I’ve been looking over my writing career this past week reviewing various things I have written throughout the years, when I came back across the post that made most of the Internet hate me.

I wrote a piece for Hybrid Mom Magazine on The Top 5 Mom Style Dont’s and it caused so much controversy that I honestly couldn’t believe it. I got lots of nasty comments about how I obviously “wasn’t a mom” and “that I was a rich b!tch with a nanny” and of course, a “poor writer.”

At the time I was intensely distressed. Ironically, that same poorly written article got picked up by Yahoo! (Where people continued to rally against me and my obvious childlessness.) Now that I have perspective, however, I can just laugh. Because really, ladies? It was an article about Spanx and sweatpants.

Wanna read it? Sure, why not?! An excerpt below….

Ladies, I believe we can be our own worst enemies.  We spend so much time taking care of our husbands, our children, our jobs, our homes and even our pets that there is little, if any, time left to take care of ourselves.

Style? What’s that? Who has the time or energy to think about THAT? Besides, style is something for people with major money, right?

WRONG.

Style, in fact, has very little to do with money. It’s about making a conscious decision to present yourself to the world in a particular manner.

Take a moment to think about what style you are you presenting to the world right now. Does your personal style say that you live a manic lifestyle, drive a minivan and that your kids rule your life? Or does it show a little personality? A little glimpse into the woman within?

Here’s a link to the rest of the piece…

Post 2 in the Resolution Report series

This weekly report is my accountability to the world as well as a way to help others stay motivated on their own journey to fitness or ahem, a bikini body. I’ll share what I am learning along the way in the tips, techniques, resources & trends section of the posts.

Before I give you some actionable ideas, let me just report that I have lost four pounds in three weeks. YAY! Now, the critic in me thinks I should have lost at least six but hey, I’ll take it!  I’m trying train my brain to get over weighing my success in POUNDS and instead focus on STRENGTH  and BODY FAT loss. Not as easy as it sounds. (I’m half tempted to chuck my scale to avoid the temptation.)

At this moment, my body fat is at 28.2% and my BMI is 24.5.  My goal is to hit 21-22% body fat. I have a way to go, as you can tell.

My upcoming week focus and action items: Hitting my daily water goal and taking those before pictures

TIPS, TECHNIQUES, RESOURCES & TRENDS:

PULL OUT THE CAMERA: You know, a couple of years ago when my husband and I were really focused and on a roll, we took pictures every week of ourselves in bathing suits so we could see the changes that we were making in our bodies. As mortifying (MORTIFYING!) as those pictures were in the beginning, boy did they motivate us to keep our focus. It was thrilling to see visible changes. I have to admit, I’ve been avoiding the camera since January 1. I know that it is time to take that dreaded “before” picture. Sigh. I encourage you to pull out the camera and document your journey. It will keep you motivated and accountable.

FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER: Finding someone to keep you accountable and in essence act as a “cheerleader” is a priceless resource. In this case, tough love can be a blessing.  My partner is Lori. I just emailed her all of my measurements. Talk about vulnerability! Couple that with the fact that she herself has lost over 100+ pounds (not to mention the fact that she is my running partner) and you can imagine how she will help keep me on the straight and narrow.

HIT THE HEAVY WEIGHTS: Obviously I am a cardio girl. I would rather run than do most any other kind of exercise. But there is no denying how rapidly I see results when I hit the weights. (No wimpy weights either. That is just wasting your time, ladies.) I’ll be reporting more on this in my journey but let me just leave you with this little factoid: for each pound of muscle you have, you burn 50 extra calories per day.

EXPERIMENT: Now, obviously I am not a trainer or dietitian so remember these are my own trial and error recommendations… Protein supplements and shakes are very helpful when  you embark on a fitness and weight loss program. I’m a big fan of Myoplex Light (20 g of protein) and Slim Fast High Protein ( 15 g of protein) shakes. I try to substitute a meal with a shake a couple of times a week. Taste wise, I must admit that I prefer the Slim Fast products. They make me feel like I am “cheating” a bit more. Plus, mmmm… chocolate.  And their snack bars really satisfy when I need a sweet fix.

Maybe you made a resolution, maybe you didn’t. I started the New Year with two big goals – to challenge myself (hence the “Project Me 2011″) and to get uber-fit.

And by uber-fit I mean BIKINI. Yes, this mom of two just said BIKINI. Shudder.

I’m just an average Joe just like everyone else, and my resolutions come with plans … and fears. What if I don’t stick with it? What if I don’t have time? What if I FAIL and the whole  world sees? What if I can never fit back into my clothes?

I find that I do better when I put my goals out there. I need to be accountable. I need some cheerleaders.

On Sundays I am going to be accountable to YOU. I’ll also give you reports on body fat, inches and weight lost. (We’ll start with that next week.)

HERE’S MY REPORT:

I started my resolution last week. A little late by most standards, I realize.

Since I started my resolution … I’ve lost 2 pounds (!!) and learned to alter the way I look at food. That is a huge step for me. Food is my personal stumbling block. Well, actually the QUANTITY of food I think is acceptable is my stumbling block.

My family and friends have been … very supportive. Although my husband and I haven’t been as diligent as I would have liked, we missed a leg workout day earlier in the week and if we don’t get up at 4:30 a.m. then the whole workout is rushed.

One way I have changed my thinking is … to view food as fuel and to think twice about what I put in my mouth. If I am intentional about my eating then I don’t graze as much.

If I had to pin down one piece of advice so far to someone who may be working toward the same goals … it would be plan your meals. Plan! It is much too easy to stop off for fast food when you are in a hurry. Take an hour on the weekend to really think about when you will be eating for the week and stock up on fresh foods. It is worth the effort!

What are YOU doing to keep your resolutions on track? Do you believe in resolutions?

I’ve been called out.

Taken to task.

Challenged, even.

I have this terrific friend, well, we’ll just call her Lori.  Oh heck. Her name IS Lori. (I’m so not protecting her identity!) So anyway, this terrific friend is an inspiration.  She is in the process of successfully taking her life back.  She has lost a ton of weight. She recently rocked a major community challenge competition and every time I talk to her she seems to be either going TO or returning FROM some sort of horrifying sounding fitness class at the gym.

She has become my mentor… AND my nemesis.

Now she is my partner.

She totally challenged me (in a manner of speaking) to start taking back some control in my life, in regards to my health.  You see, my habits have been poor lately.  As my job gets more and more stressful, I have been taking less and less care of myself.  Junk food, late nights, self-destructive habits.  Too much sugar, too much caffeine, to much fast food. Every cliche in the book.  The perfect picture of a take care of everybody but yourself mother.  Anyone else been there?

So we’ve join forces and committed to beginning a weight loss program. (Weight Watchers) So serious am I that I even told Lori MY REAL WEIGHT.  I know, right?  Now THAT is trust.

So why am I telling you this?  Because, no doubt, it will affect my blog.  As I re-learn about nutrition and apply these principals to my hectic life, I will be sharing them with you.  And hopefully you will benefit from MY stupidity.  Hehe!

ONE LAST THING: In an effort to curb my most ridiculous cravings – sweets – I am giving them up COMPLETELY for the next couple of weeks.  Yeah, I know… Halloween.  But sometimes you just have to give it up cold turkey to make a difference.  Sugar is definitely my biggest addiction.

I AM IN PANIC MODE.

I just saw a picture that someone took of me when I wasn’t “posing” or “sucking in” or “standing up tall” and all I have to say is:  HOW DID I GET TO THIS PLACE? I didn’t even recognize that woman.  She looked tired and stressed and heavy. She looks… (gulp) middle aged.

Ever have a moment like this?  Can you even relate?

Last summer I was in a BIKINI. (True.) Thanks to eating clean and following the Body For Life principals I lost tons of weight and was in a bikini for the first time since I was 16.  My brother actually told me that he was worrying that I was loosing too much weight.  Let me repeat that: LOOSING TOO MUCH WEIGHT. I had to laugh. In all my life no one ever said that to me. Ha!

And now.  Well, now I am working full time plus freelancing plus suffering from a running injury while raising two little men and taking care of a house, a husband, one dog, four fish and one bearded dragon.  Not to mention writing a blog, dealing with social schedules, sports leagues and trying desperately to keep in touch with my friends.

Talk about loosing your mojo.  Now, granted, I have been working slowly but surely towards regaining my “hip factor.”  (As my girlfriend calls it.) I’ve been focusing on expanding my horizons and experiencing new places and taking mini-adventures.  I’ve also been running again, albeit sporadically.

I guess I just needed something to spur me into action. WELL NO LONGER.

Look out people.

I look at that picture and only one thought comes to mind, “Oh, HELL no!”

Not to go all Austin Powers on you but, I’ve lost my MOJO, baby.  And I think you might have too.

Not judging. Just sayin’…

If you look it up in the Urban Dictionary you will find the following definitions: That quality, often elusive, that sets a person apart from everyone else. OR Self-confidence, self-assuredness. As in the basis for belief in one’s self in a situation. OR Your cool/style essence.

MOJO Baby, Yeah!

Most people that I talk with around my age  having spent the last precious years of their life with children sucking the life out of them feel exactly the same way -  uninspired and a little well, lost.

We are not exactly living that exciting life of purpose and passion are we?  (I mean, WE are, of course… but those OTHER people reading my blog definitely need some help!) And not to go all “YMCA” on you (however I did work at a Y for a trillion years) but getting your mojo back is a spirit, mind and body sort of thing.  Don’t you agree?

Yes, we should focus on our physical well-being. Yes, we should focus on our mental ability and attitudes. Yes, we should focus on our spirituality.  It is all-encompassing.

So, since I have been dubbed (by my mother and mother knows everything, doesn’t she?) the QUEEN of self-help, I will be focusing some of my bloggety-blog efforts into helping myself and others get their game back.  Let’s set some goals together!  Let’s become better friends, parents and citizens.  Let’s transition from our sleepy state of acceptance to one with purpose, passion and intention!

Some fun resources to get you inspired:

• Launch Your Personal Comeback – Good ole’ Oprah.  Even though I think she is a bit of a wack-a-doodle at times, Oprah is still dead-on with some of her advice.
• Body For Life - This challenge can change your life. Literally.  BFL is one of my favorite lifestyle changing tools.  What better than a fitness competition to inspire you to get off your you-know-what?
• Mamavation – Help Maria, the Mamavation Mom, change her life.  In turn, it is bound to motivate you to change yours!
• Improve Your Vocabulary – Take a gander at this article with some interesting suggestions on how you can improve your vocabulary and broaden your horizons.

Well don’t just sit there… get on with it!  Your mojo isn’t going to knock on your front door.  What EXACTLY are you waiting for?

This is a post in a series to focus on

Fitness Fridays! (More here…)

4AM – WHY DO YOU TAUNT ME SO?

For whatever reason, I was up and wide-eyed at 4:00am this morning. I COULD NOT SLEEP.

No idea why.

So I got on the internet, checked my email. Looked over the BlogHop ’09 participants. I hopped around. I commented.  I read about The Bloggess and  her insanity at Blogher.

But still, I was not tired. AT. ALL.

So what does a bored girl do at 4 in the morning?  Make her husband get up.

Hey, listen. He is the one who is all “we’ve got to start getting up earlier to work out.” So, I made him hit the weights with me.

Oh, don’t worry. He paid me back. He made me do decline presses. Which I hate.  I really, really, really hate.

Anyway, so far today I’ve managed to get in an upper body workout and a three mile run. Fingers crossed that my IT Band doesn’t decide to act up because tomorrow morning I am supposed to go running with my pal Rachel at 6:00am.  I am officially late in my marathon training. I should be up to 14 miles at this point and so far I am at… wait for it… five. Yes, I am not even in the double digits yet. Freakingreat

Still on the agenda for tonight is a 15 minute “Firm” leg workout and abs. I hate abs. I whine every single time we do it. I have a girlfriend who will never watch television unless she is engaged in a physical activity – usually ab workouts. Yeah, whatever. She is the same fruitcake that is on her bike for two hours each morning beginning at 4:00am. I never take advice from nutballs. I’m kinda funny that way. Come to think of it, this friend of mine has a rockin’ bod. Perhaps I should take notes instead of dismissing her dedication?

Perhaps.

This is the fourth post in a series to focus on

Fitness Fridays! (More here…)

I’ve found some new fitness inspiration this week. I’m giving myself permission to take BABY STEPS. You see, I can’t run right now. I have some sort of injury which has caused me to lay off the running for awhile.

Instead I am focusing on three things:

• relaxation
• water consumption
• high concentration of vegetables & fruits

I’m shooting for 9 glasses of water per day, 60% of my diet from veggies & fruits and heavy doses of sleeping in and walking/meditating. I’m even taking an afternoon break from the office to go outside and walk around the block. It definitely clears my head. And I’ve been working on spending more time with God.

You know, it is amazing the progress that you can make when you give yourself permission to take it slow. My body is responding well, too. The bags are gone from under my eyes, I have a spring in my step and I even feel lighter.  As a matter of fact, I’ve lost 2.8 pounds!  Yippie!

Next week I will add weight training back into the mix along with more walking/cardio, water and veggies. I am hoping to report some good weight loss next week as well!

I just got back from a weekend holiday at the beach.

I learned something about myself there.  I learned that I am… FRUMPY.

Sooooo frumpy.  Not just frumpy compared to 20-somethings.  Get real. I wouldn’t even begin that comparison. I mean frumpy compared to other moms of my age and general life status. Seriously, if I don’t turn it around soon then FRUMP might be my destiny.

I’m gonna be honest with you – My pants are too tight.  My waist is disappearing.  I need a transformation.  QUICKLY. (If you don’t know me and are looking at the picture on my about page, believe me, those were better days….)

Frumpy is not a good place to be.  EVER. Especially if you have kids.  There is no other state of being more terrifying to a woman than “frumpy.”

Come on ladies…. admit it. We all remember growing up and fearing the mid-life mom frump.  We vowed that we would never, EVER, be that woman.  We vowed that we would not wear old sweatpants with dirt and paint stains all over them.  We took an oath that we would color our hair before the grey showed.  We would throw out the oversized t-shirts.  We promised ourselves that we would be thin, fashionable and free from wrinkles.  We hoped in our hearts that we would always be more hip than our moms were.  We PRAYED…

And now look at us.  And by us, I mean ME.  Ugh!

How do you know if you have succumbed to MOM FRUMP?  Read on….

There are varying degrees of frump, I’ve discovered.   In the beginning there is fledgling-frump. This is the stage where your hair is in need of a trim, your roots are in need of color, your pants are uncomfortably tight (requiring lots of Spanx action to keep them in place), your complexion is ashen, you’ve noticed the need to apply a lot more makeup lately,  and you have a general feeling of discomfort and unease when a hip mamma walks by.

I consider comfort-frump the second stage.  You are up at least two pant sizes but still manage to look good if you stand at a certain angle.  You cover up your arms a lot because they jiggle a little too much for your liking.  Your hair is definitely in need of professional help but you pull it back so much that it automatically forms into a ponytail by itself in the morning.  (No brushing required.) Most of your pants have elastic waistlines. (This is largely because you refuse to invest in good clothing at this size due to the fact that you have an entire wardrobe of halfway fashionable clothing in your closet.  They just won’t fit and you are being stubborn.)

And the most extreme of all – frumpity-frump.  Two words for you – BRA FAT.  Belly ROLLS. Combine that with oily un-colored hair, no makeup and WalMart clothes.  (Cause, really, who wants to buy “real” clothes at this stage?  If you do buy real clothes, you are gonna cut out the tags anyway.  No WAY are you gonna admit to being that size.) Frumpity frump, frump.

So now I am pissed.  At myself. I no sooner walked in the door from the beach when I began to devise a plan to pull myself out of the MOM FRUMP pit.  Not to sound cliche, but… I’m heading from frumpy to fabulous.

And just to keep myself on track, I’ll blog it all here.   STAY TUNED…