Great quotes

I have the Be Good to Yourself page-a-day calendar.  Each day has a quote and here are a few I've been saving up to share with all of you participating in the Summer Meltdown:

"Keys to success...Research your idea, plan for success, expect success, and just plain do it." - Josh H. Hinds

"All great achievements redquire time." - Maya Angelou

"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them." - Michael Jordan

"It is never to late to be what we might have been." - George Eliot

"Difficultis are meant to rouse, not discourage.  The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict." - William Ellery Channing

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together." - Vincent Van Gogh

"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday." - Anonymous

Have a great weekend!

Operation Beautiful

A friend of mine introduced me to this site...I've only looked through it briefly, but it seems that the idea is to write an affirming phrase on a Post-it note each day and put it somewhere to help you or someone else remember that we are all beautiful.  Look at today's Post-it note message:

Strong is Beautiful!

I love it!  Do you agree?  We aren't talking about bulging muscles, at least I'm not.  We're talking about inner strength, we are talking about strength to face our temptations, strength to have that difficult conversation that needs to be had, strength that allows you to reveal your true self....and strength that lets you do 2 more push-ups today than you did yesterday, or go a little faster or a little longer on the treadmill or track.  ALL these things are STRENGTH and all these things are reflected in the beauty of YOU.

Check out the website by clicking here.  Have a great day.  Be STRONG because Strong is Beautiful!

It's a gift...

Here's a great article about weight-loss:

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/31/5-things-weight-loss-didnt-know/

A few of my favorite lines:

• did you know that regular exercise can actually change your own taste preferences from high-fat health traps to more low-fat favorites? Studies show that 12 weeks of regular exercise literally changes your desire for higher fat foods.
• You know that weight loss that stays off means regular exercise must stay ON–on your weekly planner and checked off when done.

I'm really trying to focus on the FITNESS benefits of staying in shape and letting go of the number obsession.  I've shared that I've gained back 8 pounds and that has me hugely frustrated.  I am frustrated, but that was getting me nowhere.  I'm trying hard to change my thinking from a desire to be certain weight and more to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

I've recently been struck by how lucky I am to be ABLE to exercise.  What if I were suddenly wheelchair-bound or bedridden?  What if I injured myself and couldn't run, jump or even walk the dog?  The Ability and the Option to exercise is a gift.  One that I don't want to throw away or disregard. 

Back in the saddle again

Hi all!

The Summer Meltdown has begun. I've joined the non-competitive team this time around.  That's right, I'm right there in it with you!  After losing 30 pounds last year, I've managed to gain back 8 in about 2 weeks.  They are just sitting there, taunting me, telling me that they aren't going anywhere.  WELL, I don't think I'll accept that. 

I'm back using my favorite little ap - LoseIt.  I am on a plan that has me losing a pound a week so that sets my daily calorie budget.  I input EVERYTHING I eat and it deducts the calories from my budget.  I input all my exercise and it adds those to my budget  I have a record of my wieght and which days I stay within the budget and what I'm eating...I can even see what my percentage of fat/carbs/protein is each day and a weekly trend.  It's great! 

I'm keeping up with the exercise - trying to shake it up a bit.  Trying some new things like live Zumba classes (as opposed to Zumba for the Wii) and a Boot Camp at Woodhaven. 

I invite ALL OF YOU to try something new at our first ever FIT FRIDAYS on June 3.  We'll do one of the INSANITY workouts.  A couple weeks later, we'll try one of the P90X workouts.  The idea is to challenge yourself and to try something different.  Break out of the rut.  Shock the body.  Make a difference.  (add your own little catch phrase here...)

So, who's going to attend the Fit Friday?  What are your goals for the Summer Meltdown?  Who else is 'angry' with their weight?

Get Ready, Get set...

From our trusty leader, Cyndi


Trust me when I say....soon enough it's going to be hot out there. With the sweltering heat comes shorts, bathing suits and all kinds of flesh baring clothing. Most of us will admit, that we need something or someone to hold us accountable to help us reach our weight and fitness goals.


SO, LET THE MELTDOWN BEGIN!!!! It's time for round three of the St. Gabriel Fitness Challenge...(.more like a fitness JOURNEY)

Sunday, May 22 at 9:45 in the cafeteria.

We will have the same prize structure as last time: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place individual, winning team and winner gets to have a portion of the pot go to the charity of their choice. $20 a person. All prize amounts to be determined by number of participants.

The "new" feature this time is the "NON-COMPETITIVE" fitness journey! You still weigh-in (accountability is the key!) , you still are working to help your "team" beat out the other teams and you are still working to lose, it's just not for the cash...IT'S FOR YOU!! There will be small prizes along the way....door prizes and attendance prizes for those who keep with it and come to the weigh-ins. PLUS some special rewards along the way!! Just $5.


So get yourself ready to start the Meltdown this Sunday!

Summer Melt Down is coming...

Hello again!

The last challenge has ended.  Congratulations go out to everyone who finished and kept with it! 

The next challenge, the Summer Melt Down, is about to begin.  Will you participate?  Here's a few reasons why you should:

1. You made some progress the last time around and you want to keep the momentum going.
2. You fizzled out last time and want to give it another try
3. You reached your goal and now you want to maitain your weight-loss
4. You enjoy being a part of a larger, group effort to reach your peak fitness in Mind, Body and Spirit.
5. You reached your goal but in the last couple weeks you've seen 5-8 pounds creep back on and you want to banish them forever.

All good reasons and at least one of them should apply to YOU.   

What do you need to do?  First, we hear it all the time, but seriously, talk to your doctor.  Let him/her know that you are serious about getting fit.  Find out what the medical definition of a healthy weight is for you.  Have some basic biometrics recorded:   blood pressure, body fat %, cholesterol levels, sugar levels, etc.  Plan to go back in a set period of time and re-check.  We are talking about more than weight-loss here, we are talking about overall health improvement!  At the very least record some body measurements (neck, chest, waist, hips, calves, upper arms).  Even if the numbers on the scale don't change as much as you might like, you could be very surprised at the change in these numbers.

Second, come to the kick-off on May 22 in the Cafeteria at 9:45AM to weigh-in and join up in the Summer Melt Down!  (click here for more information)  See you there!

Fun little artcile to share:
If you click on the picture, it should take you to the website with a full size page that is much easier to read...