Our Resident personal trainer Casper offers some diet tips:

Generally I have a pretty simple diet and the things I avoid are pretty much sugars and white flour. I also don’t eat too many heavy carbs like pasta, potatoes, corn, bread, and rice. Don’t get me wrong I love all these things (save for the rice you can keep the rice akkk) but the reason why I stay away from these things is because they all get broken down into sugar and sugar spikes your insulin levels and over time this leads to type II diabetes. Albeit the more complex the carb the slower it gets broken down but it still turns to sugar none the less. Just keep in mind the rate of diabetes has double in recent years. (I can get the statistical data if you want me to) Now you gotta ask yourself “why is that?”

Now God did not create all sugars equally, some are worse for you than others. Maltose and Lactose are great for energy and burn real slow, but in the end if you don’t use that sugar your body WILL kick out insulin and your body WILL store it as fat.

Now Fat once you have it is kinda tricky the longer you have fat stored the “harder” that fat becomes. This is why your body will burn up the newest fat first. Also this is why it is so hard to get rid of that stubborn belly fat/back fat/ leg fat / where ever fat.

One more thing I need to mention is that loosing obscene amounts of fat in a short amount of time can be dangerous. You body will also use fat to store poison (anything your body doesn’t like) Loosing TOO much fat very quickly can give hell to your liver and kidneys. Now this is not meant to discourage anyone from weightloss or giving a pass not to watch your diet, this is just me saying that picking a weightloss solution that is consistent will yield far better results and is healthier for you.

So lets get on to Dr. Day. This doctor is an accomplished surgeon who came down with breast cancer. She had a marble sized tumor and promptly had it removed. Three weeks later the cancer grew to the size of a grapefruit. Basically her peers said your gonna die and we can try cutting it out and giving chemo with drugs. Dr. Day pretty much said No, I don’t think I am gonna do that. I can understand, If I only had a week or two to live I don’t think I would want to spend it in chemotherapy either. Instead she did a drastic change in diet. She went on a raw fruit and vegetable diet.You can check it out here. (WARNING the tumor is NOT pretty so if your squeamish don’t click)

Now a little known fact is that when you cook your food your body cannot recognize it and will treat it as a threat. Like a well disciplined military unit your body will over react to threats. This is a good thing. The theory behind the raw food diet is that your body readily accepts raw foods instead of  trying to break it down like cooked food. Also contained in the raw food are the enzymes and microbes needed to help digest the food. So now that your body isn’t wasting time with food it can take care of all the other threats to your body. I have read claims by where people say they stopped getting sick all together by switching to raw foods. I can attest to some extent that I don’t get sick either. When everyone around me is sick I am still going strong.

Now I am not a practitioner of raw vegetarianism, mainly because of the great benefits that come from meat. But I am not opposed to vegetarianism either. There is a large enough body of evidence to support the great health benefits of raw foods. I do consume large amounts of uncooked foods and some of that is meat. There is something out there called a paleolithic diet which is an all raw meat diet, but thats a little extreme for me. I couldn’t eat raw chicken, too many years of brainwashing as a kid.

Are raw foods for you? Who knows but it might be worth your while to read into it. It just might be another weapon in your arsenal of fat burning and healthy living.

Good luck and You can do it!

Well Casper is back with an eye opening look at the American way life – from someone who is American, but no loner calls the US home:

Well after a much needed vacation (been three years already) I have had some thoughts. My wife finally convinced me to go “home” whatever that is. I was opting for taking a trip to Thailand or India or Dublin or Greece or Argentina or Cape Town or some other great place I have not yet seen… but the winning argument was that my folks have never seen the baby and hadn’t seen the oldest since she was a baby.

So while I was back home I could not believe how overweight people are. Consistently I was counting 8 out of 10 people were over weight, 2 of which were grossly obese. My wife didn’t even believe my decleration until I said check it out for yourself. then she really started to look and was like ” Wow your right ”

I understand that typically asian people tend to be ectomorphs but this isn’t always the case just look at sumo wrestlers and the people who frequent McDonalds (not kidding… if you want to see a fat Japanese person go to McD’s) The one difference I have to say though is that the diet we eat here in Japan is drastically different. Lots of veggies, lots of raw fish, a little beef, a little chicken, a little tofu and a small bowl of rice with every meal. The food here has not been mass produced by agribusinesses using NPK and GMO. While “Certified Organic” is not as big of a deal here, a lot of the food here is organic anyways, there just isn’t a great need to get certified.

Now for the hard truth. I kinda did crude experiment. I am a pretty lean person, after a fight Iwill take a week or two off of training. Not totally off but I give my body some time to recoup. So I will put on two or three pounds. Not really a big deal. So while home on vacation I pretty much said I am just gonna relax. I am not gonna hesitate on moms good ole apple pie, baklava, brownies, and pecan pie. Or my sisters cheesecake ( she also makes a mean bowl of mashed potatoes), or my dads grillin two full cows. I decided I am gonna actually have a real vacation and just let the discipline slide. I’m not going to mention the Mead and Beer my family makes.

The hard truth is that American food has caused me to gain 17 lbs in 6 WEEKS!!!!!!!

Now this doesn’t matter to me because already back into training for the last week I have lost 5 lbs. Now that jet lag is over I can actually train unhindered. The fact is the American way of life will KILL you. I can’t see it any other way. Pay attention to what your putting into your body. You can do it!

Cnn.com had an excellent article discussing Why We Eat Too Much an How to Gain Control. The three reasons they gave are all reasons I cna relate too and are the main reasons why I’ve had such a hard time droping the weight this go around:

1. You’re not getting enough sleep

Missing out on your zzz’s not only puts you in a mental fog, it also triggers a constellation of actual metabolic changes that may lead to weight gain. A lack of shut-eye harms your waistline because it affects two important hormones that control appetite and satiety–leptin and ghrelin…According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, people who slept only four hours a night for two nights had an 18 percent decrease in leptin (a hormone that signals the brain that the body has had enough to eat) and a 28 percent increase in ghrelin (a hormone that triggers hunger), compared with those who got more res

How to get control:

When we’re exhausted, we hunger for just about everything in sight, especially if it’s sugary or high in carbs. That may be because these foods give us both an energy boost and comfort (since lack of sleep is a stressor), Knutson says. To quell the urge for fattening foods and still get the energy kick you need, reach for a combination of complex carbs and protein.

2.  You’re sabotaged by stress

Constant stress causes your body to pump out high doses of hormones, like cortisol, that over time can boost your appetite and lead you to overeat. “Cortisol and insulin shift our preferences toward comfort foods–high-fat, high-sugar, or high-salt foods,” says Elissa Epel, Ph.D.

How to get control:

When we’re exhausted, we hunger for just about everything in sight, especially if it’s sugary or high in carbs. That may be because these foods give us both an energy boost and comfort (since lack of sleep is a stressor), Knutson says. To quell the urge for fattening foods and still get the energy kick you need, reach for a combination of complex carbs and protein.

3. You’ve got fatty foods (literally) on the brain

We’re hardwired to hunger for fatty, sugary, salty foods because, back when our ancestors were foraging for every meal, palatable eats meant extra energy and a leg-up on survival, says Dr. David A. Kessler, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and author of “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite.”

How to get control:

Avoid eating your favorite treat if you’re in a particular mood, if it’s a certain time of day, or if you’re in a specific place; this will prevent you from creating a triggering link between those feelings or locations and that treat, Kessler says. And since the smell and sight of fatty, sugary foods is pure temptation, try to keep yourself from passing the bakery or ice cream shop you can’t resist.

Read the rest of the article. I can definitely relate to the first two reasons. The lack of sleep combined with high levels of stress had me craving  every fatty, salty, sweet thing I could get my hand on. I learned that eating protein helped quell my hunger and drinking lots of water helped kill the cravings for salty/sweet things. It’s been helping, especially as I get my stress levels down an have ben geting more sleep.

Can you relate to this article?

What are your strategies for dealing with sleep and stressed induced hunger?

While I may be able to eat myself thin I doubt very seriously I can think myself thin. The folk over at Blackdoctor.org seem to disagree however:

Exercise is only half of the equation; what you eat is the other half. Your attitude towards food can either make or break your weight loss regime. Follow these simple rules to slim down.

The Way to Eat

Eat MUFA. Monounsaturated fats (MUFAs for short, pronounced MOO-fahs) come from the healthy oils found in plant foods such as olives, nuts, and avocado. Include a MUFA at every meal. Incorporate a serving of one MUFA-rich food every time you eat.

Have a clear calorie goal. Consume four 400-calorie meals a day. Significant weight loss requires calorie control. For the average woman, 1,600 calories per day is ideal because it’s low enough to create weight loss while maintaining energy and preserving calorie-burning muscle.

Eat often. Have a meal every 4 to 5 hours to help control your blood sugar and hunger and keep your metabolism in high gear.

The Way to Think

Manage stress. This emotion causes a spike in the hunger-stimulating hormone cortisol, sending you straight for the sweets. And when cortisol is high, extra calories are deposited directly as belly fat.

Ask for help. Among people who have permanent weight loss, 70% reported having strong social support, compared with only 38% of those who lost and regained weight. Recruit others to join you (or encourage you), or sign up for an online support group…Keep reading.

The “mangae stress’ tip I can relate too. Not only will you eat yourself fat if you’re reeally stressed, but no matter how much exercising or eating right you’re doing the weight willnot come off.

Talk about frustrating.

As far as asking for help, studies have shown that black women in particular lose weight in groups, but not so well solo, so if you have some freinds you can join up with so so. Hell, make a game/competition of it. Loser has to by everyone dinner…or something.

Business Day has a good article about all of the bad habits people have that are keeping them fat:

The experts have identified seven common diet mistakes most people make and how to fix them.

1. Underestimating how much you’ve eaten

Studies show overweight people tend to underestimate significantly how much they eat, and the bigger their portions, the more their calorie calculations go off track. One recent investigation by Dr Brian Wansink, author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think (Bantam Dell), found that people who supersize fast-food meals actually underestimate the calorie content of their burger and fries by as much as half.

2. Discounting the effects of peer pressure

Findings from the Framingham Heart Study reveal that when one person in a family or network of friends gains weight, others tend to gain weight too, perhaps because it becomes more socially acceptable to be chubby.

3. Distracting yourself from eating

Wansink’s studies show that environmental distractions, such as watching television, talking on the phone, reading while eating and eating with others, can be a big disconnect. In one study, he learned that even stale popcorn can lead people to overeat at the movies, not because they’re hungry, but simply because the bucket is there. This occurs as much due to the fact that you’re not paying attention to what you eat, as to a habit you’ve developed of multitasking while munching, he says.

4. Eating too many different foods

The more choices, the more you tend to eat — just think of all the temptations at a food buffet and the overwhelming desire you have to sample it all.

5. Not weighing yourself enough

“We have exhaustive evidence that people who weigh themselves daily lose more weight than those who don’t,” says Dr George Blackburn, associate professor of surgery and nutrition at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, and author of Break Through Your Set Point: How to Finally Lose the Weight You Want and Keep It Off (Collins). People who watch their weight are more likely to closely monitor their eating and exercise behaviours and regain control of their diets quickly if they gain weight.

Keep readng the rest of the article. There’s some great information and tips there.

Weighting yourself daily is something I do and something I’ve recommended before on this blog as a way to maintain your weight. People have a tendency to ignore the tightness of their jeans, but if you see the weight go up on the scale a couple of pounds you’re more likely to adjust your diet or workout to lose the weight as opposed to waking up 20 pounds heavier trying to figure out how you got there and how you’re going to drop the pounds…again.

Now I know I’ve been guilty of all of the above habits. However, as far as peer pressure I am usually the biggest in my group of friends, so you’d think that being around the skinny crew would make me slimmer – yeah not so much – lol. Although I will say that I’m from a big city (by big I mean the average person is chunky) and that makes me the “skinny” girl here, so it’s easier to be heavier and not stress about it as much.

So, which of these bad habits is keeping you fat?

How do you work your way around them?

If these aren’t your bad habits what are the habits you have that’s preventing you from losing wight?

So I’ve been looking for a way to once again start up my food/exercise diaries I used to keep on this blog a while back. It’s not the most convenient to log into the site everyday, every time I eat or exercise to update the daily food/exercise log.  I was looking for a solution and I found one in:

That’s Twitter for those of you who don’t know. I will use my twitter account as my diet buddy and keep track of all my food, water and exercise intake.

You will be free to call me on my foolishness, such as the two slices of pizza and juice I had for breakfast today (yeah I know) or to offer moral support when I’m having crappy days like today). So, join me on Twitter – you can also use it to update your weight loss progress since non of ya’ll heifers seem to be posting her *ahem* 50 Million Pound Challenge Ladies *ahem*

Don’t have a Twitter account? Not a problem – Just click here and sign up.
Already have a Twitter Account? – Follow Me!

So the fruit and vegetable detox has actually turned into a 3 – 12 hour fast each day.

Fast you say?

See, the fruit and vegetable detox was never about losing weight. Digestive issues run in my family, severe constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, severe gas and I’ve had a number of relatives suffer from colon cancer (one uncle had it twice) and as I get older the more these issues affect me.

So I started the detox and it worked…some…but I still wasn’t “going” regularly and 5 Milk of Magnesia pills later and no reults my mother suggested I fast. So the next day I fasted for about 12 hours then ate and – voila – things started working again. Since then I fast anywhere between 3 and 12 hours a day, on average between 5 and 7 hurs and for the most part thing are back to normal.

I feel good, which is what this was all about to begin with.

What I have learned however is that my body wil not process large amounts of food. I can eat very small servings throughout the day or a couple of larger meals during the day, but that’s it. And when I say small, I mean small and larger to me now would probably equate to  normal serving size.

Now, the unintened side effects is that I’ve lost 7 pounds…4 of which I lost in one week. The interesting part, however is that if I was eating more then I’d probably be losing more weight, but like I said it wasn’t about the weight loss to begin with.

So I started a fruit and vegetable detox today.

I’ve done a fruit and vegetable juice detox in the past, but since there are so few vegetable juices I like to drink I decided I’d go for the actual fruits and veggies themselves this time. The big thing about the detox is to get my body back on an even kilter and to break any addictions to carbs, sugars, etc.

It’s really not that hard. I like fruits I like (some) veggies so it’s pretty easy to maneuver. The big things is that the fruit and veggies have to be eaten raw and I do like meat so I miss that. Today I did allow myself a little cheese to my salad and one fat free yogurt.  The goal is to complete the diet for a week and then in week 2 add in some protein via fish and nuts and then after that slowly add other food groups back into my diet.

We will see how this goes. I’m back to drinking ten 16oz glases of water a day so we will see how well this goes and I will keep you posted.

Starting Weight: 169lbs
Goal Weight: 140lbs
Water: 96oz (got a late start today)
Days Left: 13

I have never been one for trying diets. It never was my thing. Most diets I know don’t allow you to eat ice cream so that was always a no go for me, however I try the Atkins diet a while back (never did it 100% more like 80%) and I will say it was the best I’d felt in my life. After I got through the first two weeks the bloating was gone, the gas was gone (yes I admit to ahving gas), I lost weight, had more energy and just overall felt fabulous.

Anytime that I’ve done a “diet” it was always Atkins-ish in nature: loads of fruits and vegetables, some lean meats and little to no simple carbs. I know all of the controversery that surrounds the Atkins Diet and like I said I never did it 100& – I like ice cream – but I have a real addiction to sugar and simple carbs and Atkins broke that for me. Whatever folk may say about it, I know from my own experience that Dr. Atkins’ Diet work.

Here’s an excellent review that I found to be honest and informative on the pros and cons of the Atkins Diet:

The problem with the Atkins diet, according to some experts, is its period of extreme carbohydrate restriction (under 30 grams daily). In the initial stages, the bulk of daily caloric intake comes either from fat (saturated or unsaturated is fine) or protein.

Although the science behind low carb dieting is starting to catch up with and vindicate many of claims made by Atkins and others, that hasn’t prevent nutritionist from claiming…

1) That increased protein intake is dangerous, and seriously hampers and impedes normal kidney function. This is absolute and total rubbish. None of the experts making such claims have been able to dredge up a single example of renal failure as a result of this diet. And I could not find any evidence that an increased protein intake posed any dangers to “normal” individuals not suffering from renal disease. In fact, I found the contrary (see Nutr Metab (Lond). 2005 Sep 20;2:25)…

“…we find no significant evidence for a detrimental effect of high protein intakes on kidney function in healthy persons after centuries of a high protein Western diet.”

One review (Contrib Nephrol. 2007;155:102-12) proposed…

“… that the concept that protein restricted diets decrease the risk of developing kidney disease in the general population is not supported by the scientific literature.

This one, which investigates a higher level of protein intake for athletes (see Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2006 Dec;31(6):647-54) indicated…

“…that higher protein diets have quite consistently been shown to result in greater weight loss, greater fat loss, and preservation of lean mass as compared with “lower” protein diets.”

Of course, there are issues when increased protein is NOT a good thing — anyone with less than optimal kidney function needs to be concerned about increasing their protein intake without first consulting with a medical professional. And as Elissa points out in this blog post, diets rich in cereals/grains, animal proteins, and salt (like the typical North American diet) can get a condition known as chronic metabolic acidosis (CMA). That aside, the available evidence indicates an elevated protein consumption is not dangerous.

2) Severe long term carbohydrate restriction leads to nutritional deficiencies. Yes, this is true. But anyone who reads the Dr. Atkins diet knows that his period of extreme carbohydrate restriction is very short lived—only a couple of weeks. Then you gradually start reintroducing low glycemic carbs (like fruits and veggies) back into your diet. Plus, Dr. Atkins suggests you do supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals during this brief period of extreme restriction.

Additionally, those who make this claim are neglecting to mention that the folks adopting this diet are doing so because their previous eating habits were terrible. It is not liklely, for instance, that the vast majority of individuals embarking on the Atkins diet were consuming perfectly balanced diet complete with highly nutritious meals beforehand. In other words, it’s a valid point, but in the real world, it’s moot.

3) Increased fat intake leads to higher cholesterol levels, and increases chances of heart attack. Any diet that place an emphasis on the consumption of fatty foods can’t be good for you, goes the argument proposed by mainstream nutritionists. Unfortunately, there is no evidence this is so. In fact, a recent 20-year study found no association between low carb diets and the risk of coronary heart disease. In other words, this “danger” is not a danger at all.

It’s also been demonstrated that it’s the low carb diet that is more effective at improving metabolic syndrome!

You should keep reading the rest of the review as it goes into more detail about the drawbacks of the Atkins Diet and some things you want to take into onsideration before you decide to try it out.

Next week: Skinny Bitch

So I said I was going to start writing regular diet reviews of all the popular (and not so popular) diets out there. As Tracy and I have explained time and time again: diets do work – people just don’t follow them well. Also a point I’ve tried to drive home is that whatever you do it has to be a lifestyle change not a diet. Diets are temporary and as soon as you reach your goal (assuming you ever really started) you go out to celebrate your weight loss and in a matter of weeks you’ve put back on all of the weight you’ve lost plus ten pounds.

And when it comes to lifestyle changes, the South Beach Diet is a diet that definitely requires a change in lifestyle or you won’t be successful. And by successful I mean maintaining your weight loss. The South Beach diet is similar to the Atkins Diet in the it’s done in phases with the first phase set up to shock your system into breaking any food addictions and seeing some immediate weight loss which helps you stick with the diet. More on the South Beach Diet from Sensational.com.

The Phases

The South Beach Diet is divided into three phases. The first phase is the toughest because it is the one that attempts to break all the bad habits we have accumulated. During this two week period, pretty much all carbs are restricted including bread, fruits and veggies and grains. This part of the program requires strict discipline and a real commitment to the plan. On the plus side is the reorienting of the body back to a healthy state and the stabilization of blood glucose levels.

The second phase reintroduces some carbs back into the diet – but this time it is the right carbs. Gone are the simple carbohydrates like cake, cookies, candy, sodas and most bread. The diet replaces them with fruits, veggies, and whole grains. The right fats are introduced as well. No more fried foods, butter, and cream. These are replaced by olive and canola oils, and some nuts. The dieter remains in this phase of the plan for as long as it takes to get to goal weight.

The third phase of the program is the maintenance section and is the diet you will live with. A few more foods are reintroduced but by now the program looks less like a diet and more like a lifestyle. Blood sugar is stabilized and normalized and foods are consumed based on the glycemic index.

The South Beach Diet™ book has been on the market for a long time and is a staple in the diet section of any book store or on-line book website. We found it offered at Amazon.com for $21.99 and it is now available in paper back for $14.95. As one would expect, this initial book has spawned an entire library of cookbooks, journals, exercise options and DVD materials.

The diet may also be followed on-line for a cost of $5.00 per week, billed quarterly. At the time of this review, the on-line program was being offered free for the first 7 days. This trial flips over into the regular billing cycle unless the program is cancelled via phone call to a customer service representative. This is a typical program and pricing is compatible with several other popular plans now being offered on-line.

Cost

For the money – the South Beach Diet online program is well worth it. Please note that most people that do this program find the weight loss to move at a moderate pace. If you really want to make this program work for you, we recommend using it in conjunction with a solid product geared toward fast results….check out some popular and well respected weight loss pills like Nuphedrine®, Slim10®, or HoodiaP57®. There are also other products like CleanseRX® which is the number one colon cleanse that helps you flush pounds of undigested waste from your system – OR — Slim Shot Diet® which is a powerful effervescent weight loss drink. All of these products will help make weight loss with South Beach Diet faster and more rewarding.

Positives

• Their customers have enthusiastic things to say about their experiences. Although the program doesn’t take the weight off quickly.
• Focuses on portion control and better food choices
• Helps stabilize blood glucose levels
• Excellent website with a host of information provided
• Reading materials and on-line program reasonably priced
• Developed by a doctor, based in science

Negatives

• As mentioned before – the weight loss doesn’t come off fast after the first phase. If you don’t mind a slow and steady weight loss, this program is great on its own. If you want to see some serious results you should combine South Beach Diet with a quality and well respected diet product.

For more information on the South Beach Diet and to read consumer reviews check out their The South Beach DIet Blog.

If anybody has been reading this blog as late than you know that Ive been struggling in the weight category. You know that the extremely high stress situation I find myself in has had me turning to food – mainly sugar- for support. The thing is though that most of the eating has to do with boredom. Currently I’m caregiver to my mother, occasionally my two young sisters and of course, my 4 year old daughter. No one else. Just me. Day and day out.

Without going into too much detail my mother is a difficult woman, one who I have been trying to please all of my life to no avail. If I was to be completely honest I am incredibly resentful of the current situation because I wasn’t supposed to be back in my hometown. Some promises were made that didn’t pan out and at the last minute I ended up living with my mother instead of having my own house. Now I realize, regardless of what I was doing or where I would have been living, all roads led home because of my mom’s heart surgery.

Now I find myself stuck in the house, with no outlet, responsible for a house full of people and a rather large house without a whole lot of help as far as taking care of my mom goes. Each day I wake up and there is nothing, absolutely nothing to look forward to. Each day I just pray for the day to end, in hopes that each day I wake up and go to bed brings me closer to the day I can have my life back. I’m bored. I’m defeated and I feel like at 29 my life as I know it is over.

Now there’s a lot I”m not saying, a lot of history and a lot of anger…but the 20lbs I’ve put on in the last couple of months is because food is the only thing interesting in my life right now. It’s the only thing I have some control over. I don’t go out. I don’t do anything, but take care of a house full of people and work…when I can. It’s frustrating and there’s no sign that it is coming to an end anytime soon. I’m holding on by a thread.

There’s no joy in this house. So I use Oreos to find some peace that I’m not getting anywhere else. And part of me doesn’t care, because what does it matter? No one is going to see me anyway. I don’t leave the house except to go to the grocery store or take my daughter to the park. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so defeated in my life and the only bit of joy I have is in the food I eat.

I recognize that this has to give at some point. 170lbs is horrible. I can’t imagine 200lbs. But right now it is what it is. But that’s why eat. There just ain’t shit else to do.

Hey All!!

As usual,  Mother Nature has put a monkey wrench in some plans of mine.  Won’t have a clear weight reading til all the water is gone, which will probably be Friday!  So, while I’m getting my chocolate and salt fix on, I thought that I would share some words of wisdom from some friends of mine.  Ladies, here come the guys to the rescue!!  Woo Hoo!!

This tip on how to ease into running is from Mr. Casper, from the blog “Flashpoint”

http://coldchromestars.blogspot.com/

Casper, a former Marine,  is an amateur kickboxer in Okinawa Japan.  He is married with two cute little girls, and hopes to someday go to the pros.  Though mostly political, his site has some great fitness and diet ideas  Be warned, though, Casper was a Marine, so be prepared for a no holds barred workout and eating program! 

I asked Casper how to start running without having a coronary – this is what he had to say:

Yep they do!  I tried it and it was easier to just have the dang Charley horse!!  But, I can say that I can now run/jog about two-thirds of my 4 mile walk. Yay, I’m a runner!   Now on to weight lifting…

Well ladies, hope you enjoyed our guest blogger. I did cuz I got a post done in less than 5 minutes!  The next guest will be Mr. Grant, my personal online weight trainer.  He will give us some great tips on the benefits of perseverance.

Til next time!  Keep up the good work Diva’s!! YCDI!!