Blog entry January 11, 2015

2015 is a good year to make some changes that are lasting. I have found that no matter how dedicated you can be about eating the right things it's one of the most difficult addictions to kick.

Memories associated with certain foods or TV ads that push certain foods that trigger remembrances are the hardest to resist.

It's very easy to fool myself into believing I can have something even though I don't need it just because it doesn't bother me but I've realized in some instances, I can have low-grade reactions. Even the very idea that I'm eating something beyond what I need puts weight on my body - weight that is rooted in fat not muscle.

In my case both in 2013 and 2014 the holidays meant having sugar. In 2013 I weighed enough that it didn't really matter because I stayed at about the same weight because I hadn't lost that much but in 2014 I gained weight because I had lost enough. Now I have to look at myself in the mirror and know that I need to change 365 days a year.

Having fellowship and having memories of family and good times is not a reason to eat. I can have relationships I can have a social life but I need to be clear on what I need to eat to digest properly.

I don't have the resiliency of a 20-year-old anymore and whether or not I like it, it's true as I age my digestion has changed and I must change my eating habits accordingly.

It's been a hard lesson for me to learn but luckily I can still fit into the new clothes I bought and the new shoes.

We all have a job to do and for me its to stay as healthy as possible to be a good citizen and I also have learned the best way to do this is through moving my body, cleaning, eating right, and working as hard as I can on each thing I need to do.

Managing my asthma symptoms is another big thing I've been tackling in 2014. So far I have learned that there's a different way of managing triggered asthma versus constant asthma. Triggered asthma doesn't need long acting medicine but more short-term types. Also, controlling sinus symptoms is key to not having flare ups. One of my biggest triggers is dry air so I've been humidifying my apartment helps much to stop symptoms. Knowing the triggers and avoiding them as much as possible is better than any medication.

Along with proper diet and controlling my asthma I've discovered sustainable exercise is best when completed daily for at least 30 minutes. I have been able to ride my bike on a fly wheel that simulates the road and walking through my apartment building to replace outside activity whenever weather keeps me indoors.

I found that I do best when instead of being discouraged when I fail, I rededicate myself to those things worth doing. Eating food because it sustains my body in the best way possible instead of as a comfort or reward works best for me. I have to keep food as a means of fueling the body not as a means of satisfying me emotionally.

I hope you find a solution to staying healthy happy that works for you.

Keep on working on being the best person you can be when doing all the activities you need to do in a day. I pray to be the best driver I can be when I drive, the best worker I can be when working, and the best eater I can be when eating. It works for all the things I do in the course of a day.

I've been discovering other ways of getting enjoyment besides finding it in types of food and drink. There's ways to stay busy. I ask myself - what needs doing right now to be a good citizen and I find many things that need doing.

I'm hopeful to find the strength and courage to follow my dreams in 2015 even more so than I was able to in 2013 and 2014. Everyone has set backs I've discovered I want to succeed.

Good night and peace to all.

Wellness and Life Balance Melissa Blanchard Journal 10-4-14

Hi All,
Here's hoping your Fall is going well.  I'm learning much about the power of finding your purpose. 

In August I discovered my primary motivation for working in Health Care was patient safety.  I let my Manager know this as I covered the subjects covered at the August user conference for surgical instrument tracking software I had attended.

I'm very happy that my Manager listened to me and now I'm working with a new team getting insights into how best to support medical equipment with software and servers.  Fascinating topics for me that brings back the days when I went to work with my Dad.

My Dad was an engineer at a TV transmitter when they were primarily vacuum tubes and racks that held transistors that modulated the signals from the air and created the TV image.  Similar to how servers are handled in data centers today. 

As I learn about pursuing my purpose I see how my life has been building up to be the best at this work.  Life is becoming clear and exciting all because I'm pursuing my purpose.

I'm also learning how to communicate more effectively, something I wanted to do for a very long time.  First step was to join the Fairview Foundation Ambassador program.  This was a great opportunity to find a way to communicate why I give to the Reach Out and Read program Link for Reach Out and Read.  While writing the speech and then learning how to deliver it - I've found many ways to improve how I interact with others. 

I'm continuing with this theme by joining Speaking in Bytes Toastmasters Club.  At these meetings I'm learning how to listen, be responsible of a certain piece of the event (such as time keeper) and  I'm learning how to speak with preparation and without.  Our club meets at my work place over lunch hour but they are all over the Twin Cities I recommend you find a local club and join.  Everyone I meet at these meetings wants to improve themselves and help others as they strive to become better listeners and speakers.  Its a great way to meet people in your community and be part of an organization.

I continue to walk as well.  Every day for 30 minutes and overtime your body build muscle again.  I also find I have more stamina when I want to attend events such as the State Fair or a software user conference.  Now I'm applying it to learning how to support patient monitoring.

All I've been doing since July, 2013 has been preparing me for where I'm at now in my journey.  Eating right, exercising and getting to know myself through meditation and self awareness has led me to being happier.  Not just on the surface but inside I find myself content with my life and working toward my goals. 

I'm also going back to Maryland where my journey began in July, 2013 to another book signing event November 1, 2014.  Nora Roberts is signing the last book in her THE COUSINS O'DWYER TRILOGY see more information at this link:  November 1, 2014 Book Signing Event at Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe.

Life happens for a reason - we have to search to find that reason and the journey is very rewarding.  Keep on looking for your purpose, strive to be the very best you can be in all things and live the dream.  Your comments are welcome.  Thanks for stopping by and hope you come again soon.

Your friend,
Missy
Melissa Blanchard

Wellness and Life Balance Melissa Blanchard Journal 9-28-14

Hi All,

Fall has come to Minnesota.  It's still warm but there's a sense that all the green, flowers, animals, and insects are living on borrowed time.  Here's some pictures from last week's walks:

Flower from my Apartment Terrace - lovely Red Color

Bush by the driveway where I live

Loved the blue sky and the Flag Caught in the wind

Beautiful Red coming from the cold nights and shorter days

Vivid yellow - also enjoy the shadows in this picture

Birds and bees busily getting fuel before the first snow fall.

Trees adapting to shorter days and longer cooler nights sky is lovely blue today

Color framed with green

Beautiful

Soft breeze with cool blue lovely

This time of year gets you thinking about all you need to do to get ready for winter.  I've been planning for getting my 30 minutes inside as well as outside for those icy too cold days to venture out. 

I'm glad I have end of October vacation plans.  It will be good to see USA from the sky during the change of season for those of us that tilt far from the sun.  I'll be going to Maryland to the Nora Roberts book signing in Boonsboro MD.  Lovely town in the summer so I'm looking forward to seeing what it will be like in the Fall.

Remember to keep your focus on what's possible.  Changes take time the main thing is to keep the yourself pointed in the direction you want to go.  You may need to make some course corrections but overall you'll have your destinations in front of you.

Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove TV show see http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/cedarcove
for more information.  This is a great Fall show - it's about endings and beginnings.  Last night's show also demonstrated what happens when you have the wrong people in your life.  Its important to chose wisely those you allow to influence your decisions.

I also enjoy tweeting with the cast and fans of this show and the http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/
The best of human nature triumphs on this channel.  Hopefully you'll be able to tune in next Saturday at 8/7 central time and tweet #CedarCoveTV hash tag and add your voice to the conversation.

Here's hoping you have a Fall full of sunshine and for you in Spring - all the best in your new beginnings.  The good thing about being human is we are able to adjust to all the seasons and still find a way to have new beginnings even in the dead of winter.

Sincerely,

Melissa (Missy).

March For Babies Giving Campagn

Where does you gift go?

To support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

How do you give?

March for Babies Give Link

Click on the link above.

The process is quick and secure.

Please give generously, for it is in giving that we receive.

Later this week I'll add my story as to why I give and walk for this worthy cause.

POP Pilates: Stretching for Flexibility! (Full 10 min) Pilates Video

Me out doing my 30 minutes

Struggle with Weight

Why is it that I have trouble losing weight?

After reading, "It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways," by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig, I found that structure is the biggest factor in good nutrition.

1.  The human body needs food in intervals.  Three times a day works best.  Meal 1 within an hour of waking and every meal after within 4 to 5 hours. 

As soon as I started following this plan, I noticed more structure within all areas of my life like bedtime, getting up at a consistent time, and over all better organized with my life.  The old saying: 

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Taken from URL: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/33937-early-to-bed-and-early-to-rise-makes-a-man found by Google search, early to bed on 3/9/14 at 6:45 p.m.

has merit today as well. 

2.  The body needs right sized portions.  For meat about 4 ounces - with 2 servings of vegetables - I picked up some frozen greens (mustard, turnip and collard) and found for these a serving size is 1 cup and for other types (broccoli, kale, squash) about 2/3 cup.  

 

There are recipes in the book but I mostly use some herbs to change the flavors - like basil, savory, Italian, thyme and poultry.  Be sure to get enough fat with the dishes.  The body won't burn fat if it isn't taking fat in so use accordingly.  I use 1 T olive oil or butter - you can clarify but I don't find to many milk solids in organic or unsalted butter.

3.  Some types of foods the body wasn't designed to eat.  Beans, peanuts, and grains are non-digestible and tend to cause fat to store when you try to eat them.

I stay clear of gluten mainly because I had many side affects when I ate it and also found out later I had the genetic marker for Celiac Disease which irritates the bowel causing fat to absorb but now nutrients.  Basically starving of nutrients while getting greats amounts of fat stores.  "It Starts with Food...," also suggests not to use gluten substitutes this has also been a help.  Sweet potatoes and squash make up for the loss of breads and noodles.

4.  The body doesn't need added sugar such as from cane or honey. 

I lost weight from July to October then decided to have some sugar over the holidays.   Big mistake.  I didn't put more weight on but noticed I lost muscle tone, so now I ration my honey for tea to 2 T per day.  I try not to have any sugars for breakfast which includes starches or fruits.

5.  The body does need enzymes, calcium and magnesium to function properly.  

I use what is suggested in "It stars with Food...", Super Enzymes from Now, Vitamin D-3 5,000IU from Now, Natural Calm 2 tsp once a day with my calcium powder Citracal also from Now, 1 tsp of Fish Oil.

The only thing I take with every meal is the Super Enzymes.  The rest are once a day with my suggestion of Ester C one 500 mg per day.  

6.  Why listen to me?  I'm no expert but since last July, 2013 I've lost 43 pounds with no added exercise.  

Background:  My height 5' 2" start weight as of July 23, 2013 was 252 pounds, weight today is 209.  My goal weight is around 126 to 120 but will adjust as needed - this is ideal weight.

43 pounds is as far as I could go without exercise, so have started walking now since February 24.  I'm able to do about 1 mile in 30 minutes.  Afterwards, I use my stationary trainer bike for about 10 minutes to cool down and do a small amount of interval work by increasing the tension.  

So far I've been able to maintain without too much soreness and that's a great plus for me.  In the past when I tried exercise I had bad flare ups in my hips and trunk from inflammation.  Icing and stretching is helping with any issues I've gotten since walking this time.

To support this effort I signed up for a March for Babies walk at work scheduled for April, so I know I have to get in shape for that - great motivator since this money is needed for healthier babies.  I've also had the support of my Facebook friends - you know who you are:)

7.  Meditation helps with unwanted thoughts.  

Meditation principles calm my thoughts - so when I get the idea I'm too tired or don't want to exercise or I'll just end up with messed up hips again, I say my mantram (in my mind only) over and over until the negative ideas have gone.  Its great to use the mantram when you're walking or working on your dishes or laundry.  

The more you use the mantram the more the mind will use it to stay calm.  It even helps me sleep better when I say it before bed.  If you want more information about the mantram and how to select one for yourself I have a book review on my blog (melissablanchard62.wordpress.com) for the best teacher I know, Eknath Easwaran.  His books are easy to understand and he uses real life examples of how meditation is applied.    

So now I'll be keeping you up-to-date on my progress (another incentive).  I'll be posting my blog for the March for Babies if anyone is interested in giving, stay tuned.

I hope you now believe it is possible to lose weight after 50 and that some of my journey will help you as well.  Comments are welcome.