Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 13th!!

Did you feel the different energy this week?  Spring is almost here.  How do you feel?  Did you make it through a winter without gaining weight?  Or are you feeling disappointed because despite all you know, you find yourself up 6, 7, 8 pounds and not feeling so great?

I understand.  This is the time of year when we all start thinking about bathing suits, vacation, shorts, and sleeveless tops.  But there is new energy and a fresh start as well.  What would happen if we let the disappointment of the last year go and focused on moving forward?  I'll bet that would feel a lot better than getting beat up over and over about the past.  Let's move forward.

"Each of us has the ability to find and nurture new parts of ourselves and become the people we aspire to be."  (Debbie Ford)

I really believe that.  Just because we have done things a certain way, doesn't mean we are destined to do it that same way forever.  We all have the ability to create new habits and let old ones go that are not serving us well anymore.  We all have the ability to learn and grow.  So what stops us?

I know for me, I was afraid.  I didn't realize it, but fear was like the wizard behind the curtain running the show.  I wanted to change, but as soon as I would try I would feel overwhelmed and slip right back to my old, comfortable behaviors and habits.  Did you hear the woman on The Biggest Loser this week say she realized that her comfort zone wasn't really all that comfortable?  I loved that and can relate.  But it still takes that push to get past stuff that can come up when you try to make a change in your life.

Have you ever tried to make an important change in your life?  Wow.  The stuff that comes bubbling up can make anyone run back to their comfort zone!  For some women this is the fear of failure that comes up when they try to change their eating, because every diet they have gone on has failed.  It's hard to work up the courage needed to go through that in case it fails again.  For others, it is the fear of succeeding because that might mean leaving loved ones behind.  If you and your best friend or spouse have been overweight together for many years, what will happen to your relationship if one of you changes?

These are all valid feelings, but getting healthy and fit is a change worth fighting for.  It takes courage, but pull back the curtain and expose your fears.  It will be OK.  The antidote to fear is love and truth.  Remember who you are.  Remember the truth.  You are unique, you belong, you are worthy of love, and no one else has the combination of gifts and talents that you do.  You make a difference!

Then translate that into action.  Love yourself- in action.  That means feed yourself inspiration, movement, light, love, truth, whole healthy food, water, connection, time for you, and anything else that awakens the part of you that knows what a strong, courageous person you really are. 

Now get moving! 
 

Pan sear fresh Salmon with lots of spices.  Bake until done.  Make enough for a few days.

When you are ready for the best salad ever, reheat salmon.  Put it over lettuce, chopped cucumber, slivered almonds, and balsamic dressing.  Sprinkle top with a small amount of feta or blue cheese.  High protein, no "crappy" carbs, and very satisfying.

If you don't like fish, use chicken.  For variety, add steamed asparagus.  Enjoy! 

Finally!  It's time to start planning our walking adventures.

Come to the interest meeting this Tuesday at 7:00 PM (~30 minutes) to get all your questions answered about Highbanks walks, walking for weight loss, and training for the New Albany 10K walk or the Columbus Half Marathon in October.

The New Albany 10K (6.2 miles) is the country's largest walker-only event.  It's a great course and a great event to train for.  Save the date:  Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011

The Columbus Half Marathon (13.1 miles) is amazing.  It's a great course and a very well organized event.  Save the date: Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011

We'll be starting Highbanks walks soon.  I am going to give it a few more weeks for the mud to dry up.

New Albany 10K and Columbus Half Marathon training start in May.  But you must be able to walk 4 miles in ~ an hour to be able to join the group, so now is the time to start working on it.  Don't wait until we start group walks to work through shoe issues, shin splints, etc.  Get moving now.

If your goal is weight loss, make sure you buy a heart rate monitor before you start training.  If you need me to get it for you, email me.  I used the Polar FT4.

Let's go!!!
 

Spring Jump Start

$250