Lifestyle Reform 911 UPDATE!

Checking in on our friend's progress! 9/7/09

Hi Allison, I have been trying to participate in a cleanse to work on my diet. I have lost about 3 pounds at this point.

My work schedule has picked up and I'm not proud to admit that I'm not getting in a lot of excersice. I walked the Dequindre Cut with my friend again today. My goal is to get in a walk every day this weekend.

I went to the chiropractor for my hip. It still gives me grief so I will start looking at new shoes. I am trying to not let work dominate my life but it wins more often than my plan for healthy living.

But I will keep trying everything! Thank you for your continued support.

September 5, 2009 12:27 PM

ASK Specialty Training for Women said...

Dear 911 friend
I am so happy to hear from you. Sounds like life is presenting some frustrating obstacles. Starting back to work after a long summer is no easy task. Be patient with yourself as your routine and schedule takes shape. Most importantly, don't give up! Remember, everyday, even every hour is another wonderful opportunity to begin again. I do have a few suggestions that may help you stay on task with your diet and exercise program. Utilize the hallways, stairs, and sidewalks around your school and at home, a minimum of 10 minutes everyday. On less hectic days increase your walking time to 30 minutes. Get those new shoes soon! Make all your healthy snacks up on the weekend and put them into small containers for traveling. Take them to work and keep a few healthy snacks in the car. This will keep you from overeating later on. Keep a water bottle on your desk and in the car at all times. DRINK IT OFTEN!!! Please make your health and emotional well being a priority! I know you have many people depending on you. You must be feeling your best physically, mentally and emotionally to serve them all well. Women have a difficult time putting their needs before others...but, it is necessary. Please stay in touch each week. Warmly, Allison ASKinyourface.com

Lifestyle Reform 911

We a recently received an email that has inspired ASK to develop a new plan to help you "reform" your lifestyle! A healthy attitude and healthy behaviors = a healthier you!

"Dear ASK: I have struggled with my weight all of my life. In the past I have done better with power walking better than dieting or anything else. I kept off 80 pounds for about 5 years. That was age 25-30. I am now 41. I had been hovering around 240 lbs. for the last five years. I was promoted to a semi-sedentary job 3 years ago and have gained nearly 40 lbs. My health is relatively good---no high blood pressure or diabetes or anything like that. I know that I am blessed at this time. However my cholesterol is high and have bad knees as a result of the weight. I have recently been advised to look into a lap band procedure before I start to have significant health complications.

I have hesitated to do so because of the success that I once experienced with my weight. I keep thinking that I have done this before, I can do it again. So emotionally I kind of feel like a failure in this area. Lately I have tried to change my carry-out style diet for a better eating plan. But I find myself only getting in my meals right before bed due to the demand of my new schedule. I have not been motivated to exercise much lately. I live in a high rise building in Downtown Detroit and usually virtually exercise by watching the water aerobics class that takes place every other day :(

Your website was mentioned to me by a former school mate and I hear that you are a fitness instructor as well. Your site is very interesting and I thought that I would inquire to see if there was a tool available to help me."

Ask answers your question:

Dear friend seeking Lifestyle Reform 911,

Please hold off on the lap band procedure for now!

I am so happy that you found our website. Helping you help yourself is going to be an exciting, challenging and rewarding adventure! Your situation speaks loud and clear to so many women out there. Your courage and determination to live a healthy lifestyle, and be fit for your future is admirable and inspiring. You have already taken the most important step. Now, the really hard work begins! No more virtual training for you my dear. The water exercise class that you can see from your high rise apartment is a workout at your finger tips that you need to be a part of. So get your water shoes on and your feet wet! I want you to be in that class three days a week…no excuses…not one! Next, get on the phone or online and sign up for the water exercise class at your nearby YMCA, as we discussed. The summer season is short and you must have a plan in place for the fall and winter months. Working out in the pool is the very best place for you to be right now… Be proactive and be prepared! Along with your water fitness classes you will begin to utilize the stairs in your high rise apartment building. Luckily, you have your own stairmaster to heaven. Start today by walking up one flight of stairs. Do this stair climbing exercise 6 days out of 7 for the first week. Each week you will add one half of a flight of stairs. So, if a fight equals 12 steps, you will add six more steps every week. Got it? It is very important to wear proper walking shoes to protect your ankles, knees, back, and hips! Before you know it….you will be climbing to the top. Remember Rocky? That will be you! You can expect this to be very difficult the first week. Do not give up ….keep climbing those stairs! By the way, it is okay to hold on to the railing in the beginning. As your strength increases and your weight decreases you will begin to be able to let go. We must all let go of something in order to move forward in our lives! For you, it will be the railing. Perhaps you have a friend in your building that would like to join you as you climb your way to physical and emotional liberation!!!

You must also take measures to get your eating behavior under control. No more three meals right before bedtime. Those days are over! Start planning your diet at the beginning of each week. Make a healthy food shopping list and purchase all of your groceries on Sat. or Sun. Prepare 3-4 small meals in zip lock bags or containers that you can take to work. Easy to prepare foods are usually quick and easy to eat! Include tons of fresh vegetables and fruits in those containers. We have many healthy mini meal and snack ideas for you in the diet and nutrition section of our website. Also, please utilize our Binge Control suggestions on our website….these will be very helpful!

Now that you have your food and exercise program in place, let’s discuss the next part of your

lifestyle reform program! I want you to journal your fitness progress every single day. You will also journal and keep track of every morsel of food and liquid that touches your lips! Agreed? Keeping a diary of your food intake and fitness regimen will be a tremendous support as you work to change your life. Journaling has been proven to be an invaluable tool for a successful diet and fitness program. It will keep you accountable for everything you do. You will also learn a lot about yourself!

We will look forward to reading your journal entries on the Bitch Alley Blog! Our readers are anxious to support you as you move forward with your 911 Lifestyle Reform Program! My guess is that you will be a wonderful inspiration to so many women following your progress each week on the Bitch Alley Blog.

Your support team at askinyourface.com is here for you!!!

We are excited and look forward to your great success!

Animal, Boy, Dog

Today I was out pounding the pavement with a few clients, equipment in hand along with my adorable little Boston Terrier Louie, and his best friend Katie. Katie, who belongs to Bree, is never on a leash, because she is perfectly well-trained and never strays from her master’s side. At least not that I have ever seen.

We crossed paths with a mother, her 4-year-old son and a young dog that was not so well-trained. Frankly, the mother appeared to be the one in need of training. Katie wandered over to the young dog for a quick sniff and a hello, as most dogs do. The dog became excited over the prospect of a few sniffs from Katie, and in a matter of seconds the little boy became tangled in the leash and proceeds to trip on the leash and fall. No big deal, kids tumble on sidewalks all day long. The mother freaked out and started yelling at Bree...as if it were her fault the boy stumbled. She was enraged that Katie was not on a leash. This, by the way, had nothing to do with the kid’s tumble? In response to her stress, the mother smacks the dog in the face, not once, but three times. The dog was just an innocent bystander. He did nothing wrong. The kid was screaming, not from injury—he wanted his mother’s attention. She was on her cell phone.

I was appalled by the mother’s behavior. We all were. My instinct to protect helpless animals and children overcame me. I told the woman that if she continued to hit her young dog, he could eventually become skittish and aggressive, resulting in possible injury to someone. This is the nature of dogs. I have raised and trained more than my share of dogs. She became irate over my reprimand, as one might imagine. She continued to hit the dog and I wanted to rip her throat out. The boy was hysterical. The mother was completely out of control. I was not finished with her. I agreed with her that Katie needed to be on a leash, regardless of her impeccable manners. But, the mom desperately needed not only proper dog training skills, but stress management skills as well. Once again, I reminded her that if she continued to hit the dog he would eventually bite someone, maybe her son, and it would be her fault. She stormed off with her kid, the dog and anger in tow, yelling and contorting all the way.

So, the mom is out walking her dog and kid along a busy street while talking on her cell phone. Unaware of her surroundings, and simply NOT paying attention to her child or animal. Shit happens when we don’t pay attention, especially while talking on cell phones. The only one deserving of a smack on the face, or three, was the mother!

Workout Sabotage

Workout Sabotge! Sound familiar?
Most of the women that i know are genuinely interested in their health and desire a regular fitness regimen that provides them with safe and effective exercise for a healthier future. Sadly, many of these women do not (as i prefer to say) show up for their health on a consistent basis. The reasons/excuses are endless. Although many of their reasons are valid, the real issues are never addressed. Time continues to pass and the commitment to be and live the healthiest possible life for you is never fully achieved. At some point in our lives we will all be faced with the inevitable....it is to late! So what are you waiting for? What is holding you back? Why do you sabotage your desire to be healthy and strong? I know we can help each other with these challenges, but you must be willing to be brutally honest with yourselves. Without honesty about ourselves , success is nearly impossible! I developed this website to help women realize their health and fitness potential. I want all women to know that it is possible to overcome the obstacles that stand in our way. We have created many of them...we have the power to move them out of our way. You have the power to be fit for your future!!! Please share you thoughts!