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Introduction Text I started my journey to improving my health in early August 2009. I was almost 40 pounds overweight, stopped watching what I ate, or exercising, had just been put on high blood pressure medication by my doctor, was unhappy with how I looked and how I felt and still depressed after my parents had both passed away 2 years earlier. The shock of being put on high blood pressure medication (and winding up with my parents’ health problems) served as my ‘wake-up call’. The day after I saw my doctor, I unfolded my treadmill, started tracking my food and started using SparkPeople . In the beginning, I just made a commitment to myself that I would walk 30 minutes per day seven days a week and start tracking my food. Gradually, I added more healthy habits into the mix. I decided I was not going to go on a specific plan (like Weight Watchers) but instead, this time, I was going to figure out for myself, what worked for ME, using all the health knowledge I’d gathered over the years, and the new reading I started doing again. I know from past experience that once I put myself on a rigid food program, I eventually wanted to rebel against it, and I was looking for a permanent solution. I started listening to motivational podcasts and hypnosis tapes. I started using my Cardio Coach tapes on my treadmill again. I bought myself a GoWearFit devise to keep track of my steps, exercise intensity, and calories burned. I found that it serves to keep me focused and accountable towards reaching my daily goals. In September, I found I needed to do more exercise than just walking to get my heartrate up, and started to do a few minutes of jogging (using Cardio Coach tapes outdoors). I decided to train to run a 5K and now I am hooked on running. I had never tried running before, and didn’t realize how much I would enjoy it. In January 2010, I attended a Running Retreat with Jeff Galloway, and in June 2010 I met my goal to run a half-marathon before I turned 60. Now that I've achieved that, my plan is to run a 10K in the spring and fall (I found I was injuring myself too often when my training mileage exceeded 10 miles). As far as my personal program, here is what seems to work for me: I listen to a motivational podcast everyday, which I download from iTunes. Right now I am listening to Fat2Fit (my favorite), Motivation to Move (premium), & Dr Joel Furhman's "Nutritional Excellence" podcasts. I’m using Jeff Galloway’s RunWalkRun method for my running. On the days I don’t run, I walk for at least 30-45 minutes either outside or on my treadmill. In March 2010, I became an 'ambassador' for Cardio Coach audio workout tapes (which I use both outside and on my treadmill). I also occasionally use My Treadmill Trainer workout tapes. I do strength training twice a week. I find if I do three days of strength training each week, my body doesn’t recover enough, so I’ve stopped doing that. I focus mostly on upper body and core work, as I found that doing squats and lunges hurts my knees and makes it more difficult for me to run. As far as my food program, for the first few years, I was most influenced by the writings of Tom Venuto (Burn the Fat/Build the Muscle) and John Berardi (Precision Nutrition) and have incorporated their ideas into my routines. I give myself permission not to be 'perfect' when I have an off meal or off day, chalk it up to experience, and then get back on on-track. Sometimes I need to do a lot of 'self-talk' to remind myself that one bad day or one bad meal does not negate all my months of hard work... and that it will take lots more than 1 meal to regain the 25 pounds I've lost. July 2011 Update: I've have fallen off both the diet and exercise wagon this fall, but last month, after recovering from 2 different injuries earlier this year, I was able to start running and strength training again. Unfortunately, I gained about 10 pounds, mostly around my middle, but it could have been worse. Now that I am in an exercise routine, I'm focusing on my eating. I watched the film "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and will be following their Reboot food plan for 10 days (basically fruits, veggies, a little good fat & water). I'm in the transition phase of that right now, where I eat fruits & veggies (cooked or raw, juiced or in a green smoothie) in the daytime, and then have a light protein dinner, plus a serving of lowfat yogurt during the day. August 2011 update: After watching "Fat Sick & Nearly Dead" last month, I started doing some reading on 'plant strong' nutrition and its health benefits, and discovered the nutritional philosophies of Dr. Joel Fuhrman ("Eat to Live") (who was featured in FS&ND), the "Engine 2 Diet" and "Food Over Forks". I've just started eating "plant strong", following the general guidelines below: Eat nothing with a mother or a face (no meat, poultry or fish) No dairy No oil of any kind Generally, no nuts or avocados YES to: All veggies except avocado All legumes (beans, peas & lentils) All whole grains & products made from them, so long as they have no fat All fruits I'm looking forward to reducing my weight, my blood pressure & my cholesterol.

Near term goals: Weight: under 150 DONE Fitness: Run a 10K in April - Crescent City Classic in New Orleans on April 3rd- Done - in 1:16 (12.15/m). Waist: under 35 inches. DONE!!! Long Term Goals: Waist under 32 inches Weight: 130 9/26/09 First 5K 41.27 11/7/09 5K 36.10 1/16/10 Resoluton Run 5k 34:26 Gold Medal 50-59 year old females! 11:05 pace 1/22-24/10 Jeff Galloway Running Retreat 2/28/10 Get Your Rear in Gear 5k. 33:05. #3 for age group. 10:40 pace 3/20/10 Koman 5K 33:40 4/3/10 Crescent City Classic 10K- 1:16 12:15/m 6/6/10 Minneapolis Half Marathon 2:54:38 11/13/10 Cajun Cup 10K 1:16, 12:22/m 4/12 Crescent City Classic 10K

I'm eating "Plant Strong" and following the recommendations set forth in the books, "Engine 2 Diet", "Eat to Live" and "Forks Over Knives". Exercise Plan: Cardio: Walk 10,000 steps/day 5x week. Strength training 2x week My Challenges: Being treated for sciatica caused by a pinched nerve is severely limiting my mobility.

Places I've called home: NYC, Ann Arbor, MI; Phoenix, AZ, Naples, FL, San Francisco, CA and Lafayette, LA. I enjoy playing Cajun guitar, gardening and Science Fiction. I just adopted 2 kittens! I am a Cardio Coach Ambassador. I'm a big fan of Battlestar Gallactica (I want to look like Starbuck when I grow up :-).

"I didn''t say it was going to be easy. I said it was going to be WORTH it!" "Patience, persistence, practice" "Progress, not Perfection" "Decisions help us start. Dedication helps us finish"

Add a Link "Progress, not Perfection" Cardio Coach Ambassador PRs: 9/26/09 CMA 5K (my 1st ever) 41.27 11/7/09 Super Cooper 5K 36.10 1/30/10 Resolution Run 5K. 34.26 1st place 50-59 year old female category 3/27/10 Get Your Rear in Gear 5k 33:05 (3rd place - 50-59 Females) 3/20/10 Koman 5K Lafayette, LA (33:40) 4/2/10 Crescent City Classic New Orleans 10K (1:16) 6/6/10 Minneapolis Half Marathon (2:54:38) 11/13/10 Cajun Cup 10K (1:16)
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