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Monday, November 5, 2012

Day 64- Pumpkin Protein Smoothie

Tis the Season for all things

PUMPKIN 
I mean, seriously, what doesn't get
touched by pumpkins this time of year :)

But so many of the yummy 
Pumpkin recipes are for 
things that are off my radar for 
right now!!
I do have a yummy Pumpkin Muffin Recipe
that I can make with my
freshly ground Whole Wheat,
but I do have to keep them to a limit.

My kiddos love a good 
Pumpkin Shake, 
 Pumpkin shake recipe
so I decided to try a 
healthy Protein Pumpkin Smoothie-
it was an epic fail when we used
Greek Yogurt-
but with regular Yogurt it was 
a crowned victory-


With 30 grams of protein 
and 225 calories per serving-
this is a perfect post workout treat!

Pumpkin Protein Smoothie
1 Scoop Vanilla Whey
1/2 Cup Low Fat Milk
2 Tablespoons Canned Pumpkin
1/2 Cup Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt
Dash or two of Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/2 Cup Crushed ice

Blend in blender and enjoy!

Day 65- Mixed Grains Hot Cereal

I bought this amazing package of
mixed grains at a specialty grocer
here in town.

I absolutely LOVED the nuttiness,
the variety and the taste of this
hot breakfast!

But I absolutely HATED that
this one store is the ONLY store
I can find this little package of goodness-
and this ONE store happens to be completely
out of my way and at least 25 minutes from
my home- not somewhere I just "stop by".

I went to five other grocery stores,
Trader Joe's,
Whole Foods Market,
Sprouts,
Kroger and
Market Street...
in hopes of finding it-
but NO LUCK!!!

BUT, this story has a Happy Ending-
though I wasn't able to find the
packaged blend,
I was able to find all the grains.
So I went home and made my own mix!!

Yup, I did it and it was DELICIOUS!

I mixed four grains,
1/2 cup steel cut oats
1/2 cup farro
1/4 cup millet
1/4 cup pearled barley

I boiled it with 3 cups of water
until all the water had been absorbed.
I added a little bit of light agave
and some pecan pieces for a
perfectly healthy grain breakfast for me!


Day 66- Do Something You Love

Trying to start new habits and
make lifestyle changes can sometimes
be really overwhelming.
When it comes to some of my really
bad eating habits, they aren't all based
on my lack of will power and self control-

a lot of my talent and joy comes from
the food I make and sharing that food with
those I love-
read all about it here

While I am trying to make some
basic changes to my habits,
I am trying really hard to concentrate
on OTHER talents I might have
and ways that I can share those talents.

I can't sacrifice my joy and content
just because I am DETERMINED
to fit in the clothes I wore when we moved
to Texas one year ago last week!

So I have been really focusing on doing
the OTHER things that I love...

* I have sent some really fun Thank You cards
to people letting them know how much
they touch my life,

* I have weeded and worked in the flower
gardens,

* I have taken discovery walks with my
8 year old,

* I decorated my front porch and the inside
of my house for fall
My dining room Centerpiece vignette
and I have been studying a book that I love,
leaving each study session grateful for the time
I took to read, study and ponder.

Life is short,
live it and
fill it with things you LOVE!

Day 67- The Calories Do Count

I just got home from the gym,
I am sweaty, hot and sore-
and I love it!
I just started a new session of
semi-private personal training,
which I love so much!!

I love this group for two reasons,
1) Because as sad, corny or pathetic
as it sounds- my social interaction
consists of gym rats right now and I
get my social out at the gym.
and,
2) Because as much as I love to lift
weights and use the gym equipment,
for some reason I just don't push myself
as hard as a coach pushes me.


As I was leaving the gym, I saw a gal
that has done this little Team In Training
group before, but wasn't there today.
She said she was so frustrated- during the last
session she had spent 6 hours a week,
burning 600 calories per workout
yet she GAINED 6 pounds! She did lose
inches off both her waist and her hips-
but that bigger number on the scale was
more than discouraging.

I know how she feels-
I've been there- and the most probable
solution just doesn't make any sense!

We women have a mentality that less is MORE
in the world of diet and more is MORE in
the world of fitness.
We think to lose weight, we need to eat less,
but to lose weight we need to exercise more
and more and more and more!!
So sometimes we get discouraged,
sometimes we get extreme
and sometimes we give up!

In all honesty, I have to fight this thinking
every single day of my life.
I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that
if I am working out and trying to lose weight
or gain muscle, I might have to eat more!

But it is true. Our bodies are naturally prepared
to protect us from starvation. Unless we train
them to burn what we eat, our bodies will
naturally hang on to the food we eat for
basic survival. Add in exercise, when we are
burning more calories than usual- our bodies
going into hyper protection mode of the
calories we consume. This becomes a bitter
cycle- exercise more but burn few calories!

The ONLY way to avoid this trap is to eat enough-
and enough of the right types of food-
that our bodies don't panic and start hanging
on to everything we eat.

Eat Often- Try to eat something about every
three to five hours- trying for about 300-400 calories
 per meal/snack

Eat Enough- Eat at least 1200 calories,
if you are working out & lifting weights, you may
even need to try 1400-1500 calories

Eat Protein- I can't believe how often this comes up
in every thing I hear, read or study- especially if you
are lifting weights, you need protein

Track Your Eating- I cannot believe how often I get to
the end of the day and realize I didn't get enough calories.
I end up eating a handful of almonds before bed very
frequently because I look at my log and realize I have barely
gotten 1000 calories. Do NOT enter starvation mode!

& finally, Track Your Eating- on the converse of the
above, I can't believe how many times I get lazy about
tracking and go back to enter several days. It never fails,
these are the days that I end up getting candy bars,
bites of brownies which turn into pans of brownies and
frozen yogurt a few times in a week.
NOT joking, track your eating!


Thursday, November 1, 2012

Day 68- Keep Your Buddy Motivated

I think the time between School Starting

and Christmas

is a tough time to try to eliminate BAD
eating habits!!

Not only are there the Holidays,
Halloween,
All of our favorite Fall Cupcakes
Thanksgiving,

 & Christmas!
Our Annual Gingerbread Decorating Party


But, in our case,
we have four of our eight birthdays
Happy 8th Buddy!
between September 15th & November 6th
That's a lot of Birthday Cake & Ice Cream!

My hubby and I are in this 84 day journey
together. He does better if I am on board with
changes to his eating habits and I do better
if he isn't eating the foods that are NO NO's to me!

We were doing great...
and than,
he had a crisis at work!
 Stressed : An image of a man overwhelmed by his life. Stock Photo
And he is a stress eater-
BIG TIME!!

So he got off track for a few days,
which led to a snowball and turned into
more like a week of trying to get back on
track-
Why is it so hard to recover from a derailment?

Well, when he got off track,
I got off track!
How weird is that?
I wasn't stressed!
I wasn't working late hours!
But for some reason,
when my buddy struggled,
I struggled!

I realized this a few days ago,
as I was preparing to get us back
on track, how important it is to support
the people closest to you.
Your support of them,
ricochet's right back at you and becomes
their support of you!

I hadn't really thought of this before,
but it sure transformed the morning
ritual of preparing 5 sack lunches
from a chore to a privilege!

Make sure and keep your buddy motivated-
in the end they may be the motivation you need
one day-
like the day your piano teacher sends you home
with 6 delicious and beautiful Caramel Apples!

Day 69- This is Why I Care about Those Last 10 Pounds

They say the weather in Dallas is fickle-
I say whoever "THEY" is, THEY are right!

Yesterday morning was muggy and uncomfortable.
I turned the Air Conditioner back on
because it was sticky and miserable.

But at 4 o'clock,
something happened and all of a sudden...
BRRRRRRRRRRR! It was cold!

As the night progressed, it just got colder
leaving today a definite jeans and sweater day!
I am NOT complaining. I could live in jeans-
 Jbrand-jeans
the more worn, tattered and torn they are,
the more I like 'em- and a nice cozy sweatshirt.
Ahhhh, I get comfy and happy just thinking of it.

So I was kind of worried about putting on jeans today,
last time I tried to wear jeans they were a bit,
TIGHT!
I don't have it in me today to feel TIGHT-

I picked my favs and took a deep breath-
And they fit. Not just fit,
but fit good!

This is why I care about those last few pounds:
* I like feeling like I can get down on the floor and
play a game with my kiddos.
This isn't me, but it's what is important to me in fitness & health
* I like having the energy to accomplish all that I need
to in a day & have energy to spare for my kids when
they get home from school.
* I like that I can chase in a good game of tag and feel
like I can keep up with the fun & the kids.

* I like that my emotional health seems more stable
when my physical health is up to par.

Maybe it is vanity, but I don't think so.
Honestly, the last thing I think about is
what someone else thinks of how I look-
I really think I feel better, stronger,
more capable of doing what needs to be done
and I think I am more willing to try new things
when my weight is closer to my goal weight.

I think it's important to be honest about what
a "goal" weight is. There is no question that
as we age, weight & size take on new meaning
and new challenges. But there is a point where
I know I just plain FEEL good and a point
where I know i just plain DON'T FEEL good.

This life is about joy and gratitude.
If you're not there, what do you need to do
to get there.

It sounds silly, but if I can cuddle up in
my ratty ole' jeans, a hoodie, a cup of cocoa
and the people I love-

well,
there ain't much more joy & gratitude I can find!!



Today's Down Low
B: scrambled egg & ezekail toast
S: Luna Protein Bar
L: Chicken & Cheese on Crunchmaster Crackers
 & roasted butternut squash
S: Banana with peanut butter
D: Honey Lime Chicken Breast, green beans
S: Almonds ** if I don't get enough calories, I grab almonds before bed


Thursday, October 25, 2012

Day 70- Keep Calm & Plan a Snack Attack

I have read many books by many authors
on diet, fitness and wellness.
I really like the a lot of what Jillian Michaels
has to say about all of the above!

One of the concepts that she teaches is
that you can eat through any amount of
exercise if you aren't watching your
caloric intake.

In an effort to eat enough calories for
healthy living AND muscle development-
it can be easy to eat TOO MANY calories.

But in an effort to lose weight and develop
a fit and tone looking body, it is easy to
eat TOO FEW calories!

Oh my, oh my-
it is really enough to drive a person mad!!

Well, I recently read an article that I am
almost sure was written after watching
the people in my house.

It was written as a warning that when a person
is getting a good workout and feeling good about
their attempts at fitness, there is a danger that
in the kitchen they will let down their guard
and feel safe to eat what they want.

After two weeks of being really good and going
to the gym 5 days a week, I have to confess I got
a little lazy, munchy and naughty today :(

I don't know what caused me the trouble,
could be my three day headache that isn't
lightening up at all.
Could be this strange anxiety that just
developed a few days a go?
It might be that for the past three days
I have been surrounded by candies,

cookies, doughnuts and goodies that I have

NOT eaten- and my will power was pushed
to the limit?

Or it could be that I didn't realize that
ONE peanut M&M has 10 calories
 
and I simply got carried away!!!

So my advice to you & me is to
make sure calories are being tracked
in some sort of a food program.
Also,CHECK the calorie content BEFORE you
partake if you are at all unsure- avoid the SHOCK
when it is too late to do anything about it.
AND have a plan for what you can help curb
your cravings if/WHEN they come around-
usually almonds are a good choice for me!!


The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from Today
B: Baked Oatmeal, Mango slices
S: Greek Yogurt with frozen berries & granola
L: Tortilla Crusted Tilapia & Sauteed Peppers
S:  Apple, 3 bites of Ice Cream & a mini Reese's cup
D: Roasted Veggie & Chicken Soup, Roll
Total Calories: 1245
Exercise: 4 miles treadmill intervals
45 minutes Yoga

Day 71- Turn Your Music Back On

I usually go to the same classes at the gym
each week. I like the teacher, I know her
cues and I recognize the people in each class.

The instructor is awesome at getting the
class motivated and her music is always
full of energy- with all of that working
together, she can really get our heart rates up
for some high intensity intervals.

Today's class is a really fast paced class,
its not common to leave having burned over
600 calories! But the weirdest thing
happened today. We were in the middle
of our last interval and her music JUST
stopped- dead silence!!

As the teacher tried to fiddle with the
system and get the music going, she kept
prompting us just as she would with music
blaring. But as I looked around, NOT ONE
person was working at nearly the
intensity they had been just a minute before.

Isn't that strange??
Seriously, I couldn't stop thinking about it
all day long. How weird that something that
plays in the background makes such a huge
difference, that without it, we just couldn't
keep up a strong pace.

With only one factor gone, the pace
and intensity of the class was completely
LOST!

I thought about if that same thing happens
in life. If one simple thing is taken away,
how does that effect the intensity of life?
Does the absence of one thing, even
something that plays in the background,
make THAT big of a difference to the flow
of life?
Lately, I have definitely noticed something
is just a little off. I haven't been able to put
my fingers on it,
but this little occurrence at the gym is
making me sit down and look around.

I'm looking for what might be missing.
What may have been keeping me going
even though I barely gave it a second thought.
I am looking for what I need to do,
to turn the music back on.

I can't wait to see what I come up with.
Stay Tuned!!


Today in a Nutshell
B: Cottage Cheese, grapes & mango
S: Pear, Almonds
L: Chicken breast, steamed broccoli & peppers
S: Luna Protein Bar
D: Thai Lettuce Wraps, brown rice, one beet

Total Calories: 1232
Exercise: 60 minutes strength mixed
with High Intensity Interval Training

Day 72- Another Orange Recipe- Orange Skewered Steak

This is such a simple and light
option for a red meat.

I absolutely love how easy this recipe is
and how flavorful it is.
Plan on devouring this up,
I usually serve this with a light salad
Little Miss Sunshine Salad
and a fresh veggie- like these Orange Zested Sugar Snap Peas

Complete and beautiful Dinner in less than 30 minutes

That's the way I like it


Orange Scented Beef Skewers

1 orange (both zest and juice)
1/4 cup liquid aminos
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1 TBSP. agave or honey
1 TBSP. sesame oil
1 tsp. fresh ground ginger
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 tsp. Sambal chile paste
1 1/2 pounds flank steak

Zest the orange into a bowl. Cut the orange
in 1/2 and juice into the bowl. Add the remaining
ingredients except the steak.
Cut the steak into strips. Let the steak
strips marinate for several hours.
Place the steak strips onto skewers
(I used metal ones, soak bamboo ones in
water first so they don't flame)
twisting while you skewer.
Preheat your grill to a medium-high
and grill the skewers about 4-6 minutes.
These cook fast, so watch them carefully,
and eat immediately.

B: Fage Greek Yogurt w/ raspberries
S: Cottage Cheese
L: Lettuce leaf wrap sandwich, apple
S: Multi-grain crackers, 1 oz. cheese
D: Fajita veggies, grilled chicken
Total Calories: 1202
No Exercise Today


Friday, October 19, 2012

Day 73- Orange Zested Sugar Snap Peas

Oh sweet wonderful oranges,
and limes & lemons-
Yes ma'am, I do,
I love Citrus,

the colors, the smells,
the juices, the flavor,
I even love the smell
of the citrus trees in bloom!
Yes, yes it's true,
I love Citrus.

I love to add citrus zests when
I cook and prepare food.
We use it in our salad dressings,
we use it in our sweet treats,
and we almost always add
a zip of citrus to our fresh juices
Behold the ingredients to my favorite Juice; beets, apples, lemon & ginger
and smoothies!
Strawberries, Lemon & Banana!
I haven't done a recipe for several days,
and decided that I couldn't hold out one
of my favorite, quick, easy and
wonderful veggie dishes.
See 'em up there at the top! Oh, mummy, they're yummy!
It's another one of those recipes that
I feel almost silly sharing because it
is soooo easy-
but oh soooo yummy!

This recipe makes a wonderful companion
to a simple family dinner as well
as a delightful side for any special occasion-

I have served it at home, at church functions,
and for big groups-

it's a winner that's for sure!

Orange Zested Sugar Snap Peas

2 pounds Sugar Snap Peas
2 TBSP. butter
Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
1 orange

I use a saute pan;
Add sugar snap peas with 
a very small amount of water,
just enough to allow steaming,
add the juice of 1/2 the orange 
and the sea salt (I use Maldon sea salt flakes)
and cook for maybe 2 or 3 minutes.
I like my veggies al dente,
cook longer if you want them a little
more cooked.
When cooked to your liking,
zest the orange onto the beans
and top with butter.
Stir and serve!!


 

Day 74- Not Gonna Take That Opinion!!

I went to the doctor the other day.
My arthritis has really been raging
and my allergies are LIKE
way out of control- which is causing
a whole myriad of issues that I
would like to get under control!
So I took this opportunity to try
out a new doctor...

I am desperately searching for a
local doctor that can handle my
health & my wellness!!

I take my health care a little like the good ole'
Donny & Marie song,
"I'm a little bit country,
and a little bit Rock n' Roll"
but more like,
"I want a little bit Western medicine
 Doctor_office : Smiling Confident Doctor and Nurse on doctor s office background Stock Photo
and a little bit Eastern thought"




Stack of stones,tissue salt and flower photo

I have a health issue-
but I don't want it to define
me in any way-
but it's there, and it has
to be considered when thinking
about the whole me-
but let me say again-
I DON'T WANT IT TO DEFINE
WHO I AM OR WHAT I CAN DO!

There is a very fine line,
and a very special balance
between the two...


So I am looking for a doctor who
can manage my lupus,
but more importantly can support my
personal health & wellness goals.

I had just such a doctor in CA,
and she was a gem,
but I just can't seem to find one here
YET! It'll come, I know!

But in the search,
I have found some real doozies!!
(is that a real word?)

The guy I saw a few days ago,
was one such doozie!
After making me wait over an hour
(that don't impressa me much)
and proceeding to talk about
everything that didn't matter to me,
he explained that the reason I don't feel
quite as well here in TX as I did in CA
is because of the constantly changing
barometric pressure,
especially here in North Texas!

Okay, okay, I can believe that weather
plays a PART to how I feel!
He should have stopped there,
I MAY have gone back for a follow up!

But poor guy,
opened his mouth again
(oh such a mistake)
and said the absolutely
WRONG THING
to me-
"I'm afraid that here in North Texas,
this is as good as your gonna get!"
"Umm, what did you say??"
"Oh, sir, you don't know me very well,
this ain't as good as it gets BUDDY"

Don't, I mean, DO NOT
ever take "this is as good as it gets"
as an answer in ANY part of your life.
If I share one piece of information
that is very valuable concerning
health and wellness, it is this-
If you don't like the advice,
it isn't for YOU!!
What sounds ok to one person,
is not ok for another!!

You and ONLY YOU own your
health! Take control, be picky
about who you allow to handle your
health!
Know your body, and if you don't-
get to know it.
 Austria,Salzburg,Flachau,Young woman smelling herbal oil photo
We get one body, and it is precious.

Being knee deep in flare ups for the past
10 years has taught me one of the most
important lessons of all-
this body is a gift,
a beautiful gift-
it houses a beautiful spirit
full of more good than any of us
can even imagine!
Treat your body good, respect it,
love it and NEVER abuse it!!
If you do that-
you will know NO limitations
spiritually, mentally and physically!

Take a minute and ponder that truth-
and maybe take a minute to think
of all the good that this body has given you!

Day 75- Family Dinner Time

As I was reading the myriad of
books, information and advice
on how best to change your eating
habits and developing a great
exercise routine,
I came across one general consensus.

If you can eat at home, at least 1/3 of the
time, or 10 meals a week,
you will have a better chance at
health, wellness and fitness!!!


I kind of laughed at that one a bit,
it seems a little....
Hmmmmmm, what's the word I'm looking for??
Oh, OBVIOUS!!

How often do I successfully go to a
restaurant, no matter what kind of
restaurant it is, and eat the same way
I would at home?

UM, like NEVER!!
So you might be thinking,
Well, I can do it! And to that I will
either say "You're a Liar" or
"You're a SAINT!"

With portion sizes HUGE,
a great array of options,
all kinds of drinks, appetizers and
desserts on the menu,
I think it is HARD to go out to eat
and eat a NORMAL portion size
of anything!!

I have been a huge advocate of
Family Dinner Time since before
Baby #1 was even a twinkle in my eye!

My grandma made a big deal about dinner time,
actually any meal for that matter!
She set out placemats, and the proper
table setting for even simple snacks of
Graham Crackers & Milk.

Fancy dishes, at Grandma's house,
were NOT just for special occasions or
special guests. They were used for
EVERY person who ate ANYTHING
at her kitchen table!
I loved it and if nothing else,
I intended to keep this up when I got married.

And that I have done!
I love that almost ALL of our meals
are eaten at home.
I love that almost ALL of our meals
are made by my hands, in my kitchen
for MY family- my special guests-
because that's how I see them!
These beautiful six kids of mine

and this wonderful, beautiful family

are a special and wonderful part of my life.
They add charm, wit, experience, laughter
and a house full of joy

to my life.

It is very likely, if you stop by my house
between 5:30 and 6:30,
you will find us around the kitchen table.
A really old, pretty bad picture- but a good look at Sunday dinner at our house!
Eating, laughing, talking about our day.
And it is very likely,
that you will see more than Peterson's at
that table.
My kitchen and my dining table know no
limits and all are welcome...
to sup,
to share
and most of all
to love!!!

When I ask our children to pick one thing
that they love and appreciate about our family,
9 times out of 10,
their answer is "that we eat our meals around
the table, together!"
Ahhhhhh,
that does a mommies heart good to hear such
a sentiment!

It's a lost treasure in today's fast paced,
tightly scheduled, hectic, gotta hurry
WORLD-
if you've lost this treasure,
find a way to get it back.

YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!
You have my word for it!

Day 76- Does Everyone Fall Off The Wagon?

Well, this is a subject I know all too well-
Okay!! All too really well!!!
I am Queen of fighting with my food intake
and I fight and lose this battle often!
If you doubt, take a look at this past entry!

One Busy Day leads to another,
which leads to another,
and finally I find myself wondering-
"HEY, Why are my pants so tight?"

And after I've blamed swelling,
water retention and a broken
dryer that MUST be over drying
my clothes (but for some reason
only mine!)-
I realize, I haven't entered my food
in my Food Diary,
I haven't entered my exercise,
and than the big realization-
"Did I really eat this,
Personal Puff Pockets

and this,
Salted Caramel Cupcakes
and this,
Baked French Toast Recipe Here
...over the course of the past three days?"
 (In case your wondering,
there was a lot more, I am just
a little to proud to admit to it all!!)

Oh Yes Treisha,
Yes, yes you did!!

I really hadn't intended to fall
off the "good eating" wagon,
I just got really busy and
I didn't prepare well for all
the schedule juggling I had to do.

Usually when I get here,
I get frustrated, disappointed and
beat myself up for a few weeks and
I usually give up on myself a bit...
Than I go for frozen yogurt :)

Well not this time baby!!
I wracked my brain,
tracked all that food
and wrote it down.

It was a reality check for me.
Not only did I account for what I had
eaten,
I felt a a significant amount
of gratitude that my pants
were only a little tight.

Lesson learned-
no matter what it is-
if you fall off the wagon,
 
well,
Just Get Back On!!!


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Day 77- Take off The Rose Colored Glasses

First things First,
I don't have a problem with
Rose Colored Glasses,
 
BUT
I do have a problem with
Rose Colored Glasses that only
seem to see the best in everyone else
AND the worst in ourselves.

It is so easy to look around and see
the GOOD in everyone else's lives and
compare that to the BAD in our own!

I think when trying to get in shape,
lose weight or find health, it is all the more
easy to compare our bad with our
neighbors good! So stop that now-
like RIGHT NOW!!

I think the biggest false rumor in the diet and
fitness world is that the gym is full of
beautiful, fit women who have not a care in the
world except feeding their insane vanity!

I have been a member of gyms for over 20 years,
in five states and I have never found this to be true.

What I love about going to classes,
besides the motivation of the instructor,
is the unity and comraderie in the class.

I love that when you see this,

what you really have is a room full of women & men,
each with a different obstacle,
but all working towards a common goal-
Health & Wellness!

I love that when you see this,

What you really should see is a room full
of people all working at different levels,
different strengths and weaknesses!

Within the classes that I regularly attend there is...
* a diabetic who avoids intense treatment by regular exercise
* a woman with fibromyalgia whose pain is
managed by strength training
* a young woman who went to the doctor for a cold,
but instead found that her heart was near failure
and is hoping she can avoid major surgery with
increased fitness
* a long distance runner, who has been fit her
entire life
* a recovering anorexic who desperately is trying to
overcome the abuse her body has suffered by giving
it strength and wellness
* woman who has finally lost the excess weight simply
with proper diet and nutrition and the support of the
friends she has met at the gym
* and many more whose stories I don't know, but I
feel confident enough to know that it is not vanity that
gets them to they gym each day- it is outright determination
to overcome something!

I hope you pause to do a reality check the next
time you put the rose colored glasses on-
things are not always what they seem.
There are stories, fears and challenges
behind every smiling face. Rather than compare,
I dare you to share-
share your story, your successes and your fears-
chances are you'll make gain more than muscle
in your next gym class!

Stats & Facts:
B: Mango Berry Protein Shake, cantalope
S: Celery with Peanut Butter
L:  Tuna on a rice cake with salsa
S: grapes, frozen yogurt
D: Veggie Stir Fry
 Total Calories 1212
Gym Class 60 minutes