I never really went through a mid-life crisis. I had two daughters in my 20’s and two more in my late 30’s, so until 2 ½ years ago, I had young kids at home to keep me young and focused.
I was a Marketing Manager for a major airline and worked with a group of super-sharp young people, all under 40 years old. I was busy and happy and I felt like I was just as young as everybody else. I had my “dream job” for over 15 years, but a few months ago I was offered the “opportunity” to “retire” (go ahead and read between the lines) so I thought I‘d better take them up on the offer.
Now I find myself an over-weight, empty-nester with plenty of time on my hands, and realize it is about time to focus on myself. So here goes, it’s time to GET IN SHAPE, GRANDMA!
Today's Grandmas are not the same as they were 20 years ago. They are still very much alive, vibrant, attractive and healthy women who are now empty-nesters and able to focus on making the most of their lives, right? Right!
Hey, I’m one of those Grandmas! I want to make the most of the rest of my life too! I just need to lose some weight, get in shape, and stay healthy, that’s all. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do! I’m committing to lose 20-30 pounds by my 60th birthday on August 4th. Do you think I can do it? YES I CAN, but I’m going to need a lot of help.
My awesome husband Doug is totally supportive and happy that I’m making this commitment! He’s holding me to it, because I’ve never committed before.
I read in Money Magazine about an online training program that sounds like a perfect fit for me. You just download workouts on an MP3 player and have a “personal coach” giving you exercise directions in your ear while cool music plays in the background. Why, that sounds just like my daughter’s “Get in Shape, Girl!” that she loved so much in the early 90’s!
Get in Shape, Girl was Hasbro’s line of exercise equipment made especially for little future-gym-members. The instructions came in pretty pastel colors; there were rhythmic gymnastic ribbons and jumping ropes, and best of all, a cassette audio tape for her to blast while she did her exercises. She dressed up in her leotards, leg-warmers and headband and she was ready to go! She still loves to work out, so I’m hoping this will be just as much fun for me as it was for her 20 years ago.
My friend referred me to a trainer named Tim Misewicz, who helps people all over the county get in shape by talking to them on the phone once a week. It sounded good to me, so I called him today. Wow, he signed me up and we start on Monday. He told me I’d better start unofficially today by committing 100% to his program. To do that, I need to do everything he asks me to do and the first thing is to “tell the world” that I’m going to stick to his 10-week program. I have to put it on my Facebook, Tweet about it and ,,,you guessed it, blog about it too!
Tim said there is no secret to losing weight. The bottom line is very simple: calories IN-calories OUT. If you burn more than you eat, you’ll lose weight. There’s no quick fix. He’s been in the fitness and training business for 25 years and he knows that people never stick to a diet that is given to them, so he’s not going to give me a certain diet to follow. I have to educate myself on what to eat, because if I do, I’ll lose weight and keep it off.
Here’s the daily diet he gave me: 1548 calories, 550 of those calories must be protein, 619 must be carbohydrates, and 378 fats. I have to keep track of everything I put in my mouth for 10 weeks and send it to him once a week before we talk on the phone. He’s holding me accountable, just like Doug is.
I also have to commit to exercise for an hour, six days a week. On at least one of those days I need to burn 500 calories, so if it takes me 2 hours to do it, that’s what I’ll have to do. I get Sundays off, woo-hoo!
He scared me to death, but the more I talked to him the more excited I became. Now I’ve got to spend the rest of the day figuring out how many calories are in what I’ve already eaten and plan my 1548 calorie days for the next week. Wish me luck!
Oh wait, I left out the “best” part. I have to take a picture of myself in bike shorts and a sports bra every week and post it here on the blog. I’m going to look just like the ladies on The Biggest Loser. Thrill, thrill~!
Here's a video of Uncle John's Band for your listening pleasure!
Here's a video of Uncle John's Band for your listening pleasure!
