More ‘Can do’ attitude—

Is my cup half full or half empty?  You know there is a real difference don’t you? I have found that a half empty cup tends to drain right out where as a half full cups never gets empty! In fact many times it keeps filling up even to overflowing!

I needed that truth 8 years ago when our oldest daughter and her husband moved with our 3 grand daughters from 10 houses down the street to Long Island, New York--over 3000 miles away!  I remember waving good bye to them while fighting back tears. I went down to their house, walking through the empty rooms bawling!  It was at that point I stopped and told myself I had to get a grip on this. They were gone to NY and I had to face that fact and get on with my life! 

I remember going back to our house that day taking out a pen and paper and forcing myself to do an exercise that forever changed my perspective on challenges that life throws our way.  I made myself write down as many negatives as I could think of for them moving to NY. That was pretty easy to do!! Then I made myself balance each of those with just as many positives for their move to NY. Believe it or not I was able to come up with equal lists! Those lists became the basis for a lesson I taught at a convention in Jamaica the next spring! “Is your cup half full or half empty?” Not only that, it gave me insight on the positive attitude my husband always has and helped me to look more at the pluses in each situation rather than all the negatives! 

This attitude is essential when it comes to taking charge of my health and getting my weight and fitness under control. It would have been tempting to look at all I could not do the first day of boot camp. The list would have been endless!  BUT, I chose to focus on the fact that I made it through boot camp that day and was willing to come back!  Each time I looked for and found an area of improvement from the previous boot camp.  Some days it was one more push up! or holding a plank for a few seconds longer than before. I am now looking back 9+ month:  These are some of the progressions: 

Kettle bell dead lifts:  @ 18#, then to 24#, 32#, 42, 52, and now 70#! 

Kettle bell swings:   were 18#, 24, 32 and just recently 42#! 

Push ups from knees were a maximum of 5 up to 25 and I even did a 100 straight one day!  I’m also doing full body push ups—got up to 10 of then one time and pushing myself by doing cheater push ups—full body down, knees back up.

Bear crawls:  first time I crawled on hands and knees; Knees to elbows; a couple of crawls and back to knees to elbows; Straight leg crawls; Straight leg length of gym; bear crawls length of gym; inch worm length of gym!

V-sits:  absolutely none at first; had to extend  legs up in the air and try to sit up to the legs—more like toe touches; curl ups with legs down; v-ups with legs back to floor; v-ups with feet off floor and grab knees---recently 55 in 3 minutes!
Running: fast walking; high knees when I had injured my knee, then back to fast walking; now my ‘version’ of sprinting and continuing to pick up speed!

Burpees: hold a plank--from knees, then full body—couldn’t even come close to doing a burpee!  Then hands down and walk feet back and forward one at a time; walk feet back and jump forward; jump back and jump forward and up into the air; add a dyna ball to that; add a dyna ball slam.

There is ALWAYS something I can improve on each day. I am learning how to challenge myself and if I forget at small group or boot camp one of the trainers gives me a friendly reminder. Albert challenged me the other day to think about going up in the weight and down in the reps; to focus on getting stronger. My first attempt at 20# for an arm curl and press showed me I’m not quite ready for it but 15# is going good! But when I tried the 15# for 25 reps I quickly noted I needed to do 12# not 15! I will keep trying the 15# with reps and go on to the 20# soon! His challenge is uppermost in my mind! As I’m taking off the #’s and gaining strength I can do the exercises more easily and more efficiently. 

                      Here is a little picture of what
                    goes on at boot camp. Enjoy!!

Yes, I AM smiling doing
 prisoner squat jumps! 
I'm sure smiling
makes them easier!!

There are some exercises that we haven’t done in months, and it is a pleasant surprise that as I do them once again, I have improved! The low cone jumps are one of them. I’d done it only once before. Mind you, the cones are only about 3” off the floor! But the first time I was doing good to hop one foot barely over and get the other one to follow. This is the beauty of boot camp because whatever we’re doing builds and strengthens. As I see the cones I ’m thinking “Oh no” this didn’t go well last time. But what a surprise for me—I was able to jump both feet at once back and forth for about 15 seconds and the last half to rapidly jump one foot at a time just like Luka had demonstrated! Wow! Was I excited!! 

It was almost exactly the same scenario with the bear crawls! Though I hadn’t been doing bear crawls, I had been getting stronger with all that we were doing in boot camp and small group, so that the next time they were on the small group schedule I did them!  And did them pretty well in fact!!

I concentrate better with
my eyes closed!!

I love the ropes!
I had just finished
and thrown them down!



The whole charity bootcamp
made it to the end!



And this is just part of the warm ups!

My brain is leaning that those exercises I once dreaded are now my friends---I can do them! It really helps my attitude and approach to my health and fitness. At the same time, I keep in mind that there is always another level of fitness and challenge to be attained!  I enjoy burpees much more now and Mountain Climbers have become my next challenge to conquer. That is until we started doing L-sit ups! [On my back, one leg locked out vertically and the other locked out horizontally with foot just an inch or two above the floor. Now curl up with arms reaching above the vertical knee!]  I think this just moved to the top of my list of attitude challenges!! So how do I get my "can do" attitude to kick in on this one?  I added it to the end of my complex that I did this morning! (Squat jumps, split squats, push ups, burpees, mountain climbers, slingle leg deadlists, V-sits AND L-sits!! So there!!!  Always something to make me grow!  Thanks Luka Hocevar and staff!!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Renton-Results-Boot-Camp/131962520198761

Thank YOU for visiting with this  "Babyboomergrandma".  It is indeed a life-time journey!! Until next time, may God richly bless YOUR life.

Picture Picture on the Wall

Family Photos tell the truth! 

One picture is worth a thousand words?

Of course these picture were not hanging on any wall in my home nor were they posted on my face book wall; But they were right there all the time confronting me on the walls of my mind!  Actually on second thought, some of them were tagged on my face book wall by family members! What can you do, leave out all the family pictures because they tell the truth about your size??

The following is intended to be a bit humorous, but some of it may be painful as well. To tell the truth, when we are so self-conscious about our weight we think EVERYONE is noticing. But really, in the bigger picture, we're not that 'important' to everyone that they are scoping out our dimensions! We are often our own worst critics and people are not seeing what we see as so wrong about ourselves! That said, please take the following in a light hearted manner!

Guess I like the end of the left side best!!

How many of us have looked at a group photo and our eyes go directly to ourselves in the picture? After a while you begin strategizing how to look better and avoid those “tell-all” photos.

For my sister, it was practice smiling in the mirror so she’d have a good smile without all her gums showing.  For me? Get in the back of the picture. That was pretty easy when we were standing since I’m usually taller than everyone else. But then our pictures with my sisters would often put me on the end—I’m the oldest and we’d automatically line up by age! Must be a throw back to those stair step pictures from our childhood years! There were 5 of us born in the space of 5 years, including our brother right in the middle position, so we did make excellent stair steps in our younger years! Or maybe I just hadn't caught on to something my sisters already knew, that grabbing the middle position is more figure friendly! 

Ah Ha!! Peeking out from the back!
Perfect positioning makes all the difference!!!



   Even my niece has this technique perfected. She was taking a picture of all my sisters and I with our mom. She stood up on a stool and had us look up at the camera—voila—no double chins showing!!! Thanks Shannon! 

My O my!! 2010, the 4th of July!!!





When there's only two in the picture,
you're always on the end! Could I have
at least stood up straight and sucked
in my gutt? It was a picture after all!! 2009



I didn't think to hide behind
the quilt!  My daughter Deborah
had the right idea and she
didn't even need to!!

More recently my rule had been get in the middle in back, turn slightly right side (best side) forward and if possible position part of my body behind whoever is next to me!  If someone's going to look bigger in the picture it won't be me!!



July 31, 2011



One of my last 244#, maximum weight pictures broke all those rules. There I was with my family, on the end—huge thigh accentuated even with my Lane Bryant black cropped pants trying to make me look cute! It was such a nice family picture—nice smiles, my hair looked good, I was with the ones I love, but I saw in that picture what was happening to my body. That picture stands out as a pivotal point initiating a mind and attitude switch from “Fat & Happy” to "I really need to get serious about my health!"  And as you have seen, I did take that attitude switch seriously! 

 

Thanks for helping me out a bit, Rebekah!
Much better angle! You made a
beautiful shield! July 4, 2010

  

Not exactly front and center, but
still looking like it!! July 4, 2010



Even now, with 56 pounds less of me, I am still reprogramming those pictures in my mind!  It is a process, but I'm changing them one mega-pixel at a time! Praise God!  According to the Word of God, I am awesomely and wonderfully made by Him!! And I am once again finding that awesome person He had in mind all along!

Just a note for you who are reading this, You are awesome too and don't ever think otherwise!!  

       

Thanks for visiting with this  "Babyboomergrandma". 

My life time journey continues!  Until next time, may God richly bless YOUR life.



 



“Let’s Celebrate 40 years”

I walked down the aisle 40 years ago today at my smallest adult weight of 145 pounds. Little did I know at the time I’d be 99 pounds more than that 39 years later! My height always gave me an advantage in carrying any weight well. As well as stretching it out over my tall frame, I became quite skilled in covering it up! Before children arrived, I had a very flat stomach!   I think that was in part due to the fact I played clarinet in the school bands from grade 5 through college. It never occurred to me that the breath control required to play the clarinet probably kept my abs toned!  I need to get that clarinet out again. What a fun way to work on those abs from the inside out and get a great respiratory workout too!

Over the 40 years of marriage my husband has always been very supportive of my size. He’s always seen me as beautiful. When ever I’ve tried to lose weight he’s always encourage and commended my efforts. When I’ve put on pounds, he’s never aid anything negative.

On my present journey he’s encouraged and supported me every step of the way. When I told him all I wanted for gifts—i.e. birthday, Christmas, etc. is Bootcamp money he loved it. That made it very easy for him. He’s really tried to notice my improvements. He never seems to  tires of my detailed boot camp work out accountings and is happy  along with me when I can do a little more. He understands when I’m out doing interval in the carport jumping rope or doing some of the other routines in the various weight loss challenges. He helps me celebrate my victories. He understands when I need a nap because I got to bed too late, but still got up for my 5:45 am boot camp. He supports my efforts that are pretty demanding in my time and attention to get fit and healthy and to lose this weight. He figures out how to enjoy eating with the “crazy” cooking I’m doing. I am blessed!

It is a joy to celebrate 40 years of marriage with the absolutely perfect man for me. A marriage some said  in the 70’s had little statistical chance of survival because of our differences in culture, race, upbringing, and nationalities. But we proved them wrong!!! The major factor none of the people with their statistics counted on or considered was the fact we were not the only ones trying to make this marriage work. Our lives and our marriage were and are centered around our relationship with Jesus Christ. Who we are in Him transcends the human barriers of race, nationality, upbringing, and culture. Divorce from day one was never an alternative. It was not a part of our vocabulary. No matter what may come, through God we would make it work and it has! Have we always done it right? Of course not!  Have we blown it here and there? Definitely!   But God _______________!!!  

Yes, God is able to do abundantly, more than we can ask or even imagine!  And He has done that for us.  

Thank you for taking this time to celebrate a bit of these 40 years with this baby boomer grandma gettin' fit & healthy!  Until next time--may God richly bless YOU.





"A Can-Do Attitude"

Back a few months ago I was on my way home from Bootcamp when I decided that I was no longer going to complain about doing burpees!  Prior to this whenever we had to do burpees at boot camp I groaned and complained. I actually had lots of company in that department! I would tell my friends how horrible burpees are. For me, it was a good day if it did NOT include burpees.

However, when I make negative statements, I release negative chemicals. These lead to negative memories that grow stronger and become negative strongholds that control my attitude and life. It became obvious that burpees are going to be a part of my life and with my bad attitude, they are never going to get easier to do! So instead of complaining, I started replacing negative thinking and words about burpees with a positive attitude shift!   Therefore, after 5 months of hating burpees, I am going to embrace them.

• They are one of the best overall body exercises I can do.
• I can do them at any time with no equipment required.
• My form is improving.
• I was able to do 12 of them in a minute both rounds today.
• They are making me stronger.
• When I notice we are doing burpees, my response is ‘all right’!
• I have decided that I LOVE  burpees!
• One of these days they will be my favorite exercise!   

I wrote the above words about 4 months ago. Today at Charity Bootcamp I did two sets of burpees each one minute long. I don’t remember how many I did, but it was more than 12!  Burpees are no longer a negative experience for me. However, I commented to a friend in my group that 60 seconds of non-stop Mountain Climbers have become what burpees used to be!  So I need to start loving Mountain Climbers so they can become one of my favorite exercises as well!  At present they are not even close to that category, but I’m working on it.  I have learned that at boot camp I will ALWAYS have opportunity for growth in fitness as well as attitude!

Do I look at a situation as a problem or do I see the potential for growth? Is it too much of a challenge for me or do I make a choice to be an overcomer?  Is it an obstacle or an opportunity? Is it a set-back or a step-up?  Is it a quandary or an exciting quest? Do I see the trouble or the triumph?  Is my cup half empty or is it half full? These are very important questions to consider, because the answers very likely determine the degree of success I will have in anything I undertake not just weight loss or Renton Results Boot Camp 

                                                                    

Over the years I have worked on and continue to work on changing my focus from seeing all the possible problems to seeing the potential.  For some reason I was ‘gifted’ with the ability to see every possible difficulty, setback or hindrance!  This can be minimally helpful to a point, but it can definitely be debilitating causing paralysis of action, not wanting to do anything wrong or take a chance!  When I stop and think it through, this dilemma can be summed up in three words: “Lack of Faith!”

A “Can do” attitude is part of the structure of my faith because the Word of God tells me: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” So do I choose to go with that word and that confession?  I’ve quoted it many times in my life. In fact I have a little decoration hanging on my wall that I was given early on in my walk with Christ that has that very verse on it. Its one thing to read the verse, to ‘know’ it in my head, or to quote it from memory,  but it’s quite another thing to KNOW it in my heart and to put it into action on a daily basis, applying it to every area of my life. This truth from God’s Word  is at the very basis of my having a “Can-do” attitude!

Another quote that encourages me is “When I am weak, He (Jesus) is strong in me.”  This certainly seems like a win/win situation to me!!  I haven’t met any one including myself who will not in some way let me down. For me, “Jesus is the Friend that sticks closer than a brother; He will never leave me nor forsake me!”  My “Can-do” attitude while requiring that I do the action, does not leave me totally on my own, but I have a marvelous Source of help and strength in the Lord!

I hope I didn’t get too preachy today!  But I needed to hear this myself. Thanks again for visiting with this baby boomer grandma gettin’ fit & healthy!  Until tomorrow, may God richly bless YOU!

“Spanx to the Rescue”

I remember some of my teen years when girdles were the slimming fashion garment of choice!  Talk about uncomfortable!  Even at my 145 pound slim weight I wore a corset type bra to slim the non-existent bulges under my wedding bodice!  To give a ‘smooth’ look!

 You can’t imagine the relief when Rebekah introduced me to a garment called Spanx. It was 2009 and my 45^th year high school reunion was coming up. She told me that even Michelle Obama wore Spanx!  I wiggled, pulled, tugged, squirmed, jumped up and down into this garment!  It was actually comfortable once I got into it—far more comfortable than my long ago memory of that girdle. With the Spanx and a flattering dress, cute shoes, sun tan sprayed legs and jewelry to match, I was set for my reunion and I did have a wonderful time renewing acquaintances!  Thanks Rebekah!!!

No spanx, so cover it up!





 So Spanx became my best friend and Lane Bryant my store of fashion choice. Rebekah would hunt down bargains at Ross, TJ Max and Marshall’s for me as well. She even threw in Macy's a few times! Nordstrom Rack



provided my 13+ size foot coverage. However, when I kept gaining weight and the spanx were getting tighter and tighter—my hope got lower and lower! Spanx can only do just so much!  You gotta give them something to work with--or should I say a little less to work with, not more!



Spanx were helping out a
whole lot here. My outfit
almost looks too big! The
fact I had taken off
22 pounds
made a difference too!

 Since September 2010 I’ve reversed that trend and I am so glad to say that those same Spanx don’t do anything for me now that my muscles can’t do! I’ve given away all of my “fat” clothes—even some really nice ones I thought I’d wear on the way down—I just sailed past their size before I realized it.

At the time it seems like forever to my next goal, but I keep an eye on my goal and an eye on how far I’ve come. That was wise counsel from trainer Luka as I was telling him of my frustration with the remaining belly bulge! I need to stop and enjoy how far I have come! This is a life journey and I want to learn every principle and life skill along the way. This takes time because not only is it transforming my body, but also my soul—my mind, my will, and my emotions! 

I don’t want a temporary band aid fix. I want permanent, lasting results. I want to learn from my mistakes. When I fall, I get back up. The greatest glory is not in never falling—not in being perfect—but rising back up when I do fall. I choose to use those imperfections, those failures, those former stumbling blocks as stepping stones of progress and success  as I journey to my lifetime goal of health and fitness.

Thanks again for visiting with this baby boomer grandma gettin' fit & healthy!  See you again soon, with my "Can Do Attitude"--Until then, may God richly bless YOU my friend.

“What’s on My Mind? ”

There’s a lot of brain/body connection or in some cases disconnect, that makes the difference in my current success. Setting a goal of being fit and healthy needed to start in my mind and settle in my heart and start working on my emotions. Without that process it would never have reached the point of action that could be reflected in my body.  “As a person thinks in their heart, so are they”(The Bible) My heart and my mind were on their way to being transformed—to changing in the area of fitness and health!

What had been for so long in my life a preference to be fit and healthy was now becoming a choice.  For years I had mistaken my preferences as choices. A preference is something that one does until the going gets rough. Whereas a choice is backed up by determination and a 'can-do' attitude that comes from the gut—from deep within. No matter what the challenges or obstacle I will choose to push through, to continue, to progress.  

I was in the process of making that choice to be fit and healthy. To do whatever it took to reach my goal; To be in it for the long run.  No ‘quick fix’ had worked in the past. The fact I had injured myself early on could have ended my journey if it had just been a preference. But having made a choice for fitness, I was going to find a way to do it no matter what!  And I was blessed to have a trainer in Luka with the knowledge to help me work through some of those obstacles.

As I have been progressing in my choice for fitness and health, I’ve also been learning how to maintain it once I do reach my goals. My focus is not just losing weight. I’ve done that many times before. Losing weight can be achieved relatively easy by unhealthy means to just come right back with a vengeance and bring along a few extra like minded roommates!  So losing weight, while part of the goal has to go hand in hand with regaining my health and developing my fitness and strength.

When I started transferring fat into muscle, the number on the scales were not going to give me weekly ‘big loser’ results. Some weeks it seems like there is hardly any progress on the scales.  However, one look in the mirror and a reminder of the “pre-weight loss” photos is enough to tell me this IS working! I can sit down and not feel like my thighs are spreading all across the bench!  I don’t feel the need to cover up my belly with big tops. I even consider tucking in a top once in a while!  I’m learning that eating frequently and drinking LOTS of water is a big key!

Mind you, this is hot an over night transformation. Just as my strength increases a bit each boot camp, so too my body is changing and my mind along with it. When the scales don’t show as much progress as I had hoped, the tape measure will give me some encouraging news! That was certainly the case when after the first 9 weeks of boot camp I lost 10” from my belly alone! 

I celebrate the small accomplishments. One more full body push up, the watch that now fits around my wrist, the size large top down from an XL and even the large is getting too big.  The first days of boot camp I had to take joy in what now seems very ordinary.  The fact that I could hold a plank from the knees, that I could get up off the mat, that I didn’t get tired quite as fast, that I made it through the entire boot camp even though I had to do the easier version of the exercise. You better believe I am looking for improvement every day to celebrate and you know what?  I find it every day—a bit of improvement to take hold of and encourage myself.



Its good to look at how far
you've come during the
prosess of this journey!

 I took my version of "Biggest Loser" pictures along the way! I am thrilled to tell you that I do not fear gaining back the weight I have lost and will continue to lose until I reach my goal.  I am becoming more equipped each day with the tools and knowledge that makes it very achievable. Food and fat no longer rule me. I’m smarter than they are! I have more understanding of how my body works in relationship to food. It's not difficult to understand AND it  is liberating to be free from the bondage of appetite and food cravings! Hallelujah!!

Well on my way to health & fitness!!

 

Even though I gave you a double blogging day, this journey is still in its infancy! Thanks again for visiting with this 'baby boomer grandma gettin' fit and healthy'.  And Until next time--probably tomorrow,  may God richly bless YOU!

“Wisdom gained on the Journey”

I realized recently that there are lingering fears that want to pop up from time to time since I first confronted them 17 years ago. I had the hardest time at first wrapping my brain around the idea of not exercising at least a little bit on Sundays. Our weight loss workout schedule had Sunday as a break day.

My daughter, Rebekah,  informed me “It’s your recovery day Mom—take it off!  In fact it will do just the opposite of what you hope to achieve. Not taking a day of recovery will work against you!” Not wanting to be my own worst enemy, I took her advice. I have my day of recovery and the next day? I seem to have more energy for Monday morning boot camp than any other day!

I’ve also learned that if I don’t do it perfectly, just get back up and continue the journey. So I tried a “cheat day”—I’d rather call it an unlimited choices day—the idea of cheating sets ME up for failure in my mind.  Well, my day was really a CHEAT day without limits or controls. Rather than eat the healthier things currently not allowed on my plan, I went right for the chocolate and donuts. Not just one either!  So, what did this tell me? Even on an unlimited eating day I need to keep my eye on my goal of fit and healthy. Will one chocolate stop that? No, but a dozen is definitely detrimental to both my fitness and health goals. Can I eat a chocolate or a donut next time?  I don’t know. I do know my physical addiction to sugar is gone, but the metal/emotional one is still being broken! I look forward to the day that food is my fuel only and not my comfort.

Quilting has been a good exercise for me in maintaining my “reformed perfectionist” status and not going back to my old ways. I started quilting about 9 years ago. My first quilt was for my brother’s first grandson. This was a project of love, because my brother had passed away six years earlier in a tragic motorcycle accident. Incorporated into the quilt was a focal fabric left over from my brother’s childhood pajamas Mom had made for him. I completed the quilt in less than a month and named it after the western theme print “Happy Trails of Memories.”  Was the quilt perfect? Not in construction—not in quilting not in a lot of ways, but it WAS perfect in its intent, its message, its motivation, and its love.  I was genuinely happy with the results. It was the first item opened at the shower and brought tears to all our eyes............

The "perfect" quilt

You see, both of my grand nephew’s grandfathers had passed away before he was born. This quilt was in memory and honor of both of them for their grandson, Kevin.

     Thanks for visiting with this babyboomergrandma, letting me share a bit of my heart and until next time may God richly bless YOU!

"Happy Trails of Memories"