Goals: for as long as I can remember, I've always been one to set and successfully achieve them, with the exception of my one "big" goal to shed any considerable weight. Actually, I'm assuming that is one of the reasons "why" I have never allowed myself to be unsuccessful at any of the other numerous goals I've previously set; they were the proof that I needed to convince myself that I wasn't a complete failure.

I'm in a great mood this morning! I just listened to the weather report and it sounds as though we are going to have some amazing temperatures by Thursday – it's supposed to reach at least 70 degrees... and I love it! And I'm sure that I am not alone as ALL of us have been eagerly awaiting warmer weather so we can enjoy the outdoors and take in the fresh spring air! The daffodils and crocuses have started to bloom, the birds are busy building their nests, and the trees are just waiting to explode with bright green foliage; yes, SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

Good morning! Can you believe that March is almost over already? This coming weekend we will be celebrating Easter, and it also marks the beginning of my daughter's spring break, which I am truly looking forward to but most likely not as much as she is! It seems as though every weekend has been "full of fun" lately... and that definitely includes this past weekend as I participated in the Lansing Winter Warm-Up Celebration. I am still finding it truly amazing that the participants in this year's event walked over 100,000 miles – which is a longer distance than traveling around the world 4 times... wow!

Happy Friday to you! I hope you have enjoyed the week and are looking forward to a fun and eventful weekend. Hey, if you happen to have a time slot open for tomorrow morning, I'd like to invite you to attend the "Winter Warm-Up" celebration inside the Lansing Mall from 9-10 AM, Saturday, March 27, to help us conclude a 10-week-long walking challenge!

Have you ever thought about this before: if you ask ten people how to lose weight successfully, you would probably get ten different answers? Yes, different things work for different people, as we all realize. Some people count on peer support to meet their weight-loss goals, others are self-driven and design their own plans. Some individuals utilize their computers and use various web sites to track food intake, calorie needs, and activity levels... if it works for you, I say "go for it!"

Good morning and "Welcome to Wednesday!" I'm hoping that you found yesterday's post regarding pedometers extremely useful, helping you make the decision to begin using a pedometer in the near future! Honestly, pedometers really do help increase your total daily steps which contributes to YOUR better health... something that I am truly passionate about! You matter to me, always remember that.

Today I want to focus on a wonderful walking tool that I feel each fellow "walker" should possess: a pedometer. Several of you may currently own one of these simple yet effective devices, and others may be wondering, "What is a pedometer?" A pedometer is a small electronic device that is used to count how many steps a person is taking. It is mostly used by fitness enthusiasts to help them keep track of their exercise goals, and by people looking to lose weight and become more active. Experts recommend taking around 10,000 steps per day to improve physical fitness. Since it is basically impossible to keep mental track of how many steps a person walks in an average day, a pedometer becomes the only way to record such information.

Happy Monday and Happy SPRING! I hope you enjoyed your weekend, making sure to take time for "just you!" You must know that I did because if I don't, who will? Sure, I made certain to take care of several household chores, which included redecorating / painting one of the rooms in our home; but, I still made sure to allow some "me" time!

Good morning and welcome to the "official end of winter!" I'm sure you can tell that I'm glad it's over and ready for the spring season to begin! The unseasonably warm weather has made this past week a great one for walking, causing me to want to store away that ole treadmill – but I know better! Hey, I haven't forgotten that I live in Michigan so I think I'm going to wait a few more weeks! I want to make sure that if the snow and ice return for a few days in the near future, that I don't miss a single day of walking – and I KNOW that you will agree with me after you read the latest study about walking and successful aging!

This weather is great, isn't it? It just seems to bring a whole lotta SPRING to my step... which, by the way, the official start of spring is only 2 days away and I've got to say that "I love it!" Another thing that "I love" is the fact that so many people have made the decision to start a daily, walking regimen now that the weather is better... perfect!

"Top o' the morning to ye" and Happy Saint Patrick's Day! It is going to be a great day, I can just feel it! You ARE wearing green today, aren't you? Since I'm 25% Irish, I felt it was only appropriate that I celebrate the holiday, so I'll be enjoying a nice, big glass of green...

Wouldn't it be great if you could lower your blood pressure, boost your HDL (the good) cholesterol, reduce your risk of certain cancers, and MORE by simply taking a little stroll to your own kitchen? Yes, there are some common foods that you probably have in your pantry right at this moment... ones that contain many wonderful health benefits! Fresh garlic, for instance. The list of health benefits for this common food item are pretty amazing! Extensive tests have concluded that a regular intake of garlic will...

Hello again... and WELCOME BACK! So tell me, have you noticed the hour of sleep we lost due to daylight savings time yet? I've been lucky so far as I've been a little too busy to notice, but it may possibly creep up on me by the end of the week. Although I will say that since the weather has been so cooperative lately – allowing me to walk a couple times per day – my energy level has gone up and I'm not tired at all until close to 10 pm. You know, I honestly can say that even if walking did not create weight loss or lower risks for several severe health issues, I would still walk – I LOVE WALKING and how it makes me feel!

So have any of you begun to experience that familiar "spring-cleaning mode" yet? I'm about there... yeah, I'll admit that it really is enjoyable for me, especially since I often find a few items that I've completely forgotten about! Just this morning I found a favorite pair of my faded, comfortable (and slightly ripped) jeans that I had tucked away and I love the fact that they still "fit & zip" with ease!

Good morning to you! I hope you are enjoying this fine Thursday morning as much as I am – I'm on my 2nd cup of coffee, the birds are singing their little hearts out, and the spring air is coming through my window... and I'm loving it! Yes, I'm sure that many of you feel that I'm a little too "Pollyanna-like," but I'll be the first to admit that I do focus on the good things in life... I refuse to focus on the bad! And believe me – that would be easy to do since that open window also allows me to view a yard full of dead leaves and yard debris to be cleaned up. But, you know, the grass is still too wet to rake so I can put it off for a week or two. I would rather do something for the kids anyways... so I think I will bake up a batch of some "healthy cookies!"

Wow, hasn't this weather been just wonderful? I am definitely loving it, along with the fact that it's only going to get "better & better" as the weeks pass by! In fact, this morning I took my daily walk instead of during the afternoon hours like I normally do... but I have a feeling I'll be taking another walk this afternoon since I just can't get enough of that spring air! While walking this morning, I was thinking about all the blogs that I post each week and I started to wonder if I have inspired YOU to live a healthier lifestyle? I truly hope that I have... since that is WHY I do what I do!

Good morning! Thank you for visiting me here again on WalkyTalk! Today I would like to continue focusing on our nation's childhood obesity rates – rates that all of us can help decrease with some simple knowledge. Now any of you that have been on a diet know how calories work, right? Basically every single food and beverage includes calories, and if you consume more calories than your body "burns," you will most likely gain weight. One pound of body fat is equal to about 3,500 calories, so if you consume 500 more calories (per day, over 7 days) than you normally consume, you'll gain one pound of fat in a week.

Good morning to you and welcome to Monday! I hope you enjoyed the "spring-like" weekend and made the effort to go for a walk (or two) in the bright, March sunshine. Wasn't it great to see the amazing blue sky and the thermometer reading 40+ degrees instead of what we saw outside a couple weeks ago? Yes, I'm so ready for spring... and summer too! I think the children in our area are ready also as I've seen a few of them riding bikes already, which isn't the norm around here when the snow is still on the ground; but honestly, I love that they are getting outdoors for some fresh air and exercise!

"I'm happy just the way I am!" I just smile when I read that statement because it sounds way too familiar because I was the one who said it. But I also shake my head in disbelief when I read it. You see, I know it was just another form of my denial, one more attempt to convince others that I was not thin "on purpose" – that I didn't fail at losing weight, but that I truly liked the size that I was... and being morbidly obese made me happy. Okay, sure, whatever.

When I was growing up, I remember my mom using the quote, "misery loves company," especially during my teenage years, hoping to help me understand why some people acted the way they did in particular situations. Back then, I thought that I understood what she was trying to say – somewhat – but now I look back and realize that she was not only trying to help me understand the actions of others, but my own actions too...

"I am ready to start feeling better!" I think many people forget about that when making the decision to focus on living a healthier lifestyle, often overlooking the fact that physically feeling better accompanies a weight loss just as much as looking better does! I want you to think of how much harder it would be for you to climb stairs if you were carrying around a backpack filled with 5- or 10-pound bricks. Now imagine how much lighter you would feel without the backpack. That's the feeling you get from losing as little as 5 pounds or 10 pounds.

People are always complaining about not having enough money, which isn't news to any of us! I bring this up because I was listening to a radio show this morning and a 50-year-old woman was upset because she never has any extra money to spend on "fun stuff" since she has to pay so much on prescription costs to deal with her high blood pressure; oh, and she also mentioned that she was overweight. You know, I often wonder... what would society would do if we knew we could have improved health for FREE? That's right for NO COST AT ALL and there wouldn't even be any pills or prescriptions required!

We made it! Today is the first day of March... just a mere 3 weeks away from the official beginning of SPRING! Don't ya just love it? I am in a better mood already as I know that the coldest, snowiest months are behind us and we have warm, sunny days to look forward to! That not only means I will be storing my winter clothes away, but I'll be able to "store away" my ol' treadmill also.