Last day at Green Mountain

Dear Fam nad Friends, Today is the day I head home and feel like the it is "the last of the little Indians." What I mean is slowly the women I have come to know so well are leaving.Some left yesterday and a few more have left this morning. My roomate is still here and she leaves in about an hour. She lives in Kingman Arizona,near the Grand Canyon.... We have become very dear friends and I treasure her friendship and plan on keeping in touch.. She has a wonderful heart and she is someone who has kept me in line, on time and focused. How do I feel at This minute? I must say in some ways I just want to go because hanging around without class or classmates feels empty and on some level how I felt when I arrived. It is now time for me to be with you and enjoy what I have learned and practiced. We all went out to dinner last evening and we helped each other with ordering and encouragement. It felt so good to be out and ordering dinner....It is in so many ways such a protected enviroment and as nice as that is the real world is waiting and I am ready... I miss you all so much and I can't wait to grab that little Gracie and give her a big squeeze...:)  She is one of the reasons I commited so diligently to the exercise and the mindful eating. The very idea of being an active Grammy is one of my aspirations because there may very well be a lot more of those precious people coming into our lives...I also thought about being a good Mom to you all... Food is such a big part of a family and it's traditions. I want to be a positve and good "teacher" and "provider" of healthy food and dinners. There is just to many thing we want to do as a family!!!!! Right On Fam!!!!! Thinking too about this blog, I wanted to share such amazing wisdom with you but it really is quite simple. God has given us such a bountiful food choices and it seems the less processed and refined we stay the healthier the food. We had delicious meals and they were simple yet flavored and "jazzed" with natural spices and flavorings...I have really let cooking go by the wayside and I want to be active in planning meals too!!!!A Chaotic eater can be a chaotic mealplanner....Oh in some ways I am getting tired of talking about me... I have always found such joy in sharing with others and I am so so so ready to dilute some of this intensity of the past weeks and blend what I have "lived" with normalcy and in the comfort of our home.....It is a tremendous gift to know that where you are heading to is so full of support and love.. How blessed am I!!!!!!Well I am going to get my suitcases and say good-bye to Mary. Everyone called us, "Mary squared".....We have connected and it will be hard to say goodbye but we will always share the memories of Green Mountain.....Now look out I am coming home and I hope you will be ready for a strangle-hold hug because I don't think I will ever let you get away... :)Get Ready Because I AM... Love you dearly, Mom :)

Tatoo or not to Tatoo

Dear Friends and Family, Well I missed you all yesterday and I missed blogging to you too... I am looking forward to coming home... This has been a once in a lifetime event for me and I am forever changed by the knowledge, the friends and the support I received here at Green Mountain...We talked in class yesterday about how we can implemt our plans at home. We planned menus and discussed exercise plans.It is all well and good but I know I have to face the "real world" and stiuations that may be triggers to my overeating. One reocurring thought is the habit of my "sneaky eating." I tend to think if no one sees me eat or if I am on the run the food is magic and has no consequence. I would scamper,if you think I could scamper, :) into the kitchen after dinner and eat another entire dinner in sneaky snacks from your dinner plates or leftovers... I am facing this challenge head on with courage and mindfulness. I am going notice all the food and taste it too...Novel idea huh?????Well, I did NOT get a tatoo.. I was concerned about giving blood and we worked out another way to remember each other...We bought maple leaf key chains and everytime we touch the keychain it will be a reminder of our affirmations and our Green Mountain experiences.. We are having lunch right now but I have more to share and now it is time for a little mindful eating..:)  Yum Yum  .. I will be in touch and again couldn't love you more......Love, Mary :)

The Results Are In Or Are They????

Dear Friends and Fam, Tomorrow morning I have to drag my tail to my fitness assessment. I will get weighed and measured at 6:30 in the Am....Will it be worth getting up???? I know it will be and I am anxious to see the weight number but I know now that the scale is not the measure of true fitness and health. One lady said, "I am going to tell my friends and family that I lost fifty pounds in my head and I feel terrific." I know that the scale has not brought me much pride or happiness and I don't want to give my successes and progress away to a number each morning. It is all about the awareness of healthy eating and exercise that I like and enjoy....There has always been "good food and bad food" and "bad days and good days." according to how and what I ate that day. I know that it is a choice and now I feel better informed and more aware what motivates me to make a particular choice. These are the "tools' that I am bringing home. As stress goes up... self-care goes down and therefore in order to continue on this mindful journey I have learned so many little techniques....I am a little nervous about implementing all the things I have learned but with practice and repetition it will A _OK  :)....You will be so sick of me and my affirmations....just kidding :) You know God had a gentle Hand in this walk and His timing is amazing!!! I was not ready for this experience last year and i would not have been this receptive and aware....Again I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your encouragement and excitement. I will be sad on Saturday to see the women of our group head home. we have become very close and we have set up a facebook page to keep in touch...Each one of us comes with a story and in all this quality time we have had the opportunity to share our past and support our future efforts on this journey. In fact the ladies have suggested doing something to bond and seal this unique experience.Now, hold on to your hats!!!!! A couple ladies want all of us  to get a tatoo!!! A little red maple leaf about the size of our thumbnail is the plan.....I thought I would get mine on my foot so I could look at it often and remember my buddies at Green Mountain...Well, is that crazy or what????? Jim, sweets I think I can see your face from here inLudlow Vermont.. :)......I will give you the number result tomorrow but I think or know I have an opportunity to embark on a mission of loving and enjoying food and feeling good about my body again...So the results will be nice to record on paper but in my mind I know I am healthier and much more fit..scale or no scale....Love you very much, Mom

Just a day at Green Mountain

Dear Fam and Friends,  Just a day at Green Mountain....Well, we worked out the upper body muscles,did water aerobics, danced Zumba on a fitball,and attended three classes on nutrition and the psychology of eating.The classes are excellent and I am increasingly impressed by the professionals here. We also had a cooking demonstration by the two chefs who provide wonderful meals... We had flank steak this evening and it was a treat...I will get into more detail tomorrow as I am "not at the top of my game" in that I am getting tired....I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to attend this outstanding facility...I will keep you in my prayers tonight and be assured that you are always in my heart... I love you all,  Mom

Cont.... A Roomate To Admire

So Sorry  for some reason my computer shut down unexpectedly....The main idea of the class was that again the scale is NOT the measure of good health. Lean muscle mass is more dense and weighs more than fat. In order for the body to achieve it's maximum efficiency it is so important to build lean muscle mass..Scientists used to think that fat cells did not have a specific"job" but they have found that fat cells produce leptin and hormone and other chemicals and that fat cells are the primary regulators of weight.The body also will naturally keep setpoints meaning that the body tries hard to maintain a certain weight. If that setpoint begins to climb and stay at a certain weight, the only way to reset this setpoint is exercise.I find this to be so interesting and helpful and I so enjoy these classes. While in class I noticed my roomate, Mary, was crying. She had pulled a muscle in her "bum" and was having terrible spasms.I quickly told Lynn Ann and she encouraged Mary to come to her next class on back care. Mary went up two flights of the most uncomfortable steps and worked so hard in class. Lynn Ann modified each stretch and helped Mary the very best she could.Our next "adventure" was the Okema mile. We needed  to walk around a small track 1/10 of a mile 10 times...After we completed our mile Lynn Ann takes our pulse and time and works out a specific walking plan to take home. When we arrived last week Mary could not walk more than 1 lap and today she was in such discomfort.Well, she took off with sheer determination and she stopped and she walked and stretched and kept walking until she completed 10 laps...1 MILE  :)  . We were all clapping and cheering her on...it was such a moving moment and we were inspired by her courage,strength and commitment to feeling good again....We also had a fitness cardio work on fitballs and again she balanced and did a full routine on the ball even after a few falls..There a marked improvements in our endurance and stamina...and Mary is beginning to believe she can travel again with her grandson. She told me so many tours will not accept your reservation if you cannot walk 3 miles...Oh my, there are seen and lots of unseen things going on at Green Mountain but one thing I do see is a renewed sense of well being and confidence.Mary is exhaused this evening and she has ice bags on the knees but I have never her seen look so content and relaxed.......Green Mountain showed it's true mission today of helping women believe their bodies are strong and have untold potential and rebounding ability... I love you all, Mom
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A Roomate to Admire

Hola Dear Fam and Friends, Our 7:00am class is a real eye-opener!!!! Lynn Ann, the fitness expert does an amazing routine and as she leads the class she stands in front of large windows. Over her shoulder the mountains are bursting with color and the early morning sun is creeping slowly over the trees highlighting the gorgeous fall colors in Vermont. Breakfast followed this exercise class and today I was extremely hungry for some reason. In general I have been content and I truly have not had any real food cravings,,,,except I dream of some delicious full-bodied coffee....but I could have eaten all the eggs and oatmeal...Again we had another class with the same gentleman and it was so informative.

So Diets Don't Work... Really????

Hello sweet Fam and Dear Friends, Well I received a beautiful bouquet of fall flowers today and I want to thank my wonderful husband and terrific children for the unexpected hug from home... I want to tell you that it was a "shot in the arm" but it made me want to see each of you personally to give you a big kiss and hug....It is so sweet...love it so so much!!!!That was the highlight of my day.. Let's see what else did I do today, Monday? Our day began with an outstanding class from the son of the founder of Green Mountain and he and his wife are the directors... tremendous people... He has such a marvelous background and if you go the website, Green Mountain at Fox Run, his background is further discussed....Here are just a few of his pearls of wisdom....First and foremost Diets Don't Work!!!!There are lifestyle changes you can introduce and put into your life but diets mean rules and rules beget breaking and breaking rules begets shame.Don't beat the crap out of yourself when you break a rule, learn to become miserable about something else.:)  I like that!!!! Stay positive and add strategies and think of them as guidelines and be MODERATE...Celebrate your sucesses!!!This is a slow methodical process and chips away with time but you nedd to tell others who are supporting you what you need and don't need.The bumps in the road are your opportunities to grow and learn as we all have bumps in the road.A lapse does NOT as relapse mean!!!Eating what you like and need is the key to satisfaction. The scale is not the measure of good health.There is nothing to be cured here at Green Mountain. It is a journey and feel good about yourself.Good advice???? I think so and it all makes sence....You can now see the little things with the other gals..bending and picking things up, pants that were comfortable yesterday at mass,one lady tried Zumba,,,,it goes on :)  To continue the day,,,we had a an upper body workout with weights followed by low impact aerobics...I was really tired but proud I made it. We had a delicious lunch and then off to an informative class on food addiction with Robyn the nutritionist. There is a beautiful pool in one of the adjoining ski lodges and we had water aerobics.... We arrived back at Green Mountain to do a gentle Yoga class which was really tough.. My hat is off to you Jen (our niece) It is really hard but I was so delighted in the overall feeling of relaxation when you are finished... Meatloaf,turkey of course, with butternut sqaush and big serving of carrots finished the meals today. We had a pureed serving of blueberries and we had uncontollable laughs because everyone's teeth and tongue turned deep violet...We played pictionary and had a fun evening...Oh many ladies are staying 4 weeks and I am so happy for them but I think 2 weeks is perfect and I can't wait to come home.In closing I am more and more convinced the Green Mountain philosopy of mindful eating is the key to unlocking control,ending cravings, renewed appreciation of food and feeling strong and healthy...Diets dont't work and I can say this with conviction and I am so excited to share the program with anyone. I have a very informative binder and a conviction in my heart, body and soul....Take care and I love and miss you all, Mom