Late Summer/Early Fall Playlist

Technically, it's still summer for a few days...with fall right on its heels. This is the time to think about dressing for cooler workouts, along with indoor exercise on the days the weather does not cooperate.

It's also time to update workout music - as we hang onto the last bit of summer and prepare ourselves for autumn, our playlists will include songs that reflect both seasons.

Here's some of what's on my "Change of Season" playlist:

Brave - Sara Bareilles

Overcomer - Mandisa

Mirrors - Justin Timberlake

So What - Pink

Does Your Mother Know - Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia Soundtrack)

Even The Stars Fall 4 U - Keith Urban

Roar - Katy Perry

Gone, Gone, Gone - Phillip Phillips

Blowin' Smoke - Kacey Musgraves

Southern Girl - Tim McGraw

Point At You - Justin Moore

Steve McQueen - Sheryl Crow


I recommend separating "Roar" and Brave", since they have a similar beat/feel to them...but they are such inspiring songs that I wanted to include both on the playlist.  In keeping with my theme of mixing styles to keep it interesting, you'll find Christian, country, pop, Broadway, and more on this list.  (And "Overcomer" is a MUST!!!)

What songs motivate you as we move into fall?  Please share with me here, or on Twitter and Facebook.  Let's head towards the holidays together in our best shape ever!

School's Out! June Workout Playlist

School's - out - for - summer!

Now that you have Alice Cooper running through your head...have you started thinking about your workout music for warm weather?  I always love to mix things up - to keep workouts fresh.  If you change up your music from time to time, you're more likely to avoid being bored...and more likely to stick with your run, walk, cycling, etc.

So in addition to "hangin' with Mr. Cooper", here are my latest additions for summer:

Try - Pink

Next to Me - Emeli Sande

I'm a Keeper - The Band Perry

Little Bit of Everything - Keith Urban

Roller Coaster - The Partridge Family

Sunshine and Summertime - Faith Hill

Fortunate Son - John Fogerty with Foo Fighters

Hush Hush - Pistol Annies

Voulez-Vous  -  Mamma Mia Soundtrack

Thing Called Love - Bonnie Raitt

Rolling in the Deep - Adele

Black Horse and the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall


Please leave a comment with your favorite workout songs...we're always looking for more suggestions.  And get out there and WERK it!!!

My Official "I'm Sick of Snow!" Playlist

It's March, and technically almost spring.  But Mother Nature doesn't seem to care, as usual.  Snow is still falling in many places, with winter winds still whipping us around and cold temperatures to keep us dressed in heavy coats, hats, gloves, etc.

I am very thankful (and so are my friends!) that the big storm that hit a lot of states this week missed us here in Cleveland, but we've still had our share of the white stuff...and we're tired of it.  And I know my friends in Indiana, Illinois, and on the East Coast are even more tired of it.

So it's time to think warm weather and summer fun if we want to keep our sanity.  Whether you run outside in the cold or exercise indoors while watching the snow fall beyond your window, you need to remember that soon we will be free to work out in more enjoyable conditions.

This is why I've come up with a Plan B - Beach Boys, Buffett, and Beyond.  Introducing my I'm Sick of Snow Playlist:

Summer's Coming - Clint Black
Long Hot Summer - Keith Urban
Soak Up the Sun - Sheryl Crow
Some Beach - Blake Shelton
Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful
Summer Days - The Partridge Family
Summer Nights - Olivia Newton-John/John Travolta (Grease Soundtrack)
Pontoon - Little Big Town
Heatwave - Martha and the Vandellas
Knee Deep - Zac Brown Band with Jimmy Buffett
California Dreamin' - The Mamas and the Papas
Island Girl - Elton John
Barefoot Blue Jean Night - Jake Owen
Fins - Jimmy Buffett
Fun, Fun, Fun - The Beach Boys
Summertime - Kenny Chesney

If you have more to add, shoot me a comment.  Let's all find a remedy for this cabin fever and look forward to spring!!!

London Olympics Inspiration

As many of you may know, I'm an Olympic-aholic.  I watch as much of it as I can, while still getting other things accomplished.  There is just so much to be learned from the Games and the athletes who participate in them.

It's been this way ever since I was a little girl.  Winter or Summer, it doesn't mattter.  I imagine what it would be like to be one of those athletes and participate in the different sports.  Since I don't know how to swim, I'm fascinated by the swimming races.  And what would it be like to dive off of a 10 meter platform or perform on a balance beam? 

There are life lessons here as well.  Every athlete's story is different...some deal with setbacks with grace and class, teaching us how to overcome adversity.  Others show us how to stay focused when so many different things are going on around you.  And I smile every time an athlete thanks and praises God for their Olympic expereince, good or bad.

This time while watching the Olympics, I'm working out at the same time.  Sometimes I'm doing my step and kettle bells, other times I do something that somewhat resembles one of the sports I'm watching.  My arms, back, and abs are sure getting stronger as I sit sideways on my step, rowing along with the competitors!

So let your inner athlete come out to play during the Olympics - it's so much fun.  Who knows...I may still learn to swim yet!!!

Summer Workout Playlist!

Since Memorial Day weekend is upon us, it's time to think about summer workouts - and the music that will keep us pumped up and going through hot days.

Here are a few of mine for this summer:

"Start Me Up" - Rolling Stones
"Good Morning" - Mandisa feat. Toby Mac
"Feel Like a Rock Star" - Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw
"Rumour Has It" - Adele
"You Gonna Fly" - Keith Urban
"Good Feeling" - Flo Rida
"Georgia Peaches" - Lauren Alaina
"Free Ride" - JaneDear Girls
"Good Girl" - Carrie Underwood
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson

I wold love to hear what you're listening to when you work out...and don't forget to stay hydrated!

Staycation - Good For Body and Soul!

As some of you may have noticed, I haven't blogged in a little while. The first few days were not by choice...I had to get a new modem and then catch up on my other work first. But the last three days were definitely by choice.

I desperately needed a vacation, but there are no funds in the budget to get away from it all. So it was time for a "staycation"...having a holiday at or near home to recharge when you can't afford a big trip. I made a conscious decision not to log on to the computer for three days, not even to write. You see, if I had turned it on to write, I would have been tempted to check my mail or social networking sites. The whole idea was to relax and enjoy the time without distractions, so I could be refreshed when it was time to get back to business. Since I don't have a Blackberry or iPhone, there was no tempatation in that department.

We never ventured far from home...we swam every day, went on long walks, and watched movies. I got to spend some uninterrupted time reading as well. I stuck to healthy foods except for one treat - ice cream on Sunday evening. I still drank plenty of water, especially with all of the time spent outdoors exercising.

The plan worked...I am now recharged and ready to tackle more writing and other ventures, plus I didn't wind up gaining any weight on this little vacation. In fact, I lost a little over a pound! How often do we go on any type of vacation and lose weight, unless it's at a spa or weight loss retreat? Not too often!

I highly recommend a staycation to all of you...even more so if you can't afford a regular vacation. With the stresses of life we all need to unplug and refresh our souls, so we can be more productive in the long run. Besides, we all need to enjoy ourselves now and then!

Preparing For Summer - HOT Playlist

Even though summer doesn't technically start until the middle of June, we all know the unofficial start is this coming weekend...Memorial Day Weekend. Time to think about barbecues, beaches, and outdoor concerts. Nature is kind enough to give us extra daylight to enjoy all of our activities, although I'm also totally down with Danny and Sandy loving those summer nights.

Since it's been warm and beautiful here the past few days (whoo-hoo...hardly any rain!) I've been pondering all of the songs that mention summer or hot weather that would be great for outdoor workouts - or even indoor ones to keep you pumped on rainy days. Here are some of my favorites:

"Summer's Coming" - Clint Black

"Long Hot Summer" - Keith Urban

"Summertime" Kenny Chesney

"Summer in the City" - The Lovin' Spoonful

"Summer Days" - The Partridge Family (I can see you smirking...it's a guilty pleasure I don't feel one bit guilty about!)

"Summer of '69" - Bryan Adams

"Hot Child in the City" - Nick Gilder (I know, technically it's the GIRL that's hot...but it still works!)

"Summer Nights" - John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John - Grease Soundtrack (Of course!!!)

"All Summer Long" - Kid Rock

"Heat Wave" - Martha and the Vandellas
"Hot Blooded" - Foreigner

"Walking on Sunshine" - Katrina and the Waves

"Hot Hot Hot" - Buster Poindexter

I know there are more, but these are the ones that come to mind and make me think warm, happy thoughts. Feel free to add any of your favorite hot summer songs!

Before Summer Ends...More Pool Time!!!

I can't believe school starts on Tuesday. This summer really flew by, but I can at least say that I enjoyed every moment of it so far. I haven't let anything stop me from getting out there and having fun, and I continue to live each day to the fullest.

The picture above is an actual photo of Splash Zone, the local pool/waterpark that we have summer passes for. The outdoor section will close for the season at the end of this month, so this weekend we are cramming in a lot of swim time. With school starting there won't be as much time to use the pool, and we don't want to miss any chance we have to use it before they pack everything up for the fall/winter. Not only will we have gotten our money's worth out of it, but also our souls' worth. Time in the water is so good for our bodies, minds, and spirits. You can't even think about putting a dollar amount on that!

So...what have you wanted to do this summer, that you haven't done yet? There's still time to get out there and do it. Make the most of the rest of your summer...don't let it pass you by!

Summertime...Loving Berries Is Easy

I love being able to have fresh fruit in the summer. My mom's favorites were peaches, nectarines, and cherries. I do like all of those, but what I love the most are strawberries and blueberries. I just picked up some fresh berries yesterday, and they are on sale right now because everyone is making their red, white, and blue 4th of July desserts with them.

I prefer mine with either some Cool Whip on top or mixed into Greek yogurt. Of course they are also great on my cereal, but on the days I'm not indulging in a decadent treat (everything in moderation!) this takes care of my sweet craving. I get plenty of vitamins and other nutrients from the berries, plus it's a lighter dessert...so I don't have to wait as long to go swimming or play tennis after I eat them. The more time to enjoy summer activities, the better!

Remember to take advantage of the season's fresh fruits and vegetables, especially when they're on sale. Berries freeze well too, so you can use them later in smoothies and other desserts. Also take advantage of the beautiful weather to enjoy your favorite sports and activities. Don't let summer pass you by...enjoy every moment you can and love life!

First Monday of June...Stay Motivated!

Ahhh...one of my favorite things about summer, fresh strawberries! I love having such a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables this time of year. I prefer fresh over frozen or canned, and buy fresh whenever possible. The fresher it is...the more I look forward to eating it!

This week I lost one pound. Any loss on the scale makes me happy, because I'm still moving in the right direction! This puts me at 180.4 now, and I'm going to break out of the 180's this week. 170's -- here I come!!!

This is the summer that I will finally learn how to swim. My family is getting season passes to a local pool and recreation area, and we will be in the pool a lot. I've always liked doing exercises in the water, and I will continue to do that. I'm also trying to set up adult swimming lessons for myself. I've been trying on my swimsuits in anticipation...and I'm down to size 16. I have a couple of suits in that size that I couldn't wait to fit into, and now I do!

Another perk of these season passes is unlimited use of their weight room and exercise equipment. I have plenty of cardio machines at home, but really need to get more weight training in. This is a Godsend for me, and I plan on taking full advantage of it.

Family Summer Shape-Up continues..this is going to be our healthiest summer yet!!!

Drink This...NOT That!!!

The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer...in some locations it's already downright sweltering. Summer is my favorite season...far away from snow shoveling, icy roads, and wind chills below zero. The warmer it is, the better I feel.

When it's this hot outside, we look for ways to cool off. This can take many forms, from swimming to air conditioning. The easiest way to refresh is an ice cold drink of some sort. If you're a coffee lover like I am, you are probably switching from a hot cup of java to something iced. What's better than a way to cool off combined with your caffeine for the day?

The problem is, a lot of these iced coffee drinks are filled with fat, calories, and sugar. In some cases you'd be better off drinking a milkshake or eating dessert than drinking a fancy iced coffee. One thing I do is make my own at home most of the time, where I can control what goes into it. Then I treat myself occasionally to one of those other coffees...just not too often.

If you don't make your own or you're on the road a lot and have to stop for coffee, you have to be really careful what you get. Men's Health put together a list of the worst coffee drinks at several chains, along with the better alternatives. You can check out this list at http://eatthis.menshealth.com/content/worst-frozen-coffee-drinks and see for yourself.

Don't sabotage your healthy eating plan unknowingly by drinking down a day's worth of calories in one sitting. You can choose wisely and still have your iced coffee!

Family Summer Shape-Up - In Session!

It's officially the start of the Memorial Day Weekend. Even though the calendar says it's not really summer until mid-June, we all know that this weekend is the accepted unofficial start of the season. The weather here is beautiful, low to mid 80's, with plenty of sun. Baseball practices have already gone on, and I've done outdoor workouts on several days. It feels so good to get outside and walk, run, play tennis, and just enjoy the day.

Even though we have already been getting more active and eating better, Operation Family Summer Shape-Up has now begun. You know I'm down 35 pounds, and now my son has already lost four pounds. We are working as a family so all of us can get fit and healthy. Going for walks and playing tennis together is a big part of our summer. Eating less junk food is also on the agenda, along with consuming more fruits and vegetables. My son is learning to drink water most of the time instead of sports drinks, juices, and sodas. We don't even have soda in the house. We may have one on a rare occasion when we're not eating at home, but even then most of the time we drink water. We are watching our portion sizes now more than ever.

The great thing about having this Summer Shape-Up is...we are setting goals over this weekend, to be completed by Labor Day. We will still be checking in weekly to see our progress, but having a bigger goal to work toward will keep us motivated and in motion. I challenge all of you to start your own Summer Shape-Up. Just think how far we will all have come by the start of September!