New Hope and Energy for Spring

Last night I went to a Spring Fashion show at church called Unfading Beauty! The front cover of the program said, "When we live, dress, speak and act in a way that honors God, His Unfading Beauty resounds from us so loudly that it far outshines the superficial beauty of this world." I am glad that we are on this Mission of Fitness together, because I know that this is honoring to God. I love the Spring and have renewed hope for natural and regular exercise. It is so fun to take long walks in the Spring air and watch for the flowers to pop up and see the constant change in the scenery around us. Oh the wonder and beauty of Spring! Through the winter I have exercised enough to maintain my weight and look better, because of the toning etc. I know with the increased activity of Spring I will now shed some pounds - a time of metamorphosis and now I have the tools to keep the weight off once I shed it. We are on a wonderful mission together and I am so pleased that we are walking the journey together! So glad to call all of you FAMILY! Anita

Enjoying Spring Break in Chicago

Hi: I have been enjoying having some extra time for exercise & wellness this week. Our
students are on Spring Break this week, so I took a vacation day Monday which included
go to the fitness center & have a Spa day with 3 friends from our "Mystery Book Club". The
pedicure and massage were a fun treat. I finished my grading for the Winter Trimester today---Yeah!

Jim & I have been enjoying longer walks & the peeking out of spring flowers. We had several wonderful worship experiences during Holy Week & hosted Evelyn & Tom for Easter dinner.

Kathy & Sara--glad you were able to spend some family time together during the Easter holiday weekend. Anita--I hope you had a blessed Easter too! We're looking forward to Marlene's visit to Chicago April 17-20.

Love,
MJH

"On Track Again"

Hi All:
We had a good visit with Sara over the Easter Holiday. Did not do alot of exercise (sitting in the car riding and driving) and ate Great food but to much!!!! Oh well, I am back in my element and back in my routine. I am walking to and from work today as our van is in the shop (long story) I am again doing Zumba and teaching an after school soccer class on Thursdays. I think I will try and walk to work more often as the weather inproves. I am picking up more morning hours in the school office as my friend Sarah the secretary at Franklin has technology training on some new computer programs. We also have kindergarten orientation that I will help with. We have several snow days to make up so our last day is June 9th (half day). I hope all is going well for each of you. I will share a quote from my Weight Watchers Magazine:
"BELIEVING THAT I WILL CONQUER MY EMOTIONAL EATING. EVERY POUND I LOSE MAKES ME MORE AND MORE CONFIDENT THAT I HAVE THE STRENGTH TO FIND NEW WAYS TO COPE."

Love to All,
KRJ

Back in the groove in Wausau

Hi All:
Sorry it has been so long since my last post. We had a wonderful and relaxing vacation in Mexico. The weather was fantastic - in the mid 80's all week and sunny. We enjoyed our "couple" time very much. Wayne and I ran and walked while on vacation. We also ate and drank more than usual, but are back to our routine again. Saturday we attend a "Cruise Party" which was great fun. We danced alot and enjoyed great conversation with friends. We got home about 1:00 a.m. The work weeks for both Wayne & I stay busy. I work in a have a very challenging classroom this year, so keeps me on my toes. We leave tomorrow for Warrensburg to visit with Sara. It will be fun to have family time before she is off to Portland. I hope all are doing well and we send our Easter Blessing to each of you.

Love,
KRJ

More Birthday Greetings from NE!

Happy Birthday Jim! Hope your steak tasted great tonight! I had a great Spring Break! I did lots of shopping and found some great buys! Better yet I had some great outings with friends and with Brandon. I did get in good exercise! My kickboxing DVD is a challenge for me. I cannot do the whole DVD yet, but will work up my endurance until I can. This week is very busy at work and next week will be too. I get Good Friday off and then go back to a plan day on the Monday after Easter. I know this school quarter will go by fast too! Speaking of Easter and Easter candy - I am looking forward to malted milk ball Easter eggs. I don't think they are too high in calories. Well - I hope that you are enjoying some delicious birthday dessert tonight Jim! Love to all, Anita

Birthday greetings from NE

Happy Birthday Wayne! Hope you have a fantastic time in Mexico! Yeah-my Spring Break just started. I am getting together with friends for breakfast this morning. We are supposed to have rain starting tonight and lasting through Tues. That should make the yard green up and the Spring flowers appear. I maintained my weight this week, but only walked for exercise. I know that this week will be full of exercise. I plan on getting in some Mall walking alias shopping today. Brandon had the flu on Mon. for his first official day of his break, but bounced back wonderfully on Tues. I will be excited to hear about his adventures in Utah when he returns tomorrow night! Wayne with all of your energy you are a Spring Chicken and each year brings you more friends and more love! Blessings! Anita

Excited for Vacation and March Madness

Hi All:
The weather is variable here from day to day. Today I walked to work and back it was brisk and refreshing. I went to Zumba last night and have been walking and exercising on a daily basis. I am on my own as my walking partner Sarah left tonight for Atlanta to visit her son. I will get up early and go walking so I can watch Blair Taylor and Marquette play basketball in the am and Wisconsin in the evening. I am packing my clothing for vacation ( I have to many clothes) but don't tell my husband. The love of my life will be 55 on Saturday so we shall celebrate with dinner in Madison before we drop off Ben. Ben and Sara have been very busy with papers. But I think Ben enjoyed just being home and getting "real food" for a change. Sara had alot going on, but sounded like she accomplished many things also. I am proud of them both for making good choices. We will be off to sunny Los Cabos so this will be my last blog for a week or so. The temperature has been in the 80's there so I can definately handle that. Everyone have a great weekend and enjoy the warmer weather. Talk to you soon.

Love,
KRJ

March Madness & Exercise in Chicago

Hi: Jim & I were delighted to go for an hour walk today to the Zoo & Conservatory.
I was so grateful for 50 degree temperatures! We know it will be an important week
for exercise to prevent "sprouts" from growing as we enjoy the March Madness college
BB tournments. In fact we hope to go to the Health Club & watch some of the games as
we glide on the ellipticals & walk on the treadmills. I have been trying to do alot of writing
on my dissertation proposal with the goal of forwarding to all my committee members this
coming week. I sure wish writing burned more calories!!

The streets of Chicago are filled with "green" St. Patrick revelers this weekend. Sara--We fondly
remember the year you celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Chicago. Jim plans to make his tasty
Irish Lamb Stew tomorrow for our St. Patrick's day dinner with Mary.

Love you all lots,
MJH

Healthy eating in NE

I did well in terms of healthy food choices again this week. I was slow still on the exercise side of things. I am almost back to normal health wise. I did fine in terms of weight maintenance. According to the school scale I have went down 1/2 of a pound each of the past two weeks. The week ahead is supposed to be nicer weather wise so that should get me out for some walks. Brandon hopes to get his homework done on Mon. and Tues. before heading to Utah on Wed. He is with a couple of his friends tonight that are home from Texas on their Spring Break. I am sure that both Sara and Ben are enjoying their Spring breaks and a little slower pace for a week. I am hoping to call Wayne early for his birthday with your trip coming up soon! I am excited for Spring as I know all of you are too. Yeah, Spring is in the air! Anita

Cold Again in Wausau

Hi All:
We have had really cold weather with wind chills in the -16 below again. I can't take much more of this!!!! I am glad to hear your feeling better Anita. Wayne came down with a cold-sinus a few days ago. I told him to go to the Dr. he sounds like he has the same symptoms as Anita had. We have a lot of strep throat going around also. Today, Thursday we will head to get Ben from Madison to come home for the week. He also had and has alot or work completed and more to do. I stocked up on his favorite foods so we will have to spoil him this week. Sara of course is extremely busy and cannot wait until her break. I have continued my walking, workouts and Zumba. I plan to teach a soccer after school program next month on Thursdays after school and than join a Yoga class that is at school on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. I will continue with the Zumba also. Wayne and I are counting the days until we leave for Los Cabos. The temp. has been in the high 80-90 degrees. Hope the weekend is great for all.

Love,
KRJ

"Soggy" in Chicago

Hi: I hope your healing process continues to go well Anita!! Jim & I had
a dip in our exercise patterns this past week, however hope to get back on track
this week when both our work schedules look more sane. We had a nice long walk
on Friday night when the temperature was in the 50s! It rained and rained on Sat.
and Sunday in Chicago. Kathy--Great to hear your excellent health news!

Have a super week!!

MJH

Heading for a positive climb in NE

Glad you annual check-up went well Kathy! Keep up the healthy life-style it is paying off big time. I have been healthy all school year, but one of those upper respiratory blahs hit me this week. I stayed home on Monday, because coughing, sore throat and laryngitis type symptoms don't make for effective Speech therapy provision. I hadn't improved on Tues. morning so went to the doctor. I did get medicine, and was told that I had an upper respiratory infection with a viral component also. I stayed home still on Wed., but was back to work on Thurs. Needless to say I only had my pedometer points to count for exercise this week. I did have a craving for the good foods and not the bad, so I did not gain any weight. I am really looking forward to being active again, but will start out slow today with perhaps a half hour of moderate aerobics and see if I can pick up the pace tomorrow. I guess the good news is that I have the motivation to exercise, because I am tired of being slowed down. We all have a lot to be thankful for in our overall good health. Another bit of positive news. Brandon is going to Utah on Wed. March 18th and will come back on Sun. March 22nd. He is going with his Chi Alpha group. It is a missions trip, so he has limited expenses for the trip. He is going with a great group of people so is very excited. He had two big tests this past week and I know he has at least one major test coming up this next week. He will definitely be ready for break. Wishing all of you a healthy and movement filled week! Anita

Looking forward to warmer weather in Wausau

Hi All:
We are finally suppose to get some needed warmer weather. I washed my car today so I think that should count as exercise. I walked and went to my "Zumba" class. I love this activity. It does not seem like exercise it is very fun. I would suggest trying it out. Anita your new DVD's sound like fun also. It sure helps to have variety in your workout. I went to the Dr. for my annual visit. I am having my cholestrol, blood sugar etc. looked at and have to schedule a colonoscopy for summer. My blood pressure and weight she told me were excellent so that is always good to hear no major problems for this 56 year old. Wayne and I are helping with a speed skating event on Saturday. We have social hour at church with my mom on Sunday so need to plan something healthy to share. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week and weekend.

Love,
KRJ

Hats off to the birthday girl!

Kathy congratulations on your 56 years, and hats off to you on your great fitness choices. I had a great week in the exercise category. I got in an hour of high impact aerobics on Sun., Tues., Thurs., and Sat. The other days I just had my pedometer points and cleaning points. I did get some snow shoveling points on Sat. morning. We woke up to somewhere between 3 to 5 inches of snow, but more snow than that decided to drift into parts of our driveway. With the exercise I guess I also let myself have some treats that I was desiring, so I did not lose any weight, but at least maintained. I came down with a cold and am at the coughing stage today, so decided not to do my high impact aerobics. I did buy two new exercise DVDs on sale at Shopko: Super-charged Kickbox party by Jeanette Jenkins, and Dance off the inches Samba, Cha cha, and Jive. I am looking forward to adding the variety to the workouts. Our sermon this morning was on belonging. I am very thankful that I belong to the family that I do! BEST WISHES ON YOUR FITNESS ENDEAVORS! Anita

Again with the snow in Wausau

Hi All:
It is my Birthday and once again we are being blanketed with snow. I am very tired of this white stuff. I should have known it would snow because Sara is flying to Wisconsin. Today I am 56 years young and proud of the accomplishments I have made with my weight and fitness program. I will continue to keep my health and fitness program a priority. I want to say Thank you to everyone for the wonderful cards, phone calls and e-mails and flowers. What a wonderful family I have. I Love You All!!!

KRJ

Staying the Course in NE

Hi All,
I can relate to Marj and the hope to get a little more formal exercise in this week. I did well the past week with my overall eating choices. I did get an hour of aerobic exercise on Sun., Mon., and Sat., but the days in between were a matter of my counting my pedometer steps. I did eat less for most of my evening meals and upped my intake of vegetables. I lost 1/2 pound instead of putting any weight back on. I am thinking that this week looks promising for getting in my exercise and making healthy food and beverage choices. Thanks for walking the walk with me of mission-fit! I keep reminding myself that in this endeavor too - patience is a virtue. Have a great week all! Anita

More Snow in the Windy City Too!!

Hi: We are having a snowy Sat. in Chicago. Fortunately it is not windy, so Jim & I took a winter walk in the morning. We especially enjoyed walking around the North Pond area where the waterfowl were gathering. I mostly have fit 30 minute walks this week into my schedule. Hopefully next week Jim & I will schedule more time at the Health Club. Jim had an especially busy work week, so was burning the "midnight oil" a few nights.

I am busy this weekend making revisions to my dissertation proposal. I am hoping to get copies to my full committee next week. Jim & I are looking forward to meeting Evelyn & Tom for dinner this evening. Their 12th Wedding Anniversary is Sunday! Have a great Birthday week Kathy!!

Love,
MJH

More Snow Falling in Wausau

Hi All:
Yes, we have more SNOW!!!! I am definitely tired of this white stuff!!!! At least it is not so COLD!!!! I have a cold so not feeling 100%, but I continue the exercise routine. Wayne and I plan to take a snowshoe hike on Rib Mt. on Saturday evening. We did that last year and it was great fun. Also, a great workout. We signed the lease on Ben's Studio Apt. on Monday, so that was monumental for all of us. Wayne and I walked last night as I subbed for a "Little Chefs" after school program at Franklin last night. I will walk after work for 1 hour and then head to my Zumba class. I love this class it is so much fun!!! Have a great rest of the week.

Love to All,
KRJ

Windy City Participation Back on Track

Hi: Sorry for the delay in communication. I had limited internet access when I was in Las Vegas.
Jim & I had a good time with our vacation weekend & my PT conference activities went well Mon-Thurs.
Jim & I did a lot of walking, as well as visited the fitness center one a.m. Our favorite walk was a
2 hour hike in the Red Rock Canyon area--about 15-20 miles outside of Las Vegas on Sunday. I need to remember to bring my pedometer along the next time I am on a conference trip. There were over 8,000 PTs at the conference!!

Jim & I have had an enjoyable Valentine's weekend. We definitely have had a few more treat foods over the weekend, so I look forward to more balance in the upcoming weeks. We plan to head to the health club Sunday late afternoon for some time on the glider or treadmill.

Sara--We were so excited to hear about your summer position in Portland, Oregon!! Jim & I discussed we may need to take a vacation to the Northwest this summer. I love Olympic National Park in Washington & the Columbia River recreational area in Oregon has been on my wish list of places to visit for a while.

Have a great week!

MJH

Happy "Heart" Day To All

Hi All:
We have alot to celebrate today with Valentine's Day as we are all working to keep our "Hearts" healthy. I have continued my exercise routine of walking, dvds and Zumba. We are going out with friends for a Valentine's Dinner. I'll have to work extra hard tomorrow after a few added calories. Enjoy your day.

Love to All,
KRJ

Snow day in Lincoln

It was interesting waking up this morning to a snow free lawn, and knowing that we were having a snow day. I received the call at 10:15 p.m. last night that we would be having the snow day. I believe the administration knew what they were doing though. We are getting the predicted snow. Snowflakes started flying by 8:00 a.m. This afternoon it is to turn to "thunder snow" at the rate of 2" per hour.

I am happy to report that I have stayed on track with my exercise this week. I got in my hour of aerobics DVD time every day except Wed. I did get in 12,000 steps on my pedometer on Wed. I went down one pound. I need to be better about watching my food intake. The food tip from N-lighten NE this week was to check out the www.mypyramid.gov website. With the My Pyramid tracker you can assess your food intake and physical activity. The exercise tip was to get up a half hour earlier two mornings a week if necessary to get in your exercise and then to add a third morning as your body adjusts. I think I will need to follow that tip next week. I have parent teacher conferences both Tues. until 6:30 and Thurs. until 7:30. On Tues. night I have a get together with some friends at 7:00 p.m. and Thurs. night a church activity I would like to participate in at 7:30. I have my Bible study as usual on Wed. night at 7:00 p.m. Today I am getting in my time with my hour of aerobic DVDs and getting some dusting, vacuuming and clothes wash accomplished.

Blessings to all! Glad we are on this journey together. I enjoy hearing your success stories! Love to you, Anita

Routine works for me

Hi All:
I continue to have a routine, which I agree is most helpful. I get up in the morning and exercise using one of my dvd's. I walk seven days a week with my friend. This routine certainly has helped me with maintance of my weight and I feel more energetic. I have added some strength training to the mix to add alittle spice. We all can do this! Keep up the good work.

Love To All,
KRJ

Hello, Hello!

Happy Tuesday Everyone (well...almost Wednesday)!

Yes, Anita a busy schedule does tend to challenge my time to devote to exercise, but like the trainer and dietitian from your program I truly think a routine helps...setting time in your schedule to workout...we are all making great progress. Kudos!

As for me, this weekend I fully enjoyed the warm 60s and 70s in MO. On Friday I went for a walk, followed by a long walk on Saturday and 2 + hours worth of dancing and country line dancing during my evening adventures for a change of pace :) I enjoyed myself, had fun, and definitely got a workout...a Country version of Dancing With the Stars...just maybe!

I have continued the gym workout today with a trip to the union gym with 3 of my community advisors (some female staff bonding time), and a brisk walk outdoors to enjoy the weather with Kelly. I am headed to the gym at 7:00 am tomorrow as well, so I think it is time to sign off!

Love to All and Stick With It!!!!!!!

Tips from NE

Hi all,
I had a very busy week, and did not get in as much exercise. That is interesting since it was my first week of the N-Lighten challenge. This week looks better! I was like Sara had mentioned the one week. I needed to get plenty of sleep, because I knew I needed to stay the course with all of the work that I needed to accomplish. I guess we need to allow ourselves those occasional times and then get back on course. I thought I would share with you the tips from N-Lighten in a short version.
Gary Bredehoft, CSCS of Tiger Coaching & Personal Training
I am a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as well as a Certified Personal Trainer through the American Council on Exercise. I am also a certified USA Triathlon coach through the Olympic-training center in Colorado Springs, Colorado as well as holding many other certifications and accomplishments. You are welcome to get to know me at www.tigercoaching.com.
“Create a habit, something you do every day, to develop that quality you need to reach your goal.
You can do it. No matter what your dream is, you can make it happen if you follow these four simple steps: 1) Choose a goal, 2) see yourself succeeding, 3) choose a quality, and 4) create a habit to develop your quality. Commit to these four steps.
The difference between people is there are those who are interested and there are those who are committed. A key to success in life is going from being just interested to being fully committed. Once you are committed you will produce results.”

Cami Wells, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Cooperative Extension in Hall County, Nutrition Tip
“Myth: Eating carbohydrates makes you fat.
Fact: Many foods high in carbohydrates, like bread, rice, pasta, cereals, beans, fruits, and some vegetables (like potatoes and corn) are low in fat and calories. They become high in fat and calories when eaten in large portion sizes or when combined with high-fat foods like butter, sour cream, or mayonnaise. These high carbohydrate foods are important sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber as well as energy.”
Any N-Lighten exercise tips that I share will come from Gary and Nutrition tips will come from Cami. Hope all is well for everyone. I know that I will get in good exercise today! Love you family! Anita

Rolller Coaster Temps

Hello, Hello!

It has definitely been a week of crazy temps in Warrensburg. It went from in the 60s this weekend to 2 degrees this morning...yikes! However, the weather is suppose to improve considerable in the coming days. I continue to go the gym on Monday (ran late...but I got there), Wednesday, and will be hittin' it up on both Thursday and Friday. On Tuesday night I walked a beagle named Callie for one of the fabulous faculty/housing administrators (Brenda), so I had a change of pace from the traditional exercise routine. It was chilly, but I enjoyed viewing the very nice homes in the subdivision on our walk. I am looking forward to the end of the work week, as I have been very busy. Hope all is well across the Midwest :)

Staying warm in Wisconsin with Exercise

Hi All:
Well I continue to walk, yesterday when I got home Wayne asked me if I new the wind chill was minus 10. Walking briskly I did't seem to notice. I have a new favorite exercise video. Reebok Step. It really gets my heart rate up and makes me "sweat". It is a good video for all over exercise. I love the cool down as it uses the step for that also. I continue to try and do videos or dvd's in variety. The mornings are best for me to do this, than I walk after work. We are suppose to get some relief from the cold by the weekend. I hope so!!! Remember to drink your water. Until next time!

Love to all,
KRJ

Way to Go In The Burg!!!!

Cheers to you and your exercise efforts Sara! I know that my Masters degree year was very challenging (actually about the most challenging time of my whole life) so it is great that you already have the tools at your young age to know how to destress and take care of yourself! It is cool that we are all on a journey to maintain our "temples" for life and service and all of the joys that God has for us. I also think that this Dec., Jan., Feb., stretch is the difficult one and then we hit Spring. I just wanted to let you know that I am very proud of you!!! I am proud of all of us and the choices that we are making!! Go TEAM! A.

Recommitment in the BURG

Hi All!

Thanks to a friendly prodding from Miss Kelly R...I am back and ready to post more frequently. I am back on track with a workout schedule after a very busy weekend of interviews for community advisor positions. I headed to the union workout room this morning and did some cardio on the elliptical and the StairMaster and finished with some abs work.

The semester continues to get busier and busier, so I too am feeling the pressure to sleep in or skip out on a workout if I am tired or after long days (I have had meetings with students both planned and unplanned until well past 10:30 pm all nights this week). However, I do have to keep focused on the end result...being happier and healthier for myself...putting myself first.

I will be heading to the union workout room Thursday evening and Friday morning, so I am definitely focusing on making time for myself...or I will go crazy! Love you all lots and look forward to more posts coming your way :)

~SJ

Working Hard in Wisconsin

Hi All:
I have been walking all this week and each morning I do several workout dvd's, toning and weights. It definately gets me going. It is still so cold here I want to go somewhere warm!!!!Tonight I have Zumba at 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Sara got me hooked on the Ocean Spray diet juice, only 5 calories cranberry and grape are great. I should sign off and get ready head to class.

Love to All,
KRJ

Checking In and Waiting for news from the Burg and from the windy city!

Thanks for checking concerning the Zumba DVDs Kathy! We have been getting just a little snow each day since Friday, but haven't had very much accumulation. Just a 1/2 inch to an inch that accumulates each time. I did finish the end of last week strong with my exercise. I did not exercise on Sunday or Monday, so plan to get in an hour tonight. To increase my workout intensity I decided to try uping the pounds on my hand weights a little. I already have different sizes. I will try my 6 pound weights. One of the healthy eating choices that I have been making the last two weeks is in my choice of breads. We have a store near Zeman that makes fresh breads. It is called the Grain Bin. I found out that they have good sales on Monday! The breads are delicious and help me to get in my grains and for some of the choices also some fiber. I start my N-Lighten NE accountability on Sunday. Looking forward to hearing some news from the "Burg" and from the "Windy City"! Glad that you are enjoying your exercise Kathy! Good News - I have only two more progress reports to finish and I will have completed all for the First semester! Love to all! Anita

Another Deep Freeze In WI

Hi All:
We do have an instructor for our Zumba class. She is a parent of a student but is certifield to teach the class. She learned through instruction, but also with DVD's. I will get the name of them and let you know. She said we could borrow them if we wanted so I might do that. Friday evening I walked inside at school for 1 1/2 hours with my friend and did a video in the a.m. The weather on Saturday was -30 wind chill, so I did several exercise videos ( I was joined by my wonderful husband for 1 of them.) I also did some tone work and weights. Today, Sunday I did two exercise videos a step and one to tone. Tonight I will do some weights. It was -27 wind chill today also. We went to church to the store and home to hibernate. REMEMBER TO DRINK YOUR WATER!

Love to All,
KRJ

Questions From NE

I'm glad that you had a great time Zumba dancing! Do you have an instructor or are you using a DVD to learn from? If you know of a good Zumba DVD let me know. Perhaps in Feb. I will be brave enough to try on a swimsuit and hang it up for motivation! Way to go Kathy - I think that you are leading the pack in motivation! I'm glad most of all that you are having fun in the process! I did get in a 45 minute walk today, and am signing off to get in 30 minutes of my high intensity workout! Girls just gotta have fun - and so do guys!!!! Keep moving one and all! A.R.

Zumba Was GREAT

Hi All:
I had my Zumba class last night and it is really fun and great exercise. One male was even there. It is alot of dance moves which doesn't make it seem like exercise at all. I have been faithfully walking everyday and have done one or two videos each morning. The weather has been better here, but the weekend also sounds very chilly. I really enjoyed watching the Inauguration! I do have a new swim suit hanging up to keep me motivated.

Love to All!
KRJ

Excuses In NE

Hi Family,
I put in an hour of exercise on Sun. and 30 minutes on Mon., but have not exercised on Tues. or Wed. My excuse was that I have a slight cold and need my rest. I went to a friend's house for supper on Tues. evening and went to my Bible study tonight. I think perhaps I am making excuses, because I really would have had time to put in at least a half hour of exercise both Tues. and Wed. if I would have made it a priority. I thought I would share this helpful info. from the N-Lighten NE website in case any of you run into your own excuses.

"Tackle Your Obstacles
There are as many excuses to not exercise as the day is long. From being too tired to not having enough time, the list is endless and excuses creep into our minds and easily convince us to skip our daily fitness session. Your goal this week is to admit to those obstacles and find ways over, under, or around them!

First, take several minutes and make a list of all the reasons why you don’t engage in more physical activity. Make sure to be very honest with yourself. Then, next to each activity write at least two possible solutions. It’s important to write these things down so you have a solution list to refer to whenever you face a possible road block. "

I know that another excuse for me is that I am busy with a lot of paperwork for the end of the semester right now. My excuses are fading, because I know that a 30 minute period of exercise is not too difficult for me with my cold and if I change my choice of activity to walking - an hour would also not be too difficult. As for my paperwork. Physical activity actually helps a person de-stress, so the activity is even more important now. So hopefully you will hear me report in some exercising between now and Sunday! I have no excuse to not get in an outdoor walk tomorrow. We are supposed to reach 50 degrees tomorrow and then drop again drastically on Friday and stay cold through at least Tues. If Marj and Jim are walking in 0 degrees and happy about it - I think that I can get some fresh air on a mild day. Thanks for the motivation! The theatre night out sounded like a lot of fun! Take Care all, and my next blog title will be a positive swing letting you know my progress. We will be fit and have fun! Anita

Excited to be Above "O" degrees in Chicago

Greetings! Jim and I are excited that we can walk outdoors again with
the temperature finally above 0 degrees. We've made use of our health club
membership this week for two visits & plan to get back again tomorrow.

I find I am more conscientious about my eating habits when I am exercising.
It seems I'm more likely to decline empty calories if I know I am going to
totally erase my effort on the treadmill with a couple bites.

We're looking forward to attending a play this evening at the Steppenwolf Theater
called Seafarer with John Mahoney (played the Father in Frazier). A nice treat after
a wintry week. We plan to walk part of the way to the theater to get some more
exercise. Definitely one of our strategies for exercise is to walk to our neighborhood
businesses and fun spots.

Love,
MJH

Deep Freeze in NE also

Brrr... I can relate. The wind chills were very cold today and we are supposed to start out even colder tomorrow. I have been getting in 4 hours of exercise per week, but dividing it up in different ways. Most weeks I exercise an hour each on 4 days with 3 days off. Usually I have 3 days on which I do an aerobic exercise DVD - 30 minutes moderate and 30 minutes high intensity and then one day a week do a 60 minute Pilates DVD that focuses more on toning. Kathy, let me know how you like the Zumba dancing. I have looked at Zumba dancing on You Tube and it looks like fun, but I haven't tried it yet. I have been pretty good about my eating habits until this week. I have had a little too much sugar Mon., Tues., and Wed., so have promised myself to watch the sugar intake tomorrow. I am glad that you enjoy your students and coworkers at the "BURG" Sara! It sounds like you have a very sensible exercise routine going. Kathy and Wayne enjoy your weekend with Ben - with the trip back to Madison. Brandon has now had 3 days of classes and likes his schedule this semester even better than last semester. Happy exercising to all! I hate to keep repeating myself - but this blog is really helping to keep me motivated. Thank you one and All! AR

From the DEEP FREEZE

Hi All:
It has been really cold here, but we did have outdoor recess today and I had many crying children to contend with. They have already cancelled school for tomorrow because of the weather conditions. That seldom happens. I have been able to walk at school, but mostly have been doing videos at home. I have off for five days because of the cancellation of school tomorrow and only am classes on Friday and we also have Monday off. We will take Ben back to Mad town on Saturday. I sure hope it gets warmer so I can walk outside.

Love To All
KRJ

Update from the BURG

Hi All :)

Sorry for my absence...busy getting back in the swing of things at school! Today was the first official day of classes, so it is definitely nice to have all of the students back and in the halls. It is also nice that I can now get into a daily routine with the majority of my schedule outlined.

As for Mission: FITpossible the following has been my activities:

Wednesday: morning run, and long walk throughout the BURG with Kelly...and lots of chatting :)
Friday: pilates video and taebo in my apt
Saturday: morning run
Sunday: morning run and afternoon walk with Kelly and friend Kiley
Monday: morning run
Tuesday: 45 minutes on the elliptical and pilates video

Gotta keep committed to the plan and making sure I have my workout scheduled!!!

Love to all!

SJ

Exercise the "Cold Away"

Hi All:
I walked this week Monday-Friday and Sunday. I have been working out to some different DVD's also. Wayne & I danced alot on Saturday at the Anniversary so I think we burned a few calories. I am starting a "Zumba" class at school on Wednesday evenings. I am excited and will let you know how it goes. Today it was about zero when we walked, but it is so much better outside than walking indoors the fresh air is GREAT. It was good to see Wendell. He has lost some weight and I shared with him about our BLOG so hopefully he will join in also. Wayne is back to running also and will share more soon.
Love to all.
KRJ

I Feel Nifty at Fifty

Hi: I do feel nifty at 50, and hopefully exercising will help to
continue those feelings. I have had a great 5oth Birthday week-with
lots of cards, phone calls, gifts, dinner, and more! I am so blessed!!!!!!!!
Thanks for all your acts of caring!

Jim & I have exercised at our Health Club two days and have also taken
a couple winter walks. We walked back from the Health Club today in the
snow, so hopefully we burned extra calories. It has been snowing & snowing & snowing...

We were sorry that we were unable to travel to Larry & Mary's 50th anniversary party with the inclement weather. I think our health club membership will come in handy next week......with zero and subzero tempertures predicted. I know setting exercise times on my calendar is
a good strategy for me, especially in the cold weather.

Love you all lots. MJH

A Toast To The Nifty Fifty Mission Fit Member

Happy 50th on Thursday Marj! A Toast to Marj the caring, kind and loving "Wife", "Sis", "Aunt", "Daughter", "Friend", "Co-worker" and most of all "Co-Sojourner" in this walk of Faith in God! Thanks for who you are to all of us! You are a blessing and a present to our lives! Have a wonderful day, a year of promise, hope, and of course fitness (after all this is a fitness blog)! Looking forward to your next blog post and thank you Kathy and Sara for your recent posts! I took a rest from exercise on Monday, but have fit in an hour of exercise on Tues. and Wed. Hope all went well with your travels Sara and that you and Kelly have had a chance to enjoy some exercise already in Warrensburg. Kathy I'm sure that you and Sarah F. have a lot to catch up on after a holiday break. It is cool that like mother - like daughter you both have your exercise partners. And of course Marj has Jim as an exercise partner so that is cool too. On Feb. 1st I start my N-Lighten NE accountability group with my co-workers. So my next question is I know that Wayne is great at fitting in his running. Is he following the blog at all? Hats off to Wayne for keeping up his running through all the years I can remember! I know that Wayne is also a great walking and exercise partner for Kathy and that you help each other in your commitments! Love to all! Anita

Back in the swing

Hi All:
It is good to be back walking with my friend Sarah. Monday we walked outside and today inside because I had a church meeting at 5:15 p.m. It was a sad day also as Sara went back to MO, but what a great Holiday with family. I have set up my workout schedule and will have Ben help me with the electronic end of things so I am ready to go in the morning. I have enjoyed the "blog" alot and look forward to it's continued motivation.

LOVE TO ALL,
KATHY

Kudos All Around!

Thanks Anita! You have been great at planning fitness into your schedule too...and I hope that the return to school went well for you today!

As for me, I ventured out for a final "cold weather" run today before returning to MO. It felt good to get outside as the temperatures have not allowed for outdoor activity in the past few days. I hope to get a run in tomorrow when I get back to Warrensburg.

Happy Monday/almost Tuesday Everyone!

I close with a quote, "What have you done today to make you feel proud?" -Lyrics from the song Proud by Heather Small, The Biggest Loser Theme Song

Kuddos to our fearless Mission FIT leader

Wishing you a safe trip back to MO! Wow you have a great plan! An exercise buddy, exercise membership, color coded exercise schedule times, best wishes for a FIT 2009! I don't think you have left an stone unturned! With admiration, A. in NE

Routine/Appointment in MO

Thanks for the updates everyone! I too will be setting aside an appointment in my schedule for working out. My friend Kelly and I are going to join the Warrensburg Community Center, so I feel that paying for the membership and having an exercise buddy (we have been good motivators for each other during first semester), will be very helpful towards the mission. Working out will be an official part of my color coded schedule :) I will label it appointment FIT...Happy New Year!!!

More From NE

Wow! I guess this is the year for close bowl games. I watched most of the Husker game in the Gator Bowl yesterday. I know that Missouri won NW in overtime. The Husker's barely pulled off a victory. Clemson was so close to a touchdown at the end of the game. It could easily have gone either way. I still haven't done any shopping since being back in Lincoln, so haven't gotten any exercise mall walking. Kathy I think that you are wise to establish an exercise plan or routine. I did great yesterday and today getting in my exercise, but next week when I start back to my full time work routine it will be more difficult. I found another good word of wisdom on the N-Lighten NE site. It fits with Kathy's scheduling idea. Here it is: Making an appointment with yourself:

I suggest you look at your calendar and make an appointment with yourself. Block out a time each day or several days a week that is your time with yourself to do whatever physical activity you choose. Physically write the appointment down or type it into your electronic calendar. Putting things in writing means we are more likely to do them. Then, treat your appointment with yourself as a high-priority meeting. Do not reschedule, put off, or cancel this appointment. Treat it with the utmost importance.

Think of it this way. The reward for your time will be incredible. Stress relief, better sleep, increased energy, and a general sense of well-being are all benefits of regular physical activity. Not to mention, all of the health benefits that are also associated with increased physical activity.

Whether you are just starting out or have been engaged in regular fitness activities for a long time, making an appointment with yourself will help you to increase the amount of physical fitness in your daily life.
I know that my blogging will also slow down next week when I am back at work. The site has been very helpful to me with accountability this week and thinking through when I can have my exercise appointments next week. Love to you! Anita

Fresh Start for the New Year

Thank you Anita for the update and the information. I also like a variety of exercise and plan today to set up a program for daily variety. Iwill of course continue to walk daily, but in the mornings I will motivate myself to do something different. We had a quiet New Year with my mom, but we did stay up until after midnight. Enjoy your day!