15-Minute Workout to Reduce Belly Fat

It's time to WAKE UP! Get Ready!! And MOVE!!!!

10-minute Exercise

Here's a 10-minute exercise-at-home video by Denise Austin, via AARP:

We're Back!!

Here we go again, working to lose weight and increase the health and fitness of this aging body. Using whatever resources I find, I'll see what blogging adds to my repertoire. TOPS, WW, LoseIt, MyFitnessPal, a FitBit, and friends are already part of my journey. I did lose 15 pounds earlier in the year, but now it's time to make another move...

Today's inspiration comes from My Fitness Pal, a weekly+ newsletter with words of advice. Today's tidbit is "7 Reliable Weight-Loss Tactics to Try if You're Not Losing Weight". Check it out, & join me!

Bowling Farewell

How I miss bowling! I had to give it up when the injuries from my career interferred, but I've never given up my love for the game! Alas, I'm not the only American to have retired my bowling shoes...

The U.S. had 4,061 bowling centers in 2012, down 25 percent from 1998, the earliest year for which the U.S. Census collected consistent data. But the decline of the bowling alley probably started a lot earlier. The U.S. added 2,000 bowling alleys between the end of World War II and 1958, when the American Society of Planning Officials reported that “the bowling alley is fast becoming one of the most important—if not the most important—local center of participant sport and recreation.”

The number of Americans who bowled increased 10 percent from 1980 to 1993, but those who belonged to leagues declined 40 percent. That made a convenient metaphor for the political scientist Robert Putnam, whose 2000 book Bowling Alone tracked American’s dwindling civic engagement.

This article is about the demise of bowling, but also it's re-branding: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-10/america-s-vanishing-bowling-alleys

Core Exercises

It turns out that situps are not good for you! Shucks, just when I thought I'd start doing them. Instead, this Canadian doctor recommends four key exercises to develop core strength. Watch the video (http://youtu.be/kukmaW9CmSU), and then just Do It!

Meditative Breathing

Sometimes just getting a good deep breath helps a lot! Here's a video that gives a lesson in how to breathe deeply in just 4 minutes. How calming this is! This "video" is actually just an audio file, so don't get stressed if you can't see an image! Find it on YouTube at: http://youtu.be/hC2_POtuVwA

Getting Back on Track

It's been awhile since I've written anything here. But, I'm back on track now with my weight loss regime. That's really what it is - to successfully lose weight, and maintain fitness, one needs to attack "the enemy" like conducting a military campaign! Well, that's what it feels like today...

SO - I'm following the WeightTalk program paid for by my health plan (CIGNA), and came across this video, on the interplay between weight and stress. It's a good reminder - eliminate or control the stressors, and the impulse to overeat will be reduced.

Bread Baker's Story

Here's a video about the head bread baker at Panera Breads:

I've been following the LoseIt! app on my iPhone, and discovered the 7 week Panera Bread Challenge. I know I need all the help I can get to jump start my plateaued weight loss. So - why not? We've loved the Panera Bread restaurants we've come across as we travel (MN, Marin County, KS), and I like their emphasis on healthy food. Plus, they have good information about ingredients. So, I'll see if I can win a 4-day vacation for 2 at a Sandals resort - or at least lose a few more pounds!

23 1/2 Hours A Day

My, it's only been 3 weeks, and I'm BACK! I came across this great video while trying to do my final exam for an online class in Web Marketing. Needless to say, it is TOTALLY unrelated to my task-at-hand. Nevertheless, it is most appropos. SO, see what you think about the issues raised, or - just enjoy the fancy doodling...

Calorie Camp

Well, I'm back! 13 months since the last post, and I am here to admit my mistakes: I have fallen off the wagon. I am no longer on the path from Fit to FABulous. BUT - I am about to get back on the treadmill, and try, try again!!

Here's something that may help: Calorie Camp. I've been doing some research on About.com, and discovered that it is owned by the NYTimes, and it has a sister site called Calorie Count.  This video tells about what tools are available. It makes it sound fun! I'm still on the fence about deciding just how I want to approach this next phase of weight-loss/exercise-gain. Anyway, check it out!

Cooking for the Good Life

Here's an interesting approach to obesity - take cooking classes!

It appears that the original link for this video no longer works! After much searching (1/7/14) I think I've found it again:

LINK: http://bcove.me/228io64d
Well, it still doesn't appear to work here on blogger. DRATS! Read more about Public Health Student and chef Jenny Breen, and check out her book, "Cooking up the Good Life".

Dancing

Here's a great video that should be an inspiration to us all:

Exercise with Martina

Check out these AARP exercises by Martina Navratilova: Steps to Fitness. I find I am very far from any fitness goals, so I'm back to taking baby steps such as these: blogging and surfing. Well, every step helps - I hope!

Here's another link: exercise videos by Martina.

What 's YOUR definition?

I looked up the word "fabulous" (to make sure I spelled it right!) on Answers.com. Here's what they say:

1. Barely credible; astonishing: the fabulous endurance of a marathon runner.
2. Extremely pleasing or successful: a fabulous vacation.
3. a. Of the nature of a fable or myth; legendary.
b. Told of or celebrated in fables or legends.

The part I like is this: extremely pleasing or successful. Now, here's the rub - if you think what you're attempting to do is is barely credible, than it may well be; and if you expect your journey to be "told of or celebrated in fables or legends", then you're really asking way too much. However, if what you seek is to have your efforts be "extremely pleasing or successful" - ah, THAT I think you can do!

The trouble for most of us who struggle with weight issues, or physical maladies, or who need identity or attitudinal adjustments, is that we expect too much! That sets us up for failure. So, the secret of success, I think, is to make one's goal do-able, and YOU-able. For now, I'll focus on 10 pounds, 1 inch, and 3 new habits. That is, by April 1 I'd like to lose 10 pounds of weight, transform 1 inch of belly flab, and adopt the habits of flossing nightly, drinking water with every meal, and exercising 15 minutes a day. Those are some small steps I think I can do. In fact, I WILL do.

How about you?

from Fit to FABulous!

This is a journal of a journey. Improving health is not enough - getting it ALL together is what we seek! We will focus here on getting physically fit, yes, but also on getting mentally healthy, and spiritually rich. In short, this blog will journal the trail from Fit to FABulous - for those of us who so choose...