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Archive for January, 2009

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 17 - Beating the blahs

"Can't I just hit the snooze button until spring?"

"Can't I just hit the snooze button until spring?"

The holidays are over. Bills are arriving daily. The temperatures outside are frigid. The sun is a stranger. And the arrival of spring feels like an impossible dream.

It's tough to stay motivated in the dead of winter. Why work on your bikini body when it seems it's destined to stay forever wrapped in your bulky parka? Besides — isn't winter the traditional season for us to hibernate on our couches with our potato chips and our remote controls and our blankies?

A lot of us feel low at this time of year and it's tough to stay upbeat and positive, let alone active.

These days, I feel like strapping on a Doritos feedbag, hooking up a Heineken drip and tuning into some awful(ly delicious) daytime television.

But when it's a struggle not to succumb and call in sick of winter, when it's tough to trudge through the slush en route to the gym, when your spirits are so low you cry even at funny commercials, consider this:

It could be worse. As lousy as it feels, you would feel noticibly worse if you weren't looking after yourself. If you didn't have that Boot Camp boost provided by healthy eating and regular exercise, winter could truly be unbearable.

So forgive yourself for having the blahs. And congratulate yourself for your continued effort, for your faith in yourself and the progress that you're making every day towards healthier living.

Come spring, you'll see the payoff.

Has winter got you down? What do you find more difficult: exercising regularly or eating right?

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 16 - Yes we can!

Inspired by The Change happening south of the border, I had wanted today's post to say something about our incredible ability to change.

Of course, it's tough to draw plausible parallels between the achievements of President Obama and my newfound capacity to drink eight glasses of water every day.

(Okay, almost every day).

While we may not be changing the world by Boot Camping, we certainly are making significant changes to our own lives.

And when you evaluate society's progress as represented by the election of President Obama, it's easy to draw inspiration from our collective ability to change ourselves, our mindsets and, inevitably, our futures.

Here's another inspiring story for you, one that rings true for many Boot Campers:

Kim Bensen tried every diet there was, but nothing seemed to work for long and she yo-yoed her way to 350 pounds.

In 2001, despite years of heartbreak and discouragement, Kim tried again.

This time was different and the results were phenomenal: 212 pounds lost, fourteen dress sizes, four ring sizes, one and a half shoe sizes, and 200 points of cholesterol gone for good.

You can read about Kim Bensen's quest for change and the secrets to her success in her book Finally Thin!: How I Lost Over 200 Pounds and Kept them Off - and How You Can Too.

Do you fear change? What's been holding you back? How did you clear the barriers in your way to healthy living? Tell us about how you found the courage to change and you could WIN a copy of Finally Thin!

You have until Tuesday, January 27 to let us know. I'll announce the winner here on Wednesday, January 28.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 15 - And the winner is . . .

"The dryer strikes again . . . "

"The dryer strikes again . . . "

Congratulations to ‘Bonnie‘, who has won the Health & Wellness Club blog’s Boot Camp Diaries Day 8 contest!

Bonnie wins Bob Harper's new book Are You Ready!

Here's how Bonnie knew she was ready to take charge and join Boot Camp to get in shape and feel great:

"My 'skinny' jeans, which fit perfectly just a few months ago, are getting almost impossible to put on again. It’s impossible to have fun when you’re afraid your pants are gonna split open."

Truer words have never been spoken, Bonnie. I hope the prize helps you to keep your pants intact.

Thanks to all who entered. Don't forget to enter the Health & Wellness Club blog’s Boot Camp Diaries Day 11 contest for a chance to WIN Jennifer Cohen’s new book No Gym Required – Unleash Your Inner Rock Star.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 14 — Can he make you thin? Enter to WIN and find out . . .

Paul McKenna says he can make you thin. In fact, he's so sure of it that he has named his latest book I Can Make You Thin.

The book delivers psychological techniques designed to help you re-pattern your thoughts about food. It also includes a guided hypnosis CD (!) and a handy-dandy wallet card. Sounds kooky, but who am I to argue with McKenna? He's a PhD and a best-selling author who is known as the Dr. Phil of the United Kingdom.

Let us know about unusual techniques you've used to try to lose weight and you could WIN one of two copies of I Can Make You Thin.

You have until Monday, January 26 to post your response. I’ll announce the two winners here on Tuesday, January 27.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 13 - How often do you weigh yourself?

The last time I weighed myself was on Boot Camp Day 1: January 5.

The next day, my digital scale conked out. Naturally, I thought it was the battery. But after replacing the battery (twice), it would seem that the scale has far more serious internal problems, likely caused by me squishing it daily with my copious poundage.

Now when I step on it, its digital display just reads "Lo", which I take as a compliment.

Whenever I've embarked on a healthy living plan in the past, I've weighed myself every day to measure my progress (or lack thereof).

This time, I'm glad my scale is on hiatus. It's letting me track my progress by more meaningful measures, like how well I've been eating, how much exercise I've been getting, how my clothes fit and how much energy I have.

I plan to power up the scale (or its successor) at the end of the month to see if I've met my weight-loss goal for January. Until then, I won't let the numbers distract me from my ultimate goal of healthier living.

How often do you weigh yourself? Do you find yourself preoccupied with the pounds?

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 12 - And the winner is . . .

Congratulations to ‘Shellmeister‘, who has won the Health & Wellness Club blog’s Boot Camp Diaries Day 4 contest!

Here’s the winner’s playlist:
I Get Around - The Beach Boys
Take A Chance On Me - ABBA
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
That’ll Be The Day - Buddy Holly
Lets Get it Started - Black Eyed Peas
A Hard Day’s Night - The Beatles
There She Goes Again - The Velvet Underground
Pink Cadillac - Aretha Franklin

Thanks to all who entered! Shellmeister, I hope your fabulous prize keeps you energized.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 11 - Unleash your inner rock star with the Boot Camp playlist

Thanks for the tremendous response to our Day 4 question, What’s on your playlist?

Looks like you Boot Campers have eclectic (and fantastic!) taste in music, plus all the musical fuel you need to rock out while you work out.

Here’s the countdown of your most popular picks:

20. Wham!
19.  Justin Timberlake
18. The Monkees
17. Coldplay
16. The B-52s
15. Enya
14. Red Hot Chili Peppers
13. Green Day
12. Nickleback
11. Bruce Springsteen
10. Rihanna
9. Black Eyed Peas
8. Great Big Sea
7. Gwen Stefani/No Doubt
6. Billy Idol
5. Queen
4. U2
3. Madonna
2. Abba/Mamma Mia
1. Pink

I’ll announce the winner of the Energizer Energi To Go prize pack in tomorrow’s blog.

Ready to unleash your inner rock star?
Did you used to feel too tired/too fat/too self-conscious to try something new or to do something you’ve always wanted to do? Did you used to be the one who always sat on the sidelines of life?

For a chance to WIN Jennifer Cohen’s new book No Gym Required – Unleash Your Inner Rock Star, tell us what you have the courage to do now that you’re succeeding with Boot Camp and embracing a healthier, more energetic lifestyle.

You have until Thursday, January 22 to let us know what you’ve secretly always wanted to try or what you have the confidence to do for the first time now that you’re healthier and happier.

I’ll announce the winner here on Friday, January 23.

The Boot Camp Diaries Day 10 - It‘s not too late to take a ‘before’ photo.

It’s Day 10 — welcome to the double digits! To those of you who have been with us from the start: Congratulations for sticking with it!

And for the rest of you, it’s not too late to join and to invite your spouse, colleagues or friends to join you.

Here’s what’s featured in the FREE 6 Week Boot Camp program:


It’s not too late to take a ‘before’ photo

Even though some of us are 10 days in, it’s not too late to take a ‘before’ photo as a reference as you embark on a lifetime of healthier habits.

Visit the Contests page and enter the title of today’s blog posting for a chance to WIN a Crest & Oral-B Prize Pack valued at $250. The prize pack includes Crest Whitestrips Premium, an Oral-B Vitality Pro-White power toothbrush, a six month supply of Crest Whitening Expressions toothpaste, a designer gym bag and a gym locker mirror.

If you’re the lucky winner, you’ll be able to look back at your ‘before’ photo and notice that you've become a healthier, slimmer you with a healthier, whiter smile!

The title of the Health & Wellness Club blog post on January 14 is: The Boot Camp Diaries Day 10 - It's not too late to take a ‘before’ photo.

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 9 - Better habits, better you.

Boot Camp is helping me to develop great habits, like working out each day and eating right.

And working out and eating right have given me a lot more energy.

I'm re-investing this energy into developing more great habits. Instead of drinking beer in front of the TV, I'm spending more time outside with my dogs. Instead of plowing back chicken wings at the local pub, I enjoy preparing new healthy recipes.

So far, Boot Camp is giving me more than I bargained for — and it's only Day 9.

What unexpected rewards are you garnering from Boot Camp so far?

The Boot Camp Diaries, Day 8 - Are you ready for a chance to WIN trainer Bob Harper's new book?

I am <i>sooo</i> ready.

I am sooo ready.

On Tuesdays, I watch The Biggest Loser. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure.

A few years ago, when my husband first turned me on to the show, we'd saddle up on the couch and eat a bag of chips while we watched the show he nicknamed The Fatties.

Now, we are The Fatties. These days, we tune in to watch it after our workouts, while sipping green tea.

Don't tell my husband, but my favourite part of the show is handsome trainer Bob Harper. (The inspiring, extreme weight loss and lifestyle makeovers follow as a close second.)

Harper's new book Are You Ready! shows you how to "Take charge, lose weight, get in shape and change your life forever" and is sure to provide you with that extra bit of inspiration to keep you on track through Boot Camp.

How did you know you were ready to take charge and join Boot Camp to get in shape and feel great? Let us know and you could WIN a copy of Are You Ready! by Bob Harper.

You have until Monday, January 19 to tell us about how you knew you were ready. I’ll announce the winner here on Tuesday, January 20. Good luck!



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