So sheepishly we walk every Wednesday morning towards the enemy, the scale. For some reason we think that it will help to shed the gym shorts, which in all reality probably weight a couple of ounces. But this Wednesday it was the sweet sight of success. Down ten pounds since the start of the journey. Again, ten pounds off me is the equivalent of lobbing a couple of deck chairs off the Titanic. But it indeed was a victory, albeit small.

As you read our blogs we hope you don’t tire of hearing words of wisdom from successful people, but what a better place to find wisdom but from those who have reached their goals in life. Today we find encouragement from one of the truly decent guys who ever coached in the NFL.

When the Carolina Panthers first came to Charlotte, their first head coach was a guy named Dom Capers. He was a lawn and garden guy so we had a lot in common and sometimes talked after practice. The first major hurdle he faced was the fact that his first ever draft pick a quarterback was holding out and not participating in training camp. And that begged the question to the coach, “How bad does this bother you.”

He said not at all, and when he gave his reasoning we believed him. He said he only worried about the things that were in his control, and a hold out was way beyond anything he could control. A pretty simple thought yes, but it can apply to the battle we wage everyday.

We can’t control how other people treat us, but we can control how we treat ourselves.  We can control how much water we drink every day, and how much protein we take in and how often we hit the gym.  We can’t control when the sun comes up, but we can make time for exercise.

At one time or another we have all been guilty of spending a lot of time worrying about things that are out of our control.  And that negative energy can be placed elsewhere, and could one day result in the sweet sight of success on the scale.

Hope this finds you well and healthier then the day before. Did you enjoy the Olympics? I love the winter Olympics. It just amazes me the incredible things people can do on skis, snow boards and skates. I am also glad my favorite show is back on…The Biggest Loser! Did you know that there is also The Biggest Loser Show in Australia? I did not realize that Bob and Jillian are also there. What dedicated people.

Well, I have taken a leap of faith and am applying to be on the Biggest Loser Show. I am going to the Detroit open casting call March 13. For me the Biggest Loser is my hope and I want to have the opportunity to share that hope with others who are bound by their obesity like I am. See, I have never been thin…never ever…I do not know what it feels like or what I would look like thin. I have not been able to connect the eating, exercise and lifestyle to get it to work for me. I believe if I got the opportunity to be on the show I could connect it all together. Believe me I have tried…I have been on diets since I have been 8 years old…that is 34 years of my life! Do you know what happens to obese children? They become obese adults and tend to have their own obese children. It’s a vicious cycle to live in. It’s not my effort and yes I have a million excuses to go along with why I am fat.

It would be so cool to be drinking the Designer Whey Biggest Loser Protein Powder while on the show! I would be so geeked to do that! Whether I get on or not is not what matters. What matters is that I draw inspiration from the crowd of people who have just as much chance as me to be on the show. I heard in Chicago that 1000 people tried out. I think there should be Biggest Loser Shows in every town. This program brings miracles to desperate people seeking answers and hope. What’s sad is that our insurance companies will pay for us to have gastric bypass and not set up programs like the biggest loser ranch.

Oh it’s been a beautiful sunny week here is Michigan. So glad to say to my kids “Go out and play!” Opened up a few windows to let some fresh air in, felt so good. I have to admit to my friends who read this… I have not been to the gym in over 2 weeks! My excuse…I was in charge of our school carnival and was extremely busy. But now that the carnival is over, I got to get back to the gym! I have to figure a way to get some equipment at home so on the days I don’t have the time to go to the gym I could at least do a workout at home, I suppose I could do that anyway and should. One of the Biggest Loser winners, Bill Germanakos suggested like on the ranch get a doctor, therapist, nutritionist and trainers…just do it. Something to consider…putting together a team of people to help us. Of course my program must include Designer Whey. Designer Whey has supported my weight loss journey for a long time now and even though I have struggles with my weight all along they have always been there to suggest and give advice… Love these guys!

I need to keep going, get back on track, and figure this out. I am about to send my oldest off to college with my eating habits and my exercises habits and I am afraid for her. She is already 30 pounds overweight. We visited the campus…let me tell you these kids have the best food available from 7 am until midnight, 7 days a week. All the ice cream they want…huge portions…all the soda pop they want…all the desserts they want…I am scared for my daughter that she will follow my footsteps…
So my friends on March 13 I hope you send me a special thought as I wait for my turn to have the opportunity of a lifetime so that I can bring that hope back home to my daughter, family and friends.

Take Care,
Camille

One is said to have plateaued if they continue their workout regiment and find that they can’t lose any more weight.  No matter how many extra laps in the pool or miles they run or walk, the weight loss either slows to a snail’s pace or stops altogether.  I just hit my plateau.

I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly, but I guess that’s life throwing me a curve ball.  Here’s what you have to do with the plateau: keep working! Don’t give up and starting eating triple-cheeseburgers just because a few workouts didn’t lead to some lost pounds.  Keep at it.  Because it’s possible that what you may be losing in weight you’re also putting on in muscle.  I’ll be honest, I would workout hard (on Saturday 2 and a half hours straight, almost 4 miles put in! Plus lots of sit-ups and push-ups) and after a week see no change in my weight.  I thought my scale was broken.  Then my roommate Serge said something quite interesting when we were working out together.  He said “Hey man, it must feel good to be able to do push-ups without your stomach hitting the ground.” I thought about that and realized he was right, although my weight hadn’t gone down, my stomach had.  So I may not have been losing weight, but I was losing FAT, which in the grandest of all schemes is really the point.  Putting on some muscle is good for you, and lifting weights is still a great way to burn fat, as your body will burn calories to rebuild the muscles you tore in your workout.  It may not feel as exhausting as running a couple (or 26.4) miles but it still helps out.  So give your body the old “shock and awe” once in a while, lift some weights instead of just a cardio workout, and don’t be depressed because the numbers aren’t dropping.  Because it’s the fat we want out of our lives.  I’m in desperate need of a workout, and Sergio is waiting for me while I write, so I’m headed to the gym.  Who’s with me?

 
I’m back from our Vermont camping adventure. All I got to say is if you get a GPS learn to use it before you leave your drive way! FYI-There are settings to avoid non-paved roads… The GPS took us through the mountains alright…on roads where it was one lane, no drive ways, no people, no rest stops, no gas station…Have you ever went off road driving before? Try it with a van full and pulling a camper! Kind of funny now but very nerve racking while it was happening…oh…and you look over the edge of the single lane road on a mountain…it DROPS off! No room for error…no way to turn back either.

Beautiful country, lots of wild life running free, mountains, sun…though when it rains IT RAINS…Its interesting because at the beach when the clouds roll in people desert the beach in droves and when the sun comes back out the people come back to the beach.

Ok I am a tent sleeping baby…We set up our tent I looked at others putting up their tents and most covered their tents with tarps. I wondered why in the world they would do that! Well when the rains came in we found out that no matter how good of a tent you have in those kinds of rains, no tent can stand alone…needless to say our blankets and pillows got drenched! Good thing the camp site has a laundry room. Note to self… when camping and sleeping in a tent, bring a tarp! My hubby and I slept in the tent and kids in the camper. We all can fit in the camper but my husband likes the tent…though we did have a blow up mattress so it was pretty comfy.

I have good news…I guess I should back up about my post before this one…I freaked when I got on the scale and it said I was 278! I cried …What! HOW???? That is why I wrote the way I wrote in my last post. But I am happy to say during our trip I lost 6 of that. The food is not like readily available like at home. There’s no ice-cream in the cooler, limited amounts of food because just no place to put it. Hmmm maybe switch out the full-size frig for a mini one???? I think too I was very much relaxed; we did not have to do anything if we did not want too. We walked to the beach a lot and around town in Burlington. It’s kind of cool people park and walk the streets, there’s all kinds of stores, shops and people playing music on the corners, lots of fun.

I think the time factor plays on that the fact I did not constantly eat… there is no alarm to set. You get up when the birds start chirping and there’s too much noise from people pulling out to go about their business and you go to bed when the birds stop chirping and people come in from their day and quiet down.

I did bring my weight control powders and 2GO packets with me. They are very easy to travel with and with a bottle of water you are good 2GO!

I hope this finds you well. I have to scoot…kids bickering…oh…I miss camping already…back to real life, I guess and back to my weight loss journey.
Camille

surgery…We wish you the best of luck Pat!

Designer Whey Protein Supplement Review

A week ago I had lap-band surgery which means that for the last week all my meals have been protein shakes. I want to start out by telling everyone that for the first time in decades I can honestly say, “I am full.”  Why? I’m sure it has something to do with the procedure, but I am also sure it has a lot to do with Designer Whey Protein Supplement. In my first week post-surgery, I logged 3.8 pounds of body fat loss–not bad for an old lady who weighed in at 228 and needs to exercise.

I have tried other products before this one. They were good. Now I am no expert, BUT Designer Whey is better. As I’m losing the pounds, my family has not heard my constant whining, “I’m hungry,” and that matters as much to them as it does to me. I know that it has decreased my appetite. I suspect that it has increased my metabolism. Previous to this I was tired and fatigued. Now I have strength and lots of energy.

Before buying the product, I decided to do some research on it. Designer Whey now has 95% isolate content. It comes from cow’s milk and is a byproduct of cheese making.     I have been using the two pound size, which has 34 servings per container. A four pound container and a 17 ounce container also are available. Counting calories, I really appreciate its 100 calories, 18 grams protein, and 3 grams carbohydrates per serving.

Designer Whey Protein Supplement is available in a variety of flavors including Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla Praline and Chocolate Caramel Peanut. Flavors are available in 12.7 oz (13 servings), 2 lb (34 serving) and 4.4 lb. (76 servings) containers. Products can be purchased online and in stores across the nation.

With all the medical experts stressing that water plays a big part in any weight reduction, I decided to try Designer Whey Protein Water, a relatively new product on the market. The drink is supposed to help burn fat as it curbs appetite. Since I am ALWAYS hungry, I really wanted to give this one a try a try. After all, what did I have to lose besides weight?

I took a cold 16 ounce bottle of the orange mango out and looked at the liquid. It color was clear orange–natural enough since both oranges and mangoes are just that. Next I smelled the beverage. It was pleasant enough reminding me of the tropics, clearly citrus with a generous hint of almost peach, right on target again. After I took a few sips, I decided that the orange mango flavor was real. True to the label so far.

I took my time consuming the bottle.  It tasted so good that I had to stop myself from gulping it down. It isn’t tasteless like most flavored waters. It contains no juice. It is a gentle bend, rich, sweet, but not overly sugary. Big plus is that there is no unpleasant or bitter aftertaste. I’ve also had the Designer Whey Pomegranate Fruit 60 Protein Water and enjoyed it just as much. Now I can hardly wait to try the blue raspberry and cranapple varieties.

The bottle label (both flavors) for Designer Whey Protein Water shows 12 grams of whey and 5 grams of fiber for its 60 calories. It also shows 25 mg sodium, 40 mg potassium, and 6 grams of carbohydrates. These numbers are ideal for either a planned snack or between meals pick-me-up. It does not smack of artificial flavorings and/or preservatives. Its ingredients are purified water, whey protein isolate, phosphoric acid, prebiotic fiber, natural flavors, scrawls, sucralose, malic acid, annato powder, and believe it or not–milk.

This product sells for about $2.89 at convenience stores where available. Presently it is available only in Colorado and Texas. Soon all 24Fitnesses will also be carrying this protein water too. GNC is putting this product in all its stores as well as on line in the near future.

I think the best thing about Designer Whey is that it helped with my pangs of hunger. Now I understand why it advertises itself as “Research Proven America’s #1 Protein” since 1993.

Did you know desserts spelled backwards is stressed? LOL… I hope this finds you well. My daughter and I are going to do a detox diet for one week. She wants to do this so I am going along to support her. It can’t hurt. It’s exciting to see her excited; the one in control of the “diet”. She made the grocery list and put it all together. When you have a teen that needs to lose a few, you support her efforts. The talks about eating healthy come to mind. She feels we need to do this and make a plan. So I will comply. The plan was created by GM and the FDA. You can ‘Google it’ by searching General Motors: Weight Loss Diet Program.

I kind of chilled today. I was pretty exhausted after cleaning house for 6 hours Friday. My days have been pretty busy and I just wanted a day of not doing anything. Never works out like that. Kids…

Can you believe that the “Biggest Loser” contestants did a 13 mile run? I would love to be able to do a 13 minute run! Someone said to me that it is not reality to do the things the contestants do in everyday life. Maybe not, but it is inspiring to see people who were bigger then I am jogging, being able to go 13 miles and all the challenges they do… it amazes me and gives me hope that I can too and that it is possible. It pushes me a little further in my journey to become healthy! Knowing that, “Yes I Can” lifts me to a higher level.

I hope your weekend is great. Get out and enjoy its beauty.

Camille From Michigan

This week went by so fast! I was so busy that I did not get to watch my favorite show until Sunday. Oh the “Biggest Loser” show of course left us hanging to see the winners. Good thing I don’t have too many days to wait! Did you see the segment where Sugar Ray was on? I did and he said a cool quip. He said POWER means Prepare-Overcome-Win-Every-Round. How cool is that! Also Designer Whey had a nice promo too. I can’t help be get excited for Designer Whey when I see their promo…you guys rock! I tell all my friends about Designer Whey Products and how they have helped me on my journey to healthier me.

I picked up a “Biggest Loser” Weight management kit from Sam’s Club today. I heard that 55% of the Biggest Losers diet is protein. See, if you listen carefully you will get the tips and secrets to the contestant’s weight loss. Some contestants lost almost 90 pounds in 9 weeks! I sure wish I could be a contestant and have someone push me, train me, feed me and teach me like the contestants receive. I wish for a personal trainer and equipment but with our budget being so tight… for now I will have to rely on myself. I wish our dog was good on the leash I would love to go for walks with her but she is a stinker and jerks me and pulls I have not been able to break her of that.

Today I got really irked… I don’t even know if irked is a word but I will say irked to be nice… I shop at a discount grocery store to help save money and the person in line ahead of me had his groceries and 2 bottles of Bailey’s Cream…ok so far not so bad…but then he pulls out his bridge (food stamp) card and pays for his groceries then a 20 dollar bill to pay for the booze…I am like steaming… the man can’t pay for his groceries but has the money for booze….ugh!

Well friends its Monday and I always like Monday, it’s the beginning of a new week for new hopes.

Have a good one,

Camille

Our church is having a diet and nutrition course for the next few weeks. I am learning a lot and thought I would share with you all what I have learned in just one session.

To stop cravings – eat every 3 hours small meals that include protein.

Exercise: How much and how long – You only need 30 minutes a day of cardio. Cardio is simply raising your heart rate higher then your sitting heart rate. Here is something interesting… you do not need to do 30 minutes in a row. I never seem to fit in 30 minutes a day then felt bad but if you do 3 – 10 minute work outs or even if you start out doing 5 minutes – 6 times a day that works! You can jog in place, jump rope, dance, rebound or anything that will get your heart rate above your sitting rate even… sex… LOL. OK, now run home and tell your husband its exercise time!

You need 1 hour each week strength training – it does not take very many pounds for strength. 2 – 5 pound weights is great! Carry a weight in your car and do bicep curls driving…ummm… one arm at a time! You can use soup cans or water bottles. I say use water bottles that you refill then after you are done doing reps, drink the water!

You need flexibility every day – stretching, bend touch your toes when you get out of bed, stand up from your computer. Practice flexibility anytime. Just get some stretching in wherever you can. That’s it to stay fit.

It’s best to exercise …ANYTIME! Morning does revs up your metabolism and helps keep it going all day.

The figure below is how to figure out how many calories you need to lose 1 pound a week just by your food intake. **Add exercise and you lose more!

1. Add 655 to this calculation 4.35 X Weight in Pounds
2. Add your answer to this calculation 4.7 X Height in inches
3. Subtract your answer to this calculation 4.7 X age
4. Subtract 500 calories

This equals the number of calories you need to take in each day to lose 1 pound a week. Not doing anything but this formula you could lose 52 pounds a year!

My weight is 278, Height 69 inches and I am 41
655 + 1209.3 (4.35 X 278) + 324.3 (4.7 X 69) – 192.7 (4.7 X 41) – 500 = 1495.9 calories a day. (1500 is close enough!)

To figure out how much water you need to drink a day it’s your weight divided by 2. My weigh is 278, I should be drinking 139 oz of water a day… whoa sure will be pee’n a lot! That’s over a gallon a day! That is hard to see doing but I think I will make it a goal to drink a gallon of water a day… Or lose weight so I don’t have to drink that much!

I hope this helps you with your weight loss journey. Start with figuring out your resting heart rate add a little more movement every day and before you know it you will have worked yourself up to 30 minutes of cardio a day. I will close for now…

Until next time… Camille from Michigan