R-E-S-P-E-C-T

There was a time when I considered my body as my temple, something to honor, cherish and protect, something to feed with only nutritious, healthy foods.

I'm not sure when my temple became the holding place for cheesecake, Twizzlers and enormous amounts of food, but I so wish I had never let this happen. And I'm also sure that this didn't happen overnight, but gradually, over the years.

Two powerful thoughts there:
1. Our bodies should be our temples.
2. It took time to look the way I do now, so to get them back into shape will take time. There is no overnight fix.

Which brings me to Aretha Franklin, who sang one of my favorite songs, Respect. What a powerful word.

If we all respect our bodies, feed them with foods and vitamins that will make them thrive, we will simply feel better, look terrific, and have more energy. We will be able to be true participants in life, not merely bystanders watching everyone else have fun.

I don't have to listen to the song. Aretha spelling out that one word, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, is now ingrained in my mind. I mentally spell it to myself several times each day, and eventually, it will become part of my DNA.

My body. My temple. It's time I protected it more, and showed it some respect.

Whatever it takes

A simple piece of paper has changed my life.

The sheet of paper is a contract with my friend Ann. We have been walking every Saturday and Sunday for years, and although we have been diligent about making our walks, our schedules have often caused either one of us cancel. And if I wasn’t walking with Ann, chances are I wouldn’t be walking.

Not anymore: We have a year contract that states we will each walk at least five days a week, for at least 30 minutes a day. We are also giving up one treat one day each week -- for Ann, that's chocolate; for me, sugar, both natural and artificial. And every day, we have to check in with each other to say what we did for exercise. It's all about accountability -- both with each other -- but just as important, with ourselves.

We also left space for a reward at year's end: In my case, it will be a trip to Kripalu in Massachusetts, for a weekend of yoga and meditation. Ann loves pins, and she's already begun to shop for the one that will be her reward.

I admit that signing a contract with a friend might seem a bit weird, but both of us, typical Type A personalities and a tad competitive, have both somehow managed to find at least 30 minutes each day to exercise since we signed and dated our contracts.

For me, that means getting up really early in the morning. In the past, I would always set my alarm, but that can be reset in seconds and I was back in dreamland. Not anymore. If I'm not walking with Ann, then it's with Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds.

And on the days I take a yoga class -- which is now four -- I still manage to fit in a walk, although the yoga would more than cover the 30-minute requirement. Why? I'm beginning to really love the way exercising early in the day makes me feel. I have more energy, I handle stress so much better, and I am sleeping better at night.

Our contract states we have to exercise five days a week, but unless I am sick, I plan on getting in as much exercise as is possible daily. For the first time in years -- maybe even decades -- I can honestly say I am in control. In the past, I would either go on a diet and not exercise, or exercise and then eat more than my fill of food. The past few weeks, the stars have been in perfect alignment for me.

This is working for me. And to really lose weight AND keep it off, you have to find the road that works for you.

In my case, competition really is a good thing.

Excuses, excuses

Has it really been three weeks since I posted? I could blame it on the computer virus that attacked my hard drive and left me without a computer for two weeks. Or that I had gotten out of the habit of posting each day, and did not make the time to post.

But those, like everything, are just excuses. There is no good reason why I have been ignoring my blog. And this morning, while I was doing my three-mile Walk Away the Pounds with Leslie Sansone and her posse, I decided I had to post, because I heard something last night that is too good not to pass on.

But first, I want to share some exciting news: I have actually been a very good diet girl since last I posted. I went back to Weight Watchers, have taken two yoga classes a week at Yoga4Everybody in Fairfield, and start my Saturdays at 7 a.m. at Penfield Beach doing Qi Gong and Tai Chi. And I walk at least 45 minutes a day.

But what I really wanted to share is something my Weight Watchers' leader Karen told us last night. The topic was uncontrollable eating -- when you cannot stuff enough food in your mouth in a certain period of time. Been there, hope to never do that again. But Karen said if you ever feel an attack coming on -- or if you ever find yourself reaching for something better left on the plate -- STOP, DROP and STROLL.

• STOP what you are doing
  
• DROP the food and
  
• STROLL away!!!!!!!!
  

Thank you Karen for your wise words -- and for giving me something short to write about today. Until tomorrow....