Shrinking Sisters

Get fit Friday: Sometimes, it's not pretty

Snot rockets.

(Oh, don't tell me you've never done one on a run/walk/ride.)

It's a necessary evil when exercising outdoors in colder weather or when your allergies act up.

I never do it in sight of anyone, and if I'm having big problems, I'll stuff some tissues into the waistband of my pants.

Gotta admit, it makes me feel like Lance Armstrong when I do it -- all athlete-like.

Don't worry, I won't regale you with pictures of athletes blowing snot rockets. Instead I'll show you another not-pretty side of exercise -- sweat stains.

Behold, my beloved pink Life is Good ballcap. I wear it to all 5Ks and on most walks. Because of that, it has gotten pretty saturated in the fruits of my labor. I tried washing off the sweat stains, and while the, um, crust came off, the discoloration didn't.

I was kinda bummed but then thought of it as a badge of honor -- those sweat stains are a permanent testament to my hard work.

But I do try and not look like a total slob. If my workout pants have a blue stripe down the side I'll match my T-shirt and/or socks to it. Plus, I have my cool iPod Nano with its orange silicone watch strap, which serves as watch/timer/pedometer and music player.

But I recently got to check out a new Polar heart monitor watch that definitely has pumped up the cute factor, because, frankly, some of those watches are pretty utilitarian. It's Polar's FT4, all dolled up in shades of pink and it even fits my big ol' wrist. The watch retails for $99.95 and includes the watch and WearLink chest strap. (You can find out more at Polar.) This one isn't as complicated as some of the Polar heart-rate monitors -- it's made for fitness and cross-trainers like you and me. It displays heart rate, calories burned and shows how your fitness level is improving based on heart rate.

Attune giveaway

Halloween is quickly approaching and that's the deadline for my Attune Foods giveaway -- check out the post HERE and get commenting! On that post I talk about how I've cut wheat out of my diet. I'm still wheat free and can't believe how good I'm feeling. My gut hasn't "spoken" to me once.

And here's this week's HealthBuzz:

They talk about fresh figs this week -- love 'em!

Get Fit Friday: Fight fire with fire

There comes a time in a girl's life when she has "the talk" with mom:

Me: "So I get all flaming hot for like a minute, then it goes away." 

Mom (and aunt, they're identical twins): "Yep, that's a hot flash." 

Me: "And you get all sweaty?" 

Mom & aunt: "Just ignore them."

Yay, hot flashes. At least I'm not dying.

Seriously, before it hit me that these little episodes are part of "growing up" (heh, heh), I didn't know what was going on. My first response is to exercise like mad, just to prove that I'm not having a heart attack. And when I do that, and I discover that the exercise makes me feel better, I come to the depressing realization that it's most probably perimenopause. (I'm definitely not a medical professional, so don't try that at home.)

I am 49, after all, prime time for this nonsense to begin.

So what do I do about the flame-ups? Simple -- just stay hot and sweaty. That way I'll never know when I'm having a flash. And apparently, moderate exercise can alleviate hot flashes. I decided some months ago that there were no excuses for working out outdoors. Hot? Too bad, go for a walk. And now I actually enjoy the buckets of sweat and the heat.

Makes me feel like I'm stronger than the swampiness.

And now for some Health Buzz!

Get Fit Friday: Winners, HealthBuzz and a countdown

First up, congrats to Erika, for winning the Publix gift card on Shrinking Sisters Reviews, and to Mendy, for winning the Subway gift card. We've got some other healthy giveaways coming up, so stay tuned (or whatever you do with a blog).

Next, our pals at Diets In Review offer up a healthy living news roundup every week with their HealthBuzz videos, which we'll be sharing every week. This week's Buzz is all about back-to-school tips.

And thirdly, we had a little blip on the scale last week, but we've rebounded strong and are 1 pound away from the long-awaited PRE-BABY WEIGHT. I am shooting for smashing that number over the next few days (yes, a holiday weekend) because I'm crazy like that.

Anyone else struggling with pre-baby weight? (Y'know, I just wrote that sentence but realized I wasn't "struggling" anymore!)

But how not to wreck the plan with a Labor Day cookout? Easy, I'm planning on lots of grilled vegetables and perhaps a little charred shrimp on the barbie. Doesn't that sound great? Portobello caps, zucchini and red onion on the grill are fantastic.

Also planning on hitting the gym all weekend and Labor Day. I may take the day off of work, but I'm not taking the day off from being healthy. Am I right? Whoo! High five, up top!

And here's this week's HealthBuzz:

Get Fit Friday: The Richard Simmons experience, or OMG!

What exerciser over the age of 40 hasn't at one time worked out to a Richard Simmons tape? (And when I mean tape, I mean VHS, kiddies.)

So when Kenlie, who blogs at All the Weigh, suggested that we head over to Slimmons Studio yesterday to work out with the granddaddy of fun fitness, I immediately said yes.

The fam and I met Kenlie at her place and set out for a day of exploring Beverly Hills.

We walked (samesies on our New Balance shoes we got at Fitbloggin).

We gawked (paps chasing Zoe Saldana at a salon).

We talked (over lunch at Oliver at Sports Club LA).

... and we ate cupcakes.

Those cupcakes were veering into "big as your head" territory, and I dreaded finding out how many calories each were (oh, around 700), so I passed off the last big chunk to everyone to taste (caramel apple, so it's fruit, right?).

I took comfort in knowing that Kenlie and I would be burning major calories with Richard Simmons. I've done my share of Sweatin' to the Oldies so I know it can be a fun, effective workout.

This was most definitely NOT Sweatin' to the Oldies.

Richard appeared on the studio floor, a vision in I-don't-know-what. Some sort of mesh, applique and beading thing. He's smaller and much more fit in person than on TV -- really in great shape for a man of 63.

The workout, with his regulars (Ellen Degeneres' mom(!) at left), newbies and visiting personal trainers in town for the IDEA Conference, was an hour of intense aerobic dance, Richard Simmons style, plus 25 minutes of upper body work with hand weights and 5 minutes of abs.

Richard was literally screaming (in joy and motivation), a whirling dervish of energy, leading us in circles, pushing us in two big packs across the gym floor and having us hold hands as we lunged across the floor.

In the big circle, Richard stood in the middle, coaxing us to join him in leading the class, one and two at a time. Kenlie's aunt and I joined Richard, and when Richard points his finger at you, you step up your game and bring it.

Ninety minutes later, we were all drenched with sweat, smiling and spent. Afterward, he posed for photos (that's my husband and I with Richard at right), hugged and kissed his fans and signed T-shirts (how can you not buy an "I Sweat With Richard" shirt?).

In the span of a week, I've had the opportunity to workout in person with Bob Harper and Richard Simmons -- could that be better than any cupcake?

After Kenlie's little "media moment," the first thing she did was fly to LA to workout with Richard. I can see why she wanted to return -- working out with Richard Simmons is a powerful experience.

Want to join a summer challenge?

Just got some information on Everyday Health's “I Heart Summer Challenge,” a 2-week plan that begins Monday, Aug. 15.

It offers exercise and healthy eating tips through Social Workout, which has a phone app to keep track of your results.

Find out more info at www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/i-heart-summer-slim-down.aspx

Get fit(book) Friday: Filch a fantastic fitbook for free!

So guess what? Angela Manzanares, the mastermind behind the fitbook, my favorite weight-loss journal, just up and gave me two copies of the limited-edition fitbook PINK, which benefits breast cancer. They won't even be available again until October but you can score one from me.

I'm constantly trying out various ways of journaling food and exercise and I keep coming back to the Fitbook. It provides places to plan out your day, your week, even the entire 12-week book if you like to think big picture.

It's a spiral-bound 5.5 by 5.5 inch size and comes with a little pen that slides into the spiral spine, so it's perfect to tote around the house, take to work or stash in your bag so you can keep track of your dinner out.

Every day there are places to write down your strength, cardio or flexibility workouts, jot down notes and keep a food log with plenty of space for calorie and/or nutrient tracking.

At the end of each week you have a Weekly Wrap Up, where you check off whether you did your workout, your inspirations, and the good and not-so-good parts of your week. At the beginning of the next week, you can preplan your workouts and write down your weight, body fat percentage and your goals for working out and nutrition. There's even a place to jot down a reward you're planning should you meet those goals.

I've been using it (again) faithfully for the past two weeks and I'm already down an amazing (for me) 4 pounds. I used to think that I had to be accountable to others for weight-loss success -- turns out just being truthful and accountable to myself every day can work wonders.

Now, how can you win a fitbook? Just these three things:

1. Tell me in the comments section what you use now to track your workouts/food and why it works for you and your current 12-week goal that you’d like to track using the fitbook if you win. [1 entry]
2. Follow Shrinking Sisters on Facebook and me on twitter [1 entry]
3. Follow fitbook on Twitter & Facebook  [1 entry]

You have until 11:59 p.m. ET, Friday, Aug. 5, to enter the fabulous fitbook fiesta. After that I'll choose the winner, get your info and a brand new fitbook will be winging its way to you.

Why, this makes me want to dance -- everybody dance!

(Yeah, the video is ridiculously over the top, but I love Cee Lo)

Get Fit Friday: Talking walking with trainer Jennifer Cohen

Hey, check out the interview I did yesterday with trainer Jennifer Cohen. She's featured on the CW reality show Shedding for the Wedding and is a spokesperson for the third annual Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge, which is May 22 this year. I did the Challenge last year and it was my first-ever 5K. It was great to take part with so many motivated exercisers and exhilarating to cross that finish line.

I talked with Jennifer about how to make exercise a priority and how walking can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be:

To learn more about the Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge and find a 5K near you, check out www.weightwatchers.com/walkit.

Shaking off the rust, blowing off the dust

Photo: Mila Zinkova, via Wikimedia

Y'know that morning phenomenon known as the "marine layer"? If you've ever been to coastal California you've seen the pea-soupy fog that hangs over the area until the sunshine burns it off.

My "marine layer" finally burned off yesterday.

Not to bog you down with the details, but I had the flu for a week, then midway through the next week, I developed something called "post-viral arthralgia." I describe it as getting hit with the arthritis truck. Every joint in my body was swollen and sore. But after a week of steroids and more Aleve than usual, I'm finally feeling normal again, and yesterday laced up the walking shoes for 30 minutes in the park.

I started out with achy ankles but after about, oh 60 seconds, the discomfort went away. Best thing I did all week.

It's also why I haven't blogged much lately -- my wrists were killing me and you should have seen my left middle finger knuckle!

I have a whole new respect for people who live with severe arthritis. I have a little in my right big toe and more in my neck, but exercise and massage keep those at bay. But this past week I got a taste of what arthritic ankles and knees feel like, and I really don't want to experience that again.

Excess weight and inflammation from a bad diet can speed the progression of arthritis, especially in the lower extremities. So I have a renewed desire to get the weight off ASAP. It was like something from A Christmas Carol, with a visit from The Ghost of Joints Yet to Come.

Because while arthralgia most often gets better and goes away, arthritis is a gift that keeps on giving.

Oh, hey, want a yogurt coupon?

Check out my review of Weight Watchers Yogurt over at Shrinking Sisters Reviews.

Get fit Friday: My resolution, one more time!

I'll keep this one short and sweet. I was going to post this on Twitter but that's too fleeting. I need to really put this out into the universe and make it stick:

My New Year's resolution for 2011:

Not to make "lose weight" a resolution for 2012!

Get Fit Friday: Not stressing, just doing it

I've been a bit busy the past week, working on some extra stuff and trying to keep on top of the housework so I skipped a couple days of exercise.

But I'm not freaking out about it because so far this week I've logged 150 minutes of exercise and there's still the weekend.

I signed up for a 9 a.m. Sunday Bodypump class so that'll be sure to incinerate a ton of calories plus build muscle.

Like I've mentioned before, I tend to make things more difficult than they need to be. I overthink things, read too many scientific studies, get too many diet books, too many DVDs. All I need to do is DO IT!

That was reinforced this week with a post on Roni's Weigh. Roni posted a link to a radio interview with weight-loss blogger Sean Anderson who has lost 275 pounds. The radio interview is really worth a listen. Aside from the fact that Sean works in radio and has a great communicating style, he talks about how he finally found success after he decided to simplify the process.

He also had a tendency to make things more difficult than they needed to be so he devised a Calorie Bank & Trust. He gives himself 1,500 calories a day and can choose to use those calories however he wants -- nothing's off limits. He also keeps his exercise simple -- he started out walking and now completes 5ks and 10ks.

My simple plan today was to lace up my sneaks and simply take a walk around the neighborhood for an hour. No heart-rate monitor, no pedometer -- just me, my iPod and my shades.

On the way back, my "victory lap" song was Past My Shades by B.o.B. I did some running during my walk, so I was feeling particularly bad-ass. So here's your Funky Friday jam with the proviso to keep it simple (and keep it funky):

Get Fit Friday: Ben Does Life, and so does his brother, Jed

A couple months ago, Ben Davis' video of his 120-pound weight loss was blazing across the Internet. We ran it and I also interviewed him on Examiner.com.

Now his brother Jed has done a great video of his weight loss journey, alongside his brother.

That's the whole point of our blog, Shrinking Sisters. Whether it's your brother, your sister, friends or people on the Internet, it all works better when you have someone to be accountable to.

Great line at the end of this video:

A journey of self-improvement

where you refuse to accept the status quo.

Where no matter how many times you fail,

you always try again.