TIP OF THE DAY - SATURDAY

LAST TIP IN THE "28 DAYS TO A HEALTHIER HEART! DO YOU ALL FEEL BETTER?
We started these tips with the first of February and I hope you got something out of them. I learned several things, like it helps your healthy heart to laugh and relax, and working with weights during exercise will help your heart, and that dark chocolate "may" help prevent heart disease. My favorite one is go nuts. I love peanuts but because they are so high in fat I don't eat them, but according to this, nuts contain healthy fats, so I bought a jar of unsalted dry roasted peanuts and put a handful into the food processor and almost turned them into peanut butter. They are almost a powder and go great on oatmeal in the morning, apple slices or sugar free pudding for snacks and I also added some to my wheat bread. It was like eating warm bread with the peanut butter already on it. And the one ounce you should eat will last all day.
* Here's your last tip: It's never too late to start a healthy lifestyle. By implementing small lifestyle changes like these each day, you can improve your heart health and quality of life. The important thing is to stick with it.

PARTY PINATA

COWBOY BOOT PINATA. I have 2 - 5 year old party planners helping with the July party and they have asked to see the pinata. I thought I would share the photo with you all. NO, it does not have any candy in it yet, but it will by July, I promise. Any one else with suggestions can let me or Emme or Makenna know we would love to hear from you. Emme believes that she and Makenna will be able to break it open but I think it will probably be Dillion or Ian who will end up breaking it. We will see.

TIP OF THE DAY - FRIDAY

GO FISH. Fish like salmon, tuna, and halibut are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which promote heart health. Six to eight ounces of baked or broiled fish each week will do your body good.

Skinny Songs

Just read in the March issue of Redbook about a lady who made a CD of "skinny songs". They were songs she helped to write about losing weight. One, instead of Carrie Underwoods' Before He Cheats, became Before I Cheat (on my diet). The first song was "Skinny Jeans". Anyway you get the idea. The CD is available on Amazon.com, or itunes, etc. Or go to Redbook.com where you can enter to possibly win a free copy. I plan to check this out further and will get back to you when I know more. Or, if you've already heard about this, fill the rest of us in on what you know.

TIP OF THE DAY - THURSDAY

BREATHE. Slow deep breaths can help conquer stress and lower blood pressure. With your eyes closed, practice inhaling deeply into the belly and exhaling slowly. Try this several times a day.
* This is really good if done at the end of your exercise workout. It calms the heart down and gets it back to normal after having worked out so hard during the exercise.

TIP OF THE DAY - WEDNESDAY

MOVE MORE! Every bit of activity you do can help you strengthen your heart and maintain your weight. Find opportunities for fitness by taking the stairs, parking further away, doing yard work and more.
*It is getting nice enough that soon we will be able to walk around the neighborhood. So why not go for a walk.

HAVE YOU EVER SHOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT?

YOU UNDERSTAND...TRY TO BE GOOD AND DO SOMETHING POSITIVE AND IT TURNS OUT TO BE A BIG NEGATIVE? That seems to be me. I called the doctor today to ask him about going down to 1000 calories a day since I have been doing in for several days anyway and to ask if for some over the counter pills that would help with this weight loss. He told me NO NO NO. He says I am doing great and I just need to be patient, yeah right. You would think that after 15 years he would know me better than that. He explained that because I was now exercising 5-6 days a week and between 45-60 minutes a day that the 1200 calories might not be enough and I probably need to eat a little more. Who knew. So don't give up the calories if you aren't losing and definitely don't ease up on the exercise remember to keep it balanced. He told me that with this exercise I am doing and with the added calories I might even see a increase next time I weigh in. That is not a nice thing to say to a crazy, old, fat, lady. Good thing this was a phone call and not a visit.

TIP OF THE DAY - TUESDAY

COOK AT HOME. Homemade meals are usually lower in fat, salt, and cholesterol and higher in fiber and nutrients. When you do the cooking, you control the ingredients and the cooking method.
* It is also cheaper to cook at home and saving money on food means more money for rewards, should you earn them. Calvin is saving a bundle on both lately.

THOUGHT ABOUT QUITTING!

WHEN I GOT UP THIS MORNING AND STEPPED ON THE SCALE, I WEIGHTED THE SAME AS LAST WEEK. I know that is to be expected once in a while but the doctor, the nutritionist, and several friends keep telling me I could expect to lose 2 pounds each week and so far I have not lost 2 pounds this month. I was so disappointed in myself and depressed that I decided to just quit. I don't mind a week once in a while where I stay the same but this is crazy. I decided by the time I was done exercising this morning for 45 minutes it just wasn't worth it. I had gotten an email from Sarah and she had lost 5 pounds last week. So why can't I? Of course, I wrote Sarah right back to see what she did last week to lose so much. I then went to the church to work on the computer and drop off 2 cakes for a funeral and by the time I left there I was depressed to the point of sitting in my car and crying. I knew this diet thing just wasn't going to work for me. It is just impossible for me to lose the weight and with 2 pounds a month it will take me over 5 years to reach the goal. Why try. I felt I had given up everything there was to give up; no more sweets, no soda, no fried foods. What's left. I decided Right then I was going to the store and buy a 2 liter bottle of Dr. Pepper, not diet either, and the biggest bag of 3 musketeers they had. I put on a pair of sunglasses and headed to Albertsons. When I left the store I had bought 2 apples, 4 oranges, 6 bananas, a can of diced carrots and a box of wheat pasta. No soda and no candy. I then came home, ate a banana, exercised for another 20 minutes and put a very big and heavy towel over that stupid scale, promising myself I was not going to weigh myself before Friday morning. I then went to the emails where there was one from Sarah telling me she had not lost 5 pounds but point five pounds. I cannot tell you how great I felt. Sarah ate candy and still lost while I have not had a candy of any kind for almost 3 months and lost nothing but that didn't seem to matter at that moment. Whether Sarah knew it or not she made my day. My mind is back on track, at least for this week. I guess we will just have to wait till next Monday to see if my head is really screwed on right. My advice from all this is you will drive yourself nuts if you weigh yourself every time you go to the bathroom, trust me.

KIND OF A SLOW WEEK

EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE SLOWING DOWN EXCEPT JOLEANE.
We had some small numbers for the 3rd week of February, thank goodness we have one more week of the month left. Here are our numbers for last week:
Liisa added a pound to her weight loss challenge.
Eileen lost 2 pounds last week.
Joleane lost 3 big pounds last week. Good job.
Renee and Becky each lost 1 pound and
Sarah lost .5 of a pound.
Yvonne again stayed the same as did Elizabeth.
As long as we are still working on it that is what counts.

TIP OF THE DAY - MONDAY

KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY. Certain health risks are "PARTLY" genetic. For example, if your father had a heart attack at a young age, you should start preventive care and screenings sooner yourself.
*This is sort of scary and maybe to little to late for some of us.

TIP OF THE DAY - SUNDAY

LIMIT THE SALT. Consuming too much sodium can elevate your blood pressure, increasing your heart disease risk. Look for low sodium foods and try to limit your sodium intake to less than 2300 mg. daily.
*This is harder to do than one thinks. It seems that even fruits and vegetables have some sodium in them. This is why it is so important to read labels.

TIP OF THE DAY - SATURDAY

LIMIT ALCOHOL. Recent headlines about the benefits of alcohol are controversial since alcohol can cause other health problems. If you don't drink, don't start. If you do, limit alcohol to one drink daily.
* WOW, finally one that I am already doing and is easy for me. Just one more week of this "28 days to a healthier heart". I hope you have learned some things along with me and they have been helpful.

TIP OF THE DAY - FRIDAY

CATCH SOME Zzzz's. If you average less than 8 hours of sleep a night you could be putting your heart at risk. Getting 8 hours of restful sleep is an important part of a heart - healthy life.
*I think I had better spend all day in bed Saturday catching up for this week. I wonder if that counts? It is something to think about.

TIP OF THE DAY - THURSDAY

GET SCREENED. After age 20 you should get your cholesterol levels tested every five years. Discuss your results with your health care provider for recommendations. This test is a simple blood test and most doctors will allow you to come in the office and have it done with a phone call ahead of time and without seeing the doctor. Remember these tests are usually done first thing in the morning and require you to come fasting, no food after midnight.

TIP OF THE DAY - WEDNESDAY

CHOOSE WHOLE GRAINS. foods like brown rice, oats, whole wheat and barley are packed with fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients. A diet rich in whole grains can help lower cholesterol and improve heart health.
* When shopping look for whole wheat pastas, rolls and breads besides the whole grain cereals. They cost about the same, taste good and are better for you.

UPS THIS WEEK INSTEAD OF DOWNS

UPS DOES NOT STAND FOR UNITED PARCEL SERVICE! I couldn't believe it we were up in the weigh ins this week. So first the results for the week and then we will talk:
Liisa stayed the same.
Sarah gained 2.
Renee gained 2.
Eileen stayed the same.
Becky lost 1 pound.
Yvonne lost 1 1/2 pounds.
Joleane gained 1/2 a pound.
Elizabeth stayed the same.
Totals gained 4 1/2 and
lost 2 for a week total of gain 2 pounds...

Now what to do. There seems to be a new theme here so let's talk. I think there are several things we can do to get back on track;
First, in the privacy of your bedroom or bathroom get naked and look at yourself in a full length mirror. This will either make you laugh till you wet yourself or cry till you vomit but either way you will get the point of this exercise. The laughing was mixed with crying for me.
Second, look back at the beginning of the blog in January and read your story, read some of the others to if you wish. It will refresh your memory as to why you started this weight loss program and will probably be self motivating.
Third, FORGET ABOUT LAST WEEK.
Fourth, resolve to do better this week, either in exercising or in being more careful in what you eat.
Don't stress out about last week. That I have learned is one of the worse things you can do. It prevents your body from burning fat. No, I don't know how, I was just told it does.

TIP OF THE DAY - TUESDAY

LIMIT SATURATED FAT. Foods to avoid include: bacon, beef, butter, full-fat dairy, coconut oil, ice cream, lard, palm oil, and pork. Read food labels, aiming for less than 15-25 grams of saturated fat daily.

TIP OF THE DAY - MONDAY

PRACTICE YOGA. Research shows that yoga, like meditation, can reduce blood pressure, improve arterial elasticity, regulate hearth rhythm, and increase the heart's efficiency. Try a class or video 1 -3 times per week.
* I know nothing about yoga except I thought you had to be in decent shape to do it. I know when Emme was little she did "yoda" with Laurie and she thought she was something. She had her own mat, headband, book to show her how and even the little pink body suit. It was fun to watch her but I couldn't then or now imagine me doing some of the positions she was doing. You might want to check out a video from the library and give it a try. Couldn't hurt.

TIP OF THE DAY - SUNDAY

CRACK UP!!! Recent studies are showing that laughing may protect your heart by improving circulation and blood flow. Tell a joke, watch a comedy, or just laugh out loud. After all, heart health is serious business.
*About 3-4 months ago Calvin and I discovered "Two and a Half Men", the TV show. Of course they were reruns but new to us and very funny. He calls me when he is out of town at 7:30 in the morning when he is getting ready for breakfast and to make sure I am up, which I am and at 7:30 in the evening right after 2 shows of Two and a Half Men and we laugh about the silly shows. There is nothing political, religious, or thought provoking about either show. They are just funny and we enjoy them. So find a mindless half hour or hour show you like, watch it and laugh out loud. It will make you feel good.

TIP OF THE DAY - SATURDAY HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

SATISFY YOUR SWEET TOOTH THIS VALENTINE'S DAY! Studies show that dark chocolate helps prevent heart disease. Milk chocolate doesn't offer the same benefits, so look for at least 60 - 70% dark chocolate varieties.
* I say skip the chocolates all together. It is not necessary to eat chocolate just because it is February 14th. If you shouldn't eat candy on the 13th and you probably won't be eating it on the 15th then skip the 14th as well. IT JUST ISN'T WORTH THE POUNDAGE!!!

RED "STEPPIN" SHOES

As you may know for 2 weeks now I have been trying to lose 2 flippin pounds to meet my next goal which is Valentine's Day, so I can get some new red shoes, no I have not made it yet that I know of. I have exercised a little longer and harder, I have been faithful in my calorie counting, and have drank enough water to float the Ark, but nothing so far. To say I am discouraged would be a hugh understatement. I have cried, yelled, swore and ranted and raved. I even said if the 2 pounds were not off this week I was going to get myself a 2 liter bottle of Dr. Pepper and a BIG bag of 3 musketeers and have myself a real party. As I sit here at 2 AM which is my blogging time, not by my choice but because I am awake every night about this time for an hour or two, my pity party wants to start and then I started thinking about a poem that was shared in church last Sunday and thought about how far I have come since this diet has started. I am down about 35 pounds, I am exercising at least 30 minutes more than the 5 minutes when I started, I feel better, less knee pain during the day and I am personally proud of my progress so NO I am not going to quit and of course I will be disappointed if I don't lose the 2 pounds this week but if I don't I will lose it next week but the point is "WE CAN'T QUIT" if we want to lose the weight we need to so we can be healthier and happier in the long run.
Thanks for this few minutes of self pity.
Here is the poem I was talking about.
"Don't Quit"

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don't give up though the pace seems slow-- You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than, It seems to a faint and faltering man, Often the struggler has given up, When he might have captured the victor's cup, And he learned too late when the night slipped down, How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out-- The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far, So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-- It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
- Author unknown

TIP OF THE DAY - FRIDAY

FILL UP WITH FIBER. Soluble fiber such as oats, rice, bran, barley, dried beans and apples can help lower your cholesterol levels which improves your heart health. Aim for 25-35 grams of fiber each day.
* Calvin and I are starting every morning for the month of February with oatmeal to see how we can lower the cholesterol for me. Com March 1st I am not sure if he will stick with it but so far for February, (we started about the 20th of January) he is okay with the change. I think come March we will eat oatmeal during the week and on weekends have cold cereal, not because we love cold cereal so much but because we have about 30 boxes of the stuff around here. It would be nice to clean it out and then buy less of it and eat more oatmeal for the good fiber.

I "read" a magazine last night...

This might not sound like a big deal - but for me it was. I couldn't tell you the last time I had 40 minutes to myself to read a magazine. Now, when I read, I skim through it and pick small articles here and there. I didn't read everything cover to cover.

Since I had a few minutes last night after the kids went to bed I thought I would grab a magazine that has been sitting since the day it came. I looked at it while I walked on the treadmill. Before I knew it - I had walked a couple miles.

So the point of this... I read this really cool article by Joy Bauer -

1st things to do when you want to slim down:

Find a new mantra. To break free of unwanted food patterns, remind yourself: You are more than food, you are stronger than a craving, you are more complicated than a habit and you are more thoughtful than a mindless eater. Repeat.

TIP OF THE DAY - THURSDAY

CONSIDER ASPIRIN THERAPY. Taking baby aspirin (81mg) can help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by preventing blood clots. Since it's not safe for everyone talk to your doctor before starting.

Hi to Sarah Sperry

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for your comments. I have noticed (and enjoyed them) since we started this blog. I believe you were the one that gave us Sparkpeople (thanks again for that, too.) Good luck to you and your husband on your health trek this year.

TIP OF THE DAY - WEDNESDAY

SIP GREEN TEA. Iced or hot green tea is packed with antioxidants that prevent plaque from forming on artery walls, relax the blood vessels, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Brew and enjoy 1-2 cups each day.
*I do not know if this would be the same for all herb teas but I thought teas also have caffeine in them and that caffeine was bad for the body? I am not sure about this tip.

LAST WEEK'S LOSERS

NOT MANY WEIGHED IN LAST WEEK BUT HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW WE DID.
It looks like we are all into a routine now and we are starting to slow down on just how
much we lose. I also saw an article that told how even if we are dieting and losing weight we can during the course of the diet put on a pound or two because our fat we are getting rid of is turning into muscle and muscle weighs more. So don't get upset if you have an occasional weight gain or don't lose one week just keep on working and you will most likely lose the next week. This little pep talk is for me but so far isn't helping. But needless to say we did just fine last week:
Elizabeth lost 2.7 pounds
Joleane lost 2 1/2 pounds
Sarah lost 2 pounds
Liisa lost 1 pound
Yvonne stayed the same AGAIN!!!
and
Becky had some fat turn to muscle with a 2 pound gain
That is a total loss of about 6 pounds.

TIP OF THE DAY - TUESDAY

LOSE WEIGHT. Dropping just 10% of your body weight, (if you are overweight) can significantly improve your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and overall heart health.
*Okay maybe this is not a tip we need but remember all of February's tips are from the sparkpeople's 28 days to a healthy heart, which of course if we were not overweight we wouldn't be using sparkpeople but that I guess is beside the point.

HELP HELP HELP

HELP! I need to lose 2 pounds by Valentine's Day. I lost ZERO again last week. Everyone says I should be able to lose 2 pounds each week and be down where I want to be by mid September. NOT at this rate. Valentine's Day is my next goal and in order to meet it and get my new red "steppin" shoes I still need to lose that 2 pounds. I am watching what I eat, like a hawk, I drink lots of water, 8 - 10 glasses a day, and my exercise is up from 20 minutes three days a week to 30 minutes 6 days a week. To say I am getting discouraged, and disgusted and ready to quit is a very big understatement. This 2 pounds MUST come off or else. No I am not sure what or else means but still, or else. Any suggestions, PLEASE!!!

TIP OF THE DAY - MONDAY

AVOID TRANS FATS. Consuming even a tiny amount of trans fat can greatly increase your risk of heart disease. Found in foods that contain "partially hydrogenated" oils as an ingredient, trans fat is the world's unhealthiest fat! Start today and READ THE LABELS. It takes just a second and can greatly improve your health.

TIP OF THE DAY - SUNDAY

PUMP IRON! Strength training benefits more than your muscles. It can also lower your blood pressure, strengthen the heart and help it beat more efficiently. Aim for 2 -3 strength training sessions each week. (I am not sure what kind of strength training they are talking about. If they mean working with weights and your exercise routine or program includes weights, then that might be enough. I am just not sure and that sparkpeople page was not specific, sorry.)

Health Check

Here is an update on my health...nothing is wrong...well except I'm overweight and lazy. lol
As you know I told you I was having this weird pain, in the chest area, well it doesn't seem to be much of anything, although it's still there.

I tried Tagamet...that didn't help. Went to the doctor, had a resting EKG...heart looked good. Tried Prilosec...that didn't help. Went to the doctor, had an upper GI..nothing found. The food goes down fine...doesn't get stuck on the way...(duh I could of told them that, just look at me!!).

Went to the doctor again...had an Endoscopy...he didn't find anything in the esophagus or stomach. So on to the cardiologist. She took my blood...nothing found (well, except blood). Now the last thing, just to be on the safe side is a treadmill stress test on Tuesday.

I'm stressing just thinking about having to run on the darn thing!!! So, she anticipates the stress test will show no issues either.

So, no high blood pressure. No diabetes. No high cholesterol. No kidney or liver problems. No gall bladder issues (had that removed a few years ago). I'm probably just getting old!!

What the doctor recommends is eating better and more vigorous exercise. Well what a concept. I guess I don't get to be lazy anymore. Time to step up my 3 days a week of exercise to 5 or 6.

Take care all!!!

Just Reporting In Again

I haven't been reporting in because I haven't had anything to report. Logan was out of preschool for almost 2 weeks (changing of semesters). So I didn't get out and walk at all, AT ALL! I've been horrible about exercising.
I have been keeping track of calories though, so I'm doing better that way. Anyway, Logan started up preschool again on Friday, so I was able to walk for an hour and a half. Then this morning I went to the high school track and ran a little. So I'm 2 for 6 so far this week, exercising. (Better than last week).
I'm going to try an experiment and only run on the track for awhile to see if it helps my achilles tendon. I'm still stretching and that helps too, but I also read that running on hard surfaces can injure the achilles tendon.
This morning was my first run on the track. I was able to run for 5.5 min., 2.5 min., and 8 min. stretches (in that order) with walking in between. I usually can't run as far as the first attempt, as my tendon tightens up sooner with each stretch of running. So I'm pleasantly surprised that I was feeling good enough to end with a 8 min. run. So maybe I've discovered the source of my achilles tendon problem. Maybe the 2 weeks off helped it heal too. Who knows. We'll go with that...I didn't exercise because I needed to rest my tendon. :)
Here's to running pain-free!

TIP OF THE DAY - SATURDAY

GO NUTS! Almonds, cashews, flaxseeds, hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, sesame seeds and walnuts all contain healthy fats. Enjoy a handful 3-5 times a week for a healthy heart.

TIP OF THE DAY - FRIDAY

SLOW DOWN! Chronic stress exposes your body to elevated levels of stress hormones that can elevate blood pressure and contribute to weight gain. Medication, yoga, journaling, talk therapy, and exercising can all help.

Sore Muscles

I've been walking 3+ times a week for a long time. About a month ago I added jogging into the routine. On Tuesday I added some strength training. Needless to say - I can't walk or bend down. My legs are so so sore. I just found this article...

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/sore-muscles-keep-exercising

So what can you do to alleviate the pain?
..."however, several remedies such as ice, rest, anti-inflammatory medication, massage, heat, and stretch have been reported as helpful in the process of recovery."

Stretching and flexibility are underrated, says Sharp. "People don't stretch enough," he says. "Stretching helps break the cycle," which goes from soreness to muscle spasm to contraction and tightness.

"Probably the most important thing is to have a cool-down phase after your workout," says Draper. Right before finishing, include 10 or so minutes of "easy aerobic work such as jogging or walking followed by stretching."

"Soreness can serve as encouragement in a workout program because people like immediate results. "...something like soreness can give people encouragement that they are in fact working the muscle."

My incentive to keep working out is to not have to go through the soreness again!

TIP OF THE DAY - THURSDAY

BOOST YOUR HDL. You want these "healthy" cholesterol levels to be high - at least 60 mg/dl - to protect your heart. Do this by exercising regularly and enjoying healthy fats found in nuts, olive oil, fish, and flaxseed.

TIP OF THE DAY - WEDNESDAY

GET MOVING! Physical activity is an important part of a heart healthy routine. It can also help you control your weight, lower your blood pressure, and improve your cholesterol levels. Shoot for at least 30 minutes of exercise each day.
Remember the tips for February are from sparkpeople.com and their article, "28 days to a healthy heart". Some of the tips might be a review or things you already do but reminders never hurt. Any tip that gets us thinking or going is a positive thing.

TIP OF THE DAY - TUESDAY

MONITOR YOUR CHOLESTEROL INTAKE. Your body needs cholesterol, which is found in animal foods, meat dairy,eggs but too much can contribute to disease. Keep your intake under 300 milligrams daily. Once you get on cholesterol it is very hard to get off it.

HOW DID WE LOSE THE WEIGHT LAST MONTH?

LET'S SHARE: Everyone did so good for the first month (3 weeks) that I think we need to let others know just how we did it. I am right on track with about 2 pounds per week but I would love to know how Renee lost 11 pounds. That is very impressive. I will start and let you know what is working for me and then ask you all to do the same, it's show and tell time, without the showing; My diet aids are these:
1) faith in God, I pray daily several time for help in this big challenge
2) great support from family and friends (I couldn't do it without the encouragement
3) food control that is done with that website sparkpeople. I know exactly the number of calories I have eaten and have left for the day. I have not over ate since I started.
4) daily exercise with that walk away the pounds DVD...A BIG THANK YOU TO EILEEN for sharing this program with me. I love it and have exercised 7 out of the last 8 days.
5) small goals, not more than 10 weeks apart that I can just worry about losing 20 pounds in the next 2 1/2 months and not think about needing to lose 100 pounds. With each goal met I get a reward of my choosing too. I have to lose just 2 pounds by Valentine's Day and I get some new red steppin` shoes and matching bag.
6) Dr. Phil's book "Ultimate Weight Loss Solution" very motivating. I have read it now several times and it seem to keep me on track as well
7) I have written in a journal daily now for 2 months and I love writing my silly thoughts, discouragements, and excitement down. It is calming, believe it or not.
8) WATER I can't believe how much water I drink during the day and how many times I get up during the night to use the bathroom. 10 glasses each day and it is helping.
9) July's Camp out is always in the back of my mind and I know I am going to see all my sisters and I don't want to look the same as I did the last time we got together. I want to be healthy enough to stay up late peeing and playing games, or poker or something, or just talking and giggling without being old and tired and needing to be the first one to go to bed at 7PM.
10) THIS BLOG. I don't know if this blog is doing any good for anyone but me but finding a tip everyday and writing it out just reinforces my determination to keep going.

BIG LOSERS OF THE WEEK AND MONTH OF JANUARY

WOW THIS WAS A GREAT MONTH! For everyone just starting out on this new and very big adventure I think we did great. Together we lost a total of 48 pounds. If my math is correct, and I never said it was a strong suit. Here is how we did:
Liisa lost 1 pound last week for a total of 6 pounds
Sarah lost 1 pound for a total of 2 1/2 pounds
Renee lost about 2 pounds again for a total of 11 pounds
Becky lost 1 pound for a total of 5 pounds
Eileen lost 1 pound for a total of 4 pounds
Elizabeth lost (we will talk about that later) for a total 6 1/2 pounds
Joleane lost 2 pounds for a total of 4 pounds
Yvonne lost 3 1/2 pounds for a total of 7 pounds
* okay to every diet a little chocolate must come, so with birthday celebrations and lunches for work Elizabeth added back on 1 1/2 pounds last week making our loss for January at 46 1/2. She said someone had to gain and she was willing to sacrifice for us. She is back on track now and will have a loss next week.
Look at Renee...11 pounds. WAY TO GO!!!

TIP OF THE DAY - MONDAY

"FEBRUARY MAY BE A MONTH FOR ROMANCE, but it's also a time for you to focus on loving yourself - and your heart. During National Heart Month, we'll help you focus on one small thing that you can do each day to lower your risk of heart disease and improve your quality of life. Share this valentine with your friends and loved ones to show them how much you care.
1st: Get a checkup. Your doctor doesn't just treat disease. She also offers screenings and preventive care. Knowing your health status and risk will help make life style changes in areas that need improvement.
2nd: Don't smoke. Smoking damages more than your lungs. It hardens the arteries, raises blood pressure, and causes an irregular heartbeat. Find a smoking cessation program in your area to kick the habit."

**This 28 days to a healthier heart comes from the SPARKPEOPLE Website. This is the site that tracks your food intake and exercise if you want it too and it is free. I know many of the tips won't apply to us but thinking about dieting and getting healthy should start with the heart so I thought we could follow these tips this month.

TIP OF THE DAY - SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1ST

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have been on your new weight loss program for 1 month. The experts say that you have to do something 21 days in a row to make it a habit. You are now in the habit of exercising, eating right, drinking more water and getting healthier. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done and then reward yourself. NO NO NO NOT WITH FOOD. Let's keep up the good work and remember that July 11th we will meet to take the half way mark pictures and show off just how great we look and feel. I for one can't wait. REMEMBER too, now is the time that you will start hitting plateaus and they are just resting points for your body to catch up with the changes you are making and they won't last forever, even though you may think so. So keep going you are great.