In the Groove

Anybody remember that dancing video game?  In The Groove?  It was so awesome!

What?! No I'm not a nerd!! Anyway....

I finally got in the groove this week and so far it is really kicking butt!  I finally scheduled in my workouts and guess what?  I'm actually working out! It's the best! I decided to do my workouts in the morning.  It's pretty rough because I'm not a morning person and I'm getting up at 6 am to fit my workout in, but leaving the workout for after work wasn't working - there always is too much going on; mornings are a sure bet.  However to be successful at morning workouts, it takes a little prep the night before.

7 am and just finished my workout!!!

Shut Up and Change It!

Hello everyone.  I hope your January is treating you well.  Many bloggers kicked off this year by sharing their New Year's resolutions or their goals for this year.  I'm finally getting around to sharing mine.  In addition to thinking over what I wanted to accomplish this upcoming year, I also glanced through my blog and reflected over the posts.

I changed the title of this blog from Health Nut - Hold The Nut to Journey to 100, which better reflects my life.  I'm not what you would consider a "Health Nut", but a journey of living healthy to try to reach age 100, reflects my life perfectly.  My healthy life is a journey that has it's ups and downs.  Lately more downs.  Looking over my recent posts, they seem to say the same thing: I'm not working out, my life is busy, I'm not eating great, I'm gaining weight. And this goes on for MONTHS!

My lovely husband, Mike, used to complain about the same thing over and over and over to me.  Eventually I said, "You know what? There's only one thing to do, Shut up and change it!"  I have been complaining to Mike about the same things that I have been writing on this blog and one day he said to me, "I'm going to tell you what you told me once, 'Shut up and change it!"   After reading back over my posts, I felt like yelling it at myself!

So this year, the basis of my goal is "Shut up and change it!"

New shoes from my sister!!

Thanksgiving!! Tips to Survive [Challenge Tips #1]

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

In my last post, I issued a challenge to maintain your weight during the holidays. I also said I'd provide some tips to help you survive.  These might be a little late, but these can also work for any holiday get together and since we have a lot of them coming up, you'll have more opportunities to use them.

Beautiful Thanksgiving Day in Michigan!

WIAW #26 -

Well hello again for another What I Ate Wednesday!  Be sure to check out Jenn's post - #91! That girl is such a party-er ;) - in keeping with our theme, Jenn shared some blogger's snacks!  I also have some snacks to share, but nothing as great as the one's Jenn shared...all the same here they are.

Inspiration Day

Today there was a couple of incidents, one positive, one negative; both equally inspirational for me to get my life back into a healthy order.

First I was at the gym today and an elderly gentleman came up to friend and I to chat. He told us he had 10 great-grand children and that he was in one of the wars (I can't remember which, I think WWII), and he also told us that he was 92 years old! He even took out his ID.

Sure enough, he was born in 1919! Just think about everything he lived through, the Great Depression, a war, the Civil Rights Movement; it's amazing! Not only that, but he is 92 years old, using the weight machines at the gym! I told my friend after briefly chatting with the elderly gentleman, that I hoped to be in that good of shape when I was his age.

Today's run

Sick Steps

My amazing immune system has failed me!  I hardly ever get sick, but this fall I have been struck down with the sickness...a stupid cold has attacked me.  I actually stayed home from work on Wednesday! I almost never do that.  I stayed in bed, watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part 1 & 2, The Ugly Truth and part of the first season of ER.  Not too mention ate a lot of cough drop, Cold-Eezes, some popsciles and alternated between water and apple juice.

At least I had my little Gracie to keep me company.   She was by my side all day.

One thing that really went down with me laying around all the time was my movement.  Especially my steps.  Surprisingly, walking from your bed, to the kitchen, to the bathroom doesn't give you as many steps as you would think.  Why am I concerned about my steps, you ask? Well that is because we are in another step challenge at work!

Every fall at work we have a step challenge. We make teams and compete against each other and we as a whole also compete against another University.  We also have a step challenge during the summer and every summer/fall I always think I'm going to do better than the last.

Let me tell you, Friends, this summer was pathetic.

A week ago this past Wednesday kicked off another step challenge. My personal goal that I reported was 7,000 steps/day, but in reality I am hoping to reach 10,000 steps/day.  In my research many different sources have recommended that in order to live a healthy life you should take 10,000 steps a day. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

If you are interested in tracking your steps, you can purchase a pedometer at any local sporting goods store, but also stores like Wal-Mart, Meijer and Target. Make sure you wear it properly so it will track.

How to properly wear a pedometer:
Clip it to your belt or pants right on your hip

It should be by the top of your hip bone

Make sure it is straight

For accurate readings and comparisons across days, always wear it on the same side.

Walking has a ton of health benefits.  It's a great cardio workout, can help lose weight, and improves your mood!  Check out these links for more of walking's benefits:

Mayo Clinic

Real Age

Now get out there and enjoy this fall weather with a lovely walk! :)

WIAW #25 - I Have No Title Edition

My schedule finally worked out so I could make it to the WIAW party! How exciting! It has been a month since my last What I Ate Wednesday party! What a bummer; but I'm back and ready to rock!

So let’s get onto my eats and the good habits I'm falling into! 

My First 5K

So today I participated in my very first 5K!  As it was my first 5K, or any running race for that matter, I didn't really know what to expect or what to do, so I was a little nervous.  First, I was a late sign up, so I didn't really prep or train for the run....I know it's only 3.1 miles, but I was worried about my ability to keep up with the team I was on.  Second, what about eating the day before and the morning of, how much water should I be drinking etc, etc.

Turns out I did not need to be worried....then again since I was running the "happiest 5K on the planet", I should've known not to worry =)

Birthplace

The Disappointing News

So now the disappointing news I teased a few days ago.  I'm sure you all have been holding your breath waiting for me to share. HaHa.

Anyway....

Let me start by saying for those who might not know, a few years ago I started running to lose weigh and ended up losing 20 lbs before it was all said and done.  [Read a full post.]

I mentioned a few weeks back that my pants were getting tight and I'm pretty sure that I had gained weight.  Last week I bought a scale, because I wanted to know just how much weigh I have gained.  Remember that 20 lbs?  It's baaacckkk! Mostly.  It just makes me sick.  After all the work I did, I have gained almost all of it back.  I'm really disappointed in myself.

Please excuse my Christmas socks...my feet were cold.

Motivation

I recently stumbled across a story on MSN.com about people who lost a ton of weight and how they did it.  I love reading these stories.  Even though I have not lost 80lbs (and if I did I'd be dead), reading about people who have lost a ton of weight is very inspiring for me.  There was one of these people who lost the weight, who has a blog which I started following.  His name is Bryan Ganey and he has lost 284lbs!  He recently did a post on motivation.  He said that people who also want to lose weight, often ask him where they can get motivation.  He tells them that it has to come from themselves, so I thought that I would share my motivation. 

Birthplace

In need of...

I am in need of a back massage and possibly directly related in need of a work out.  I am sure my back hurts because I have not worked out.  Working a ton and applying for a new position doesn't leave much room for working out.  (Why do resumes and cover letters take so long?!)  This week my schedule was shaken up and I did not even make it to my normal Zumba classes.  I missed it Monday and Wednesday!!

My work out shoes are lonely

I'm determined to make some changes though.

WIAW #4 Mixed with a Goal Check

So I'm a little bit behind on my blogging. I blame it on starting work again after the holiday break and being on days.  Since I am behind and I am also very tired, we are going to combine WIAW and my goal check. Let's get to it!

Thanksgiving Woes

Well my friends, Thanksgiving has passed.  Lots of yummy food consumed and left on my waist and thighs, I'm sure. I had two Thanksgiving dinners, with dessert at both. I will say I only took one scoop of each dish and only went back for seconds of fruit, veggies and my grandma's homemade stuffing, because it's amazing.

Then as a holiday tradition I spend Thanksgiving - Saturday at my grandmas, who had fun size candy bars everywhere!  I'm addicted to chocolate. I have come to that conclusion, because I kept eating them!! Or maybe I have compulsive chocolate disorder, because I would grab the candy bar, unwrap it and pop it into my mouth without thinking!

Photo from CookingLight.com 

More Ho-Ho-Holiday Tips!

The hot topic right now is staying healthy during the holidays.  I posted on this last week asked you guys for your tips.  Some ideas were: to walk places instead of driving, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, eating before you go to holiday parties, drinking a huge glass of water to help fill you up so you don't fill up on a whole pumpkin pie.

All of these were great ideas! Thanks for sharing!  I've been looking at a few sites on the web and found a few more helpful things for you.

Pick me up Wednesday

Hey it's Wednesday! Half way through the work week, if you have a normal schedule.  I don't, but I can share it your joy of making it halfway through your week!

Here's a video to make you smile and to sustain you until your weekend.  It is a commercial from France?  The text is in a different language that I think might be French, but I could be completely wrong.  I was sent the link this in an email that was forwarded.  The subject: "Exercise anyone? who needs Zumba?"  Of course with my love of Zumba, this caught my attention. 

Enjoy!

Ho, ho, holy cow

Well now that Halloween is done, it is full fledged Christmas season....actually it was full fledged Christmas season right along with Halloween. And where is Thanksgiving? Lost in the midst of it all.  Whether you celebrate one of these, all three or something complete different, it all adds up to two things: being super busy and lots of food.

This can mean detrimental things for your healthy lifestyle.  Too busy for a work out, too busy to cook, lots of friend and family parties with lots of food and second helpings of pumpkin pie!!  This holiday season, I challenge you to stick with your healthy lifestyle!!  Does this mean skip out on the Christmas cookies and cancel all party invites?!  No, but amidst your holiday shopping and cooking, plan how you can fit in a quick work out or bringing a healthy dish to pass.

HOLY Zumba Batman!!!!

My spin class at work ended last week and today I started Zumba. I took Zumba last fall and winter semester and loved it. It has been a few months since I last took Zumba. I had a new instructor today and holy cow!! She really worked us!! I'm not sure if it was because I haven't done any high cardio in awhile or if she is harder than the other Zumba instructors I've had, by half way through class I was thinking, please let this be the last song!

If you've never tried Zumba, it's a mix of Latin and hip hop inspired dance moves in a high cardio workout. There's great dance music playing and you follow the instructor in the front of the classroom. Whether you have danced before or haven't; whether you're a great dancer or have two left feet, it's a fun way to get your work-out in! Check out this video for an example of a Zumba class.

I ended the class, covered in sweat, my heart pumping and breathing hard. This is going to be a great class!

Weekly Update - late

This update is a little late, so you'll get another update from me in a few days. The information in this post refers to the week of Aug. 21-27.

Weekly Update

GOAL #1: Walk 10,000 steps a day. Sunday: 7179
Monday: 8441
Tuesday: 12067
Wednesday: 10314
Thursday: 8901
Friday: 12993
Saturday: 8280

I'm very happy with this week's numbers. I just need to keep this up!

Weekly Update

I'm going to try to do a weekly update about my progress in my health journey, so please enjoy this first one.

GOAL #1: Walk 10,000 steps a day.
Monday: 3557
Tuesday: 9614
Wednesday 8034
Thursday: 10659
Friday: 16374
Saturday: 13536

Over all I'm doing pretty well. Monday was pretty week, but I did really well Friday and Saturday to make up for it.