The other week I was offered a free trial to test out a wellness machine. It's a newer technology that vibrates your whole body. You get on the machine for ten minutes a day, three times a week and it is supposed to be the equivalent of one hour in the gym. They measure you before and after the three days and then you decide if you would like to sign up for a membership or buy the machine for yourself to use at home. They also want a testimonial of your experience. The cost of the membership was equivalent to a gym membership; the machine was close to $2000.00 to buy. Three days is really not enough time to give a true evaluation. Like so many other weight loss ideas it seems too much like a gimmick to me. At the age of 49 I've come to the conclusion that the basics of weightloss comes in four simple words.....eat less, move more.
A few days later, Oprah Winfrey was promoting a documentary called Food Inc. (I am going to interrupt myself here. Is it just me, or does it seem like every time you read a book or listen to a speaker, or follow a blog that eventually someone always seems to mention the influence that Oprah has had in their life? Funny.) As I was saying; I was watching this information about our food and how it is being produced as well as what is being added and it started me thinking.
Just after I turned forty years old I was looking for a way to eat healthier and I came across an artical in a Calgary newspaper that the Lettuce Ladies were in town to promote a vegetarian lifestyle. It turned out they had a website and after some research I had decided I would cut out meat in my diet. The more information I read, the more I realized that going Vegan would be even better for me. For the next five years I adopted this lifestyle. No meat, no dairy, no leather, etc., etc.. On my 48th birthday, for whatever reason, I decided to abruptly stop being Vegan. I'm not quite sure why, I just changed my mind. Fast forward eight months and here I am again contemplating my health and body image. It worked for me then and it could work for me now.
On April 19, 2009 I went roller blading with my daughter Sarah and my granddaughter Carmen. We were just out for a leisurely stroll. My plan was to keep way from the inclines and stay on flat ground; but that wouldn't be the case. We would stay close to home and take one of the bike paths nearby. It wasn't long before I realized that I should have listened to my instincts and skated on an even keel. Within minutes, I found myself rolling downhill out of control and about to loose my balance. The speed was too much and I couldn't hold on to the brake. Have you ever seen a cartoon clip where somebody slips on a banana peel and lands on their butt? Well, that was me, on roller blades. I came down HARD. At that point, my life would change for awhile. My pelvis was broken, I would be off work for the next nine weeks and there would be months of rehabilitation to get me back to my old self again.
Since the second week in January, I've been working out in the water three times a week to help strenthen my pelvis without direct impact. In between that I am fitting in a half hour of Yoga as often as I can. Suddenly, I've jumpstarted myself into a body image change. I'm pulling out my vegan recipe books and looking for better things to eat. It won't be as fanatical as it once was but I am leaning in the right direction for me.
Now for the challenge slash adventure. Let's put it all out there for the world to see. Now THAT is an adventure!
Measurments - 36/31/38
Weight - I don't own a scale, but I would guess around 135 lbs.
Goal - 35/28/36 and 120 lbs
Deadline - I should really set a date here.....ummmm Spring?
I would like to stress that I am not going on a diet. I will be watching what I eat, keeping up with my exercise routine and monitor my body. That's it.
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