I’m a Tracker – Are You a Tracker Too?

February 10, 2014

02/09/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day ( 8)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (20  minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 7,000 steps per day (7,376 )
February Challenge: Walk 50k steps (31 miles)this month and I have done (52.40 miles so far) or 52,064  steps so far this month

Good morning!

If you are ever struggling with hitting a goal, I have found out that tracking is the key to breaking through. For the past 112 days, I have tracked my exercise, my water intake and my steps, including miles. I can see that I am gaining moMINTum. In one of the programs that I use, (www.SparkPeople.com) I get little trophies and badges for doing my activities. I received a silver medal for going over 40,000 steps in a week! I started out getting nothing, then I received a couple of bronze medals and now I am going for the gold which is 60,000 steps in a week. I will have to sneak in a couple of 10,000 steps to reach that goal!

Since I got my FitBit, I have tracked not only my steps, I have tracked my sleep too! I can see why I am so tired some days! I can also see some of my friend’s steps on the FitBit site. I can tell you that I feel REALLY good when/if I pass one of them and I am challenged to reach others; although, one of my friends does like 21,000 steps a day.  Hey – you never know! 🙂

The last frontier in my personal life of tracking is going to be my food. I have not done very well at that yet. I track breakfast and then I do not track for the rest of the day. Tracking at work is another thing and I need to bump it up there too!

Do you track, and if yes, what do you track and what tools do you use?  If you do not track, why don’t you?

AffirMINTion: I am a tracker!

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?
http://tinyurl.com/WhatchaWaiting4

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says…. tracking will help you achieve your goals…. AND I LIKE IT

 

 

 

 

 

Life is Minty Fresh!

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Fast Food – Detoxing – Cycling

February 5, 2014

02/03/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (8)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (10 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 7,000 steps per day (7,357)
February Challenge: Walk 50k steps (31 miles) his month (15.53 miles so far) or 17,873 steps so far this month

02/04/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day ( 9)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (16  minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 7,000 steps per day (7,376 )
February Challenge: Walk 50k steps (31 miles) his month ( 22.66 miles so far) or   steps so far this month

Good morning,

It can be difficult sometimes when I see people losing a lot of weight, fast; it makes me want to get on the bandwagon because it is taking me a long time. I have to keep telling myself that the tortoise always wins the race in the end. It might seem like I am losing the race; however here is what I am learning about some of these fast weight-loss ideas.

Fasting – most of the weight that comes off is water. If you are going to fast, fast from Fast Food 🙂

Detox – Can spell disaster because you devoid your body of valuable nutrients and oh by the way… it is short lived and it is not backed by science

Calorie Cycling – when you eat less than your calorie range one day and above your calorie range another day (trying to trick your body into losing weight). Cycling works best on a bike! 🙂

Best way, is to stick to your calorie range (the hardest part for me) and to eat whole food packed with nutrients 🙂

So instead of trying to catch up with a Fad Diet, I am learning to celebrate my victories – especially non-scale victories. My victory for the past couple of days is my step count (over 7,000 steps) and my water intake (at least 8 glasses a day). I have been steady in both! :::patting myself on the back:::

Instead of worrying about how well others are doing, I am grateful to them for leading the way on this journey into a healthier lifestyle and for being such GREAT encouragers and supporters! Thank you!

AffirMINTion: I believe that slow and steady wins the race.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says that walking me helps her to be healthy…. AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

And Now for the Rest of the Story

February 3, 2014

02/02/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (10)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (12 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 7,000 steps per day (5,240)
February Challenge: Walk 50k steps (31 miles) his month (9.38 miles so far) or 10,516 steps so far this month

Good morning!

Yesterday, I told you about our family friend, Katie who actually got on Wheel of Fortune. This was a feat in itself as Katie is an introvert and she didn’t even own a TV until she decided to try out for the show. What a wonderful gift she gave to my Auntie Marion, who is a Wheel of Fortune super fan! Her goal was to have fun and to win at least $1,000.  Katie taped the show last November and could not tell anyone the outcome until after the show aired. Katie DID make both her goals and if you would like to know exactly how she did, click on this picture from their party (btw there were about 50 people in attendance

Click on the photo to read the article and to find out the rest of the story!

 

Win or lose, our family is so grateful to Katie for huge act of kindness. I think Auntie Marion is still riding high.  I too, experienced an awesome act of kindness last week with the gift of a FitBit and I am also still riding high!

AffirMINTion: I am grateful for the awesome people in my life

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says she is grateful for her friends and me….. AND I LIKE IT!

Good Fortune!

February 2, 2014

02/01/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (8)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (12 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 7,000 steps per day (5,729)
February Challenge: Walk 50k steps (31 miles) his month (4.45 miles so far) or 4,288 steps so far this month

Good morning,

Lots going on this past week w/projects at work and some fun things going on in my family and personally.

First we have a close family friend who went on Wheel of Fortune as a gift to my 94 year old Aunt and Super Wheel of Fortune fan! Here is the story

www.bemidjipioneer.com/content/wishing-wheel-woman-competes-wheel-fortune-gift-longtime-neighbor 

Katie (the neighbor) is a VERY introverted person, and it was ONLY as a gift for my Auntie Marion that she went on the show. Not only that, Katie didn’t even own a TV before she entered to be on the show! Stay tuned for my next blog to see how it all turned out!

My question is: How often do you step out of YOUR comfort zone? I personally find it difficult to stay out of mine, and honestly, every time I write this blog is stepping out of mine!

It is difficult to be transparent; however, the results are worth it. This week, I came into work and sitting on my desk was a little gift with this little star

 

 

 

 

 

this star was on top of this gift bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in the gift bag was this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was and am still blown away by the generosity of my friends in the office. I could not even read the card without crying and it chokes me up now while I am writing about it. I still do not know all that were involved so I am thanking you ALL this wonderful gift and for your support on this journey.

Now; however, I am REALLY going to have to step up my game and continue to move out of my comfort zone!

AffirMINTion: I love moving out of my comfort zone. 

Make it a GREAT day, IF you Choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT 

My mom put up this tree for the Wheel of Fortune Party…… AND I LIKE IT!

10,000 Steps and ‘The Gift’

January 20, 2014

01/19/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (8)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (12 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 6,000 steps per day (3,356)
January Challenge: Walk 50 miles this month (46.03 miles so far) or 98,206 steps so far this month

Good morning, Mintdom!

So I am sure you have heard that it is recommended that we walk 10,000 steps a day by most health authorities. Do you know how this came about? The figure actually came from the 1960’s in Japan when a professor of health and welfare, Yoshiro Hatano, PhD.  tracked active walkers. His research team determined that the average man burned 300 calories – by walking about 10,000 steps; thus, was bornthe manpo-kei (translation: “10,000 steps meter”) or what we call the pedometer. Next time you are playing a  trivia game, this fact might come in handy!

Speaking of aiming for 10,000 steps, I have bumped up my daily step challenge to 7,000 steps. I will have to work hard on this challenge. After accomplishing that for 5 days in a row, I will bump it up to 8,000!

On another note, check out this awesome story of my Auntie Marion’s young neighbor. My Aunt is a wonderful person who has been one of the most popular town figures in Bemidji, MN. Just to give you a little idea, she still gets 250 trick or treaters (this year she came home from where she is staying to hand out full size candy bars). Katie is the kind of friend that Auntie Marion attracts. Katie is giving my aunt the most precious gift of her time and energy- what an inspiration. Thank you, Katie!

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/content/wishing-wheel-woman-competes-wheel-fortune-gift-longtime-neighbor

AffirMINTion: I want to remember to give the gift of my time.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says…. it is important to give to others… AND I LIKE IT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life is Minty Fresh!

God or a Quick Server…

January 15,2010

01/13/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (8)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (12 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 6,000 steps per day (6,896)
January Challenge: Walk 50 miles this month (34.87 miles so far)

01/14/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (8)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (11 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 6,000 steps per day (7,576)
January Challenge: Walk 50 miles this month (38.84 miles so far)

Good morning Mintdom!

Last night I went for a quick dinner with a friend. It was a nice evening. My girlfriend left first, I paid the bill and I was just pondering whether I should finish (like one sip) my one glass of wine or leave it (how many of you have ever had to have that conversation with yourself LOL). Before I could make up my mind, the server came and snatched it up and was gone. The decision was made for me and it was a good one. Sometimes God (or a quick server) can do for me what I can’t do for myself!

“There are limits to self-indulgence, none to restraint.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Have you ever had a debate like that with yourself? If yes, who won?

AffirMINTion: I am practicing restraint

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says… she is learning the art of restraint… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

One Step Back…. Two Steps Forward

January 13, 2014

Good morning!

I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that my step count has gone down since I last wrote – WAY DOWN! The good news is that in the month of January, I have done 55,592 steps – not too shabby and if I get my steps back up there, I could do 100,000 steps by the end of January. By applying the one step back and two steps forward, it is doable!

Do you get frustrated when things do not happen fast enough for you or do you work twice as hard? Do you quit when you make mistakes or do you brush it off and keep going? Today, I am going full steam ahead – are you?

AffirMINTion: If I take a step back, I take two steps forward!

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says… keep moving forward…. AND I LIKE IT!

You’re not giving up are you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life is Minty Fresh!

6,612 Baby Steps!

January 8, 2014

01/06/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (8)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (20 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 6,000 steps per day (6,200)
January Challenge: Walk 50 miles this month (14.81 miles so far)

01/07/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (8)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (18 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 6,000 steps per day (6,612)
January Challenge: Walk 50 miles this month (17.99 miles so far)

Good morning, Mintdom!

I have made over 6,000 steps, three days in a row. I am even impressing myself! Two more days in a row and I will up it to 7,000 steps. My goal is to make 10,000 consistently. Taking baby steps seems to be working for me (sometimes I make my steps really tiny so I get more in LOL). Normally, I am much more aggressive when I start exercising; however, I also end up injuring myself and quit. Also, I am learning to fit my exercise into my lifestyle instead of adapting my lifestyle to my exercise. Every time I add something, I ask myself if I can do this every day for the rest of my life. So far, the answer has been, yes. On the down side, nothing is happening overnight. I’ve been at this for 79 days now. I am just trusting the process right now. Have you ever tried this approach? If not, maybe you should and see what happens.

“The principle is competing against yourself. It is about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before.” ~ Steve Young~

AffirMINTion: I am taking baby steps on the path to a healthy lifestyle

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says… she takes baby steps every day… AND I LIKE IT!

Minty is improving on her sleep!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life is Minty Fresh!

Tennis Shoes and Tiaras

January 6,2014

1/3/2014 and 1/4/2014
I did not meet my goals, and especially 1/4

1/5/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (8)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (28 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 6,000 steps per day (6,096)
January Challenge: Walk 50 miles this month (11.79 miles so far)

Good morning!

After not meeting any of my goals for two days, I am back and it feels GREAT! Actually Friday, 1/3 was close with some of them. Friday was the night of our office Best Year Ever Party. Lots of glitz and glamour! Since the holidays I have been wearing tennis shoes all the time because I have a tracker on one that counts my steps and my activity. I debated and debated and in the end, I wore my black tennis shoes with the hot pink soles. To off set the shoes, I also wore a tiara. My mom used to tell me that you had to suffer for beauty. While my pride suffers every time I wear tennis shoes; it shoes how serious I am about staying on the right path AND I was probably the most comfortable person in the room! Even though I did not make my step goal that night, I am not giving up!

“The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.” – James Crook

AffirMINTion: I am willing to step out of my comfort zone.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says…. it is haircut time… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

January Challenges!

January 3, 2014

1/2/2014
H2O Challenge: Drink 8 glasses of water per day (7)
Exercise Challenge: Do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day (23 minutes)
Step Challenge: Walk 6,000 steps per day (6,180)
January Challenge: Walk 50 miles this month (5.6 miles so far)

Good morning Mintdom,

I am so excited to be in a new year; it is even better than a Monday – talking about a clean slate! Now let me see if I can muddy the waters a little. I have set up some challenges for myself in order to stay on the path to a healthy lifestyle. To some of you, these are a piece of cake and no challenge to you at all. To me and to some of you, these are difficult challenges – doable ones, however, doable ones.

 “Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.” – General George S. Patton

 Are you ready to take on the New Year? Do you want to feel the exhilaration of victory? Try setting up your own challenge. Please feel free to share your ideas here.

AffirMINTion: I already love the year 2014 and I look forward to the sweet taste of victory!

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

 A Mini Mint MoMINT

 My mom says… we can conquer what we put our minds to… AND I LIKE IT!

 Life is Minty Fresh!