Take a leap!

Happy Leap Year Day everyone! WOOOHOOOO, we get an extra day this year!!! I had to reeducate myself as to why this happens. It takes the earth 365 days and 6 hours to revolve around the sun. Those 6 hours add up to an extra day every four years. And that's today. Wow!! And if you follow this blog, you know it's also weigh in Wednesday, clean sheet Wednesday and sushi Wednesday. And today it's Leap Year Day Wednesday. A whole extra day filled with promise and possibilities.

So on this day, that only occurs once every four years, why don't you take a leap and try something new, eat something you never ate, do something you never did, think something you never thought? So many times I've heard people say all sorts of things that are limiting them or holding them back. Things like, I never eat that, I can't do that, I don't like that. Just because at one point in your life, you tried, did, or thought something that wasn't agreeable to you, does that mean for the rest of your life it applies? I think everything deserves a second chance. I would hate to miss out on something for my whole life just because I refused to take another look.



The first time I tried sushi, I was unimpressed to say the least. What was all the hype about? Turns out the place I went to was a mediocre place at best. When I had good sushi, real, fresh sushi ( raw fish on top of rice), sashimi ( slices of raw fish), and maki ( fancy name for the rolls), that was made by a skilled and talented sushi chef, a revolution occurred. It's a favorite food of mine now. I may have never discovered this had I not taken a leap, or given it a second chance. A whole lifetime of missing out on something so delicious. A love affair gone wrong because of a bad first date.

Now I love dark chocolate, almond milk, and flax seed muffins. I enjoy eggs more regularly and have discovered the diversity of cauliflower, coconut flour and almond flour. I've opened my mind about nutrition and the harmful effects of sugar and processed food and carbs. I've change my mind, and my eating, because I took a leap and tried something new. I thought new thoughts about food.  Everything I thought I knew before, wasn't necessarily correct. On the way I discovered so many great things I would have never tried. All because I changed my thoughts and my actions.

And tonight, on this leap year Wednesay, also known as clean sheet Wednesday, Weigh in Wednesday and Sushi Wednesday.......I'm doing Mediterranean for dinner!

Thought for the day:  Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. -Mark Twain

Remotivation....it's a daily thing!

Hello everyone. Hope it was a great weekend. We are entering full wedding mode over in my neck of the woods. Saturday was dress shopping with my FDIL ( future daughter in law) and the BM's ( bridesmaids). It was a long day, and although no dress was decided upon, we had fun. My niece and I missed my sister-in-law so much that day, and there were a few teary moments in the car. Beth would have loved participating in this. I smile to think of some of the comments she might have made while the girls were trying on dresses. She could be brutally honest and funny at the same time! I have so many things hidden in my heart that I want to tell her. I whisper them to her often because I know she can hear. A small comfort, but oh, how I wish she was here to participate in this family wedding. She would have loved all the preparations so much.

 Soon it will be time to shop for my dress. I should be looking forward to that, but I would like to be model slim when I purchase it, and I'm not.....yet!  I'm 5'4" and curvy, so that's one dream that isn't going to happen, unless I can find a way to get taller and thinner at the same time! But I can be slimmer, and that's my goal. I know this is going to require some focus, some denial and some hard work. I'm up for it. 

I got up this morning and re-motivated myself. I find that you have to do that often. It doesn't just apply to losing weight. It can be to quit smoking, to start an exercise program, or any goal you choose.Whatever you are doing, whatever your goals, re-motivating yourself frequently is key. Write down why you want to change. Put down all the reasons...to look better in photos, to move around easier, to be healthier, to look like a knockout in your mother of the groom dress......whatever it is, write it down. I like to use an index card and keep it somewhere I can refer to often. It will help keep you focused in the middle of the day, when you are reaching for something that you don't need,and wasn't planned. It will help you stay the course, like your own personal navigation system. I got this idea form a book called The Beck Diet Solution. It is not a eating plan diet book, but a book on changing behaviors using cognitive therapy. I'm not a psychologist, but it teaches you to replace negative self talk with positive talk. It is a good book and can be a useful companion to whatever plan you are trying to follow. Learning to replace that negative voice in our head, is the first step in changing any behavior. Because we are worth it, and we are good enough......AND WE CAN DO IT!!

Thought for the day: Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.- Mario Andretti

Hello I'm Pattie! Nice to meet you!

My name is Pattie and I am currently following the Belly Fat Cure by Jorge Cruise. For those of you currently following the blog, pretend you are surprised and happy to meet me!!Pretend it's the first time we've met. That's what I'm trying to do. I want to look at things with a new vision.

I decided that I need to get back to the basics....of life...and of the belly fat cure principles.I have been going through alot of personal stress with the recent loss of my beloved sister-in-law. I've lost focus in many areas of my life. I've lost a lot of sleep and cried alot of tears. I've put myself on the back burner and lost sight of my goals somewhat.There are alot of things and people that I am putting before myself. It just needs to be that way. My goals are still there, but not as clear to me as they used to be. I want to pull out my books, pretend I am reading and seeing things for the first time. Basically I want to get a fresh start, and a renewed commitment. That's the beauty of life. You can have one anytime you want!
It's time to get a little more serious. You see, I have never been the star pupil, the fast learner or the girl with the perfect report card...or in this case, perfect intake of daily sugar and carbs. I'm a little bit of a slacker. I get caught up in the wave of excitement, get started with an unstoppable enthusiasm, but then settle into that comfortable place, and I don't work so hard. I accept what I am doing as good enough. You can apply this type of attitude to many things you are trying to change in your life. It can be eating, exercising or whatever it is you are trying to make part of your lifestyle or change in your lifestyle. Sometimes you just get blasé about things and forget the basics, or the reason you got so excited in the first place and the reason you believe in something. Luckily I have some good friends on this blog, who have shown me how it can be done. Now I have to refresh, regroup and get a little bit more serious if I want to reach my goal. I want to be a big winner and a big loser. I've got an important wedding if five months!

These are the things I believe in. Sugar is really our enemy. It is addicting and overpowering. Once we get started with it, it's hard to stop. The best way is to control it, to monitor it and to limit it. 15 gms a day is the limit if you are following the BFC. If you have never done so, start reading the labels on your everyday products. You will get to 15 gms a day real fast if you aren't careful. So be careful, be diligent, and count those sugar grams. This one little change alone will squash your cravings for sweet stuff, help eliminate those binge eating episodes you've had on past diets, and help you stay in control.

So if you slip, and eat frozen Christmas cookies that your neighbor gave you, on a Tuesday night, while watching a DVR episode Keeping Up With The Kardashians, ( I know it's trash, but it's my guilty pleasure!!), and they happen to be goey, caramel pecan, with a shortbread crust,  then understand the next few days are going to be hard. You will feel hungrier, crave more sweets and feel like you can't do this. If I screw up, this always happens. You can get back on track. Just start immediately.


If you are not following the BFC, it's important to know that many other important organizations are also suggesting that sugar intake be limited. They are usually referring to added sugars, and not naturally occurring sugars such as those in fruit and milk. One teaspoon of sugar equals about 5 gms. The American Heart Association recommends no more that 6 tsp or 30 gms of added sugar a day for women, and no more than 9 tsps of 45 gms of added sugar a day for men.

 Even when you have been conditioning yourself as long as I have to avoid all added sugars, and stay within 15 gms a day, you can slip up. You are not weak. You just lost focus. Some of my blogger friends that I so admire, never lost focus, and they reached their goal fairly quickly, with very little deviations from their plan. I'm envious. But everyone is different and some of us have a hard time staying on task. Maybe we let things get in the way of our goal. Maybe we don't remind ourselves daily why our goal is so important. Whatever it is, we are all different. But what makes us the same is that we have a goal and we are trying to reach it. Whatever your goal is, if you stay focused and keep reminding yourself of that goal, it will happen.

Thought for the day: Roses are red, violets are Blue, Sugar is sweet, and so are you!

It's Saturday...a day full of possibilities! And another use for that coffee mug!

Good morning sweet followers. I am emerging out of my slug fest. I hate when I let perfectly good days slip away. But then again, if I relaxed a bit too much, surfed the web a bit too much, slept in a little too long.....who's keeping track? But today, I woke up...albeit alittle too late...and thought...this is a perfectly good day to make some things happen.  I plan to get a mani/pedi, finish up some work stuff, and get to that Wheat Belly book that has been sitting on the table since it arrived in the mail a few weeks ago.

To start off my day, I'm going to make scrambled eggs in a mug. I'm sure many of you have made this quick and simple microwave scrambled eggs. The other morning my son, who is home for a long weekend, mentioned that he loves eggs in the morning, but never has the time to make them and clean up and get to class on time. I printed out a simple recipe for him to take home from the incredible edible egg website. It's so basic, but wanted him to have something to refer too.

 You can totally jazz this up anyway you like. You can put the cheese in right with the eggs instead of on top as the recipe suggests. Try putting in a wedge of laughing cow cheese, or some crumbled bacon, or ham, or turkey sausage crumbles. If you have ever seen or heard of Hungry Girl on the food network, she has many jazzed up ideas for this on her web site. She even adds, salsa, dijonnise mustard, spinach. The sky's the limit here! The key is to stir halfway through to get that nice fluffy texture. Oh the possibilities!!!

Microwave Coffee Cup Scramble

Prep Time: 1 minute | Cook Time: 75 to 90 seconds | Makes: 1 serving

What You Need 2 EGGS 2 Tbsp. milk 2 Tbsp. shredded Cheddar cheese Salt and pepper

Here’s How COAT 12-oz. microwave-safe coffee mug with cooking spray. ADD eggs and milk; beat until blended. MICROWAVE on HIGH 45 seconds; stir. MICROWAVE until eggs are almost set, 30 to 45 seconds longer. TOP with cheese; season with salt and pepper. Thought for the day: I hope you make something happen. Anything you want.

How could I have missed this one?

Good morning all. To quote a blogger friend of mine ( Kay!!!), I am being a slug today. I hate when that happens. I am a jump out of bed, coffee, workout, walk the dogs, do some chores, do some work type of girl. The slug in me, hangs out in bed and reads messages, emails, and tweets on her iphone ( just got one, and I'm in love!), then leisurely gets up, makes the bed, a cup of coffee and gets back on the computer. I might stop and feed the dogs, and maybe even myself. But the gist of being a slug, is that you move real slow, have no particular goals and accomplish really nothing!! I'm going to embrace the slug in me today and just go with it. We are all entitled to a slugfest once in awhile!

All of you creative bloggers that are making and tweaking low sugar, low carb recipes are going to laugh at this one. I just got around this morning to making the flaxseed muffin. I know, you have been making it and talking about for many months.  I don't regularly watch Dr. Oz, but after reading Rosalie's post, I went online to watch Jorge make the muffin. I made it from the recipe he gave, so maybe some of you out there have different versions.  I have to say I'm in love with this muffin. How could so much time have gone by without  me making it? What other delicious things have I been missing just because I haven't taken the time to make them? All of you have been making and enjoying it for so long, and I'm just getting around to it!!

Unlike Jorge who doesn't bother to give the credit where it is due, and passed this off as his little creation, I know that you fellow blogger gals have been the ones to discover, tweak,  and blog about this little flaxseed wonder. So I am giving you credit, and thanks. Now I need you tell me again in the comment section, all the little things you do to it to make it special It would take me forever to look back on all the blogs and find all the little variations you have come up with. I made some changes too, and I added some vanilla and cooked it  less time. The first one was alittle dry with cooking it for 50 seconds, so I went down to 45. I think my microwave is alittle more powerful so I adjusted the time.

So without further adieu....I present to all of those who may be reading this blog, and don't know about this.....THE MICROWAVE FLAXSEED MUFFIN!!! ( and I take no credit for this at all...I'm merely a copycat!)

Here's what you need!

1 tsp of coconut oil
1/2 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 packet of Truvia
1 egg
1/4 cp of ground flaxseed
1 tsp vanilla extract ( not in original recipe, I added this)

Stir all ingredients in a mug that has been sprayed with cooking spray
Microwave for 45- 55 seconds

Mix it all together

This is what it looks like after microwaving. It pops right out of the cup!

This is the brand I used.

I found this at Homegoods!

Eat and enjoy. I tried it cut in half with cream cheese and natures hollow sugar free mountainberry jam

Breakfast!

Tip: Since I'm in a hurry so much these days, I made up some baggies filled with the measured dry ingredients. All I have to do is grab a bag, add vanilla, egg and coconut oil and I'm ready to go!

Thought for the day: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

What becomes of the broken hearted?

Happy Valentines Day to all the wonderful people who read this blog.
I hope you had a day filled with love and happiness. We are struggling a bit on this end, but I have to say, as I sit here in my own home after being gone for a few days, that I think the day had lots of love, and  some moments of happiness.

I have been at my brothers since Monday afternoon. I stayed overnight since he had a late night business dinner Monday.  It was good that I was there as my nephew was home sick today, so he needed some TLC and some extra hugs. I think I accomplished that. Plus I got to play some games from long ago, like Operation! Funny how removing the piece called the "broken heart" could make me tear up a little!
Tonight my brother came home early, bearing flowers, books, and chocolates as Valentine presents for the kids and me. He's a good dad and always thinks of his family. Thanks to the wonderful generosity of a friend and neighbor, we had a wonderful dinner together. This lovely lady printed up the menu, sent a lovely dinner over, and even sent treats for the dog, from her dog, and gave us a fun Valentines Day quiz to play. All the questions were related to the day, and we had fun giving our answers, and then checking the winning answers, that she had so nicely printed out in an envelope. The winner, my niece, got to open the prize, which was a box of brownies to share with everyone.  It lightened the mood, we had some laughs and it was a much needed diversion from thoughts of what was missing from our day and our lives. We sat around the table, I lit some candles, we ate together, did the quiz, and things seemed almost normal. Almost. The firsts are going to be the hardest. This was a first. A different first, on a day that is all about love, and who is special.

When I got home tonight, I was emotionally drained. I always seem to have a good cry on the 40 minute drive home. Something about the quiet, and the darkness of the quiet car ride, bring all my emotions to a head.  My only release valve is tears. I get them out as I drive home, and then I'm good, and I feel better. It's kind of been my little drive home ritual I'm sad to say, but it helps. Tonight I came home to a lovely box of flowers that my son from New York sent me. The card said...Be My Valentine!! How sweet when your kids think of you. Another one is flying in tonight from Indiana, and my baby in Connecticut called to wish me a Happy Valentines Day. My husband and I are going to celebrate with dinner out another night, since I didn't get home until late. It was important to make this day special for the kids.


This blog of mine started out to be about eating low sugar and low carb, and how that is going and what I am doing to make this a lifestyle. Somewhere along the way, it turned into so much more. You can't always predict how things will turn out and in what direction things will go. That's true in life and in blogs. So much more has happened since I started to write. So that is what I want to share....so much more. I do have some things related to eating that I want to share, and I will do that later in the week. Stay tuned.

I will say that my eating has been a challenge with my new normal. I am treading water, but not swimming in the right direction. I don't even have the energy to be upset. I just get up each day and try to do the best I can. I know I need to plan better, as what is available to me is so different when I am not in my own house. I can't make good choices when there is no good choice to make, so I need to bring some things that I want to eat. That is the dilemma. I will work on this. It will take time, but that seems to be the saying of the minute, the hour and the days. Not just with food, but with moving forward. This will take time.....lots of time. I hope that you have a Valentines day filled with all that makes you feel loved and special. Sending hugs, and love to you all!


Thought for the day: (take from the Jimmy Ruffin song)

As I walk this land of broken dreams
I have visions of many things
But happiness is just an illusion
Filled with sadness and confusion

What becomes of the broken hearted
Who have love that's now departed
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe

Taking one for the team.

Tuesday I was at my brothers house with the kids. I brought over a pitching machine that we had in our attic from when our kids were younger. My nephew and I set it up. My niece was feeding the balls, I was fielding and my nephew was batting. "Aunt Pattie, would you like a try at bat?", he asked. Sure, I said. So there I was, swinging a metal bat, at a soft ball, from a pitching machine, on a winter afternoon, with my niece and nephew. 

  

The first pitch was inside. Way inside. Too close to my chest inside. "Aunt Pattie, step back", M shouted. So I take a step back. The ball is fired and I get hit in the butt. "Aunt Pattie, too far back", M shouted. So I take a step in. The ball is fired and I get hit in the wrist. Over and over this is happening. It was like the machine was following my movements. Later we find out, that we hadn't tightened the positioning thingy enough, so it was in fact moving a little bit with each pitch. But it was funny, and we laughed. Such a welcome sound to hear M laughing. He is 11 and deserves to laugh....alot. He's far to young to shed so many tears. My pain was the source for his laughter, and I was happy to be the martyr. Now they were soft baseballs, but when fired out at top speed, they hurt! I was brave to let this go on!

 

 

While this is going on, my niece J slips away. M and I are putting the machine away, and commenting on how the day is staying lighter longer. Just then my niece comes out with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. At first I felt like a vampire seeing the light, as she handed it to me. My brain is spinning, calculating how much sugar was in the milk and the chocolate. This is poison to me, I think. I can't have this. I don't drink this type of stuff anymore. I'm on a low sugar eating plan for crying out loud!

 And so I did what I had to do. I drank it. Every sugary, chocolaty, sweet bit of it. I told J it was delicious. How did you make it, I asked? First I melted chocolate chips, and then whisked in milk she said. It's wonderful and delicious, I said. The best I ever had. She smiled. And that was the best  smile I ever saw!

• 

It's Wednesday!

Well today it's Wednesday. It's a day with a lot of meaning for a lot of different people. Or perhaps no meaning at all, and that's ok too. For some it's hump day, and it means the week is winding down and the weekend is close. For me it is Wednesday weigh in......clean sheet Wednesday.....and Sushi Wednesday!!! Such an exciting day...if it all works out that is!

Let's talk about sushi Wednesday. We go most Wednesdays with our neighbors and best friends, to a restaurant called Blue Fin. We love the sushi there. It is fresh, and the dishes are very creative and delicious. Here is a photo of a favorite. It's called spicy tuna sundae and I want it for my last meal. It has ahi tuna, avocado, nuts and a special spicy sauce, that may or may not have alot of sugar. In this one dish, I choose not to know this. It's just that good. And just that worth it!

Another highlight of Wednesday is clean sheets. Don't ask my why I choose this day to change them. For me, it's easier to do in the morning on this day than any other. I LOVE clean sheets. If I was Oprah or had a daily maid, I'd have them changed several times a week. But I'm not, so I don't. When we go to hotels, I have been known to take apart the beds, and look at the brand of sheets, down comforter, pillows and all the other bedding. I can be bed obsessed. In Italy I was amazed at how the sheets were white, soft, and crisp on the beds where we stayed. I love soft, white and crisp. I am not into soft and silky. I want soft and crisp. It may sound contradictory, but it is not. When you find the right sheets, you know that soft and crisp can coexist. I am still looking for that perfect sheet set. I have actually found online articles from others also searching for them. I'll post about that at another time! That being said, I love my bed, I love to sleep. I love crisp, soft, white sheets.I have modified it to look like so many of the beds I see in hotels. I have a very nice comforter, but now I fold it down at the bottom of my bed. I sandwich my down comforter between two sheets instead of a duvet. I have a strong dislike for duvets.I have been caught inside them too many times while trying to get the comforter down in the corners. I'm claustropobic and it's not good to caught inside a duvet! I also love pillows. I have lots of pillows on my bed. First there is a king size pillow, with a king size decorative pillow that matches the comforter in front. This is followed by two standard pillows on each side. Then I put the decorative fancy pillows in front. I make it this way every single day. I never have a day when I don't make my bed. As Martha Stewart once said, the bed is the biggest thing in the room. Even if everything else is a mess in your room, if your bed is made, it doesn't look so bad.So here is what my bed looks like. I really love my bed!

And that leaves the only other Wednesday highlight, which is my weigh in. This week was not what I was hoping for. I was up 4/10 of a pound. I had a goal to be down at least one. I guess that pizza comfort food and the extra carbs did me in. No worries. There is always next Wedesday to improve.
Sending you love and hugs!

Thought for the day: Wednesday, the fourth day of the week. The next day after Tuesday. Clean sheet, sushi, and weigh in day for some!

Fitting in Fitness

Good morning everyone. I really miss blogging and I'm sorry that I haven't posted in a week. I am keeping up with all of your blogs. I just got a new phone and I'm having some trouble posting to the blogs. Last night I wrote Rosalie a comment ( while sitting on the side of my bathtub at 11:30 at night!!) but it just wouldn't post. So I gave up. I have been reading and keeping up, either on my phone or Ipad, but often just squeezing it in between something else I'm doing. I'm with you all. Please don't forget me as I try to settle into my new routine.

Yesterday was the one month anniversary of Beths's death. It was a sad day. I didn't see it coming, but should have expected it. Like my brother said, as I stood in his driveway last night in the cold dark night, this isn't getting any easier, in fact it's getting harder, because it's really sinking in that she's not coming back. I agree, and without going into personal details, since I realized that this is my blog, and not necessarily how the other family  members want things shared, I have to say my sweet niece let the floodgates open yesterday and it broke my heart into a million pieces hearing her sad feelings pour out, feeling her fear and uncertainties about what her future will be like without her mom. This is not fair, but many people go through things in life that aren't fair.We can't ask, why us, when why not us is the real question.  It just seems so young to have to go through this at the ages of 11 and 15.

So I am  holding my own and trying very hard to follow a good eating plan. It's hard when I'm not always sure what will be for dinner. The meals from the neighbors are starting to fade off, so my  mom and I will be planning more. I cook totally different now then when I had kids at home. Of course I can't go in and change everything, nor should I, but there is alot of carby, sugary stuff around.As was the case when my kids were young, favorite meals are carb based, like pastas and rice and stuff I'm trying to avoid. I am taking Rosalie's suggestions and carrying some of my own snacks. This requires some preplanning, and that's where I have to budget my time and plan better.  The other night it was takeout pizza that my brother brought home. I forgot about Kay's tip to eat one slice with cheese, and the topping from another slice. I ate two slices. They were so good! Pizza is one thing I have always had a weakness for. Of course, I am totally aware of the emotional/comfort connection that the pizza had with my sad, helpless feelings. For a minute, we were talking, enjoying the comfort of the pizza, and things seemed ok. Just for a minute, and then reality always comes crashing back in.These types of situations are going to require me to have a game plan handy. When you are in your own home, you can control what you buy, and also what's available to eat. It's a change for me being outside of my home several afternoons and evenings a week. 

I realize that my time is very divided now and I must make and stick to a schedule. I am trying to get back to at least a  5 day exercise routine. I have always had that in my life, but the last few years, it is sporadic and not always consistent. I have found a workout that I really like from women's health. I am doing this everyday. It's quick and fast, and I like the exercises. www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/valerie-waters. I can't figure out to copy the link, so if you're interested you'll have to type it in your browser. Of course, I always walk the pups each day, but I wanted something a little more challenging. As if I don't have enough challenges right now!!

I also get daily emails from a blog called zen habits ( www. zenhabits.net). I found the article listed at the end of this post,  very interesting. It shows how, with just a few minutes here and there, you can fit something quick in your schedule that will raise your overall fitness level. Let me know what you think. As always sending all of my friends, love and big hugs from me to you!

Thought for the day:  “It is impossible to connect the dots of our lives looking forward, only looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something…guts, destiny, life, karma, whatever… because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path and that will make all the difference.” Steve Jobs

 The Thousand Cuts Fitness Program

written by Leo Babauta.

I’ve trained for marathons, triathlons, 10Ks, a 13.5-hour challenge, Ubanathlons, and more. But my favorite fitness program isn’t one where you train for a major event.
It’s where you get fit by a thousand little actions.
When the actions are tiny, they are easy. You have no excuse. You can do them anywhere, all day long.
I fold fitness into my life, like blueberries into batter, and it becomes a part of the recipe, not just a topping.
If you haven’t found a way to get fit, try the Thousand Cuts Fitness Program. There is nothing better for those who don’t have the time.
Here’s how it works:
1. Right now, do something that only takes 1 minute. It might be a few pushups, bodyweight squats, an attempt at a pullup, a few lunges. You have time to do 1 minute.
2. In an hour or so, go for a walk if you can. If you’re in decent shape, make it a fast walk. Add some hills for challenges. If you’re not in good shape, just walk. Later, add some spurts of fast walking.
3. Later in the day, do a few more 1 minute activities.
4. Gradually build the 1 minute activities into 2 or 3 minutes. Then 4 or 5 of them. Add more of them throughout your day.
5. As much as you can, turn the activities into play. Throw your kids around. Run through a park and climb trees and benches. Race people. Play a sport.
6. Get a pullup bar for your home. Every time you walk by it, try to pull yourself up. If you can do pullups, do a few, or 10, every time you pass the bar.
7. Get a kettlebell. Swing it a few times a day.
8. Run places. Walk places quickly.
Always be active. It’s not hard, if you do it in tiny bits. You can’t say no to 1 minute, or even just a few seconds. And if you do a thousand of them, you’ll be fit.
Fitness is a part of my life now, but it wasn’t when I started. I did it in little bits, without designating a certain time as “workout time”. My whole life is workout time.

Hello...it's me...I've thought about you for a long, long time....

Remember that song, listed in my blog title? My, oh my, where has the time gone? I am so scheduled, but it's not a bad thing, You know what they say,.... if you want something done, give it to a busy person, because they get more done. I thought I was busy before, but now things are really busy. I am glad to help my brother out, and the kids are  in need of some normalcy in their lives.

In case you are just following my blog, my beloved sister-in-law tragically passed away on January 6. My mom and I are trying to fill in the blanks and help my brother with his two children, ages 11 and 15. But there are so many blanks to fill in, and try as we may, we are just not mommy. But we are trying.The best way we know how, we are trying to make their lives as smooth and normal as this abnormal situation can be. And so it goes. Day, by day, the calendar changes. People ask, how it is going. I answer, not well, but we go through the motions. I suspect it will be that way for a long, long time. We are all trying to act normal, breaking down alot, picking up and carrying on, and trying to get back to whatever the new normal now will be.

So many times, when we are sick, or preoccupied, or stressed, we say we will get back on track on .........( fill in the blank here). I have been really trying to follow my BFC eating plan. Where I am failing is in writing down what I eat ( always has been a struggle for me to do this), but I  can almost keep track in my head, because one of the only good things coming out of this tragedy, is that I am  not finding time for regular meals, or they are very hurried, and I don't eat much. So the scale was favorable today again on weigh in Wednesday, and I'm down another pound. It almost leads me to believe, that sometimes our food challenges might be related to not being busy enough with other things, and we tend to focus on eating, and what we will be eating, and when we will be eating, and who we will be eating with. Now, I'm eating to live, not living to eat as I always was before. I often don't have time to think about what I am going to eat next. And for me, as a food obsessed person, that may be a good thing.

I want to say that I am trying to keep up with reading all the blogs. Please don't think I am no longer a part of our tight blogging group. I often just get in enough time to read a blog or two, and I don't have time to comment. I know how important it is to comment and give feeback, and participate. But for now, dear friends, I need a pass. I am with you, and I'm not abandoning our blogfriendship ( is that a new word I invented?), but running a business and driving up to my brothers, 40 minutes each way several times a week, is taking up alot of time. I hope life will take on more of a routine in a few weeks, but for now, I have to keep alot of balls in the air...and I never was good at juggling.

I am so happy to see those new bloggers, and I hope they find the support and friendship that I have found on these blogs. I don't have any words of wisdom tonight except this. Some of us bloggers have had great success, and some others are struggling ( me talking here!) and are barely inching towards our goals.  But small steps are steps, so don't give up. Whatever spot you find yourself in, and however many times you mess up, remember that there is no judgement, no scolding, no one who will look or talk down to you here on these blogs. You will only find love, support, encouragement and good advice. No matter how far you have to go, no  matter how far you have fallen, or no matter how far you have succeeded in the quest of your goals, this is right where you need to be to accomplish them.
Sending you all love and the biggest hugs, from me to you!

Thought for the day: "Few men during their lifetime come anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used." Richard E. Byrd