Alas, my 3-month experience on the Best Life Diet is “publicly” coming to a close….thank you to everyone who has come on this journey with me and shared your experiences, thoughts and well wishes. The journey continues for me–more privately now–and I know you will all continue to be with me in spirit…and I with you. At final count I have lost 15 pounds and I feel fantastic. I’m halfway to my goal and it really feels like the time has flown. I hope that the enthusiasm I have now will continue when I am in maintenance mode….in a small way I almost fear reaching my goal and then not having a weight loss goal…only a maintenance goal…will I still be as inspired? I hope so because I certainly plan to get there. 

I was wondering for days what I should write about when I get to my final post. I thought I would provide a retrospective on some of my epiphanies, and let all of you know the biggest “a-ha” moments I have had during this 3 month adventure:

1) Eating healthily and nutritiously is not hard. It just takes some thought but requires no more physical exertion than eating poorly. The healthy stuff is just as convenient…it just needs a discovery process…yours.

2) The Best Life Diet hunger scale is probably the most critical component of all. It forces you to listen to your body. When we were introduced to the hunger scale I didn’t buy into it right away–it seemed a bit “psychologically fluffy” to me. I mean…I’m a career dieter…how come I have never heard of this? Well, it’s not fluff, it’s fact. I now really know when to stop eating…when I should stop eating…and what a good satiety level is. This is true biology at work and people used signals like these to manage their eating long before processed food was invented. Rampant obesity was not prevalent 100 years ago.

3) Cooking for yourself will accelerate the program tremendously. I have been cooking 50% more since starting the Best Life Diet, using recipes from the book as well as others I’ve found on healthy websites, books, etc. Not only am I in control of  my calories (vs. takeout where you never know)…but my palate is opening up…I’m learning to actually like more foods than previously. My family is astounded now when I get second helpings of salad…I never used to eat it. I feel not only in control but quite the inventive family chef…it’s fun and everyone is supportive because the food tastes great!

4) Working out — strength training PLUS cardio — actually helps you more psychologically than physically. Yes, it accelerates weight loss but high levels of activity is nature’s anti-depressant. The endorphins and mental enthusiasm I feel after working out do more for me on this program than the actual physical actions. Most people hate working out…after 3 weeks with a good trainer or solid program, I challenge anyone to say they still hate it. It just feels good.

5) Don’t talk about it too much. People who are not “on the train” can subconsciously try to sabotage your efforts. The more committed you are, the less it matters who knows the details. Just do it. Those who are truly supportive will carve a way into doing this with you, or in parallel. Those who aren’t won’t be tempted to derail you.

I have had a wonderful time and look forward to all of you reaching your goals as well. Take care and may the best woman/man LOSE!!! 

   Remember the first week of our journey?  We all had different goals.  From mine being to get back my self-confidence to Marna’s showing the world how great 55 could be and Veronica’s being an inspiration to her daughter.  They were all different and most likely related to one of you.  Now I could say that we probably share the same goal now.  To keep up with what we learned and stay dedicated to ourselves in loosing weight to not waste these last three months.  

From these past twelve weeks, I learned a few things about myself and I was a little aggrevated.  I just couldn’t understand how I could let myself get to where I was in the first week we started.  It wasn’t easy these three months, but it wasn’t impossible. I just cant imagine going three steps back from where I am now.  I am at a great place in my life right now and it’s all because of how I feel about myself.  When I started The Best Life Diet I was feeling depressed and disgusted with myself because I couldn’t fit in my clothes - but it was my own fault for not doing anything about it.  I didn’t want to leave the house afraid of what people might say about me.  NOW is TOTALLY different.  I could look at myself in the mirror and see improvement in my body and my attitude.  I could walk outside and really not care about who says what and why they say it.  I may not have the body of a super model now, but I know that in time I could finally be where I want to be ONLY if I stay with the routine.   This wasn’t just three months and I’m done, this was more like three months of being on a launch pad. 

This isn’t the end of my journey.  This is actually the beginning.  The beginning to the rest of my life and it only gets better from here.

I hope I have been a role model for some of you.  I hope by reading and hearing my experiences have helped you somehow.  Helped you to find your new beginnings.  Some advice for those that are wrapping up their 12 weeks is only that…………… STAY WITH IT!  Never stop leading a healthy life.  You could have nothing in the world, but if you have your health, you are richer than you know.

Thank you all for all of your support through all of this! Live well - Stay Strong!

xoxoxo

Anna

This is the last week of our experience together and it seems like we just got to know each other!  But in reality it is just the beginning of reality because now I’m on my own.  True, the ride goes quicker and more enjoyable when you are traveling with a group but in most cases this is not the norm.  I don’t believe it is because women desire to ‘tough out’ their struggles with weight as ‘rugged individuals,’  this seems to go against our nature — even though we endowed with ‘girl power.’  For the most part ‘life happens’ and in the midst of career, friends, husband, children, in-laws, and the stress of just everyday drama we get caught up in the chaos.  Before we know it we find ourselves isolated.  However, isolation isn’t just a physical state because you can be surounded by people everyday, all day, and be isolated.  Many times isolation is relational, emotional, or maybe even topical — some topics you just can’t share with certain friends.  On my journey, however, circumstances were such that I became more isolated than I would have liked in a community of bloggers.  This may sound crazy to the few of you who are’nt phone people.  But on the contrary, I feel that this somehow empowers me as I venture off because I will have the continuing feeling that ’somebody’s’ got my back ‘out there’ in cyberspace.

Each one of my girlfriends contributed something different to my journey.  Marna, already made 55 look good and I kind of can’t wait to see what I look like when I get to be her age.  Mary Ellen was my mirrored image; same age, just had a baby, etc.  Truly she really was my constant cheerleader. Cecilia proved that you could kick a bad habit and keep right on rolling.  You go girl!  Veronica was a walking talking ‘red bull’ energy drink.  If I was ever feeling tired, I wasn’t after a few minutes with her.  And then there was Anna who shared my passion for Jack Bauer and ‘24.’  She is such a determined young woman. 

All of you ladies, including my 5 girlfriends have given much, and have much to give.  I applaud all of your efforts, successes, and failures because it is through all of these good and bad experiences that we grow and learn to find ultimate contentment as God leads us through life.  I have achieved my initial goal of aquiring more energy and I am now beginning my secondary goal of losing that extra baby weight.  God bless you all, my mission is accomplished, let’s call it a wrap!

Well, I ran an 8K Sunday–the Shamrock Shuffle, the largest 8K in the country. 8K is just about 5 miles. I signed up for it during the second month of the Best Life Diet…when I was just starting to feel progress and great about myself. Now, I have not run five miles straight in about 8 years so I was really not sure if I could even finish…I was pretty sure I’d have to walk some of it.

Well…ha ha ha. I ran the entire thing and it was manageable! I am sore but that is to be expected. I can’t believe I ran the whole thing, but it did help having the 30,000 other runners bonding with you, running side by side and the crowd of onlookers cheering you on. That is very inspiring.

When the race was over all of the runners ran to get their free beer. I have not had any alcohol while on the Best Life Diet and I was waiting for the race before I had a drink…I think I’ll wait a bit longer. I don’t want it right now…after that run I just really wanted to keep feeling healthy. I just got a cup of coffee, spent some time with a friend who ran with me, and then went home.

There is nothing like crossing the finish line after doing something you didn’t think you could do. I can’t wait until my next race…I think this is something I’ll continue for a long time, and I would never have been able to accomplish this if I had not had 3 months of the Best Life Diet under my belt!

One of the fun — and actually necessary parts – about achieving milestones is to reward yourself! Whether it is a 50 pound or a one pound loss, or even the fact that you maintained your weight over a specific time…it is important to employ positive reinforcement. Sometimes we take ourselves for granted and think that a little self-indulgence is just that…indulgence. Well…it’s OK to give yourself a little love when you do something good.

Right now I’m still weighing myself every week…every Friday morning. If I go 2 weeks with a consistent loss, I get a manicure. A small thing but it makes me feel great…and the primping is just the type of reward that I think is appropriate. I don’t want to reward myself with food…like a hefty order of onion rings…because that will take away from what I’ve achieved and make it harder to see a loss the next week. Manicures are a great solution for me–pedicures too! I’m waiting to drop another size before I start getting some clothes as a reward for fear (and hope) that they would be too big very soon.

Because I’m a mother with two small children…an hour at a bookstore or coffee shop alone would also be a wonderful reward for me.

I would love to hear how you all out there treat yourself when you reach a milestone! Please share your thoughts–I would love some good ideas and I’m sure we all would want to understand how our fellow achievers share the love.

Wow, how the time flies! It seems like we just got started and now it’s almost over.  At first my bikini was just to get more energy after having a hellish pregnancy and even worse labor and post partum recovery.  Now my bikini has gotten even bigger….  I actualy met my primary goal after the first phase.  Now I don’t find myself dragging throughout the whole day, just part of it - what can I say I have a six month old baby. It wasn’t easy though because those workouts in the beginning were killer!  I had been virtually sedentary for over a year and I can’t tell you how I ached. Today, I look forward to checking off all the tasks I have on my daily list of things to do because I have the energy and strength that I didn’t have before. Moreover, getting myself onto a regimented eating schedule, beginning with a larger breakfast, was just as big a challenge as it was to ‘get moving,’ but I seem to have mastered that for the most part.  Now that I have dropped several dress sizes I think I’m going to expand my bikini from my original size 18 to a size 6.  Currently I’m at a 12 but I plan on continuing this lifestyle until my mission is accomplished.  Who knows maybe after I achieve a size 6, I’ll expand my bikini to perhaps something else.

I’m so good at it, I should get paid for it! Boooooo!!

We are in our 11th week of the program and I can safely say that this has been the hardest… I am a yo-yo: One week I’m eating clean, healthy foods & working out like it’s nobody’s business and the next week (this week to be exact), I’m eating country fried steak & fried eggs & fried hashbrowns, licking the plate clean, adding creamy fat ice cream to my lunch and totally (and I’m not using this word loosely), yes TOTALLY ignoring my workouts… And I am PAYING for it this week… I’ve weighed myself and have discovered that I’ve gained BACK 3 lbs that I so gloriously lost… Can you believe that? That’s so insane… I’m so mad at myself! So mad, I think I’m going to eat EVERYTHING fried now!! URGH!!

But I’ll be okay… I have to, this is my life, remember? I’m the Master of it… So, as done before (I am queen of repeat behaviour, as you can see), I will again take responsibility for my falls these past few weeks and have to keep my fat 4th chin up and keep moving forward… I don’t care how long it takes, I am going to keep going and going and going… Don’t get me wrong, I still love my new fabulous body (it’s still there ), it’s just 3 lbs MORE fabulous lol… and how bad is it that I’m fussing about 3 lousy lbs? Jeesh, these mad thoughts will drive you to tears…

This is when I realize that I can’t let THIS new life, this new thought process, control me… I’ve put the scale away and have set an electronic reminder on my calendar to weigh myself again in 3 weeks (for those who know me, y’all know I LIVE by my calendar, LOL). 

I have faith that I will reach my weight goals in due time, but for now I’m going to have to accept the fact that I like to fall off the wagon from time to time and that I know that I have to work on my will power and discipline… The good thing about the Best Life Diet is that it completely STAYS WITH YOU It is engraved in your mind as part of your conscious, so you are aware of everything that you do! Every time you slip, every time you eat well, every time you break a sweat, every time you sit on the couch and channel surf, it’s in the back of your mind… or maybe it’s just GUILT?? LOL Well, whatever it is, it’s going to make me stronger, healthier and happier I’m sure of it!

Please tell me I’m not the only one slipping during this journey… LOL! Hard habits really are HARD to break! It’s driving me crazy, but it can be done, it WILL BE done!! I know it…

’til tuesday…

~ cecilia

I had a girlfriend that I used to joke around with when I was a model.  As a matter of fact we were both pretty lean at the time.  I know the word model envokes all kinds of images but I was an atheletic apperal model.  I not only had to watch the amounts of food that I consumed, but what types of food I ate to ensure that I had enough energy to endure a fierce workout regiment.  We took it pretty seriously, not just because we knew the images that were taken of us would forever be emblazoned on the pages of catalogues to be seen by strangers and friends alike, but because we knew that if we didn’t look close to perfect somebody else would take our jobs!  Looking back now I laugh at how critical I was about my physical appearance.  Moreover, to many individuals, thumbing through the pages of magazines, gauking at images of women is a regular and time consuming activity. We always thought that this was utterly stupid and a complete waste of time — when instead they could be looking at culinary magazines!  Yep, my girlfriend and I would talk about food like guys talked about girls.  “Girl, you have got to see this!  Come over here and take a look at these chicken enchiladas with the cheese melted all over the ranchero sauce.”  Sometimes we would be driving to our workout and out of a dead silence she’d ask me, ‘wouldn’t a thick crust pizza with all the toppings and extra cheese sound really good right about now?’  The sigh in my voice was indication enough that I was already with her on that thought because her very words conjured up the aroma of a fresh delivered pizza.  Thoughts of delicious food for someone who didn’t get to eat very often can become pathalogical.

Those days have long gone, just look at my pictures on the website as evidence.  Sometimes though I catch myself daydreaming like I did back in the day.  However, I have recently figured out why I slip back into that daydream mode.  Back then, I was hungry all the time so I naturally would think about food all of the time.  Therefore, on the occasion that I am hungry I think about food.  But our thought process alone doesn’t change our habits.  I often out of impulse find myself going to the refrigerator to eat.  I now know that this isn’t a reponse to hunger but of boredom. If I am busy, food rarely enters my mind.  Until now, I never gave emotional eating much thought but I have come to realize something that has deeper implications.  If idle hands are tools of the devil, then a bored mind is open to all kinds of cravings.  In my case it was food. . . but not anymore. 

Ok, so today was not a day that I think I was really on a weight loss path. I probably had 2000 calories, which, for someone wanting to maintain on the Best Life Diet would not be off the charts. But it was about 500 more than my normal amount.

I knew it while I was doing it. My sister made this amazing pasta dish and I just had to have a large portion…I wasn’t paying attention to my hunger scale. The food just tasted great and that is why I wanted to keep eating it. I managed to stop after a decent bowl full (more than enough).

So I probably didn’t gain any weight but I’ve put off losing another pound a little longer. The key here is to not beat myself up, and to understand that I will have these times where I will just splurge a teeny bit. Spare the big drama and not have a roller coaster effect happen. Mentally I’m prepared to handle the aftermath. So physically I should be ok.

We’ll see! I have an 8K run next week so maybe a few extra carbs were not too bad!

It seems like everyday I try to make it to the gym (except on Saturday…That is my “doing nothing” day).  There are days where I just feel like enough is enough, but in reality, is it really ever enough?

Now just because you go to the gym does not mean that you could eat a tripple cheeseburger and a large fry!  You still have to eat correctly.  They do not cancel eachother out like I used to think before starting “The Best Life Diet”.   Now I know that no matter what you do, you HAVE to eat properly and exercise regularly to see maximum results.  FORGET about Diet Pills!  Those could be hazordous to your health and you will gain the weight back really quick.  I say this because I know someone that did that.  It’s all about “the quick fix” with her.  I saw a change in her attitude more than her weight loss.  She starved herself because the pill made her not hungry.  THAT’S NOT GOOD!  She finally stopped using them after I went and bought her “The Best Life Diet” and I am going to start from square one with her and Do this process all over again.  I stand by Bob Greene’s book and will be happy to do it for the rest of my life!

There is always a two ways to do things….one way and then the right way.  If taking pills or having surgery is the way you want to loose weight, just remember that its only a quick fix on the outside, but your most important parts are on the inside - the only way you could improve and stay healthy is doing it the old fashion way…..eating right and exercising.

Is it possible to go to our favorite restaurants and remain on a healthy eating plan without feeling deprived? Do we have to curb our social life and eat home constantly to maintain reasonable portions? As a confirmed restaurant lover I’m asking all of you readers to give us your opinions and advice. What do you think? Does the thought of going out to eat spell trouble for your self control or do you feel like a kid in a candy store, wanting it all, just in case it’s your last supper?

Before January 1, 2007, most of my meals were eaten outside of the home. No matter how many times my husband and I promised each other to save money and have more meals at home, we still tended to spend way too much on restaurant eating. At the same time, ordering off a menu was a constant motivation for me to “eat whatever I wanted”. Before going on the Best Life program that often meant french fries, rich dishes, appetizers. I had a 6′ 5″ wrestler’s appetite trapped in a 5′2″ woman’s body. People sometimes looked at me in wonder at how much food I could consume. A former boss called it “being a scratch eater”. And no matter how full I was, there was always room for dessert.

One of the changes I made along with going on this program was not going out to eat very often. For the first time in my life most of my meals, and all my snacks come out of my kitchen, or at least my pantry. My husband and I are eating much healthier along with saving lots of dough on diners. On the few occassions we do go out to a restaurant, I’ve found that my meal choices are much more in line with my new eating habits. High fiber, lean protein, and lots of flavor. I’m a big lover of ethnic cuisine, because Thai, Italian, Greek, Latin, etc. is very flavorful food. I would rather have a little of food that is very flavorful and not “diet food” than a lot of bland, not-so-flavorful food. I’m also a big fan of SPICY food. Some do like it HOT!!

There are a few things that do seem to help me feel more easily satisfied now that I’m not ordering the most decadent menu items: having SOUP before my entree and ordering LOTS OF VEGETABLES instead of potatoes if it’s an option. (I almost forgot–really limiting the bread basket portions, too!) If I really want dessert, I mean REALLY want it, I share it with everyone at the table. So far, so good. Lastly, never underestimate the value of the doggie bag. If the portions are way out of line I can divide them myself and take the overage home. It really does feel better not to want to lay down and die from overstuffing myself. Keeping track of the hunger scale ( by eating slowly the 20 minutes it takes to feel full can register) is another good tool.

In many ways I personally find it most difficult to be alone at home with nothing but the TV for company. Boredom still is my #1 challenge in eating well and stopping when I’m full. When out in a social situation, I can focus more easily on the conversation and the people I’m with. Usually–not always.

I would love to hear what you gals think about the subject. Do you find it harder to eat out or at home and stay on your plan? What challenges do you find the hardest to overcome? Or at least to manage? 

Hard times have come to pass. It’s been eleven weeks now, and as I look back and reflect on my progress, I have to say I’ve had some  great breakthroughs.  But I also have to say that I have had some trying times as well.  These times were indeed road blocks that many, if not most of us, face — vocational, relational, physical, and emotional.

I am wholeheartedly and joyously embracing my new carreer change as a stay at home mother.  Well that’s the official title anyway.  Truth be told, I work from home running a business, writing books, articles, doing radio interviews, producing media content, not to mention that I travel (with baby in tow) across the country promoting my new book, consulting and meeting tight deadlines.  Needless to say, I am very busy and lacking assistance.  Don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely the most supportive husband in the entire world.  He loves taking care of our 6 month old son when other men I know dash out of the front door as soon as mommy shows up from the grocery store.  As a matter of fact he bought me a new car for Valentines day, though we had his SUV, because he wanted to make sure the baby and I had reliable transpertation (and might I add stylish as well).  However, the problem comes from not only not having found an office assistant to run my office now that I’ve moved my office home ,but not having any child care as well.  Needless to say I have a heavy workload that demands my attention but the priority of my infant son too.  Working out and having to work are especially complicated now. 

The situation is further compounded by the fact that we have had continual computer and internet problems.  Our local providers have told us that our house is known as ’the house’ that even the geeks can’t figure out.  And to add insult to injury, our computer crashed rendering me helpless on the information dirt road rather that cruising the information highway.  Thus, work and communication via the computer and internet, as well as the liberty to comfortably leave my house during the day knowing that my little one is taken care of, is ‘nill.’ On the brightside, at least I can sit in my new car with my baby on baord, thanks to my husband, and pretend we’re going some where.

Though this is what I’m going through presently, I know that this is just a temporary set back.  Just one more little bump in the road on my journey that I know will pass like my weigh-in last month.  I remember being so discouraged when I stepped on the scale, after weeks of hard work and discipline to only find out that I lost 2 pounds.  I had a flood of emotions, dissapointment, anger, discouragement, hopelessness. But guess what, I got over it.  Instead of letting it stop me, I ignored it and continued to do the activities that I knew would ultimately get me going in the right direction.  Wouldn’t you know it, the next week I discovered that I dropped from a size 16 to a size 12!

My biggest cheerleaders have been my husband and the Holy Spirit.  My husband would just encourage me by saying, ‘it is in you, to continue!’ and then I would hear Gods voice telling me, ‘I can do all things’ through Him who strengthens me.

My current situation has come around, just like last months trial, but guess what, ‘this too shall pass.’  That’s how I know hard times come to pass.

Remember the scene in “When Harry Met Sally” when Sally ordered at a restaurant and had so many lengthy particulars with the server about her dish and how it would be prepared (dressing on the side, etc.)…that it was considered one of the landmark funny scenes of the movie? That scene really scarred me from being picky at a restaurant or asking too many questions…not wanting to seem like that kind of girl.

Well you know what? It’s my right to have things prepared as I like (within reason). And if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

So now I’ve started being a bit bolder–not a jerk, just careful. When I order Thai food I make sure to ask that no oil is used (tastes about the same really!). When I order pasta, I ask if the noodles are basted in olive oil before they are covered in sauce…if the answer is yes, I ask them to not baste them in the oil. Dressings are always on the side. Sauteed dishes don’t need all that butter so you ask for less. You know…no one really cares.

So take control of situations that you think may be out of control. ”Oh, I’m eating out so my diet is ruined” no longer flies. You can eat healthily or reasonably all the time…you just need to ask. 

           When I first began my journey I wanted to be an encouragement to my daughter.  I wanted to be a healthy and happy mother who would inspire her daughter to live an active lifestyle without worry of weight.  I remember how girls talk and how weight was important while in school.  I want her grow healthy and strong without feeling insecure.  I know that being a healthy weight is not the entire solution, but we have always worked on the other aspects and this was the missing link. 

            I began by first increasing my exercise and incorporated slight diet changes for my family.  To my surprise, these changes were embraced wholeheartedly.  My husband started working out daily and my children love the new and exciting dishes that are prepared for them.   Today, both of my children jumped on the treadmill—for funJ

            My new goal is be as active as possible.  Spring is coming and I am looking forward to getting my family outside more.  I want to toss the Frisbee and play soccer in the park. I know these changes will benefit both me and my family.   We are in a new phase of our life and loving every minute of it.

Have you guys missed me? Wondering oh where oh where has Cecilia gone? Darlings, I have been busy! Busy admiring my new body! That’s right, ladies, I have realized that my body is 9 lbs (sometimes 10) LIGHTER!! It’s amazing, really!!

So in my last journal entry I mentioned how our lovely menstrual cycle can cause you to gain 3-5 lbs, right? It is so true! I was SO disturbed with the fact that I wasn’t “losing” anything for a while, but it really was because I was stepping on that cursed scale during Aunt Flow’s visit! When she left, I stepped on again for 4 days straight and VOILA!! I am indeed at a steady 156 lbs! I love it and every morning I wake up feeling sexy… I look in the mirror (yes, the gut is still sucked in) and I do a side profile view and say to myself “wow, you are thinning down and you are looking HOT!” Affirmations, my friends! We all need affirmations and they do work! I am okay and gosh darn it, people like me! LOL!

Seriously, I have learned in the past 9 long, hardworking, sweaty, crazy weeks, that reaching your goals is POSSIBLE! I was nervous when I first started this program… I would read the Best Life Diet book and after a few pages I would think to myself “What the heck have you gotten yourself into??” Really, I have to count calories? I can’t eat fried foods? (ok, so I totally cheated on that one!) I have to exercise? A lot? Eat breakfast? You mean, every morning? Wow, again, this stuff really does work if you focus and put your mind to it…

My original bikini? Am I not wearing black anymore?! Are you kidding?! Black is still slimming and it’s still sexy and trendy… and I still wear it like a uniform, but I am starting to get tired of it and still have a the goal of putting more color into my wardrobe! But my ultimate goal is to still slim down a bit… now that I know HOW to lose the weight, I still want to continue to work hard at losing more weight as time goes on… and I know it’s going to take a few more months, even a couple of years to get on track… I’m still notorious for falling off the wagon, jumping off the wagon, even doing a roundoff dismount off of it, but I’m still on track!! I really feel like this is my lifestyle now… I am aware of the food I take in, even the junk! I am aware of when I’ve skipped breakfast or haven’t drank enough water…

 It’s strange how my mind is reacting to my actions these days… It throws in a mini-guilt trip and then it boosts it up with more motivation afterwards! Like I’ll eat a bag of chips (yes it’s that dang vending machine at work), but then I’ll take the stairs up instead of the elevator, or walk around more in the office… as if I’m trying to shake the chips off… I love it, I love the fact that I’m focused on always being active! Ever since we’ve started the program, I have worked out at LEAST ONE DAY a week! That is awesome! This is probably the most consistent amount of activity I’ve had in my life since I was 12! And I love it! It is such a part of me now, I can’t imagine not being active. I’ve even invested in 2 work-out DVDs for when I can’t get to the gym or see a trainer! Now that’s amazing for me!!

My new goals now are still quite simple:

1. Stay consistent in being active: go to the gym at least once a week, WALK at least once a week for a few miles, rock out at home with my DVDs
2. Focus on Eating HEALTHIER:  Keep following the BLD, Try to cook a bit more at home instead of going out to dinner, watch my calories, drink more water to keep hyrdrated, allow myself to slip or have a “treat” now and then
3. Be smoke-free completely: Ok, ok, ok, I will have to admit, I have smoked here and there! I am now a SOCIAL SMOKER where I only smoke if/when I drink… or am out at a concert or something… I REFUSE TO SPEND MY MONEY ON CIGGIES!! But the goal of being SMOKE-FREE is still in sight and I know is still attainable

I know it’s hard and I still have a long journey ahead of me, but I know I can do it… Stepping on the scale helps and just looking at myself in the mirror these days, just about thrills me! I’m not saying I’m a size 6, but wow, I really do see a difference and it pushes me even more to want to rid of this beer gut for good! The mission is still not over, people!! Come join me, and you too will see the difference!

‘Til Tuesday…

 ~ cecilia

I know it’s been a long time since you’ve heard from me but I have just discovered something amazing.  I have been working out like a slave with nothing to show for it, however, last week my I and my family went to California to visit my mother who is a wonderful cook.  I didn’t workout even, once but when I came back to Chicago I stepped on the scale and found that I had lost 2 lbs!  How can that be?  Go figure.  I assume my metabolism has now  kicked in and is burning up fat.  I’m supposed to go back to the west coast again next week, let’s pray I lose even more. 

I think out of my group I lost the least amount of weight (a whopping 2 pounds), but  I feel so much better physically and I even dropped several dress sizes.  When I started I was a snug size 16 and   now I am at the average american dress size.  A size 12.  Dropping from a 16 to a 12 and only losing 2 pounds, how can that be?  I guess I have gained a lot of muscle mass to displace my fat.  But still, I am really encouraged.  This is only the begining  my goal is to fit back into a 6 or maybe even a 4!  None the less my initial goal has been reached already, I have way more energy now than I did at the beginning.  I’m waking up before 7:00am each morning and don’t really fall asleep until 11:00pm.  My diet and excercise have played such a huge role.  In the past, before I had a baby and when perfection was my goal, I would have looked at myself in this position and fallen to pieces over my appearance.  Now I just take it in stride and say, ‘I’m not where I want to be. . . but I’m not what I used to be.’  Now, how can that be?

It is the middle of the 10th week of being a “Best Lifer”.  It’s a good time to look back, compare my progress with my expectations and determine where I want to go. 

January 1, New Year’s 2007, I had one foot in my previous life–certified couch potato. TV hound. A burger and fries per week and the occassional dog walk. Sometimes I’d walk fast, but not often. I wanted to change my eating habits, start exercising regularly again, but couldn’t seem to make it happen.

January 2, 2007–enter Yoplait, Bob Greene’s Best Life Diet, Mary Ellen, Cecilia, Anna, Lakita, Veronica and a support group of advisors and sponsors. Looking back, maybe I could have done it by myself. But I didn’t. Everyone I just mentioned gave me everything I needed, to be where I am today. 10 pounds lighter, much stronger, much more energetic, much happier. I was 55 then, I’m almost 56 (in May) now, and I do look and feel so much better. It wasn’t about a weight number then, it still isn’t now. Whether it’s losing 2 lbs. a week or not, I’m ecstatic about my progress, my results and the sense that I’ll keep on track with this healthier lifestyle in the future. I definitely feel that I’m living more in harmony with my body, my appetite, everything!

I’m glad I’m so relaxed about weight as a number. So many women seem obsessed with not being thin enough or having to lose another 5, 10 or 20 pounds. ls it ever possible to be completely satisfied with our bodies and not want to change something about ourselves?

I admit, although a certain weight or weight loss doesn’t concern me, I do feel self conscious about my stomach. It’s never been flat and that’s ok. But I never was one to tuck my shirts in, emphasize my waist. It’s much better than it was before this program, however. Can any of you relate? How do you overcome self-consciousness with a certain part (or parts) of your body?

So today some girls in the office came up to me with a furtive, gleeful suggestion–how about we do a “Shamrock Shake” run? OK, so it was at the point in the afternoon where my mental energy was starting to wane, so I thought they were saying they wanted to run the Shamrock Shuffle with me — this is the name of a race that I’m running in Chicago with Cecilia and Anna (my Yoplait buds) in 2 weeks. Then they looked at me funny, and said “NO, we want to go grab some of those yummy green mint milkshakes…you want one?”

So that is what they were saying, but what I was hearing was “do you want to have one of those forbidden goodies that you have managed to restrain yourself from ingesting for the past 10 years…and better yet, do you want one hand-delivered to you at your all-time sugar-low of the day?”

I’m fairly new to my job well so I of course did not want to disappoint my new friends by saying “no, I’m on a diet” or “no, I can’t eat those”….because a) I thought it might make them think I was judging them; and 2) I had never tasted one and I was feeling curious and in control…I bet I could have just a teeny bit.

So I was in and $2.50 later I got the smallest-size shake delivered to me (the smallest you can get is about 16 oz…criminal!). And guess what? I had 3 slurps and it was so yummy. And then, I gave it to someone else. That’s all I needed and wanted. I participated, had a fun splurge with low investment, ingested maybe 50 calories and there was no drama.

If I can continue like this I think I’ll be able to handle any real-world unplanned bad-food situation. It’s about control – my control…nothing else.

Okay ladies, I think we need more input on how we should handle ourselves on vacations or business travel during this journey to Thinville!! We have now finished Phase I and Phase II, so I think we should all agree that we all KNOW what we have to do to stay on track, but now how are we going to handle it in the real world moving forward?

Spring and summer are near so that means… VACATION TIME!! The good thing about incorporating a new healthy lifestyle, is that you can take it with you during vacations too… I’m planning a trip in April to Mexico and one of my major goals is relaxation!! However, while I’m searching for a good hotel/resort, not only am I looking for a pool and beach, but I’m also checking out their fitness facilities! I’m also plan to still take my eating habits with me: Eat 3 meals a day, plus 2 snacks, watch my portions, etc. etc. Easy Peasy!! But I know that thinking and DOING are two different things, so I have to stay strong and focused and be sure I don’t give in during my next trip out of town!

So, I’m sure there are lots of you lovely readers out there that can share some traveling tips? Business women? Women with children and families? Women with significant others? Anyone, anyone? How do you handle traveling for business meetings? How do you incorporate exercise and fitness? What about family vacations? Do you find that the food options during your sunny holidays are too tempting to pass up? How can we move forward in rewarding ourselves with a vacation without rewarding ourselves with love handles or a spare tire, or a food baby? Hmmmmm? C’mon ladies, share your tips and stories with us, HUNGRY MINDS WANT TO KNOW!!

~ Cecilia

In my 9th week of the Best Life Diet, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that being realistic is critical to achieving any long-term success in weight loss. Though it seems against our nature as dieters (optimism is a huge driver to begin a weight loss program)…it is the key to longevity in any program.

I am happy that I’ve lost 10 pounds but honestly, I thought (at the beginning of the program) I would have lost more by now and would have about 15 pounds off by the end the 2nd month. Even though Bob Greene and all the experts say to expect about a pound loss per week for the beginning stages, I thought those rules really didn’t apply to MY body and I would show everyone how I did better than the average. Well…I actually did about average. No big deal. But why is there a teeny shred of disappointment in me right now? Because I set my targets too high…and was not as mentally and emotionally realistic as I needed to be.

So if there is one piece of advice I’d give after experiencing 2 months of the Best Life Diet, and drawing upon my life-long career of dieting, it would be that as soon as you are honest with yourself and what is really attainable and sustainable, you will stay in the vicious diet spiral.

I’m looking forward to more weight loss…but I will take what I can get when it happens!  

  This is the nineth week of The Best Life Diet - which means three more weeks till the rest of my life.   I don’t know exactly how much weight I have lost, but I could see a huge difference in my clothes so far.  I couldn’t tell you the exact pound because I am not judging myself and my success by that.   I know I feel great, but lately I feel a bit sluggish and want to roll off track.  I have been VERY stressed out lately and I really really really want to indulge into something very very fattening!  I know myself and I know that if I do, I will feel very guilty and want to give up on it all.  I have come too far for something like that to happen.  My physical appearance is a bit more livelier - meaning that I do not look like a walking zombie anymore.  I wake up early now instead of wanting to sleep in.  The only thing is that since I have been stressed out I have been tossing and turning in my sleep and I just cannot seem to relax.  Anyway, I sit and wonder to myself will I continue this regimine after the 12 weeks?  I know myself and I know that sometimes I could get lazy and not want to do anything.  I also know that it will be VERY hard without any of the other girls there to do it with me.  I just have to think positive.  I have to keep my mindset on whats important in life - my health.

   I also have three more months until vacation.  I could set that as my new goal.  Another 12 weeks.  I think I am going to start from phase one all over again.  I seemed to feel the most success during phase one than any of the other phases.  The best thing that came out of all of this (besides making new friends) was not that I lost a few pounds, but that I feel like I WANT to work out ALL the time.  I make it a routine and which I feel guilty if I do not go to the gym.  I rather work out with a partner, but since I am past the part of feeling self conscious at the gym, I know I could do it on my own.  For those that do not have a partner at the gym (like Kimberly that left a comment on my previous journal entry) - all you have to say is “who cares”.  You are actually attempting to go.  You got off of your butt and stepped on a tredmill - BUT going to the gym and actually working out are two different things!  You have to break out a sweat and get that heart pumping again….. you will feel great either way - with or without a partner.

 I guess thats what I gained from this experience.  Making things a routine.  If I make going to the gym and eating regularly and healthy a routine, then following The Best Life Diet for the rest of my life should be a piece of cake…. MmmMMmm Cake, maybe I should have used a better phrase….

It’s now weeks 8-9 of our Best Life Diet and in some ways I feel like I’m being set adrift. Will I sink or swim?

I’ve lost a total of 9 1/2 pounds. Changed habits that were set in stone for a long time (eating at night–all night; eating regularly; eating when hungry–not just bored, etc.). What concerns me most? Exercising as consistently and vigorously as I have for the past 9 weeks.

Why am I concerned?  We are now in a stage called maintenance. Until last Sunday we worked out with a trainer and the hardest part for me was just showing up. Yes, the workouts were tough, but once I was dressed, in my car, at the gym, on the treadmill, I knew I would be there for 1 whole hour. I would get through it and feel great afterwards. No turning back. There was an expert, our trainer Greg, or one of his associates, making sure that our workout was complete. They would push me past my discomfort and I’d do it! Ever single time. For 9 whole weeks.

Today was the first day I had to push myself. No one was counting on me to be there. No one planned out my workout. I’m not a member of a gym but do have a workout room in my building. Small but efficient. So I went downstairs and got on the treadmill. I decided to do cardio first. One minute of running at 5.5 mph followed by 30 seconds of rest. I repeated this for 20 minutes. The only companion I had with me was Justin Timberlake. Thanks, Justin. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Next, I knew I had to do some weight resistance. There’s a small weight machine with various stations and weight plates. I set the weights at a level that would be difficult but do-able and pushed myself past the comfort zone. Was I as tough on myself as Greg? No, not quite–but I did push myself.

But I’m still nervous. I have to keep up what I started nine weeks ago or I’ll be back where I was before I started. That’s reality. And there’s only one person that can make that happen now. Guess who?

Mary Ellen’s journal entry really resonated with me. Keeping motivated now is necessary but not as easy because we’re close to graduation. We’ve all been working towards this and now we have to take what we’ve learned and do it forever. I’m being pushed out of the nest so I can fly. I know I can but I do feel some resistance. Any suggestions? 

Losing 10 pounds is great. Truly, I’m very happy. As I’m embarking on the second half of Phase II…I’ve really managed controlling my eating (check); raised my activity level appropriately (check); cut out the 6 additional elements since Phase I (check)…so now I’m pretty much….well, coasting. There won’t be anything truly “new” for me for awhile…just staying the course and methodically losing more weight. 

I have about 20 more pounds I want to lose — I feel like I’m in mile 10 of a marathon…I made it a great distance but I still have far to go. And in marathons…a lot of fans are at the start and toward the end of the marathon trail cheering you on and rallying you home…the middle portion of the path typically has a lighter crowd (I’ve never run a marathon, mind you, but this is what my marathoner friends have confirmed)…so I feel like I’m in that middle part where I need to find more resolve to keep myself “high” on my successes. Not to keep myself actually DOING the program, but to continue with the mental excitement that I’ve had for the past two months. Losing that, I fear, will make me weaker.

I am going to have to call on my sisters in the program…the five wonderful women who are doing this with me to keep me going. We’ve had our ups and downs and if anyone can give me a good whipping into mental shape it is them. Also, you all out there who are doing this too–how are you staying on your high? Please let me know your secrets. In the meantime, I’ll keep plugging away and trying to revive that adrenaline that has kept me going so well so far!

And the saga continues…

The phrase “emotional eating” always scared me and I never wanted to blame my weight gain to that… Emotional eating to me meant that you’re eating over your limit because you’re a basket case, you had a tough childhood, you’ve gone through or are going through some crazy traumatic experience, or you’ve got some deep-seated issues that only food satisfies… And that may be the case for a lot of women that are obese or overweight and I completely understand that… But I’ve slowly come to realize that “emotional eating” is much more common & much more simpler than I thought… at least that is what I’ve finally understood about myself…

During Phase II I noticed 3 major reasons that have triggered my cheatin’, my eatin’ and my self-esteem beatin’ and because of this revelation (it truely is a revelation, because it’s like WOW and DUH, cecilia!) I can move forward as a stronger woman in pursuit of her Best Life…

STRESS // These past few weeks I have been stressed out at work trying to figure out these new accounts that I’m responsible for… trying to learn more about my role… trying to understand the nature of the business… trying to deal with co-workers that I’ve never worked or met before… trying to absorb all the challenges I am faced with on a daily basis… just trying to keep my head above water… so what keeps my head above water? CHOCOLATE!! POTATO CHIPS!! PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING UNDER $1 IN THE VENDING MACHINE!! Argh!! I eat because emotionally I’m frustrated, upset, feel helpless or extremely challenged and indulging in foods takes my mind off of things for a moment…

I’M NOT SMOKING ANYMORE // This is huge… I never really thought about it until now (yes, at times I am extremely slow to the obvious)… but now that I’m not smoking (yay for me)… I find myself focusing on food more often than usual… I used to hear that people were afraid to quit smoking because they didn’t want to lose weight… I didn’t really understand that because for me, I already ate like a pig when I was smoking and the ciggie was my dessert? Smoking didn’t take the place of eating, it topped off my meals instead!! LOL that’s pretty sad… But now after I eat, I don’t have anything to top it off with, so then I just focus on my next meal… Or actually have a real dessert instead!

PMS & ME // PMS and having my period every 28 days is probably the BEST excuse for me and any woman to eat whatever we want! Our hormones are out of whack, we are about to BLEED for 5 days for Pete’s sake, we experience “water retention,” we are cranky, we are irritable, we crave sweets, our backs ache, we get these awful indescribable cramps, our mood swings more than a 5 year old in a playground, we are in tears to the sound of any cheesy lovesong on the radio and we are screaming at the top of our lungs at the idiot driver who just cut us off… We can eat whatever the heck we want during this time, dag nab it!! LOL!! I am on an emotional roller coaster right now and those glazed donuts are the only things that will stabilize me right now, so get out of my way!!

Having acknowledged these 3 major and obvious reasons for my own emotional eating these past couple of weeks, I take full responsibility in the fact that the scale hasn’t really moved from 159… at least it won’t until this “period” is over… I talked to Janis about the whole period episode and asked how it affects weight… She has advised that it is normal for a woman to gain 3-5 lbs during their period… 3-5 pounds!! of what??!! Is this what is meant by water retention?? Again, for most of you readers, I am sure this is obvious but for ME, I never really weighed myself that often to even realize that I’ve gained a few pounds during that horrid week?? It’s news to ME!!

And I know I have to work on my crazy snacking… My plan of attack: Choose Fruit instead!! I will be more mindful of what I choose to take my stress out with at work… And I’ve stocked my fridge, freezer and pantry up this week with healthy choices of foods to chow down on That always helps!!

So now, I understand that I haven’t lost weight this time around and I’m okay with it… And I also know that I’ve been working out so much I can be in my own at home workout video, so part of the reason why I haven’t lost weight is because my muscles are working and getting pumped up   The good thing is, I haven’t GAINED more weight This is what we all have to realize my dear and beautiful readers… The Best Life Diet isn’t a race… it isn’t the who-can-be-the-best-at-losing-weight-in-12-weeks program… It’s a great introduction on how to better your health, your state of mind, your entire outlook on life… it really is a GREAT start to finding out the positives about yourself that you never thought you had in you… it’s about LIVING and GIVING to yourself and to your loved ones… Living and Giving the Best of YOU

’til tuesday…

~ cecilia

I’ve lost about 10 pounds and I’m very excited. Some of my old clothes are starting to fit again–yay. I’m familiar with this feeling, fortunately and unfortunately, as I have been gaining and losing the same 30 pounds my whole life. But something is definitely different this time. This time, my body shape is transforming–it’s different. My hips are getting narrower and my legs more muscular….I don’t feel flabby still–I actually feel fit. My body is stronger and I’m firmer–even though I still have about 20 pounds to lose. There is no mystery here…it’s the exercise that is doing it!

I have had a pear shaped body my whole life with a strong emphasis on the lower pear. With the increased exercise in tandem with the diet, I’m starting to become more proportional. Yes, I’m losing it in the same areas first as before (my waist, bust)…but my hips are not necessarily going to be the last ones to the party this time…I’m seeing results earlier and my clothes are fitting in a better way. I’m one of those girls who has always had to buy pants 2 sizes too big in the waist to account for the disproportionate area in the hips (sisters unite on this one…I know there are a ton of us out there who do this)…but I *think* and *hope* that maybe I will be changing this scenario going forward with my new body…maybe I’ll only have to go up one size. I can’t change my bone structure, but I can help mitigate disproportion by building muscle. We’re not talking body building here…please! But by building muscle in my legs, they will get smaller–burning the fat away and looking like they should look, vs. how they have looked.

Oh, how I wish I had incorporated this amount of exercise in my life much much earlier on…maybe I would not have had to lose this weight…or at least so much of it. I can’t shout to the hills loud enough how exercise has propelled the Best Life Diet into action–you cannot have one without the other and see results. Even in Phase III which focuses on maintenance…the activity doesn’t go away.

One thing Bob Greene told me last week was to not start any exercise that I wasn’t prepared to continue for the rest of my life…so truly, find what works for you and don’t be scared off if you are not physically agile. It doesn’t have to be an hour–20 hard minutes of any activity (stairs, treadmill, jumprope) is a great way to begin.