The Free and the Brave

Alright, all you other brave ones who have posted your "works-in-progress" photos. Here's mine, taken today at The Beach Club Resort in Gulf Shores, Ala.

As you recall, this vacation represents several "firsts":

* The first vacation I've taken in over seven years when I have finished all my writing assignments ahead of time so that I have
NO WORK to do while I'm on vacation!

* The first time I've put on a bathing suit in public in over 10 years.

Although I'm still 13 pounds from goal weight, I have thoroughly enjoyed doing what I love again...being suited up on the beach!

More to come...

I'm BAAAAACK!

Wow! June has FLOWN by, and although blog posts have been scarce during these last few weeks of travel, I've held fast to the BestLife program guidelines to "eat less and move more." This picture was taken dockside in Jacksonville, N.C., just before boarding a charter eco-tour with Capt. Chris Sewell, pictured to my left. (I'm in the red shorts. Did I say 'shorts?!')

Perhaps the best news this week is my new bling...the big 5-0!! Coupled with a loss of 41 inches, I'm a happy camper, now only 15 pounds from goal weight.

Thanks to everybody who has continued to stop by while I've been away. Now, I'll begin to catch up on YOUR news...

On Your Feet? Ready, Dance!

Yesterday, I admitted Brad and Matt's opening spiel might be a little intense for some viewers, but the Gratitude Dance is appropriate anytime!
Especially today. I'm in the 160's!!

More and more, people are asking, "What sort of diet are you on?" I'm learning most people ask that sort of question
for a variety of reasons:
1) They genuinely want to know, perhaps for themselves or someone they love.
2) They really don't know what else to say.
3) They're actually a little uncomfortable with your success, and are hoping you're so miserable you can't possibly stick with the program.

Generally, I've found it's best to keep the answer short and sweet. Mine goes something like this:

"I've changed my lifestyle to incorporate five basic changes:

1) I make exercise a daily priority.
2) I eat a nutritious breakfast every morning.
3) I eat moderate portions to satisfy hunger.
4) I stop eating by 7 p.m. when I'm at home, or at least two hours before bedtime when I'm traveling.
5) I drink at least eight glasses of water every day."

So far, my HYC blogger friends, this plan has resulted in the loss of two more pounds this week (even though my aerobic exercise was limited to pushing the baby stroller two miles a day!) for a total of
42 pounds and 37 inches since January 15.

Today, I'm DOIN' THE DANCE!

Heavy Responsibility

Shhh! Don't tell Trey's parents, but my back is really complaining this morning.

When my mother stopped in for a visit yesterday, she picked up Trey and asked, "How much does this child weigh? He's heavier than a sack of potatoes!"

With that, DH received the child into his arms and headed to the scale, just to find out. We were not surprised: 27 pounds.

This week of caring for Trey - bending over to let him hold my finger, picking him up to play, lowering his sleeping body into the Pack-n-Play, putting him into and taking him out of the car seat, carrying him into stores - has been a terrific reminder exactly how much weight 40 pounds is...13 pounds more than I've been hauling around this week! In other words, a Trey-and-a-half. WHEW!

What physical reminders do you have how much weight you've lost?

Home Again

Saturday was my last day to travel in other parts of Arkansas. Highlights included the stunning views from the Lodge at Mount Magazine, Arkansas's highest mountain, rising dramatically over 2,700 feet above the broad valleys of the Petit Jean River to the south and the Arkansas River to its north.

At the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain, we viewed the new President's Lodge accommodations and drooled at the opportunity to "get away from it all" in such a serene environment, where the biggest attraction is the lack of distraction. On the other hand, the facility is equipped with a broad range of outdoor and fitness activitiesthat once would have been off my radar completely, but which now look rather enticing!

Before I headed home, we visited Subiaco Monastery and Academy, where a group of Benedictine monks has lived for 130 years.

When I got home late Saturday afternoon, menacing weather made working on the computer an unwise choice. The good news is that by making healthy food choices and keeping exercise a priority, I still lost weight while I was on the road! BLING!

For Mother's Day, I got up before sun-up to practice the solo cello pieces I was scheduled to perform at my mother's church later in the morning. Following the service, DH and I joined mom and her husband for lunch. After a healthy meal, I spent the the rest of the day at their home, helping them plan a September driving vacation from San Francisco up the Pacific Coast Highway to Vancouver.

Back home with only enough time for a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood, I joined DH for supper out...after which, I crashed on the couch by 9 p.m. and slept until 9 a.m. this morning!

Tonight, my son and his wife arrive to spend the night and to drop off my 14-month old grandson for his first "stay-alone" visit while the parents - both new college graduates this week - attend a convention in Las Vegas. From now until Sunday, I'll be blogging on the fly!

To all my fellow HYC bloggers, my apologies for lack of comments last week. The schedule was grueling. I'll do my best to catch up this week while the baby is napping!

How Tweet!

Who would have dreamed how much I am enjoying the newly found freedom of exploring outdoors, now that I'm carrying around 38 fewer pounds?! On the phone yesterday, my mom reminded me how she hiked the Grand Canyon and rafted the Colorado River when she was
my age.

Yesterday's soft adventure included a birding expedition at Lorance Creek Natural Area, a deep swamp area that spreads out on both sides of Lorance Creek, just outside Little Rock, Ark. The entire system - owned by Nature Conservancy and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission - is a diverse mosaic of open water, bald cypress-water tupelo trees, beaver ponds and sandy washes overlain with swamp blackgum. All the features are interconnected by a complex system of streams and seeps which support a rich aquatic flora.

Walking the half-mile boardwalk with Allan Mueller, alias "Professional Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Searcher," we listened to a chorus of birds singing their springtime arias. Overhead, a lush canopy of foliage whispered a welcome as we wandered through the swamp-inspired symphony.

For these new experiences, I am truly grateful. For others yet to come, I am eager...especially those that may include a new bicycle!

What new freedoms are you enjoying as a result of your increasing fitness level?

The Payoff

Ask anybody: Would Rebecca choose outdoor adventure as a press tour activity? Until yesterday, the answer would have been a resounding NO!

Instead, in the elevator on my way down to the hotel fitness center yesterday, one of the journalists rolled his eyes at me, saying, "Oh, you're one of THOSE people!"

And at dinner last night, while discussing MY HIKE at Pinnacle Mountain, somebody else commented, "Oh, Rebecca, I'm sorry you got stuck doing THAT sort of stuff. Was it boring?"

On the contrary! For the first time in my LIFE, I was eager to EXPLORE! Except for a few pesky gnats, I was thrilled to be thinking about something other than whether I could make it back up the mountain after I had hiked to the base. I actually felt strong and confident I can do more of this sort of thing from now on.

NOW I can say, "I have been to the mountaintop, and I have seen the light!"

Now, if I could just win that bike...

Three Cheers for HYC Bloggers!

One of the things I love about the Healthy You Challenge bloggers is the group's way of celebrating success - large or small. All of us like to post badges for ANY reason!

Bob Greene reminds us dramatic change doesn't happen in one day or even a month. For some, that can be discouraging if your used to (and long for) immediate gratification. It's easier, though, to be patient when you feel as if you're reaping some kind of reward for your efforts; that's why it's so important to enjoy the process of positive change rather than focusing on the end result.

"Find joy in each triumph, big or small," Greene advises. "Don't take for granted turning down a piece of cake, eating a healthful breakfast, or going for a walk at lunch - or any other of the small but significant efforts you make as a part of your commitment to this program. They all count, and with continued patience, perseverance and a positive attitude, they're all going to add up to a big payoff."

The secret to success, he says, is this: "Be honest with yourself and those around you. Take responsibility for your actions and your life. Think of the commitments you make to yourself as sacred, and honor them in the way your honor commitments to other people. Identify what it is you really want from life, realize you deserve it, and think positively about your ability to get it. Make your plan, have the inner strength to stick to it, and claim the life you deserve!"

***So, in honor of small victories, I am pleased to report another one-pound loss for today's HYC Weigh-In. Oddly enough, that one-pound loss translated into another 2-1/2 inch loss, bringing the totals since January 15 to 38 pounds and 34.25 inches lost. WAHOO!

What's even MORE exciting is that through the C25K training program, I am now jogging 25 minutes without stopping at a 4.2 mph pace. Wa-TWO!

And as part of my commitment - not just to a diet program, but to a healthy lifestyle - I have entered my name in the hat TWICE for Scale Junkie's free bike giveaway. Winning would pull that prized item right from my vision board and put it under my diminishing derriere!

Quotes from The Best Life Diet

More Choices, More Rewards

Yesterday, a group of my friends surprised me with a birthday luncheon at the country club. Because I'm out of town a lot, I don't socialize so much as they do, especially those who are retired or semi-retired. For that reason, I especially appreciated their time and effort to gather us together.

We all enjoyed a delicious salad buffet; but right in the center of our table sat a gorgeous Italian cream cake - my absolute favorite - as a gift from one of my best friends.

"Surely you're going to have a piece," they chimed.

"Well, I certainly am going to make a wish, blow out my candles and take a picture of that beautiful thing!" I said with a big huge smile.

As soon as the luncheon was over, I drove straight to Garvan Woodland Gardens to perform a wedding ceremony - one of four I officiated this weekend. When I got home, lo and behold, the remaining half of that cake PLUS a dozen cookies was sitting in my kitchen! I declare, the sugary concoction developed a voice, and has been calling me ever since.

This is the first time since January 15 I've had "unhealthy choices" in my kitchen, and I can tell I'm not ready. So, I've made up my mind: Tomorrow, when I go to the gym, I'm taking the desserts with me and giving them to the staff. Why not? After all, I'm miserable knowing they're in the fridge; but I'll feel worse if I eat all that sugar. Right? Right.

Maybe Garland Mitchell, the man in the picture, will be there. Next Friday, he'll be 94!! And the gym staff tells me he comes to work out five days a week. THAT'S inspiration!

Here's a little more inspiration. The past two weeks, I've plodded along with one-pound losses each weigh-in. This morning, I stepped on the scale, and knocked down three more pounds - jumping past the big 3-0! Bling, bling!

Final Score: Rebecca - 1; Culinary Trail - 0

I DID IT! I survived eight days on south Louisiana Culinary Trails and still lost a pound!! Although, without a scale on the road, I could't report for yesterday's Healthy You Challenge Tuesday Weigh-in. What's more, I lost additional body mass, bringing the total inches lost since January 15 to 26.25". (Not a mistake this time.) WAHOO!

DH Update: Monday's gall bladder removal went fine. He is moving around enough to prevent soreness, and resting while watching the Master's Tournament. Duh.



And in answer to Felicia's Fun Photo Challenge requesting a picture of where we live, I am posting a picture of Anthony Chapel at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Ark., where our string quartet performs a majority of weddings on the schedule.

Thanks again to all my HYC friends who stopped by to offer encouragment while I was on the road. I'll begin catching up on blog reading tonight.

Louisiana Culinary Tour - Day 7

Yesterday, we mentioned having eaten at Restaurant La Provence, where Chef Rene's big focus is "farm to table." Another journalist on this trip was savvy enough to upload a short video of our trip to a crawfish farm last Thursday so that you can see how these tasty crustaceans are harvested. Click here to meet Chad. (Okay, if you didn't click, you are r-e-a-l-l-y missing out on some healthy south Louisiana scenery.)

Before we left the hotel, I got in a workout on the treadmill in my room, and then ate a healthy breakfast from the Omni's Ideal Nutrition menu.

Once outside the hotel, our group started the morning with famous cafe au lait (coffee with steamed milk) and beignets (ben-YAYS) at the French Quarter's famous Cafe Du Monde. (*sigh* I took pictures and drank my coffee and chickory straight.)

Later in the morning, Louisiana Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu stopped by the Savvy Gourmet to show his support for the state's Culinary Trails program.

While we were there, Chef Matt Brewton showed us how to make an authentic roux using equal parts all-purpose flower and oil (not EVOO or walnut, which will burn). We watched as the cooking flour turned from blonde to paper-bag brown to milk chocolate to dark chocolate. Finally, the group got to sample a chicken-andouille (pronounced ahn-DOO-ee - which is a course, spicy smoked sausage) gumbo and a separate pot of crawfish etouffee.
(I ate moderate portions of each, without the rice.)

By mid-afternoon, we were touring the Audobon Society's newest attraction, The Insectarium. Scheduled to open this summer, it will be the largest free-standing museum in the U.S. devoted to over 900,000 insect species and their relatives. And yes, we were guests for a cooking show at the Cultural Cafe, where a zany chef introduced the "joy" of cooking with insects. Did I sample? No.
I figured if I'm "giving up" so many other foods all week, I'm definitely not going out of my way to eat insects! Nearly every other journalist, however, eagerly chomped down on crickets and ants.

Finally, we said our good-byes at Couchon Restaurant (pronounced COO-shon). Nominated in 2006 for Beard's Best New Restaurant, we enjoyed Chef Stephen Stryjewski's old-style German-Acadian traditions, which he learned from co-owner Chef Donald Link, who showcases the food he grew up preparing and eating at his grandfather's side. I ordered wood-fired oven grilled red fish accompanied with pickled onions and a side of collard greens.

By the way, DH had his gall bladder removed yesterday morning. I'll be flying home today, ready to take over care taking from his parents - who drove up from Louisiana to be with him during surgery.

Thanks again to everybody who stopped by here this week. I'll be visiting your blogs again once I get home. And I'm READY!

Louisiana Culinary Tour - Day 6

Last week, the Brennans of New Orleans joined only two other families - the Marriotts and the Busches - to be inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Culinary Institute of America as one of America's leading hospitality families.



Saturday night, we ate dinner in a 148-year old building overlooking New Orleans City Park at Ralph's on the Park, owned by Ralph Brennan.


Yesterday morning, we enjoyed the time-honored tradition of Sunday brunch in the French Quarter at Brennan's, owned by brother Ted Brennan. Since Katrina, we learned, the restaurant has been busy, but not as busy as before the storm. "We will not accept reservations for more guests than we have staff to handle," says Brennan, "simply because we will not compromise the level of service our customers have come to expect since 1946."



During the afternoon, we trekked up to the Fouberg Saint John (neighborhood area) to celebrate Super Sunday with the Mardi Gras Indians. I can only imagine how many calories they burn inside those elaborate costumes, made by hand and worn only twice a year - on Mardi Gras Day and on St. Joseph Day.

Last night, we drove across Pontchartrain Causeway to the Northshore area of New Orleans for a fine dining experience at Restaurant La Provence. With great emphasis on source to table protocol, Chef Rene Bajeaux delighted our palates with artistically presented authentic terroir cuisine. Several menu choices in the "healthy" category made this outdoor dining experience one of the highlights of my week.

YAY for another on-plan day, and thanks again to everybody who has chimed in with enthusiastic encouragement. I'm looking forward to catching up on your blogs!

Until then, stay tuned...Later today, we're suposed to eat INSECTS!!

Louisiana Culinary Tour - Day 5

Still in Baton Rouge yesterday morning, we didn't leave the Embassy Suites hotel until 9:30 - which left plenty of time for a workout in the hotel fitness center. And because we didn't have a group breakfast on the itinerary, I was able to order oatmeal and fat-free yogurt from the lobby buffet.

Yesterday's meal adaptations and compromises were similar to those I've shared with you in the last several posts. Each chef was happy to help me stay on plan by honoring my special requests.

Last night, we've moved to our home for the next three nights at the Omni Royal Orleans in the French Quarter of New Orleans. I nearly squealed with delight when I walked into my room and saw the treadmill, an amenity which is part of the Omni's Get Fit rooms.

The Omni Hotels Ideal Living program is designed to help you maintain a healthy attitude and lifestyle while you’re traveling. Healthy meal options are available as part of their Ideal Nourishment Program. And Get Fit Rooms like mine are set up for private, in-room workouts. In addition, all of the Omni Hotels' fitness centers have been renovated, complete with top-of-the-line equipment.

What a blessing!

Louisiana Culinary Tour - Day 4

First of all, you HYC gals are awesome! All through the day, your comments show up on my Blackberry email. And although I can't reply to let you know how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness at the time, I want you to know how grateful I am for such amazing encouragement.

Now, to the food. Breakfast at Hub City Diner in Lafayette, La. concluded with this plateful of aromatic comfort food. For appetizers, owner Jason Redmon prepared sweet potato biscuits, blueberry muffins and sweet potato pancakes - all accompanied by butter and syrup. (I ordered oatmeal.)

By lunchtime, we were on Avery Island, home of McIlhenny Co. and TABASCO brands, to attend a press conference to unveil the official Louisiana Culinary Trails Guide and to announce the new website.
The McIlhenny family treated us to this fabulous meal of fried shrimp, crawfish etouffe over rice, green beans and bread pudding. I ate two shrimp, all the crawfish - minus the rice and "sauce" - plus the green beans.

Our evening's exquisite wine dinner at Vic's Chop House in Baton Rouge was jointly sponsored by the restaurant and TABASCO chef Jason Gronlund, and was hosted by the Southern Breeze Wine and Culinary Festival - which we will attend tomorrow.

The five-course meal - each of which was paired with Australian Heath Wines - started with Duck Confit En Croute: tender duck with caramelized shallots, gouda and dill havarti cheese wrapped in puff pastry, served with pepper jelly. The soup course was a Deconstructed Oyster Rockafella Soup, consisting of tender baby spinach nested in a creamy broth, topped with crispy Louisiana oysters and crispy leeks with a dash of TABASCO habanera Pepper Sauce.

Our salad was Parma Chopped Shrimp Salad Cannoli-Style: mixed chopped greens in a light anchovy dressing with La. shrimp served in an aged Grana Pardano cannoli shell with a dash of TABASCO Green Pepper Sauce. (pictured above)

The entree was East-West Surf & Turf: miso-braised pork shank served with lobster eggroll, braised napa cabbage and fuikake mashed potatoes.

Finally, the dessert was a Brule Fruit Kabob with Greek mojito dipping yogurt accompanied by a spiced sangria martini.

I thoroughly enjoyed a bite of duck, a bite of soup, all the salad and about three ounces of pork shank and cabbage. Taking pictures and talking to the chef worked just as I had hoped it would to take the foucs off the fact I wasn't eating complete portions.

By day's end, the total calorie count was once again just under 1200. And the afternoon schedule was loose enough to squeeze in 35 minutes on the hotel's treadmill.

Another day, on the road, on plan. YESSS!

Back in the Nest

DH and I each had uneventful travel days today, returning home after having been in different states on business all week.

If you read my blog post Monday, you know what a test of commitment and creativity a press tour can be to somebody like me who’s trying to stay on plan. Now that I'm back home, I can look back on the week with no regrets - thanks in large part to the enouragement from all my faithful HYC friends who cheered me along the way.

A few “aha” moments on this trip are worth sharing. When I pulled my luggage across the inclined crossover from the parking garage to the airport terminal, I felt strong, not strained this time. Also, I was able to walk around all day every day - usually about four miles - without feeling fatigued or experiencing horrible lower back pain…which used to happen any time I had to stand a long time. I was also able to “stay aware” during meals all week, eating to satisfy hunger instead of something else.

One very nice surprise happened this afternoon when I got home. After DH asked me to go out for a healthy dinner, I changed clothes and learned I can now fit back into my size 14 pants!!

WAHOO!!

Bushed, but Smiling!

One more GoFit ProGym workout this morning before a healthy breakfast of low-fat yogurt and an apple got me off to a good start for the last day of our press tour in Washington County, Texas.

A busy schedule throughout the day helped to log plenty of footsteps for exercise. Food choices at subsequent meals were once again broad enough to include fresh fruit, salads with low-fat dressings, plus grilled meat and steamed or sauteed vegetables

The big surprise of the day came just before lunch at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.

The former President and Mrs. Bush were in town to greet an Australian ambassador, but were kind enough to share their time and hospitality with our group. Visiting with such a kind and gracious couple was a special treat to end a fun, informative and diverse week.

Under the Food Radar

Compared to yesterday, today was a breeze - mostly because I had more choices from which to make healthy-eating selections.

To begin with, our host at The Murski Homestead B&B offered yogurt with fresh fruit for breakfast.

Much to my surprise, lunch at an old family-run cafe turned out fine, too. I was skeptical when I saw the plate special...hamburger steak with gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy and corn. Everybody at my table ordered either giant hamburgers with fries or grilled cheese sandwiches with onion rings. You get the picture.

I almost hated to ask about salads, but I did choose a fajita chicken salad without the cheese. When it arrived, the lettuce was fresh, the bowl was full of crisp veggies, and the chicken was well-seasoned and moist. They even had Wishbone Salad Spritzers! I gotta admit, though, it WAS hard watching everybody else eat those awesome-looking homemade pies for dessert.

For dinner, even though it was a set menu, I enjoyed a green salad, a grilled salmon fillet, and steamed fresh asparagus.

I even managed to work in a crisp, cold apple this afternoon as well as a cup of popcorn during the cocktail hour.

Total calories, just under 1200. Wahoo, AGAIN!! Stay tuned for the last two days on the road. One of the most effective ways to help me stay on course is knowing I'll be writing a blog post at the end of the day; and weigh-in rolls around every Tuesday.

How do you cope with food temptation away from home?

Choices, Choices, Choices

Well, my friends, today was a challenge. Beginning with breakfast, I felt like a newly sober alchoholic in a bar.

Here in Brenham, Texas, we stayed in a very cool B&B
last night; but the second B
almost did me in this morning. Check out this breakfast menu: Custard-soaked french bread, topped with cream cheese, strawberries and chocolate sauce; ham and cheese egg strada with cilantro sauce with a side of salsa; and pork breakfast sausage.
(I ate a cherry almond meal replacement bar!)

For lunch, we were served turkey and cheese sandwiches, potato chips, broccoli salad, kosher pickle spears and brownies! (I ate the meat and one slice of cheese from the sandwich, plus the broccoli salad and pickle.)

During a short late-afternoon break, I found fresh fruit in the kitchen of my new B&B - where I'll be until Thursday. I don't know when I've ever been so glad to eat an apple!

For dinner, the other journalists enjoyed a buffet of taco casserole, chicken and sour cream enchiladas, crawfish jambalaya, chips, guacamole, beef tenderloin and dewberry cobbler.
(I ate the beef tenderloin and a tablespoon of fresh avocado.)

The good news is that before breakfast, I got in a full workout with my new ProGym. During the day, I wore my pedometer, and logged 7,508 steps traipsing around the delightful community of Brenham, Texas.

Oh, I forgot to mention our stop at the Blue Bell Creameries, where they talked about ice cream for an hour before treating everybody to Homemade Vanilla, Cookies and Cream and Celebration Cupcake varieties. I took lots of notes...and watched.

Total calories consumed today? 1230. Whew! I'm glad that's over.

There's a Revolution Going On!

The other day, we discussed the benefits of massage. Today, I realized there's more to it than that.

For instance, whenever I used to get a massage, the first thing I did was to ask for an extra towel, sheet, cover-up, robe...whatever, because usually the ency-weensy one they put out wouldn't cover my butt and thighs. Today, the "usual" one fit, although it was still a bit snug when I sat down.

Before today, I used to always make excuses why my shoulders and back were all tight with marble-sized stress knots, telling the therapist: "I'm a journalist, blah, blah, blah." (Translation: "I sit on my tush at my computer all day long, but am not disciplined enough to prioritize exercise.")

BUT TODAY...!!! When that precious woman started working her magic on my shoulders, back and even my arms, I felt something like speed bumps. Back (blip) and forth (blip). Back (blip) and forth (blip). Every time, the same. IT WAS MUSCLES! REAL MUSCLES!!
I almost cried.

The knots-and-gravel that used to plague my shoulders weren't even there when Yolanda started today's massage. And the work she did perform helped to ease the muscle soreness from yesterday's follow-up visit with my trainer.

Underneath this melting layer of flab, there's a muscular revolution going on. One day, it will be obvious to more than just the massage therapist.

The Best Way to Get Tanked

After work today, DH and I made a quick run to Wal-Mart to exchange empty propane tanks for a full ones so that we could grill shishkabobs for dinner.

After we pulled back into the driveway, DH popped open the tailgate and asked if I could carry one of the two full tanks to the deck.

Sure, I thought. No problem.

Lifting the the tank off the truckbed, it quickly made more sense to carry it with two hands, close to my body, to keep from straining my back. Looking down, I read the label: 17.5 pounds.

"Honey, get a load of this!" I yelled back through the garage. "We've each lost more weight than these tanks weigh!!"

Wow. And hurray for spontaneous celebrations!

Have you had an "aha" moment of comparing your weightloss to external objects?