Friday, August 22, 2008

THOUGHTS FROM UNDER A PALM TREE

1.Four days into our vacation in Puerto Rico, I'm finally starting to relax - I'm not too good at doing nothing.
2.It's hot here, so I have to get up at 6.30 to get a run in before the heat makes it impossible.
3. I switched to the Core program for this trip as I find it easier than the Flex when I'm away from home.
4. I have allowed myself one extra treat a day as there is so much different food all around me here.
5. My goal is simply to gain no weight during our vacation.
6. I'll miss everyone at WW tomorrow, but Jocelyn is covering for me and she's a brilliant leader.
7. Am I the only one who thinks it's weird I can do this on a phone???

Sunday, August 17, 2008

WATCH OUT ETHIOPIA

I just watched the Olympic 10,000 metres race in which the apparently unbeatable Ethiopians took gold and silver and I have decided they've dominated the event for long enough. The winning time - an Olympic record - was 27 minutes and change for the 6.2 miles race and I'm putting the Ethiopians on notice that I'm coming after them in London in 2012.

My best time for that distance is 49 minutes (albeit in the controlled environment of a gym and on a treadmill), so here's the plan.

If I can improve my time by just half a minute every two months, or half a second a day, I'll cover the course in the British Olympic Stadium (maybe Wembley) in a blistering, never-been-done-before time of 25 minutes.

So there it is - Olympic gold in the nation of my birth.

But will I compete for Britain or the USA?

Tough call!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

OATMEAL SQUARES

Here's a great recipe for a snack or breakfast bar we mentioned in our early group this morning -
http://wheresthefatguy.blogspot.com/2008/03/oatmeal-squares.html

Thursday, August 14, 2008

THE LADY WHO CHANGED EVERYTHING

There's a pretty lengthy, but fascinating article here - an interview with WW founder, New Yorker Jean Nidetch...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jan/13/healthandwellbeing.features2

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

THUMBS UP FOR RUNNERS

There's an interesting article in the British newspaper, The Daily Express this week, which I haven't caught anywhere in the U.S. media. It centers on research done over the past 24 years by Professor James Fries from the University of California, Stanford.

Fries and his colleagues compared 284 members of a national running club and 156 healthy, but non-running, individuals - all aged 50 or older at the start of the study.

After 19 years, one in three of the non-runners had died, but less than one in six of the runners had.

After 21 years, both groups had become more disabled, but disability came 16 years later for the runners.

Fries comments, "We did not expect this. The health benefits of exercise are greater than we thought." Running not only appeared to slow the rate of heart and artery-related deaths but also early deaths from cancer, neurological disease, infections and other causes.

Contrary to common belief, there was also evidence that running does not wear out knee and hip joints.

All-round good news for those of us who have taken up this form of activity and hopefully further incentive for anyone considering it.

Monday, August 11, 2008

BARGAIN BUY

Arnold's Sandwich Thins have become a staple for most of the people I know who are on a weight loss journey.

For those of you reading this blog around the area I live (this advice won't help readers in the U.K., Spain, Canada, Israel and India), they're on special this week at 2 for $4 in Waldbaums supermarkets - which beats the regular price of $2.99 - $3.29.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

TAKING MY OWN ADVICE - OR NOT

It's weird, but all last week I was encouraging my WW members to push themselves just a little bit further in the area of exercise. I suggested that our bodies lie to us and tell us we are going to die if we press ourselves any further and the best way to deal with it is to simply keep going.

After running a couple of miles on the treadmill at the gym this afternoon, I felt so lightheaded that it was as if I wasn't there. I slowed down when I started to see spots before my eyes and walked a further mile before I decided to call it a day in case I fainted.

Three hours later, I'm still not feeling right, so I think it was smart decision to cut things short.

On this occasion I really think this old body was telling the truth!

Saturday, August 9, 2008

THEY DID IT!

It was chaotic at several points of this morning's WW meetings as we had major computer system problems and were doing our best to deal with them without all of our regular team of receptionists.

I can't pretend to be happy with a line that goes out the door and right along the front of the building as it is not providing members with the kind of experience they deserve, but I guess stuff happens!

Anyway, once inside it was a very good day for several members, especially the lady who reached goal after losing almost 70lb since the start of the year. I got a huge hug from her as she thanked me for my help, but I reminded her that she was the one who did all the work.

Over the past weeks she has got her life back.

I love doing this job!

Friday, August 8, 2008

GOING DOWN

This evening I subbed for a vacationing WW leader and took care of her group. You should have seen the smile on the face of the lady I weighed who today had got below 200lb for the first time in a very long time.

That's why I love doing this!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

51 WAYS TO GET MORE EXERCISE

51 Ways to Get More Exercise~

*Park in the furthest parking space
*Do sit-ups while watching TV
*Walk on your coffee breaks
*Take a brisk walk at lunchtime
*Carry your own groceries to your car
*Hide the remote and get up to change channels
*Ride your bike or walk for short errands
*Dust, dust, dust
*Work in your garden
*Take a walk after dinner
*Play frisbee with neighbors/children
*Do stretches at your desk
*Jump rope between household chores
*Wash your car by hand
*Mow your lawn with a push mower
*Unwind from work by dancing around the house
*Walk your dog......or the neighbors
*Get off the bus or subway two stops before your destination
*Go ice skating with friends
*Lift hand weights while talking on the phone
*Avoid drive-in windows......walk into stores instead
*Schedule family hikes or bike rides
*Play outdoor games with your kids
*Do the dishes by hand
*Learn a new sport, like golf or tennis
*Answer the phone that is farthest away
*Install a pull-up bar in your bedroom doorway
*Make meals in time to music
*Be first to volunteer for active chores
*Take dance lessons
*Wash windows with vigor
*March in place during TV commercials
*Clean out your closet or cabinets
*Vacuum or sweep daily
*Scrub the tub till it sparkles
*Clean out your refrigerator
*Do a few laps around the shopping mall
*Rearrange furniture;;;;offer to help friends do the same.
*Teach your kids an active sport you like
*Coach your kid’s sports team
*Shoot some hoops
*Sign up for a walk-a-thon
*Organize an office yoga break
*Schedule a daily morning jog with friends
*Work out to exercise videos
*Challenge yourself to walk longer in the park each day
*Use a stationary bike at home
*On car trips, make stops to stretch
*Follow along with exercise programs on TV
*Join active groups, like bicyclists, hikers or mall walkers

Monday, August 4, 2008

STEPPING IT UP

When I joined WW three and a half years ago, I decided to do the whole program this time around, which included moving more (exercise is a dirty word with us!).

Of course I couldn't move a whole lot at 330+lb, but I did some and slowly stepped it up until I was eventually (after a very long time) running six or seven miles a day seven days a week.

I have stayed at that level pretty much, though I have dropped Saturdays since I started needing to arrive at the Selden WW center by 7.00am to prepare for the start of my groups.

Since one of my ultimate goals - maybe way down the road - is to run a half marathon, I have decided to step things up a bit starting this week. I've already increased my Monday workout to running 10 miles and plan to add just a little more to every other day too.

You gotta keep pushing.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

SETTING GOALS

Two weeks from now I'm going on vacation - eleven days in sunny Puerto Rico, which I have never visited before and I am informed will be as hot as the other place at that time of year.

It has been interesting to see how different members of my WW groups have handled their summer cruises, trips to the beach, the mountains, Hawaii and a load of other destinations. It seems as if a lot of folks have set themselves reasonable goals and kept pretty much to them, like the couple in one of the Wednesday evening groups in Miller Place - on an eight day cruise she gained no weight and he put on 0.2lb. That's impressive.

So what do I plan for PR? - Staying the same works for me too and while I may eat a little more than usual, I plan to deal with that by working out a bit more too.

Time will tell. I'll keep you informed - maybe!!!

Friday, August 1, 2008

SPIES EVERYWHERE

A couple of weeks ago at a wedding, I was minding my own business while working through the delicious salad when a lady came up to our table and greeted me - "Hi Roger, you're my WW leader!" I will readily confess to not immediately recognizing her as I meet hundreds of people each week and it is always strange to see them in a different setting, dressed in something other than their weighing-in clothes.

Man, was I glad I was paying attention to what I was eating.

Since I live in the vicinity of both the Selden and Miller Place centers, I do occasionally bump into members in restaurants and supermarkets too - their eyes go immediately to my cart!

Never knowing who will be there, I just buy coffee at 7-11 and in Dunkin' Donuts too for that matter.

There are hundreds of pairs of eyes that help keep me on program.

Thank you!