TheFATladyBlog

Visualization Tip Works In PoolWhen I'm Pushing It To The Limit

I picked up a good  visualization tip that comes in handy in the pool during my aerobics classes. When I seem to be at my limit with exercise and a little voice from some corner of my mind says, "Enough, already, Fat Lady," I close my eyes and I see Jens and Becca in their wedding finery, dancing their first dance less than a year from now. In no time at all the adrenaline kicks in, the voice disappears, the  muscles gain new strength, and I'm burning more calories than ever! Thanks to career coach Gailann Bruen for the idea.

10 Delicious Daily HabitsFrom Coach Joeann Fossland

Here's a neat little tool from popular real estate coach Joeann Fossland. It's the 10 Delicious Daily Habits Tracker. Joeann is using it as she starts a program to lose 20 pounds by October 1:

"I've pulled out my coaching tool, The Ten Delicious Daily Habits and have written up 10 for the next 30 Days. Some of  the habits I will be doing daily are meditating for 100 breaths, eating according to the plan, drinking 120 ounces of water, reading, writing and gardening (and cuddling with Bub)."

Good luck, Joeann! We're looking forward to seeing that new blog soon.

Bill Clinton Leads Anti-Obesity CrusadeTo Create A Healthier Generation

President Bill Clinton is shown at left with children in Harlem during a recent event launching a campaign to reduce childhood obesity levels. The former President's Clinton Foundation is partnering with the American Heart Assn. in an effort to curb and reduce obesity. President Clinton says that he wants to make sure all children are healthy and reverse the growing rate of obesity in the United States. Today, more than twice as many children – and almost three times as many teens – are overweight as in 1980, according to a trimmer, more fit Bill Clinton. The foundation site has an excellent video (48 minutes) that is excellent, educational. viewing. The clip features Bill Clinton, Republican Governer Huckabee of Arkansas (who recently lost 110 pounds), educators, and leaders of the AHA.

The foundation will work with educators to expand students' horizons about making good lifestyle decisions, eating good nutrition, and exercising. It will encourage schools to remove vending machines from elementary schools or stock them with healthy snacks instead of the unhealthy fare many machines now offer. The group will also launch initiatives to drive food companies and the fast food industry to offer healthier choices. They point out that food industry growth is in the healthy food market.

How Fat Is Obese?

days left to the wedding and I need to be focused on this wellness project. My Body Mass Index (BMI) is 32.1. That puts me in the Obese (30.0-34.9) category, which is one step closer to normal weight than the Severely Obese (35.0-39.9) category that I filled until recently. Morbidly Obese (40.0-50) and Super Obese (over 50) are the highest obesity measures. When I reduce to 208 (16 pounds more), I will fall into the Overweight category and lose the Obese rating altogether and once and for all for all eternity so help me, God! Where's that pool? Hand me a belt and some water barbells. It's time to get to work! Here's a BMI calculator for you, courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Water Workout Is Effective;Minimizes Wear And Tear On Joints

  Hate exercise? Envy those gym regulars with bodies beautiful who seem to thrive on sweaty physical exertion? What's the first step for a fatty when more than 10 steps in a row makes the knees scream, "Stop!"?

I can happily report that water aerobics may be the ticket to liberate the couch potato from lazy-bones fiefdom. I enrolled in two water exercise classes at the YMCA--Hydro is a deep water class with a belt and styrofoam barbells; Aquablast is a shallow water aerobics class that also makes some use of the barbells. The programs are 45 minutes to an hour long, with constant movement for cardio fitness. Additionally, the exercises are geared to cover every muscle group--abs, biceps, triceps, legs. There are stretching exercises, water calisthenics, weight training. And to top it off, its downright FUN! I'm starting to make significant progress with increased mobility, added strength, endurance, and elimination of pain (knees and hip). Of course, I'm also eating more sensibly and using nutritional supplements.

The Beach Boys Have Good VibrationsFrom Flower Child To Golden Girl

It is the summer of 1970. The Beach Boys take the stage at The Schaeffer Music Festival in Central Park, NYC. A flower child, 18 years old, blond hair to her waist, rocks and rolls to cheerful melodies born in Southern California. There is a faint perfume of sweet cannabis and the crowd dances on chairs and in aisles. Fast forward to the summer of 2005. The flower child's tresses are barely shoulder length, with blond highlights straight from a bottle, and the surfing sounds of Brian Wilson and company come from a boom box CD in the cavernous swimming pool of a local YMCA. A determined group of aquatic calisthenics disciples includes silver haired gentlewomen, portly females, and otherwise weight sentient ladies. There is a faint perfume of chlorine and the crowd lifts Styrofoam barbells and consummates jumping jacks in rhythm with the music. Some things never change. Music is a universal balm that stills the restless spirit and kindles merriment.

People Magazine Article On Weight Loss

Don't miss the People magazine article on weight loss this week. It's about real people who lost lots of weight the old fashioned way, sensible eating and exercise. There's no surgery, miracle cure, or drugs touted in the piece. It's a good read.

State College (PA) Wedding Countdown

I have the number right on the refrigerator door. In less than a year Jens Holger Thorsen and Rebecca Pangborn will tie the knot in State College. It's a great tool to stay temptation. Tomorrow morning it's "Hydro" at the YMCA pool. I hear it's a deep-end program. I'm finally recovering from Thursday's "Aquablast" session. Anything that hurts this much must be working, right? I wonder how long it will take to pare down four dress sizes.

I'm Taking My Swim ExerciseUp A Notch With Aquablast and Hydro

See that scale? That's six pounds closer to the goal, and now I'm kicking things up a bit in the exercise department. I was feeling too good after those laps, not enough pain. I registered for two cardio workout classes at the YMCA, a shallow water program with weights (Aquablast), and a deep water program with belts (Hydro).

I had my first Aquablast session last night, a full 60-minute cardio workout program that must have hit every single muscle group. Cross-country skiing exercises underwater, jumping jacks, jogging, stretching, and constant movement. My sister, Linda, my personal telephonic nurse advisor, suggested that I bring water to rehydrate. I thought, "Rehydrate? I'll be in a pool!" I could hardly believe that I could work up such a sweat in a swimming pool. What a great round of exercise! Talk about an endorphine rush!

Diet Plans Encyclopedia

Here is an online repository of diet information with reviews, outlines, samples, and investigation of over 80 diets. We really should start using "weight loss" and other synonyms here...it's just not right to push DIET when the first three letters are D-I-E. Let's collect some good synonyms for our weight loss lexicon:  weight reduction plan, abstinence (nah!), fasting, xerophagy (for the William Buckley wannabes, no doubt).