TGIF

January 17, 2014
I am so happy this week is nearly over. I have been feeling so tired., I managed to get to the gym every day this week and I have done an hour each day or more, so hopefully I will have made some strides this week, my diet has been good, just feeling a bit low and tired, I am hoping to see some results.
I have been doing some crochet this week and am working on a few projects, I am going to try and crochet some owls. lol My niece got me on to pinterest this week and I have found some pretty neat projects to try on there, I have also found some high protein snacks to make, I will give some of them a try this week end and let you know how they came out.
Check this out https://www.pinterest.com/.
Today's Quote:

Volunteer Wednesday

January 15, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed my Art Class yesterday, it was lovely to see all the ladies after a long break. There are so many different types of painting, there is one lady that has to paint with gloves on she makes such a mess, but her clothes come away unscathed. lol I myself spend so much time trying to get everything perfect that I use lots of painters tape.
I am off to volunteer today and in a way it is a sad day, they are closing the tuck shop, I find this sad as it is there as a convenience for the residents, those who may find it difficult to go out. Yes it doesn't generate allot of funds and is run by volunteers, I just hate to see this taken away from those who need it. My friend will still come in on Wednesday and will do a reading group.
I went to the gym this morning and did 55 minutes on the elliptical machine, I will try to do more tomorrow but was short on time today, I don't get to the gym until 6:30 am now as I have to wait for my husband to leave so I can get out of the driveway.
Last night I made a lovely spaghetti squash spaghetti for dinner with a little ground turkey and a nice salad.

Today's Quote:

My Art Class Is Back On Today

January 14, 2014
I am very excited today to get back to my Art class, I currently have 2 paintings on the go, one is a portrait that I need some help with.  I think the class may be a bit more in English than before, most of the people were under the impression that it was an all french class, but I informed them that it was never advertised as an all french class and I had just put up with it for the last 2 years, so now it will be part French and English.
Battle won.
I felt pretty good this morning so I did and hour and 20 minutes today on the elliptical machine and came home and has some nice Greek yogurt to top off my work out, I'll try to do some Pilates a bit later on after I do some errands, need to go to Ottawa and pick up our laptop, I had it repaired yesterday, hope it works better than it did. Later in the week I am going to try and get some protein snacks made up. I should have some time Thursday afternoon and Friday.
How are you finding it settling back into a routine after the holidays?
What helps you to be successful?

Today's Quote:

Another new week

January 13, 2014
I can't believe last week went so fast, I managed to get to the gym each day and even did some you tube Pilates a couple of days. Man can I feel the stretch. I am hoping to keep this up so that I can tone more muscle and regain some flexibility. I find that I am very stiff and even though I have lost weight its difficult to move sometimes. I also find that with the amount of arthritis I have in my joints it will hopefully help with their mobility. So it's on to a new week and new challenges. I need to get back to making my high protein muffins for snack and keep my diet on track. I have been checking into the herbalife products and am a bit intrigued. I see lots of results and know of one young women that has kept her weight off for more than a year. Maybe its the new way for me. Here is a link if you want to check it out.
http://www.herbalifeww.com/ca/
Today's Quote: Challenge yourself with something you know you could never do, and what you’ll find is that you can overcome anything.

Back to Volunteering today

January 8, 2014
Wow I haven't volunteered for a month, I have missed my ladies. I look forward to our tea this morning and chat, hearing all about their holidays. 
I have struggled the last few days with severe hot flashes, not sure what is different, could be the weight or I just haven't been feeling all that well.
I went to the gym yesterday and today, I have some work to do getting back on track and getting some weight off that I gained over the last month. So I have done and hour each day on the elliptical machine.
When I stepped on the scales I felt a bit defeated, but there is no time to beat myself up, just get back out there and do what I can. I ate pretty close to my diet yesterday and will do the same today. I am determined to do this.

How to Stay True to Your Diet

You started off strong, but lately you’re finding it hard to stick to that new diet or exercise program – so what gives? After that initial excitement and determination wears off, it’s hard for many women to continue exercising regularly, eating healthy, or both because things start to get in the way and excuses pile up, soon that fatty dessert becomes too enticing to resist.
You know you’ve got to get back on that exercise horse, because that’s what you do when you fall off, and girl—you have fallen way off. Here are a few ideas to get you up and moving and back on the healthy eating trail again.
Find a diet/exercise partner.
It’s always easier to do things with a friend. When it comes to dieting and working out, you won’t feel like you’re in it alone. The two of you can go out to eat healthy foods together and not feel bad about depriving yourself. You’ll be able to give support to one another and you can motivate each other to exercise on a regular schedule. Those days when you are having trouble getting going, your exercise partner will be there to challenge you on. You and your partner might enjoy shopping for smaller clothes together as a nice reward for all of the hard work.
Keep a positive attitude.
Daily affirmations are a positive way to start off your day. Positive words of praise and gratitude play a huge role in keeping you motivated to stay on track. Reward yourself for staying on your diet, especially if you’ve just fought off an overwhelming urge to eat fatty foods and opted for the turkey pita instead. Positive attitudes work for exercise as too. After your workouts concentrate on how good you feel for having completed your goals and how great your body feels afterwards. Savor that wonderful feeling of accomplishment and call it up everyday about an hour before it’s time to hit the gym or walking trail.
Mix it up to keep it interesting.
Vary your workouts between cardio and strength training every other day. This will give you something different to look forward to. On your cardio days, choose activities that are fun and that use different muscle groups and skills. There are so many fun things to choose from like walking, jogging, skating, dancing, swimming, playing golf, tennis, volleyball, soccer or softball.
If there are exercises that you absolutely hate to do, don’t do them. Choose another exercise that works the same muscle group or produces the same cardiovascular output. Make exercise fun so you won’t dread working out and you’ll be more likely to stick with your program. Vary your diet just as you do your fitness routine. If you’re always eating the same things you will no doubt get sick of them. Still eat healthy, but try new and different foods on a regular basis.
Look in the mirror not at the scale.
Don’t always rely on that number on the scale. Buy yourself a full-length mirror and check yourself out a little bit. What do you see? Can you tell a difference in the way that you look since you started your diet and fitness program? Muscle is smaller than fat, you can lose fat and build muscle and not see much difference on the scale, but when you look in the mirror you can see the results of beautiful strong muscles strengthened and toned.
Music tames the savage beast.
Anything that distracts the brain from the pain and discomfort that you feel during exercise can be helpful to get you through a workout. Listening to music can be extremely helpful. Our bodies naturally move to music so listening to upbeat music while you exercise actually helps you perform better. Music makes the time go by much faster because you can focus your mind on listening to particular songs and keep it from concentrating on being hot and tired. Load up your iPod with songs that you like, charge it up and take it with you on your walks, jogs or to the gym. It can be your little companion to keep you motivated.
Your health is important.
Most people want to look good, and there’s nothing wrong with that. One of the greatest benefits of healthy eating and exercise is the wonderful way that you look from the extra effort. But keep in mind that working out and eating right increases your life expectancy and improves your quality of life This alone should give you the motivation to start your diet and get your body moving in an exercise program that works for you.
Today's Quote: 

First day Back to the Gym

January 6, 2014
Well I did it, I got back to the gym this morning even if it was later than my usual time because of another ice storm. So I got there at 9 and did 1 hour on the elliptical machine. I came home and then since I was warm I did an Pilates work out from you tube. I felt great and was very happy with my efforts. I am back on the diet plan from the gym and am expecting great success from it going forward.
I watched a seminar this morning on Herbalife, it's very interesting, but I am a bit skeptical when it comes to drinking 2 meals a day. I will have to do some more research on it.
I still believe in eating right and exercising more. I also have an appointment with a surgeon this week, I won't get my hopes up, but will listen and see what he offers as far as the reconstruction goes.
Today's Quote:

A new year and working harder towards my goal

January 3, 2014
I want to start by saying that the festive season was great, had some great company that visited from Australia, Did another trip to Niagara Falls, spent some great time with friends and family over the holidays. I haven't been to the gum in almost a month, but I will start back on Monday next week.
Just been to busy and got a bit run down and sick, so now its time to get back on track. I know I have gained a couple of pounds and I am not going to beat myself up about it. I will just get back to the gym and start where I left off. It seems I gained all the weight on my belly so I decided to check and see what I could find out about this.
This is what I found:

If you’re carrying more fat around your waist and upper belly than you’d like, counting calories isn’t your only recourse. While diet and exercise remain key elements in weight management, eradicating those last few inches of upper belly fat is a bit more complicated. Because lifestyle choices, heredity and hormonal fluctuations influence your proclivity to carry fat tissue around your middle, for best results, consider a holistic approach that addresses every aspect of your life.

Step 1

Commit to an aerobic exercise program. While situps and other spot exercises will help to make your body strong, they won’t have much impact on visceral fat. What does work, though, is movement. Sedentary adults who engaged in exercise equivalent to 12 miles of jogging per week lost more belly fat than those who performed strength training, according to researchers from Duke University Medical Center.

Step 2

Cut back on the carbs and include plenty of monounsaturated fats in your daily diet. While avocados and olive oil aren’t low-cal, they are fat-burners that help to reduce belly fat. Choose a cup of green tea and a few macadamia nuts for your mid-day snack and get an energy boost that will also help dissolve that belly fat.

Step 3

Swap your plastic water bottle for a stainless steel container. While it’s widely acknowledged that the Bisphenol A in plastics and canned goods is harmful to your health, the toxin is also associated with obesity and increased belly fat in the adult population. Store your food in glass storage containers and switch to bamboo cooking utensils to reduce your exposure to BPA.

Step 4

Get more sleep. Sleep deprivation is associated with higher concentrations of belly fat because it inhibits the function of the appetite-regulating hormones leptin and ghrelin. When you’re not well-rested, you are likely to consume more calories to compensate for your lack of energy.

Step 5

Learn how to relax. Whether you are stressing about work or your belly fat, unmitigated stress keeps the hormone cortisol at high levels, inhibiting fat-burn and propelling you to the cookie jar for a sugar fix. Choose a relaxation technique that works for you, and commit it to daily practice.
So this is what I am going to work towards.
Today's Quote: