New Year's Resolutions....

Yep, you've looked at the date right. It's August 10. So you might be wondering why I'm writing about New Year's Resolutions. Well...anyone with kids knows that the real New Year starts on the first day of school and that's today. So here we go...

I finished my Walk Across Alabama the day before I left for vacation which worked out well. Got a nice week of relaxation on the beach, played some golf, biked and kayaked. All in all pretty active. So now I'm back and I think it's time to set some new goals.

So far almost 11,000 miles have been logged on the Fit for Life website. That's amazing! Some of us have slacked off a little so let's all recommit and set a new goal to work towards. I hope to walk back to Gadsden by the end of the year. I was going to try to walk all the way back across Alabama, but with the time constrictions I'll try to make it back home to Gadsden.

What's your goal? Don't think you can make it to Mobile (you can)? Well...then strive to make it to Montgomery or Monroeville or wherever! Just pick a goal and go for it. You may be surprised at what you can do. I would like to see the group log 20,000 miles by the end of 2009. In the first month we logged almost 5,000 as a group. Let's get out there and recommit. I know that we can do it!

Stay Healthy,

Tami

What I Learned...

From bootcamp, that is. I learned that I would not die if I had to get up at 4:30 A.M. I learned that I can do more than I thought I could. I learned that running is easier with an MP3 player so you can't hear yourself breathing so hard. I learned that exercise in a group is more fun. I learned that running up stairs is really, really hard (even with the Rocky theme song playing), and I learned that morning exercise is a good thing.

Every time I talk with someone about my bootcamp experience, the first thing out of their mouth is usually, "Oh. I couldn't do that - I'm just not a morning person". Well, really - who is? Does anybody get up willingly in the wee hours to workout? Probably not, at least not at first. But when I did it a couple of things happened....

First, I felt great (both physically and mentally) for the rest of the day. Tons of energy and a real sense of accomplishment. Second, I LOVED having my workout over and done with for the day. No need to hurry home to try to work something in before making dinner, nothing to get in the way (you know it's true - there is always some sort of conflict that makes it difficult to get a workout in later in the day). There are very few scheduling conflicts at 5:30 in the morning and it's not too hot yet.

While I will probably never be a true morning person (I'm not even sure what that means) I have been setting my alarm earlier and getting it done before life gets in the way. Why don't you give it a try? You may be surprised to find out you're more of a morning person than you thought.

I'm in the Army now....

Not really, but I am in Boot Camp! That's right, we have the Gadsden Adventure Boot Camp right here in town. Who knew? I heard about this from a co-worker and called to see if they would be interested in doing our Just A Taste fitness program for July. Checked out their website - it looked pretty cool, talked with Mandy Ray who agreed to come in July - as I was getting ready to hang up I said kind of nonchalantly "It all sounds good - maybe I'll come sometime." to which Mandy replied "We've got a camp starting Monday".

So I started rolling this around in my head and coming up with all of the usual junk - you know - it's so early (5:30 to 6:30), how will I get home in time to shower and get back to work, I'm not really a morning person, yada, yada, yada...I decided to just get over myself, take the plunge and like the Nike folks say, "Just Do It".

Went to Mandy's place on Sunday afternoon for a pre-evaluation. The usual weight, measurements, health info etc. and she measured body fat (mine was 28% - which she said I should be happy about - yay). Got home and set my alarm clock for a shocking 4:30 AM.

I arrive at boot camp more than a little nervous - not really sure what to expect. Mandy begins the session by announcing that the sign of a good instructor is when the participants throw up. Dead silence. All I can think of is my Roger Shultz workout when Mandy says, "it's a joke - you're supposed to laugh." Phwew!

We work hard but the camaraderie is fantastic. The hour literally flew by! And I discover that it is really nice to have this workout over and done with so early in the morning. So week 1 is over, I've been doing my "homework" assignments. Mandy who holds a degree in nutrition has given us food guidelines and I am looking forward to seeing what will happen over the next three weeks.

I'll keep you posted on my boot camp journey. Until then...

Stay Healthy,

Tami

When It Rains, It Pours....

A cliche? Maybe. But here at the GPL it's a fact! If you've been reading the paper you know that the GPL has been closed to the public due to extensive leaks in the roof and water damage. The rain has definitely put a crimp in library operations but has it had an effect on you and your walking program?

It sure is easy to blow off a walk when it's raining, or looks like it may rain, or is humid and will wreck your hair, or when...well, you get the picture. But there are plenty of alternatives! The gym, treadmills, indoor walking DVD's or mall walking (more on that later). The point is to get up and get moving!

The library has moved to a satellite location at the Gadsden Mall and I am amazed at the number of mall walkers we have here. They're out in the morning before the stores open (mall management is terrific and allows folks in early), they're there in the evening, literally all day. And guess what? I'm joining their ranks! Rain - bring it. Humidity - no problem. Too hot - not in here!

We are excited to be in our new, temporary digs and hope to get some of our mall workers to join us on our Walk Across Alabama. I hope you'll come see us and take a lap or two around the mall with us. I'll be the one trying to power walk past the cookie shop!

Stay Healthy,

Tami

Where ya at.....

Okay, some of you are probably asking me that question. I knew I hadn't posted in awhile, but when I signed in I realized that there has not been one post from me in April! That's bad!What's worse is that my healthy habits have taken a back seat as well.

April has been crazy here at the GPL. We had the Alabama Library Association Conference at the beginning of the month, went to the beach for spring break (brought my workout gear - had good intentions - oh well), and the the annual Links for Literacy golf tournament. Like I said, super busy! But, if you really want to get a workout in, you can. My exercise routine was sporadic at best and my weight loss has nearly come to a stop for it.

I know that we all get busy and exercise is usually the first thing to go. Let's all resolve to get back on track for May. I've noticed that the miles logged on the website have slowed down considerably. June marks our halfway point. We have a great motivational speaker coming for the program and hope that everyone will come out and celebrate our successes (no matter how small).

I've gotten back on track and am a hair over halfway across Alabama! So I'm asking you...where ya at?

Tami

A Picture Says A Thousand Words...

So...I was off yesterday and sometime in the afternoon decided I would check Facebook. Pictures from the Big Oak Run Saturday were posted so I took a look and here's the thing...I look even worse than I did in my before pictures that I posted on this blog in January. It was quite the wake up call. I'd had a couple of compliments about weight loss earlier in the week, my pants seemed to be a little looser, I was feeling pretty good about myself, then WHAM! Reality check!
Chin rolls in some photo's, belly rolls in others and the occasional pic featuring both.

So what happened next? Well I immediately went straight to the kitchen to see what I could eat. How counterproductive is that? Fortunately since I have been trying to eat better all I could find was a piece of reduced fat cheese, some hummus and carrot chips and vanilla light soy milk, when what I really wanted was to have some quality time with my two best guys, Ben and Jerry.

Why is change so slow to come? What happened in a matter of weeks in my 20's seems to be so agonizingly slooooowww in my 40's! Especially when I've been working so hard. I work out almost every day! My rear end is sore constantly, so much that it almost seems normal. If I'm not hungry every night, I could at least have a little something, if you know what I'm saying, but I don't want to eat my results. According to the weight loss experts, 1 - 2 pounds a week is not only normal, but optimal, and on an intellectual level I know this. It's just discouraging without results that can be seen.

Well, I suppose that's enough whining for now. There are only two choices at this point, keep at it or quit. I don't want to quit (been there, done that). I guess we'll see what I'm made of. Until then...

Stay Healthy,

Tami

All rain, no shine...

Unless you count my sweaty forehead! That's right, this morning I did the Big Oak Run/Walk 5K in weather that was, shall we say, less than spectacular. We've kept an eye on the weather forecast all week, it wasn't great. I've received e-mails from race director, April Brass, reiterating the weather policy for the event: RAIN OR SHINE, cancellation for tornado WARNINGS or lightning ONLY.

All week I've been taking an informal poll of friends, co-workers and fellow Fit for Lifers about their participation in the 5K. They all answered, "Oh yeah, I'm there, well...if it's not raining". But I knew I could count on my faithful sidekick, Brandy. I was dreading it 'cuz I knew it was going to be torrential rain or tornadoes or something, but she was gung ho encouragement, we were there no matter what! We ARE Fit for Life!

So the day before, while filming the next GPL FFL show, Brandy nearly breaks her ankle. She showed up ready to walk (limp) the event. We talked her out of it (it's not worth risking an injury that would sideline her), but she did do one loop. So...it was me and Nicole in all her skull legging, black and white striped sock glory, trying to stay to the right without falling in the culvert full of rushing water.

We set a goal of a 4 MPH pace and were able to do it and had a great time while helping the Big Oak Ranch. Brandy's a champ and signed up some new Fit for Lifers and the three of us will be training together to walk another 5K in a month or so and will try to maintain an even faster pace.

I'll keep you posted and hope you'll consider training for an event at whatever pace feels right for you. Just remember - we're doing it RAIN OR SHINE!

Stay healthy,

Tami