It may be snowing,but the Sun is shining

Good morning!! It's the start of a new week. I looked out the window and saw 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground. I think I will go back to bed where it is warm. No, it's time to exercise. Last week was a rough week. There were a lot of places or go and things to do. I had several days last week that were very emotional for me and I found that I wanted to return to old habits. Luckily old favorites treats have been replaced with new favorite treats. I had several days when I had to make my self exercise. Since I started this challenge I have been on a set routine and last week my set routine needed to have some adjustments and it was hard to make these adjustments. I am grateful this challenge is going 100 days. The first few weeks were relatively easy and everything was new. The next few weeks were more challenging with learning new ways to eat and increasing the exercise. Now, the diet and exercise are becoming a way of a new life. I know that there are new challenges every week. Last week was a real challenge and when we were in St. George for the week it was a real challenge. I am learning to identify reasons why I eat and to make better choices. I love our nutrition class. I learn something new every week. This challenge makes me feel 10, 20, or 30 years younger. Thanks!!

Friends and Family

We just got home from a dinner meeting with our friends in our Good Sam's RV club. We have belonged to this group about six years and all of the members are like family. Tonight several of our members were not there due to illness. One of our friends daughter died from a heart attack on Saturday. Two members of our Good Sam's have cancer, two others have had strokes within the last two years. Our members have had various health problems over the last year. The point is when we age 'stuff happens' . Having good health is a bonus. I think that is why I am personally working so hard with this Heart Challenge to eat properly, exercise and push myself so that I too will become healthier. It was hard for me to learn of the death of our friends daughter and to go and visit with them. (What do you say? Just a hug and to let them know that you care.) My daughter in-law died when she was 30 years old after she had had bi-pass surgery. Her low potassium levels prevented the heart from beating regularly and as a result she was in a coma for 6 weeks. My grandchildren need a grandma that sets an example for healthy living. I am doing it now.

Success at the Rec. Center

What a great day!! I had a great breakfast, and I went to the Pleasant Grove recreation center to exercise. Life is great. While walking briskly around the track I was able to pass other individuals who were walking. This might not seem a big deal, but it was for me. Usually, I am the slow person that every one else passes. When I passed the first person I went "yes". It was a great feeling. I am getting stronger every day. Thank you Heart Challenge!!!

Learning to Make Better Choices

Every day on this program is a new learning experience. It is March 16th and we have been on the Heart Challenge for a month. I don't know what I was doing a year ago, but I do know that I feel healthier today than I did then. We spent most of last week in St. George, and I was concerned about exercising and food choices while we were away from home. I knew that it was going to be a challenge, and it was!! I was able to exercise every day, because it is now part of my daily routine. One evening it was 9:30 before I could exercise. The food choices were limited. I learned that I needed to be better prepared when I travel.
I am reading the book, Intuitive Eating and learning how to make peace with food and to free yourself from chronic dieting forever. Jalaine our nutritionist recommended this book to us. A quote from Intuitive Eating: "The tools of the Intuitive Eater are internal cues, not outside forces telling you what, when, and how much to eat. But to acquire and understand these internal cues, you need a new set of power tools--or rather, empowerment tools." (page 58) If you want to know more about the power tools--you need to read this book. The authors are Evenly Tribole, and Elyse Resch. Happy Reading!!!!

DIETING - Past and Future

When you are exercising you have a lot of time to think and reflect. One of my reflections has been,' why haven't I been successful at dieting in the past.' I still don't have all of the answers, but I feel that I am realizing that I had partial components before. What were the missing components? I have dieted with no exercise. I have dieted with minimal exercises, but I have not dieted like I am now. This program is filling in the missing components. These components are:

• Understanding the medical reasons for eating healthy. When I saw my numbers and the risk factors, the numbers got my attention. I had watched The Biggest Loser on T.V. and saw what the heart and organs looked like on individual participants. With my high numbers I could only imagine what my heart and other organs look like. (Yes, the Fear Factor) Dr. Carter's presentation of our Risk Factor Numbers was excellent and I learned that diet and exercise can bring my numbers down.
• Exercising and having a program that works for you. I have a treadmill at home and in the past I have maxed out with 5 to 6 minutes on it. I now know how to program my treadmill. I have never used weights or weight equipment and now I feel comfortable with the exercises I do and how my body feels. I had surgery on my shoulder a few years ago and I have found that my left shoulder gets tired. Every other day as I am using the weights I have noticed that I have more strength in that arm.
• Dieting and looking at food in a different way. The Nutrition class has been great. The handouts and books have been very helpful. Meal planning is still a challenge for me.
  
• Weekly accountability keeps me working on all my goals. By turning in my weight, time spent exercising and my food diary weekly has help me to be more accountable.
  
• All of the above has been great!
  

Additional Challenges

Holiday, trips, family celebrations, thoughtful neighbors and meetings with delicious high calorie food have been very challenging the past few weeks. The hardest was a cheesecake that one of my friends made. My choice has been a healthy heart. I had book club at my home a week ago and I served healthy refreshments. At our weekly nutrition class on Wednesday one of the heart challenge participants said her daughter was at my house for book club. She asked her daughter what I served and she said healthy treats. (A small world) I have learned over the past few weeks that Today is the day for change. Life has given us one moment at a time and we can't save time and we can't borrow time. So, Today is the day, and I am excited about my Today's on this program and the Today's after the program. I look forward to daily exercising and eating healthy foods. I think I need to look in the mirror and see if that non-exercising person is still in there.

It Worked!!

I think the first Blog worked. This is quite fun!!!
My first day of exercise was a real shock to my system. I was used to walking 20 to 30 minutes per day, but not 20 minutes on an programmed exercise bike. After 10 minutes of biking on the outlined program my mouth was parched and my legs were tired and I was ready to say 'uncle.' I said to my trainer, 'can I stop for a few minutes and get a drink.' She gave me a cute little smile and said very sweetly, "no". I looked at her and then I laughed and said: "okay." I knew then that this was a real thing!! I finished my time and then went on the treadmill and then did weights. The time went by quickly and I kept saying to myself. "You can do this! I can't believe you are doing this! This is great for you to do! I can't believe you are doing this!"
We had our official weigh-in and blood tests, etc. on February 13th, I have walked or exercised everyday since. My goal is: Monday, Wednesday, Friday at the gym and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday to walk for an hour. I usually walk in my home for an hour and keep wondering if I am going to wear out my carpet. I look outside and see deer tracks where the deer have formed their path in my yard and the neighbors yard, and feel like I am making my own "dear" tracks.

Heart Challnege: The First 100 Days

How it all began!! While I was reading the Pleasant Grove Review I came across an article by Dr. Paul Robinson. I remembered the Robinson family in my ward as I was growing up in Lehi. The picture of Paul lead me to read the article. He wrote about the 100 Day Heart Challenge. After reading the article I thought I would apply. I had been trying to start an exercise program at home and to eliminate diet caffeine drinks. I had concerns about my cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Sooo..I applied. I knew they were going to select 15 women, but I felt that my age would be a disadvantage. I applied anyway. I thought, 'you need to apply.' So I did. I was surprised that I was selected and even more surprised that I was the oldest in the program. At one of our meetings we were to tell something unique about yourself. I said, "I can't think of anything unique." Two of the ladies spoke up and said you are the oldest. So my uniqueness is my age. (Smile)
After the first day of learning about the exercise equipment and going through the exercise routines, I was encouraged to wear something other than sandals. The truth is I don't own a pair of running shoes or any shoe that would be appropriate to exercise in. Runners Corner was recommended as a good place to look for shoes. I went there. I tried on about eight pairs of shoes. I walked around the store and then outside on the sidewalk. I tried on shoes with different lacings, colors, and comfort. I found the perfect pair for me.
After the first day of the treadmill, exercise bike, weights, and new shoes. I went home and to my surprise I did not have my usual backache. The shoes made the difference. (Thanks, Traci)