Sore! Golf Swings Have Me Aching From Head To Toe

Leave a comment October 27, 2015 Dot2Trot

Celebrated my anniversary this weekend at TopGolf and am sore all over! But I loved it and am going back for more.

The hubby and I celebrated our 13^th wedding anniversary with a 2- hour competition at a new golfing funhouse – TopGolf. Designed like a driving range, you actually have targets along the fairway for you to hit.

Do either of us play golf? No, but that doesn’t stop us from having fun. My husband focused on hitting the ball hard. Unlike my husband, I’ve at least had a little bit of instruction (how to hold the club, tips on swinging) from an older brother many years ago. So my attention was on form.

Full Body Workout
Hitting a golf ball is a total body workout. It works your upper body, core and legs. This morning I really feel it in my shoulders, forearms and hips. That’s what I get for slacking off the last few months! As for my husband…he’s just sore all over.

It still beats out going to the gym. Of course you can’t order wine at the gym. That was the “downside.” I had a few drinks. But it was my anniversary so I think I can cut myself some slack. I’ll stick to water or unsweetened ice tea next time.

Besides, unlike bowling, my game doesn’t improve with drinking.

Golf Lessons In My Future
I really loved TopGolf and I’ve decided to take lessons during winter. I really do prefer exercising outdoors than being in a gym. But Old Man Winter has a way of driving me indoors. Thankfully TopGolf’s bays are heated.

Plus I’m looking to inject more fun into my workouts. For too long I always thought of exercise as something one must do to build muscle and stay healthy. The words “play” or “fun” never crossed my mind when working out. I’m currently reading The Primal Blueprint and I must say, I absolutely love the idea of not just finding time to play, but making a vital part of my life.

Also I’ve been trying to find ways to de-stress. Our 2-hour playtime completely kicked my stess’ ass!. I know some folks go nutty with golf, but I’m not trying to go on the PGA Tour. I’m just looking to have fun…and hitting a little ball with a stick works for me.

Putting My Kitty On A ‘Kat-O-Genic’ Diet

2 Comments October 12, 2015 Dot2Trot

After 14 years, Spider still has a lot of attitude in him. But I’m convinced his high carb diet is taking its toll. I’m hoping his new low carb diet is just what he needs to fight off his bouts of pancreatitis.

About 6 months ago our kitty became deathly ill.

Leading up to it, he was constantly hungry. And yet, my 8-pounds of furry terror wasn’t gaining weight. In fact, he lost a pound. He became lethargic. Then the vomiting started. I’m not talking about the normal stuff a cat does. I’m talking about the green pea soup scene from The Exorcist. He was in pain and stopped eating.

After a lot of tests and blood work we learned Spider suffers from pancreatitis.

Pancreas – What Does It Do?
The pancreas is part of the endocrine and digestive system. It produces insulin to control blood sugar levels and enzymes that help digest foods. When inflamed, the pancreas leaks enzymes into the abdominal area. These enzymes start braking down the fat and proteins comprising other organs – basically the body starts eating itself. Read More

Reversing MS By Eating Low Carb?

2 Comments September 23, 2015 Dot2Trot

Her TEDx Talk went viral for good reason. Dr. Terry Wahls describes how changing her diet reversed her MS symptoms and got her out of a wheelchair.

Below is an amazing video on the power of eating healthy. Dr. Terry Wahls, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2000. By 2003 she was in a wheelchair. Through her own research, and using herself as a guinea pig, she redesigned her diet using Paleo principles (yes, Paleo is low carb!) to get the essential nutrients for her brain.

The result? Within a year of starting her new diet, she got out of her wheelchair, stopped walking with a cane, and could eventually go on an 18-mile bike tour.

Too Much Exercise Can Lower Fertility

2 Comments September 21, 2015 Dot2Trot

Finding the right exercise balance is key to reproductive health. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

I’m starting to completely reconsider my exercise routine. Everything is on the table, including my walks. As we begin our baby quest, I’m learning that too much exercise can hinder fertility.

It turns out that excessive aerobic exercise interferes with ovulation. For women like me, pursuing in vitro fertilization, 4 or more hours of aerobic exercise a week lowers chances of success.

Yep. For people like me 4+ hours a week maybe excessive. Sigh… Read More

Eating Low Carb To Boost My Fertility

7 Comments September 8, 2015 Dot2Trot

We’ve tried for 12 years to have a baby, but no luck. I was completely clueless as to how the recommended low fat diet completely messed up my hormones. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

I’ve tried to write this post many times over the last few weeks. But I just ended up starting at a blank screen for hours at a time. I started this blog to talk about the ups and downs I’d experience on my weight loss journey. Well this is about one of those downs…a big fat down.

So here I am, sitting in a dark corner at Starbucks, tears rolling down my cheeks, desperately muting my sniffles, trying to write this blasted post.

Here goes.

For the last 12 years I’ve struggled with infertility. Read More

Awesome Body Image Message: ‘All About That Bass’

Leave a comment August 27, 2015 Dot2Trot

Sure I’m late to the party on this one, but I do love the body image message in “All About That Bass.”

Catching up on reading some of my favorite blogs, I came across this post about the song All About That Bass. I’ve never heard of this song before. As my husband and good friend Elizabeth will attest about me — I’m not very pop culture savvy, especially when it comes to music.

I gave the music a try and found that while I enjoyed the beat, it was the lyrics that hit home with me.

I think I’ve given up on our current culture because it seems so vapid and narcissistic to me. It’s rare you find positive messages, especially on body image. Let’s face it, as much as we love recent ads that focus on women of all shapes, sizes and ages, they are barely a drop in the bucket compared to images of “perfect” looking people in magazines, marketing, product packaging, ads, TV news… Read More

What’s Really Important When Eating Out

1 Comment August 25, 2015 Dot2Trot

Food use to be the most important thing when I went out with family and friends. Since I stopped dieting and focused on improving me, I’ve gained a new perspective on my relationship with food. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.

I’m finally back home after 3 weeks in Texas helping Dr. Mom pack up her home and move to Virginia. During my time in Texas I didn’t track my food, exercise, or weigh myself. I pretty much ate when hungry and not to excess.

Except for the 3 meals where I ate Tex-Mex (hey, I was in Texas), I pretty much stuck to my regular meals and snacks.

If I find fault in my choices, it was probably in the wine department. After a hard day of wrapping artwork, lifting heavy objects, going though reams of old papers, and skimming through family albums I haven’t seen in years, Mom and I treated ourselves to a glass (or 2) of vino.

For 3 weeks, the wine did flow! Read More

10 Reasons I’ve Lost 140 Pounds And Kept It Off

9 Comments July 28, 2015 Dot2Trot

Conventional dieting wisdom – eat less, exercise more – is wrong. For me, cutting sugar, carbs and starches resulted in more than 140 lbs. gone. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.

Today’s dieting advice – eat less, exercise more – doesn’t work. A new study shows that few overweight people lose 5% of their body weight. And those who are successful put the weight back on within 5 years. Money quote from the study:

“Current strategies that focus on cutting calories and boosting physical activity aren’t working for most patients to achieve weight loss and maintain that.”

I’d tried for more than 25 years to lose weight. I tried all the different programs, most of which are the same: some form of calorie reduction and exercise. While I initially lost weight, I always felt hungry. I just couldn’t sustain those diets, and eventually I gained even more weight back.

So what’s so different this time?

1. My health became THE priority (I had to become a priority in my own life).
2. I read Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes (life-changing).
3. I said good-bye to processed, high carb foods (and sugar) and embraced low carb, high fat real foods.
4. Took the time to build good habits, like:

Food prep
Shopping the outer perimeter of grocery store
Tracking & measuring what I eat
Weekly menu planning
Drinking water, not soda
If it isn’t healthy, it’s not in my house (leading by example)

5. Eat only when I’m hungry and stop when I’m full (not stuffed).
6. Gave up perfection for patience.
7. Get 8 hours of sleep .
8. Avoid fruit, except for berries (and only as a treat).
9. A sense of urgency (my health was at serious risk!).
10. I’m not depriving myself. I’m making smarter, tastier choices!

Mudderella Here I Come

4 Comments July 24, 2015 Dot2Trot

No weigh in Saturday. Tomorrow morning I’m headed to Maryland for my first mud race – Mudderella! It’s a 5 mile course with lots of obstacles and plenty of mud. I’m in the 9:45 A.M. wave.

I planned to do another parkour class on Wednesday. My body finally recovered from the 2 hour session on Saturday. Then I remembered about tomorrow’s Mudderella. I know my body from experience. If I did a second intense parkour class, there’s no way I could do a mud race pain-free.

So today I’m taking it easy. After I gather my gear for the mud fest, I’m headed out for a nice easy walk. I’m making today as stress free as possible.

Dot2Trot

Low Carb Living!

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Sore! Golf Swings Have Me Aching From Head To Toe

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“Current strategies that focus on cutting calories and boosting physical activity aren’t working for most patients to achieve weight loss and maintain that.”

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