inperspire me

2010-04-19T09:48:00.000-05:00

We've Moved. Please join us at: Inperspire .

Day 112 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-18T08:29:00.001-05:00

We're Moving House

Well, really, we're moving from Blogger to Wordpress.com.

Yep, we are taking the plunge.

I'm scared.

It's scary moving, but I think it will help in the long run.

I will keep our blogspot up and running for the next week or so in case you forget (also as a way to hedge my bets because moving is HARD :)

Hopefully the move will make our blog faster so it will be more convenient for you & me.

Our new address is: http://inperspire.wordpress.com/ .

The new blog is not complete yet - what or who is - but I hope to have our mascot of the month and all the important things, e.g., gold stars of the month up and running by the end of the day.

Please let me know if you have any difficulties. I can always change back.

As a person who avoids change it is a relief to know I can "change back".

I am, however, optimistic that this will be a good move.

All that being said...whew!

Hope you have a great Sunday!

It's Zumba day today! Yay!

This is where I tell myself, take a deep breath everything will be okay.

Lotsa,

Day 111 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-17T07:46:00.002-05:00

Hey, look what I got!

No, not a new pair of shoes, but a Stiletto Award!

I am so excited...and I just can't hide it...I'm about to lose control

and I think I like it (okay, enough of the Pointer Sisters)!

This is my first award and it was given to me by

Cynthia O'H from Balls in in Air.

Cynthia received the award and then passed it on to five bloggers who motivate her.

The thing that I love most about blogging is how all of us lead very busy lives and yet we manage to find time to exercise (even if we aren't always consistent, we know what we need to do) and to give each other motivation by writing our "stories" in our blogs and comments.

Thanks, Cynthia O'H, for such a kind and motivational gesture.

Now I get to pass the award on to five bloggers who inspire and motivate me...this is SO much fun!

The Stiletto Award goes to (in no particular order):

Fashion Meets Food

Girl Get Strong (Sian)

I Run Because I Can

And Her Little Dog Too

Truth2Being Fit

I have learned so much from these "girls" and they definitely deserve an award.

Have a Super Saturday!

Happy Sweating :)

Day 110 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-16T08:15:00.002-05:00

It's Friday!

Time to get our booty in shape for the weekend!

I thought you might like this video, especially when they get to squeezing right then left.

Try it in your chair at work, in the car, when you are standing, wherever.

I am going to try it all day long today. I need a little lift in my life :)

Have a Fabulous Friday...tight tushes to all!

Day 109 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-15T07:45:00.001-05:00

Diane Murphey - Lose A Ton Challenge - The Final 3!

Diane's hardwork and dedication has paid off. She made it to the Final 3 in St. Louis' Lose A Ton Challenge. At her weigh-in this week she totally rocked the scale. At the last weigh-in she was 192 lbs - this week 186 lbs! She lost a total of 3.12% of her body weight. Can you say proud - yes we are. I am also in awe because Diane has made big changes in the midst of living a busy life, working long hours, and working late a night. I think you said it best, Diane, and I believe this may be your new mantra:

Bring It On!

Here is a video of yesterday's weigh-in Booyah!

Lose A Ton Challenge

Day 108 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-14T04:00:00.001-05:00

It's Wednesday, also known in my house as the day after the Biggest Loser day. Love that show. My favorite quote from last night's episode was:

"Our contestants have to leave their unhealthy pasts behind."

I think it was Bob who said this when talking about what the contestants needed to do in order to move forward in and toward their new lives. I especially liked this quote because it brought up the PAST (the archaeologist in me loves the past) and it reminded me of a quote I use in archaeology class:

"The Past is Never Dead. It's Not Even Past." ~William Faulkner

Yes, Bob is right, we must leave our unhealthy habits and ways of thinking behind in order to move forward. However, while we may be able to put the past behind us, we must also remember that our pasts will always be with us - the past is never dead - it's not even past. No matter where we are or what we do or how much weight we lose our pasts remain with us. They are a part of us. To forget our pasts is to make possible the same mistakes. This doesn't mean we can't rise above our pasts - all of you are a testament to rising above past habits and past thoughts - rather than forget - we must let our pasts be the motivation for our future.

P.S. The pioneer women in the picture seem so different from us but their struggles are a part of who we have become (with the exception of Jimmy and Greg, our two male contributors - heehee).

Day 107 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-13T04:00:00.001-05:00

'Nuff Said.

Happy Tuesday. Workout Hard. Be Fierce. Believe.

Day 106 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-12T04:00:00.003-05:00

Today's post begins with a riddle.

How do you eat an elephant?

Answer: One Bite At A Time.

You Must Eat An Elephant One Bite At A Time. ~Twi proverb

The meaning behind this proverb is a powerful one. A big goal can be reached through a series of small "bites". It's like Haba na Haba Hujaza Kibaba (little by little fills the cup). When the distance between where I am now and where I want to be gets a bit overwhelming, I just say to myself, little by little fills the cup...or...one bite at a time. Reminding myself that it's the little steps that will take me there - really helps put whatever I am doing at that moment (struggling on the treadmill, trying to run an entire 5k, trying to run up a big hill, or getting through a weight workout) into perspective.

Many of us have set some lofty and wonderful goals for oursevles: eating healthier, working out more, working out more consistently, incorporating weights, running, running faster, running longer, running a 5k, losing weight, toning up...our list is long and honorable :) In the midst of all this goal setting and pushing through, it is easy to lose track of the beauty and wonder of the small goals we reach in our climb to the top. You may not have reached your goal yet, you may still have a way to go, but don't forget to enjoy the trip.

Happy Monday! Happy Sweating!

Day 105 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-11T09:36:00.000-05:00

And on Day 105 he built...

It feels good to make or create things with your own hands - as you can tell from the picture of Greg here. We are getting ready for the IDEA Conference in Chicago (4/22-25) and Greg built a display for our towels to hang off the backdrop behind our booth. Greg, you get three thousand thumbs!

Does this really work? It does! Yay!

IDEA has a 28-year long history of providing fitness education and bringing the newest fitness programs and trends to all of us through fitness conventions and events. We are excited to be exhibiting at this year's IDEA Conference.

Okay, I'm off to ZUMBA. Have a fabulously fit and fun-filled day. And, while you're at, why don't you make something :)

Day 104 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-10T07:57:00.005-05:00

Today is a day for boot camp and crochet! It's gonna' be a lovely day. If you missed the post last week about Handmade Especially For You, an organization dedicated to making scarves for women in need, you can check it out here. If you like to crochet or knit, and have the time to help make scarves, you are welcome to join us. There is no rush in making the scarves, whenever we get 10 or 20 done I will send them to Handmade. I started to crochet my first scarf last week, but unfortunately I did not put my work away when I finished and my kittens had their way with my yarn. Sad, but not to worry. I will start again today! Carolyn D said she has about 3-4 scarves started. She's fast!

The cartoon is from Natalie Dee. I added the crochet: http://www.nataliedee.com/

In case you didn't catch yesterday's post I mentioned that we had a new mascot for the month of April. Leslie of And Her Little Dog Too fame did a photo shoot with an Inperspire towel and her dog Jackson. Here is the official mascot picture.

This should definitely make the cover of Vogue! Thanks Jackson and Leslie.

Day 103 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-09T08:33:00.000-05:00

Are You a Tortoise or a Hare?

Do you run like the wind or is your pace more like a tortoise where you can record every detail from the things you pass along the way? I fit the latter category, although Jimmy claims that I am getting "faster". We have some really great runners in this group. Many of you post impressive times for your races and paces. I am always amazed! I am getting stronger, but running is still a struggle for me. I often feel like the tortoise. I know I will finish, the question is how long is it going to take me. I have always wondered why I don't run that fast. Certainly, my short legs have something to do with not being able to run at Jimmy's pace, but is it something more? You see, I have this pace, this speed at which I feel comfortable. When I hit this pace I just feel good, James Brown good, but if I speed up a little bit or slow it down a bit things feel off kilter. Do you know what I mean? Even the fastest among us probably have their "personal favorite pace". Well, I might have an explanation...some of you know I am an archaeologist. I study hunter-gatherers. I came across this article while doing some research and it offers a possible explanation:

Optimal Running Speed Associated With Evolution Of Early Human Hunting Strategies

ScienceDaily (2009-03-30) -- Runners, listen up: If your body is telling you that your pace feels a little too fast or a little too slow, it may be right. A new study shows that the efficiency of human running varies with speed and that each individual has an optimal pace at which he or she can cover the greatest distance with the least effort. Such efficient locomotion probably provided our ancestors with an advantage for hunting and gathering food. ... > read full article

Anyway, it's something to think about on a TGIF kind of day :)

More Fun Friday News

Look what Leslie at And Her Little Dog Too has cooked up...an Inperspire Giveaway Contest! Her blog is just too awesome and Jackson modeling the towels...priceless. We were thinking of having our friend Happy Bob as Inperspire's Official Mascot of the month, because he is running his first marathon (St. Louis Marathon) this Sunday, but I think Jackson may have won the title this month. What do you think?

By the way, Bob, Big G little o - Go! Go! We are behind you all the way :)

Day 102 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-08T04:00:00.001-05:00

Here's a shout out to the weightlifters! Our second towel of the month, To Be Is To Lift - To Lift Is To Be - encourages you to think deeply and do more than just exist in the gym - Be!

Now, time for a story.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a far away land, I was a weight trainer (that's what we called them back in the day, now we refer to them as personal trainers) and was I ever in good shape! Through the years I lost my love for the weights, but this story has a happy ending, I am ready to begin again. I know from personal experience that lifting weights, combined with cardio, will get me where I want to go. I am ready to take the plunge and I will report on my efforts.

And, she lived happily ever after - that is the ending I am hoping for :)

Have a fairy tale Thursday!

Day 101 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-07T04:00:00.001-05:00

It was Biggest Loser night last night. As always, I watch because seeing the struggles and triumphs of these brave people gives me hope that people can and do make big changes in their lives. I always hear or see something on the show that motivates me to be a better and healthier person. As I do each Tuesday, I wrote down my favorite quotes from the show. My favorite quote from last night:

I didn't just make that 2% (weight) loss, I smashed it! ~Sam

You know, I could use this kind of ATTITUDE in my approach to fitness. I know what I want, but I do not always go out and really go after it! What's keeping me from smashing it? It may be my own fear about what I am really capable of...hmmm...I may need a visit from Jillian :) What I do know is that Sam's quote made me realize that I need to pick up my intensity. I need to see it, eat it, breathe it, focus on it, AND smash it. What about you? Did you smash that goal you set for yourself last week? What about this week? Do you need to pick up your intensity - or - do you need me to call Jillian for you?

Day 100 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-06T08:07:00.001-05:00

Happy 100 Days of living the good life! It's been 100 days since we began our Odyssey. Some of you joined us that week, others have joined along the way. We came together at different times and from different places, but now we are all in this together, with one overarching goal in mind: Living the Good Life, which for us means eating well, working out regularly, making good choices about sleep, taking care of ourselves, and knowing that we are worth it. We are worth every single drop of sweat. That's just nice to think about and I think Homer would be proud of us, although, I don't think he would appreciate the addition of the cupcake to Odysseus' ship (heehee).

All for one and one for all!
Happy Tuesday. Happy Biggest Loser Day. Happy Life!

Day 99 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-05T08:52:00.001-05:00

It's the beginning of the week.

It's the beginning of the month.

It's a new day.

Put your sunglasses on.

It's time to let your light shine!

Let it Shine is one of our towels of the month for April. This week, when you are on the treadmill, out for a run, running stairs, jumping rope, on the stairmill...sing it, say it, or think it to yourself, "this little light of mine, I'm gonna' let it shine" and then do it!

Have a great Monday! Let it Shine!

P.S. Tune in tomorrow or Wednesday (I haven't decided yet) for the towel we chose as our second towel of the month. I almost forgot to tell you what being the towel of the month means - we select a towel that we think represents the month or our goals for the month and then we offer it for $8.

Day 98 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-04T10:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter! I am off to Zumba this morning.

I am working out this morning with this is mind - I love chocolate bunnies :)

Truth to Being Fit has a great post today about the benefits of chocolate.

If you are going to indulge your love of all that is chocolate

read Jody's blog - it will make you feel better.

Remember moderation is key to everything.

Day 97 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-03T10:54:00.003-05:00

Happy Saturday! I have a mish mash (whatever that means) of things to post about today so here goes.

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." ~Pablo Picasso. It's National Poetry Month! Release your inner artist. Draw, color, take a picture, write a poem. Give the left side of your brain a rest today. It's healthy for mind and soul.

Workout Mommy was featured as one of the best blog's on the web by Shape Magazine. Check out Lisa's review of our towels and her great blog! Thanks, Lisa!

Leslie of And Her Little Dog Too fame :) is now carrying Inperspire Towels in her OpenSky Shop. Thanks, Leslie!

Day 96 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-02T08:40:00.002-05:00

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes - can you feel the changes you have been making in your lives? From reading your posts it seems like we are all experiencing changes as a result of living healthier lives. Some are seeing changes on the scale, some are running faster, or running longer, or just running. Some are getting stronger and eating better. Let's celebrate the changes. Take time today to think about what has changed for you - it may be as simple as being just a little happier and more satisfied each day. Happy "Changes" Friday!

Day 96 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-04-01T08:53:00.001-05:00

And the Winner is...

Well, actually, we have several winners.  When you look at the calendar, at all the gold stars we earned this month, you will see that we just rocked March! So we chose three Gold Star Winners this month - why not spread the love around?

Diane - Girl, you worked out every day of the month, you lost a ton (reference to the Lose a Ton Challenge) this month, and you are down to the final four! You have won this award before and we are proud to crown you as a winner again.  Choose another towel for yourself - whatever your heart desires - or choose a friend to send one to - it's your choice :)

Cynthia - You ran 30k at one time. That is by far the longest distance any of us have walked/run at one time and that deserves an Inperspire towel. I am so impressed!  We are happy you joined us :)

Smith - Your workout sandwiches and your determination to do what it takes no matter how long you are at work or what shift you work are inspiring and you deserve a towel!  Your towel will probably inspire you to make even better workout sandwiches! We love reading your posts :)

Dana - You started a new job and we know the transition has not been easy - so you deserve a towel - so go upstairs and pick whatever one you want! Heehee! April Fools :)

Winners (well, we are all winners)...Winners of the Gold Star Contest, just send Jimmy an email: jimmyspin.314 at gmail.com and tell him which towel you would like and your address. We truly hope your towels inspire you on to even greater fitness heights.

And, finally, here is our (Jimmy and Karma's) calendar for March. It looks pretty good with the exception of the week of the 21st, which got a little shakey, but we have recovered and finished strong. Thanks to all of you - we read your posts and draw inspiration from you. Keep it up!

Day 95 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-31T09:06:00.001-05:00

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

It was Biggest Loser night last night! I love the Biggest Loser. I find the transformations amazing and I always shed a tear or two when I see the changes in the contestants. During the show I write down things that Bob or Jillian say that make sense to me. My favorite from last night:

Failure is not an option. ~Bob Harper

So we have lots to celebrate today because it's the end of the month and today is your last day to get your gold star for March! Finish strong and remember: Failure is not an option.

We also need to celebrate Diane's latest Lose a Ton triumph. Diane is safe for this week. She lost 4.5 more pounds and she is a mean, lean, fighting machine! I am trying to find video of Diane so you can see our girl in action and I will post as soon as I can get my hands on it. Congratulations, Diane! We are with you all the way.

I will finish today's post with lyrics from the Biggest Loser song. Love yourself today!

We need a change
Do it today

I can feel my spirit rising

We need a change

So do it today

'Cause I can see a clear horizon

Day 94 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-30T06:15:00.000-05:00

resilience ( \ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s\):

the physical property of a material that can return to its original shape or position after deformation that does not exceed its elastic limit. ~Merriam-Webster.

I have posted about being resilient before (Day 85) within the context of the first day of spring. Now, here I am writing about resilience again so it must be something I haven't quite learned yet, plus, Jimmy thought it might be a good idea for me to "revisit" the idea of resilience after my blogger "crash" of yesterday, which is really his way of saying I have "resilience issues" that need to be resolved :)

I have given my reaction to yesterday's "crash", which I liken to giving birth to a cow of a tantrum, but perhaps a whale of a tantrum is a more accurate comparison, some thought. What I think is interesting is how one thing, one perturbation in an otherwise state of equilibrium can cause such a commotion in my life. What I realized, besides the fact this blog means a lot to me because it has connected me to people I would not otherwise have known and it has connected me to a part of myself that I had not previously imagined, is that I live my life in a constant state of trying to stay in equilibrium. Sound familiar? I am constantly balancing how to get everything done and "be all that I can be" and once in awhile something comes along to let me know that I need to slow down a little bit and instead of trying to "be all that I can be" I should just try to "be". I hope that makes sense. If you have experienced any small set-backs in your life lately, perhaps you have taken on something new, or, your work/home schedule has completely taken over your life and your workouts have been put on hold, just remember that you are resilient - that you have the ability to bounce back, to rebound, to leap forward as soon as you are ready to do so.

Happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

P.S. Our weather in St. Louis is finally warming up (again) so if you missed it the first time, and your weather permits, why not take the signs of spring worksheet with you today, enjoy the sites, and just "be".

Blogger Issues

2010-03-29T10:37:00.002-05:00

So, when I woke up this morning I was feeling quite chipper, then I checked our blog to make sure Day 93 posted properly and to see what our late night commenters had to say, and that's when I saw it...my blog template was gone! After I nearly had a cow (yes, I mean, I gave birth to a cow of a tantrum) I tried to figure out what was wrong, I wrote to blogger help, I shed a few tears of frustration, and then I started thinking about possible solutions. Should I start over? Gasp! Yikes! I finally found a blogger site to help come up with a quick solution. Now I realize I kind of like the change :) Anyway, I am very excited about Post 93 for today so I hope you can read it and that you do not have any problems with the new format/template. Let me know.

Happy in health, MIND, and body!

Day 93 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-29T04:00:00.004-05:00

nataliedee.com

Do you crochet or knit? Does this cartoon look all too familiar? It did to me, which made me laugh all the more when I saw it! So, you are probably saying to yourself right now, "how is she possibly going to relate yarn, crochet, or knitting to exercise?" Good question! Truth be told, I am not even going to try, although, if pressed, I think I could come up with a connection if given enough time :)

I am writing today to ask if you would like to join me in making scarves for women in need. While I was reading my Random Acts of Kindess newsletter the other day I came across this wonderful organization called Handmade Especially for You. This organization crochets and knits scarves for women (and children) in shelters. In 2009 they made and delivered over 6500 comfort scarves and they would like to double their efforts in 2010 - and that's where you and I come in. I contacted Leslye Borden of Handmade and she said they would love our help. I am going to start crocheting scarves now and I thought it would be lovely to work on this with our healthy minded community.

If you do not know how to crochet or knit perhaps now is the time to learn? What do you think? I will be using my own yarn and a very simple pattern like the easy double crochet pattern from the Handmade Especially for You site. Leslye provides the following tips for making the scarves:

1. Use soft yarn (for comfort).
2. Pick happy colors.
3. Make them four to five inches wide.
4. Make them at least 60 inches long.
5. Use open-weave stitch if possible (so they can be used in warm weather climates).
6. You can add some novelty yarn or ribbon to make them special.

The intention of making these scarves is to provide a gift of comfort. Each scarf has a handmade tag where you sign your name (I have the template for the tags). If you are able to join me, just let me know.

I just thought of the connection between crocheting and knitting and health. The act of crochet and knitting slows us down and allows our mind to become quiet and focused (it's like coloring a mandala or a picture). And of course we all know that happiness and good health go hand in hand. What could make us happier than helping someone else :)

Healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

Have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Monday!

Day 92 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-28T04:00:00.003-05:00

I love drinking Yogi Tea. Everything about this tea makes me happy, from its aroma, to its beautiful packaging, to the inspirations that come with each cup of tea. The Yogi Tea website has some wonderful yoga poses to help us create well-being. There are poses to calm, to revive, to uplift, to comfort, and for serenity and harmony. The image at left, from the Yogi Tea website, demonstrates the pose for energy and balance. Take time today to slow down, if even for a few minutes, and try this pose. How does it make you feel?

Yoga for energy and balance

Sit cross-legged or in a chair with feet flat. Close right nostril with right hand and inhale slowly and deeply through left nostril. Then close left nostril to exhale slowly through right. Inhale through right nostril, then close it to exhale through left. Repeat for a few minutes at 4 to 6 breaths per minute. Calm and steady breath is the key to a steady mind.

2010-03-27T10:42:00.000-05:00

I had a great day yesterday. I started off at the gym. While on the treadmill I thought about what a nice community we have. In truth, each time I am on the treadmill I let my mind wander and I often think about things I want to post about or I think about what each of you has posted and what we are accomplishing together.

Later in the day I went to a lecture given by a friend of mine (Stanley Ambrose) about the explosion of Mount Toba (Sumatra) at ~73,000 years ago and what that might have meant for us (at that time). If you are interested here is a link to an online summary of the article: Humans 'came close to extinction'.

After the lecture, Jimmy and I went to the Pi Pizzeria down on the Loop. We had a small pizza (spinach, mozzarella) and a beer (Bell's Two-Hearted Ale). It was crowded and fun!

After pizza we went to the African Film Festival organized by my friend, Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo. We watched two films, The Bronx Princess (image at left) which is a coming of age story set in the context of reconciling our roots. The second film was Sex, Okra, and Salted Butter about one family's struggles to live a traditional life in a non-traditional world. The films were so well done, funny and lighthearted, and yet serious in the issues they presented. It was SO nice to hear the audience laughing in unison and to be a part of that as we related situations on the screen.

It was really nice to stretch myself yesterday. To stretch my legs and my mind :) I can get very caught up in staying on schedule and I sometimes forget to take advantage of all that life has to offer. Healthy in mind, body, and spirit is the goal. Have a great stretch this weekend!

Day 90 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-26T04:00:00.004-05:00

World Water Week

March 22-26

Our bodies are approximately 60% water. Every system in our body depends on water to function properly and keep us going. I think most everyone knows that drinking water is an essential part of staying healthy, but what is often overlooked is how drinking water and staying hydrated actually helps us. I found a nifty chart created by the Mayo Clinic showing how water functions in our bodies - but the figure they used was really "funky" looking so I created my own version of the chart :)

I was amazed by how much water does for us. Besides keeping us from getting dehydrated (even mild dehydration can make you feel fatigued), water is also important for making our bodies work properly - and one more thing that water does - it keeps things flowing - if you know what I mean. How much water you need each day depends on things like how active you are, where you live (hot or humid climates make us sweat more), and your overall health. A general rule of thumb is to drink 8-8oz glasses of water a day. Of course, you don't have to get all your fluids from water. You get some fluids from your foods (~20% per day), and you can drink beverages other than water to up your fluid intake, but think of water as the no calorie way to stay healthy. Try keeping track of your water consumption for one day and see if you are meeting your water needs.

And, finally, let's all work together to kick the bottled water habit. We can save our planet and save ourselves $$ by refusing to buy bottled water. Use resuable containers for your water needs.

Bottled Water Facts:

The average American consumes 167 bottles of water a year.
Bottled water is the second most popular beverage in the United States. We love bottled water and yet it is not safer than many public water sources and it costs about 1000 times more.
38 million plastic bottled water containers go to the dump each year in America alone.
Plastic bottles take hundreds of years to begin to begin to disintegrate.
For every six water bottles we use, only one makes it to the recycling bin. The rest are sent to landfills or end up as trash on the land and in rivers, lakes, and our oceans.
The production and transportation of plastic water bottles uses significantly more water than the bottle contains, e.g., a one-liter water bottle uses 6.74 gallons of water in its production and transportation. Also, the production and distribution of a one bottle of water uses a liter of fossil fuel and is responsible for the emission of 1.2 lb. of greenhouse gases.

So, Think Before You Drink (bottled water) - Have a totally awesome Friday - And Be Fierce in your Workouts!

Day 90

2010-03-25T08:08:00.000-05:00

Breakfast of Champions?

What are your breakfasts like? Do you eat a breakfast fit for the athlete you are? If the answer to the last question is no, ask yourself why. Maybe your breakfasts have become a bit boring, if so, why not try something new to spice up your A.M. routine. Last week I ate a vegge burger for breakfast, which is really out of the ordinary for me because I have a very strict set of foods that I consider breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods) and yet I loved it. I felt good all day, I wasn't hungry during the day, and I didn't eat as much. Of course, we hear that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day", but what I usually hear is, "breakfast is yadayadayadayada" because for seem reason I seem to think that what the experts say about breakfast doesn't apply to me (yes, I am the only human on earth that doesn't need to eat breakfast). Anyway, if you don't already, try to give your breakfast some more thought. Fuel yourself properly for your day so that your brain and body can function properly and you can be at the top of your game. For those of you who like granola, I have a great recipe for a granola that we had while we were at the Grand Canyon several years ago. It's easy to make and will make you feel good all day long. Have a super duper Thursday.

GRAND CANYON GRANOLA

Source: Western Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
Publisher: Golden West Publishers

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups ROLLED OATS
1 cup COCONUT FLAKES
1/2 cup WHEAT GERM
1/2 cup SESAME SEEDS
1/2 cup chopped ALMONDS
1/2 cup shelled SUNFLOWER SEEDS
1/2 cup HONEY
1/4 cup SALAD OIL
1/2 cup chopped DATES
1/2 cup RAISINS (we sometimes use cranberries, but with cherrries being the super food we will add cherries when I make this on Saturday)

In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, coconut, wheat germ, sesame seeds, almonds and sunflower seeds. When thoroughly mixed add honey and oil. Spread into a 13x9x2 inch baking pan and bake at 250 degree for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir in the dates and raisins. Allow mixture to cool, stirring occasionally to keep from sticking. Once cooled, place granola in a plastic container for storage.

Serve with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit.

Day 89 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-24T07:44:00.000-05:00

Temptation. On last night's Biggest Loser the contestants were tempted by money and cupcakes. The challenge was to ride 26.2 miles on a stationary bike in the fastest time - the winner would receive

$10K. The temptation...by eating a mini cupcake you could add five minutes to another contestant's time. Each cupcake was 100 calories. I was not surprised by who chose to eat the cupcakes - who chose to sabotage their efforts to lose weight - who chose not to believe in themselves enough to realize that they might just be able to win on their own. Watching some of the contestants give in to temptation, while others were steadfast in their resolution to lose weight, was meaningful to me. For those who chose to forgo the temptation, losing weight and being healthy was more important to them than winning money - and that is because losing weight and being healthy feels good - it feels really good. I have read a lot lately about will power. Some researchers suggest that will power does not work. After 89 days on our Odyssey to weight loss and healthy living, I agree with the researchers. It's not about will power or temptations, it's about understanding that a cupcake or an extra helping of food cannot possibly make feel as good as being healthy. As I get in better shape my clothes are fitting better and I am happier - and - in the words of James Brown, the godfather of soul, "Whoa-oa-oa, I feel good, I knew that I would now.."! Feel good and have a wonderful Wednesday!

2010-03-23T08:08:00.000-05:00

Just a little reminder: "What you build easily, falls quickly." ~Slovenian Proverb. Have a great Tuesday and build strong foundations!

Day 87 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-22T04:00:00.007-05:00

A Tribute to Our Four Footed Personal Trainers

Personal trainers can change our lives...I know these personal trainers are responsible not only for keeping you happy, but for letting you know you are ALWAYS loved. Give your personal trainer a hug and a treat today :)

Day 86 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-21T09:41:00.002-05:00

nataliedee.com

Don't forget to send a picture of your "personal trainer" for our tribute post tomorrow. Do your best today :)

Day 85 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-20T08:20:00.000-05:00

Happy Spring! Today is the Vernal Equinox - the day in March when the sun's light is directly over the earth's equator and day and night all over the world are approximately equal in length. If you like to know about the roots of words, Ver is from Latin meaning spring, equi is from the Latin aequi meaning equal, and nox meaning night.

What does Spring have to do with this blog? Spring reminds me of how resilient we are. The signs of resilience are everywhere: green shoots pushing up through layers of soil and leaves accumlated over winter, Robins and Wrens, and all sorts of birds, have returned to build their nests and begin their families again, frogs begin to croak, and the grass begins to green. Spring is a time to spring back, to rebound, to leap forward! I feel a renewed sense of purpose as the days grow longer and warmer and spring makes itself known. What are the signs of spring in your life (outside and inside)? I am taking my Signs of Spring worksheet outside today to see what I can see :) I hope you will have time to do the same. Have a great Saturday!

Day 84 of OUR 364 Day Odyssey

2010-03-19T04:00:00.001-05:00

Don't we all wish we could have Bob and Jillian as our personal trainers? I know I do! Part drill sergeants and part motivational gurus, the team of Harper and Michaels rocks. I wish I could bring them home with me. Most of us are not lucky enough to have our own personal trainers...unless...of course...you count the four footed kind! Yes, I am talking about Canis lupus - human's best friend. Our dogs, big or small, behaved or not, drag us out of the house when we least feel like it, in all kinds of weather, and make us walk when the probability of us working out without them is basically zero. Our dogs are our personal trainers. They motivate us, make us happy, and keep us in shape. Dogs play a big part in many of our lives so I thought we could do a tribute to Personal Trainers of the Four Footed kind on Monday. Send me (dddale@wustl.edu) a picture of your "personal trainer" and I will post the pics in our one of kind tribute. Have a great Friday!

Day 83 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had a day where you wake up and say, "Oops!"? I have had two days in a row of "Oops". I can't blame it all on the time change, but the spring forward thing always takes its toll on me. Getting up at 8:15 (which, according to my thinking, would have been 7:15 last week) is not working for me. In order to get my workout in and meet my deadlines/schedules I have to be up earlier. There is another factor in my "Oops" days this week. I have been playing fast and loose with what I know I need to do to be able to workout and eat healthy, and drinking green beer and staying up too late certainly did not help. Mea culpa...but I am about to set things right. I am going out walking/jogging in what I consider to be "frigid" weather (48 degrees) so I can get myself back on track. Wish me luck :)

Day 82 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-17T10:01:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! - Lá 'le Pádraig! I am not Irish, but I have always loved this holiday. I love wearing green and eating and drinking green things made especially for this day. Of course , St. Patrick's Day has transmogrified (see Calvin and Hobbes for a definition of transmogrify) from its roots in 5th century CE Ireland to what we celebrate today around the world today (History of St. Patrick's Day). Luck plays a big part in St. Patrick's Day traditions. Luck of the Irish, beginner's luck, lucky you, lucky dog, get lucky...but what is luck? I often say, "This time I got lucky" or "Yes, I am very lucky", when talking about good things that happen to me. Some say that luck is just another word for being prepared to make the right choices. I watched a video featuring Dr. Jean Houston where she talks about luck. Dr. Houston knew Margaret Mead (famed anthropologist). She talks in the video about a time when Dr. Mead was looking for some much needed anthropological information, and through a purely chance meeting, finds that information. At the time, Dr. Houston said to Dr. Mead, "Margaret, you are very lucky". Dr. Mead replied, "Yes, I am blessed." "But, why do you think you are so blessed" asked Dr. Houston - and - Margaret Mead replied: "Because I expect to be." Is it luck? Is it postive thinking? Is it being prepared? Whatever it is...

May the Luck of the Irish be with You

Day 81 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-16T09:27:00.000-05:00

Karma's Pictorial Food Diary

I start off each day with a homemade ice coffee or a homemade "latte".

The "latte" is based on Dana's most famous lattes made with her fancy schmancy coffee maker. For my not so fancy lattes I put 1/3 cup milk and a tbsp. of vanilla creamer in a cup and heat in the microwave for 60 seconds. Then I use a wire whip to froth the milk and then pour the coffee in the cup. It gives me the illusion that I am drinking a real latte. If you would like my ice coffee recipe, just let me know.

Breakfast

Scrambled (free range) Eggs

If I don't have one of Jimmy's famous shakes (I will post pictures of those wonderful A.M. creations in the future), then I try to eat some protein, either eggs or veggie sausages.

Lunch (at my desk)

Peanut butter & honey sandwich and water

(sounds kind of like a prisoner's lunch or a kindergartner's).

Yes, that is white bread.

My excuse: We were out of bread and had to stop at a weird store to get bread on our way home from the gym.

Dinner

Asian Noodle Bowls

I love everything about these noodle bowls. They are easy to make (Jimmy does the cooking so they are especially easy for me to make - hehe). They have Udon noodles, savory tofu (cooked in a skillet in a little hot oil), cucumbers, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and a lemongrass marinade that is so awesome it will knock your socks off, especially if Jimmy adds more than one jalapeno as he often does!

What I learned

about myself through my food diary

1. I learned that I am not a great food photographer.

2. I learned that on the weekends I sometimes eat food, e.g., nachos, that I wouldn't necessarily want to put into a pictorial food diary. It's one thing to write it down, it's another to actually take a picture of it.

3. I learned that I really dislike white bread, and, in order to eat healthy, I need to think ahead.

4. I learned that on the days that I don't drink one of Jimmy's awesome morning shakes (yogurt, bananas, berries, oj, and soy milk) I miss having fresh fruit and fresh food.

5. I learned that I don't give much thought to what I eat because I eat breakfast on the run, I eat lunch at my desk, and I worry about calories at dinner. I need to give my food/fuel more thought.

6. I learned that I get hungry every day at 3 pm and by 5 pm I am ravenous - that's a dangerous state to be in if you want to eat healthy and lose weight.

Final Thoughts

Jimmy and I eat fairly healthy, we don't eat any meat, we eat produce and products that are cruelty free and organic, we don't eat fast food or many prepared foods. However, judging from my day of food in pictures I still have work to do.

How did your day in pictures turn out? Did you learn anything new?

Day 80 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-14T16:50:00.000-05:00

Caesar: The ides of March are come.
Soothsayer: Aye, Caesar, but not gone.
—Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene 1

The Ides of March is a day for settling debts (in Caesar's case the debt collected was a heavy one). Today, I have a debt I want to settle with myself - it is a debt of gratitude. I owe a debt of gratitude to a body that has withstood the test of time, withstood weight gain, and lack of "good" food and exercise. I owe a debt of gratitude to myself for deciding to take control of my life by eating right, getting enough sleep, and making time for exercise (and myself). Why not settle a debt with yourself today. You can start by telling yourself "thank you" for always being there.

Day 79 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-14T10:31:00.000-05:00

It's Zumba day today. Zumba Sunday! A little Salsa, a little Merengue, a little Soca, Cumbia, and Cha Cha. Put some funk into whatever you do today and shake it like a Polaroid picture :) For those of you who will be doing your "dancing" on the treadmill, checkout Effie Quintana's treadmill dance video based on the Tracy Anderson Method (Effie submitted the video as part of a contest). It's GOOD!

Day 78 of OUR 365 Day Journey

2010-03-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Run Like You Mean It - Workout Like You Mean It

I learned something new yesterday. I learned how to create and publish an iMix so I can share my favorite songs with you - so - you can do whatever you do like you mean it!

Day 77 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-12T09:01:00.000-06:00

These are not my feet, or my tattoos (notice there is a good cupake and a bad cupcake). One of us, not be named but she is related to me, has had difficulty breaking the 135 lb mark. As her older and much wiser sister, I think it is because she is already in great shape, doesn't need to lose a lot of weight, and her efforts will really be in redefining and strengthening. Calories do, however, play a part in our results, so I thought we could think about what we eat. Truth to Being Fit wrote about Calories In, Calories Out - What is the Truth? so you can read her post and think about whether calories really are equal. And her Little Dog Too posts beautiful pictures of her daily meals, check out her breakfast this morning and her Green Monsters. Fashion Meets Food posted No Skipping Lunch, which if I was posting would be entitled No Skipping Breakfast! We think about food, we take pictures of our food, we soothe ourselves with food, we celebrate with food, we love our food, but most of all we need our food for energy. It's our fuel, although I rarely think of it that way.

So, what I thought might be fun to do is capture what we eat for the day through pictures. The theme: Food: A Day in the Life of Karma (of course your name would be inserted here). I will choose one day, between now (today) and Tuesday, where I will take pictures of EVERYTHING I eat or drink. I will be using my phone to take pics, but you could use a camera, a disposable camera, or your can draw it (the latter option is actually a lot of fun and I have seen some great food journals). If you want to send one or all of your pics to post, that would be great. I realize that food can be highly personal so if you want to keep what you eat to yourself, that is fine too. It will be a good exercise in mindful eating. Mangiare bene! Bon appetite! Chakula ni kitamu - which really means - the food is delicious (in Kiswahili) - because I don't know how to say: Eat Well! Have a super happy and successful weekend!

Day 76 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-11T08:08:00.000-06:00

After yesterday's highs of breaking barriers and fitting into jeans it's time to get on with it. I need to set my next goal and up my game a bit. I do have a tendency to rest on my laurels if given the chance, so it's time to get out of my new found comfort zone. Are you setting new goals for yourself? Do you need to up your game? Let us know. Also, can you guess what the image is (trying) to communicate for today's post?

Day 75 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

Cue the theme from Rocky...(you can hum along if you would like)

Gonna Fly Now, Flying High Now, Gonna fly, fly, fly

I am proud, yes, p-r-o-u-d to report that I broke the 146 lb barrier! Hooray! I weighed 145 lbs today. Wow! It took 75 days, but who cares? I did it! Of course, I couldn't have done it without all of you. Thanks for the inspiration - and - I am counting on you to keep it up both for you and me 'cuz we still have further to go to reach our goals. When you reach one of the goals you set for yourself, let me know so I can post a "Rocky" for you, and then we can sing it together, "Gonna Fly Now...".

Day 74 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

Do you ever feel like you could use your own personal cheerleader? That special someone who says, "Yes, you can", when you are thinking, "No, I can't". Those of you who join us regularly know that the mantras on our towels were actually created with the idea of a "personal cheerleader" in mind. "I Am Worth It", "Let it Shine, Let it Shine, Let it Shine", and "Haba na Haba Hujaza Kibaba" are my personal cheers or mantras (among many others). Do you have a mantra that you use to get through a difficult workout? The other day when I was struggling to run, I mean I was really struggling to keep going, I heard a new mantra pop into my head, "Once was lost, now I'm found", which comes from one of my favorite songs, then the mantra turned into "Once was difficult, now it's easy". As my feet hit the pavement...once was difficult, now it's easy...and before I knew it I was at my front door. Have a fantastic Tuesday. Rah Rah Rah!

Day 73 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-08T08:55:00.000-06:00

My week starts on Monday. On Mondays the possibilities for excellent workouts and meeting goals seem endless. Whatever day you start your week, think about what you want to accomplish, then plan how you will accomplish it. Fitness doesn't just happen. Nothing without effort. Enjoy your Monday and prepare for an awesome week!

Day 72 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-07T08:51:00.000-06:00

I have a thing for tiaras, so when I was thinking about Leslie running the Disney Princess Half-Marathon today I thought "Wouldn't it be awesome if the runners wore tiaras?" Then I thought "I would run everyday if I was able to wear a tiara while running!" I am actually serious about the tiara thing, but this got me thinking about what motivates me/us. In lieu of wearing a tiara, what motivates me to run is my music - I am highly motivated by music - it can make or break my workout. Just the thought of running to two or three new songs can make me look forward to my run. And, now that I have been working out regularly for 72 days I am motivated by the fact that I finally feel good again - my shorts feel great, my shirts fit better, I don't have to unbutton my pants when I sit down - I am happy again. I have a lot of work to do still. For some reason I can't break the 146 lb barrier - scratch that - I haven't been able to break the 146 lb barrier yet - but I will. I would love to know what motivates you to workout.

By the way, for our male readers, if wearing a tiara isn't your thing I found some crowns you might consider wearing while running :)

Day 71 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-06T09:44:00.000-06:00

Reading Diane's comment on Day 69's post made me laugh out loud. I knew exactly what she was talking about...OUR DAILY DILEMMA to make the right food choices, to get to the gym, to go on that run, to lift those weights, to tote that barge (forget that one, I got carried away), to run those stairs... you get the picture. For me, some days it really is like having a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. On OUR 2010 365 Day Odyssey I have vowed to listen to my "good angel" at least five times a week :) Today is one of those days - I am off for a run outside because it is beautiful, the birds are chirping, and the sounds of spring are here. Yipee! I hope you listen to your "good angel" today. Have a super-duper Saturday!

Day 70 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-05T08:01:00.000-06:00

It's Friday - 'nuff said! Before we move into the weekend, if you have not already met your fitness goals for the week, e.g., one of my goals is to workout five times each week, plan out how you will meet your goals by the end of the weekend. Do you need to workout Saturday & Sunday, like I do, to meet your goals? Do you need to get your weights in or jog/run/walk 5 more miles? Be active in your planning. Fitness doesn't just happen - You make it happen.

Day 69 of our 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-04T15:35:00.000-06:00

Okay, Homer, aka, Karma Girl, hit a bit of a bump in her posting odyssey today :) It wasn't anything quite as perilous as the Sirens or the Cyclops faced by Odysseus on his journey, but nonetheless, my "bump" resulted in this late post!

Today is a day off for me. I plan to be back in action tomorrow. Let us know what your journey was like today - hopefully - you were not delayed by Sirens or other perils in your efforts to workout!

Day 68 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

There's no need to fear. Underdog is here! Don't you just love it when the underdog wins?! That's exactly what happened on last night's Biggest Loser. The team considered the weakest, with little chance to win, worked hard, harder than they thought they could, and believed...they believed they could win...and win they did. Oh, victory is so sweet. Do you ever feel like the underdog when it comes to managing your fitness schedule? It can be tough fitting in your workouts...but all you need to do is believe, work hard, and remember that if a shoeshine puppy can transform into a superhero you can too! Go Underdog Go!

Day 67 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

March is Women's History Month. It is time to celebrate the women who paved the way for us and those who continue to show us the way to live with open hearts and minds, with courage, grace, humility, and compassion because all of these qualities are reflections of strength. There are several great sites dedicated to the celebration of Women's History: The Library of Congress and The National Women's History Project. You can test your knowledge of women's history at Women's History Quiz.

In honor of Women's History Month and the 19th Amendment exercise your right to take time for yourself each day - you deserve it.

Day 66 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-03-01T08:28:00.000-06:00

What do Cinderella and fitness have in common (besides the fact that I wouldn't mind being able to fit into that dress)? Well, Leslie at And her Little Dog Too is running Disney's Princess Half-Marathon this weekend. She has been training hard and we want to wish her much luck, speed, and a super abundance of energy. And in other Monday morning news...the winner, I mean winners, of the February Gold Star contest...Diane and Leslie. Congratulations!!! Please send Jimmy an email with your towel choice - yay! But, don't rest on your laurels too long because today begins a new month. March's Gold Star contest starts now. We are all tied at 0 today - blank slates - tabula rasas - it's all up to you (but remember, we have each other for support and motivation so you are not doing this alone). Have a great Monday!

Day 65 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-28T15:56:00.000-06:00

February started off strong, but ended a bit weaker than I would have liked. I am, however, proud of my results. As our Odyssey continues into its third full month I hope you will take some time today, maybe just a few minutes if that is what you have available, to think about how far you have come, what changes you have made, and how you feel immediately after working out, and answer this Biggest Loser question, "What have you done this month to make yourself proud?" (I just love the Biggest Loser theme song - it gets to me everytime!)

Tomorrow we will announce the Gold Star winner of the month! You have all done fabulously and I look forward to earning more gold stars with you next month. If you put stars on your own calendar at home, and would like to share with us, I would love to post it with ours on the last day of the month.

Day 64 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-27T14:32:00.000-06:00

Ebb & Flow describes the rhythm of our lives. Sometimes the tide is in...sometimes the tide is out...but it always flows back again. My posts, and some of your posts this week, describe ebb and flow. The naturally occurring ebbs and flows in our fitness, work, family, and other routines. If your routine was in its ebb phase this week, like mine, or you just didn't accomplish exactly what you intended this week, no worries, because the tide will come in again. It always does. I hope your tide is in this weekend :)

Day 63 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-26T10:24:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was so busy that I forgot it was February 25th (thinking that it was February 24th, instead of the 25th, caused me numerous problems which ended with me working until 11:58 pm to meet a deadline), anyway, the point for this post is that I missed celebrating George Harrison's birthday. Not to be deterred by a slight miscalculation of what day it actually is, "Happy Birthday, George."

Since our problems have been our own creation

They also can be overcome

When we use the power provided free to everyone...

This is love - this is la la la - la love.

~George Harrison

In other news...I hit the treadmill this morning and was able to get in 3.1 miles. Yay for me! I was stiff and sore, but now I feel great. By the way, did you know it's Friday?!

Day 62 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-25T07:52:00.000-06:00

What do you do when you hit a "snag" in your exercise routine? Do you throw your hands in the air in despair? Do you give up? Noooooooo, you read the posts of extraordinary people like yourselves for motivation. If you haven't guessed, I have hit a little snag in my schedule and my exercise goals have taken a bit of a hit. I will, however, look past today and on to tomorrow. I look forward to reading your posts for inspiration. Have a wonderful Thursday!

Day 61 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-24T08:31:00.000-06:00

What do the bluebirds of happiness have to do with fitness? The bluebirds represent how we feel about our newest towel...we're just plain happy! A while back Girl Get Strong (a women's health and fitness magazine/website focused on fitness, fashion, and fun) ran an Inperspire Contest Giveaway. They asked their members to think about what motivational mantra they would want on their towel. We had some really great entries, but in the end we had to choose one...and the winner was Jody! To Be Is To Lift - To Lift Is To Be - and we made it into our next towel design. Congratulations, Jody. I am sure the towel will inspire many people - like you do.

Day 60 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-23T13:38:00.000-06:00

It was a LONG day of flying yesterday, but I was lucky enough to be able to snap this pic of Mt. Rainier as we headed east towards home...well...not really home because our plane stopped in Salt Lake City, then Las Vegas (yes, we were flying in the wrong direction at that point), and after a stop over in Vegas we finally headed to St. Louis (this is the price we pay for flying stand-by). We did not arrive in St. Louis until 12:30 am - home by 1:45 am. Was it worth it - absolutely :) Our late/long flight is the reason this post is running on the tardy side. I will post the rest of today's comments and will have your stars (earned Friday through Monday) updated and posted by this evening. Be brilliant today!

Day 59 of OUR 365 Day Journey

2010-02-22T10:32:00.000-06:00

We showed up to our meeting yesterday wearing the same shoes (we didn't realize we were wearing the same shows until someone pointed it out to us). The girls with Converse, the boys with Sanuks :) Enjoyed a day of talking, sun, and Lake Washington, which is appropos since today is George Washington's birthday. Happy birthday, George. We are headed home today so no exercise for us, but we are looking for big things from everyone who isn't flying. We are also looking for big things this week from all of us - can't wait!

Day 58 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-21T10:22:00.000-06:00

Inperspire at a high-level business meeting :) We are making plans

for the IDEA Fitness Fusion Conference 2010. But, right now, we are deciding the 3 W's: When we are working out, Where we are working out, and What we are doing. We will check back shortly with our decision and pictures. Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday!

Day 57 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-20T11:50:00.000-06:00

Our "business" meeting dinner. These are the nachos that inspired the towel "Get that Junk Outta' My Trunk". They were very good (well, really, they were awesome). Dana and I ate a much smaller portion of this dish than usual. We felt pretty good about that. Our meeting lasted late into the night - 3 am Central time, so we are just now going to the gym. Time to sweat and have fun!

High fives to Leslie for running a 7.49 minute mile today! Awesome and awe-inspiring. You can see her in action with Jackson - Frostbite 5-Miler.

2010-02-19T11:02:00.000-06:00

So our Odyssey is taking a trip (literally and figuratively). We are off to Seattle, our home base, for Inperspire's quarterly meeting (that sounds boring, but our meetings usually take place in pubs, e.g., RedHook, where there are plenty of nachos and other beverages to keep us happy). This is the part where our Odyssey is taking a figurative trip - I have already taken my allotted two days off this week and Friday will be a third - yikes! In the past I would have let that be an excuse to go completely wild the entire weekend, but my new found sense of self tells me that instead I should do the best I can and continue to make good choices. I promise you that we will be at the gym on Saturday and Sunday and I will get my 10 miles of treadmill in this week. I promise...no fingers crossed, etc. I hope your Odyssey(s) today and this weekend is absolutely fabulous. I can't wait to hear about :)

Day 55 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-18T07:32:00.000-06:00

Today is an incredibly busy day for me, from early morning until late evening, so it will necessarily be one of my days off this week. Since we are all about being healthy in mind, body, and soul (and from what I read in your posts you all have some really beautiful souls), I thought I would post one of my favorite activities - the Free Rice Game. You can improve your vocabulary and help feed the world all at the same time - it's a good beginning. Just click the image at right. Enjoy!

Day 54 (continued)

2010-02-17T09:20:00.000-06:00

Our friend, Jody, Truth2BeingFit, was kind enough to take a picture of the I Am Worth IT towel (image at left) she won by earning the most Gold Stars in the month of January. She also posted a picture of herself (looking fantastically fit, if I may say so), holding the towel with sunny California in the background (for all of us stuck in the snow this is a reminder that there is always sun shining somewhere). You can check out her pic and post at Leg/Butt Move: You Are Worth It!. Today she writes about what we need to do to get where we want to go. The post is a great reminder of what needs to be done to see those results. Thanks for the shout out, Jody, and thanks for keeping us on track.

Day 54 - This one's for your Diane

2010-02-17T08:53:00.000-06:00

The image at left is from a towel design that I have been working on, but given Diane's triumphant weigh-in and her most excellent results (see her comment on Day 53 post) I just had to break it out today. That's right - your hard work is paying off, but it does take a little blood (because sometimes leaving the house to go for a run or get to the gym or just step on the treadmill is like trying to get blood from a turnip; a lot of SWEAT (nothing else will do the trick); and a few tears along the way when things get really hard and we begin to wrestle with ourselves thinking, "can I really do this?" Can you really do this - well - Diane - your results are your answer. This reminds me of one of my favorite (Persian) proverbs: "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." Go, Diane! We are with you all the way. What do the stars look like in your part of the world?

Day 53 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-16T07:03:00.000-06:00

For all our runners who have been persevering in the inclimate weather, I thought we should consult an expert to see if things are going to get better. Good news is the Magic 8-Ball says "All Signs Point to Yes." Stay focused and ever-hopeful. What's the weather like in your part of world?

Day 52 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-15T09:12:00.000-06:00

Happy President's Day! Jimmy and I have to take today off - so we will do so in honor of our first and sixteenth presidents :) If this is not a day off for you we look forward to hearing about your Monday triumphs. Cheers!

Day 51 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-14T09:24:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

We are off to the races! We will report on our Virtual Valentine's Day 10k when we return. Hope you have a fantastic run, walk, workout wherever you are (Jody, the sunny California skies and sunrise should be awe-inspiring). Peace & Love. P.S. Jimmy bought a new pair of shoes the other day, so I had to too. My new Pearl Izumi's going for their maiden voyage this morning.

2010-02-13T11:47:00.000-06:00

I run, I workout, I lift, I do jumping jacks (that's for you Diane), I treadmill, I jump, I sweat because it frees my mind and makes me feel strong and powerful and just plain awesome :) Jimmy and I are getting ready for the Virtual Valentine's Day 10K tomorrow. How are you freeing your mind this weekend?

Day 49 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-12T13:29:00.000-06:00

Today is Lincoln's birthday. Yay! Happy birthday Abe. I have always loved Lincoln's birthday. When I was young we would spend hours drawing a silhoutte of Lincoln and when everyone was done the teacher would line the walls of our classroom with his silhouette. Most people are familiar with Lincoln's first inaugural address, however, his second inaugural address is perhaps his finest. In this speech Lincoln appeals to a nation divided, still at war, and deeply in need of healing. Here is a link to the text: Lincoln's Second Inagural address. Now, what does Lincoln have to do with exercise? For me, Lincoln is a symbol of determination - determination in the face of adversity. He believed that all humans are created free and equal and he pursued his mission with strength, determination and great character. "I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards." ~Abraham Lincoln.

Day 48 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-11T12:02:00.000-06:00

The picture at left is the reason why we are taking today off. Robbie (our son) and Tricia spent the night last night and when that happens we always stay up way too late and have way too much fun - and it's totally worth it :) The funny (strange) thing is that even though I really do need to take one day off a week, I absolutely did not want to/nor did I feel like taking today off. What I wanted to do is to get to the gym and run on the treadmill. Anyway, I will be able to log some miles tomorrow and this weekend is the Virtual Valentine's Day 10k so that will certainly help get my mileage in/up. Day off - or not - have a GREAT day!

Day 47 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-10T09:01:00.000-06:00

In honor of Diane's epic journey and her herculean efforts to show off our Get that Junk Outta My Trunk towel on the Show Me St. Louis Lose-A-Ton-Challenge here is the video from yesterday's show. Diane (and our towel) appear at 2 minutes. The women who have taken this challenge to lose weight and get healthy are all inspirational and are obviously working very hard. So, run, walk, climb stairs, climb hills, do your squats or whatever it takes today to Get that Junk Outta "Your" Trunk - or to just make your "trunk" that much more beautiful. By the way, this towel was inspired by Dana's love for Pub Nachos - thought you would like that, Dana :)

Day 46 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-09T10:22:00.000-06:00

I am going to try Turbo Kick tonite at my gym and I'm scared! It's strange how even as adults we can find doing new things scary, which is why I needed an inspirational speech (or two...or three). I thought you might enjoy this montage of inspirational speeches. I used it last year in a lecture to break the ice a bit (it really makes me laugh). I hope you enjoy it and if you are trying something new today, like me, I hope it makes you feel brave :)

Day 45 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-08T09:19:00.000-06:00

Today is a tribute day - yay! Our friend, Diane Murphey, is a contestant on the Biggest Loser St. Louis, well, it’s really called the Lose a Ton Challenge, but I like the Biggest Loser St. Louis better. Diane is one of the warmest, kindest people we know (she also plays a mean kazoo). Diane began her journey to lose weight at 234 lbs. Her current weight is 213.5. As they say in Kenya "mzuri sana sana!" Diane can certainly draw inspiration from all of you, I know I do, and she can provide us with inspiration along the way. It's a win win situation. We will keep you posted on her progress.

On another sweet note...Becca at One Run Away is hosting a Virtual Valentine's Day 10k. The idea is for all of us to complete, in any way we can (walking, jogging, running), a 10k (6.2 miles) sometime during Valentine's Day weekend. There is an online form to fill out at the Virtual Valentine's Day link where you can read more about the event. Jimmy and I are totally going to run with love this weekend, we hope you will join us.

Today is Boot Camp - High Noon. Boot Campers Be Ready!

Day 44 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-07T10:01:00.000-06:00

So I was reading Erica's blog I Run Because...I Can this morning, I've got running on my mind and Erica has this quote on her blog that I just love:

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.

It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.

It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve.

It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running." ~Anonymous

While I was reading Erica's blog I saw an image that I liked so I clicked on it.

And this took me to another blog Long Legs on the Loose where Katye is presenting us with a very special challenge this year "1010 in 2010". Yes, that's right, run 1010 miles in the 2010. What do you think runners?

For me - Zumba was GREAT today! I enjoy it more every week. 60 minutes of sweating, dancing, and smiling (and a little "whooping" because as I move through the workout that feeling of pure joy and hard work just needs to be expressed).

Day 44 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-06T13:44:00.000-06:00

This is one of my student's (now graduated) in the gym. She's an inspiration in many ways. If you have pictures you want to send along for me to post I would be happy to do so. Please email the pics to dddale@wustl.edu.

So I went to Jody's blog to check out her post on exercise and aging, but her post for today (Saturday) got me a bit sidetracked - it is very funny - be sure to check it out http://truth2beingfit.com/. After you get a good laugh then you should check out her post on exercise and aging: http://truth2beingfit.com/2010/02/01/weight-training--bone-health-and-mind-health.aspx.

Take some time each day to read the blogs you like or visit the websites you have bookmarked. Set aside 10-15 minutes (or more or less whatever works for your calendar) a day to inform yourself, to see what the world has to say, and open your mind to what's new out there. It's really nice to see what is going on in other people's lives, for example, Leslie's blog always makes me smile: http://www.andherlittledogtoo.com/.

And, I almost forgot to post my workout, after taking two days off (but still staying with my original goal of working out 5 days a week) we went to the gym today and I jogged on the treadmill for 42 minutes. It is getting a bit easier for me to jog and I am feeling inspired by our runners to try to start recording my miles each week. For me, until it gets warm, my mileage will be in the gym, but as soon as it gets above 50 degrees I hope to catch up to all of you! Have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Saturday!

Day 42 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-05T14:13:00.000-06:00

"Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis for dynamic and creative intellectual activity." ~John F. Kennedy

Are you all feeling a little smarter today? If you are, then I know you have been taking care of yourself! Let us know how you upped your IQ today :)

Day 41 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-04T11:59:00.000-06:00

A SHOUT out to Leslie who joined our journey! Karibu sana, Leslie (welcome in Kiswahili). Bob is training for a marathon and Leslie is training for two half-marathons (and a wedding). Today is a day off for me. A day to rest and recover. I am drinking some Yogi Tea and doing some reading to cultivate my mind. I thought it would be a great day to send a little teaspiration your way. Jimmy posts a daily teaspiration on our website (the inspirations come with each Yogi tea bag). Today's teaspiration "Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light." Have a great day and let us know what you did today.

Tea Goddess

2010-02-03T15:50:00.001-06:00

First we need to give a shout out to Happy Bob for joining us - and making us laugh with your comments! May the dragon inspire your marathon journey. Today was boot camp for me. I always feel so much better after I have worked and sweated. It's been 40 days since we started our odyssey and it is getting easier and easier to do what is right. Can't wait to read your posts today. If you have time, tell us what inspires you.

Inperspire Towels: Sweat With A Purpose

2010-02-02T19:51:00.000-06:00

Inperspire Towels: Sweat With A Purpose - A great review. Yay! Thanks, Leslie.

Continuation of Day 39 Post

2010-02-02T12:11:00.000-06:00

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me... RESPECT - that's what I have for my boot campers. Even though I can't do boot camp on Tuesdays, two of my "campers" came to my door trying to entice me to join them. They were hard to resist - But can I tell you something? I am really P-R-O-U-D of them. Last I saw them they were running their first set of stairs. Go Wilmetta, Go Carolyn. Big G Little O - Go - Go!

Day 39 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-02-02T11:46:00.000-06:00

Today was treadmill for me. 3.2 miles running at 2.0 incline and walking at 10 incline for 5 minutes (I was able to get through by listening to the lyrics from Keep Pushin' - the words inspire me). It felt great! Weights tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. How are things going in your world today?

2010-02-01T08:20:00.000-06:00

To be a part of February's Earn Your Star contest, all you have to do to earn a star is post your workout for the day. I will add your name as soon as I see your post. So, it's easy: (1) workout; (2) post; (3) feel great. The person who earns the most stars at the end of the month wins an Inperspire towel of their choice. I am looking forward to reading your posts.

2010-01-31T21:06:00.000-06:00

Wow! Can you imagine we are at the end of January? As you can see, our January calendar is full of stars - for the first time in a very long time. Jimmy says we exercised 22 out of 31 days (again, hasn't happened in recent memory). I can honestly say that the act of writing to you each day, and hearing your stories, and your triumphs, helped me - thank you. Now, let's get to the fun part. It's January 31 - and the person who has earned more gold stars than anyone is Jody! Congratulations. You are truly inspiring and we really appreciate you being a part of our community. Jody, pick out an Inperspire towel and we will send it to you right away. By the way, for those of you who don't know, Jody is also the winner of the Girl Get Strong Contest to design your own Inperspire towel. Her winning towel and saying will be ready within the next 10 days. We are SO excited!

Tomorrow is a new day and a new month. Get ready to earn your stars!

2010-01-31T10:19:00.000-06:00

Some family members wondered why I had a picture of Dorothy's red slippers on my Day 35 post. On that day I wrote: "However you measure your success, I hope you find what you are looking for - often - what you are looking for was never really gone in the first place - just misplaced for a while." Here's the connection:

Dorothy: Oh, will you help me? Can you help me?
Glinda: You don't need to be helped any longer. You've always had the power to go back to Kansas.
Dorothy: I have?
Scarecrow: Then why didn't you tell her before?
Glinda: Because she wouldn't have believed me. She had to learn it for herself.

We will post our day's workout when we return from the gym.

Looking Into the Past

2010-01-30T15:11:00.000-06:00

Looking Into the Past. So some of you know I am an archaeologist, among other things. I honestly love thinking about the past and literally digging into the past. William Faulkner's quote, "The Past is never dead. It's not even past.", sits at the top of my syllabus each fall semester. My dad thinks my Aunt Penny and Aunt Bonnie and I live in the past, but we don't :) I hope you like the Looking Into the Past photo gallery. It is definitely one of my favorites. I have some old pictures that I am going to try photographing using this method.

P.S. I know this post is straying a bit from its purpose, but perhaps it can fit under the general auspices of healthy in mind & body. Enjoy!

Day 36 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-01-30T10:42:00.000-06:00

"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song,

read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible,

to speak a few reasonable words." ~Goethe

We are off to the gym - we will be back in seven hours. Kidding! That's what Jimmy wanted me to write. Show yourself some love today :)

Day 35 of Our 365 Day Odyssey

2010-01-29T15:09:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday! This morning my scale gave me some good news - 146.5 lbs, which means I have lost 6 lbs since we began our journey 35 days ago. While I understand that numbers on a scale do not define me/us, for me these numbers represent a watershed. On the Biggest Loser the other night Sam said, "Respect the Scale". I totally get what he means. However you measure your success, I hope you find what you are looking for - often - what you are looking for was never really gone in the first place - just misplaced for a while.

Boot Camp for me today. We all noticed how much stronger we are getting and my fellow boot campers are looking fabulous! Let us know how you did today. Happy Sweating!

2010-01-28T21:54:00.000-06:00

Are you seeing stars? We have been working very hard for the past 15 days (see our chart). The winner of January's "Earn Your Star" will be announced on the last day of the month. We will begin anew on February 1 - so get ready to earn your gold stars.

Day 34 of OUR 365 Day Odyssey

2010-01-28T13:44:00.000-06:00

This is a picture of Jimmy on the treadmill --- kidding! He is much more handsome :) Jimmy and I totally shredded the treadmill today. You know when you begin a workout and you just know it's going to be a really good day - that's what happened for us today. I am 100% certain that our Boot Camp stair work and jump rope is helping me run longer and farther on the treadmill. I also tried the Biggest Loser strategy of walking at incline 10 (I walked at 3.6 mph for 7 minutes). It's hard, by the way.

On the treadmill today I thought a lot about what makes some people stick with their workout routines, while others not so much. I came to the conclusion (if it can be called a conclusion) that succeeding at being fit has to do with exercise momentum (I have been reading about academic momentum and I think the same principle applies here.) People who have exercise momentum have both "skill" and "will". They have been successful at staying fit in the past because they have a set of learned skills they draw upon to help them succeed - and - they have the will to succeed because they know they have been successful in the past. Those who have been fit know that they can do it again - they have done it before - they know what to do -they know what it feels like. Therefore they approach the task of getting fit from a much different perspective than those who have not been successful in the past. Those who have not been successful in the past lack the skill set to be successful and the confidence/belief that they can be successful. So, to anyone who is reading this blog who has not known excellent fitness in the past - I promise we will get you there.

Finally...yes, I have a lot on my mind today, I listened to three great new songs on my iPod today. If you are motivated by music, like I am, you should check out the songs I selected from Kacy Duke's playlist (she is a personal trainer). I started with Soul Food by Leela James (as a warm-up) and then right into Keep Pushin' by Boris Dlogosch (I love this one!), then Mesmerized by Faith Evans, and It's Alright, I Feel It by Nuyorican Soul (then on to other songs that I will list on another day). The link: Kacy Duke's playlist. Once you click on one of the songs iTunes will open and you will see her entire playlist. Well worth it. Have a beautiful day.

2010-01-27T20:09:00.000-06:00

Jimmy and I did Basement Boot Camp today. It was Jimmy's first time. We had a blast, although I missed my fellow boot campers. The entire boot camp workout took us 33 minutes. I was breathing hard and really feeling it. It was bliss :) Hope you felt blissful today too.

Day 32 of OUR odyssey

2010-01-26T21:48:00.000-06:00

Today was a day off for me. Not a planned day off, but a day off nonetheless. Too much work. I know that taking the day off today can be counted as one of my two days off a week, but it still bothers me that I put my fitness needs second (again). I actually got so hett up about not being able to catch up with all my work that I started to feel anxious. It was not a nice feeling. So...I took the advice of a friend/colleague of mine who said she was using a 10 minute meditation podcast to help her feel calm. I downloaded the (free) podcast from iTunes (10 Minute Meditation. The Chopra Center). I turned off my phone and sat quietly on my couch. One of my cats (Orange - guess what color he is?) decided he had to come sit on my lap at that moment, but I didn't let it disturb me. I then followed the very simple instructions to quiet my mind. It (the experience) was simply wonderful. I found my mind wandering (often), but each time I "gently returned my thoughts to my breathing", as the voice instructed, and to the beautiful sounds. Of course, being healthy means body, mind, and soul. I recommend the free podcast to you. I hope you found time to honor yourself today.

2010-01-25T13:50:00.000-06:00

The WU Jump Club met today for Monday Basement Boot Camp. I give props to Wilmetta, Warren, and Carolyn because I added an extra two sets to their stair work (so they are now doing 4 flights up (6x), 4 flights down (6x)) and they didn't even flinch. That is what I am talking about - pure dedication (or insanity). We also added two more calisthenic type moves to our repertoire. At the end of the workout I was dripping sweat. That's right - I am not afraid to claim it - I sweat. Let me know how you got your sweat on today. Happy Monday and a special shout out to Erica (check out her blog, "I Run Because...I Can" at http://www.ericarunning.com/).

2010-01-24T13:25:00.000-06:00

Hara hachi bu means to eat until you are 80% full. This approach to eating is similar to the philosophy of living life in moderation. Have you ever thought about how much better you feel when you eat in moderation? Because I love food so much I have a tendency to eat until I am very full (I just can't seem to get enough), but when I started practicing Hara hachi bu, I felt so much better after every meal that I think I actually enjoyed the food more. I have a difficult time remembering Hara hachi bu when I am eating, but I think with practice it will become more of a habit. One company (Mindless Gear) actually makes bracelets, hats, and other products to remind us to live a life of moderation. I think I might try making myself a bracelet - as a reminder.

Jimmy and I walked/jogged 3.2 miles today. It was cold (44 degrees) and rainy, but it felt good to get outside. Besides taking care of yourself today, be sure that you set yourself up for an excellent week of exercise, good eating, and balanced living. Hara hachi bu.

Day 29 of OUR 365 day odyssey

2010-01-23T17:19:00.000-06:00

So...a few of us were talking the other day about how it was possible to have gained the weight we suddenly fined ourselves carrying. We are not Biggest Loser candidates (yet), but somehow we have managed to add a pound or two each year until we find ourselves in a place where we are not happy with our weight. Fitness Magazine has a nice short piece about how many calories we need to cut from our diet each week to drop a pound and a few strategies for cutting the calories we need. Here is an excerpt from 45 Ways to Lose One Pound A Week (by Tracy Treare) (the highlight is mine to draw your attention) :

To lose one pound in seven days you need to reduce your net calories by 500 every day. The easiest way to do that is a 250 split: Cut half from your diet and burn the other half through exercise. To come up with easy ways to do this, we enlisted trainer Heather Rider, founder and director of Rider Fitness Consulting in Los Angeles, and nutritionist Lauren Slayton, RD, of Foodtrainers in New York City. Choose one strategy from the diet and exercise columns each day (feel free to mix and match) and after seven days you will have cut out 3,500 calories.

Diet Strategies

___ Replace your morning bagel and cream cheese with an English muffin and cottage cheese.
___ Skip the large bakery muffin in favor of 1 slice of whole wheat toast topped with 1 T. of peanut butter.
___ Swap your large bran muffin for 3/4 cup of bran flakes.
___ Replace eggs and cheese with scrambled egg whites.
___ Replace your 450-calorie lunch with a 200-calorie protein shake.
___ Replace large french fries with a yogurt-and-fruit parfait.
___ Modify your lunch: Skip the cheese on your salad or sandwich, substitute mustard for mayo, and replace potato chips with soy chips.
___ Have half a tuna salad sandwich instead of a whole, plus two cups of raw vegetables.
___ Skip the cheese in an omelet and a lunchtime sandwich.
___ Switch from cream soup to vegetable-based soup at lunch and dinner.
___ Switch from one cup premium to light ice cream.
___ Skip your afternoon frozen yogurt with ground nuts.
___ Resist the handful of M&M's at the receptionist's desk.
___ Cut out 1 biscotti and 1 large mocha.
___ Switch from a chai tea latte to lemon tea.
___ Have 1 ounce of soy nuts instead of 3 ounces of roasted almonds.
___ Substitute a serving of beef with shrimp or a white flaky fish like cod at two meals.
___ Leave behind one-fourth of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
___ Have 1 cup of strawberries instead of a whole banana, and cauliflower instead of a baked potato with sour cream.
___ Replace ranch or blue cheese dressing with low-fat vinaigrette at lunch and dinner.
___ Have a vodka and soda instead of a margarita at happy hour.

Exercise Strategies

___ Jog at a 10-minute-mile pace for 20 minutes.
___ Alternate sprinting and walking for 20 minutes.
___ Walk briskly for 30 minutes.
___ Spin for 30 minutes at a moderate pace.
___ Go for a 20-minute trail run.
___ Do 1 hour of housework.
___ Walk 1 mile in the morning and 1 mile in the evening.
___ Do 35 minutes of power yoga.
___ Do 35 minutes of Pilates.
___ Practice tai chi for 45 minutes.
___ Perfect your swing at the driving range for 60 minutes.
___ Practice capoeira (a Brazilian mix of martial arts and dance) for 30 minutes.
___ Hit a punching bag for 30 minutes.
___ Go in-line skating for 15 minutes.
___ Shovel snow for 30 minutes.
___ Ice-skate vigorously for 30 minutes.
___ Run up stairs for 15 minutes.
___ Jump rope for 20 minutes.
___ Do 25 minutes of circuit training.
___ Dance for 40 minutes.
___ Play Frisbee for 1 hour.
___ Use a pedometer and log an extra 3600 steps.

How did you do today?

Day 28 of OUR 365 day odyssey

2010-01-22T18:14:00.000-06:00

Darla took the day off so I am posting for us today. The first thing I want to say is "We'll miss you Conan". The one good thing about Conan leaving the Tonite Show is that we will get to sleep earlier because there won't be any reason to stay up laterthan we should once Coco leaves.

Today I wanted to maximize my time in the gym so I warmed up 10 minutes on the treadmill and then did 30 minutes on the stair climber. Yes, that's right, 125 floors.

Day 27 of OUR 365 day odyssey

2010-01-21T11:43:00.000-06:00

Weights for me today! Leg extensions, hack squat, sled, adductors, abductors, calves (legs were on the machines - 3 sets each); biceps, shoulder presses, bent over row, triceps (free weights, 2 sets each); abs. I wish we could have done some cardio afterward but time and the fact that my legs were literally shaking stopped me. Whatever you do today, do it with enthusiasm and love :)

Day 26 of OUR 365 day odyssey

2010-01-20T09:23:00.000-06:00

For those not familiar with Dano (Mom refers to him often in her posts)he's the one in the middle :) Momb, I think you may want to start thinking of Dano as your personal trainer since he gets you out of bed and makes you workout, even when you don't want to.
I was late giving all of you your stars from yesterday, but it is done now. Today is a day off for me, which means that I still have not done my weights this week. It's the first week of the semester so I hope that by Friday I will have a good idea of what time is available to me and how I can schedule my time so that I can take care of myself, i.e., cardio, weights, abs, eating properly, sleeping the right amount, enjoying life. Dana, Jody, and Carolyn, thank you for posting. It really helps.

Day 25 of OUR 365 day odyssey

2010-01-19T13:00:00.000-06:00

Need I say more? We are ALL champions. I didn't realize how much a community passionate about fitness would help me. Wow! Each time I read your posts it spurs me on to reach just a little farther and work just a little harder. Today was basement boot camp and I feel great. Ran the stairs (12 times - 6 times each way), knee lifts, jump rope (~5 minutes), standing strength work. I feel strong - and - from reading your posts - I know you do too.

Day 24 of OUR 365 day odyssey

2010-01-18T13:56:00.000-06:00

Martin Luther King's dream began as a seed of a thought, of a possibility, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." While you are out exercising today or performing your service what dreams do you have?

We walked (very briskly) for 3.6 miles today and did push-ups. I will post everyone's stars at the end of the day.

Day 23 of OUR 365 day odyssey

2010-01-17T12:39:00.000-06:00

It's ZUMBA day! I love Zumba. We have a great class and we really, really sweat and work our abs. One hour of Zumba for me today and I will try to get some squats in too (haven't done it yet though). Here's a shout out to Jody who is joining us in our Quest for gold stars.