TRAINING TO BE FIT AT 99: Prep, Set, Go!

If you've made some strides in 2012....Congrats! Well done! Keep up the good work.....If you've slid back a few steps....don't beat yourself up....we are ready to continue our journey....

So are you back on the wagon with me? It's the Saturday before New Years and I am rip raring ready to get back at it with gusto and determination. Sometimes you have to take a deep breath, take two steps back, pick yourself up, brush yourself off and make yourself a promise....

So I thought I'd share a few things that I do to get myself geared up.

You have to get all your ducks in a row.

You have to line all your tools up. You have to clean out what doesn't work and what is not "safe" around you.

Don't start out sabataging yourself! You know what I'm talking about here.....don't play dumb. Don't kid yourself that you're baking cookies for your husband or family and that you won't take one (just one won't hurt)....BS...I'm sorry.....but you know what I'm saying here. If you can't have cheese in the house without having a little bit, if you can't put the ice cream in the freezer and not have some because everyone else is having some....set the rules....either they keep it in a tupperware container in their room (well not the ice cream) or just don't keep it in the house......or be prepared to tie your heart and stomach and be determined that your family can eat it (if they don't have a weight problem), but it is off limits to you....completely off lmits. Do not fool yourself. Let's start 2013 off by being honest and prepared. Use the last few days of 2012 to clean out your cabinets, your refrigerator, your freezer....and yes those secret stash places!!!

Get things ready for the first week of 2013 to be healthy.....here's some tricks I use every week. Every Sunday (and other days if I run out) I cut up a big bowl of veggies. I like zuccini, yellow squash, broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, and carrots. I cut them into think pieces. I put the carrots in first in just enough water to cover them at the bottom of the bowl. I cover the bowl with paper towel and heat the carrots in that water in the microwave for 10 minutes. Then I add the rest of the veggies on top of the water and carrots....I try to put the broccoli and spinach on top (since they cook the quickest). Sometimes I add a bit more water if some of the water has evaporated and I microwave all the vegetables another 10 minutes. Now you have a bowl of veggies ready to add to any meal or eat cold (or warmed up) for a snack all week long.

keep all veggies in a bags cut up already, that way at dinner you already have a bag for your meal to do whatever you want with it- stir frie, bake, w/e. Can do with fruit as well to make sure your getting enough fruit/veggies in your day.- goal eat 1 or 2 of these a day!

Camping Recipes , cut veggies up before hand. nice.

If you want you can divide it into sandwich bags....I just leave mine in a sealed tupperware container and scoop out what I need. Don't throw out the water....it has lots of nutrients in it and can be drunk just like it is, added to a smoothy or added as broth to cook brown rice in. (Don't throw that good stuff out!)

Like wise I cut up fruit into a bowl (and then transfer it to a closed tupperware container to keep it fresh). I cut up apples, pears, oranges, strawberries, blue berries, peaches, mangos, cherries, apricots, plums, pineapple....anything that is in season. I make a big tub full. I add fruit fresh to it to help keep it fresh all week. It's ready to have for breakfast...about 3/4 cup with about 1/3 of a banana chopped, almond slices, walnuts, ground flax seed, 3 dates chopped up and a dollop of plain greek yogurt to give it some moisture. It makes a great breakfast and keep you full all morning long.

When you prepare you veggies and fruits for the coming week, when you make up some exta lean turkey and veggie burgers that are cooked and ready to heat up, when you have carrot sticks and celery slices all ready to go and grab.....you have the road blocks in place to avoid those foods that sabatage you.

Make sure your workout clothes are all cleaned and ready to go....so you don't have that excuse when it's time to hit the gym.

Be your own best friend. Be the hope you've been waiting for. Be the best boy scout or girl scout you can be and "Be Prepared"

This is a new year....a new you.....Prep, Set, Go! Oh and remember in 2013 and all the years to follow.....

"If you don't take care of your body, where are you going to live?"

Go strong in 2013....so when the Saturday before 2014 comes around, you can look at yourself in the mirror and see the person you always knew you could become and celebrate what you have accomplished!

To each of you .....cheers