Lose 27 Pounds in 3 Weeks!

Weight Lost Since January 1st: 0
Days until my 50th Birthday: 127

Books and magazine headlines everywhere are promising that you can lose huge amounts of weight in ridiculously short amounts of time. There are three ways to do this and for maximum results, you will need to do all three: 1) Drastically cut down on the amount of food you put into your mouth; 2) Drastically increase the amount of time you devote to exercise each day; 3) Have any unnecessary body appendages surgically removed. Some days, #3 sounds like the easier solution.

Skipped my 10 minutes workout for two very good rationalizatoins, oh, I mean "reasons" yesterday: 1) I had hurt my knee and shoulder the previous day and they needed to rest; 2) God proclaimed we should rest on the seventh day and that was my seventh day.

Since I didn't devote my standard 10 minutes to exercise, I had more time yesterday to think about eating. In fact, I became a bit obsessed with it. You don't get to be my weight without a good, healthy obsession. I really, really, really wanted Cheese Puffs, glorious, radiation orange, greasy Cheesy Puffs. Normally, this obsession would work itself out by me stopping by my nearest grocery store and buying a family-size bag. But, because I'm "watching what I eat," I decided to buy the .99 cent bag at a gas station.

I'd like to be able to look back on that moment of weakness and say it wasn't worth it, that I didn't enjoy it. I really would like to be able to say that. But they were good. Really good. The best I can say is the obsession has now passed and today I do not want Cheese Puffs.

After one week of eating better and exercising, in which I had lost one pound, when I weighed this morning I was exactly where I had started. Someday, I hope to be able to make the connection between what I eat and what I weigh. That hasn't happened yet. When I am in obsessoin mode, I don't care. The good news is today is a new day and I can make new choices.

STRATEGY: Realize that each day offers you the opportunity to make new choices about what I eat and how I move my body.

AFFIRMATION: Today I rejoice in the knowledge that I can make new choices. I make healthy choices for my body, mind and spirit.

Unleashing Your Creative Genius

Days until my 50th Birthday: 131
Weight lost since January 1st: 1 lb.

If you ever think that you are not a creative genius, just remember back to the last time somebody asked you to join them at the gym. If you're like me, the creative juices start flowing immediately. Of course, to be effective, the reason you are not able to join them - under any circumstances - must sound somewhat reasonable. I like to stick to something like, ""Darn the luck, that's when I'm going to be practicing the didgeridoo in my ongoing studies of the native people of northern Australia." I bet you've come up with some winners, too.

On Monday, Prof. Wonderful and I committed to starting every day with 10 minutes of exercise. On Tuesday, I bounced out of bed, ready to meet the challenge. In less time than it takes to order a Value Meal at McDonald's I was filled with energy and ready to take on my day. Wednesday, same story. Why hadn't I been doing this all along? It's sooooo easy! Thursday - Is that a twinge in my knee? Maybe I should take today off. But then I remembered my committment and persevered. Didn't seem like nearly as much fun, but a deal is a deal. Friday - This is stupid. Is 10 minutes really going to change anything? What was I thinking? But I gotta do it; promised Prof. Wonderful. Saturday: Was I supposed to be doing something this morning?

Funny how the mind works. I spent a lot more than 10 minutes this morning coming up with a number of good, solid reasons why I shouldn't spend 10 minutes moving my body. Finally, the rationalizing grew so tiring I realized it would be easier to just do the exercises. And you know what? It felt good to honor my commitment to myself and to Prof. Wonderful.

STRATEGY: You know you're a creative genius when it comes to manufacturing excuses. Use that same genius to create a plan that will have you moving your body every day. Time crunch? Start with 10 minutes. Really out of shape? There are exercises you can do while sitting down. If you truly desire to have more energy and feel better, the creative genius within you can figure out how to make it happen, just give it a chance.

AFFIRMATION: Today I tap into my creative genius to create a lifestyle that gives me health and vitality.

Oh, no! The Law of Attraction Gave me What I Asked For

Weight Lost since Jan. 1st: .05
Days until my 50th Birthday: 134

One moment I was contently sitting on my sofa wondering what was in my cupboard that could be deep fried (the Twinkies maybe?) and the next thing I know I'm part of a "wellness group" committed to eating healthy foods and exercising for the next five weeks. This is the Law of Attraction in action, my friends; watch out!

Prof. Wonderful and I attended a Wellness Event on Monday night that said it was offering an "effective, inspirational approach to enhanced physical well being." Brilliant marketing because somehow I didn't tumble to the fact that that translated into "diet" and "exercise." I thought we'd hear a motivational speaker, get pumped up to do better and I'd be home in time to finish my fried ice cream.

First we were handed a workbook. Prof. Wonderful squealed in delight. Books, magazines and any form of the written word that takes up huge amounts of space and I can trip over thrills him. I was confused. Why would I need a workbook? How naive I was.

Right from the start I began hearing those key words that mean I'm going to be very unpleasant to be around for the next five weeks: no fast foods, no baked goods, no refined sugars. I think there was more but I started to grow faint as I saw my life as a foodie flashing before my eyes - garlic knots at Anthony's, pasta at Maggiano's, ice cream at Maggie Moo's, the memories flooded in.

Then, they started talking exercise, the need to move our body, being grateful we can move our body. I have to admit, the speaker's enthusiasm was sucking me in. We all know exercise is good for us, but he said the magic words to this group that largely consisted of Baby Boomers: exercise can help you LOOK YOUNGER! By the time he was finished talking we didn't even need our cars to get us home that evening. We were ready to run out of that building and keep running until the bags under our eyes fell off. Turns out eating the right foods combined with body movement helps plump the skin and give it a more youthful appearance. I'm on board with that as I say goodbye to my 40s!

The workbook is filled with sample menus, recipes and, I've got to admit it, inspiration. On New Year's Day I set an intent for 2010, my 50th year on this planet. I told the Universe I am creating a strong, healthy body filled with vitality. By setting that intent, I was setting the Law of Attraction into motion. I did not go into the details of how this would be done - that's up to the Universe. The wonderful thing is the Law of Attraction always works, in ways expected and unexpected. I had no idea what I was getting myself into that evening. I walked out with a healthy new eating plan that, now that I've recovered from my shock, I find is absolutely do-able. And Prof. Wonderful bought both of us an exercise DVD that starts out with only 10 minutes of exercise in the morning. Just 10 minutes that will set the tone for my day, help me think clearer and increase my metabolism. Luckily enough, I happen to have an extra 10 minutes a day since I'm not spending that time trying to fry macaroni and cheese (yes, it's possible!).

Best of all, Prof. Wonderful, who already has a clean, healthy diet, is completely on board with me and 100 percent supportive and enthusiastic. Which is what makes him, well, wonderful.

STRATEGY #8: Set a clear intent of what you want to create this year.

AFFIRMATION #8: All that I need comes to me with ease and grace.

First Visit to the Fitness Center

Pounds lost since January 1st - 0
Days until my 50th birthday - 138

Prof. Wonderful decided that the way to kick off the new year was a trip to 24-Hour Fitness. That meant I had to hurry up and get out of my pajamas and brush away the cake crumbs before he got to my house.

I thought fitness centers would still be quiet as people took advantage of the long holiday weekend to stuff themselves with leftover Christmas cookies and finish the last of the eggnog. Not these folks! Most of them looked like they had no problem passing the cookie platter. In fact, a lot of them looked like they didn't eat very often at all.

Prof. Wonderful and I got on adjacent treadmills and after my 5-minute warm-up, I hit 3.5, my usual speed for a workout. Problem was, I only lasted about 30 seconds instead of 30 minutes. What have they done to the machines since I've last visited? The speeds had to be off; I felt like I was running uphill. I nonchalantly brought the speed down to 3.0. Luckily, Prof. Wonderful keeps so busy checking out his own heart rate every 30 seconds that he didn't notice at first. When he did notice that I seemed to be going sort of slow, I cursed the blasted machines saying this was as fast as the machine could go and it needed to be fixed.

When I wasn't trying to stay on the treadmill, I was thinking of how delicious a frosty cold Dr. Pepper would taste when I got home. Drat that high fructose corn syrup that was contributing to my belly fat. Even found it in my so-called healthy cereal this morning. Seems it will take some time to weed this culprit from my pantry.

STRATEGY #6 - Find a workout partner. Find lots of workout partners and do different, fun activities with each. I've had workout partners who like to power walk the mall (this can get expensive if the stores are open) and others who like to push a stroller through the park. It's all good.

AFFIRMATION #6 - "Every person in my life supports my healthy lifestyle."

The Countdown Begins

388 days until I am Fit By 50!

My 50th birthday wishes: Only one chin, less wiggle when I walk, more vitality when I hike, for the doctor to smile at me instead of frown when I come in for my physical. Right now, Dr. Pepper is the only doctor who approves my diet.

Today I am at Step 1 of Change. I am considering what I have to give up to be Fit by 50! McDonald's, brownies, french fries, ice cream all come to mind. Am I really ready to give them up? And do I have to give them up completely to be successful? Is it to possible to eat healthy most of the time and take a quick hit of fries when needed? Is it possible to lose weight while sitting on my couch eating a brownie and watching other people do it on Infomercials?

I need to contemplate this and grieve what was before I can embrace what can be. I believe I can best do this with some brownies. Please excuse me while I go to the store. Ghiradelli's dark chocolate rocks! (All part of the grieving process, I assure you.)

STRATEGY #2: Release the old before you begin the new. Realize that every change - even those we want - means we are giving up something in our lives. Before making the change, give yourself time to release the old.

AFFIRMATION #2:

I release old patterns that no longer serve me. I move forward with joyful anticipation.

Affirmations are a powerful way to create what you want in your life. It's not enough to just say the affirmation, you've got to feel it. Feel the excitement, the joy, the passion as you are creating the life you want to live. Say this affirmation out loud until you feel its truth. Shout it until the neighbors think you are crazy. Say it while dancing around the living room. It's your life. Live out loud!