"Hidden Away," by Maya Banks Check Out my Book Review.

Hidden Away by Maya Banks - Book Review

Hallmark Channel Presents the Season 1 Finale of When Calls The Heart at 9/8 Central

Hope everyone is able to tune tonight to show how much America and the world values family entertainment the whole family is able to watch together.

While doing my #LetsMove 30 minutes I made a video http://youtu.be/BOrw1uQtKFw I mentioned how much we need a season 2 and the sun shined through - makes me think that some heavenly powers would also like a Season 2.  Tune in tonight and make let the sun shine through.

Thanks to all for their support on my #LetsMove tweets was able to handle the outside walk no trouble this time.  All things are possible if we have faith like a mustard seed.

Keep on moving and tweeting and promoting When Calls The Heart its important to lift up what's good and right in the world.

Peace,

Melissa Blanchard

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 keep on moving everyone

Something else I thought of while I was walking.  I'm not quite limber nor light enough to get on the floor for stretching so I do gentle stretches from standing position.  I use ones that stretch out the connecting muscles and ligaments, they are similar to sitting ones but just standing up.  If I can figure out how to have the camera going without me holding it I'll post my warm up stretches - they are repeated for cooling down as well.  I'm not an expert - just someone trying to do my best to get into better shape.  Hope you are able to get into motion at least once a day.



Good night all:)

#LetsMove - Please Give What You're Able to March for Babies Keep on Moving

Please give what you're able to help babies get a good start in life. I'll be walking on April 26th link where you can give is http://www.marchforbabies.org/mbwork2011 all proceeds go to March For Babies. ‪#‎LetsMove‬ keep on moving everyone:)
#LetsMove Me Doing my 30 minutes Keep moving everyone

“Dark Witch,” Book One of the Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy by Nora Roberts

Follow this link for my book review of Dark Witch by Nora Roberts Review by Melissa Blanchard
Shadow Spell is Book Two of the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy by Nora Roberts coming releasing on March 25th, 2014.

#LetsMove me out for my 30 min walk

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 min keep moving

Link to my Word Press blog - Things I've Learned about Social Media

Things to Share

Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe to Host Nora Roberts Book Signing

Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe to Host Nora Roberts Book Signing in Boonsboro MD on Mar 22 12-2 EST Click on link below to see more details.

http://melissablanchard62.wordpress.com/2014/03/15/turn-the-page-bookstore-to-host-nora-roberts-book-signing/

When Calls the Heart: Author Jeanette Oke speaks about the new series!

Speaks to why I love #WhenCallsTheHeart #Hearties and all that are associated with this production - excellent quality family entertainment no matter the age for everyone:)

#LetsMove Keep on Moving Everyone 30 min everyday

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 min

Keep moving everyone:)  #LetsMove,
#Exercise, #walking, #Inspiration, #motivation, #Doing

Me doing Saturday 30 min #LetsMove #MarchforBabies

Please give at http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_dashboard.asp?si=172FC350-3AE9-468B-8802-EFA9435A127E&w=6548952&u=mbwork2011&bkv= for #MarchforBabies walk on April 26th.

Eight Year Old Boy Thanks Soldier for Service

Excellent story.

Me Doing My 30 Minutes - #LetsMove

On my walk today thought I'd share my #LetsMove friends with my #Hearties and #WhenCallsTheHeart friends.  Hope everyone reading this post gets out and moves before the 9/8 Central time showing of When Calls The Heart on the @HallmarkChannel Live tweeting with cast during the show all time zones:)  Have a great day and remember to move 30 minutes every day whatever you're able to do.

http://youtu.be/BwLLko299nM

When Calls The Heart - Season 1 Episode 8 - TBA

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When Calls The Heart - Season 1 Episode 8 - TBA: http://youtu.be/plRzywI3Lhc via @YouTube #hearties Tune in Sat 9/8c watch video see why this show has charactesr that speak to the heart

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 minutes to stay active & healthy

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Check out this video on YouTube:
Keep on moving as much as you're able. 

10 Christmas Lights - Linkis.com

10 Christmas Lights - Linkis.com



Check out this poet - she's the best:)  Regina Puckett's writing moves the soul and spirit.

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.

Did you know it's National Nutrition Month?

What did you do today to celebrate National Nutrition Month? Please let me know via comments.

If you're like me you didn't realize it was National Nutrition Month - just found out on Lets Move on Twitter at @letsmove check out what others on twitter did to celebrate.  Not on twitter?  Check out their website at www.letsmove.gov/.  And share how you move by adding #letsmove to your posts on  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine  You'll be inspired.

Even though I didn't realize it was National Nutrition Month I stuck with my food routine.  Enjoyed an excellent team building lunch and shared how much better I was doing without sugar - its true - almost as soon as I started eating it again I lost muscle tone and gained fat.  Sugar isn't such a big sacrifice for an end result of 4 less pounds since February 24th after stopping extra sugar and adding a daily walking routine. Now I'm almost under the 200 mark - just 5 more lbs to go.

My contribution to today's daily walk was 38:12 minutes, 1,308 steps burning 71 calories, went 1.3 km and 2 km/hr.  I noticed that using my mantram instead of music helps me stay in touch with what my body needs - speed up or slow down.  Give it a try.

I get stats for my walk on a free app for iphone called GPS Kit Free - if you lock the screen when walking and turn down the light on the display you get better battery performance.  Its a great app for letting you know what your track looks like (example how many turns there were) which all goes into knee wear and tear.

If you aren't able to walk - try this idea - at commercial and/or the end of chapters - get up from your chair very slowly and sit down the same way.  Start small at a 5 or less count and build up to 10.  Hold for 5 seconds to start at each interval.  You'll be strengthening your upper thighs which is the main way the body keeps its balance.  Remember start small and build to doing it for the whole commercial break and the same interval when you start a new chapter in your book.

It's never a better time than now to work on a healthier lifestyle.  Hope you all give it a try - check out the ideas on http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2014/02/20/first-lady-wants-see-how-you-move-letsmove - be part of the movement toward feeling better.

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.