Another Reason to Succeed

I'm off to a good start this week. In the first 3 days of the week I've walked over 9 miles, biked 90 minutes and done weights and push up/sit up routine twice. Mowed my huge yard with push mower in mid day heat and have lost the two pounds I had recently put on.

I also had a phone call this week that gave me yet another "reason" to want to succeed at this long term weight loss and health journey. My son and daughter-in-law, both of which are officers in the Army active duty, inform me I'm going to be a grandpa for the first time come early next year. Finally. I'll be 60 by then and need to be healthy and live to be about 78 years old to see this first grandchild graduate from high school someday.

So if I don't want to be called "grandchunk" by the kid someday, I need to push on and hang on. Think about all the reasons you have to get fit and stay healthy. No matter your age or circumstances there are reasons its important to you and your loved ones. Now get out there and sweat your butts off this weekend.

Putting my oxygen mask on first

Over the past two weeks, I have been on a time rollercoaster. As a single mother to a child with many health related issues, the demands on my time over the past two weeks have been great. Consequently, I have taken care of everyone and everything else except myself; at the end of the day I have often been too exhausted for me. Not long ago, I would have used my crazy schedule as an excuse on why I can't eat better or exercise. NOT THIS YEAR, I am determined to win this fight and I will persevere.


Yes, I am a single-parent. Yes, I am a full-time employee. Yes, I am a committed Toastmaster. All of these things are very important to me, BUT I AM COMMITTED to finding ways to put me first. So, I guess I will have to embrace getting up earlier in the morning to exercise. It is the only time of the day that is not generally scheduled. If you are a parent and find yourself in a similar situation, put your oxygen mask on first so you will be around for your children and others who depend on you.

Nancy Johnson

Gained a couple of pounds

Dang it. I gained a couple of pounds. Makes me mad at myself. I know why I gained but don't like the sound of the excuses. I've gone over to my mountain place each of the last five weeks. 3 of those weeks were to work on the flooring project. The other two visits were entertaining folks.

So my weights or exercise bike were not handy and my walking in the mountain plans were only minimally done. Then some of you may recall I broke my toe and that has not been a fast healing process as my entire foot has seemed to have some problems as a result of that.

So my mainstay of exercise has been less than planned.

Knowing why you fail at weight loss is important. It means you are paying attention. I now need to allow my guilt and anger to get my butt back in gear. On Monday to kick off a spartan week I walked 3 miles, biked for an hour and did my weights and push ups. I also began a gimmick eating deal to concentrate on purity of food consumption by eating apples multiple times per day and drinking tons of water to stay full and hydrated in this heat.

I confess my sins and vow to get really active again now that my trips to the mountains will be fewer. Don't give up, get going. Get mad. Get serious. Get help. Just don't give up folks.

Taking the Stairs

I have many fears; one is a fear of heights. Yet everyday for almost a year, I have taken the elevator up to the 40th floor to work in the Smartest Building in America -- the Duke Energy Center. I have persevered through my fear every day except one – yesterday, Sunday June 5th.


My daughter and I rode the elevator to the 40th floor and when it got to the 40th floor, the door opened two inches and no more. Even after pushing the open and close button several times, nothing happened. Brittany was calm, but my panic attack was quick and very real. Lucky for me the building's call button was immediately answered and they were able to remotely take us down to another floor where we quickly got off and then walked up to the 40th floor.

Every day I work on the 40th floor, I will be reminded of the urgency for me to get in shape. I will be adding stair climbing to my exercise routine immediately.

Help from my wife

My wife turned the big 60 Monday. As a total surprise, I took her and my daughter and new son-in-law to US National Whitewater Training Center and we did the Canopy Tour. This is approximately four hours of zip lines, rope bridges, cargo nets and rappelling. My wife wanted to do something physical for her birthday as that is kinda out of her normal personality.

Given the heat and some of the rope/net climbing stuff it was indeed physical. Glad I've shed weight and been exercising this year.

My wife, however, was a perfect example of perseverance. In spite of her fear of heights and lack of much strength type training she finished every obstacle. She toughed it out and had a blast.

Exercise doesn't always have to be boring.

I think the fun she had doing this physical challenge will go a long way in getting her to do longer bike rides with me.

I'm fine doing things solo. But I must admit having my spouse of 38 years do exercise with me is and will be a wonderful thing going forward into our senior years.

Now if "she" can do it, I have no excuses. How about you? You may have some reasons to not do a canopy tour through the trees but you have got to drop those excuses and get out there and do "something" . Now get out into the heat and walk or jog or swim. Its good for you.

In Search of that $2 Million Idea - UPDATED

Today the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said goodbye to the ambiguous food pyramid. For almost twenty years the pyramids encouraged us to eat healthy. Unfortunately many found the information to be very confusing. Today the USDA replaced the food pyramid with a symbol that everyone can understand -- the dinner plate.

This new symbol comes with a $2 million price tag. Yes, I did say $2 million! Was it the special design work on the plate?  The design appears pretty simple.  Was it the cost of a top PR firm's marketing scheme and rollout strategy? Hmmmm. In this day of 24-hour news, social media, YouTube, the Internet and the like, the right idea with the right results could almost sell itself.

USDA Secretary Vilsack and First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled the new symbol as an extension to her Let's Move Campaign. Whether this new symbol and its campaign will make a difference in America's obesity problem will remain to be seen. For the first time ever, this generation of kids might not outlive their parents. Yes, we can blame parents for the childhood obesity problem. Blame is a waste of time. Instead of blaming, we need to spend that time searching for realistic ways to connect nutrition and exercise to lifelong health in a way that relates to people.

Farewell and rest in peace, food pyramid.  The USDA chose the dinner plate as their new idea. What's yours?

Nancy Johnson

All Dewed Out

Am I the only one with time management issues?  I don't know about you, but if a genie were to magically appear with three wishes, I would use at least one of the wishes on two clones -- one for home and one for work.  Wouldn't that be sweet?

I know.  I know.  This is a weight loss blog.  Some of you want to hear what I have done and how much weight I have lost or gained.  Others may want to hear about my exercise program.  You probably would love to hear that I have gone on a secret food binge.  Here it is.  I have not gone on a food binge.  I have successfully lost half of my weight loss goal by working primarily on the food side of the weight loss equation -- watching what I eat and how much I eat.  I don't know my weight loss to-date. Last week my Weight Watchers meeting was cancelled, so at noon today I will be once again glaring at my friend the scale.  I will make my report tomorrow, I promise. 

Exercise is the other side of the equation.  Exercise is crucial for long term weight loss success.  I remember the pure burst of energy I had after a good exercise routine.  I know how important exercise is to my success and I remember how good it made me feel.  So why haven't I become more aggressive in my exercise?  (Before the anonymous know-it-alls arch their hands and start typing, I KNOW I NEED TO GET BUSY) Four simple but gut wrenching words -- I am OVER COMMITTED.   Really, days like yesterday made me realize that I have bitten off more than I can chew. If it weren't for the occasional energy boost from the 20 ounce diet soda, most days I would not make it past 2pm. 

I didn't realize how bad my addiction was until last week.  During a discussion with my daughter, she challenged me to give up the green bottle.  I know that sodas, even diet ones -- are not good for you.  I know that real energy shouldn't come in a bottle, but the thought of giving up my "daily fix" really gave me the shakes.  But I love a good challenge, so in June I will correct my over-committed schedule by purging some extracurricular activities to make time for "real" exercise.  The only way that I can give up the "bottle" is by awakening my natural endorphins by exercising and exercising hard.  Until tomorrow.

Nancy Johnson