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

I am the Biggest Loser...

If you've been paying attention to my e-mails you'll know that Biggest Loser contestant, Roger Shultz, was our Fit for Life guest speaker last Tuesday. We (library director, Amanda Jackson, and I) had dinner with Roger before the program - where he gave us tips on making healthy choices while eating out in a rather firm, direct manner - sent the waiter packing when he came with the lovely basket of fresh yeast rolls - intervened when Amanda attempted to put ketchup on her cheeseburger that had no cheese and only half a bun (don't even ask about the fries!) - demanded his mushrooms be sauteed in balsamic vinegar not butter and essentially scared the crap out of our waiter. But he was really nice and funny.

We came back to the library and Roger was talking to folks as they came into the Lena Martin room, at one point he looks at us and says, "Hey, where's the gym? Let's go for a workout after this!" Well, now how many chances do you get to do that? Amanda had workout clothes in her office in case we went walking on break and I decided I could go to Wal-Mart to get some appropriate attire.

The program ends (it was great!) and I meet Roger and Amanda in front of the city gym dressed in the world's worst workout pants ever (clearance rack $6.00), a horizontal striped shirt with a photo of Bob Harper's head and the slogan "What would Bob do?" on it (literally straight off of Roger's back) and some lime green striped men's athletic knock-off shocks from Wal-Mart! We're all smiling, joking and laughing as we each jump on a treadmill at 3.6 mph. So far, so good. But wait a minute! Roger dismounts his mill and heads off to the weight stacks and when he comes back comedy turns to drama in a heartbeat!

He hands us each a couple of free weights that we press, curl and just hold straight up in the air (all while walking at 3.6 mph) 'cuz this is the easy part. After two minutes we put them down and crank it up to 6.5 mph to run for minute, then back to the two minute rest (using the term loosely) then to 7 mph for a minute. Well, you see the pattern forming. So...after some intervals, I begin to feel my chest close up - I'm supposed to use my inhaler approx. 1/2 hour prior to working out - I hop off the mill only to have the funny, nice Roger scream at me. I explain that I need my inhaler and he says I have 30 seconds to get it and get back. So now I'm throwing stuff out of my gigantic purse, searching for the thing in a near panic! I hear "15 SECONDS!", take a puff, can't hold it in since I'm panting like a dog and hop back on the mill.

At some point, Roger moves me to the stepmill, I'm sure this is because I'm about one interval away from a full blown asthma attack. Frankly, I'm now thinking that wouldn't be too bad, the city gym is used mostly by firefighters and police, so odds are good that there's an EMT in the bunch or at least someone CPR certified. So now I'm climbing away on the stepmill (aka - the stairway to hell), and Amanda is running with a look of fierce determination usually reserved for people lifting cars off of trapped children! At last, thirty minutes is over, I've climbed the equivalent of the Empire State Building, we gingerly step/slide off of our respective torture devices, trying not to to slip in the huge puddles of sweat pooling at our feet. Done, at last, NOT!

Now we're off to weight training and plyometric drills. I've not felt such intensity since giving birth to a ten pound child with no pain medication. I'm reduced to near tears while Roger is screaming "One more!" and I'm whining "I can't!". I have now become one of the people I've seen on the program. The ones that whine and cry and you think "Just suck it up and do one more!".

I squat down to sit on an upended 50 pound weight then spring up, jump and return to the starting position only to hear him yell, "25 more!". I...can't...do...it!!! Roger then says if I don't, Amanda has to. She looks at me with panic in her eyes and says "DO IT! WHAT WOULD BOB DO?". I feel bad and then realize that she is 15 years younger than me, making me old enough to be her ABC Afterschool Special mother. I remain seated. Panic turns to loathing and she says she hates me. We are both reduced to sniveling brats. Roger is still berating us. At some point it becomes easier to do what he says than resist and at least there's a slim chance that he will shut up if we succumb.

Finally it's over! Roger says this is just like a workout people on the ranch get except they go for about three hours. I have a whole new respect for the people on that program. I take Roger back to his hotel and when he goes in I think I may hate him. But he was really nice and funny.

Did you see the one about.....

Okay, last night I was flicking through the channels looking for something to watch and I came across an old Seinfeld episode. It was towards the end of the program and George discovered an eclair (I think it was an eclair) that someone had thrown away. It was on top of the trash and you could see him thinking hard...he reaches in, grabs it and takes a bite. Of course this is right about the time that the mother of the woman he's trying to impress comes in behind him and is totally horrified. At this point, George tries to explain that it was on top...yada, yada, yada... she runs away and hilarity ensues.

Now, that's really gross and I would never do THAT, but...I do have my own true confession, if you will. One time I was doing a workout DVD (a really hard one - old school FIRM if anyone is familiar with those), 55 minutes in it's time for floor exercises. After what seems like a million donkey kicks - you know the ones where you're on all fours lifting your leg to the back, pulsing it at the top, lifting then performing a hamstring curl, lifting to the side and generally moving your leg in every conceivable direction the instructor (who still seems full of energy and ready for more) instructs me to lie supine (her words, not mine). Well, you don't have to ask me twice to lie on my back and I flip/flop to the supine position.

Once there, we begin an enormous amount of ab work. Crunches, bicycles, oblique twists and God knows what else. Out of the corner of my eye I see something small, round and colorful just under the edge of the couch. I'm not sure, but I think it might be an M & M! And it's green! I twist my neck (into what I'm sure the instructor would deem as a very unsafe position)to get a better look without letting up on the crunches. Up - down, up - down! Now I'm mesmerized! It is, in fact, a green M & M. Should I eat it? No, that would be gross! But there's no one to see. It's just me and this psychopath in a leotard and leg warmers (I told you it was old school). So now I'm crunching and trying to remember when I last vacuumed, cuz I really want to eat it. But I can't. For God's sake, I'm exercising. I remove my hand from the approved behind the head position, reach out, grab and examine it. It looks okay and really, how long could it have been under there? Eat it! Don't eat it! It's now an epic battle and little Ms. Leg Warmer has just decided that we are to lie on our sides to do more leg lifts. I guess the 10,000 lunges, dips and donkey kicks weren't quite enough. I deserve that damn M & M.

I roll to my side, wipe the M & M against the fabric of my shirt, kiss it up to God and throw it in my mouth. All that happens is that I suddenly get a craving for more M & M's and frankly, I feel a little dirty. About this time the instructor says it's time to stretch and the workout is over. If only I could have held out a little longer.

So now I'm feeling kind of bad and I call a friend to inform her of this heinous act. I recount the whole thing in excruciating detail and when I'm done there's dead silence on the other end. Is she repulsed, mortified, thinking about having me committed? I hear her take a breath and begin to speak. "Big deal" she says, "I once ate a Samoa out of the trash can...it was on the top, on a plate. It hadn't touched any real trash and at least you were working out."

Do you have an eating or fitness true confession? Let me know.

Tami

The numbers are in....

My first "before" photo was taken January 13. Since then I have been to the doctor to get cholesterol, blood pressure and a bunch of other numbers, but the one that caused the most trepidation was (say it with me!) how much I weigh. This caused me to wonder why we seem to give this number so much power. You may have noticed that even though I took a "before" photo, I did not include a starting weight. I wanted to...but when it came down to typing that number I just couldn't do it.

I can tell you how old I am (44), what my blood pressure is (120/80), total cholesterol level (141), and how many kids I have (2). I can tell you almost any number that pertains to me with the exception of the weight. Why is that? Why do I (we?) let that number define who we are? A good weigh-in leads to a good mood and a good day, an upward fluctuation leads to a bad mood, self doubt and a negative attitude. We've all been told over and over again that daily weighing is unnecessary, yet I just can't seem to resist taking a peek.

I recently read an article in the magazine O where Oprah Winfrey said how embarrassed and ashamed she was that she had gained some of her weight back. This from one of the most accomplished women in the world! What gives? Do men feel this way? I doubt it. My husband will hop on the scale and will almost proudly announce that he's up to a certain weight, it certainly doesn't affect his mood one way or the other. He'll just declare that he'll be cutting back for awhile and that's that.

So maybe this is one instance where it would benefit me to suck it up and be a man! That being said, I did record my weight on February 13 (one month in to the Fit for Life program!) and I weighed.....9.2 pounds less than I did on January 13! Well, there was technically a number there. Guess I'm just not ready to make that leap. I'll post a new "before" photo soon. Keep up the good work and let me know how y'all are doing!

Tami

To Skip or Not To Skip...

Breakfast that is. Interestingly enough, the survey answer that got the MOST votes was (d), that skipping breakfast was a good way to finally get to work on time. I see that I am not alone in my ongoing efforts to get to work (or anywhere for that matter) on time, but I think that's a whole different blog.

Skipping breakfast is a common weight loss strategy, but not a smart one. Your mother was right, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Research shows that those who eat breakfast lose more weight than those who don't. Your metabolism slows down while you sleep and won't get cranked back up until you eat something. Another pitfall of skipping breakfast is that it may leave you so hungry by lunch that you'll eat everything that's not nailed down! You won't be able to resist the day old donuts left out in the staff lounge or the half eaten chicken nugget from your kid's plate. Oh c'mon, I know you've done that!

So, have a little breakfast, will ya? It doesn't have to be much, although for optimal health benefits you would have a combination of some protein and whole grains. Couldn't hurt to throw in a piece of fruit to get you started towards your 5 to 9 serving of fruits and veggies. Just drive by the Krispy Creme, please.

Tami

"The Smoothie" Recipe...

Okay, if you saw the new GPL Fit for Life show you probably want "The Smoothie" recipe after my ringing endorsement! :D If you didn't check out the show you can view it online at http://www.youtube.com/gadsdenlibrary . Here goes:

"The Smoothie"

1 medium banana
1 cup of vanilla soymilk
1 medium orange (we used mandarin oranges)
1 teaspoon of ginger
1 cup of ice

Throw all ingredients in a blender, give it a good whirl and you're ready to go. It is recommended that you peel the fruit, but if sufficient fiber is a concern...well, you may want to forget that step.
Just kidding - don't eat the peels!

This was not my favorite (pretty obvious if you saw the segment), so I'm going to try some smoothie recipes and post a good one for you. I will not rest until I have the perfect healthy smoothie! Notice how I snuck in healthy. I mean, c'mon, anyone can make a good smoothie with ice cream and other not so healthy ingredients.

Let me know what you think. Do you have a good smoothie recipe? Send it in to tami@gadsdenlibrary.org and we may try it on a future Kamikaze Kitchen segment. Until then, I've got my blender and I'm not afraid to use it!

Tami

The Answer Depends on What Kind of Six-Pack You're After....

So, the answer is...all of the above, or really "a" through "c". I'm pretty certain that "d" won't help you get that kind of six-pack at all but depending on your personal goals, if could technically be correct. What is surprising is that while all three of these things help (when did good genetics ever fail anybody?), the LEAST important of the three is ab-specific exercises!

According to Craig Ballantyne, author of The Truth About Six-Pack Abs and frequent contributor to Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine "losing the stomach fat that is covering the abs is the MOST important aspect - full body training programs (read cardio and strength training) and proper nutrition (don't we all know what to do by now?) are the only way to strip off that stubborn belly fat".

I already knew the answer to this question from conversations with people who actually have those abs! It would be so easy to do some crunches and bicycles every day to get that ripped look, but alas, that just won't cut it . We can tone those muscles all day long, but if you have a big ole layer of fat over the top of them, who can see em? And frankly, I just didn't get those genes and I assume if you're reading this, neither did you.

On the bright side, after all of the crunching and core work I've done over the years, I'm happy to know that I do have six-pack abs! You just can't see them. Yet.

Tami

Not Quite Ready for Prime Time......

The GPL Fit for Life cable access show (kinda sounds like a weird euphemism for something, doesn't it?) will air tomorrow at 12:15 and 9:00 PM on channel 5, featuring none other than moi and my partner-in-crime Brandy.

Throughout the year, Brandy and Tami will try different recipes, exercises and more. We'll report on the Fit for Life and Walk Across Alabama program, interview health and fitness professionals and try to answer any burning questions sent in by you.

Show will also air on Saturday at 9:45 AM and Sunday at 9:30 PM through February. Check us out and give us your feedback.

Don't have cable? We'll post a link to view over the internet on the Fit for Life page later this week!


TTFN,

Tami

Survey says....

Last week I put up a survey asking which of these items from McDonald's has the least amount of calories; the Big Mac, grilled chicken club, 20 piece McNuggets or a large order of fries? 4% of you said the Big Mac, 38% the chicken club, 33% the McNuggets and 23% went with the fries. Turns out it's the fries, weighing in at 500 calories. A little disclaimer here...that is for the large fries, if you go for the super-size you're on your own, facts for that are not listed on the McDonald's site.

What was interesting to me was the tie for second place between the grilled chicken club and the Big Mac. Both items come in at 540 calories and the 20 piece McNuggets have a whopping 920 calories and 59 grams of fat! Check out some of the fast food restaurants websites, you may be surprised. Another good source is the "Eat This, Not That" book series by David Zinczenko. You can check out a copy here at the library or check David out at www.menshealth.com.

Browsing around, I found some other surprising facts. This one's for you, Carol. At Taco Bell the Fiesta Taco Salad has 850 calories and 45 grams of fat (this is a perfact example of how a salad is NOT always the healthiest option), while the 7 layer burrito has 480 calories, 17 grams and fat and 10 grams of healthy fiber making it a far better choice. You should also probably skip any "value" meals. Most come close to and some even exceed the daily calorie requirement for a typical American! And the fat (especially the saturated fat) in those meals essentially make them a heart attack in a bag! There are decent choices available if you just do a little research.

Take this week's survey, I'll post the results and answer next week. Our group has walked 885 since January 6! Keep up the good work and have a great weekend.

Tami

Cheesecake Anyone?

If you are one of my Facebook friends, you may have noticed that I was pondering what effect a trip to The Cheesecake Factory would have on my weight loss efforts on Saturday. You may have also noticed that Sunday was my birthday, so... after much deliberation (okay, not really that much) off we went in the spirit of celebration.

I did, however, attempt to be prepared. I ate a sensible breakfast of oatmeal, did a 60 minute kickboxing workout (the only butt that got kicked was mine), had some veggie soup and Kashi whole-grain crackers for lunch so I wouldn't be ravenous when I arrived, which I was anyway. But the real question is, since when does being hungry or not hungry have anything to do with eating cheesecake?

I order a chicken dish and as prescribed in one of the books I've been reading, ate only half and had the waiter box up the other half. I will consider this a Fit for Life triumph, but if you've ever seen the gargantuan portions at the Cheesecake Factory you'll know this was not extremely difficult. But chalk one up for me anyway! Now it's time for the dessert. I look at my husband and ask is he would like to split a piece. He looks at me as if I've lost my mind - this response may stem from a rather ugly incident several years ago involving a lemon torte and a fork stabbing. So...I'm on my own. I order the Dulce de Leche and it is fantastic. I savor every bite and figure I'll just deal with it tomorrow.

Tomorrow is here and I've gone to CalorieKing, the online food database, to assess the damage. The entree weighs in at 940 calories, but since I only ate half, I think that's pretty reasonable. One piece of Dulce de Leche cheesecake weighs in at an astounding 1010 calories! 74 grams of fat and 42 grams of saturated fat. That's 114% and 210% of the daily value respectively. It did have 200 mg of calcium which is twice the daily recommendation for a woman my age - so it's kinda healthy, right?

CalorieKing has some recommendations to burn these calories off, all I have to do is choose one of these activities:

280 minutes of walking - in case you don't want to do the math, that's 4 hours and 40 minutes
84 minutes of swimming - I'm pretty certain hypothermia would set in within 2
116 minutes of jogging - if I could jog for 116 minutes I probably wouldn't be in this position in the first place
154 minutes of cycling - at least I could be done before dark

Still, I have no regrets, birthdays come but once a year, and it was soooooo worth it for me. I read something this morning written by a man who lost 300 pounds (that's not a typo - 300) and he said one of his strategies was that after any kind of "cheat" meal he made sure that his next five meals were all really healthy. That sounds good to me, we're all gonna splurge or slip-up from time to time and this seems like a reasonable way to deal with that.

So..I'll be carefully planning my next five meals and in the words of Freddie Mercury, I'm gonna "get on my bike and ride"!

Tami

The "F" Word

Okay, it's not what you think. Last week was crazy with Fit for Life kick-off and registration, stormy weather, tornado warnings and a collapsing, leaky roof in the Lena Martin room. In the middle of all of that, we saw some video footage for the GPL Fit for Life show that will air in late January and that's when I said the "F" word. You can call it what you want: chunky, heavy, plump, portly or even rotund, but there comes a time when you just gotta say "Hey, I'm fat!".

I've justified gaining weight over time. You know, I'm tall - that's why I weigh what I do, it's only a couple of pounds, I've had two kids, I'm getting older and my metabolism is slowing or my personal favorite - the camera adds ten pounds. The trouble with that is that in group photos it only seems to add the pounds to me, everyone else looks the same.

So no more excuses. I've let this weight creep up on me and now it seems to be residing around my mid-section, but it's going to have to find some new digs. I'm going to start removing this excess fat from my body today and make 2009 the year that I achieve my health and fitness goals.

Tami

Here We Go!

Tonight is the kick-off for the Gadsden Public Library's Fit for Life and Walk Across Alabama program. I'll be trying a lot of new things throughout this program and will be blogging about them here. I hope you'll check back often and join me on my year-long health and fitness journey. See you soon!

Tami