That week, I iced and rested my knee, propped it at every opportunity. I didn’t walk unless I had to, and I stayed away from the gym and running trails. Finally on Thursday I made the decision to try to run, telling myself that if I experienced pain, I would consider not doing the 5K, or walking the entire route. Well, as luck would have it (and probably thanks to Motrin), the running wasn’t bad. My knee felt weak, but I finished the training three minutes short of my maximum time goal, and decided I would run the 5K on Saturday.

Saturday morning turned into a beautiful day by the time I stood at the Starting line at 8:00 a.m. My “cheering” crowd was there and I met a few people in the lineup who like me, were running for the first time. The bell went off, and I began the three point one mile run. I had studied the map route and knew approximately where each mile began so that I’d push myself to continue on without feeling overwhelmed. Amazing, how the body responds to the mind! Here I was, a middle-aged woman who hasn’t run in her adult lifetime, jogging and running through the streets of Hartford, on my way to completing my first 5K. It was exhilarating! People were standing and cheering along the route, music was blaring from speakers, and I could hear the announcers at the Finish line.

Rounding past mile two I began to feel the creaks in my knee and my thigh muscles ached. There are a lot of hills in Hartford that I’d never before been aware of during my car traveling. I looked at my watch and noticed the I was running ahead of my “time”; which isn’t to say I was setting any records (quite the contrary), but I knew at that point that I’d “do it.” I’d cross the Finish Line and I’d be standing. My chest was heaving (should I have taken my “rescue asthma inhaler”?) and I was thirsty, even after drinking at the water station, when suddenly a woman in orange approached me and said, “You’re at mile 3–keep going.” So I did. Up one more hill and around the corner, and there was my daughter Allison with my granddaughter Talia in her arms, my son Dan, and friend Beth, all yelling, “You’re doing it!” Later Allison would tell me I looked like I was having one of the happiest times of my life. Then, under the Soldier’s Arch, where all runners finish, into the orange fences where my husband Tom was yelling and cheering for me. As I crossed the Finish line, I noticed I’d exceed my time by twelve minutes–more than I’d ever thought. And while that time wasn’t anything that would merit a medal or “place”, it was MY time, MY goal.

Afterwards, I was handed a “Finisher” waterbottle, snacks, and a 5K necklace. But the memorbilia I’ll cherish most is the handmade sign from Talia that reads, “Go Grammie! 5K! We love you!” and the “Runner” sign from Tom. Later that day, laying on the couch with hot and cold packs, I thought back to eight months ago when walking up a flight of stairs hurt my knees and caused me to lose breath. What a change had occured in eight months; it was like giving birth to a different person. And I am different, in so many ways, since that first time I wrote about why I wanted to participate in Connecticut’s Biggest Loser. Most importantly, I feel “new” and each day is a day to try to achieve a little more.

            Last February, I entered a Biggest Loser competition with the goal of losing weight, getting healthy, and becoming Connecticut’s Biggest Loser. The months of training, learning which foods fuel the body, and setting weekly weight loss goals paid off by the end of May. Then, in June, I took the learning experience a step further and started working out at a gym in Enfield that has regular classes of kickboxing, weight-training, and instructors who are motivational and fun, which is half the battle. The summer was flying by, when in July I wondered, “What else could I achieve?” We’re a goal-oriented society. We make resolutions every New Year’s Eve, during the start of  new school years, on monumental birthdays (think Oprah’s 50^th), and even when we’ve fallen down or disappointed ourselves, we resolve to “do better.” So, having never been a runner in my life, and being part of a family that loves to run for exercise, I decided, “Why not me? I could run a 5k if I really wanted to.” Thus, the wheels were set in motion and the past two months have consisted of discovering how much further I can push my body and mind, because really, running does become a mind game at some point. The runner, aching and sweating, pushes for one more minute, mile, day.

            Well, this was going along quite nicely until I was faced with the realization that to be included in running an organized 5k, one must formally register and declare her intentions. It felt like the night before I took my graduate comprehensive exams, “Why of course I’m going to do this, I’ve set this goal, no I can’t back out now, yes I’m scared to death. What if it rains? Do they hold exams in the rain?” You get the picture. This had to become something greater than just running a 5k. It had to have a “purpose” for me to resolve to stand at that Starting Line, no matter what the weather. And the purpose needed to be something other than “bragging rights.”

            I started to reflect on what was most meaningful in my life today, at middle age, in America. My family, of course. I’m a recent grandmother to a beautiful little girl. When I see her, I see hope for the future. That means keeping her healthy and fit so she lives a long life. As an educator, I see many young people who aren’t exercising and who eat unhealthy foods, mostly because they don’t have the resources available to change their habits. So, one of my “purposes” in running the Hartford 5k is to raise money for the Hartford school children’s healthy minds/healthy bodies program. Knowing that children will benefit from my running because of donations fuels my stamina.

            Another purpose I decided to join in on was running for our Troops. Whether we believe in this war or not, there are thousands of men and women who are sacrificing their families and their lives every day by serving overseas. I respect that. Contributing to their needs with a small donation, I’ll be proud to wear a race number with “I Support The Troops” emblazoned around it.

            There are many more organizations runners and non-runners can support. What happens when we look beyond ourselves and our personal goals is that we already become achievers. Knowing I’m running a 5k for something other than myself makes the goal that much sweeter. And anyone can do this for themselves and others—set goals that will make you healthy and let you contribute to a great cause. Come Saturday afternoon, after I’ve eaten my Finish line bagel and orange, I’ll be a different person, one who reached beyond herself for a greater good.  Hope to see you at the Hartford Marathon, Oct. 9. Starting time is 8:00.

Cheers!

 What does it mean to have a goal that drives us forward, creates an excitement about possibilities that we never imagined could be realized? The hurdles to meet the goal become challenges and we pat ourselves on the back as they are overcome. Soon, the goal is clearly in sight. What next? Well, for many, setting new goals is a good way to respond.

I’m experiencing this right now with weight loss. The Connecticut Biggest Loser has come and gone, and exercise, with good food choices, has become the “norm” in my life. Actually, they’ve become “ho-hum” in many ways. It’s true, that breaking old habits, and conditioning oneself for new ones, becomes routine after a while. So what to do now?

 There are many options, not all of which have to do with fitness. Sometimes we discover additional interests along the way. Meeting new people, joining book clubs, planting a garden, and taking up running are some of the many new avenues that have opened for me since beginning to lose weight. Losing weight makes a person more confident, sometimes more friendly, and definitely provides more stamina. For the first time in years, I planted a garden this summer. Just a few flowers and potted plants, but still, an endeavor I never would have attempted sixty pounds ago (yes, that’s right, sixty…and counting). It’s been a real learning experience; what type of soil to use, when to water, what “dead-heading” means (nothing to do with Jerry Garcia!). But probably the most ambitious new goal I’ve set is to run a 5K in October.

Now, before you think, “I could never do that,” let me tell you that last summer at this time I never even thought about walking for exercise. Running was for “athletes,” those people who took months to train, who had been fit their whole lives, people who weren’t overweight. Then, I became part of The Biggest Loser and my eyes were opened. As my son-in-law Ryan likes to paraphrase Curt Schilling’s Red Sox quote from 2004, “Why not us?” to “Why not ME?” I am doing the same. WHY NOT ME? I know it’s not easy, and truthfully, my only goal is to finish standing as I cross the line in Oct. I don’t have long legs, haven’t played a sport in years, and am still on the weight loss journey. But while setting this new goal, I’ve realized a few things and that has helped me become a stronger, more determined woman. First, goals are important to keep us alive. They fuel us, give us energy, keep us young at heart. If we don’t have new goals, we “retire” from life.  Second, goals help us get up in the morning and organize our day. Whether we’re preparing for a race, finishing a book series, or hoping to reap the benefits of a garden, all require planning. Right now I’m focused on when I can make time to get my training in and how much training I want to do (according to a book I’ve read, training eight weeks for a 5K should put me into good shape stamina-wise). Third, goals help us to believe that anything is possible. Running a 5K this year might lead to a half marathon next year. I don’t know if I will run a Half, but it’s possible.

 One defining moment in our life leads to many. That’s the beauty of setting and realizing goals. Whether your goal is to lose weight, take up running, learn a new skill (I keep telling myself I’ve got to “tweak” my computer skills soon), or meet other people, all fall into the format of fueling us with energy, organizing ourselves, and believing anything is possible. And when anything is possible, the sky’s the limit. Just take the risk, get off the couch, and…set a new goal. Gotta run!

It’s summer.

People are wearing less clothing, grilling or eating out more, and suddenly you become aware of the monumental task that a continued weight loss plan can bring. What should be the easiest time to lose weight might appear the most difficult, with family picnics, ice cream parlors, and humidity that covers us like a damp wool blanket.

Many people seek entertainment at town fairs, movie theaters, family picnics, and if you’re like me, all of those places are temptations to eat foods that are less than healthy.

So what’s a person who wants to lose more weight to do? Is it possible to enjoy the slow, easy pace of summer without gaining a single pound? Is it possible to lose weight? Yes, I’m sure of it.

One important strategy is to plan ahead. Many think that dieting consists of salads, fruits, and some lean meats. While those foods are healthy food choices, they’re not always going to be available at every outing, and even if they are, other choices might be more appealing. There’s nothing wrong with this. The “key” here is to know where you’re going before you get there.

A town fair? Skip the corndogs, fried dough, and waffle cones. Opt for a baked potato (as plain as you can stand it), a snow cone (some will “cringe” at this, but they have few calories, although the sugar content is high. Still, it might satisfy the need for something “cooling,” and is better than fat-loaded ice cream.). Other choices may be a plain hamburger (no cheese), and watermelon. Light beer is usually available for those who want one (have only one!), as is diet soda and ice water. The fair can be a great time, and you’ve stayed pretty close to eating well.

My family has a lot of picnic celebrations during the summer, especially the Fourth of July, and a clambake in August. Food abounds at these occasions — taco appetizers, pasta salads, hamburgers, hotdogs, sausages, all types of desserts. You know what I’m talking about.

If I plan ahead, the celebrations will be easy “calorie-wise” and fun at the same time. I simply make my favorite low-cal food (and this can be as uncomplicated as vegetables and hummus), find out from the hosting family what’s going “on the grill,” and offer to bring a dessert. I’m attending a celebration this weekend and will be bringing vegetables, hummus, and strawberry shortcake (I’ll eat the strawberries, without sugar, and some Cool Whip). I know there’s going to be a salad and pizza too. Yes, I’ll eat pizza, but only one piece, and then fill up on the other foods. No one has had to go out of their way to feed me and I won’t look out of place, which is one of the most common reasons people decide not to stick with healthy eating.

Going away on vacation often translates into a “Get Off the Diet Free” card. Believe me, I know. No sooner has the car pulled out of the driveway, people are reaching for snacks and drinks, and perhaps you have already planned where you’ll dine while away.

Sticking with a healthy food plan can be a tough decision, but the real decision is, “Do I want to have to lose another three to five pounds after this vacation?” That’s the average weight gain for a week’s getaway.

There are two ways of looking at this. You can increase the amount of exercise on vacation and eat some choices that may not be on your plan, or you can eat as close to the plan as possible and when the vacation is over, so is the extra eating.

I did this on Memorial Day Weekend when my family went to the Vermont Marathon to cheer on my son-in-law Ryan, and son Dan. I drank lemonade, ate pizza, and even had Ben and Jerry’s one night (can anyone go to Vermont and NOT eat Ben and Jerry’s?). When I arrived home, the scale was up three pounds. So, I headed off to the gym the next morning and every morning that week, watched my salt intake, and ate according to my plan for the week. Less than a week later, all was gone and then one more pound on top of that. Well worth it.

Summer doesn’t have to be a cause for panic. Careful planning, a bit more exercise, and a realistic way of looking at weight loss will take us from dreading those town fairs, family barbeques, or vacations, to being confident that come Labor Day we will still have lost or maintained weight and be that much happier for it. So, throw some salmon and asparagus on the grill, eat an ear of fresh corn, and have a cup of fruit salad for dessert. Bon appetit!

I remember, many years ago, joining a well known weight-loss group that weighed clients weekly. If the client lost weight, they were “good.” “Oh, you had a good week, you must have been very good,” they’d say. On the other hand, if the client didn’t lose weight, or maybe gained a little, the response was, “Bad week? You weren’t good on the diet? Made bad choices?” No one had to look at the scale to know each client’s outcome. The “bad” clients would round their shoulders, heads down, slink into their seats (always in the back of the room, of course), or skip the meeting part completely and walk out the door. The “good” clients rushed to their seats (front row), heads up, smiling, almost shaking with anticipation to tell their weight loss to the crowd because they’d been so “good.” I had the experience of both sides of this “branding” in my years of trying to lose weight. Let me tell you, whatever the leader called me (“good” or “bad” week), determined my self-worth for the following week. Sometimes for the following month.

The words “good” and “bad” are fine in some situations, although as a English teacher I would prefer more explicit vocabulary. But, “bad” weather, “good” weather, well, we all have a general image of what that means. However, when we start to label ourselves or our eating habits that way, we’re in trouble. Everything else about us takes second place in our lives. Oh, you donated blood this week but ate pizza? “Bad” week, huh? Mouthed off to an aquaintance who is already having a difficult time but you ate fruit and salads? “Good” week, nice job. You see, in most circumstances these words have nothing to do with who we are. They are simply dangerous reactions to weight.

I have a friend who I consider to be one of the finest individuals I know. She works full-time, has a family, and volunteers in three different organizations. She’s donated so many pints of blood in her lifetime that the Red Cross awarded her a medal (honestly!).  When my son was being treated for cancer years ago, she stayed with me in the hospital when Tom had to work. Quite a magnificent person, and I’m thankful for her everyday. And she’s overweight. And she’s beautiful. Not “good,” not “bad,” just human. Like all of us, she’s moving along her life path trying to do the best she can. Sometimes she eats pizza, sometimes she eats salad. But I’d never introduce her as my “good friend who eats salad” or my “bad friend who eats pizza.” There’s so much more to her than that.

Let’s take “good” and “bad” out of our adjective vocabulary to describe ourselves and our eating habits. Nothing demeans us more. In day to day living we will eat healthy foods and junk foods. Hopefully, most of the time we’ll be consciously healthy and choose those foods that fuel the body to be strong. But on those occassions when we don’t, let’s not brand ourselves or others with the word “bad,” because it really doesn’t apply. We’re human. We’re worth being known as  more than a mouthful of  salad or piece of  cake. And that’s my defining moment for today. Cheers!

Usually I love to shop with people—sometimes friends, sometimes my children (Tom doesn’t really care for shopping). We wander from store to store and then have lunch, making a day of it. But bathing suit shopping is different. It’s frightening. And like the first time I saw “The Exorcist” with my hands over my eyes, I felt this experience was going to be similar. No use subjecting others.

There are many kinds of suits in a bathing suit dept. Not having worn one for years, I really didn’t know where to start, so I began at the entrance and worked my way down. The first types of suits were one-piece(ers). All different colors and styles—belted waists, halters, smocked tops. I pulled a couple and went to the next rack—animal prints. Now really. Leopards, zebras, lions. Should someone wear those on their body in water? Might they not be mistaken for the real animal? And the colors—purples, pinks, reds, greens. Why? WHY? No one should own these unless they’re in Las Vegas and are wearing six-inch stilletos with a lot of gold jewelry. I went on to the next rack—”tankinis.” Now, last week someone who works in fashion told Oprah that women should never wear tankinis. But I was almost into the shoe section of the store so choices were getting limited.

Into the dressing room I went with two one-piece(ers), three tankini tops, and one tankini bottom. It’s amazing that one bottom can be combined with dozens of tops. Besides, I was only allowed six items at a time (sign at Dressing Room: “Please take in only six suits at one time.”). Walking into the last available dressing area, at the end of the long hallway, I began the “experience.” First I tried on the one piece (ers). They promised to make me look ten pounds lighter. And they probably did. But not ten pounds light enough. Off they went on the “discard” hanger. Next, I tried on a tankini top. Very nice. No back fat, smooth stomach. I was beginning to think this might work out and even smiled thinking of the times Eric had me dragging him across the gym floor to “make me stronger.” I did look stronger. Wondering if I might have a choice here, I tried on the other tankini tops. They fit. On to the bottom.

The bottom of a tankini is very plain. It’s meant to be. The top draws the eye upward and the bottom is just, well, there. I put on the black bottom, which is a hybrid short/skirt, falling about six inches from the waist. My eyes focused on the waist. Ok, that’s not bad. Then the back end. Surprisingly ok, I could live with it. Then, it happened. I gazed down. There they were, staring back at me. Two legs that obviously hadn’t seen the light of day in years. I covered my eyes with my hands and imagined Linda Blair spitting pea soup all over her bed (famous “Exorcist” scene).

Who invented bathing suits? Perhaps someone from Alaska or Siberia who had a death wish for women living in warmer climates? I sat on the bench in the dressing room listening to some women a few doors down experiencing the same thing: “Are you sure this size is correct?”  “Maybe I’ll just wear my old one.”  And the best comment, “Take a picture of me in this on my cell phone and I’ll go home and think about it.”  Oh, misery loves company.

Finally, I decided that today wasn’t the day. Now that I knew my size, maybe I would order one from the home shopping channel. This would give me about ten days to slather on that body cream promising to smooth “ripply” skin. I would use it faithfully day and night. Maybe three times a day, like brushing teeth.  And I could order a very long cover-up to match the tankini. Maybe I’d get “Easy Pay.”

In the end, I left that department empty-handed and went to the other side of the store where I bought three pairs of jeans. Great fit, smaller size, and on sale. As I was paying for them, it occurred to me that jeans and a tankini top would really be my bathing suit of choice. The jeans would cover everything that wasn’t up to par, and the tankini would still keep me cool. As I was swimming, the jeans would inflate with water and I’d be floating from one end of the pool to the other on my own raft. Now come on, why didn’t anyone ever invent a bathing suit that does THAT? That’s my defining moment for today. Cheers!

This summer I’m changing a few mindsets about meals. I’ve decided that during the “dog days” of summer, and we have had a few “trials” of those, it’s perfectly ok to eat a salad with some shredded cheese for dinner and call it a night. Maybe grill some chicken or salmon if I feel hungry. I don’t mind eating cottage cheese and some organic fruit for meals and am going to take full advantage of the local Farmer’s Market. Buy local, I say. You can ask the farmers about how they’ve cultivated their crops and support them emotionally and financially.

During previous summers, I’ve spent a lot of my time indoors (air-conditioned) reading books and revising my writing. Last summer my goal for the summer was to read 25 books. Although I enjoyed the reading, by the end of the summer I had gained another five pounds. This summer I’m setting a different goal to get outside more, even if I’m just weeding in the garden or walking the dogs. I’d like to lose 20 pounds, but I’m not stressing about it. I know that I will as long as I stick to a healthy eating plan and continue to exercise on a daily basis. Currently, I take at least one class a day at my new gym and am seeing good results with that.

I’m fortunate in that I have more free time than many others during the summer. I can get to the gym and work out on a daily basis. But what I’ve discovered in this weight loss process is that the foods I eat are just as important in losing weight as the exercise. The right foods will shed the pounds and the exercise will define the body and keep the weight off.

If you’re working all day, try coming home and taking a short walk. Just around the block. Get the blood flowing. Make an omelet for dinner or a salad as the main course and some protein on the side. Skip the bread. If you’re fortunate to have a pool within reach, go swimming. Then treat yourself to a slice of watermelon.

Summertime isn’t necessarily an easy time to lose weight, but unlike the January “blahs” of New Year’s Resolutions, it’s a good time to start. Changing one or two simple parts about a lifestyle can drop those pounds steadily. One or two pounds a week will add up to over 20 by the end of the summer. Looking long-term, I know that’s worth it. I’m going to swap ice cream for sugar-free popsicles, keep the bread off the hamburgers, and order more salads from the delivery service. Then, I’m going to get to the gym early, work out, swim, and be on my merry way to finish the rest of the day. That’s my defining moment for today. Cheers!

When I was young, there was no cable, Wii, cell phones, etc. Technology consisted of record players and basic tv channels. My home had one of each, along with a phone whose cord reached the kitchen sink so my mother could talk while she was washing the dishes. We ate meat, potatoes, pasta, vegetables, fruit, and yes, cookies. But my mother “rationed” the cookies. Two for snacks, two for bedtime. After school I changed and went outside to play until dinner. There was no tv until Mr. Rogers came on, and then after dinner I cleaned up, did homework, and watched one tv show a night. If there was any more time until bed, I read books. During the summer, my mother had me out of the house playing until meals, then out promptly afterwards. Now, why am I telling you this, fifty-plus years later? Because I’ve noticed especially while I’ve been trying to lose weight and become more active, how inactive our youth has become. And frankly, I’m worried. A recent study has predicted that the next generation will have a shorter lifespan than the two before it. They have high cholestoral,  high blood pressure, and weigh more than other children at that age years ago. Or, they are so undernourished that a size O is the goal. What’s a size O? I want to know. That’s alarming. What’s going on? I did some research to try to find answers.

First, I do acknowledge that parents are working more today than ever, and there are more single parents than ever before. Everyone is tired and trying to make ends meet. People get home late and fast food is a simple option. As a matter of fact, there’s a tv show on Wed. nights that depicts a lovely family who eat fast food every night. No one cooks! They eat around a table and the fries and breaded chicken are plentiful. Not a great example for our young people who are watching.

Second, children are alone a lot more than ever before. They come home after school to empty homes (not at the parent’s fault—they have to work), and dig in to snacks while playing video games, texting, watching tv. Some aren’t allowed to go outside because of safety issues. Lethargy sets in and wow, by dinnertime they’re barely able to focus. Several hours later they go to bed, having exercised little or not at all.

Another problem today is “Star” appeal. You know, those young teens or twenty-somethings who are having plastic surgery, dieting to wear a size 2 (I’m still confused about the size O—doesn’t O mean “nothing?”), and people are telling them how “good” they look. Their hipbones are jutting out and their eyes are sunken into their faces. But they are the weight they’re “supposed to be.”  Oh my.

Hilary Clinton wrote a book a while back called, “It Takes A Village.” In the book she spoke about how many people are needed to raise even one child. I agree and propose it’s time to get together as a village to help our young people gain insight on health. Put the video games, texts, tv down and play board games. Or jump rope. Or hopscotch. Kick a ball around until they sweat. Offer fruit and vegetables for snacks. Let’s stop buying those creamy-cake snacks or the cheesy chips. They’re full of preservatives anyway and that can’t be good at all. Next, I propose we boycott the sale of magazines with emaciated teens on the cover who give “diet tips.” There’s nothing wrong with being a size 8 or a size 10 or just being healthy and forgetting about size. No one knows what size someone wears unless they’re told. Cut the tags out, I say. Encourage young people to be a “normal” weight and stay that way. Protein, healthy carbs, some dairy, and good fats will give them a longer life. Candy bars, french fries, and lettuce leaves won’t.

Ok, now I’m going to get off my soapbox and come clean. Before The Biggest Loser, I went through everything I’ve written about.  I was such a couch potato you could throw some sour cream and bacon bits on me and I’d be “done.” I ate Ding-Dongs and cheesy curls, and those golden arches were my ticket to heaven. Sundays were donut days, Saturdays for pizza, and the rest of the week, well let’s just say I didn’t get this way eating low-fat yogurt and cottage cheese. My clothes were uncomfortably tight and I couldn’t walk the perimeter of a Mall without stopping to rest. Awful. I don’t want to see our young people grow into adults and experience that. Nor do I want to see them be so afraid of eating that they gorge and vomit or convince themselves that not eating is a good thing.

In about two months I’m going to be a grandmother. I’m very excited and looking forward to spending a lot of quality time with her. But I think I may do some things a bit different than what I thought about four months ago. I’ll probably plan more outdoor outings and less time just staying at home. I’m glad that her parents are conscious about nutrition. I’ll look for recipes on making play-doh and probably not bake too many batches of cookies. My husband Tom has planted fruit trees in our backyard and I intend to start a garden next year. In other words, I want to do everything I can for her to grow up healthy and happy at the same time. I want to do my part to defy that research that says her generation won’t live as long as the two before it if things don’t change.

This is a very different post and I hope no one has become offended by it. We all try to do the best for our children and grandchildren, and sometimes when we look closely at ourselves, we discover ways that might be better. I know that’s what’s happened with me. This has given me tremendous insight about how to show love without food or encouraging someone to be a “size O.” And that’s my defining moment for today.

So, for the first few days after this decision, I wondered, “Now what do I do?” Now I was in the same position as many people who don’t have a personal trainer. And I wasn’t responsible for weighing in weekly with someone standing there. Well, I’ll be honest. Initially, I “vegged out.” Read some books, caught up on “LOST,” and ate some tomato/basil pizza, which I absolutely love and didn’t have for three months. It was like an alcoholic’s drunken binge. But I knew this wasn’t a permanent phase. As a matter of fact, I had told Eric I was going to do this after the last training session and he didn’t seem to be opposed. I think he knew I needed to do this in order to gain my own perspective on where my life was going from this point. So, let me tell you, the book was great, LOST was confusing, and the pizza was spectacular. And after that, I was ready to begin anew (or rather, continue the journey).

I decided to join another gym. I had belonged to one that was full of weights and machines, but didn’t have classes or a pool. I wanted classes and a pool. Knowing how I am, I needed to have a set “time” to work out and having others around, doing the same exercises, would be an added bonus. So, I signed on for a monthly basis wanting to try them out. Next, I went back to my eating plan. No refined sugar, high protein, low carbs. Now, this diet plan does contradict the Biggest Loser diet, which tells people to carb-load. But, I know how my body chemistry works (especially after a 40 pound weight loss in twelve weeks) and decided if it isn’t broken, why try to fix it? I eat lots of salads, vegetables, fish or chicken, Greek yogurt, and one fruit a day. With exercise, I lose weight and it stays off. I also allow myself one “cheat” during the week (not a whole day, just one little thing), as I did during the contest. It works for me.

So, the first class I took was a yoga/pilates class. Never did that before. I thought it would be easy. I’m flexible, stretchy, and can twist my body around. Wow! I was sweating within fifteen minutes and felt like the hour had been two. But, it was energizing and I went back in a few days for more. The second class was a weight-training class, using a bar, free weights, and a “step.” Many of the exercises were familiar, but the weights were switched up and put to music. My abs hurt and my arms were tired for a couple of days. I did love it, though, and went back again. The third class I took was a “step and sculpt” class, using step platforms. This class was the most challenging for me. I’ve never been a dancer; when I was in gradeschool dancing class, I was always put in the back. Funny now. But I kept moving during the class and after it was over, the instructor told me to keep at it, I’ll get it as time goes on. I hope so.

This is a whole new way of living for me now. I’m pretty much on my own as far as losing weight and keeping it off. That’s ok. I have the tools from Eric and Cassandra and I know how to use them. Everything else is my call, my time. The weight is still coming off and the experience is new. Life moves on and when you’re open to changes, great surprises happen. That’s my defining moment for today.

Please understand that this list by no means covers every eating establishment within the radius given (I couldn’t eat out that often!), and that the meals I ate varied between breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also, if your favorite restaurant is not listed here, and you’d like me to review it for healthy options, you can contact me through my blog or the JI, and I’ll go there for a meal at no cost to you.
Here are my choices for the restaurants I did visit:

On the run? No time to stop and sit? I found a great breakfast at Dunkin’ Donuts (yes, that’s right). Their flatbread egg white with a choice of vegetables or turkey sausage has only 300 calories, less than most donuts. It’s filling and hot. Add coffee (hold the cream and sugar) or unsweetend ice tea. Your energy level will rise for the start of a busy day.

Other breakfast options? Subway recently created a breakfast sandwich on a whole wheat roll for 350 calories. It contains egg and ham (check the sodium on this). Add a water and some apple slices, both available at Subway.

At first glance, Friendly’s menu looks impossible to make a healthy choice. Their vegetable omelet contains almost 800 calories! But when I ate there with a friend, I asked for two egg whites, scrambled without butter, one piece of wheat toast with jelly (no butter), and fresh fruit. About 350 calories.

TGIFridays has many healthy options. I chose two grilled chicken breasts (no Jack Daniel’s sauce) with a salad. Instead of pasta, I asked for another vegetable, which they were happy to accommodate. Eat one chicken breast and take the other home for tomorrow’s lunch. Another choice would be steak, cooked without sauce, salad, and a half of a baked potato, no butter. Use steak sauce for flavor if sodium isn’t a problem. Vegetables on the side. There are also many kinds of fish, but I didn’t sample any here. Ask your server about the fish if that’s what you’re craving. Steer clear of battered, breaded, or fried. For Vegetarians, there are entrees of roasted vegetables.

Yard House, a small non-chain establishment in Enfield, is a salad lover’s delight. My favorite was the “Chop Chop” with feta cheese and topped with grilled salmon. Don’t let the cheese frighten you. Cheese is a great source of protein as long as you don’t eat it all the time. The portions as huge—you may get two meals out of this salad! Their salads can also be served with beds of grilled chicken or sliced steak, or vegetarian style.

Before I work out with my trainer on Wednesdays, I eat at Applebee’s in Manchester for lunch. Applesbee’s caters to those wanting heart-healthy choices, Weight Watchers choices (they count the points for you) and under 550 calorie meals. Spinach salad with grilled shrimp and a cup of tomato basil soup is one of my favorites, although I’d eat any of the Weight Watchers options.
If you’re looking for another non-chain restaurant, the family-oriented Hazard Grille is wonderful. Take a close look at the menu and ask your server how foods are prepared. Ask for substitutions—they happily comply. Spinach can take the place of French fries on all orders and can be sautéed or steamed. Same for asparagus. I ate mine with lemon, and ordered salmon and a house salad for lunch. Other choices would be a Hazard Burger without mayo and half of a roll, with lettuce and tomato and a salad. The Pecan Goat salad is yummy, and there are steaks, chicken, and a special pan-seared scallop dish. Request no cream sauce and skip the mashed potatoes for a small slice of their homemade bread.

Besides the salad bar at Ruby Tuesday’s (don’t eat any of the “creamy” options), I ate a crab cake and broccoli. I requested cocktail sauce instead of the other creamy sauce, and put lemon on the broccoli. They also have many options of steak and chicken. Add a salad and you’re all set.

So there you have it—just a small sampling of the restaurants in the area with healthy food choices. This is really easy when you know what to look for. Now go ahead—-dig in!