Loss, as in weight loss, can be a good thing. It can also be a bad thing as in a lost cell phone or car keys. And other times it can even be sad. Jackie and his family lost a very valuable member this week--his 95-year old grandmother. She was a wonderful, Christian woman who was admired and respected by many. I was not fortunate enough to know her as long as many other--only 19 years--and never had the pleasure of meeting her husband of over 50 years (he passed away the year before Jackie and I married). I am glad she has gone to be with him. She was one of 12 children, many of which are still alive.
When we saw her last on the 4th of July she was "unresponsive" and had been that way for several weeks. I will miss her. I will miss the many stories she always had to tell about growing up with so many brothers and sisters, her life with "dad" on the farm, and even stories about when Jackie was a young boy (I'm sure he won't miss hearing those). I will fondly remember her homemade bread and cherry pie, the smile she had for everyone, but mostly the love she had for her family and friends and God. She even loved me.
We will be leaving tomorrow afternoon to go to Lubbock for the funeral Friday afternoon. We will come home as soon as it is over.
Betty
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
YMCA
Today we went to the local YMCA. We have been members since March, but today we finally registered with the FitLinx program. Even though the young man who signed us up was new and obviously needed a bit more training, the program appears to be really neat.
They go through a series of questions--the usual background, health, what are you looking for from this program, which of your first born children are you prepared to sacrifice--and record all the answers in the computer. Then you get to the fun stuff of assigning workout programs (you know, choosing which mediaval torture chambers you want to be subjected to). After that it gets better and they test you in these chambers to see which can make you cry like a girl the most (also known as setting your range-of-motion). Then the true torture begins--start exercising!
When you begin on a machine you enter your ID number and it tracks how many wimpers and how many outright screams you let out, along with how long you lasted in a particular chamber and how much torture they were able to subject you to. The machines then assign points for the various wimpers versus screams. Understand the more screams the more points for assigned for that particular machine. After a certain amout of torture, ie., number of points, you are rewarded with free t-shirts and such. Now I am all about free t-shirts--ask my family. They will tell you that I do a 5K walk for the shirts and food (haha). I know I'm sick.
Now off those couches and head to your local Y! Let's be enthusiastic about that torture--you'll feel better for it! Let's see who can get to 15,000 points first!!! C'mon t-shirt!!!
Here's to less of me!
Betty
They go through a series of questions--the usual background, health, what are you looking for from this program, which of your first born children are you prepared to sacrifice--and record all the answers in the computer. Then you get to the fun stuff of assigning workout programs (you know, choosing which mediaval torture chambers you want to be subjected to). After that it gets better and they test you in these chambers to see which can make you cry like a girl the most (also known as setting your range-of-motion). Then the true torture begins--start exercising!
When you begin on a machine you enter your ID number and it tracks how many wimpers and how many outright screams you let out, along with how long you lasted in a particular chamber and how much torture they were able to subject you to. The machines then assign points for the various wimpers versus screams. Understand the more screams the more points for assigned for that particular machine. After a certain amout of torture, ie., number of points, you are rewarded with free t-shirts and such. Now I am all about free t-shirts--ask my family. They will tell you that I do a 5K walk for the shirts and food (haha). I know I'm sick.
Now off those couches and head to your local Y! Let's be enthusiastic about that torture--you'll feel better for it! Let's see who can get to 15,000 points first!!! C'mon t-shirt!!!
Here's to less of me!
Betty
Saturday, July 26, 2008
4-Letter Word
Isn't it ironic that we raise our children to not say "4-letter words", yet as adults there is one we hear most likely every day and think nothing of it--diet. This is an awful word yet is readily accepted and used by society.
Earlier this year I was involved in a group discussion with a human resource consultant. The topic of employee probations was brought up and the consultant challenged us. She asked why we put employees on probation for a specified period of time. She said, "That is like saying you can't perform this particular action for 90 days but after that it's okay." Wow! What an eye-opening statement. I had never quite looked at it that way but it makes perfect sense--I don't want my employees to go back to those actions after the probation is over.
Diet is the same. Why would you change your eating and/or physical activity habits for 90 days or so and then tell yourself "now I can go back to my old ways." We should not diet--we should be prepared to change our lifestyle if we sincerely want to keep the weight off and become a healthier, most-likely happier, and definitely more active part of society.
I am not dieting. I am making permanent, positive changes to my lifestyle.
Here's to seeing less of me in DC (and beyond)!
Betty
Earlier this year I was involved in a group discussion with a human resource consultant. The topic of employee probations was brought up and the consultant challenged us. She asked why we put employees on probation for a specified period of time. She said, "That is like saying you can't perform this particular action for 90 days but after that it's okay." Wow! What an eye-opening statement. I had never quite looked at it that way but it makes perfect sense--I don't want my employees to go back to those actions after the probation is over.
Diet is the same. Why would you change your eating and/or physical activity habits for 90 days or so and then tell yourself "now I can go back to my old ways." We should not diet--we should be prepared to change our lifestyle if we sincerely want to keep the weight off and become a healthier, most-likely happier, and definitely more active part of society.
I am not dieting. I am making permanent, positive changes to my lifestyle.
Here's to seeing less of me in DC (and beyond)!
Betty
Friday, July 25, 2008
WOW...I'm Blogging
So I guess you could tell from the title this is my first blog. I feel a bit at a loss for what to say, which some people may find ironic since I usually am NOT at a loss for words. I hope I can only live up to that of my "Evil Twin" and keep you entertained while reading my blog.
So maybe you are wondering why I finally gave in and decided to blog. Last week I was at NPMAs Academy in Scottsdale, AZ. The theme of the conference was the Customer of the Future. Needless to say there were a lot of sessions on technology. Despite the fact that I have an iPhone my husband bought me--which I found out will do gazillions of things I had no idea about--I am certainly not a tech person. So all this tech stuff was well over my head. But they kept telling us to take home at least one thing and put it into practice. How Do You Pick Just One??? Okay, so blogging is the technology mission I choose to accept. But I can not choose just one thing to bring back from Academy. I must choose 2.
On the first day of Academy we were challenged in another way by Andy. Andy is a personal trainer who has been at Academy for 8 years. This year was my 3rd. My daughter and I lovingly refer to Andy as "Satan Andy". He makes us exercise at 6:00 a.m. I am not a morning person--enough said. So Andy issues a challenge. NPMA is sponsoring their version of "America's Biggest Loser". They accepted 24 persons to participate for the inagural year. The criteria for partcipation--(1) you must need to lose at least 10% of your body weight and (2) you must be at PestWorld in October. Now, I have never seen the television program but I understand the basic concept. I believe my participation in this program is mandatory, not optional. The day before leaving for Academy my doc (and friend) gave me a wake-up call. Then I hear the challenge. God is definitely sending me a message and I don't intend to ignore it. I was the second person to sign up.
So, I have roughly 13 weeks to lose 10% (or more) of my bodyweight. I am well on my "weigh". I began my challenge Monday, July 21st and I have already lost about 3 pounds. I have recruited 4 coaches--Pam, Kouba, LeAnne, and Daesha--and the support of many friends and my family. I have also encouraged my office staff to participate and given them incentives--they also accepted the mission. I am blessed! Thanks guys. Understand though...this is not a DIET (that is a 4-letter word). This is taking bad habits and turning them into good ones. I haven't had a Dr. Pepper in 9 days. Those who know me know that is a big deal.
Okay, I told you I'm not usally at a loss for words. I guess I've said almost enough. I have to close with my last words to Andy in Scottsdale--"I look forward to you seeing LESS of ME in DC". Here's to less of me!
Betty
So maybe you are wondering why I finally gave in and decided to blog. Last week I was at NPMAs Academy in Scottsdale, AZ. The theme of the conference was the Customer of the Future. Needless to say there were a lot of sessions on technology. Despite the fact that I have an iPhone my husband bought me--which I found out will do gazillions of things I had no idea about--I am certainly not a tech person. So all this tech stuff was well over my head. But they kept telling us to take home at least one thing and put it into practice. How Do You Pick Just One??? Okay, so blogging is the technology mission I choose to accept. But I can not choose just one thing to bring back from Academy. I must choose 2.
On the first day of Academy we were challenged in another way by Andy. Andy is a personal trainer who has been at Academy for 8 years. This year was my 3rd. My daughter and I lovingly refer to Andy as "Satan Andy". He makes us exercise at 6:00 a.m. I am not a morning person--enough said. So Andy issues a challenge. NPMA is sponsoring their version of "America's Biggest Loser". They accepted 24 persons to participate for the inagural year. The criteria for partcipation--(1) you must need to lose at least 10% of your body weight and (2) you must be at PestWorld in October. Now, I have never seen the television program but I understand the basic concept. I believe my participation in this program is mandatory, not optional. The day before leaving for Academy my doc (and friend) gave me a wake-up call. Then I hear the challenge. God is definitely sending me a message and I don't intend to ignore it. I was the second person to sign up.
So, I have roughly 13 weeks to lose 10% (or more) of my bodyweight. I am well on my "weigh". I began my challenge Monday, July 21st and I have already lost about 3 pounds. I have recruited 4 coaches--Pam, Kouba, LeAnne, and Daesha--and the support of many friends and my family. I have also encouraged my office staff to participate and given them incentives--they also accepted the mission. I am blessed! Thanks guys. Understand though...this is not a DIET (that is a 4-letter word). This is taking bad habits and turning them into good ones. I haven't had a Dr. Pepper in 9 days. Those who know me know that is a big deal.
Okay, I told you I'm not usally at a loss for words. I guess I've said almost enough. I have to close with my last words to Andy in Scottsdale--"I look forward to you seeing LESS of ME in DC". Here's to less of me!
Betty
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