What Vince Lombardi taught me.

First things first: I lost 4 more pounds! In my first 3 weeks, I’ve lost a total of 11.6 lbs, and happiness is mine. On the exercise front, however, it’s a little more bleak.

I had a conversation with Vince Lombardi recently. You know him. The coach for whom the Lombardi Trophy is named. The coach of the Green Bay Packers, who led them to victory in the first two Superbowls ever.

It started last week, when I was a little discouraged. I had been doing well; exercising regularly. But I pushed too hard, and I crashed. With the crash came overwhelming fatigue. I’ll admit, it was scary. I was full of doubts about whether I could even do this. Maybe I’ve just wasted money on the Lifetime Fitness membership.

When I told my sad story to my friend Vince, he said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”

Well I’ll be darned. He’s right! And crushing fatigue brings crushing cowardice. So okay, I wasn’t really afraid. It was the fatigue talking. But I really was tired. I told him maybe I would quit for a while and try it again in a couple of months, when I’m feeling more up to it.

But Vince said, “Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.”

Okay, no quitting. Check. “But Vince,” I said, “What if I just get knocked down again?”

He responded, “It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up.”

“But I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do what needs to be done,” I told him. “I don’t even know what the heck I’m doing half the time!”

Coach Lombardi insisted, “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

Okay, so I needed to evaluate my desire to get better. Did I have a strong enough will to keep going, to build muscle, strengthen my bones, increase my stamina; motivation enough to work for months and months before I saw results? After some introspection, my answer was a resounding YES. I have the will to succeed.

Vince seemed pleased. He encouraged me further by saying, “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”

Now that was a new concept! I guess the more I pour into this Adventure, the further I get on my journey, the more difficult it will be to give it all up and slide backward to where I was.

Okay, not to whine or anything, but I hadn’t been dealt a winning hand! I start with significant handicaps: fibromyalgia, diabetes, chronic fatigue, muscle pain even before I get started.

But my friend Vince had an answer for that one too. He said, “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”

Thank you Coach Lombardi, buddy of mine, you are so right! We’re not all capable of the grandiose effort. In my quest for health, I can’t do too much at once. I’m starting from a different place, and at a slower pace, so my success has to be measured by different criteria. I’m doing all I can with the hand I’ve been dealt, knowing that my hand is like nobody else’s and I cannot judge or be judged based on anyone’s progress but my own.

“Two steps forward and one step back” is a net gain of one step forward.  It’s progress. It’s success. Besides, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and that is NOT a quote from Vince Lombardi. It’s from the bible. Philippians 4:13, to be exact.

The other quotes, the ones in red, were actual quotes from Coach Vince Lombardi.

Be the Tortoise, Not the Hare...

In the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, we all know that the turtle won because slow and steady wins the race. Turtles are ugly and I would much rather be a cute bunny rabbit, but being a rabbit has its downfalls. 

Yesterday after I posted my blog, I crashed. Not my car, myself. With Fibromyalgia, when you push too hard or do too much, you’re always in danger of crashing, meaning you hit a brick wall and have not one bit of energy. The only fix is to spend a day (or two or three) in the recliner or in bed. It usually means more pain than the typical day, too.

One day last week, after the Aqua Flex class, I did two breaststroke laps in the pool. Afterward I was really really tired, but I managed to get myself home and still did my machine exercises the next day. I did the same two laps after class two days ago, thinking I got by with it last week so why not try it again? Burn some extra calories, build a little more muscle.

This time, though, I did myself in. It was too much. Big crash. 

I had to cancel yesterday's personal trainer session. I watched a lot of TV. I read a book. I napped on and off. Such a boring day, and such a disappointment after being so active, but I did it to myself.

I’ve been relaxing again this morning, but this afternoon I’m determined to get back in the pool. I guess if I work hard in the class, which I do, that needs to be enough for one day. Today, I’ll take it easy, and just do what I feel I can. Otherwise it’s one step forward, two steps back.

Praying that God will guide me through an unhurried Adventure. That He’ll help me not to be impatient, and let me know when I should take things to the next level. 

Turtles RULE! Slow and steady wins this race! Be the tortoise, not the hare…


"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13

Weigh-Ins and Dark Valleys

Greetings, Friends! To those who might have been waiting to hear about yesterday’s weigh-in, thanks for following my Adventure stories. I waited to post until this morning, because I’ve had to talk myself out of a big funk.

I was looking forward to weighing in! I’ve been working SO hard, physically and mentally. In the previous two weeks I only skipped one day at Lifetime Fitness. When I’m there I work as hard as I can. At home, I eat within the prescribed limits of the Weight Watchers plan. Even when Phil and I went out to dinner, we planned ahead so we could stay on-plan. I felt proud of what I was doing, and I just knew the scales would reward me. Well, pride goeth before a fall.

After working out in the pool yesterday afternoon, I ran some errands then waited for Phil at the WW meeting place. I was going to put off getting on the scales until Phil came, but I couldn’t wait to see those new numbers. It’s probably a good thing, because then I had time to get over my disappointment before he showed up, so I could act happy for him when his new weight was announced. Phil lost another 3.4 lbs, bringing his total to 11.4 lbs in two weeks. He’s doing great!

I only lost .2 lbs. Yes, that’s one-fifth of one pound. ONE FIFTH of ONE POUND. For this I worked my butt off? I told Phil what a great job he did, but one look at my face and he knew I was disappointed in my own loss, or lack of. When I told him what it was, I really wanted to keep my eyes from tearing up, but was unsuccessful. It’s a good thing he didn’t give me a hug at that moment or there would have been a full out flood of tears right there in the Weight Watchers weigh-in room. He just looked sad for me, and that was enough. He knew just what I needed from him at that moment. Mind you, he’s not always so discerning, but this time he was spot on.

I told him what the WW lady said. I had asked her if my lack of weight loss could be due to gaining muscle by working out so much, since (I thought) muscle weighs more than fat. She said, “A pound is a pound.” My very first thought was, “You are not very nice.”

But in a technical sense, she’s right. It’s like the riddle you give a third grader:

Question: Which weighs more, a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers?

Answer: Neither; they both weigh a ton.

Five pounds of fat and five pounds of muscle both weigh five pounds.

The proper way to express this concept would be, “"Muscle is heavier by volume than fat." I got that quote and the picture embedded here from a website called onemorebite-weightloss.com, which talks about emotional eating.

Therefore, if I have gained 5 lbs of muscle while losing 5 lbs of fat, I have lost volume, not weight.

So I had to ask myself, which would I rather have? Less volume, or a better number in my little weight-tracking book? I answered myself: Less volume. Less of me. So did that happen? I believe so. I was able to start wearing jeans a size smaller than I was wearing two weeks ago, Pre-Adventure. A whole size smaller! I should be very happy with that, and I AM. Here’s a list of what's better about my life than two weeks ago:

ü  I’m sleeping GREAT. Dr Oz says that proper sleep is critical to weight loss, and his web site has some important tips to getting a good night’s sleep. Remember, as part of The Adventure I joined his Transformation Nation, and now I can draw on his wisdom anytime at the TN website.

ü  Because I’m sleeping better than I have in years, I’m waking up refreshed, and ready to start my day. I don’t have to talk myself into getting out of my nice warm bed. I want to get up! Gimme that first cuppa coffee and lemme get at my day! It’s my day, a gift to me from God, and I’m ready to live it.

ü  I’m more alert now. Less brain-fogged.  I’m better able to read my bible and understand what it is I’m reading. Better able to pray, to plan my day. More awake!

ü  I feel healthier. Just over-all healthier. Sometimes even peppy. I still have fibromyalgia, and it will never be gone, but I’m not sitting dormant until I can’t get around without a walker. That day may well come, because that’s often what this disease leads to. But if I’m healthier in mind and body, I’m almost positive I can postpone that awful day for a good while longer than I would have otherwise.

ü  I’m wearing smaller clothes. I have a stash of clothing in several sizes. This time though, when I’m done with the larger items, I’ll either alter them to my new size or donate them to the Salvation Army. I’m not going to keep them around “just in case.” I don’t want to make it comfortable to put weight back on.

All in all, I really have talked myself out of that funk I was in. Last night was not good. Today, having calmly reasoned things out, and prayerfully considered the truth of the matter, it is a very good day indeed. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Thank You, God. Though the Evil One wanted me to suffer over those numbers in my weight-loss tracker, You have comforted me, and calmed my fears. I’m ready now to get on with this day You have given me.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13

Spice Cake on my Day Off

Yesterday was my first day off since the beginning of The Adventure. I didn’t go to Lifetime Fitness. Phil and I had a nice date, going to the Plymouth Ice Festival, out to dinner at Applebees, then to the State Wayne Theater to see “War Horse.” Excellent movie, by the way!

I didn’t feel real comfortable taking a day off from my exercise. I thought maybe if I skipped a day inertia would once again set in, and it would be hard to break it. Phil said it was a good idea to take a break every now and then to rest up. And even God rested on the 7th day!

Even though I had a day off from the gym, I wasn’t completely dormant. I got some exercise walking around Plymouth and to/from the car, parked several blocks from downtown.

Earlier in the day, we had gone online to the Applebees website to decide what we wanted for dinner, then saved enough Weight Watcher points for our evening out.  The website has all the nutrition information for everything Applebees serves, so it’s just a matter of calculating points based on the 4 areas: carbs, fiber, fat and protein. I do that on the WW website, with their online tracker.

It made the evening stress-free and more fun! I was neither cheating, nor depriving myself. I did pass up dessert, as I was not willing to spend 26 points to eat their apple pie!! And you know I love my pie. Instead, we made our own dessert at home; a Spice Cake in a Mug for 5 points!

On the way from the restaurant to the movie theater, we stopped at Kroger and picked up two cake mixes; a Duncan Hines Spice Cake mix and a Betty Crocker Angel Food mix. When we got home, we mixed the two dry boxed mixes together with a wisk in a large bowl. Then we put ¼ cup of the mixed mix in a mug, stirred in 3 tablespoons of water, and microwaved it for 2 ½ minutes. Voila! Spice Cake in a Mug! We each had one, topped with lowfat Cool Whip. Warm, tasty spice cake! Loved it! And only 4 points for the cake, and 1 point for the Cool Whip.

I was thinking I could make a “free” topping for the little cake sometime by cooking down an apple into a chunky sauce. Maybe with some Splenda or Stevia. We’ll see!

Tomorrow afternoon I work out in the pool, and tomorrow evening Phil and I get back on the WW scales to see how we did this week. Results will be posted here!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13

YOGA - Oh. My. Gosh.

I lasted exactly eleven minutes in my first-ever yoga class. Silly me! I thought it was just a lot of stretching. Well I can stretch with the best of ‘em, right? Not exactly.

Yesterday morning after doing my prescribed workout on the weight machines, I didn’t walk on the treadmill, but saved my energy for the evening yoga class I would come back for. In my uninformed mind, yoga sounded good. Relaxing. Soothing. Meditative.

I arrived early so I could speak to the instructor and say “I’m brand new, so what should I expect? What do I need to do?” But there was no instructor available to speak to, so I lay down my brand new lavender yoga mat on the floor like other women had done. Slender women. Maybe that should have been a clue.

The room was dimly lit and quiet. The Slender Women were either lying down for a pre-yoga rest or doing some little bit of stretching. I don’t know what I’m doing yet, so I took off my shoes, set down my water bottle, placed my neatly folded towel beside me, and lay down. I wasn’t expecting to use my towel, because this was just supposed to be stretching, right? Maybe some meditation thrown in? Easy stuff. No sweating involved, surely.

 Apparently if you are not a slender woman, you need 5 or 6 mats on top of each other so the bottom of your spine won’t touch the floor. That was painful! So instead I sat with my legs crossed Indian style. Can you still say “Indian style?” Maybe that’s not PC anymore. Sorry to whomever may be offended by my thoughtless remarks.

While I was sitting, waiting for something to begin, the music came on. Now, I have no objection to the music itself, but it did not lead me to a calm, relaxed frame of mind, which is where I thought I would be going. It sounded like the music you hear in The Lion King movie, at the beginning. Drums, women chanting, men with deep bass voices doing “ba-bum ba-ba-bum.”  Seemed an odd choice to me, but what do I know?

The kindly-looking bearded male instructor came in at exactly 5pm, the scheduled start time, and asked if there was anyone in the room who had never done yoga before. I raised my hand, as did two other women. The instructor, speaking to those other two first-timers said, “It’s good to see you beginners in the middle of the group. Usually beginners stay in the back by the door for a quick escape.” Soft chuckles from the Slender Women. I know he wasn’t talking to me, because I was in the back by the door.

He asked what kind of music we wanted, and gave us three choices. Before I could even process the options, someone yelled out, “Reggae!” Holy Smokes.

Now with Reggae playing in the background, he led us through our warm up. Oh. My. Gosh. I have not done male-style push-ups, well, ever. Even in Air Force Basic Training, at which time I was in the best shape of my life, we did not do male-style push-ups. After some “reaching for the clouds” type stretches, he had us down on our ridiculously thin yoga mats doing push-ups. My knees never left the ground, and I only did two. Then my tummy hit the ground with a little huff of escaping breath.

After a short time, I realized why there were NO other chubs in the class. This was not a class for a porky, heretofore sedentary middle-ager with fibromyalgia. It was for reasonably fit persons with reasonably good upper-body strength.

I tried to do it. I really did. I didn't understand the instructions, like "standing neutral position," or some such thing. I had to keep looking at the women around me, though the instructor had said to keep my eyes closed. I was always either two motions behind, or waiting for the next instruction, or wishing I had read "Yoga For Dummies" before I came to class.

It became apparent I could not do it. Not yet. I felt that our bearded leader had given me permission to bug out, since I was already in the back, near the door. Without fanfare or permission, I picked up my neatly folded towel, shoes, water, and brand new lavender yoga mat and high-tailed it outa there.

To those who will now say, “Linda don’t give up!” I say: this is not me quitting, this is me waiting to lose another 60 lbs or so before I try it again, otherwise I set myself up for failure. While waiting to lose enough weight and gain enough upper body strength, I will read "Yoga For Dummies" if it exists. And when I go back to this supposedly entry-level yoga class, it will be with information, determination, and a twin sized bed mattress.

Today, back in the pool!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13

It's All About the Motivation

Phil and I were talking about motivation. What’s my motivation for doing this, for going on The Adventure? It’s a lot of work, and the progress is slow, so what is it that’s keeping me (and will keep me) going?

I told him my main motivator, which I’ll save for last in this blog post. But since we talked, these are the motivators I’ve come up with. They are in reverse order of their importance.

Ø  Motivator 5: My as yet unborn grandkids. Not born, not yet expected even. But I so look forward to meeting them! Will Nicholas’ sons be tall and handsome like him? Will Leah have some sweet/sassy girls like her? Will Billy have a little crew of athletes? Will Emily’s houseful be loud? What fun we have ahead of us as they begin to make their presence known! But before they start arriving, I want to make sure I’ll be able to care for them, play with them, crawl under the dining room table after we throw a sheet over it to make a “tent,” take them to the zoo, and on long hikes at Meierfly (Meier family campout at Firefly Lake). I want to be healthy for my future grandkids.

Ø  Motivator 4: My children. I don’t want them to worry, or to have to help Phil take care of a sick old lady who can’t tie her own shoes or take steps without using a walker. I want to BE there for them the way Phil’s parents have been there for us all these years. If I’m sick, overweight, and blind from diabetes, how can I be what I want to be for my sweet kids?

Ø  Motivator 3: Myself. Some might argue I should put myself first. Others might say that my kids should have a higher priority than me, but I’m being honest and this is how I feel. I don’t like being sick. I’ve had fibromyalgia for 20 years or so, and I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. A little fibro-humor there. The kids have their own lives now, and though I know they still need me, they don’t need me like they once did. It’s my time.

Ø  Motivator 2: Serving God. My body is God’s temple. Okay, this phrase might be over-used. It might be trivialized, but it IS biblical. You might ask if I’ve been building a temple annex all these years! But there it is. God expects me to love and serve him with my whole heart, mind, body and soul. If I’m not taking care of myself I can’t serve Him as I want to. In past years, I’ve had the excuse of taking care of a household of 6 (sometimes 7 when Mom lived here), so if I wasn’t ready to jump at the clarion call and go to far off places to preach The Word, I think that was okay. I believe putting my husband and children first was exactly what God wanted of me at that time. Well, no more. I can serve Him in other ways now, and I want to be able to answer the call when it comes.

Ø  Number One Main Motivator: Philip Edward Meier, my husband. He’s just the best. I’ve said it before; I feel a little sorry for every woman who isn’t married to Phil. I hope other wives feel the same about their husbands.

A) I want to grow old with him. I have plans to be that cute elderly couple people smile at when they see us holding each other’s wrinkled old arthritic hands.

B) I don’t want to leave him alone too soon. I do eventually want to be the one who goes home to our Father’s house first, because life without him is unimaginable. But I would rather go much later, rather than sooner. My own father died too early, and I believe his death was caused in no small part by ignoring his health problems until they caught up to him. I won’t be like that, because I want to stay here with Phil for as long as God says I can stay.

C) This is the big one. Argue my priorities if you must, but this is the big one. Phil has made a big sacrifice to give me year-long Adventure, and I won’t disappoint him by not doing my best. I’m not raising kids anymore, but neither am I doing much to contribute to the family’s finances. We give our tithes and offerings to God at church. We are still helping two kids finish college. We live in a lovely home. I have my dream sewing room. I don’t want for a single thing. All because Phil gets up and goes to work every day. On top of all that, he has paid for us to join weight watchers, and for ME to join Lifetime Fitness. Not US. We can’t afford for US to join. But Phil freely gives me the membership so that I can be healthy. He puts me first. He, and the love and self-sacrifice he shows me each and every day, provide the greatest part of my motivation. Thank You God for my Philip!

<pausing now to wipe tears>

God bless and keep you, and thanks for reading!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)

Stranger in a Foreign Land

Apparently, there is a kind of Pool Etiquette when older people are taking their Aqua Flex class. When it’s time to start using these barbell-looking things made of foam, the men get them for the women! It’s kind of cute.  I stayed for the full hour yesterday! Well, almost. I took a bathroom break which allowed me to sit for a minute. =]

Today I did my first workout on the machines and with the exercise ball ON MY OWN without the trainer. I had typed out the schedule he made me, adding all the instructions I could remember so I would do it right.

When I first arrived I realized I had forgotten my water bottle, so went into the café to buy one. I wanted a squirt-kind of top so I didn’t have to always unscrew it to take a drink. The only option was “Smart Water.”

At the register, I asked the café girl, “What makes this water so Smart, and how do I open it?” The water was apparently smarter than me!

After much observation and studying, I said to the towel guy, “So, big towel for pool or shower, small towel for workout?” Answer: “Depends on how much you sweat.” Ew.

So I’m already not feeling very cool, very hip. Then I went to the elevator to get up to the second story where the machines are. My knees are iffy, and besides I didn’t want to use up energy on that huge flight of stairs when I had so much work to do once I got there! But I didn’t want to be noticed. Didn’t want anyone to see me waiting for the elevator at the fitness club. A little humiliating.

At this point in The Adventure, mirrors are still my enemy. At Lifetime Fitness, upstairs in the big room with all the machines, there are mirrors everywhere. I mean everywhere. The enemy surrounds me, jumps in front of me no matter where I go or which way I face. All the time, this chubby, middle-aged, decidedly awkward, messy-haired woman stares at me. And she’s bow-legged and her clothes are too tight. She also looks befuddled. It’s just not pretty.

So I look down. Crunching, rowing, hamstring curling, I do not look in the mirror and I do not make eye contact with anyone. They all seem at home here and I am an alien in a foreign land where I do not know the language.

I tell myself, “Don’t even look at other people and what they’re able to do. Don’t be intimidated.” Then I pray for invisibility.

After doing my machine and floor stuff, which didn’t go too badly (I only had to ask two questions), I had some energy left so I got on a treadmill. Thank goodness Phil showed me how to work them on Sunday. I walked for half an hour and went 1.6 miles. The half hour went quickly, listening to music on my smart phone. 

I was starting to feel pretty good about myself, pretty proud, as if maybe I was catching on to how all this goes. Maybe I’m not so dorky after all. But when I tried to get off the treadmill the emergency safety stop cord thing was still attached to my top.

Then I went over and waited for the down elevator. <sigh>

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13

Weigh In, Week One

Great news! I lost 7.4 lbs my first week at Weight Watchers! I was feeling pretty great about it, and then Phil got on the scale, and he lost 8. Wouldn't you know?

Dancing on the Treadmill

While mourning the loss of the Green Bay Packers to the New York Giants this evening, Phil and I went to Lifetime Fitness and walked on the treadmill for half an hour. Phil showed me how to work the thing. Not bad! I kind of liked it.

I started with an incline of .1 and a speed of 2mph. My starting pulse rate was 113. In the next 15 minutes I worked up to 3.5 mph, and stayed there for 10 minutes or so. My peak pulse rate was 127. Then a few minutes at the slow pace again, and done!

While on the treadmill I listened to music I had downloaded onto my new Christmas phone. I bought some of those ear phone things that plug into your ear but also have a hook-around-the-ear thing. When I first turned on the music it was FULL VOLUME. I thought I would blast my eardrums and did a little dance on the treadmill until I figured out how to turn it down some.

I think at one point I sang out loud with the music, but I don't know for sure. That wouldn't be good.

The ice cream we made today was a little disappointing. So were the meatballs. But the tomato sauce is a keeper, so the day wasn't a total loss!

Tomorrow afternoon, I go back in the pool. I'll try to go a full half hour this time. Who knows, maybe more! And tomorrow night is the BIG WEIGH IN for Phil and I at Weight Watchers. I'll post the results here afterward.

BTW: Yes we will be rooting for the Giants next weekend, Bobby Moffat.

Work Out Barbie: NOT

I was never more in love with my recliner than I am right now.

I did NOT want to get out of bed this morning. I guess the combo of two days of exercise and a massage was challenging me. But Phil was going to church without me, and I hated the thought of him sitting alone, so I got up and ready with no time to spare.

I talked a little about my blog at church. I brought it up with good friends, so that sharing wouldn't be painful, and the idea was very well received. Thank you, Rice family!

After church and bible study Phil came home to brew a new batch of beer (a porter), and I went to Walmart to look for some inexpensive work-out clothes. I was not going to do this. I thought, "It's not like I'm there to catch a man, I don't need to look like Work-Out Barbie." Lifetime Fitness does have some of those. BUT after working out with Brooklyn yesterday, I decided that there are practical reasons to wear close-fitting clothes. Baggy ones get in the way! So I am now the proud owner of three pair of black (the slimming color) workout pants, and three new tops. The tops were in the section with the work-out stuff, so I figured they must be for that purpose. So now I'll look like Work-Out Barbie's pudgy mama.

I am tired, I am achy ALL OVER, and I'm feeling proud. "I feel... I feel... I feel happy of myself!" (reference to a youtube video of a kid who just learned to ride a bike. Leah will get it.)


As part of this adventure, Phil and I are trying new, Weight Watchers-friendly recipes. If we like them, I'll post them here. Today's experiment is lactose-free, low-sugar ice cream. We'll get to see how it turned out at half-time of the Packers game this afternoon. It's made, and in the freezer, waiting to finish... I don't know what it has to finish doing. But the directions said to freeze it for 2 to 4 hours after making it in my NEW (thanks, kids) Kitchen-Aid Ice Cream Maker attachment for my stand mixer.

Breakfast this morning was a WW recipe: Cranberry-Maple Slow Cooker Oatmeal. It's already the second time we've made this; it's that good! Last night I put the following ingredients in the crock pot, and cooked it on low for 4 to 6 hours. Since we sleep more than 6 hours, we put the crock pot on a timer. And we woke up to a great-smelling and better-tasting breakfast!

1 cup of steel-cut oatmeal (the steel-cut part is important; Phil found it cheapest at Aldi's)
1/3 cup chopped dried cranberries ("Craisins" are the best)
4 cups water
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon table salt

Serving size is 3/4 cup, which is more than enough to fill me up solid for only 6 points. This stuff is very hearty, very stick-to-your-ribs-ish. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of slivered almonds on the top, and drizzle a little milk on it. Yum! We're making this our new Sunday morning breakfast. Probably once during the week, too.

A little more time in the recliner (maybe a short nap) and then it's time to make meatballs and tomato sauce to eat during the game, both WW recipes. Add a fresh veggie tray, and voila! Dinner!

GO PACK GO!

Day One in the Gym

Okay, morning wasn't too awful. A little achy, a little tired, a little worried about how today was going to go. Phil made breakfast, and I putzed around the house until time to go for my first session with Brooklyn, my Personal Trainer, at noon.

He's such a nice guy! Seems very caring, and almost more importantly he understands that if I push too hard or do too much, I'll have a setback.

Here are the exercises he had me do:

1. Brooklyn put an exercise ball between me and the wall. I leaned my back on the ball, and did squats. Not so bad!
2. Next we went to a machine with weights and pulleys. A little intimidating. He set the lifting thingy at 15 pounds, and had me sit down and pull some handles (attached to the weights somehow I guess) from my sides to the front until my hands overlapped. This was okay, and he had me do 12 of them. Then I rested and did 12 more. By the end of the second set of "reps" (repetitions?) my arms were shaking, and hurting a little. Brooklyn said that was good. So okay!
3. Back to where the mats and exercise balls are, I sat down on a mat and had a thing right behind me that looked like the top third of an ex. ball attached to a large disc. I leaned back on it, put my hands beside me head with my elbows out like wings, and did sit-ups (crunches?). Whew. Things were getting tough.
4. Now I was lying down on the mat, with my back flat, and the heels of my feet were up on top of an ex. ball. I had to lift my butt up off the floor, then (try to) roll the ball towards me, and not put my butt down! Holy smokes, that one was hard. I was fighting to do the last ones. I was glad to hear him say I could stop!!
5. Back to the machines, for some standing-up rowing (?!). Twenty-five each arm, rest, and twenty-five more. DONE!

Brooklyn recommended that I work with a Personal Trainer at least twice a week for a long while, since I have so far to go and so much to learn, but we can't afford it. I get three more sessions, then I'm on my own. So maybe Jason (son-in-law) can give me long-distance guidance once I have to say goodbye to Brooklyn.

I was a little shaky/achy walking out to the car, but mostly just tired. Thank goodness I had already  scheduled a massage for this afternoon! I had no idea how badly I would need it.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With One Step

I'm back. And I'm exhausted and achy. And it feels pretty good! I don't like the fatigue or the pain, but It really does feel good to have gotten started.

I first met with Brooklyn, the manager of the personal trainers. We took inventory, and here's what we found:

• Height: 5'6" (used to be 5'7").
• Weight: big fat secret.
• BMI puts me in the category Obese Class 2. 
• Max VO2 (something about oxygen level while on the treadmill) in the low range.
• Bicep strength = GOOD! 
• Sit and reach (sititng on the floor and seeing how far forward you can reach with your hands) Average
• Body composition (percentage of body made up of fat) Oh. My. Gosh. On the border between high and very high.
• Overall Fitness: Fair.
• Body age: 60. Seven years older than my chronological age.

Afterwards, I went to the Aqua Flex class. It's a class in the pool, for people who can't really do aerobics but need a zero-impact way to increase flexibility and range of motion, and get some gentle strengthening. It's a place to start.

The instructor's name is Peggy, and she has fibromyalgia! She said she was using a walker the first time she walked into Lifetime Fitness, and now she's an energetic, fit water-exercise instructor! That was very inspirational to hear. 

I only made it through 25 minutes of the 60 minute class. Can't push it, I just can't, or I'll end up in bed. Slow and steady wins this race, I think. I'll be back next week, and maybe try for a full 30 minutes before I bail. Peggy said she couldn't make it through a class at first, either.

When I got out of the pool my legs felt like lead weights. I'm wondering what I'll feel like in the morning. But I go back at noon tomorrow to see Brooklyn again, to finish my assessment. 

Tomorrow afternoon I have a massage scheduled. I feel like I'll need it!

I'M ON MY WAY. 

The Adventure Begins

Greetings to whoever might be interested in this blog!

I started this blog to chronicle my "Re-Purposing Myself Adventure." Maybe somebody needs encouragement to do the same, or maybe there's just some morbid curiosity about the life of a chubby middle aged woman. Whatever the reason you're here, welcome!


After spending 30 years raising a family, my husband Phil and I are empty-nesters. Our closest child is now 262 miles away: Nicholas is in Chicago, Leah and her husband Jason are in the western Chicago suburb of Lombard, and Billy and Emily are in college at Concordia University Wisconsin, in Mequon. Phil and I maintain the family headquarters here in southeastern Michigan. We do have a young family living with us (more on that another time), but they aren't my kids, so my own actual nest is still empty as far as my responsibilities go.


Phil goes to work every day, knowing what it is he'll be doing and who he'll be seeing. Me? I'm home. I have fibromyalgia, which makes it difficult to find a good fit as far as a job outside the house. I'm a seamstress (I have my dream sewing room upstairs), but right now there's not a lot of work coming my way.


Being 53 years old and overweight, I have health problems in addition to fibromyalgia: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol; all controlled with meds. I also have bad knees. Do we see a theme here? All except the cholesterol (hereditary) could be fixed, or at least helped a lot, with a better diet and some exercise. Even the fibromyalgia symptoms could be improved, though the disease itself has no cure.


I sometimes toy with the idea of exercising. And then I eat a bagel with cream cheese or some leftover pie. Thinking of exercise is tiring, so then I take a nap. I also play with the thought that I should be trying to lose weight. Then I eat more pie. I like pie. But OKAY ALREADY, something has to change.


Someday I hope to be a Grandma. That will be a happy kind of change! Spending time with my daughter's friend's baby, the beautiful and charming Harper Leigh, has reinforced the idea it's time to get down to the business of improving my health so that when the time comes I'll be healthy enough to do fun things with my grandkids, and have the energy to keep them for long weekends, or maybe longer. I also really really want to grow old with Phil.


I'm not the stay-at-home Mom anymore. My responsibilities and priorities have shifted, so I must quit mourning retirement from my child-rearing career (which I dearly loved) and re-purpose myself. 


I guess I'm a housewife with a sewing hobby that brings in a little extra cash. I'm also a Christian/Inspirational speaker, but it's very sporadic, as is the seamstress work. So there are no longer any time constraints to prevent me from "working on myself." I feel a little selfish saying this, but I think this is the time to devote myself to ME, at least for a while.


THUS BEGINS LINDA'S RE-PURPOSING ADVENTURE!


Here's the snowball of events in the last few days which led to this blog:


After Phil's doctor told him to lose weight, knowing it's something I have to do also, I urged him to join Weight Watchers with me. After much hemming and hawing, he agreed, as long as we waited 'till the Christmas baking was all gone. We joined Monday, January 9th! Maybe I'll be brave enough to tell you what my beginning weight was, but for now I think I'll keep it to myself. I will, however, post my weight loss amounts after our Monday weigh-ins. 

The picture embedded here somewhere (not certain how this works) will serve as the "before" picture. Phil and I at St. Michael's Oktoberfest, wearing costumes I made.


Wednesday, I was looking through our Weight Watchers material, and saw an ad promoting Dr Oz's Transformation Nation. I thought, "In for a dime, in for a dollar! Let's see what the good doctor has to say." Well he says a lot, actually. I took an online test and it turns out my lifestyle is dangerous. Holy Smokes! I knew it wasn't great, but dangerous?! 


After panicking a little, I read more. I downloaded stretching exercises, strength-building exercises, cardio exercises. But I knew even as I was downloading all this useful info, I just don't have the discipline to follow through here at home by myself. No accountability. Bagels and pie a few yards away.


I had some errands to run, and I fashioned my route to take me past the Lifetime Fitness in Canton. I walked in from the cold and rain to this huge, beautiful, modern facility, and was immediately a little overwhelmed.


Then I met with a very nice young man named Jason (not the son-in-law), who talked for a while then took me on a tour, at which time I was A LOT overwhelmed, but intrigued. I did not see too many perfect-looking people there. Some looked a little like me. I made an appointment for later that evening for Phil and I to have the same talk and tour together, hoping he would agree we could afford to join!


Well, I got half of what I wanted. I joined, with Phil's blessing and encouragement. He said he's glad I'm taking this step. Phil didn't join with me, though. Maybe later.


Right now, or once I figure out how to post this blog, I'm going to eat a healthy WW-friendly lunch then get ready for my "fitness assessment" with a trainer and an afternoon Aqua Flex water exercise class. Hoo-boy.


SO LINDA'S RE-PURPOSING BEGINS!! Wish me luck. If you are so inclined, you may also pray for me. 


"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philipians 4:13