Hope Halfacre-Bryant has been on an incredible journey this past year . . . she blogs her ups and downs at
http://goodbaduglyweightloss.blogspot.com/
Hope is refreshingly honest about her challenges and victories! Here's some thoughts from Hope for a NEW YEAR:
I would say my recommendations are:
-Find other ways besides soft drinks for energy. Thursday, December 15 marks 1 YEAR that I have been without a soft drink! It cuts down on sugar and chemicals in my body. :) Every time I want one I remind myself of the health benefits of not drinking them.
-Find some inexpensive workout DVDs such as Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels, Zumba, etc. to do at home when you don’t have time or the desire to go the gym. These usually last between 30-45 minutes and give you a power-packed workout!
-Sign up for a 5K! It gives you a goal and keeps you motivated! My goal last year was to complete one 5K…I surpassed that by completing five 5Ks last year!! :)
-Create a food log. This takes time and effort but it is a very valuable resource! When I fall "off" track, I go back to the days where I was successful and repeat whatever menu I had for that day. It helps me find success again!
-Keep a blog/diary of your journey. This has been SO valuable to me as I have looked back at my year of successes and mistakes. I am able to reflect on my success and also find ways to get back the motivation that I had. I unfortunately let other things get in the way of my weight loss journey and lost track for the last 4 months. I realize now that I HAVE to put ME first before anything else…my health is the MOST important thing! :) Also, no one has to read your blog…that was my initial idea but then people started finding it and now I have many followers!
SHARPEN YOUR SAW in 2012! Healthy Holidays to you all!
Friday, December 16--12th Day of Wellness and "HOPE" for a NEW YEAR
Friday, December 9--7th Day of Wellness
THINK SIMPLY . . . SIMPLY THINK
I recently read:
One friend asked in early December if I was ready for Christmas. “Oh, yes,” I replied. “I just hate people like you,” she said. I chuckled. “It’s easy to be ready for Christmas when you don’t bake, don’t buy many gifts, and don’t send cards.”
Instead of sending Christmas cards, I try to send letters throughout the year.
Instead of baking my former twelve different kinds of cookies these Kentucky hips don’t need, I spend that time doing something special with my friends.
Take a deep breath and PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST this holiday! LESS may be MORE . . . find that good fit for YOU and YOUR FAMILY and FRIENDS.
Happy 7th Day of Wellness and HAPPY WEEKEND!
Monday, December 12--8th Day of Wellness
Dr. Oz shares "Stress Cures" in the December issue of Prevention Magazine (pp. 36-39)--
"Stress isn't just in your head. It manifests itself in your body in the form of knotted muscles, painful digestion, troubled sleep, and worse. To deal with chronic discomfort, you need to have a biological bag of stress-busting tricks."
He includes ideas for "above the shoulders," legs, hands and feet, whole-body and back! I loved seeing "downward-facing dog" for legs and "triangle," "Cat/Cow," and "extended cat stretch" for back!
Be Proactive with your knowledge of "stress-busting" techniques!
Tuesday, December 13--9th Day of Wellness
We’re on the HOME STRETCH! As you look toward the New Year, you might be thinking of setting some goals?! Here’s a few goal-setting secrets from some Weight Watchers info I received at Saturday’s meeting:
START SMALL
Be realistic: If you want to walk a marathon, for example, first aim to walk a 5K (that’s 3.1 miles) and build from there.
SIGN UP
Join an exercise class; having to pay is a big motivator. Or register for a race; an end date can make the process seem less daunting.
SPREAD THE WORD
Tell people about your goal. Knowing that they’ll ask about your progress helps keep you accountable.
Begin with the END in mind in 2012!
Wednesday, December 14--10th Day of Wellness
The 10th Day of Wellness brought to you by Mrs. Patton--
Here's a quick twist on a Chicken Parmesan recipe.
Using a 9 X 13 pan:
Place a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of minced garlic in the bottom.
Next place 5 or 6 (depending on size) boneless chicken breasts in pan.
Pour one jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce/marinara over the chicken (use tongs or spoon to help sauce cover and go between the chicken pieces.)
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of lowfat mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese over sauce.
Take one package of croutons (any flavor you like) and sprinkle over cheeses - you can crush them first if you like.
Repeat cheese mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE HEALTHY - mix one cup of panko crumbs and a couple teaspoons of parsley with the first cheeses and sprinkle over chicken. Do not add the second cheese mixture.
Thanks for sharing! Happy 10th Day of Wellness!
Thursday, December 15--11th Day of Wellness
What's the single best thing you can do for your health? Click the short, entertaining video link to learn the answer!
If you feel . . .
overexcited, nervous, antsy--try a "forward fold"
tired, sad, heavy--"back bending poses" (snake, superhero, table) might give you a lift!
scattered, unstable, overwhelmed-- try "standing poses" like (1) tree (2) mountain
Wanna know how?
Thursday, December 1--1st Day of Wellness
The Wellness Committee wishes you “12 Days of Wellness” during the twelve days of December that we attend school! We’ll share a tip, a stretch, recipe and/or a “health hero” each day to keep you encouraged during the holiday season! The name of the game is moderation, keep active, and you can be happy and healthy as you complete 2011 and ring in 2012. J
Today’s tip is “Stretch for Health”—here’s some stretching how-to:
1) Warm up before stretching by jogging in place, walking, or some other physical movement.
2) Ease into and out of a stretch. Don’t bounce.
3) Do not stretch to the point of pain or discomfort. Back off if it begins to hurt.
4) Perform your stretching routine three or more times a week.
Try this neck stretch:
Stand up straight
Gently bend head to the right, trying to touch ear to shoulder. Feel stretch in left side of neck. Keep hands behind back and shoulders down.
Hold for 30 seconds.
Repeat on opposite side.
Be well in December!
Friday, December 2--2nd Day of Wellness
Today we’d like to highlight a “Health Hero!” We’d like to applaud Mrs. Lou for her efforts to improve her health. She’s walking three miles every day after work! She is monitoring consumption of bread, pasta—“white stuff.” Check in with Mrs. Lou sometime when you see her on the red hall—if you can catch her . . . she’s moving pretty fast these days! YEA, Lou!
Monday, December 5--3rd Day of Wellness
My husband has been substituting “Pumpkin Pie Filling” for eggs/oil when baking cakes or mixing up pancakes! It’s very good and cuts down on the fat. My mom uses “canned pumpkin” in the same way.
Tuesday, December 6--4th Day of Wellness
On page 33 of the November 2011 issue of Prevention Magazine, there is an article entitled: “Thank-You Therapy”—
“If life’s minor annoyances make you want to scream, try saying “thank you” a little more often. Experts say that expressing gratitude makes you less likely to lash out when you’re irked.”
A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life by John Kralik is listed to follow up on this good idea!
Wednesday, December 7--5th Day of Wellness
I’d like to introduce you to another “Health Hero.” Dr. Fred Klutzow is 88 years old and a member of my mom and dad’s church. His wife finally asked him to retire this year . . . he is a neuropathologist, former WW2 POW, and self taught nutritionist as well. Dr. Fred takes NO MEDICATIONS. He recently shared with me, since 2006, he has not experienced pains or aches. He admitted his left knee is a little stiff in the cold weather . . . His cholesterol and blood pressure are “all good.” He experienced angioplasty in 1984 and open heart surgery in 1996. He said he feels better than during the 32 years he was under treatment of various internists and cardiologists. Dr. Fred is AMAZING, and he attributes his health to his diet. He believes in eating fruits first! He eats broccoli every day. He recently sent me an article that I'll copy and put in your mailbox today--"10 Foods to Help You Live a Longer, Healthier Life!"
Thursday, December 8--6th Day of Wellness