, what do Brad Pitt, Michele Williams and Jonah Hill all have in common? They have a great workout routine and an even greater desire to be and stay healthy.

Walk it Out

Michelle Williams, nominated for 2012’s leading actress in “My Week with Marilyn,” walked off her baby weight when she had her daughter, Matilda, with the now-deceased Heath Ledger. She said that she likes to “make a plan and set attainable goals.”

Williams states that she never missed a day of walking — even when the weather was terrible. She was on the red carpet six weeks after having her baby, looking as amazing as ever.

I love walking. It is a great way to burn calories without having to spend a lot of money, and the best part about walking is you can do it anywhere!

Dr. James Rippe came up with the “One Mile Walk Test” to determine the fitness level of men and women at different ages. This is what he determined (all times are in minutes and seconds):

Women

 
Men

 
If you are starting out doing physical activity, check with your doctor first. Also, if you are just starting out, try walking two times a week for 15 minutes. Increase the frequency and speed each week as you get stronger. Use the chart above to monitor your progress.

Here are some guidelines to consider using this chart to gauge your fitness level:

• Poor or Fair: Week 1
• Average: Week 5
• Good: Week 8
• Excellent: Week 9

Tone By Running

Jonah Hill, who is nominated for supporting actor in “Moneyball,” has gotten a lot of hype in the past few months for his drastic weight loss.

Jonah says he “called a nutritionist and started running.” He says he doesn’t know how much weight he has lost, exactly, but it’s enough where he has worked up to doing 100 pushups each day.

Again, I love running. I want to be better at it because it is one cardiovascular activity that works for me in toning up. I have been challenging myself to do running intervals, where I will walk or jog for 2 minutes and then run for 1 minute (elevating my heart rate even more). I repeat this slower to faster tempo for 20 to 30 minutes (with a 5-minute warmup and cool-down) two to four times a week.

There are a ton of structured running plans out there for every fitness level. Couch to 5K is a great program, as are Hal Higdon’s running regimens. If you are not a structured type of person, start out slow and increase your distance and stamina each run.

Build Strength

Ah, Mr. Pitt — this is clearly an individual who likes to take care of his body. You don’t get those pecs, abs and arms by sitting on the couch.

Push ups, pull ups and sit ups: oh my! Each of those exercises were included in Brad’s workout routine. For you advanced fitness gurus, here are each of Brad’s workouts for some of his classic movies.

Do you have a favorite workout or exercise you like to do to get fit?

Photo credit: Barbara.Doduk

Resources: MyJellyBean; One Mile Walk Test; Jay’s Fit Life

How to Work Out Like an Oscar-Nominated Superstar is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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A man walks his dog in Palmer Park. The historic log cabin is visible in the background.

Whether or not Mother Nature cooperates, the organizers of this weekend’s Palmer Park Winter Fest see the inaugural one-day festival fitting into a larger strategy to breathe life into the celebrated park by highlighting its unique, if frayed, amenities.

In the planning for months, organizers from the advocacy group People for Palmer Park plan events including free snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals, ice skating, horse sleigh rides and snow crafts. If there’s no snow, organizers plan to convert to woodland trail hikes, horse-drawn carriage rides, features like a doggie fashion show and food and beverages.

“We’ll still have activities,” said Rochelle Lento, one of the festival organizers and vice president of the People for Palmer Park board. “We’ve gotten really good, positive response to it. The communities surrounding it have circulated fliers, so we’re hoping that people will turn out.”

Nearly Lost

It’s the latest in a string of events meant to help draw attention up the once-grand park, which turns 115 years old this year yet was proposed to be closed nearly two years ago by the cash-strapped city.

That announcement by the city led to a large protest by park supporters and was quickly abandoned after public outcry. It also led to the formation of People for Palmer Park in early 2011, which received official tax-exempt status as a nonprofit in December.

Palmer Park enjoys a unique history, stature among Detroit parks. At nearly 300 acres, it’s one of the city’s largest public parks and arguably one of its most visible, located along the heavily trafficked Woodward Avenue between Six and Seven Mile roads.

City leaders officially designated the park in 1897 after acquiring the land two years earlier from Thomas Witherell Palmer, a former member of the U.S. Senate. Palmer donated part of the land of the park that now bears his name, along with a rustic log cabin retreat he had built a decade earlier, to the city on the condition that none of the virgin forest be destroyed.

For much of its life, the park was a scenic and popular gathering spot, featuring the majestic hardwood forest, the manmade Lake Frances, a lighthouse, Merrill Fountain, swimming pool, tennis courts and more.

In more recent years, the park has fallen into disrepair, mirroring the city’s own declining fortunes. Crime, homelessness and a reputation as a gay men’s hangout have dogged the park for years.

A detail of the Merrill Fountain.

The log cabin has been closed to the public decades for decades, the swimming pool was shut down and drained two years ago, and the famed fountain no longer works. Residents who crowd the tennis courts that front Woodward have for years been pooling money to pay for resurfacing and other upkeep.

“I remember growing up and watching them play, they had women’s softball tournaments all the time,” said Leonora King, a park advocate who helped organize the save-the-park rally. “That doesn’t happen anymore because the diamond is not up to snuff.

“There definitely needs to be a lot of revamping of the park. But it’s still a beautiful park.”

Turning a Corner

But lately, there are plenty of signs of improvement.

One of the nonprofit’s members, who owns a landscape architecture firm, has helped to clear and improve the many trails that criss-cross the woods, with other groups chipping in to spread mulch made from the cleared trees. A debris-strewn homeless encampment was cleared from a remote area in the woods. Weekly trash-removal efforts have also helped.

People for Palmer Park, which counts a core group of about 30 dedicated members not including volunteers, have three immediate targets for improving the park that the city has signed off on, Lento says. They want to fix and reopen the log cabin and have already raised money to winterize the structure and seal it off from animals and weather. They also want to upgrade the park’s playscape and are trying to raise money to buy new equipment from a Michigan manufacturer. And lastly, they want to get more people to start using the park again.

Rochelle Lento

To that end, the nonprofit has held a number events in the past year, including free pet vaccinations, monthly recycling drop-offs (unlike many cities, Detroit has no curbside pickup program), a guided architectural tour of the adjacent apartment district, children’s story events and Christmas caroling.

While there have been noticeable improvements to the park, its boosters aren’t ready to celebrate. Working in conjunction with the city’s Recreation department, People for Palmer Park has developed a 25-year master plan that includes design and construction specifics to restore the park to its original layout. The group also plans to seek grant funding.

“Our feeling on it is we are really intending to embrace all people, so we have no interest in excluding anyone,” Lento said. “We just want to make sure that families are brought back into the park and activities that get people healthy and engaged are brought back to the park.”

Learn more about volunteering opportunities at PeopleForPalmerPark.org, or like them on Facebook.

What do you think about Palmer Park? What would you like to see improved?

Photos by People for Palmer Park and jarred_

Winter Fest Part of Grassroots Effort to Revitalize Detroit’s Palmer Park is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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If I could be like anyone in the world, who would it be? It’s funny how our answers change as we grow older. When I was a young girl, I remember watching the popular television show “One Day at a Time” and overhearing my parents talk about how smart and adorable Valerie Bertinelli was. That was the moment when I knew that I wanted to be just like her.

Granted, I was only 10 years old, but she was someone I looked up to. That little wish of mine has not totally gone away, since she still looks just as adorable now as she did back in the ‘70s, but my wish now has more to do with the fact that she has inspired millions to lose weight along with writing two successful books on the subject. Why would I not wish for that? She is an awesome individual and I hope to have a conversation with her someday.

‘Never Give Up’

Valerie wasn’t the only person who I looked up to when I was young. There was someone else, but it wasn’t due to the fact that my parents thought this person was smart and adorable. Remember I was overweight during my teenage years, struggling daily to lose a pound or two, constantly dieting and wishing to be thin. Who else other than the diet guru himself, Richard Simmons, would I look up to? He once weighed 268 pounds and was able to lose 123 pounds successfully — and I wanted Richard to help me too.

I remember attending a presentation he gave at a local hospital. I was in the front row and actually touched his shoe (a big deal for a 14 year old!). No, I didn’t have posters of the guy hanging in my room or anything, but I knew that he understood what it was like to be the fat kid. That similarity helped me feel a connection with him.

I still think Richard is pretty awesome. He has been helping people lose weight for 37 years and you’ve got to admit that you can’t help but smile when he appears on a television show. No, he’s definitely not your “average Joe,” but that’s what I like about him. Richard Simmons honestly cares about those struggling with their weight, he is not a fake. He’s genuine and sincere, which is why I still look up to him. His past and present accomplishments inspired me to create numerous goals for myself. Richard is another person I hope to have a conversation with someday in the future.

Modern-Day Inspiration

There’s one more person who I look up to, but it’s not someone I know from my youth. This person wasn’t brought to my attention until the year 2005, three years after I completed my 162-pound weight loss. I surely want to have a conversation with this inspiring individual and with any luck, it will happen. Actually my good friend, Jon Stanton, did have a nice chat with this person as he shared his own 230-pound weight-loss success story with her in New York City. Oh, he rubbed it in a little bit with me and made sure to take a photo with the famed personal trainer Jillian Michaels.

OK, so I was jealous ever so slightly, but I was also very happy for him — the smile on his face in the photo is priceless!

Jillian, like Richard Simmons, appears to be a genuine and sincere person; she actually calls herself “shy and prude.” Jillian claims that she enjoys helping people build happier and healthier lives (hey, that sounds familiar!). I didn’t know this until a couple years ago, but Jillian was actually bullied in junior high school when she was overweight. Her classmates made cow sounds at her when she walked down the hallway (that sounds familiar too). Soon after, she got into martial arts. Before long, Jillian believed in herself and — here’s what I really love — respected herself! One of my favorite comments from Jillian is, “When you’re physically fit, you’re more confident and empowered.” You said it, Jillian!

So, if I could be like anyone in the world, the above three individuals surely qualify, but honestly I like who I am now and I don’t wish to be like anyone else. Which one do I want to meet? All three of them!

Who do you most admire in your life? Which person mentioned above inspires you the most? Why?

Photos by JillianMichaels.com, matthewspiel and Mark Coggins

Which People Most Inspire You? Here Are My 3 is an article from: A Healthier Michigan

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