FAST FORWARD TO DAY 12/10

Wow!  I cannot believe that a week has gone by and I have been hanging in there with drinking only plain water.  Each day has not been easy and there are lots of moments when water is not always convenient or preferred but I remember that it is simply a choice and I can control what I pick up and put in my mouth.   Also drinking so much water has you running back and forth to the restroom and that has been something new to adjust to -- especially during the work day! LOL

Going through this process has helped me to be mindful of all the places that I am "drinking" something unnecessarily and using as a unhealthy food filler.  Liquid calories are dangerous and through this process I am more aware.  Here are five healthy benefits of water:

1.  Water leads to increased energy levels

2.  Water leads to overall greater health by flushing out wastes and bacteria that can cause disease.

3.  Water is the primary mode of transportation for all nutrients in the body and is essential for proper circulation.

4.    For a majority of sufferers, drinking water can significantly reduce joint and/or back pain.

5.  Water naturally moisturizes skin and ensures proper cellular formation underneath layers of skin to give it a healthy, glowing appearance.

On the "GETTING MOVING" front I will report that every day is harder to find a new fun way to keep it moving.  I have gone between exercise tapes in the house, hitting the gym and getting on treadmill, swimming, and walking around the lake after work.

In Florida there are lakes all over the place and I am very fortunate to have a lake right outside my work place.  This week I asked, my very good friend, if we could walk around the lake four times after work.  It was really one of those things where you use the other person's response as a way to measure how crazy the goal is.  Of course, my friend, said, "sure!" and we were off. 

At 5PM each day the weather is BLAZING hot in Florida and so we both knew that we were in trouble!  We made it around the first time with not a lot of problems but after the 2nd time around, I started veering off to the right towards the entrance to the building and even closer to the air conditioner.  Even though we had both talked about going outside and walking around in the heat--We were NOT properly dressed.  I had on some rayon pant and shirt outfit with gold sandals from my favorite TJ Maxx like store.  My lovely friend had on a black dress, plastic flip flops and just to add a little more heat to the situation... a wig!  Needless to say, we were hot, very hot and uncomfortable!  Once we got around the lake twice I was done but I was persuaded to keep going and we made it around one more time!  The thing that got us around the last loop was concentrating on the step we were taking at that very moment and each of those steps added up to get us all the way around.  From this experience and a week of "GETTING MOVING" I have learned:

1.  I need good friends to keep me going when I think I can't make it.

2.  Finding creative ways to do something that you do not enjoy is a fun process that can help you learn more about yourself.

3.  Swimming REALLY helps reduce the number of allergy pills I need to take

4.  Getting moving is the opposite of living a sedentary lifestyle.  That "getting moving" doesn't mean I have to run a marathon but it is intentionally doing something to keep myself healthy.

5.  That you can inspire others to get moving too!


Today I am... happy to be inspired to be an inspiration!

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WATER DAY 6 & GET MOVING DAY 4

Today I discovered a great way to "get moving"!  About two years ago I saw an infomercial about a workout called "Turbo Jam".   I remember thinking, "Wow, they are having so much fun!"  Of course I didn't purchase the "exclusive offer" at that time but a year later I purchased a copy of the workout program for $9.99 on eBay.  After getting the DVD in the mail, I put it on the shelf with all the other workout programs and never thought about it again.  If you already read Day 5/3 then you will notice me holding a sign in front of Bally's Gym.  It used to say "Day 4" on it however, I had to alter the photo to fit the right day.  Originally, I was going to work out at the gym but time got the best of me and I had to "get moving" at home.  I pulled out the DVD and to my surprise, it is actually a lot of fun! The music is great and the creator Chalene Johnson is very motivating and a great dancer!

If you are looking for a new workout program to do in the comfort of your own home I would recommend TurboJam.  It is for any fitness level and you can start today and not feel guilty about all the workouts you missed in the past.

The water is getting easier to drink and today my closest (self-appointed) accountability buddy said they were proud of me!  I'll drink to that! (Water, of course)

Today I am... happy to know I have some dedication left in these bones!



About Turbo Jam

Turbo Jam® is the workout that doesn't feel like work. Chalene Johnson packs each workout with calorie-blasting cardio, kickboxing, body-sculpting, and dance moves set to the hottest music ever. You're scorching fat and sizzling calories at a rate of up to 1,000 an hour . . . It's fast. It's fun. It works.

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WATER DAY 5 & GET MOVING DAY 3

It is the fifth day that I have been drinking plain ol' water and the 3rd day in a row of get moving (a.k.a. exercising).  A brief update on the water is... It has been a great experience thus far with some moments when I almost attacked an innocent friend for their delicious looking lemonade!  I have started to feel the benefits of drinking just water but the "getting moving" is a whole other subject!

Starting any workout plan is not easy.  So the benefits come in the form of pain.  I think that people have generally just started using the pain to measure how "good" their workout is.  With that said... the pain I supposed is a good thing! LOL

For day 3 I decided to "get moving" by going back to Bally's Gym.  This time I did not get into the pool in fear that I would run into another person who was at the gym on vacation... so, today I hit the treadmill and a stationary bike and worked out for 45 minutes total.  I went 1.5 miles in 30 minutes on the treadmill and then spent 15 minutes on the stationary bike.  I feel good and ready to take on day 6/4!

While riding the treadmill I read the newest edition of the "Ali Magazine".  The magazine targets women who are interested in starting a business and growing their personal wealth.  One of the articles in the magazine focused on mogal and fashionista, Kimora Lee Simmons.  Now I love KLS and her clothing, perfume, makeup, book, tv reality show... you get the point! So I was happy to find some information about some of the business pointers from KLS's point of view.  I thought they were applicable to whatever goals we set for ourself and I wanted to share them with you. 

So here ya go!

9 IDEAS TO STEAL FROM KIMORA LEE SIMMONS

1. Think big, very big
2. Keep growing 
3. Do not listen to critics 
4. Tell it like it is 
5. Be independent 
6. Be creative 
7. Become the brand 
8. Embody glamour and power 
9. Give back

Today I am... happy to share good information -- That is my way of "giving back" for today!

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GET MOVING: DAY 1

Today was a great day (probably because I didn't go to work) and I felt so inspired by my favorite TV show Ugly Betty. If you have seen it before you know that's based on a young girl, living in NYC, starting her writing career in the wonderful industry of fashion. With fashion, come beautiful models---right?!? Nevertheless, it also comes with an "Ugly Betty" the person who comes just as they are and, as the show demonstrates, comes out on top because they were true to themselves. Okay so enough about Betty! I felt so inspired to get up and go to the gym! Wahooooooo!

I have been avoiding the gym for 30 years (yes, I am 30!) and today I was really excited about it because it hit me that there is more to do in the gym than get on a treadmill, stare at the closed captions that you cannot actually read because you are wondering... "Will I pass out" AND "why is this machine squealing so loud!” So anyway, I decided to go swimming at the gym today. I jumped up from the couch, turned off the TV and scurried off to my room to put on my swimming gear and grab a towel. Walking out the door, I felt empowered.

Pulling up to the gym and parking, I realized that I forgot to load the empowerment into the car with me and bring it to the gym. I was scared to go in! Therefore, I sat in my car and put it in my head that the people passing will just simply think I am waiting for someone. LOL

After 5 minutes (that seemed like 30), I got out of my car and realized that I did not have my towel with me! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Okay so I go in anyway telling myself that I do not need a towel. Then I thought about the distance between the locker room and the pool and realized that I didn't need my towel to dry off... I needed it to cover the fluffy lower region. Therefore, I briskly walked right back out of the gym, got back into my car and headed back towards the house to get a towel. I don't live that far from the gym but God knows me better than I know me--gently He said, "You need to buy a towel from Walgreens.” I obeyed.

I went back to the gym and made it to the pool without any obscene comments, pointing, or laughter. I was happy to find some water weights and the noodles. So I conjured up some old water aerobic routines and after all of that... I feel great!

Today I am... happy I got moving!

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