Step to Avoid Alzheimer Diagnosis

TOPS FRIDAY WI: UP .5

Good morning! I thought the title today might peak your interest. It certainly peaked mine! Not that I don't want to avoid illnesses like cancer too, but seeing my mom decline with Alzheimer Disease makes me want more and more to avoid getting AD myself.

I recently read the book by Lisa Genova called "Still Alice". I recommend it to you. It is a fictional story of a woman diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer Disease. The author holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard and is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer's Association. And although the story is fictional, Lisa uses factual information about AD studies as she tells her story.

One of the things that got my attention is that when Alice was diagnosed with AD, she asks her specialist what, if anything, she can do to slow down the disease. Her doctor's answer was "keep jogging". That sounded strange to me, but the doctor explained that studies show that aerobic exercise seems to have an effect on AD in that the extra blood flow through the body also flows through the brain and seems to be able to fight the tangles and plaques that are shown to build up and cause AD.

I wasn't sure if this was actually true, so I Googled it and found a lot of information! And it makes sense -- AD is basically the brain slowly dying due to the tangles and plaques that build up in it so if you can keep those lines of communication unhampered (via exercise), great!

So get stepping! Sweat some! And do your brain some good while you're at it!!

I found it encouraging. I had mom over for a few days last week and it's amazing how much she's declined again. She cannot remember (each time) where my bathroom is and I have to give her directions. At a shower that I had for my neice (that she attended), she didn't remember seeing the gifts opened even though it had just happened minutes before! Stuff like that...

Not that this guarantees that I won't get AD but at least there is something that I can do to possibly avoid it.

It's made my daily exercise routine have a little more oomph too! ~D

Walk-outs & Work-ins

Today's TOPS WI: Down 1 lb. (I was up last week)

Good morning everyone...I'm late getting here today. This has been a super-busy week for me. I had mom over from Monday till Wednesday and she "helped" me prepare for a shower that I hosted with my sister here on Wednesday. It all went well but was a lot of work, also a lot of work having mom with me. But I'm treasuring these days and times with her. We did have some good laughs.

While mom was here I kept up with my Debbie Rocker walks. That helped with the stress and gave me some "me" time. My daughters helped out a whole lot, even when I took a nap on Tuesday afternoon. Mom can be alone but she can't remember where the washroom is and she'll walk around looking for me -- things like that so I like someone to be there with her. But I needed a rest. It's a good experience for my kids also -- to learn about caring for someone in need, and they have done a wonderful job. They are all so gentle with grandma and patient too. Caring for someone with Alzheimer's takes a lot of patience.

Anyway, about my walks -- I'm really enjoying my walks. I've been doing them regularly (6x per week) since early March and today I measured myself. From my measurements from last year, I've lost 1.5" but I know that it's more than that because I'd gained some inches back again (and not changed my chart here). I'm not yet at my posted inches here (bottom right side of blog) but I'm headed that way. I can see that my abdominal fat is dimishing. Yah. Over the past year I'd noticed that that's where fat had been accumulating. Not sure why, but I think it has to do with the increased carbs that I was eating once I found decent gluten-free bread. I've backed off of it now again and instead eat healthier carbs like quinoa. I love my quinoa.

But today's topic is about "walkouts and workins". That's what Debbie calls outdoor walking (walk-outs) and she also has "work-ins" -- something to ponder and meditate on. The first week's work-in is staying in the moment.

Ever do your workout but think constantly about what you're going to do next, or what you'll make for dinner, or even work on solving some problem that has been bugging you? Well Debbie says that it's very important to stay in the moment when you're exercising. Concentrate on your form, think about the muscles that you're working. I have found that doing this does help -- it helps me to relax and it also helps me to work the muscles that I'm working. Being present in the moment helps me to focus and to enjoy my workout for what it is and for what it's doing to my body and health.

Staying in the moment means paying attention to what is going on -- the air that you're breathing, the breeze that you're feeling, the sounds that you're hearing. Feeling your foot hit the pavement; feeling all of the things that are around you. And thinking about your body and what you're doing to shape it up. Each muscle. Each moment.

Try that this week -- stay in the moment! After your workout you can plan your dinner, work on solutions to your problems, think about what you'll do next.

Running Out...

of steam and words!

Oh it's been soooooooo busy here, so I don't have anything exciting to offer you here today. But I am here to post my weigh-in: UP 1 lb. I'm not worried about that though -- last week I was on antibiotics for the dog bite and it gave me diarrhea -- now my body has gone the other way so I'm working on getting things, well, working again...

I have been exercising daily, although I missed my Wednesday workout because I had a hot date with DH...we went to a seminary student examination. It was a hot, hot day sitting on hard church benches and listening, and listening. A good process to be a part of though -- and then DH and I did some out-of-town shopping and then sat at the beach. Too bad we didn't bring our bathing suits. We've had a heat wave here since summer officially began last Sunday! Last Sunday was the first day that we had to put our a/c on and I'm happy to say that it still does work (very old). I didn't have my camera either, which is quite unusual, and the scenery was amazing...oh well, I have the
memories.

OK, so it looks like I haven't run out of words after all! LOL I have a busy week coming up with mom visiting for a few days -- I have to get everything done before she arrives and I hope we can have a nice visit together. Take care & EWE! ~D

Beware of Dogs

Today's WI results: UP 1 lb. (TOM -- it was actually 3/4 lb...)
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Ouch! Last Friday I was out for my Friday walk/paper delivery with DD14. The weather was great -- sunny, a little breeze, and warm. A great day for exercise!

We pass by a lot of dogs and generally haven't had a problem with them...until that day. It happened so quickly -- it was surreal. Before I knew it, a dog had taken a bite of me. It hurt, but it was more shocking than anything else...and the burning was the worst part. (The photo doesn't do the injury justice -- although it was minor, it looked worse than this. The flash brightened up the skin and didn't show the blood blister and bruising. The first photo is just after the bite, before I went to the hospital. The second photo is on Day 5.) My upper arm hurt so much on Saturday -- I had difficulty even lifting a coffee cup and couldn't lift heavier things like my laundry baskets or the vacuum. I'm glad that didn't last long -- it is my dominant arm -- left.

Long story short, I had to go to the hospital because the skin was punctured in two places. They x-rayed it to see if any fragments were left in the skin (nothing) and cleaned it up and bandaged it. In our area, by law all animal bites have to be reported, so the hospital reported it and the health department contacted me this week. They will be visiting the dog owner and this attack will be on the dog's file. Thankfully all of the dog's immunizations, including rabies, were up-to-date.

I'm thankful that it wasn't overly serious (although I was on antibiotics because of the contamination issue). The dog was on a leash but the owner's daughter was walking him and couldn't control him. I don't know what would have happened if he wasn't on the leash. It scares me to just think of it. There are a lot of children in the area and he could have easily lunged at them -- so I'm glad that he "took to" me instead...or my daughter. She's just gotten over her fear of dogs!

So I'm hoping that this Friday isn't as eventful as last Friday! I'd rather not spend a Friday evening at the hospital emergency room! ~D

Here is a helpful link: What to do if a dog attacks you

I Love My Coach!

Friday WI: DOWN 2!!! Yah. (Last week I was up 1.5 so I lost that AND .5 more! Yah -- I can change my ticker again!)

Ever have something become so important in your life that you wonder what you ever did without it? Well that's how I feel about my Debbie Rocker DVD/CDs! I just love them. Debbie's coaching is amazing -- she doesn't take any guff or excuses and she expects you to work. She doesn't talk mindlessly about this or that -- it's a workout that she's doing with you and she talks about just that. And more. Relevant stuff. Encouraging stuff. Stuff to "keep you on the road to weight loss and better fitness". And that's exactly where I want to be!

All of Debbie's DVDs include an outdoor walking CD (which I have on my MP3 player). I haven't used her DVDs much yet, but I absolutely love outdoor walking and it's a much better workout (mind and body) with Debbie's coaching. Another thing that I really like about Debbie's coaching is that she has a "clean mouth". How else do you say that? She doesn't take God's name in vain or use questionable words, even words like "sexy" aren't in her workout vocabulary (which I appreciate). My daughters have used her workouts and they both enjoy them also. I even got my non-exercising neighbour to buy a MP3 player and GET WORKING OUT! She loves Debbie's coaching too. Debbie's workouts are about fitness -- plain and simple, and they're a great body & mind workout! Debbie's workouts have given me hope again -- that I CAN do this and that my exercise will make a difference on my body and my WIs.

My paper-delivery walks have become "extra walks" now and when I go on them, I usually listen to AM/PM Walking. AM/PM Walking is great because it's two workouts that are 30 minutes each -- very useful when you don't have the time for a full 1-hr. workout. (No excuses!)

I do Debbie's "Walk, Sculpt & Tone" workout 3x per week --usually Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Then I do "Walking for Weight Loss" on the other days. I just picked up "Quick Start Walking for Weight Loss" (30 minutes) for a friend the other day and I'm (secretly) hoping that she doesn't want it (so I can keep it! ;) ). I'd love to purchase more (if more were available) so I can vary my walks more.


Recently I ordered Debbie's book "Training for Life" and I can't wait until I receive it (it's on it's way -- I'll keep you posted!). It includes a walking CD so I'm hoping that it's different than the ones that I have already. I am looking forward to reading and incorporating resistance training into my fitness regime. Since Debbie is a former athlete and is a coach, she includes her knowledge and experience in her products.

I am very thankful that I heard about Debbie so I thought I'd share this with you. A good friend of mine let me know about Debbie's products and I'm so glad that she did.

Thank you , Debbie, for all of your work! I'm so glad to have you coaching me every day! ~D

I'll come back w/ my Friday WI...

~~~
There are hundreds of reasons you're not in the shape you'd like to be. Hectic schedules, stress, and the availability of junk food are just a few of the factors that keep you from feeling and looking great.
Now, with TRAINING FOR LIFE, expert fitness coach Debbie Rocker shows you how to get the body you've always wanted while changing your mind for the long term. Her 14-day fitness and weight-loss program will tone muscle, build bone density, and speed weight loss using three crucial components:
walking, the body's most natural form of exercise
a daily meditation system that changes the way you think about your body and yourself
an eating plan that's delicious and easy to follow.
Debbie uses her skill as an award-winning athlete and a trainer to the stars to personally coach you to a fitness state of mind while also improving your self-confidence. She believes that if we don't change our minds to match our new bodies when we lose weight, our bodies will just change back-as they always do with conventional diet and weight-loss programs.
TRAINING FOR LIFE's total transformation program is sure to convert even those who have tried all the latest fad diets and failed. With her enclosed audio CD, Debbie will be there with you as you walk your way to weight loss.

Shadows, Reflections & Buamoing

I've missed you all and I've been tempted many times to come here & share something that I've learned...so don't think that my blogging "holiday" has been easy for me! I do think that I need this time. It's given me more time to concentrate on my exercise & stuff around the house. Outdoor work too. Our garden is in full-swing (although I think the wild rabbits ate the strawberry blossoms before we got the fence up :( .) I'll come back w/ my WI report. ~D

Yesterday my DD17 went on my walk with me. It was great to have company and strange too. I'm used to my own pace, my own quiet time. We both used our MP3 players and did Debbie's Walk, Scupt & Tone. Then we cooled down together & chatted. It was nice. But I noticed while we were walking that my shadow was much larger than DD's. She's taller than I am and where I'd like to be weight-wise.

A few days ago, when I was delivering my papers, I felt really, really good. I felt like I was really winning this weight battle. I felt like I was conquering it -- I was sure that I could do it. My body felt good and so did I...until I saw my reflection in someone's glass door. It totally dashed my feelings.

Grrrrr.

How can that be? Was I just telling myself that I felt good when I really didn't? No. I did feel good. I felt like I was conquering the extra weight. And I was.

But why was I so disappointed when I saw my reflection?

Because my mind's reality wasn't in sync with reality's reality!

How disappointing.

Now when some people get disappointed they just work harder. Me? I get discouraged. I begin to believe the lies that I really can't do this.

What did I do next?

I BUAMOed. Ever heard that word? It comes from a phrase that I read a long time ago -- which said "forget it and move on". But I changed the word for myself and made it into an acronym (which sounds Italian, don't you think?) -- it means BUCK UP and MOVE ON! A good one for me!

So I have been buamoing this past week. I'm NOT giving up, even if I'm disappointed with my shadows and reflections. I'm looking forward to the day when my shadows and reflections delight me!

Join me?

~D

WI: UP 1.5 lbs. :( I will KOKO. I did the lesson today on "weight-loss self sabotage or 'stinkin' thinkin'"!

June Bloggy Break & WI

Good morning! I've decided to take the month of June off of blogging -- not that I'll be "relaxing" though (although that sounds good)...I've got a lot of jobs to do around the house, and outside and various things that I want to do but haven't had the time to do (scrapbooking, for instance). I really, really, really want to work on purging our home of "stuff".

I DO plan to post my weekly Friday WIs. So, I'm NOT stopping this blog, just taking a bit of a break. *** Note: I have also decided to only blog here on Fridays for June, July and August. Then back to my regular Monday, Wednesday & Friday posts in September, Lord-willing. ***

I will be coming by to read comments, so feel free to leave a note here...and DON'T STOP your weight loss journey!!! I want to hear how YOU'RE doing too!! :)

Coming back after TOPS for my official WI today... ~D

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1pm: I turtled (stayed the same). I'm happy about that especially since TOM is here. See you next Friday, Lord-willing. D