Tag Archives: exercise

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Dancing Queen

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Day 79 in my dance toward Disney

I love to dance!  I was that girl at the 7th grade dances with the spotty complexion, the cat’s-eye glasses who carried around about 30 extra pounds and was at my full height of 5 feet 9 inches, but I was still the first one on the dance floor for every fast tune.   I love to dance!

So my plan for today is to go home, put my dance game on the Wii, and dance away my Monday/workday tension.  (So You Think You Can Dance?…you betcha!)  Dancing seems to do a pretty great job of helping to strengthen my leg muscles.  Plus it just makes me happy!  I dig it!

BTW: I was only asked to dance one slow dance in all of Junior High and High School (Thank you, Pete Stagliano!  Crimson and Clover, over and over…)  But now I have a dream dance partner who danced his way right into my heart.  (Love you, Mikko!)  And props to Dr. Carlson, who ties with my dad, for my favorite polka partner.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Luxuriating in Lake Bluff

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Day 75 in my amble to the Magic Kingdom and my friend Mickey

My plan for today is to take a walk.  I hope to take a twenty minute walk after work today.  It is a beautiful day here in Lake Bluff, about 60 degrees and sunny.  There is a gentle breeze and plenty of fall color left to enjoy.

The merchants in town had an event yesterday from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  They stayed open late , had free samples, and most things were 10% off.

  1. So I stopped after work at “Spice Merchants,” a new shop in town.  I picked up some powdered cumin, and they even had powdered white vanilla that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else.  Whoop!  They also had some pre-packaged soup mixes, so I picked up a couple of those too.  This shop is a wonderful addition to our community.
  2. Then I wandered over to “Wisma” to shop for dinner.  What a great shop!  Gourmet foods made with organic ingredients, and oh by the way, the food is delicious!  Mike and I had butternut squash soup with pretzel rolls and chicken with polenta for dinner.  Plus I added plenty of fresh veg with Ranch dip.  What a feast!

So today I am going to stop and smell the fall in Lake Bluff.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Domestic Goddess

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Day 70 in my travails to meet Mickey

I woke up completely depleted and tired out this morning.  So my plan for today is to completely enjoy a day off from work at the church, and I am working around the house for some physical activity today.

  1. I took a shower and cleaned myself up this morning.
  2. I cleaned up my bedroom.
  3. I am doing laundry.
  4. I just put a “Mexican Bean Soup” in the oven to keep simmering until dinner tonight.  (Gotta keep my amazing man eating healthy, don’t I?)
  5. I will make a cornbread for us to enjoy with the soup, hot out of the oven.
  6. I will help clean up after dinner.
  7. And all day long I will stop and take deep, cleansing breaths and savor this day at home.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Mexican Bean Soup: 3 cups of pinto beans, 2 carrots (cut in 2 inch pieces), half cup of zucchini (cut in 2 inch pieces), half a cup of corn, diced onion, diced garlic and spices ( cumin, chili powder, pepper, salt).  And because my Mikey is such a carnivore, I added a half pound of ham.    Mmmm-Mmmm good!  Thanks to “Recipes to Lower Your Fat Thermostat” for the recipe!

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Mini-Victories!

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Day 69 in my journey to join Mickey at The Magic Kingdom  (Why do I find myself thinking about using the “Shake Weight” today?  🙂  I know…I’m nasty!)

Dear readers, I’m so excited today!  I stepped on the scale to see how much ground I had lost (as in how much weight I had gained) on our trip to the UP.  You know, eating out a lot, lots of salty food with higher fat content than what I eat in my controlled environment.  I just wanted to see what the damage was, so I could have a realistic idea of where I am.  Surprise of surprises, I’ve lost another 3.4 pounds!  So now I’m down 22.2 pounds from the start!  Woot!  Woot!  (Cue Disco music)

So today my plan was to do a half hour of “Lean Body Workout.”  But instead I went grocery shopping.  I did the BIG shop all by myself.  I was on my feet walking around the store for an hour.  My knees locked up, because they are not used to me standing for that long anymore.  I was sweaty and smelly and gross.  But still, dear readers, I did it!!  Our cupboards are no longer bare.  And tonight I will make “Surprise Package Casserole.”  It’s one of my favorites from “Recipes to Lower Your Fat Thermostat.”

I feel absolutely exhilarated!  Good food, a good physical challenge and I’m on my second cup of coffee today from my new Keurig.  Life is good, my friends!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Taking Steps to Change

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Day 68 in trucking toward Mickey

Yesterday’s plan was a success!  The VHS tape that I was looking for is titled, “The Lean Body Workout” with Cynthia Kereluk.  It was put out by Sybervision Systems.  It’s a lean body aerobics workout.  It has plenty of cardio with gentle movements for someone of my girth.  (I can properly use the word girth because the distance around my circumference is rather significant.)  🙂

It wasn’t where I thought I had last seen it, but Mike went into the maze that is our basement and came upstairs with it.  He’s just the best!  So…tomorrow you can pretty much guess what my plan will be…

Today, however, my plan is this: I want to go for a twenty minute walk after work today.  Maybe I’ll stop in town on the way home and walk there.  The fall colors are really blooming in Lake Bluff this week, so I will revel in their beauty as I stroll through town.  I may wax poetic here, but the truth is I will be sweating and huffing and puffing my way up and down the blocks.  But maybe, just maybe, I’ll be whistling a happy tune in my head, too.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Efforts to Unearth the Past

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Day 67 in my amble toward a meeting with my favorite mouse

Yesterday was interesting.  I did remain sugar-free.  Yippee!  And I looked for a dance tape that I have from years back.  Yup, straight up VHS.  It’s from a program called “The Neuropsychology of Weight Control” by SyberVision Systems.  The program was really good, and talked about the “glycemic index” long before I had heard it anywhere else.  It suggested a cookbook called “Recipes to Lower Your Fat Thermostat” by LaRene Gaunt which I have used often in the last 20 years.  And it came with an exercise VHS with a really pleasant woman, who talked you through several levels: beginner, intermediate and hard core.  I CANNOT remember the name of the tape.  ARGH!  But she even counted down one time in Finnish, the language of half my peeps.  So cool…and motivational!

So today’s plan is to continue the search for my awesome VHS cardio workout.  And to remain sugar-free.  And to make the best choices I can today.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: My goals for yesterday were accomplished.  And I did a 15 minute McDonald’s cardio workout DVD for the dance portion of my workout, followed by a five minute cool down walk.  I still miss Emi, but it’s good to get back to the routine of work and daily life.

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Eradicating Emotional Eating

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Day 66 in my expedition to maneuver to Mickey

Confession time: I am an emotional eater.  The problem is that it doesn’t matter the emotion.  If I am happy or celebrating, then what better way to celebrate than with my “favorite” foods?  Cupcakes or donuts or cheesecake and Cheetos and Bridge Mix, etc, etc, etc…  Or then if I’m bummed out (depressed) or just plain sad or tired and nostalgic,  what better way to comfort myself than with my “favorite” foods?  Yup, you guessed it:  cupcakes or donuts or cheesecake and Cheetos and Bridge Mix, etc, etc, etc…

I have just lived through a two week incredible high which was filled with family, fabulous friends and a lot of food.  Praise God, and thank you, dear readers, for keeping me accountable.  I made really good choices most of the time.  I remained sugar-free, and (tun-ta-da-da!) I ate NO wedding cake.  That is the first time in my life that I went to a wedding and didn’t eat SEVERAL pieces of wedding cake.  Instead I danced with my family, and boy oh boy, was it ever fun!!

Now Emi (my sweet daughter) has gone home.  The house is very quiet, and I am craving sugar like mad!  So today’s plan is to fight the urge.  I won’t make any promises about tomorrow, but for today I refuse to eat my emotions.  Instead, I’m going to allow myself to feel my emotions…to live through my emotions.  And I am going to eat in a balanced, nutritious and sensible manner.

And just for fun, I’m going to put on a music dvd and dance for twenty minutes reliving some of the fun of Nathan and Jordan’s wedding reception.  (BTW:  They are the cutest ever!  And their love is so precious to see!)

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW2: “favorite” is in quotes above because my new favorite foods are those that actually give nourishment to my body.  I am SUCH a work in progress.  🙂

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Recommitment to Change

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Day 65 in my  trek toward Mickey

Holy wah!  One year from today, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, we will be at Old Key West in the heart of Disney World.  I have twelve months to get to a healthier state.   So today I am recommitting myself to a healthier lifestyle.

  1. Stay sugar-free
  2. Walk more and further
  3.  Plan healthy, nutritious meals
  4. Keep blogging

My plan for today is to work out our menu for the week and make up a store list.  I am completely pooped out from our trip to the UP.   (Which was fantastic!!!)  AND Emi, my daughter, leaves back for home in England today.  So, this is what I call a low energy kind of day.

But tomorrow I plan to hit the ground running…well, walking.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Today–I Dance!

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Day 62 in my dance toward Disney and my friend Mickey

Today’s plan is a day of planning.  I ate a delicious, nutritious breakfast.  I’ve made a healthy sandwich to get through the lunch hour.  I’m taking an apple for an afternoon snack.  And I will make the best possible choices at the wedding buffet this evening.

I want to dance today!  I hope to do so several times at the reception.  Woot!  Woot!  (Think Disco era hooting.)  This is my plan for my 20 minutes of “walking” today.  🙂

Shout out to Nathan and Jordan!  A Blessed Wedding Day to you.  Love you both!

Short and sweet today, dear readers.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Family, Friends and Food

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Day 61 in my waltz towards Walt’s World (and Mickey)

We made it to the UP!  Yippee!  My sister-in-law Julie has a my-fi here so I can post today. (Thanks, dear sister-in-love!)

Today is a day to make the best possible choices.  Food will be catch as catch can, luckily the Hampton Inn includes a breakfast buffet, so I was able to have a banana and yogurt and coffee for breakfast.   Lunch so far is cheese curds and whole wheat crackers.

So this day will go that way.  I will fly by the seat of my pants and eat as best I can.  I’m off to a wedding rehearsal soon, and I am already thoroughly enjoying visiting with the fam.

I did my minutes in the swimming pool at the hotel last night.  What a blast!!  I kept getting cramps in my feet and my left leg.  It’s just been too long since I swam.  I wish I could do it every day!  It was delightful to move around in the water.

Gotta go.  Meet you at the Kingdom!