The Treats Won't Trick Me!

It's that time of year where folks hit the stores and get all the candy and other sweets they can manage and distribute to all the youngsters and young at heart.


While these TREATS can be irresistible, I refuse to be TRICKED this year! My health and fitness goals are way too important for me to succumb to the overindulgence of chocolate, sugar, and high fructose corn syrup!

I still am trying to lean out and lose as much weight as Anna Mae has challenged me before my birthday. I haven't lost sight of my green bikini goal (although my timeline has changed slightly). AND I have some major tennis goals for this Fall and Winter (have won the Division in two leagues so far: T2 Flex Mixed (Go MF!); ALTA Women's (Yeah, McGhee Super Slammers!)--and looking for at least two more division wins and ADVANCING in the Play-offs toward some City Titles!).


My work travel has picked up, so I have to be extra diligent with the clean eating habits. I'm still not getting in the amount of cardio I need, but I'm determined to fix that! No excuses--other than these aching legs and knees from RUNNING THE FSU STADIUM BLEACHERS with Sweetie while in Tallahassee recently and a lot of POUNDING THE PAVEMENT on my way to winning these Division Titles and Advancing to the Play-offs in all these tennis leagues!

Well, I just finished training with Anna Mae (not legs of course!). OOOOh, Epsom Salt and Jacuzzi Jets here I come!

Then off to start my work day and then the weekend!

I am Shay Shay Fit. I won't be Tricked!

A Challenge From Anna Mae . . .

Sooooo, my journey to Lose Fat and Win has not been the most disciplined the last month or so. I'm a grown up. I can admit it. As a result, my progress has stalled a little bit.

Well, last night my trainer Anna Mae charged my training partner, Reesey Cup, and me to lose as much weight as we can in the next four weeks as the holidays are approaching and we need some wiggle room. Isn't she generous?

Anyhoo, I am ready to accept the challenge. I am aiming to lose 10 lbs by my birthday (November 21st). Anna Mae says this is quite ambitious. She's right. But, I have always aimed for Wildly Extraordinary Goals. If I fall short, then I'm still in great shape! Just a little Shay Shay logic. You don't have to understand.

Here's what I am going to re-dedicate myself to doing:

1. At least 5 days of non-doubles tennis cardio a week
2. Maintain my food diary
3. Not blowing it all on the weekends with overeating unclean food

Then I still have my strength training sessions with Anna Mae and Reesey Cup. We started off the challenge right with a great session this morning.

Three things. This, I can manage because I AM Shay Shay! I AM DETERMINED!

The Originial Omia--My Inspiration!

Just as it's starting to be really cold in the morning and the bed starts feeling a whole lot better than the weight bench, I got inspired by my grandmother--the Original Omia (her first name, my middle name)--to keep progressing on this journey to Lose Fat and Win! That's us at the Grand Canyon in 2008.

Grandma has always inspired me. She is so generous, loving, smart, hardworking--just a really great person! Everyone loves her. This world is better because she lives in it! I could go on about how at the youthful age of 79 and 11 months, she continues to advocate for the rights of her fellow seniors in her community. I could talk about how she made it possible for many families to travel the country on a tight budget and see places they would have probably never seen because of the bus trips (from Florida to Canada) she organized for about 15 years. I could rattle on about her rising before dawn to work in the fast food industry (starting at 70 years old because she "was up anyway") and then coming home (after a little rest) to tailor clothes for her customers and cut the grass or work in her garden still. I could share how she has overcome sickness and near death--a few times--only to come out stronger and stronger. Thank you Lord for her avoiding the hospital these last 10 years or so.

I could write for days about how wonderful Grandma is and how her active lifestyle keeps her youthful and strong. So what did Grandma just do to inspire Shay Shay to write today?

Drum roll, please Grandma has worked hard through clean eating (although I'm sure she's not familiar with the term; she just eats that way because it makes sense) and staying active to hit a 55 lb weight loss mark!

Yep, that's right 55 lbs! At close to 80, her metabolism is supposed to be slow. She's supposed to be too tired to worry about gardening vegetables and getting in some physical activity. But, she's doing it! She's getting it done, and it's paying off for her! Grandma said she was tired of carrying around "all that weight." She didn't like, "being so big." Go 'head Grandma! Speak on it!

How can I NOT keep working to reach my goals???? I'm carrying Grandma's name, so I better honor it and her by following her example.

Let's go Shay Shay! I have the genes to Keep the Momentum Going!

It's Been Too Long . . .

Things have been super crazy with work travel, so I'm way behind with blogging. I'm still on the journey and working toward reducing my body fat percentage. Traveling makes it difficult, but I am not discouraged.

I'm overdue for showing pictures of my homemade protein bars (they weren't too shabby) and sharing stories from my Adventures in Travel (oh how painful running the bleachers at FSU is, but a great workout!). As soon as I settle down, I will get back to blogging regularly. I can't go too long without blogging because it usually means my life is a tad out of sorts--which usually means I'm not taking care of myself in the way I should.

So, I'll be back soon! My health and fitness depends upon it!