Tag: wellness

Maximize Your Life: Jillian Michaels

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photo 2(Note: pardon the stream of consciousness tonight .. mind is reeling!)

Tonight I had the opportunity to see the firecracker that is Jillian Michaels LIVE here in good old Kalamazoo, one stop on her Maximize Your Life tour.

To be honest I had no clue what to expect. Most people know Jillian as the motivating trainer that barks at her team members on The Biggest Loser, or warns us not to “phone it in” during her fitness DVDs.

But behind the drill sergeant facade is an absolutely adorable, lovable, funny as hell — and, yes, fit and beautiful — woman.

Someone I’d totally want to be friends with … provided she wouldn’t kick my ass to Texas! Continue reading “Maximize Your Life: Jillian Michaels” →

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The scale can suck it

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Today was a great reminder that thin does not necessarily equal healthy.

After a tough personal training session this morning, I went to Luis’s company’s annual biometric screening — which we’ve done for the past six years. It’s a comprehensive, incentive-based wellness program and I think it’s great. Of course, I also love my own company’s … but that screening isn’t until February. Anyway …  though I feel I could afford to lose 10-15 lbs and still be fine, no one told me that and the verdict is I’m in really awesome shape on the inside: blood pressure, cholesterol (LDL, HDL and the ratio — all optimal), blood sugar …. Huzzah! Continue reading “The scale can suck it” →

LAZY SUNDAY. You heard me –> *LAZY*

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If you know me in real life, you know I can’t sit still and struggle with the notion of “down-time.”

Hell, even if you don’t know me in real life, if you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time you probably could have deduced that all on your own without ever having met me!

The truth is, I always feel like I “should be” doing something else.

And so it’s a rare day when I find myself with absolutely nothing to do, no obligations to meet, no friends/hubby to play with (he had a soccer tourney and then conference calls for school) … today was just me, myself and I and a wide-open Outlook calendar. Continue reading “LAZY SUNDAY. You heard me –> *LAZY*” →

“…But I Don’t Have Time …”

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This is my latest post over at WeAretheRealDeal (that I forgot I’d written earlier this week, til it appeared in my Google Reader this morning!)!!! You can read it here or after the jump.

Continue reading ““…But I Don’t Have Time …”” →

CNN.com: “Unhealthy Habits Are What’s Killing Us”

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This is my latest blog post over at WeAretheRealDeal.com. You can read it here or after the jump.

Continue reading “CNN.com: “Unhealthy Habits Are What’s Killing Us”” →

Target Kicked My Booty

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So I hope by the time you read this, I’m settled in to my desk again at work, checking voice-mails and responding to e-mails and all that jazz that comes with being out of work for 4 days.

Being no longer contagious, though I don’t feel 100%, I figured I couldn’t afford to stay home any longer … not without going ape on myself, that is!

So … I decided today, my third wedding anniversary 🙂 would be a good day to go back to work.

(Note: It’d have been mighty nice to be home with my hubby, but he’s traipsing around Belgium and Germany for school til Sunday so … happy anniversary, me 😉 We’ll be celebrating when he gets back!)

If I’m being perfectly honest, these days at home have been super-lonely … it’s been like solitary confinement except for the obvious (I’m not in trouble with the law).

That’s kind of why I’ve been blogging so much, or, if you are on Facebook or Twitter, why I’ve been so active there … besides phone calls, it’s all I have for human contact at the moment! Continue reading “Target Kicked My Booty” →

2 Great NYTimes.com Articles to Share

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Friends have shared these two articles with me recently that I wanted to pass along. Since I still have zero energy and my brain cells seem to be dying by the day here as I sit here and try to get better … I’m not going to analyze them but rather just share them, verbatim. I’d love to know what you think, though!!

The first, courtesy of Allison, is “Training the Mind to Run Right Through Winter.”
-The premise here is that while some people stop their exercise routines in cold weather, there are also people who continue to push through. I know I tend to prefer indoor workouts when it’s really cold out, but then when it’s a nice-ish winter day, I love to squeeze in a bike ride, run or walk–it can feel invigorating. I don’t mind the cold, so much as snow/ice. How about you? Do you run or exercise outdoors regardless of the weather?

The second, courtesy of Yasmin, is “Why Exercise Doesn’t Lead to Weight Loss.”
-The premise here is that exercising can help with maintenance but doesn’t necessarily boost weight loss. I agree with that assessment; I know eating less is really what helped me lose weight and that if I didn’t work out the way I do (when healthy and not with H1N1, that is) I’d probably have gained it ALL back vs. just some of it. How about you? Do you think exercise helped you lose or maintain better?

Thanks, girls, for your contributions. How did you know these would come in handy? 🙂

Learning When to Hold ‘Em

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sick_in_bedAs you know, I’ve not been able to exercise since being sick with H1N1. This means I have not moved since my 4.5 mile walk (in heels) through Detroit Metro airport Tuesday night .. six days!

Seriously, unheard of for me.

I admit that for a fleeting moment it drove me a bit batty to realize I’m not burning*anything* through physical activity — all I’m doing is moving from the couch, to the tea kettle or fridge, to bed, to the toaster.  

But I quickly got over it when my rational brain spoke up and said, “Hey, you’re sick, cut yourself some slack. The gym will be there next week.” (or whenever).

Though I feel a lot better today (each day I’ve felt progressively better), I am listening to my body and not pushing myself. Continue reading “Learning When to Hold ‘Em” →

Even “Know-it-Alls” Need Refreshers

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personaltrainerexerciseball2I’m a self-titled fitness and nutrition buff.

I was active as a kid between four types of dance and cheerleading.

I’ve been running and lifting weights on and off since freshman year of high school.

I worked out pretty regularly in college, and then once I started Weight Watchers Online in 2004, became an official gym rat.

I religiously read fitness and health magazines, books and blogs. When a new study comes out, I read it. Six months later when another study comes out to refute said study, I read that, too. I ponder, I discuss, I … ok, I admit it, I obsess.

I know what foods make my body happy, and the amount of exercise that makes my body happy … but I don’t always do either of them (though I eat mostly clean, I have a penchant for honey wheat pretzels, Chex mix and animal crackers … and I tend to exercise more than I should. Plus, I am not lifting regularly right now which I know makes my body happy).

Which basically means I know what to do … and am not always doing it.

And so, for the first time in my life, I’ve decided to ask for help in the fitness department. I mentioned a couple posts ago about how my employer is giving us each an annual wellness fund, following a general wellness exam which we completed last week.

I gave it some thought and since I already pay my gym membership and WW Online memberships, I plan to use mine for something above and beyond the norm for me: a personal trainer. Continue reading “Even “Know-it-Alls” Need Refreshers” →

The “Whole” Picture

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untitledSometimes I get hung up on my weight, and it takes a more holistic look at my body composition to make me see my body for the “temple” it really is.

Sure, I’m X lbs from where I want to be, but yesterday I had a wellness/biometrics screening at my husband’s employer (and have another one at my employer next week!) and I found out, I’m healthier than I think.

Though I’m borderline again for BMI (given my gain since last year), the goal the nurse set for me is exactly the goal I had in mind. It’s doable, and won’t kill me to get there.

My blood pressure, glucose, tryglycerides were all great. My good cholesterol (HDL) was up a point (hurrah!) and my bad cholesterol (LDL) was in the desired range. My total cholesterol was bumped a little (the nurse said due to the HDL), but again, the ratio was still in the desired range. (Phew!)

The overall message was I’m not as badly off as I feel sometimes. Continue reading “The “Whole” Picture” →