Aunt Mary Ann Lays Down the Law!!!

If you didn't see the great recent email from mom/Aunt Mary Ann, she does a great job of reminding us all that health and fitness goals are as individual as each one of us, that we're all struggling with different issues in reaching those goals, and that the most effective way of making lasting positive change is to take baby steps and gradual changes that can easily be incorporated into our lives and become routine.

I'll also highlight her great strategy for cutting out nighttime snacking. I've recently read (will cite the source when I track it down) that our metabolism slows after 7 PM as we prepare for bed, and that eating after 7 PM can actually affect your quality of sleep. So cutting out that nighttime snacking can help us all trim those pounds and get a better night's rest!

Here's that email. Tiger, isn't she? Go mom!

"OK you crazy people...I notice Lindsay nominating her Mom, my sister Carole, and Cathy and Carrie nominating brother Jim and I but no one is responding...speaking for myself, gang, I just want to take baby steps...seeing all this climbing mountain stuff, John's spartan diet, and marathon stuff...I want to go in a corner and cry...almost...since I broke my ankle which had to be fused in 1989 and fracturing my back in 1992 I have slowly really put on the weight. Then in 2002 I got inspired and lost 50 lbs in Weight Watchers...and joined Curves with my sisters and Carrie's encouragement. I over did it and had poor direction at the Curves I attended and ended up getting a terrible problem with sciatica...I went to an orthopedist, physical therapy and an excellent chiropractor with no success...and years of sleepless nights. I finally was treated with neurontin which really helped. I also am using a sauve called Topricin which I swear by...and take at least two baths a night in bath salts and maybe a shower to calm my back and knees...I am able to walk my dog around the block but the bottom of my fused ankle foot is down to bare bone in the front of my foot so I have it heavily padded and I am limited in walking any great lengths.

So with all of that, you can see where I get a bit overwhelmed by you all...my goal is get into a water based exercise program at least once a week, and to cut down on my snacking at night. I really eat well during the day...it is just evenings that are my weak point. I love fruit and vegtables and salads...I do have a wonderful healthy restuarant in town called Life Alive...and do go there for lunch (Google it, and you will be inpressed.) though often I have a salad with cheese and syrian bread and an apple for lunch when I work, only on Mondays and Tuesdays these days...semi-retired...yaaahhhhh...I go for cataract surgery tomorrow...so don't be so tough on this old lady...though I know less weight will be so good for my back and knees. So I won't be paragliding or climbing mountains too soon..next time round..ha ha...but I will be giving my best to the cause...someone else can take that pot of gold. Love, Mary Ann, Sissy, Gramma"