Good morning chickies and chickeraoos (I'll leave it to you to figure out who's who )

Well, as Garrison Keillor might say, it's been an interesting couple of weeks in Lake Wobegon. Around here, I was thinking of it more as Woe Begotten. I haven't been posting because I've been reading. And re-reading. I've gone through most of the posts from LWL from the past several weeks; I've read the bulk of the Maintainers forum; I've dipped into Dr. Phil and Tom Venuto. I've read and read and read. You know why? Because I just couldn't get with the program.

I also was brought up short by the thread on what everyone's eating. You'd think I have this stuff down cold; after all, I've been hanging around for the better part of a year. But somehow, I really LOOKED at those daily logs for the first time. I looked at 'em seriously. And that little lightbulb went on. Then, I hit Silverbirch's thoughts on eating thoughtfully. And I got it. And since I was afraid I'd missed too much in all those other threads, I went back and re-read them, too.

While I've been re-reading, I've been re-tooling my diet. JuJu over on Skinny Daily wrote a column about how foods affect you. Read that. Thought about it. Tinkered some more. Result: After about 4 days of a seriously clean diet, I feel better today than I have in several weeks. This, mind you, is without exercise, so there's no endorphin high.

Soooooooo, I see progress. Finally.

At the same time, I had my annual checkup last week. Doc is sending me to physical therapists for massage therapy. Maybe that will help. This is a great doc -- she and I agree that what I need more than anything is exercise, but that it's hard to exercise with persistent aches and pains. So, she's working with me. Very nice. If the massage doesn't work, I'm going to ask for a referral to the Sports Med clinic in Indy -- it's big, and if someone there can't get me on the straight and narrow, then nothing can.

So, it's a new week. I think I'm ready.

Happy Monday to all.

Hello all,

first of all the good news: we signed the pre-sales contract for the house on Saturday! In France, that means we have 7 days to think it over, but the sellers are bound! So now BF is going to look for mortgages. If everything goes well we'll be able to move in on the 15th of October, I can't believe it.

L2l, thanks! I like it too!

lanaii, the house is actually out in the country, about 40 km from work, but it will take me the same time as before to get there as it's all freeway, so it's fine with me, I love living in the country. I like the kitchen, it really IS cosy, although I am also a fan of Italian design. This is in fact so much more livable and comfortable.

Welcome Evangeline! buying the house really feels like a milestone in my life, too!

Robin, you post made me very thoughtful too, so I'm going to have a look at the eating logs and probably feel guilty first and then inspired...

This was one of the hottest weekends this year! first on Saturday we went to sign the pre-sales agreement with the couple. They had to sell because of a divorce, but it was so funny us sitting there in the boiling heat (no airco at the real-estator's office), drinking hot coffee (nothing else available), and then the owner says: "would you like to take the dog too, it's so attached to the house? I was speechless!" That poor dog!
Maybe it's a French thing, but I would never do that to any pet of mine.

Sunday a Greek friend came over and we went swimming in the river close to the new house, which was wonderful. the nicest thing was swimming upstream and staying in the same place, better than a pool anyday. the water was clean and cool too, a breeze was blowing, I got some more tan, in short, the perfect afternoon!

Where are you all, lurkers and Silverbirch?

GG

Hello all,

GG congrats on the house!! You must be so excited!!

Airegrrl, clean diet definitely makes a big difference. I've been floundering a little bit but keeping my workouts. I'm between working on losing weight and maintenance. So I'm also brushing off the books and re-reading. I still journal, I've accepted that I have to do that to be successful at being healthy.

Hope you all are enjoying your summer! I'm kind of looking forward to fall. The yard work is not fun for me and I can't wait to go shopping for new fall fashions in a smaller size! woo hoo!

Jennifa

Hello and good morning all,

Friday, I decided to start Phase I of South Beach Diet as I have become aware that I have grown too dependant on LC "items" such as LC slim fast shakes and LC protein bars and I would like to move away from that. Also, I have realized that I have become way too dependant on sugar free drinks so on Friday, I decided that I am only going to drink water from then to the end of August. I seriously think I am addicted to aspartame because the first few days were really hard.

I went to the gym on Saturday and worked out my legs and they are still sore, but that is good. I hadn't had soreness in my legs for a few weeks and it was starting to worry me so I had to tweak my workout a little. Yesterday, work kept bugging me so I didn't have a chance to go to the gym (though to be honest, I wasn't planning to anyway) but I did do my bellydancing video which was fun.

Today, will be a gym day, but late as Mondays are always busy at Ballys and I work out better when there are fewer people around. I tend to be willing to experiment a bit more with exercises and try new things.

Robin,
That is so wonderful that you did a lil' soul searching and found something . Sometimes even we don't know what causes us to do (or not do) certain things. I have found that logging my diet and excersise has been immenesly helpful to me. I sort of view dirty eats as like ...drinking...you still do it occassionally but you know your abusing yourself and you try not to make a habit out of it..were all happy for ya

GG,
Yay!! Oct 15th isn't that far away. How awesome!

Jennifa,
Journaling is how we get to know ourselves and what works and what doesn't. I log my diet and excerisie here as well as on Fitday ( I learned about fitday.com from Mel,Meg and Lanaii) and I keep a journal on Fitday as well. So very helpful.

Nelie,
I am not real familiar with the south beach diet but I am very familiar with the 'instant' diet. Ie; bars, shakes etc. for most of my nutrition. I would by lyin' if I said I don't still occassionally use those tools but I make a sicere effort to get my nutrition from whole foods.

I am off to start the Diet and excersise thread for this week . I have a couple confessions but I am feeling good and strong this morning and am ready to stick to my program. I try to remember to eat 'thoughtfully' as I learned on here and to respect my temple.

XOXO
L2L

Hello Boys and Girls

Just back from a 20K bike ride and a good back workout with DS... He's doing quite well now, I'm slowly weaning him into a better split, because I'm the trainer and *I* like to work one body part/day...

Robin -- Thanks for that post, I re-read it also, because a lot of what you said applied to me lately too... I've had now 5 days of clean eats and feel 100% better and down 2# this AM, thank GAWD!! I'm just glad that as I move along this road to better health that I do live and then learn, and my food choices are getting better... When I think back to what I used to eat, I am amazed I could put that stuff in my mouth...

Nelie -- Welcome to the world of unprocessed foods! Once your body gets over the initial withdrawals it will thank you and if you happen to eat some LC items your body will tell you that it doesn't like it ... I know mine does by making me sleepy and listless and when you want to workout with intensity you can't have tiredness now can you?

L2L -- I try to remember to eat 'thoughtfully' as I learned on here and to respect my temple. THANK YOU, for that I have added it to my sig, I hope you don't mind?

I’ve been here, feeling a bit quiet but diligently stringing the daily pearls on my clean eating necklace and going to the gymn.

(Meg, thank you for telling me about stringing the pearls. As part of throwing things out I am re-reading all my books and have just finished To Kill a Mockingbird by, of course, Harper Lee. Last read by me in probably 1971. Definitely a keeper. Anyway, in it Scout is very sniffy about a girl who has an Add-a-Pearl necklace! My necklace is the same but different and coming across the phrase did make me laugh.)

Mel – a rather belated thank you for reminding me about planning. Yes, of course, it’s essential and I added it to my sig. If I don’t plan, I’m sunk, good and proper.)

I’ve been coming to work (this is where I do my LWL business) and trying to tease a contract into being. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. It might happen.

And I’ve been going to beaches (one visit was also a contract recce) and … wearing my shorts. Yes, it’s been warm enough to wear shorts and I’m sure I look much better in them this year than I did last year. They are more like culottes, I suppose. My second pair is still a bit tight but not as bad as last year. I may possibly be able to wear them in public by the end of August if I carry on with this regime. BTW, going to the beach is an active experience with hardly any sitting around. Sand-dunes, rock-pools, walking, walking, paddling, running, jumping. And each beach is different. There are so many here.

Glad you’re all around, ladies and gents.

Robin – very good work on going over the canon. It’s packed full of wisdom – more pearls, I suppose, for those who can see and dive for them. Will you be able to fit in any endorphins soon?

GG – a house in the country. Oh, yes. From one who lives in one and works in another, congratulations. It’s a good step.

L2L – you’re doing well. The temple is looking gorgeous but keep on sweeping those darker corners!

Nelie – I’m glad you’ve come to join us. I’ve never eaten that instant stuff because I’m too keen on food! Wholefoods, yes, for me that’s the way to go. Good luck on the South Beach. And I also do better at the gymn when it’s not too busy.

Jennifa – good to see you! I’m back on the hula-hooping now my knee’s better. Still an out-and-out amateur though!

Jack – keep on trucking!

And all you others too.

Can’t hang around, I hear the chime of the temple bells. It's time to go to the gymn.

Love, Silverbirch.

Good morning LWL,
Just a quick check in before I head to the gym. Full load of clients today and hopefully I'll find some time between to do shouders, calves and cardio. In general, it's quite dead there, but Tuesdays and Thursdays are pretty well booked for me. Luckily, they are my short lifting and cardio only days. Food and water is ready to go, and I'm outta here!

Hello to everyone Welcome back, Robin! Special congrats to GG
Sorry this is so short-

Mel

Quick check in before I grab some tea and start on some major edits...

Everything's going great here for me on the West Coast! Same old same old. Drinking an ocean of water every day - the tea is for my throat - I've got a bit of a summer head cold right now - not enough to keep me from working out though!

I'm feeling fabulous other than the coughing. On the bright side, the cold is making me VERY thirsty so I'm definitely getting in all my H20!

I saw that GG has bought a house...I think I'm the only renter on this board now and unless we win the Lotto I don't see that changing anytime soon. Ah well, we have a nice landlord and I like our neighborhood so things can be worse!

Besides work, the gym, yoga/Pilates, of course there's the whole horse thing going on...shopping for a new bit this weekend to go with my new-to-me saddle and brand-spankin' new bridle...other than that everything is the same around here

Hi everyone

Jack,
You are so funny! I always enjoy reading your posts. You find humor in evrything and your obviously a born writer.

Mel,Question:
I have kicked around becoming a trainer, if only so I could be in the gym more often. I trained people years ago. I wasn't certified nor very experienced and I am not sure I was even giving very good advice, but I was young and halfway cute and sadly that was good enough for him to hire me.
I work full time and am also starting my own line of make-up and skin care, which I will sell online. I wouldn't mind getting to where I could work from home doing my web business and train a few people at the gym ,as well ,since I would have some time freed up and I think I would enjoy it. Forgive me if I ask anything too personal or nosy and feel free to not answer. I would love to get some info on when and how you got started , how you built up your clientale, how long it took or anything else your willing to share

Lanaii,
Love your new sig

Everyone else.
Bless your wonderful hearts
XOXO
L2L

Good Morning Everyone,

I made the mistake of doing my cardio yesterday morning and my upper body workout after work last night. Well as I may have mentioned I just finished converting a room in my house to have a centralized place for workout equipment and both my DD and DH decided to “christen” the new room by coming out and “cheering” me on. They are both nuts. I told them if they were going to be out there with me they had to pick up some weights and join in so they hurried back into the comfort of the living room. Yah gotta love ‘em. I was pleased to find out that DD actually did come home from work and use an exercise bike I have in there, my least favorite piece of equipment, it was given to me and I decided to fit it just in case I decided to use it. If she enjoys using it I’m really glad I fit it in. She works as an electrician so she has really strong arms (for a girl) but she doesn’t get much in the way of cardio.

I assume they wouldn’t tease me again this evening but leaving nothing to chance I got up this morning after everyone left (fortunately they both have to go to work a couple of hours before me) and did my lower body workout. That was my plan all along and last night motivated me to make sure and allow myself sufficient time in the morning, besides when I’m using weights I like to really focus on the muscle I’m working and I don’t do it as well if I feel self-conscious because someone is watching me.

Anyway it feels so good to be actually using my equipment again.

Have a good one.

still catching up on the posts from last week and yesterday but wanted to say WHASSUP!!!!!??????

Keep it moving people!

Tiki.

tikanique,

Not sure where to post this, but THANK YOU for the "kanye's workout plan" recommendation (albeit indirectly!). I'd been meaning to get that album for the longest time, but i finally downloaded that song on itunes. The whole thing cracks me up, and I get really pumped on cardio during that, "eat your salad, no dessert" part!

L2L- I'll reply to you in a PM probably tomorrow. On my way to bed- early clients. The downside of trainerdom

G'nite, all!
Mel

Tiki, I wuv you. This was enough to give me a wonderful fit of the giggles and connect me at the hip to the LWL lifestyle. All in 20 words. You are my hero.

Let's see ... L2L, you were kind enough to congratulate me on my soul searching. While there might have been a touch of that, I must confess that what I really did was re-read the manual. Back when I was in WW, I often heard the admonition to "work the program." So, for several months, that's exactly what I did: work the program according to Robin. I worked it with a tweak here and a tweak there. Would anyone be surprised to hear that I wasn't very successful? When I got with the program, the pounds came off.

You would think that I would learn. But you would be wrong. Because when I started here, I did the same thing all over again. Tweak. Tweak. Tweak. Don't get me wrong: I'm not beating up on myself. Just standing back and watching wryly. Such is my life.

GG, congrats on your house, and Jack, congrats on your three pounds. Yes, son, it's all about balance. Eof AZ, love your story -- hang in there. I, too, find self-consciousness creeping up when I least expect it. Sounds like you've come up with a great way to defeat the monster. Ilene, Karen and Mel --- one of the threads I reread was the personal introductions -- some great insights there. Thank you. Greetings to Jennifa, Nellie, Silver, and Anne, didn't I see your name pop up last week?

Tomorrow's hump day. We can do this folks.