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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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!

Move It!

May 28, 2013

Swimming 1/2 hour

Good morning Mintdom!

Move more, move more, move more and move more. That is what I said to myself while I was in the pool today. I need to repeat that every day. My new goal is to swim! I LIKE swimming. I swam this afternoon and I am sore this evening, which is good news because it means that I did something. I enjoyed and I am sore!

Right now, I can swim freestyle without stopping about three fourths of the pool a couple of times but stopping in between. I want to be out there doing laps. I am not sure how long it will take me, but here is a list of my new goals:

1. Swim the whole way across the pool
2. Swim the whole way across the pool and back without stopping
3. Swim across the pool four times without stopping
4. Swim be on the Ellen DeGeneres show without stopping
5. Swim across the pool sixteen times without stopping
6. Swim across the pool twenty times without stopping

Since I have an indoor pool, I have no excuses for not making my goals. Do you have written goals? Do you have a plan to achieve your goal? If you do not have written goals, then why don’t you? If you have written goals, do you also have a plan?

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint Exupery (author of The Little Prince)

AffirMINTion: I choose to move more for my health

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

PS Goal #4 is not an error – I just wanted to see if you actually read this stuff; although, I do want to be on her show one day! LOL

A Mini Minty MoMINT

My mom says…  Move more every day for your health… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

 

xoxo

 

 

Let’s Move It!

Renewed ComMINTment!

08/15/2011 – Walked and talked with a good friend

Good morning Mintdom!

After last week’s conference on personal growth, I am renewing my comMINTment to my health. For me, this was a life-changing event. Par for the course, it seems that I keep reading things that reinforce my comMINTment for instance, I just read; “Improvement cannot happen without change”. One of the big changes that I have comMINTed to is to turn off the TV.  Although I have not been able to disconnect from the company yet because I have 10 months to go on a two-year contract with them, I have not watched any TV since I got home.  I am telling you, it has been a blessing for me.  I have not missed it at all and I am so much more productive with my time.  I also made a new comMINTment to Weight Watchers again and of course to walk 3 days a week and swim 3 days a week.

I admire the main speaker for the conference.  He really ‘Walks the Talk’.  What a great example to follow. This morning, I walked and talked with my good friend, Ann. I understand that, that is not exactly what ‘Walking the Talk’ means, but I just had to use it. LOL

Simply setting a goal is not enough. In order to reach a goal, you must take action, and if “ImproveMINT cannot happen without change” what one change will you comMINT your actions?

AffirMINTion: I love being TV free!

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

“Every accomplishMINT starts with the decision to try.” – Unknown

My mom says that she made a comMINTment to turn the TV off… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!
 

  xoxo
PS: Although I liked my new friends, I really love the one on one attention at All Aboard Dogs while my mom was away.

I LOVE MONDAYS! (Shouting)

08/01/2010

Good morning Mintdom

I love Mondays; it is the start of a brand new, fresh week! This Monday is even better because not only is it the start of a new week, it is the start of a new month, and I have had a GREAT start for this week and month.  I got up early and walked, a mile. I just got new shoes so I am breaking them in. By the end of the month, I hope to be walking at least 2 miles in the mornings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, my plan is to swim or do water aerobics.

August is a good month in other ways too.  This month I am attending with my sisters, a personal growth seminar.  I can hardly wait!  Dave Ramsey and author, Jon Gordon (The Energy Bus, The No Complaining Rule, The Seed – and others) are the speakers!  I am so excited!  In addition, it is my youngest sister’s birthday and Becky and I will be on hand to celebrate with her!  Whoo hoo!

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” ~Maria Robinson~

I cannot tell you how excited that I am at this new prospect. I think August is going to be my month to make great strides towards a healthy, balanced life! What kind of week and month will you have?  Are you in need of a fresh start? You can start today, Monday, August 1, 2011.

AffirMINTion: I am creating a fresh new ending today.

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 we can start our day over anytime… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

I love my life!

xoxo

I love my life!

Do You Know Your ‘Why’?

6/27/2011

Good morning, Mintdom,

I am running late this morning so this will be short.  I was supposed to walk with my girlfriend this morning no matter what the weather was like (we decided last night to walk indoors if it was raining). We did not make it. My friend was up all night with a sick dog and I had a headache, and nothing seemed to help it.  It has mostly subsided this morning. My girlfriend and I will try again on Wednesday.

This morning, I was not going to write, but then I started thinking (are you smelling smoke?) and remembering ‘my why’ I write to you.

My mission is by sharing my journey towards a healthy balanced life; it will encourage and empower people to take charge of their own lives.

I want to share my entire journey – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Here are my questions to you this morning:

Have you forgotten why you are doing what you are doing?

Do you turn to your ‘whys’ when you are ready to quit?

Do you know why you are working on today’s plan?

Can you directly relate tomorrow’s schedule to the ‘why’ of your goals?

I am asking myself these same questions. Stay tuned for more for my answers. I can tell you this; just writing these questions has helped me to focus. 

Here is my new theme song http://tinyurl.com/uglybadgood  LOL

AffirMINTion: I keep my ‘whys’ in front of me.

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out…”~ Robert Collier

My mom says that I am one of her ‘whys’ for leading a healthy lifestyle… and I like it!

Life is Minty Fresh!

I was so little

 

 

 

xoxo

My first day with my Mom – I was little. Yesterday I went for my one-year checkup and I now weigh a whopping 8.9 pounds!  I am a big girl!

Reaching Goals – Are You Reaching Yours?

06/06/2011

Good morning Mintdom,

I had a good week last week as far as exercise goes.  I went to the pool and swam on Sunday, Monday and Saturday.  I am going to try to add another day this week. I am working my way up to five times a week.  I know it has only been a couple of weeks since I started swimming again but I swear I already feel more energy!

Yesterday, I bought some fresh (local) vegetables that I plan to cook them on the grill.  I will let you know how that works out.  I want to step up on my vegetables. The US government has come up with a new symbol for food guidelines.  Instead of the food guide pyramid, the government has come up with a plate is divided into the proper proportions. Check out www.nutrition.gov – it is an excellent resource for healthy eating guidelines.  In order for me to meet my summer goals (see last week’s post) I need to immerse myself in healthy people, places and things. This week I am upping my vegetable intake and eating one fruit, which I have not bought yet!  Stay tuned!

If you have goals, what are you doing to reach them? To help me reach my goals, I have them written, I do a vision board that I keep in front of me, and I have started a visual or some call it a dream journal. It has more than physical health ideas and dreams in it.  It also includes my emotional, financial and spiritual goals.  I even have some farfetched dreams – who knows – maybe one day it will come true! Why don’t you take some time today to write down your goals or if you already have them written down, take time to think about them?

AffirMINTion: I work towards reaching my goals each day

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

“Successful people are successful because they form the habits of doing those things that failures don’t like to do.”~ Albert Gray

My mom says that I need to add fun to my goals…. AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!
                                                

xoxo

   

Having fun with my toys!

The Pool is Open – Goals – Seed Planting

05/30/2011 – Memorial Day

Good morning, Mintdom,

I just love that the outdoor pool is open!  It is not big enough for swimming; however, it is GREAT for treading water, and socializing.  I like to go swimming in the indoor pool and dry off outside.  It will be easy to go swimming after work now – yeah!

One of the reasons why I need to get stronger is that I am going to a conference in San Diego in August.  I really need to be stronger for that and the pool will help me prepare for a lot of walking at a large convention center. One of my favorite authors, Jon Gordon is going to speak.  He is author of several books, including The Energy Bus, The No Complaint Rule, and his latest, The Seed.  I am including a link to Jon’s latest book, The Seed. I strongly recommend it. I am so excited about seeing him! In addition, Dave Ramsey is speaking – maintain a working budget is also one of my struggles.  I hope to get some insight as to how to overcome some of my obstacles to keep that in order.

My top five summer goals are the following:

1. Work up to swimming 5 days a week

2. Work up to walking 3 days a week

3. Eat fresh, whole foods

4. Maintain my budget

5. Have fun with family and friends!

I actually did not have to list number 5; that is easy for me to do.  Minty and I LOVE to spend time with family and friends.  It is good though, because that is something that I KNOW I can check off easily, and checking off things on a list feels so good!  On a side note – I usually bring a list to the grocery store, and if I ‘forget’ to put something on the list before the store, I add it IN the store so I can check it off!  Unfortunately, it is something that I probably do not need to buy! LOL

Do you have summer goals that you would like to share?  What is your top goal? I would love to hear your answers.

AffirMINTion:  I plant the seed of good health each day!

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

Finding Purpose and Passion at Work and in Life!

Click for information

Minty Mini MoMINT

“All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today” – Author Unknown

My Mom says… I am her beautiful little flower girl, inside and out… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

 

 xoxo

Flower Girl!

It’s NEVER Too Late!

My mission is by sharing my journey towards a healthy balanced life; it will encourage and empower people to take charge of their own lives.

05/16/2011

Good morning Mintdom,

I know that I have not been consistent about writing lately. Mainly, it is because I do not have a lot to say.  I do not have a lot to say because I have been off the wagon with my exercise and often with my diet. Of course, it is my choice not to do what I know I need to do and so I have no excuse.  The only way I can explain it, is that frustration took over my desire to be healthy.

Yesterday, I made the decision to start again. I did a few things that I believe will help me to continue.  I made the decision, I did not turn on the TV until late in the evening, and I took action by going to the pool and swimming.  I cannot tell you enough, how good it felt to be doing something; almost as good as it feels to write this morning.

Above is my mission statement; it is the reason that I write Mintdom. It is the reason why I write the good, the bad, and the ugly! I want you to know that at times I fall.  I also want you to know that when YOU fall, it is ok to get back up. It is even OK if others SEE you fall. 

I am right there with this song. http://tinyurl.com/GetBckUp . I REALLY hope that by sharing my journey with you through Mintdom it gives you strength and encouragement in your own journey.

AffirMINTion: I am determined to be healthy!

Make it a GREAT day, IF you choose to.

What are you waiting for?

Life is good!

A Mini Minty MoMINT

When the world says, “Give up,”
Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
~Author Unknown

My mom says that it is NEVER too late… AND I LIKE IT!

Life is Minty Fresh!

It's Never Too Late - Right?

xoxo
It is Never too Late