Hi Choose to Move-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr’s (that’s me, revving my physical activity engine),
Marie Osmond here. Okay, I have to admit, with the temperatures racing to 100 degrees by noon, taking the long bike ride with my kids is kind of tough. Especially since, here in Utah, the heat is dry. We would need a water tanker truck to go with us to be sure we don’t get dehydrated. And, I’d have to buy stock in sun block with eight kids.
So, I’ll be choosing to move in the air-conditioned malls for a week or so. Check out the malls in your part of the country for the same option. If you can make it there by nine a.m. you can usually walk for a couple miles before the stores open at 10. A friend of mine goes daily with her husband. As they walk, she window shops and then drops REALLY strong hints to her husband about future gifts he can get her. See? There really are ways to be creative about physical activity. But then, we chicks have always known how to multi-task, haven’t we?
My biggest challenge during the summer is ice cream. LOVE IT! Here’s what I’m trying to do to make sure my five daily servings of fruit aren’t packed in frozen milk fats and sugar!
I’ll buy cantaloupe, honeydew melon or watermelon and cut it all up at one time and store it in plastic containers in the fridge. That way, when my taste buds scream: “Something cold and sweet! Step on it,” I can grab a cube of melon instead of a pint of fat and calories! Because, when it comes to “stepping on it,” I don’t want to fear my bathroom scale.
If you love ice cream, too, and have come up with ways to “curb the urge to indulge,” share them here on the message board, okay? Come on! I’m not the ONLY one who believes chocolate chip mint ice cream should be pronounced national treasures, am I?
Posts
At the end of any journey, it’s always nice to reflect on the experience and enjoy the exhilaration that comes with accomplishment. During the past 12 weeks, seven real women have opened their hearts and minds to women across the country. They’ve revealed struggles, shared empowering messages, offered valuable tips and served as genuine advocates for this program.
During the Choose To Move challenge, these women not only engaged in physical activity, they discovered a community of women who share a common goal – increase physical activity in order to develop a healthier lifestyle. Their success is a direct result of determination, commitment and the support they received from those in the Choose To Move community.
From a mom with three kids to a full-time college student to women in the workplace, our real women take on many important roles. And as women juggling multiple responsibilities, we want to be the best we can be - a common thread among women in America. However, in order to be the best for our families, we must do what’s best for ourselves. Our seven real women did exactly that! Each woman, in her own way, learned how to make time for physical activity and develop better eating habits!
For Ruann, Kara, Lisa, Melanie, Vernita, Kathleen and Zulema, the 12-week challenge has come to an end. However, the ultimate reality is that their life-long journey to maintain a healthy lifestyle has only begun. No matter where you are in this journey, I encourage you to rely on women in the Choose To Move community, as well as those around you. Take advantage of the Choose To Move program and turn this challenge into a way of life.
My total chol. is 184
HDL is 46
LDL is 106
Trig. is 184
I have been on a low fat, low carb diet since Sept (NutriSystem). Should I be concerm about my Trig?
Comment by on February 12, 2008 2:54 PMDr. Mieres,
I'm very much an internet girl. As soon as I found out I had high blood pressure, I found this site. After going through all the 'choose to move' selectees, I chose Vervita, for the reason that she update often and replied to those that posted comments.
Well here we are, 6 months later, most of those chosen have yet to update.
Considering these are all busy and accomplished women, perhaps some slack should be cut. Ok.
The forums are worse. I have had to hunt and peck to find true posts, some of which should be answered by a professional, not a jr. high social studies teacher.
I'm sorry to be so negative. In truth, AHA diet and recipes have made it possible that I may be coming off meds next week. My diet plan has been based on your cookbooks.
When I called in my numbers today, to get a refill, the office called me back and said the doctor said when I want, to stop meds for 4 days and make an appointment for the 5th. If bp is in the 100-120 range, we'll stop the meds. Woo hoo! Diet and exercise may pay off!
Comment by on June 12, 2008 8:17 PMDr. Mieres,
I'm very much an internet girl. As soon as I found out I had high blood pressure, I found this site. After going through all the 'choose to move' selectees, I chose Vervita, for the reason that she update often and replied to those that posted comments.
Well here we are, 6 months later, most of those chosen have yet to update.
Considering these are all busy and accomplished women, perhaps some slack should be cut. Ok.
The forums are worse. I have had to hunt and peck to find true posts, some of which should be answered by a professional, not a jr. high social studies teacher.
I'm sorry to be so negative. In truth, AHA diet and recipes have made it possible that I may be coming off meds next week. My diet plan has been based on your cookbooks.
When I called in my numbers today, to get a refill, the office called me back and said the doctor said when I want, to stop meds for 4 days and make an appointment for the 5th. If bp is in the 100-120 range, we'll stop the meds. Woo hoo! Diet and exercise may pay off!
Comment by on June 12, 2008 8:17 PM
Comments
Aug 02 | Lin P. said …
Thanks, Marie, your post made me smile. A tip I have is to freeze yogurt right in its container (pre-stir before freezing if it's the type that needs stirring, otherwise simply freeze). Really needs little or no thawing time and takes a while to eat it with a spoon (I like to use a grapefruit spoon) so it just naturally makes one eat more slowly, a good thing right? Very refreshing treat or even as part of a meal. (Only reservation I have is whether or not freezing the yogurt deactivates all those good cultures in the yogurt.) Otherwise, feels and tastes like ice cream and has calcium and often fruit to boot! :) ~Lin from Maryland
Aug 02 | Melinda said …
My husband just bought me a pink bicycle to ride along beside him! I'm really looking foward to the workout. Right now in the heat (we're in south Georgia) I'm working out with Leslie Sansone in my living room!
I also love ice cream. It's been my weakness this whole summer. However, the fresh fruits of summer are good too and I've been eating a lot more fruit but can't seem to get up the want power to give up the ice cream!
Aug 02 | Lisa Spellman said …
I too love ice cream and am also trying not to indulge too much this summer. Frozen bananas and other fresh frozen fruit are a nice treat when the weather soars. Try making frozen fruit kabobs. YUM!
Aug 02 | Gail said …
Marie is right about the HOT weather, here in Florida it is sweltering. I too have the cut up fruit in the fridge...'cept I LOVE pineapple!
Thanks for reminding us to make better food choices!
Aug 02 | fran kroyak said …
Hi Marie,
You can also substitute yogurt instead of ice cream!!You have to buy the regular yogurt and put in the freezer.that way you can get plain fat free yogurt and add your own fruit to it!1So far I've lost 56 lbs.I'll see you in Vegas next week!
Aug 02 | Stephanie Taylor said …
Thanks, Marie, for your ideas. My evening "treat" is a small square of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with White Mint. YUM!!! It's dark chocolate...so it's good for me AND it's a small square. I'm getting my chocolate fix attended to and I'm not going overboard.
Aug 02 | Stephanie Taylor said …
Thanks, Marie, for your ideas. My evening "treat" is a small square of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with White Mint. YUM!!! It's dark chocolate...so it's good for me AND it's a small square. I'm getting my chocolate fix attended to and I'm not going overboard.
Aug 02 | Margie said …
hey there Marie! it's nice to see you again and that you too are concerned about women and heart disease. i too am trying hard to keep that from happening to me. i was a high risk for a stroke and did suffer a minor heart attack while in the doctors office. i choose to move last year and have significantly dropped the risk factor.
When i crave ice cream i get a Cool Cow soft ice cream cone from my local stand. its only 50 calories for 1/2 cup and ZERO fat. it is delicious and guilt free. hope you can find this as well in Utah.
Aug 02 | Leesa Bonner said …
The new ice cream sandwiches "Skinny Cow". I have a major sweet tooth and this not only taste great (choco cookie and a vanilla one, too!) Maybe if I eat them I'll someday be a "Skinny Cow" too!
Aug 03 | Teresa said …
I love to walk myself but I HATE to walk alone! I also would love to do it closer to home just because summer time makes the drive un-bareable with the heat! I just can't always get the motivation to do it! I also have a family of heart disease & I struggle with thinking about it daily but how do you put that into your normal every day life & make it stick!?
I love your article though & I was eating my cantalope the other day to keep me out of the sweets too! I have a Popcycle thing I go for in the summer! I love Coconut popcycles!
Aug 03 | Janet Comby said …
Just a note to to tell you thatI just signed up for the program and I'm with you Marie! Let's walk those malls girlfriend!!!
Aug 04 | Diana Sunkle said …
My husband and I have both experienced heart attacks. He has 5 stents and I had a quadruple bypass. We have been eating better and getting our exercise. We just got back from a 3 miles walk. I thought I would add my two-cents worth concerning your comments on ice cream. I make fruit smoothies with orange juice and frozen fruit and have used it to make frozen popsicles. You don't get the additives and added sugar like you do with the purchased kind. It isn't as sweet, but it makes for a very refreshing treat.
Aug 10 | Chel said …
Ice Cream is totally my Achilles heal. Frozen grapes, frozen bananas, etc. help but the thing that really keeps my ice cream cravings at bay is taking some frozen blueberries and pouring a little 1% milk over the top and a small spinkle of splenda. The milk instantly freezes into a wonder slush and the blueberries give up a little of their freeze and become slushy and delicious. Plus you get all of those wonder antioxidants!
Aug 15 | Marylou Occhi said …
Hi Marie,
My passion in life is chocolate cheesecake! So it was hard for me to give it up. Luckily for me, my second husband has turned me into a "do not eat anything with preservatives" consumer and believe me, going grocery shopping with him is a learning venture. He "reads" everything on the label. I love to eat certain things and he will look at the label and say, "Nope, not clean enough" Ugh, sometimes I hate hearing that. But you know? My health has never been better, I look and feel better after about 6 months of "geeking" I believe...in any case, I love grocery shopping with him and now the only challenge is for my son to eat "those clean products" we bring home. Oye, maybe he won't notice, since he eats like no tomorrow!
Aug 16 | Patty said …
Hi Marie:
I'am a fan of all the osmonds. Grew up with you guys. Thanks for the advice.
Aug 30 | Vernita said …
Hello Marie,
The Choose To Move Community is wishing you a safe, successful, fun, and exercise-friendly time on Dancing With the Stars!!!
You'll do just fine!
~Vernita
Sep 05 | Lori R said …
Hi Marie,
It must be something with Utah, because I too love chocolate mint ice cream. I have found a no fat, low calorie yogurt soft serve at the Maverik stores. It comes in chocalte, vanilla or a twist. They also have a mint that sometimes i can find as well. It tastes great and there is no guilt eating it. The soft serve even makes it better.
It was great to see you on this website and am looking forward to seeing you on Dancing with the Stars. Good luck!!
Sep 19 | Teresa said …
Hi, Marie
I am sooo excited to hear that you are doing the Choose To Move Program. Good luck! I have a lot of weight to lose and to hear that you are right there with me makes it easier. By the way Good luck on Dancing with the Stars. I will be watching every week. By the way I am in Utah too and it has been crazy hot here this summer, but luckly it is cooling down now. Makes it more fun to go out and exercise.
Sep 22 | Bonnie said …
I've been walking with my sister, about 50 minutes,3x's a week, really work up a sweat, even on the cold mornings. We're pushing strollers too so there's a little weight being pushed on our walks!
We also love ice cream in the summer and TRY to fight the urge but give in once in a while, the Skinny Cow is really good we've had those.
Choose to move keeps me going. I park a little further from the stores and little things like that too. Of course owning a home is lots of "moving" around doing things, cleaning, gardening, mowing, etc.
Thanks Marie for being a part of the program.
Sep 24 | Deb said …
Hi Marie,
My sister and I just started walking a little over 2 weeks ago (new for her). I've been walking and running for a couple of years. It's alot more fun with someone to talk to the whole time! and we are usually pushing strollers...her granddaughter and my 3 year old son. The kids "gab" the whole time to each other too!
I crave ice cream in the summer too...all I can say is it's a good thing I like to run! LOL
Sep 25 | Carol said …
Hi Marie,
My husband just bought me (for my 45th birthday) a elliptical trainer! Ok, so, it's still in the box waiting to be put together after going on 2 weeks now! He promised he'd put it together for me tomorrow. I am anxious to MOVE!
Frozen Blackberries are an especially good treat when you need something sweet...
Good Luck on "Dancing With the Stars"! You did great last night!
Carol
Sep 27 | marion said …
well marie, i just found this site, and although my health is poor at 49, my spirit jumps around , runs and dances, but my body cant, but i am trying to stretch more, and slow air glide, so i might end up running in the mall soon lol. here in England , we see your dance with the stars this coming friday, i am looking forward to it. you go girl.xx
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