It's Time !!!

It's time to get to an informational meeting THIS WEEK !!
It's time to get your sponsor lined up.
It's time to get your tennis shoes laced up.
It's time to get your booty movin' ... to join the newly starting
January HEALTHQUEST On The HomeStretch!!

I hope and pray I'll be there to rejoin my teammates and tell you new ladies how much you're going to love the results, the friendships, the strength, etc.

But it's not about me! It's about you and it's about TIME that it's about YOU!!

It's 2009. It's time.

Come on and move it ..

Top End of Poor => Excellent

Dear Team,

I don't have the results in front of me at the moment, but my dunking results were surprising to me (given I'd missed half the weeks post 2nd dunk). But I was thrilled with my VO2 test on the treadmill. I have some concerns for that day when I can once again see a doc (with insurance). BUT, I was at the top end of "Poor" when this all began. As in, "poor fitness level." I tested out at nearly the top of "Excellent." I could not be more proud of myself. I EVEN NEARLY made it to a sustained 41 (which would have registered me in the Superior Fitness level). With more work, I know I could get there!!! I'm not sure what "41" means without David Harris there to help sort it out. [Everyone, shouts to David from FitnessWave for being yet another great encourager and pro!].

That's all I'm going to say right now. It's a bittersweet week - to be out of training and away from friends. But holding on to hope. See you at the Live Broadcast, December 18th!

Do this!

Diane

Dunk Shot

Missing my team. Missing my workouts. Not missing 4 a.m. Have my final dunking Wednesday morning. Let's hope for good progress. Still need to get my bloodwork ... maybe tomorrow as well.

Roosters!

Bikinis & Krispy Kreme Donuts

I'm checking in with a heavy heart today. On this, the eve our last day of our HealthQuest On the HomeStretch training program. Most of us will continue on (from what my teammates are saying). I, as yet, can't sort out how to finance it in my 5th month without professional income; or even any income. Must get through the Holidays and pray for a fresh hiring season (or at least some contract gigs).

Meanwhile, during today's ab work, I thought, "A few more days of this and I'd be shopping for a new bikini." It's a nice thought. I have other thoughts. Like, "Hey after our final day we should all go to Krispy Kreme and celebrate!" Which is proof positive that I need to keep training! This fabulous (as in "AB" u less) new habit is easily undone. You may have read at the OnTheHomeStretch homepage that it takes 21 MONTHS to change your lifestyle. It's only been 12 weeks (and I probably missed 1/3 of it). Even so, I was bounding up stairs for a meeting today and thinking, "Wow, my knees don't take all this shock anymore - I can feel my newfound muscles at work; and I'm not out of breath." Spring, spring, spring ...

Ah, yes, Spring. Beaches. Bikinis. Endurance. Fun New Adventures. Fewer Doctors. Fewer Aches. More Life In Each Step. More Can-Do Mindset. More Friendships. Great eating habits. I could go on and on.

But, for this afternoon, I'm just checking in with a heavy heart. A HEALTHIER heavy heart.

Wish me luck ... where there's a will ... there's a way. Will you? Don't be a chicken ... (be a rooster!!).

I sure hope to meet you on this journey come January 2009. It's the one great decision you can make. Forget "Great Depression" talk. Let's go for "Great Transformation" action.

Did ya happen to know that the ROOSTER is the symbol for REFORMATION?! Yep. Sure is. Re-form-ation. Bikinis @ 40?! It's entirely possible. Let's all go to the beach together in March!! I'll race ya ...

Meantime, see you On The HomeStretch!!

If I Wasn't BORN a Whale, I Shouldn't ACT Like a Whale.

Some of you [whoever is living behind my PC screen] are wondering, "WHAT do these pictures have to do with HealthQuest On The HomeStretch?" The rest of you [are there more of you?] are thinking, "Oh Dear Grasshopper, I resemble that photo!" It's you first ones I'm talking to - the others have fainted.

Remember the Nancy Reaganesque commercials: "This is your brain on drugs"? Well, my lovely Normandy, the battle cat, agreed to pose in these photos to demonstrate to you that, "This is your flab on couches." Pretty, huh?

What R U going to do about it? {cue the Madagascar 2 music} ... "MOVE IT, MOVE IT."

Don't make me keep saying this - - is worth it. And please don't make me keep asking my cat to model for webradio.

Move it, shake it, push it, run it, pull it, jump it, stretch it, sign up - do it!

www.onthehomestretch.com (Do it with Debbie - she rocks!) *woof*

Oh, and, no animals were harmed in this composition process [yah, you should have seen her before wardrobe worked her up! Now, she's on diet kibble and I'm On The Home Stretch!!]

DATELINE 15:30 2 Dec 08 **** Feline Update **** Made an emergency trip to the vet with my battle cat last night. She was being too nice to me. Something was incredibly wrong and I was sure it was FEVER (the same illness that got me reading Runners Magazine). The Whale Doctor put her on the scales and SHE'S LOST THREE POUNDS!!! So guess what? She got a kitty treat. Um. YahYou'reNotGonnaBelieveThis. Shaped like a little FISH ! Oh there's no end to fun in this fallen world!!

SHE'S NOT A WHALE, SHE'S JUST MISPLACED HER PERSONAL TRAINER! She got a Cortisone shot (I thought it was for the itching, but the Dr. said it would make her feel "euphoric" -- Upon hearing that, I attempted to accidentally slip my arm between her neck and the needle. Alas, to no avail.).

Turns out, Normandy is fine and I'm the one who still has a fever (& new Vet bill). LOL.

Pick Up Your Easy Chair & "Move it, Move it"

Last Tuesday, I went to join the Dawgs team workout at 1 pm. And, this was not long after missing nearly 3 weeks of workouts (from travel/illness). It was hard. It was a challenge. The benefits were not far from noticeable, though. I got home and was dragging myself out of the car - when I noticed this HUGE box on my porch. I needed something comfortable to sit on in what has become my office at home. So ordered with free shipping and coupon (of course) from Overstock. And this arrived ... in a box the width of my doorframe:

I was thrilled to have the chair, but it was daunting to think I had to get it inside on a cold day, on my own. But, I did! It took a few minutes of lifting/maneuvering and squeezing it through the tight doorway. Then unboxing it and bolting the legs on. It was certainly another challenge (poorly timed), but I would not have been able to do it before HealthQuest. I would have had that box sitting on my front porch on a rainy day -- waiting for some neighbor to come home from work. If you're missing my point, it's this: HealthQuest = good! :)

Today is day one of the last week. We're all dreading the end, but hoping to keep training and not let a good new habit die. Today is also my 39th birthday (part of my motivation for wanting to do HealthQuest) and I feel as strong as I did 20 years ago. My point? HealthQuest = great!

Next week we'll get our team medical testing done and see if we've earned some points for our respective teams. In the end, we're all winners. And we could not have done it alone. It's a journey one best takes in concert with others. Final point? HealthQuest, Debbie Alan, D-1 Training Center, Carter "The Hazer" Hays = The Best !!

This is the best week for you to attend introductory meetings and come out to join the new teams, starting from Sedentary Life (where I began) to enter a new world of strength, confidence, endurance & wholistically improved life. Oh and tons of new BFFs to cheer you on and gut it out with you. It begins again in late January. Do not ... think twice. Just do it!

If you're reading this, surely you know where to go. If not, link here.

See you a little longer - On The Home Stretch!

"And DOWN the STRETCH they come" running like freaks - surpassing their pedigrees!!

Roosta D

Ultimate Frisbee - Wheeeee !

'nough said

Thanks for Fun Friday Carter. Fun is not overrated! Have a great weekend everyone. Was nice to play with the 1 pm team today.

I'm going hiking on Saturday - finish clearing out these lungs! Sorry -- TMI.