Have you done your weight bearing today?

People, people, people, I had a major revelation just weeks ago and it couldn't have come at a better time. I almost gave up. I almost lay down, closed my eyes and succumb to the myth that after 35 you might as well hang up your running shoes. You are running for nothing. I almost believed the radio ad that's been spouting about how after that age you can spend an hour at the gym and will only maintain your weight. Shoot I only have an hour and can barely get that in. I never was very good at treading water and didn't want to start now.

What am I rattling on about? Well about two months ago, back in April I had procrastinated. I had a girl's beach weekend planned in May and as usual waited until the last minute to start really getting serious. I had put on about 10 pounds over the winter (my personal insulation). Usually this never bothered me cause I knew I could just run it off-right?

Well after about three weeks of just running, the scale had not budged. I had run religiously everyday and the weight just taunted me as it settled in for the ride around my midsection and my bootie areas - yes they had multiplied. Well with less than 3 weeks left until the beach trip I wasn't ready to throw in the beach towel yet, so I began going to the gym after dropping my son at school in the mornings.

I started hitting the weight training hard like I know I need to do. I was so determined I was back lifting like I'd done in college. I actually started having people in the gym ask if I was training for something. "Yeah I'm training not to be fat," I replied.

Now I'm the only case study, but the pounds fell off. I was right where I wanted to be within a two week period of time. So, my deduction is what? Weight training is the bestest most awesomest thing you can do to maintain and lose your weight. Not only that, but it cures the sag if you know what I mean.

Happy lifting!

Working through an injury isn't easy

As a recent post revealed I have an injury and it has persisted far longer than my training schedule wants to allow. I couldn't figure it out at first, I mean what I actually did to it. There was no moment of snapping ligaments or tearing tendons--no shrieks of pain to signify any one event that caused this workout menace. But after a relunctant visit to the doctor, I suspect the culprit is what my mother has coined as my "Jack Johnson" problem.

"Who is Jack Johnson?" you ask. Well he was a boxer in the early 1900s who changed the sport for black fighters and became the first black heavy weight champion. What does that have to do with me and my injury. Well, I guess along with being a great fighter, he also was a man bent on doing it all and all on his own. So, whenever I refuse help, or try to do what most women would rather let the men in their lives do--the heavy lifting, Mardie likes to leave "Jack Johnson" ringing in my ears.

Oh yeah, so the injury, well on Memorial Day I woke early in the morning and by 10 am I had dug up a plot of grass; gone to Wal-Mart where I bought sand, pavers and a new grill for the occasion; laid said sand and pavers and set up the grill. There was a lot of sod left from my endeavor and on this past Monday I finally got around to trying to dispose of it.

I scooped the rock infested sod into a garbage can and I dragged, heaved and hoed that pile from the backyard to the front. Stopping several times to regroup I kept thinking, "Man I'm getting a really good workout."

The yard waste disposal truck came round and the man walked to the garbage can, removed the lid and made a feeble attempt at moving the garbage can. Watching from my office window and unbeknownst to said man I saw him look around in disbelief wave his hands dismissing the heap and drive off leaving me with the task of disposing it myself.

I tugged and dragged it even further to the wooded area across from our house and grunted through lifting it to dump it. I felt pretty empowered and thought, "What a very little weak man. Little ole me, I was able to do it by myself."

I proceeded to jog a mile, and go through a complete weight workout ala Tiki Barber. Well, about 3 in the afternoon is when it all came down on me. As I sat at my computer working I began to feel this nagging pain in my back, neck and arm. After about 10 minutes I couldn't sit up straight and eventually took four ibuprofen and hit the sheets to try and sleep it off. It has been a full week now and I still can't sleep through the night without pain or sit in one position without pain. I guess I showed that litle yard waste guy. He may have wimped out on the job, but at least he's not having a MRI tomorrow and I'm sure he's sleeping just fine even though little ole me showed him.

For the record, though, I have not taken off the week entirely from my workout. There wasn't anything wrong with my legs, so I still ran everyday and did my crunches. To be sure, don't aggrevate or go against doctor's orders with any injury but don't let it set you back to the point of ceasing all motion. It is hard to get and stay motivated when you have been limited by injury. Know your body and only do as much as you can without causing further harm.

Cutting Calories or Moving your butt?

Well it looks like a toss up when it comes to which is easier or harder: cutting calories or moving your buns. Personally I have a harder time with the calories. I do love to eat. My family loves to eat. I mean we enjoy food and everything about it: cooking, the smells, textures, tastes and most of all the great fellowship that happens around a well spread table. So, . . .I find it much easier to eat and work it off later.

Neither is easy, though, to be sure. You should see me sucking wind as I climb these hills. I actually wouldn't choose one over the other in your overall plan to stay healthy though. Making sure you cut calories and that the ones that make the cut are the good kind is just as important and increasing your heart rate and sculpting your temple.

There is research that shows if you were to just choose one, cutting calories would ultimately make you lose weight faster. But here's what I found. Exercise is healthier in the long run. If you just cut calories and lose weight, you are still left with saggy remnants of a bigger you. Your metabolism will slow down and your energy stores will be depleted. I think being thin without the ability to run, lift, or enjoy the active part of your life is missing the point entirely.

If you do, however, incorporate daily exercise into your routine and marry it to a healthy diet you will have more energy, feel better, look better and live longer (of course there are things beyond the far reaches of exercise and diet that dictate this last one, but they help anyway).

So I posed the question to not only see what you all would say, but to also deal with each others' weaknesses.

If you answered that cutting calories is harder, tell us on the facebook page what you do to motivate yourself for a great workout. If you answered that moving your buns was harder, help those of us who have a hard time saying no to our cravings.

Thanks for continuing this journey with me and remember to participate.

What would you do for a Klondike bar . . .

Or a double portion of chocolate fudge brownies slathered in Reese's cup ice cream in my case?

It being "that" time of the month for me, I stood gazing at the bowl of goodies and thought, "Is it worth it?" I suddenly heard a loud shout coming from deep inside me with a resounding "yeah baby." After my indulgence, I went outside and mowed the lawn. Since I was already sweaty and stinky I decided to get in some hill work.

Well, 10 hills later (jog down and sprint up) as I jogged home panting and dripping, I thought, "I'd do it all over again!"

That's the key . . . don't worry about eating those "good" things every once in a while. Just be willing to make the full commitment to it and have no regrets!

What's for lunch?

A good thatching of the yard, pulling some weeds, mowing the overgrowth and topping it all off with a succulent, homemade blackbean burger. That's what I had for lunch today. This illustrates exactly what I'm trying to get you all to incorporate into your everyday lives. Eating should walk hand-in-hand with physical activity.

What you consume is fuel for your body. The only time a car needs fuel is if you drive it. It doesn't need much energy to just sit in the driveway. Same goes for us.

For breakfast--half the Tae Bo tape (ran out of time but every bit counts), a whey protein smoothie and a couple rounds of tennis (well sort of) with the boys while we watched Savannah's lessons.

That's what it's all about. You eat, you move. You move, you eat. And eventually your body will become more efficient at burning calories to energize your day.

Food tip: Try to think of substitutes for your favorite snack or meal. For instance, I love burgers. So, I tried the blackbean burger--homemade of course. It was actually quite filling and not bad at all. And with only

Other substitutes I've made:

• Doritos with hotsauce to Baked version with hotsauce. Pretty close and eventually it will fill the craving.
• Regular Lays potato chips to 1/2 calorie version (made with Olestra of which only one none side affect so far--more poopie and I like the poopie).
• Chocolate candy bar or fudge brownie craving to Skinny Cow chocolate ice cream sandwich (only 140 calories)
• White bread to Sara Lee Delightful whole wheat (only 45 calories per slice).
• Water with all meals. I only splurge my calories on beverages maybe a couple times a month. This may seem extreme to most, but I rather eat my calories. Plain tea or black coffee have little to no calories (like 2). If you want something other than water, get 1/2 calorie juices that are 100 % juice and PLEASE NO NUTRASWEET (aspartame is the devil in sheep's clothing!)
• Margarine or butter to vegetable spread.
• Ground beef to ground turkey.

Post some of your substitutes to the fan page.

Running on the beach--this is the life

Took the family to the beach this Good Friday and while I sat there basking in the sun and watching the kiddos, it hit me. I could be running up and down the beach to get in some good moving.

The uneven, soft sand works great for core building while you run too. I know, many of you don't want to run while you're at the beach, and I certainly didn't have it in my mind to do so. But, how can I miss an opportunity? I ran up the beach one way and noticed all the cool shells as I passed making a mental note to grab them on the way back.

Sure enough, I ran pausing ever so often to collect those small treasures for my little girl.

I only ran for about 10 minutes, but the smell of the water, cool breeze off the ocean along with the sun caressing my skin--absolutely exhilarating and well worth it.

Get it in whenever and wherever until you don't even give it a second thought.

Vacation time

I know we all need a break from everything once in a while. When we go on vacation we often view this as a time to take a break on our exercise as well. Don't view it as a regimen though, or a chore. It should be a part of you--a part of what you want to do after a while.

I'm not asking you to continue with your stringent routine, but I am asking that you still get something in while you are away.

We just got back from a weekend in Orlando and I was able to maintain my weight while eating all hours of the day and night. I also ate volcano chocolate cake and ice cream (bad idea since I'm lactose intolerant, *ugh*) but it was goooood! I had turkey legs and churros, great asian cuisine and Giordano's deep dish pizza.

I love to eat and I use my vacation time as a time to catch up on the best the area has to offer. What I did maintain, though, were two staples in my exercise and diet life. I did not drink any of my calories. I drank water morning, noon and night and so escaped the trickery of pop, juice, and other calorie infested beverages. I used every last calorie to eat. And it was goooood! I think I said that already.

I also woke up (not early mind you--I was on vacation) and ran around the neighborhood. I never measured the distance but I put in about 20 minutes of running each round. Couple that with the day of walking through the parks and I was able to keep it all together.

What I have been trying to build you all up to is making movement a part of your every day. Since starting this venture with you all, it doesn't even feel right on days I "bum it." So look at moving as an essential, something that happens every day even when those days fall on vacation days. I mean even on vacation you have to breathe, right? Might as well breathe a little harder and a little faster.

Happy spring breaks and remember everything in moderation.