Can't Stop Now! Happy August

We have 7 months behind us . . . we can't let up on our BMW challenge now!  I for one cannot believe that I have let 74 BURPEES hang over my head for seven months, but I am caught up on everything else (well, OK I owe a few situps, but I can knock those out).  How sick is that?  I have thought about avoiding burpees for over 200 days.  I think I should just do them, and move on with my life!  Is anyone else caught up?  What place am I in?

Back to lower abs.  I picked a basic move, but it is rated as being very effective per my internet search.  Start with 10, 4 x a week  (preferably on alternate days) and add 5 a week if you can.  See specifics below.

Kicker .  . . I think we should each share an easy, healthy recipe (or it could be a meal) with each other.  One per week, so that means you have to come up with 4 recipes to share.  Note the adjective healthy (so B, I don't think your chocolate breakfast sauce counts!).

 

Move 3: Leg Drop

(A) Raise both legs toward the ceiling. Breathe in and tighten your abs. (B) Exhale and slowly lower your legs until they’re about four inches above the floor (or as low as you can go without lifting the small of your back). Pause and breathe in. Breathe out as you raise your legs to the starting position. Repeat 10 times.

 

                        

 

Insightful

I had an insightful observation yesterday at my meetings, which I would like to share. We met with the CMO, who we have not seen in years, and at one time was my GMM.  Numbers guy. We know that the stores hate the unpredictable nature of seasonal categories (our livelihood) and that ow/swim is maybe 2% of their total. It's not growing, but still we alone do $100 m there so it's a business. We were trying to understand their long-term vision (are they going to exit?) and how we could help improve the shopping experience.

This guy had aged 10 yrs since last time I saw him. Looked completely miserable and defeated. No energy, a blank piece of paper (did not even look up our business!), no opinion, not a single business question, no thought at all. We asked for advice or direction, and he said "I don't know."  Who gets away with saying "I don't know?"  He commented that they were up 2%, but Macy's was up 4% so that Wall St is killing them. Totally checked out.

Then we meet with the biggest seasonal buyer (lds ow, swim) and DMM.  This lady has a son at home, and works until 8 pm every nite. They are analyzing ever possible angle of the business, turning over every rock, making tough decisions, traveling - working their butts off.

And as an outsider,  I couldn't help but look at them and think that the CMO could give a shit about their business.  Everything they are working so hard on really is going to be successful or not with weather. They could get there working a normal day, and not giving so much blood.

I am not articulating this very well, but my insight was to find something that matters to you (and the community or world). It's not business - that is just the means, and needs to be kept in balance. Be passionate and give blood for something that has meaning and is fulfilling.

Does that make sense?  Having those two meetings back-to-back made it so clear to me!

WTF?

POINT 2?! 

REALLY?

WTF??

I swear - I journaled honestly all week.  Exercised every day.  Went out of my way to do all of the healthy crap.  I got up and walked the dog every morning before I did anything (my challenge - I get sucked in to my e-m and then the day passes.  Made it a priority).  Even ran one day.  35 activity points (per my monitor, not me guessing), only used 23 opt points.  Blah blah blah.

.2

Needless to say I had a little meltdown yesterday.

Misery Loves Company

I just have to start with the little bit of irony that I'm sure you've noticed . . . you live in the nicest place you ever have (weather wise) and NOW you join a gym?  It's just funny - I would imagine gym membership is much higher in Duluth! LOL.

But I know that misery loves company, so here goes . . .

I have been such a slug! I don't know why I am in this "depressed" cycle.  I know that when I exercise consistently and eat well that I feel better.  So why don't I do it?  I am a reasonably intelligent person - but it does not seem to be an issue of mind over matter.

It has been almost exactly a year that I have been back at WW, and I can count on one hand the meetings I have missed. Guess what?  I weigh almost exactly the same. (down 2.5 lbs).  I listen, I journal, I have tried to recruit exercise buddies, tried new classed, I read everything. I spent $$$ on a trainer for 18 mos. and never lost much (lots stronger, but no size change). I juice, I make protein shakes, tried doing menus and recipes, I had goals (like my dad's wedding - wanted to look better in pics) to no avail. I wore my activelink for months. I have been in about a seven year rut. I hiked 17 m last Fri, and 15 yesterday - but in between I did near nothing. What is my problem with consistency?

It has been a weird year. I don't know if it's my Dad's situation, Woody passing away, worrying about my teenager, unsettled at work, frustrated with my husband, or the miserable rainy weather we have been having for months. But I don't want to do much of anything (not even scrapbook!). I waste so much time, which then makes me more depressed. The spiral continues.

My naturopath did a blood test for me to determine my ApoE type. So I know what I am supposed to eat. I know that I am allergic to wheat (and when I eat it, sure enough I had bad stomach issues two days later). These are facts, that determine my future health. If I don't take care of myself, my body type is very susceptible to diabetes and heart issues.Why doesn't that resonate with my brain and motivate me to get it together? You would think that actually feeling sick would make the decision of what I eat come more easily. I never really thought I was a lazy person. But in honesty, I guess I am - I am too lazy to get up early to exercise for myself, to plan meals for my health, to go to the grocery store, to cook . . . pretty basic life skills! What will make it click?

If Lucy can get "back on the wagon" then Ethel can, too!  I think that you are right - one step at a time that we know works despite our "fog." I just don't know what step to take first . . . it is overwhelming.

I really wish we could plan a weekend to get together! Can you think about hiking at all? Fall will be here soon!

E

Gym Update....

Ok...as promised here is the recap. We met with Stephen who promptly measured our body fat and shared our BMI.

Holy crap -- I'm at 35% body fat..I must admit that freaked me out a bit. BMI at 25....also to high.

We did a bunch of exercises so Stephen could assess us. Yikes -- we have lots of opportunity.

So we are now signed up for a personal trainer. Going back tomorrow to get measured and put together our plan of attack.

I did make it to WW as promised. A day of progress!

Melissa

Wandering.......

Just got back from LA Fitness.....Tim & I joined the gym.  Need I say it has been nearly 20 years since I belonged to a gym. I'm scared, overwhelmed and sad.  I'm trying to put one foot in front of the other with the hope that something is going to change for me soon.  I have officially put 16.5 lbs on since I moved here 9 months ago.

So tomorrow I'm heading to weight watchers at 10:30am and then I have my assessment with a personal trainer set up at 2pm.  I'll try to check in after that -- I suspect it might be a bit humorous!

 I know this post is a downer -- so sorry for that....but my heart is heavy and I can't seem to find anything that gives me hope.  So I am going through the motions of what has worked in the past with the hope that it will work again.

Now let me try to focus on the BMW Challenge.  I like your idea -- let's all take this month to assess where we are and do some make-up activities if that suits you.

I'm going to invite Becca again to the Blog -- to see if we can connect with her to!  I promise to cheer up soon!

BMW July

Hi Lucy -
I know that you are preoccupied with a lot right now, but July is back to you.  Do you have an exercise? If not, we could declare July "make up" month, b/c personally I still owe a few burpees!
E