Let's Get Physical - A Tribute to Jane Fonda and the Fitness Craze of the 80's

"Let's get physical" - it was the mantra of the 80's. Jane Fonda is known for her oscar winning roles, political views, intelligence and beauty. She is also known as a pioneer of fitness back in the 80's.   She looked amazing in her leotard and leg warmers. Jane was in her 40's in the 80's.  That's right - a woman in her 40's started a fitness craze! As a now 50 year old woman, I find this both inspiring and amazing.  I've always admired Jane and women like her.  Intelligent, passionate, beautiful, strong and the picture of health - all qualities I have and still try to emulate.
Remember Olivia Newton-John's "Let's Get Physical" video?  Olivia sported the leotards and legwarmers while she did aerobics through it's entirety. It seemed like everyone was getting physical - taking aerobics classes and joining the gym. If there's one craze worth succumbing to - this was it. I turned 20 in 1980.  I was a slave to fashion and anything trendy in my 20's.  I still can't believe I permed my already curly hair - another fad I succumbed to.  Naturally, if sporting a leotard and joining a gym was the trendy thing to do then I was immediately on board.  I  joined a gym that was just for women.  I packed a bag in the mornings and went directly to the gym after work. I would meet up with friends and we'd sweat and laugh through aerobics class together.
While attempting to be a part of a fashionable trend, a healthy habit was born.  I continued to remain active and exercise throughout most of my adult life.  It helped shaped me - both literally and figuratively - into the strong, fit woman I am today. Outside of a few busy years in my 30's, I've tried to exercise regularly. I unfortunately learned in my 30's that  it was more difficult to balance work, school, motherhood and home without the extra energy working out gave me.
Crazes eventually go out of style. The fitness craze of the 80's turned into a good habit for me.  Working out is the best thing I do for me. Jane Fonda is now in her 70's and still looks amazing so I imagine it wasn't just a craze for her either.  Exercise looked great on her then and it looks great on her now.  I'm still admiring you Jane and I thank you for being an inspiration to me.

How Sweet It Is - Confessions of a Carboholic

Celebrate with me! The foundation of the food pyramid is carbs!  For me, that's the equivalent of a clothing pyramid having shoes at the bottom. As if I need to justify eating carbs or buying more shoes?!

As far back as I can remember, I have always loved carbs. I ate pasta. I ate it hot on my plate, cold in the strainer and uncooked - straight of the box (I emphatically do NOT recommend eating it uncooked as I broke a tooth eating uncooked ziti).
When I was a child, I used to take a slice of white bread, tear off the crust and eat it. Then I would roll and squish the rest into a neat little ball and eat that. I KNOW some of you have tried this! Matt has admitted that he did the same thing as a child.

I remember wanting to help out in the kitchen.  My mother let me peel the potatoes for dinner. I also remember enjoying eating a raw, peeled potato as a snack while I worked.  As far back as I can recall, I remember loving carbs, being active and  being thin.  I grew up Irish in an Italian neighborhood.  My mother was an excellent Irish AND Italian cook.  We ate as much pasta as we did potatoes in my home.  I believe my activity levels are what kept me thin and in shape.  I was always sent outside to play.  I rode my bike, played kick ball, shot hoops, swam and ice skated. I cannot recall one heavy child in my neighborhood. We didn't sit around watching TV or playing video games.  In order to fuel this active lifestyle, I ate a balanced diet - one that included lots of carbohydrates.

As a nurse, I understand the  importance of substituting whole grains for white grains. Brown rice, whole wheat pasta and whole grain breads are by far, a better choice nutritionally.  The are higher in fiber and nutrients and help stabilize blood sugar levels.  Sweet potatoes are a much better choice over white potatoes.  So when it comes to carbs, I choose sensibly.  I choose the ones that offer me the best nutritional value with the least amount of guilt.

So I ask myself why do people deprive themselves of the very foundation of the food pyramid in order to maintain or lose weight? Food deprivation often leads to diet failure.
Carbohydrates - breads and grains - are the foundation of the food pyramid.  They are an essential part of a balanced diet.  For this carboholic, knowing that it is recommended I have  6-11 servings of carbs per day,  is something worth celebrating. How sweet it  is!

You're a Hard Habit to Break - Rock Star Parking - One Space Away From a Handicap Space

Habits - they can be good or bad.  Habits are formed. They strengthen with recurrence and become a part of our routines.  I don't even think about it anymore. I get out of bed, go downstairs and head directly to the coffee pot. It's part of my daily routine and a ritual that offers me familiar comfort. However, I didn't always drink coffee.  My coffee habit began when I was 26 years old.  I worked for attorneys and there was always fresh coffee brewing.  The aroma drew me in and I eventually acquired a taste for it. The rest is history.
New habits can easily be formed while old habits are very difficult to break.  Coincidentally, forming a new "good" habit can automatically replace an old "not-so-good" habit.  Unfortunately, the reverse also applies.
""Yeah baby!" Exclaims my husband, as he scores a "rock star" parking space at the mall.  We just parked in the best space there is - the first space after the handicap spaces. Lucky us! Is this a habit or the norm for us? Do we typically drive around for 10 minutes searching for what I refer to it as: the ultimate spot?
I can only speak for myself. Unless I'm obligated to be somewhere in a big hurry, I try to park a little further away - saving the rock star space for someone who needs it more: the woman who is in her 9th month of pregnancy with  a 2 year-old, snuggly buckled into his car seat.  She really needs the spot more than I do. I know - I've been there.  At 5 feet 2 inches tall, when I was carrying my baby in the last trimester, I could barely move and hardly breath trying to holiday shop. That's as close to handicapped as I ever want to be.
Parking a little further away is an opportunity for me to walk a little more and burn a few extra calories. They really do add up and it's a habit I intend to stick with as long as my health and body cooperate with my mindset.
I love a good competition. I have worn a pedometer in the past.  I would try to walk more than I did the day before. Wearing it gave me an awareness of just how many steps I took per day. I found little ways to increase the number of steps each day by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, taking a walk at lunch or parking a little further away.
Always scoring a rock star parking space is a bad habit.  Not only does it take away spaces from  people who need them, it keeps you from getting in those extra steps.  Obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes all can be avoided and/or controlled by diet and exercise. So ask yourself, "Is it my goal to one day have that blue permit dangle from my rear view mirror?"
Start your holiday wish list now and put a pedometer and a new pair of walking shoes at the top of your list. Or, if the budget allows, treat yourself to them now and start a new good habit today. Somewhere out there a pregnant woman is grateful for the parking space closest to the mall. She is the true rock star!

Saying the "F" Word: Forgiveness - Letting Go of Food Remorse.

We all do it. We eat something that we know we shouldn't be eating or we overeat.  You're out to lunch with friends and you decide to order cheesecake or eat a third slice of pizza. At some point, remorse sets in.  We say it out loud as we loosen the button on our slacks "I shouldn't have had the cheesecake".   What really blows my mind is when I'm with someone who is truly trying to lose weight and they actually continue that pattern for the rest of the day. "I already blew my diet today so I'll just be more careful tomorrow". Plain cheesecake has about 500 calories per slice while strawberry cheesecake can pack up to 725 calories per slice!  A plain cheese pizza slice has 230 calories while pepperoni is closer to 300 calories per slice.  You now want to throw the entire day away and pack on extra empty calories? Or worse, starve yourself for the rest of the day?
So, you've just added 500 calories to your day. Why beat yourself up over it? It's done and it's time to let it go. Move forward and maybe find a way to burn a few extra calories over the day.  Why sabotage the entire day? Why punish yourself? Park a block further away from your office. Go for a brisk walk during half time at your daughter's soccer game or the last 10 minutes of your lunch break.  Replace the potato with another steamed or raw vegetable at dinner tonight.
Remember, deprivation can lead to failure. If we continually deprive ourselves and then have a table full of food in front of us, say at a cocktail  or holiday party, we begin to mindlessly eat. Remember that potato chip slogan "you can't eat just one"?  There's truth to that! So here is how I manage to not deprive myself, overcome cravings and let go of food remorse without losing the battle of the bulge.*
When we go out to dinner and the desserts are just too good to pass up I either share a dessert with my husband or take mine to go. It's very sexy when my husband spoon feeds me a little chocolate cake during our shared dessert. Even when I take it home, I won't eat it all at once or I'll share it. I don't normally choose to eat sweets since they sit at the tippy top of the food pyramid, so I don't beat myself up over a slice of apple pie. At home, I keep my fridge stocked with my favorite low-fat, strawberry yogurt.  If I'm craving something sweet after dinner I reach for my yogurt. It's sweet and it's full of calcium. No remorse ever follows giving in to yogurt.
When I go to a cocktail or holiday party where there is a spread of food laid out, I use a small plate and select the items that I truly enjoy, some good choices and some not so good.  I choose raw vegetables, a single cube of cheese and my idea of treats: coconut fried shrimp and scallops wrapped with bacon. I fill that little plate like it's a mini-dinner plate and walk away - far, far away from the temptation of the spread. I'll immerse myself in conversation with someone I enjoy. I most likely will savor a second glass of  merlot over hitting the dessert table.
Life is a series of moments. Enjoy the moments and the people you're with. Don't spoil them with food remorse and self-loathing, even if you do opt to head to the dessert table or go back for a second plate of fried finger foods.

*If you suffer from chronic illness or food allergies, always consult with your physician or a nutritionist for diet recommendations.

"Not Tonight Baby, I'm Too Tired" - Words Spoken To My Treadmill

Before I turn in at night, I look at my treadmill and say out loud "I'm getting up early and doing the treadmill". With good intentions I set my alarm a half an hour earlier. The alarm goes off at 5:30am. I hit the snooze button again and again and again. Not only have I slept through my treadmill time, I'm running a half an hour late! I am not benefiting from extra minutes of interrupted sleep, I am beginning my day stressed out and tired. I am more likely to snap at my husband and my kids and start their day off on a sour note. The dog is definitely getting yelled at for no reason other than the fact that his breath smells and I'm running late.

Sleep - it becomes more precious and elusive when you're trying to balance work, home and family. When I was single, I'd go out dancing with my friends six nights a week and make it to work everyday. I was young and in shape. However, I lived at home with my parents and I only had myself to worry about. Once I moved out, I worked 2 jobs. One to pay the bills and one for spending money. I still went out 6 nights a week and never complained I was tired.

Stress, along with the responsibilities of work and family life, seem to leech out much of my energy. It didn't matter how much I slept, I  always felt tired.  I saw my doctor about my fatigue and addressed my underlying anemia and an under active thyroid. I was told it all went south after 40. Here I was at 38, exhausted and gaining weight. Friends told me I looked tired and bloated, 2 years ahead of schedule. Lucky me.
At the time I was back in school full time becoming a nurse. I had 3 school-aged kids. Soccer, basketball, karate, cheer leading, Sunday school, their homework, MY homework, housework and they want me to bake cookies for tomorrow's class party? Romance? Need you ask how our romantic life was at that time?  I had to get up at 4:30am just to complete my homework before the family awoke. I thought I'd made the biggest mistake of my life and day-to-day, I didn't know how I was going to make it through the nursing program. Something had to change.

I survived it by getting an exercise tape. That's right! I added one more thing to my plate. I only worked out 2 times a week but it worked. I wasn't as tired and I began to lose weight. I felt better about me! I was like Rocky at the top of stairs before the big fight. The dog suffered less and so did my family. I "went the distance" and graduated nursing school with my family present. I was awarded the Outstanding Effort award at graduation. If they only knew! My kids, my husband and my parents were so very proud of me. I was proud of me. However, I could not have achieved this success without the complete support, understanding and love of a good man. Matt did more than his fair share around the home and with the kids and he cheered me on the whole way, never asking anything of me. He deserved the Outstanding Effort award as much as I did, because this was difinitiely a team effort.

That same year we joined a gym. The kids enjoyed the pool at that age. Now they are all in college and they all belong to gyms. We set the example. The seeds were planted. A job well done. 
I now label myself as being 'fit'. I am not an athlete. At 50, I feel and look better than I did at 38. What a difference lifestyle makes! What have I learned over the last 12 years? I learned that replacing 30 minutes of sleep with moderate exercise has given me an abundance of extra energy to get me through my hectic day. I'm not running late, I am more awake and I feel better about me. My family thanks me. My dog thanks me.
If I don't manage it in the morning, I manage it at night - no matter how exhausted I am, I ALWAYS feel more energized and alive when I finish - even it's for just 15 minutes. So tomorrow morning baby, it's you and me. We have a 30 minute date to exercise, just me and my treadmill. Tonight my handsome husband, I most likely won't be too tired !

Fruits and Veggies - Healthy, Delicious Choices or Science Projects? The Goop Phenomenom

Is it me or is it every household? I buy the fruits and veggies and store them in the drawer in my fridge that is clearly marked "vegetable crisper". Then, a week later, when I'm putting away my new produce, I have to sift through the old stuff that has now taken on new colors and textures. Some have even liquefied into this God awful smelling, brownish goop. That really stinks and I'm not just talking about the odor coming from the goop! I work hard for my money...don't we all? Why I am throwing it away on good intentions?
I swear if I don't wash it, cut it up and put in a see through package with a flashing neon sign it's going to become next week's science project. Will it grow green fuzz? Will it soften and breakout into vege acne? You know, those black spots? Or, my personal favorite, the liquefied, stinky, brownish goop? Okay, maybe the goop takes 2 weeks but you get what I mean.  I either prepare the veggies and fruits for easy access or I'm throwing it away. I feel like I am one step away from chewing the food for my family. In all fairness, I am just as guilty of ignoring the 'vegetable crisper' drawer during the week.  There are only so many hours in a day.
We already know the reasons why we need fruits and veggies: high fiber, low calorie, rich in nutrients and antioxidants. I know I feel better when I make an effort to eat 5 servings per day. Adding them to my diet is an okay plan but substituting them into my diet is best.  That means, instead of chips in front of the TV, I opt to munch on uncooked snap peas with spicy mustard  as a dip. Mustard has almost 0 calories! So I'm dipping, I'm munching and crunching with a healthy, low cal snack. If I'm in between meals and STARVING I will have 2 tablespoons of my favorite brand of hummus (it has ONLY 50 calories in 2 tablespoons) as a dip. I've upped my fiber and added protein which will help me feel more satiated longer.
So here's an opportunity to be more active once a week and burn some extra calories. Wash and cut up the veges and put them in clear, zip lock bags and place them on a shelf  for easy visibility and access. Leave the crisper drawer for the lettuce, potatoes, onions and any produce you plan on cooking. Wash the fruit and put it in a bowl on the counter top. I do this weekly, on a day off from work. I have a stereo in my kitchen so I pop in a Jack Johnson or Van Morrison CD.  I pour myself a glass of wine and turn this into "me time".  My favorite part is when Matt sneaks up behind me, kisses me on the back of my neck and grabs a couple of pepper slices from the cutting board. Those little moments are priceless. Wine, music and a soft kiss. Ahhhhh, doesn't that sound divine?
Maybe, my family will grab one of those delicious nectarines or apples over the chips. Maybe, they'll go for celery and carrots. Maybe they won't. But I know I will! I went through the process of selecting, purchasing, lugging, cleaning, chopping and packaging them. Yeah it's work, but work equals more calories burned and less calories consumed. I think I'll save those calories for another glass of wine. Cheers!

Embracing My Inner Child - One Way I Defy My 'Age'

Got Ya! I goosed the Moon God in the Dominican Republic. There he was with that expression on his face just waiting for someone to come along and give him a reason for it. Who could resist? Maybe my mind is in the gutter a little too much for some, but it keeps me feeling young and playful. Matt's mind is in the gutter just as much so it works for us.
I'm immature. There it is. I refuse to grow "old". I'm aging, but I'm not going down without a fight. I intend on keeping my attitude and mind young-at-heart and thus far, it's helped me defy the number. I'm proud of my age and I'm proud that I refuse to grow frumpy because that's what we're supposed to do. Says who? Not this girl!
It was January 2008 when we decided to go on a couples only trip to the Dominican Republic. Matt and I had sent my oldest son off to college. That moment in itself was devastating for me, considering I followed the bus on his first day of kindergarten, sobbing the entire way.  We still had 2 teens at home and as much as we adore our kids, they pretty much suck the life out of you in those fun-filled teenage years. I've always felt that God made babies beautiful and helpless so that you form a strong bond with them. This bond drives you to love and protect them. Ultimately, this bond keeps you from killing them when they are teenagers.
Our last vacation as a family was in the Spring of 2007, to the land of "Have a Magical Day". This trip was planned to help me cope with (I mean celebrate) the fact that our oldest was going to college and things would forever change. My inner child was jumping up and down at the thought of grabbing one last chance to take our kids to Disney.
It all went downhill when my brother-in-law suffered and massive heart attack and sadly passed away when we were an hour outside of La La Land. He died on Holy Thursday and catholics do not hold services until after the holy weekend is over so we voted to stay and try to enjoy ourselves. Paul would have wanted it that way. I suspect I was experiencing what bipolar feels like. We arrived at the Magic Kingdom and our two 16 year-olds skipped down Main Street together. I was laughing on the outside, yet I felt like I'd been kicked in the chest on the inside. I went through bouts of laughing and crying the four days we were there. I felt more like I was in the Twilight Zone verses being in the land of "Dreams Come True".  People looked at me like I was crazy. It was an out-of-body experience and I was feeling like a white jacket with shiny buckles might make a good fashion trend I could start.
All of these reasons are why we got 'selfish' and booked a vacation at an all inclusive, adults only resort. We needed to get away from everything and everyone and just BE. No little children crying, no teenagers sulking, just grown-ups.....acting like children.  All inclusive means ALL inclusive. We only needed to bring cash for tipping, easy enough as the Dominicans were gracious and grateful for every American dollar tip. All you can eat and all you can drink. YESSIR! We both felt like we'd needed a week of detox to make up for a week of indiscretions.

We had a blast! We ate, drank, swam, drank at the swim-up-bar and ate some more. We laughed and loved all week long and behaved like newlyweds. We both agreed that this was the best vacation we had ever been on. We didn't have to be responsible and we didn't have to jump through anyone's hoops - we just had to BE.
My inner child is once again jumping up and down. My friend Carolyn is getting married in the land of "Have a Magical Day" in 3 1/2 weeks!!! I am her maid of honor (technically I'm the matron of honor but we're not going there) and Matt is a groomsman. I am overflowing with excitement because this is my first trip to Disney without the kids and my first trip back since we lost Paul. It's just me and my Mr.  I will let my inner child come out and play. I will honor my kids and the memory of Paul by unleashing my inner child and skipping down Main Street in the land of "Dreams Come True".

The Couple That Plays Together, Stays Together.

We exercise together. We hike, walk or go to the gym. We have a common goal - spending time together and staying fit. Neither of us are 'hard bodies' and we are not gym rats. We make time to get to the gym but we don't have a set schedule. We wing it. On a beautiful evening or weekend, we head outdoors. This picture was taken at a local NY State park - The Walkway Over the Hudson Rail Bridge. We'll walk the bridge or the rail trail. We have begun trying new walks/hikes. This past Saturday, we tried The Poet's Walk in Rhinebeck, NY. It was easy and freelicious! We started playing tennis this year - he's the teacher and I'm the student. We even tried Yoga. We didn't think we were the Yoga type but it is seriously challenging and relaxing. We both enjoyed it!
The point is, we are trying new things together. No matter what your interests or hobbies are, it's fun to try new things - both in the home and out of the home!
Look at this picture....whenever we are together we are a couple. We hug, kiss, hold hands and cop an occasional feel, if no one is looking. We always laugh. There is always something funny to be found in any situation. Just look for the funny. It's there, even if I have to create it by randomly breaking into an off-key song.
I purchased a Wii system for my husband for father's day. I thought to myself, he's either going to be upset that I spent the money on it or he's going to love it. He LOVED IT! We LOVE IT. Our kids LOVE IT. It's physical so you have to move more than your thumbs to play. We play it together - mostly bowling. We play alone - ping pong, tennis, golf. JUST DANCE is an insanely fun way to sweat and burn calories. Dancing. It's hilarious - we laugh so hard at ourselves and at each other. I highly recommend it! Our teens actually spend more time with us when they're home. That is money well spent!
We do crossword puzzles together.  We have to sit very close to see the same puzzle. Closeness is so very important. He always smells so good. One thing leads to another!
We play competitively. Scrabble, Yahtzee, cards, Trivial Pursuit. I am a sore loser and even more obnoxious winner! That's okay because Matt's willing to laugh with me not at me. That means I have to be willing to laugh at myself. I learned that from him.  He always says "if I don't laugh, I'll cry". I finally understand this concept. Laughter truly is the best medicine and the sound of his laughter is music to my ears. It's okay to cry too, but I prefer laughter any day. Promise to love me and laugh with me until death us do part.
Take your spouse or significant other by the hand and go for a walk while the weather still permits. Even if you never exercise, you can walk. If you're tired, you will most likely feel energized once you've completed a walk. Walk and talk - it's a nice, healthy way towards rebuilding or maintaining intimacy.

THE SKINNY - I'll Sum It Up: ACTIVITY, KNOWLEDGE AND LAUGHTER

ACTIVITY

Whether you are interested in losing weight or maintaining your current weight, my fitness advice will help you achieve your goal. It's about finding activities you enjoy and making time in your weekly schedule for these activities. It's also about finding a way to be active throughout the day, everyday.

You are either active or sedentary as a rule. Meaning, you'll drive around for 10 minutes looking for the closest parking spot or you'll park at a distance and briskly make it into the mall in less then 5 minutes. The active person perceives this situation as an opportunity to burn a few extra calories in his/her busy day. The sedentary person perceives this situation as an inconvenience - having to walk further when they are just too tired to walk.  Opportunity. Perception. Active. Sedentary. Choices.
*Of course, before beginning any new exercise regime, you should always consult with your physician for medical clearance. The nurse has spoken!

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge is power. Know what you're eating before you put it in your mouth! The original hamburger and fries at McDonald's was the size of what is now the Happy Meal portion, which equals approximately 500 calories should you choose a diet soda or water with it. In such financially difficult times, we want more value for our buck. The Big Mac value meal has a whopping 1060 calories, making it a better dollar value over the Happy Meal. Value: relative worth. Are you willing to stretch yours and your family's waistline and increase your risks for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in order to stretch your dollar? What is the cost of a new pair of jeans? What's the cost of your copays on your cholesterol, blood pressure and/or diabetes medications? What's the cost of  a 16 year old being diagnosed with type 2 (adult onset) diabetes? How much do you value the quality of the life you live? Value: relative worth, merit or importance. So ask yourself, were is the the value in the Value Meal? What is the final price tag, in the long run? You are what you eat, so to speak. It may not be what you are eating, it may be how much you're eating which is keeping you from achieving your goal. Too much of a good thing......

The next time you pick up an item at the grocery store don't just look at the price. Look at the value. How many calories per serving are there? How many grams of  fat, sodium and sugar does it contain? How many grams of protein and fiber does it have? Compare it to like items and choose the one with lower fat, sodium and sugar grams and contains more fiber and protein. Your choices impact your entire family. Take the time to read the labels for yourself and the ones you love. I will share with you the foods that always land in my grocery cart and any new discoveries.

LAUGHTER

Someone once said "laughter is the best medicine".  Doesn't it feel good to laugh?  Love and laughter go hand-in-hand in successful marriages. Do you love your spouse? Do you like your spouse? Are you happy in your marriage? Do you laugh together?

Listen ladies, I am one extremely happily married woman. I love my husband, he is my best friend. However, I have a failed first marriage and my marriage to my loving husband of 15 years has been put to the test, many times. I know of what I speak.  The truth is if you like each other and enjoy each other, you are more likely to stay in love and stay married.

I used to believe it was all about my husband making me happy. After all, I do so much. I work, clean, avoid cleaning (that takes a lot of energy), shuttle the kids around, shop, cook, laundry etc. Now I have to make my husband happy too? Are you kidding me? One of my greatest discoveries, my "AH HA" moment, was when I learned that I am responsible for my own happiness. When I'm happy, the people around me seem happier. Ripple in the pond effect. Spread joy or spread misery. The choice is mine. My marriage, like a garden, needs tender loving care to thrive, blossom and last. If I don't nurture it, it will slowly shrivel and die like the neglected plant I occasionally remember to water.  My husband gave me a plaque years ago. It's in the shape of a heart and it reads "Marriage is like a garden, it takes a lot of love and a little work each day".  Both partners need to love and work or the garden will shrivel and die. That plaque still hangs in the room we spend the most time in: the kitchen.

When you're happy, you're kids are happier, your husband is happier. It comes back to you - like a reflection in the mirror. You are responsible for your own happiness. What better way to be a role model to your children? When I do something sweet for my husband he appreciates it and THAT makes me happy. When he does something sweet for me I appreciate it and THAT makes him happy. Our kids learn by example. This is how it's done in our home. Consideration is an important element in my marriage. It's not all about me, it's not all about him and it's not all about the kids. It's about all of us - us as a couple, us as a family. You get what you give in our household. Do unto others.

I will share with you ways that we keep our love alive and get through the trials and tribulations of parenting and caring for our elders with love, support and most importantly, with LAUGHTER.

How Do I Do It?

 If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me "how do you do it" I would be enjoying an early retirement at 50. That's me on the left, along with one of my dear friends. This picture was taken on July 3, 2010. I am 50 and my friend, Carolyn, is 33. So many women want to be a "Happy Skinny Mrs" but just don't know how to achieve it. The older I get, the more I am asked to share my secrets on staying thin, youthful and happy. I hope to reach out to anyone who wants sage advice that has stood the test of time. I have always been told I look 10 - 20 years younger than my age. No nip-tuck, botox or peels involved...I'm just a real woman living a balanced, active and happy life.  Stay tuned as I share my secrets to keeping the weight off, finding joy in the day-to-day and keeping the love alive.