I Did It!

Today, I completed the 60-day Ultimate Warrior training schedule for Les Mills Combat! I am proud of this accomplishment because when I first started this series, I had serious doubts about my physical ability to perform the moves and withstand the rigor that these workouts required.

It was grueling.  I wanted to box it up and send it back...and spend that money on ice cream and pizza.  But, I didn't.  I made myself get up everyday...boy, did I dread it...pushed play, and then gave it everything.  At the end of each hour, I was shaking like Jell-O and dripping with sweat.  I even cried a few times.

Today's final workout was just as hard.  It never got easier, but I could finally do all the moves and make it to the end without stopping!  I know that I am stronger today than I was 60 days ago.  I'm glad I didn't give up.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who wants to improve their fitness.  It was challenging, but low-impact.  It was fun and inspiring.  I enjoyed every workout and never regretted the pain and fatigue that followed.  You can order your copy from Beachbody.com.

Roller Skating Momma - A Blast From the Past!

So back in the day - like 20 something years ago - I could really rock a pair of roller skates.  My mom would drop us off at the local skating rink on Saturday night with $5.00 and that money would get us in, pay for skate rental, some nachos and Dr. Pepper, AND a couple of big-hair-band songs on the juke box.  Man!  Those were the good ol' days.

Yesterday was Maddie's 5th birthday and she wanted to have her party at the roller rink, so I called and made the arrangements, never planning to lace up a pair on my own feet.  A friend-of-a-friend just fell skating and broke both arms.  This freaked me out so I decided that under no circumstances would I dare try skating after all these years...but then my own momma put on a pair and started making slow circles with the kids.  That tempted me.  However, when my sister-in-law Debbie hit the floor like an old pro, I had to join in!

I was a little rusty at first, but like riding a bike, it came back to me.  I was skating like a 16 year old within ten minutes (all the other moms at the birthday party were jealous - I could tell :)  I never managed to skate at my old level going backwards, but I pulled off a few spins and other cool moves.

At the end of the party, I was exhaused, but I had such a great time.  I forgot to ask Maddie if she had a good time because I was so busy having fun.  Now, I want a pair of skates (preferably with some cool socks and a pair of matching pom poms for my laces).  I am seriously considering having my own birthday party there this year...but wait, they don't serve alcohol so that won't work...

Anyway, I highly recommend that you get out there and give skating a try if you were ever good at it...or biking...or swimming...or any other activity that you enjoyed as a kid.  I am still smiling today :)

Have you revisited an old activity lately and had as much fun as I did?

My Love/Hate Relationship with Dr. Dukan

I have been in a love/hate relationship with Dr. Dukan for almost two years.  We all heard about this miracle diet during the Royal Wedding because this diet was popular among the crowned heads of Europe and everyone in attendance at this much-publicized event seemed to attribute their slim physiques to Dr. Dukan's diet.

I decided to try it.  I had a few pounds that I wanted to shred and I was having a hard time getting it off.  A friend and I purchased the book (seen above) and the companion cookbook, spent a couple of days reading the first few chapters, and then got started.  The diet is not new.  It has been around for decades and was designed for morbidly obese people.  It is the most popular diet among the French - and we know they love to eat and drink!

Let me say that during the course of my life, I have tried a lot of different diets.  Mostly, I try to stick to just healthy eating, but sometimes, I need a jump-start diet to get me going.  The Adkins Diet did nothing for me.  I didn't cheat for an entire 30 days of induction and only lost 2 pounds.  The Dukan Diet is different.  You WILL lose weight on this diet.  You will not be hungry, but you will hate life...for a while...and then life will get better because you will realize that you have lost the weight...plus some.

The diet works like this.  First, you go to the American Dukan Website, create an account, and then enter your "dimensions."  The Website will provide you with a basic course of action that includes the exact date when you can expect to achieve your "real weight."  You can also subscribe to coaching services and purchase food, if desired (not necessary unless you think you need that level of support).

The diet is comprised of four stages.  During the first two stages, your diet is made up mostly of lean proteins, fat free dairy, and non-starchy veggies.  The book provides a detailed list of foods that you can and can't have.  Each day, you drink a ton of water and eat 1-2 tablespoons of oat bran (which is a miracle food for stopping hunger pangs and for keeping one regular).  You don't have to exercise, but walking is highly encouraged.

During Stage 1, you can eat only lean proteins.  This stage only lasts for a few days for most of us.  Usually, just two days for women who want to shred 10-15 pounds.  You can expect to lose five or more pounds during the first week :)
During Stage 2, you alternate days of lean proteins with days of lean proteins and vegetables.  You continue doing this until you reach your "real weight."  Weight loss is rapid if you don't cheat.

In Stage 3, you gradually add back in other foods that were forbidden during the first two stages.  This is the slowest phase and you really have to be careful about introducing the foods.  You also maintain a "lean protein only" day once per week during this phase.

Stage 4 continues for the rest of your life.  You continue to adhere to the "lean protein only" day once per week to keep the weight off.

I must say that I have only made it through Stage 2.  Once I lose the weight, I slip back into my old eating habits and slowly gain the weight back.  However, I am in stage 2 right now and plan to make it all the way this time so I can maintain by "real weight."

This diet works.  It is not for everyone and you should consult your doctor before trying it.  I believe in it.  I've seen the results and I love them.  I just hate the restrictions.  I just keep telling myself that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.  Maybe I'll believe it one day :)

Mobility - Mom on the Move!

During the past month, I've had an opportunity to spend a great deal of time thinking about the importance of mobility.  My husband, Don, had his second back surgery (a three-vertebra fusion, this time) a few days into the new year and after a one-week stay in the hospital, he was confined to our home for four additional weeks.  Not only was his mobility limited during this time, the round-the-clock care that he needed required the entire family to stay at home, as well.

While we were at home, I spent a great amount of time contemplating my own mobility and how much it means to me.  As a result, I have decided to change the direction of this blog (to a certain extent) to reflect this theme. 

The word mobile is defined in a variety of ways. 

SPA City Race 2012 (Maddie and I both placed 2nd)

Mirriam-Webster defines the it like this: "capable of moving or being moved."  While my husband was bed/chair bound, I was afforded more time to focus on my personal fitness goals because we were all homebound.  Everyone who knows me knows that I am a health nut.  I work out seven days a week for a minimum of one hour and 15 minutes per day and I try to follow a nutritious diet (most days).  I want to spend more time writing about fitness and health and how important these topics are to women who are busy working and taking care of their families.  Busy women frequently fail to take care of themselves because they spend so much time focusing on others.  During the past month, my children also became ill with stomach bugs and colds.  I remained healthy.  I truly believe that the healthy lifestyle that I choose to follow helps me to better ward off illness and also keeps me mentally sane.  One of the threads for my future blogs will focus on the importance of being active!


SWOW Team (before Don's back surgery)

Dictionary.com defines the word mobile as, "digital technology; pertaining to or noting a cell phone, usually one with a computing ability, or a portable, wireless computing device used while held in the hand."  Don and I spend much of our time planning and providing technology-related professional development to educators in and around the State of Arkansas.  We have started our own organization, Schools Without Walls, which focuses specifically on mobile computing.  We do our best to stay abreast and keep others informed of the value of mobile computing and its application in the classroom.  The second thread within the theme of mobility will focus on this area.

The Temple of Zeus, Spring 2012

Finally, Thesaurus.com lists numerous synonyms for the word mobility, but one in particular is of special interest to me.  My undergraduate degree is in social studies with an emphasis on world geography.  There aren't many things that I love more than traveling to new places, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures.  I enjoy introducing students to these experiences as well and have had several opportunities to take students abroad.  Next month, I will be taking over 50 people to the Western Carribean on a cruise.  Many of them have never been out of the U.S.  Last spring, I took 44 students and faculty on a trip to Italy and Greece.  Next year, I am taking a group to Ireland and Scotland.  In addition, to student travel, I especially like the process that goes into planning a family vacation.  Right now, I am spending a lot of my free time planning an upcoming trip to the Mediterranean Sea that includes several days in Rome and then another cruise with port stops in Spain and France.  I think that these types of experiences are invaluable to us today because we live in a global society and function within a global economy.  Without global experiences and the 21st Century skills afforded by these experiences, students will not be prepared to be successful in adulthood.  So, my final thread will focus on this time of mobility - travel :)

My goal is to post once a week from this point forward on one of these threads.  I plan to post my first entry next week so please stay tuned!