Rice Krispies

By the way, Karlie, I was in the store today and noticed that you can buy gluten-free rice krispies. So you can make rice krispie treats. I didn't know that rice krispies had gluten in them. I will try to keep noticing things like that. Happy eating!

Grandma (mom)

10,000 steps

Whoever thought up the idea of walking 10,000 steps a day? It wasn't Sharon, was it? You have to remember that I'm old and don't have all these new-fangled helps in my life. So, I decided that I would walk around the block and count my steps. I counted a little over 1,100. I was lamenting the fact to Dad and he went on line and found out that 10,000 steps was indeed about 5 miles. So he got me a battery for my pedometer and I put it on this morning. Sadly, I missed a few steps because I didn't put it on first thing in the morning and I went out and did some shopping. It is now about 4:30 and I am up to 3, 132 steps and the day is almost over. So, I think you are wise to start slower and work up to it. Five miles is quite a ways. I do try to get in a few steps every chance I get. For instance, if I have something to put in the waste basket, I will walk to the waste basket that is fartherest away. And I try to get up and walk around during the commercials when I watch TV. I hate those shows that have a lot of commercials. And I try to park a little farther away from the store I'm going to. I'm finding that every step adds up.

Don't give up, Al, and keep up the positive attitude and good work.

Mom

Dave's goals for 2012

I don't know if I am still sending this in the time frame asked for, but if not hopefully I can still squeeze in this contest!

I was a horrible participant in this last year and I really will try and do better this year. Maybe my sweet wife will help me, wink, wink babe (I already tried to bribe her to post my goals on here but she wouldn't do it:))

My goals this year are to exercise 4x a week (excluding hockey games), upload to my Calorie diary app at least 6 out of 7 days a week (I use the FitnessPal app for those with Smart devices and love it), and train with Erin for the Dirty Dash (I want be able to do the 5.5 mile course, not the 3.1 mile shortcut) and possibly a Sprint triathalon.

Lemon Greek Salad

Okay, this is my first recipe to share. The only problem is that I haven't tried it yet. But it sounds really good. I will get the stuff when I go to the store this week and let you know if I like it.

LEMON GREEK SALAD

1 medium unpared cucumber
2 cups bite-size pieces spinach
2 cups bite-size pieces Boston lettuce
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 Tbsp sliced green onions (with tops)
10 pitted ripe olives, sliced
1 medium tomato, cut into thin wedges
Lemon and Mustard Dressing (below)

Score cucumber by running tines of fork lengthwise down sides; slice. Toss cucumber and remaining ingredients.

4 servings

Lemon and Mustard Dressing
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp olive or vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/8 tsp pepper

Shake all incredients in lightly covered container.

Nutrition information per serving.

Calories: 110
Protein, g 4
Carbohydrate, g 8
Fat, g 7
Cholesterol, mg 10
Sodium, mg 210
Potassium, mg 480

Let me know if it's any good.

2012 is My Year!

I am so excited to do this Golden Sneaker Challenge this year! I was a pansy last year, and I shouldn't have used Madison as an excuse not to be active.

I decided not to make my goal weight related this year; I get discouraged if the weight isn't coming off.

My main goal is to exercise 4 times a week and incorporate strength exercises. I will also train for a sprint triathlon on Sept. 1st, run in a dirty dash on June 1st, and try a new healthy recipe each month. I found a blog I really like called www.skinnytaste.com that has some yummy sounding recipes.

Dave and I are so excited to get into shape and feel good about ourselves! I don't want Madison and our future children to grow up in a sedentary home.

Oh, and Ashlee, can I come play tennis with you?!

I love our family and I wish you all good luck this year!

Ashlee's commitment

Way to go, Ashlee! I have no doubt that you will succeed in reaching your goal because you are committed. It helps a lot when you have encouragement from others. We are behind you 100%. I know you can do it. We will soon be the healthiest family on the earth. Yea!!

Grandma (Mom)

Where to begin?

There is a lot that I want to do this year. I am tired of feeling so lethargic all of the time and by golly I am going to do something about it. My main goal this year is to drop below 200 pounds. I am actually making some progress on this right now. I began doing the HCG diet last Friday and have already lost 8.5 pounds. I decided that I needed a little kick in the pants to get me motivated to keep going. I am doing this with my roommate and am very glad for the support system there. It is a very difficult regimen for the first little while and things get boring fast, but I have determined to conquer myself this year.

I have many many other smaller goals that will help me accomplish this goal. I also will not eat after 9:00. I am going to try a flexitarian diet once I am off of HCG, I decided I needed a plan on how I was going to keep the weight off and this is what I have decided. I am going to by the end of the year cut out all soda from my diet. I am already weaned on to diet. I want to pick up cycling and have a great bike already that needs to get some use. I also want to play tennis once a week once the weather picks up. I cannot workout right now with HCG because I only eat 500 calories a day and I would run out of energy before I was done with the warm up. So I have been working on my flexibility. I want to touch my toes comfortably by June. I am limiting myself to 2 hours of television a day.

I already am feeling great from being on this diet less than a week. It is strange, but I have more energy and my body doesn't want to sleep in anymore. I feel like I am actually living now. I am ready to get this going. Oh and I have a goal for before I turn 30 and that is to run a marathon. I feel like that is when I will know that I have truly conquered myself. So I guess I should try to fit in a fun run or a 3K sometime this year. I know this is ambitious but I know that I can do it with help from you guys. This blog really does help me think about my health so much more. Thanks to everyone.

New Goal

This has been a tough one for me. I know what I need to do but don't want to do any of it. Every year I get a little more tired and a little less motivated. So here goes.

This year my main goal is to exercise more. The bucket list eludes me so how about if I get caught on my Church Magazine reading and stay current, Do some sort of exercise every day, even if it's standing while I talk on the telephone or walking around during commercials, and eat healthier. I don't see how much of that will help me exercise more but maybe you'll cut me some slack. No?

I'm like Marie, everything sounds doable but not all at once so the two things I will pick from the list are: Exercise at least 12 times a month and avoid eating after supper. I hope to throw in a few others but I don't know how far 10,000 steps a day are and don't want to go around counting steps. If I do that, maybe I can spend at least four hours a week outdoors. I would be interested in some healthy recipes if you don't make them too hard or time consuming. Anyway, please share them with me and I will do the same. I forgot that last Monday was a holiday so the long weekend didn't do me any good.

Does that count for a point? If not, let me know and I'll do something else.

Mom

P.S. It's easy to win the Golden Sneaker. If you want any tips, just let me know.

Spinning

Don't feel bad, Al. I didn't know what spinning was either. I pictured myself twirling around as fast as I could and then throwing up. I'm glad it wasn't that. However, I don't think I will do any spinning. I will stick to my stationary recumbant bike.

Mom

Wow there are so many great options for me to choose from that I printed off the list and started marking the ones that I thought I would like to do. I had a list of 5 or 6 of them when I realized I was trying to take on too many and would not succeed at any of them if I overloaded myself. So I wisely narrowed it down to 2 of them with the idea of trying some of the other things if I am up to it.
The two I AM DOING are exercise 12 times a month, and stretching and deep breathing 12 times a month.
I really want to try the healthy recipes, and adapt favorite recipes so if anyone does this and finds good healthy recipes I would love to share back and forth.
CHEERS TO ALL OF US ON A NEW AND HEALTHIER YEAR.
Marie

Pick A Goal, Any Goal.

Did I mention that if you submit your goal choice(s) to me by February 29, you will earn a point.  If you don't, not only do you miss your point, but you have to endure my constant nagging.

So, for those that need a little prompting in the goal department, here are a few suggestions.  You must pick 2 from the following list in order to participate in the Golden Sneaker Challenge:

• Exercise AT LEAST 12 times each month.
• Train to walk or run a 5K (3.1 mile) fun “run.”  Or a sprint triathlon.  Or a half marathon.  Or a marathon.  You get the idea.
• Spend at least four (4) hours a week outdoors, no matter what the weather.
• Each month try a new, healthy recipe or find ways to adapt a favorite recipe to make it healthier.
• Only eat between meals if I include a fruit or vegetable in the snack.
• Avoid eating after 9 p.m. (or whatever time makes sense for you).
• Walk 10,000 steps a day.
• Join and participate in a sports program.
• Stretch and do deep breathing exercises AT LEAST 12 times each month.

• Have veggies take up more room on your plate than grains or proteins do for every dinner.
• Eat a salad every day.

You can find two from that list, right?  Sure you can!  So, remember, you can, A. Pick one main fitness goal on your own, 2. Make a healthy bucket list with 3 goals you will work on this year, or III. Choose 2 goals from the above list.

OR, you can choose any combination of the 3 choices.  You just have to pick AT LEAST one (1).

Use this long weekend to ponder and ruminate and get it in to me by the end of the month!

Not-So-New-Year's Resolutions

Goal. Ambition. Mission. Intention. Objective. However you want to refer to it; it’s time to formalize it. I know we’ve all heard this sentiment before:

A goal is nothing but a wish until we write it down and create a plan of action.

Many of you expressed that, while you probably would like to set your own main goal, a few suggested sub-goals would also be appreciated. This this year, it’s all about choices. In order to participate in the 2012 Golden Sneaker Challenge, you must:

 

Choose at least 1 of the following:

1. Create your own health-related goal.

2. Create a “healthy bucket list,” which includes 3 (no more, no less) things you plan on accomplishing this year that will help you make it healthier.

3. Choose at least 2 goals from the provided list to work on this year. (Will be included in tomorrow’s blog post).

I, personally, plan on doing all 3. Because I am just that unstoppable. I will include my goals because all participants must do so and this will also give you an example to follow, if needed:

1. (My main goal just happens to be weight-loss-oriented this year) Lose and maintain 10 pounds - or 2 clothing sizes – whichever makes me feel my best.
2. A. Learn to play chess (mental health, yo.) B. Try at least 3 new types of workouts/exercises this year. (I already know I want to try spinning, paddleboarding and TRX training… maybe more!) C. Read the Book of Mormon by June (good way to improve spiritual health while answering a challenge from our Stake President).
3. A. Exercise at least 12 times each month (Of course I plan on more, but this is the absolute, bare-bones minimum that I will MAKE SURE I do each month!) B. Stop eating after 9 p.m.

Next blog post, TOMORROW (so check back), will be a list of suggested goals for those of you who select #3. So get going, start thinking of your plan of attack. I will be nagging you to submit something by the last day of February. Hey, you even get an extra day this year!

me, too!!

I can't seem to be able to work this thing anymore. I guess you didn't get my email because I don't have my one point. Yes, yes, yes, let's do this. We need everyone to be involved. Gosh, if I can do it, anyone can.

Mom

Me, too!!

All In!!!

Thank you for such a wonderful start to our new year of health and happiness. I for one need to remember to love myself warts and all. Here is a quote for us all "Be Loyal to the Royal that is in YOU, for you are the Daughter/Son of a King."
Remember we have been sent here to succeed, I am glad that I get to try and do this with love and help from all of you.
Thanks again Sharon for providing this forum for us to be there for one another.
Marie

Self Love

On this Valentine's day, I just want to say:  I LOVE MY FAMILY! 

And on this debut blog post of our 2012 Golden Sneaker Challenge, I just want to say:  Let's all love ourselves enough to make this year a little (or a lot) healthier than last year. 

This will mean something different for every person.  This doesn't require perfection or an all-or-nothing approach.  But it will require some effort, some commitment, some dedication and, most likely, some sacrifices.

But isn't it worth it for your happiness?  For your family's happiness?

You bet your bippy!

So, this is a call to action to participate in the 2012 Golden Sneaker Challenge!  It's ultimately up to YOU to get out of life what you want, but with this challenge, you also have the loving support and motivation of a pretty awesome family to do some pretty awesome things this year.

I embrace all of you and welcome all of you to jump into the challenge!  The whole-hoggers and wishy-washers alike!  The late-bloomers and early wilters too!  Let's all just DO something - anything - this year and be pleased because it was at least healthier than the last.

First Challenge:  Worth 1 point, even - I'm starting off really easy!  Read this email/blog post and reply (you don't even have to go to the blog, you can just reply to this in your email) with your name that is to be included on the updated 2010 Golden Sneaker list.

Next email/blog post:  February 17, so check back!