My Fitness Journey

In the summer of 2017, I signed up to do Oxygen Magazines Challenge 3 - OC3 for short.  There were two coaches, and I chose Jamie Eason Middleton.  I was determined. The program lasts 90 days and every day you watch a video and do the assigned workout.  There's a meal plan too.  I was so into it.  I never missed a workout.  Until I fell down the stairs (ok, jumped thinking I was on the ground due to my poor depth perception) and broke my ankle.

Working out came to a screeching halt.  I was put in a walking boot cast.  I purchased a knee scooter and crutches.  This was midway through OC3.  I was disappointed - my first thought when learning my ankle was broken was "But tomorrow is leg day!)

I'd been big on always getting at least 10,000 steps a day with my Fitbit too.  That wasn't going to happen either. 

I gained some weight while my ankle healed.  Obviously.

So last summer, OC4 came up.  Jen Widerstrom (of Biggest Loser fame) was one of the coaches, and I chose her.  She even had a book, which I purchased, called DIET RIGHT FOR YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE.  Best money I ever spent.  I started the challenge at 154 and ended it at 137.  Numerous inches less on waist, hips, etc.  I did every workout.  I made the top 25 and got put in the Oxygen magazine.  I was proud of myself.

But I wasn't finished.  Then I went back and redid OC3.  I lost 7 more pounds.  Once done with that, I did a free challenge called Lean Body for Her.  And then it was time for OC5.  My coach was Amber Dodzweit Riposta.  She had workouts like I've never done before, so it was interesting.

OC5 just ended.  I've lost three more pounds, so I'm now at 127.  That's a good weight.  And I have some muscles.  I missed a few workouts here and there for various reasons, but I did almost all of them.  I stuck with the healthy eating and macros I learned from Jen Widerstrom.

And now I'm doing OC1, since I missed it the first time.  You can purchase past challenges and do them on your own.  I'm in the habit of working out now, I eat healthy 90 percent of the time, but I do have an occasional pizza or burger.  Alcohol is my biggest hurdle.  I do like my wine and beer.  I'm still working on that.

How did I stick with it?  I set a scheduled workout time, just like I do for my writing.  Of course, if something else comes up and I miss it, I have to do it later.  But I feel healthy and strong, which I love.

I'm 58 years old.  If I can do it, so can you.  Start small.  When I started, I couldn't do squats with any weight.  Same for step-ups.  I've gradually been increasing the weight so now I'm up to 15 and 20's.

It's not hard to create a new habit.  Try it.  You may surprise yourself.

Random

It;'s Friday.  I have several random thoughts to post today, some of them on writing and others not.

My friend Stephanie Doyle has an awesome post today Storytelling Rules about how, even after 15 published books, she still feels like she doesn't know what she's doing.  Her newest Harlequin SuperRomance is out and I can guarantee you it's a good read.  Check out her blog too - it hit a chord with me too.  (I seriously typed a comment, it said it was accepted, and it never showed up.  I tried again, same deal.  I just don't get it!!)

Anyway, the book I'm writing right now will be my 36th published book.  And, like Stephanie, I often feel like I have no idea what I'm doing.   She nentions she can't tell the difference between the book that got nominated for a Rita last year (which I read, and it was fabulous!) and any other book she's written.  I'm the same way about my books.  The book I have coming out in September - The Lost Wolf's Destiny - is one my agent says is my best book yet.  She said that about The Wolf Prince too, which is out now.  Yet, like Stephanie, each and every book is my favorite while I'm writing it.  Some, like the The Millionaire Cowboy's Secret, which is out in May, I'll never forget because that's the one that I accidently deleted, permanently, I may add, the last two chapters within five minutes of finishing the book.  I spent the entire Saturday before the book was due rewriting - as best I could from memory - the last forty pages.  Oy!

But as to what's good and what's great - well, that's entirely subjective.  (Side note, I just finished reading Kristan Higgins The Best Man.  Loved that book - adore all of her books.  And Romantic Times gave that book a 2.  Yep.  And for all of the reasons I loved it.  I had even commented to my friend Anna Adams how well Kristan Higgins writes men.  Shrug.)

I can give writer tips to non-published writers, but since everything seems to change book to book, what might be a valid tool on one book is not on another.  Yep, there's stuff I learn inherently over time and many books, but there is also stuff  I struggle with on each and every book.  Sometimes it's different stuff.  Go figure.

I'm finally over my cold (yay!) mostly.  However, the cold store from hell has struck, so I'm stuck in the house until that goes away. 

Simple pleasures - still adore my Sodastream.  Just had to refill the CO2 cartridge.  I have every flavor and enjoy making diffent ones each day.  Both my daughter and my father have/had birthdays this month, and both wanted a Keurig, so it will be interesting to see how they like those. 

Last random thought - I'm so glad the United States finally passed the Violence Against Women Act.  Those of you who know me are aware I've lived through that horror a long time ago and by the grace of God, I made it without getting killed.  Yet the terror/shame/sorrow of those times never leaves me, and I am so glad that other women will get the help I never could.  And I hope and pray that it saves lives.

Have a wonderful weekend!  See you on the other side.

Wednesday 7-2-10

I'm going to sin tonight. Planned in advance, as husband told me about it as far back as Sunday. Have spent all week anticipating my sin, even as I lament in advance the effects on my body, if not my soul. Nah. Not the soul part, at least. Maybe on my waistline.

Tonight is burger night. Our every-two-month occurence and one I relish and refuse to give up. I even tried to tell my personal trainer about it, but unfortunately she had my on the treadmill running a quarter mile at 7mph and I couldn't talk. Hell, I could barely breathe.

So anyway, despite the negative results on the scale, I'm going to have a burger. With fries. A nice big, juicy, Chili's burger, like the one pictured below.



This is such an event with my family that my grown daughter is driving over to come have the meal with us. We only get beef burgers every two months, after all. (We sometimes allow ourselves turkey burgers in between, but rarely).

So wish me luck. I'm skipping the gym and going to Chili's!

7-6-10

Passion, Drama, and Creativity.

I listen to a lot of music. All kinds, from Country to Hip-Hop/Rap to Rock. My I-Tunes library is pretty good sized, and I continually add to it.

What got me started on this topic is creativity. I was thinking about what kind of things fuel my muse and music is definitely one of them. Many of my books were written with various theme songs - Keith Urban, Amy Lee, Pink, Eminem, Nickleback, Sugarland. The latest Eminem song LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE is what got me thinking.

First off, whether or not you like Rap, Eminem is, in my opinion, an amazing songwriter and artist. This latest song featuring Rhianna is (in my interpretation) about a man who justifies every violent act he does in the name of love. He even has the woman sing that she loves the way he lies and she likes pain and taunts him to go ahead and watch her burn. Because that's how men like that think.

The first time I heard this song, I cried. Just about every time I listen to it, I cry again. But I tell you what, it makes you think. I was in a relationship like this - I think a lot of people have been at some point in their life. Maybe not the abusive part, but the volatile, nose to nose, screaming and yelling and crazy drama. Awful, yes, but true to life. Listen to this song. Go ahead. I challenge you. I especially like the part we Eminem sings "it won't happen again, I promise. Next time I'll hit the wall. No, wait, there won't be a next time, i swear. I tell you I'm sorry, I apologize, even though I know I'm lying." Not the exact words, but close enough to get the drift.

Every day we hear stories about some man that burns his house down with his wife or girlfriend inside or shoots her. It always breaks my heart, having been in this type of situation. This song breaks my heart for another reason. Because Eminem GETS IT. Exactly. And I don't get the sense that he actually BELIEVES it, just that he's been there and now he can step back and take a look and sees how crazy it is.

Long, rambling post, I know. To get back on track, this kind of thing fuels my creativity. Because it's so freaking creative on the artist's part. And this song, this song is destined for some book not yet written. Thanks for that, Eminem.