Pumpkin Delivery

When I pulled up to the house last night, I noticed there was a flickering light on our front porch and as I drew closer, I realized DW and I had been the recipients of a pumpkin delivery with our business logo on it! I thought it was pretty amazing and had to share!


Pretty quickly, DW and I deduced who the "culprits" were and made a phone call to thank them for their thoughtfulness and for the adorable pumpkin! They were also willing to share pictures of the process and I loved them so I thought I'd pass them on!

Caleb holding the "template"...

Daniel (Dad) helping coach the process along: The Cutout!

The "sneaky" delivery after dark in the PJs...

...and not to be left out, the littlest culprit, Jackson!

We love you guys!!! Thank you for your creativity and thoughtfulness!

Meet Samson

Last Wednesday, we went out on a dinner date with Daniel and Jessica and Ryan and Celeste. We LOVE Daniel and Jessica and spend a lot of time playing Spoons, Cups, grilling out, and "doing life" with them through our amazing Small Group! And although we've spent time in the same circles as Ryan and Celeste - we've just recently had the opportunity to get to know them better! Celeste has an enormous heart for travel and Missions (which means we have a lot to talk about) and Ryan never fails to make me laugh ("Well, Hello!" he said during a FitLab workout recently, when he discovered his newly built biceps for the first(?) time)! It was kind of funny, too, because all four of them are currently in the FitLab program so they all felt like I was judging their food choices all night. They kept asking if they were hanging out with "Trainer Amy" or "Friend Amy"! ;-)

As an aside I have to brag on them all a little bit...I'm so proud of them! Daniel, who started first, has lost 40 pounds since the end of June, Jessica and Ryan are both around 16+lbs each and still going, and Celeste just got started but I'm sure is going to have a lot of success!

All three couples piled in my car and headed up to Atlanta to Nuevo Laredo Cantina, home of the Mexican brisket (DW's fav). Although it's what you might call a hole-in-the-wall, it's one of the Top 10 Mexican Restaurants in Atlanta. It's got great atmosphere, excellent chips and salsa, and an entree called Mexican Brisket that's too die for. To be honest, the rest of the entrees pretty much pale in comparison and are a little overpriced for what you are getting - in my humble opinion - but we still love it.

Jessica and I...

The Newlyweds: Ryan and Celeste...

Daniel, DW, and Ryan...

...and while I'm speaking of restaurants, can I just tell you how ESTATIC I was that DW and I were able to stop at Taziki's in Birmingham on our way through to his hometown football game on Friday night? My love for this place has as much to do with falling in love with DW (during our almost-daily lunch dates) as it does with the amazing food! It's probably one of my top 5 favorite places to eat!

DW capturing my happiness...

D-dubs loves it, too!

My personal favorite...the greek chicken rollups!

And last but not least, here is one of the main reasons I've been so busy...meet our latest "Foster" child, Samson. It's been raining since we found him so excuse the messy floor:

He's a lab mix (he looks mostly lab) that DW and I picked up out at his grandmother's house. People love to dump out puppies on the highway out there in the country and then they end up getting either run over or taken to the pound. Dusty and I are always suckers for black labs (especially) and have a pretty good track record for finding good homes for our "projects". We named him Samson because when we first took him home, he had several "hot spots" where he'd chewed his hair off. Plus, he's extremely strong and has enormous paws...so add the size, strength, and the hair issues and we thought the name Samson was only fitting! ;-)

We've been kennel training him, have him housebroken, he knows how to "sit", "get in your bed", "kennel up", "lay down", "go outside", "let's go downstairs", and, of course, "No!" (he hears this a lot!). He is extremely calm for his age, isn't a chewer (which isn't normal for a lab puppy) and is SUPER sweet and cuddly...so if you know of anyone looking for a (free) sweet little lab in the Atlanta/Auburn/Birmingham area...let us know! And hurry! We are falling in love and even I can't deal with THREE indoor/outdoor labs!!!

Faithful and Good...

It's been a while...and I guess the only way to explain it is that I've just kinda needed some "time away" to process and grow and learn. A lot of my focus has been on getting FitLab off the ground and I know ya'll don't want to hear about that every day. And when I'm not thinking about that, I feel like I'd likely bore you with talk of my struggles with infertility because it's been on my mind and heart a lot lately.

Infertility is "fluid" - and by that I mean that its an ever-changing dynamic. It looks different every day...some days I feel strong and feel like my perspective is right, some days not so much. The one thing I've found that I'm having to address is this over-arching sense of guilt that I'm feeling...like even if I could get past this sense of loss I feel for my own hopes and dreams...I still struggle with the reality that its my body and my illness that is putting the dreams of others on hold, possibly indefinitely. I can't help but feel sad for DW, who would be a phenomenal dad...just seeing him playing with our friend's children or nephews makes my heart ache for his loss in this. There have been times where I almost believe that his life would have been better if he hadn't chosen me. And my then there is my sweet Mom who I know longs to be grandmother...this dream of hers on hold as well. It's not just me who is affected and that's a little hard to live with at times.

I write all of this for a couple of reasons: one, because it's where my head is at. Two, not because I want anyone to feel sorry for me, but because I need to set the "scene" for what I'm about to share. Last week, I called Dusty from Dallas, with a combination of guilt and grief. I found out - in one week - that four of our couple friends were pregnant...and while I swear I'm joyful for them, it always brings to the surface my carefully controlled feelings of loss and sorrow for our situation. Four pregnancies was just a lot to take in at once and I needed a lot of DW's support at that moment.

When DW picked me up from the airport, I was still working through all of the emotions, even days later but had quit talking about it. Well, knowing me and knowing that I still needed his love and affirmation that things would be alright, DW cooked me an incredible dinner and left a card by my plate. On the front, it said, "My love..." and when I opened it and read the following words, I realized just how faithful and good my God is to give me this man. I still can't read it without crying and I will treasure it always:

Hey Bud:

I'm so glad you are home with me! I really missed you extra bad this time. I wanted to get you this card to remind you that I am your teammate on this journey that God has us on. I know this was a rough weekend after hearing that four other couples are pregnant. I want to make sure that you remember that I am right here beside you for every tear, every smile, and all of the steps along the way. I never truly know how painful this time has been for you, but I hope that you feel that you've always had a shoulder to cry on. I don't know what the end of this story will look like, but I know it ends with a happy, loving family. It may be a family of four or a family of two, but I am happy whatever His plan may be! I love you so much and I don't want you to ever feel like you are disappointing me as the months pass with no pregnancy. I married you to live my life with YOU whatever that looks like! There are HUGE reasons that God put us together and I can't wait to see His plans unravel.

Love you, Bud!

Fo-eva,

DW

Meeting Aidan...

Jason and Diana were friends with DW in college so I didn't really have super high expectations for friendship when I met them for the first time at a restaurant in Memphis called Bosco's. I kinda expected it to be a casual, one time thing...you know, Dusty just getting back in touch with some college friends (and co-workers) who just happened to live in the same city as us. Little did I know that The Bradfords would become two of our closest friends in the world...you know, the "Lifer" kind where you see yourself doing family vacations together and catch yourself planning to marry your children off to one another. And that's before you even have children...

Well, 4 months ago, our first addition to the family decided to join us: Aidan Holland Bradford...and let me tell you, this little guy is going to be a heart breaker! He's got little apple cheeks and full lips, precious little eyes shaped like almonds...and that sweet little grin!? Can you tell I'm in love?

Me and my honorary nephew, Aidan:

Amy, Aidan, & Diana...

by the way, his name is an anagram of her name. Cool huh?

...only missing DW!

Jason went on Daddy-duty all day Saturday so that Diana and I could go to the outlet mall and then to see Fame that evening. Since both of us are major So You Think You Can Dance fans, we were both hoping that this movie would just blow us away, but I've got to say...it fell a little flat for me. Well, EXCEPT for the character that Asher Books played...I must say, the second that he opened his mouth and the first soft, sexy note came out...I became a major fan! Diana kept laughing because she said I was acting like a total cougar! ha! How sad is it that I'm now old enough that if I drool a little over a 21 year old actor, I'm now bordering on pedophilia?! For the love, the child was born in 1988! Ah!!! That's almost a 90's birthday!

Rewinding a little, when I was at the outlet mall, I found a gorgeous little double drop necklace that both Diana and I ooohed and ahhhed over. There was only one and I ended up buying it, but when we got home and Diana immediately jumped on the internet to search high and low for one, I knew I loved it far less than she loved it and offered that she could just keep it. At first, she was hesitant, but when she finally broke down and said, "Well, let me just try it on for a sec..." I knew she'd probably cave soon. Jason joked, "What she's going to do is wear it out tonight and see if it gets any compliments...and if it does, it's a keeper." I didn't think another thing about the necklace until Diana and I are walking side by side in a bookstore and a little girl about the age of 9 walks in front of us, looks directly at Diana, and says, "I reaaaallllly like your necklace." Diana replies, "Thanks!" and I bite my lip long enough for the little girl to walk away before cracking up laughing. Jason looks back and says, "Told you!" and heads for the magazine section while Diana and I keep laughing about the fact that she didn't just say she liked the necklace, she REALLY liked the necklace. :-)

Little moments like that filled up our time together...great conversations, lots of laughs, and quality time that I had to soak up with all three of them since my time there felt way too short. How is it that the happy moments seem to fly by when you want them to last indefinitely? In fact, we tried to prolong those moments so much so that I ended up having to run for my plane, something I've sworn in the past I would never do! Oh well, at least I made it and got in my cardio!

Bradfords, I miss ya'll already!

FitLab in Dayton & then Dallas

For all you Dayton, Ohio peeps and Dallas-ites out there, I thought I'd mention that FitLab Metabolic Services is going on the road. I'll be in Ohio this weekend (Friday - Sunday) and in the Dallas metroplex on Sept 30 - Oct 3rd for metabolic testing. If anyone is interested in scheduling testing let me know.

We have two different kinds of assessments: (1) the RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) test to tell you how many calories your body needs and I'll help you map out a nutrition plan and (2) the FitMap (or Exercise Assessement Profile). This assessment tells you what kind of calories you expend during exercise, what heart rate range you are most effectively burning fat AND tells you what heart rate you become completely inefficient at metabolizing fat as an energy source.

Doing both assessments gives me more pieces to the puzzle that is your body, but doing just one (whichever one you'll adhere more closely to) is still a good thing to have!

Click here to contact me to ask questions or to discuss setting up an appointment!

Reasons Why I HATE The Big*est Lo*er...

Yup, I said it. I realize this may be one of the most controversial statements I've ever made, but screw it...people need to know that the show is unrealistic. And if you love the show and want to continue loving the show, this is your chance to stop reading. As in now. And if you don't read anything else...at least read Reason #3 and #4.

There are a lot of reasons that I, as a health and wellness professional, can't stand this show...the main one being that I feel like it gives people an unrealistic view of what true weight loss looks like. Clients come to me all of the time and are shocked to realize that I can't promise them a loss of 15 pounds per week...after all, they've seen it happen on the Big*est Lo*er so it has to be true. Right? Wrong. Let me give you just a few of those reasons why I believe this show is unrealistic and then you can make your own determination. We're all, after all, entitled to our opinions.

Reason #1. Pretty much any Certified Personal Trainer and just about any other reputable source for exercise guidelines say that extreme weight loss isn't healthy and doesn't offer a long-term weight loss solution. The Amercian College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) maintains that approximately 1 to 2 pounds per week maximum is a healthy, realistic, sustainable weight loss goal. Any additional weight loss is most likely from losing water weight, lean muscle mass, and risks both the personal safety and wellness of the individual(s) who choose to disregard those suggested guidelines.

Reason #2. Every person alive has a certain number of calories, specific to their own body, that they need to survive optimally (i.e. for lungs, heart and other major organs to function). It's called your Resting Metabolic Rate or RMR. You might have heard it referred to as your BMR (or Basal Metabolic Rate). Older data for this was based upon a mathematical formula. New technology has given us the ability to measure that data using specialized medical equipment. If you want to know more about it, email me...but it's too complicated to get into on here. The quick version is that each and every person is uniquely different, therefore, so are their caloric needs. For instance, I've had clients that are an identical height and weight come to me for an RMR assessment and it turns out that one of them needs 1700 calories (minimum) per day and the other needs only 1100 calories (minimum) per day. Again, it's a unique number that's based upon a person's specific physiology. If you consistently eat under your RMR, you'll actually cause your metabolism to slow down and begin or continue to store fat over time.

Reason #3. To lose 1 pound of fat per week, you have to create a deficit, between diet and exercise, of 3500 calories or 500 calories per day. To lose 2 pounds of fat per week, you have to create a deficit of 7000 (count them, SEVEN THOUSAND) calories over the course of 7 days (or 1000 calories per day) without eating UNDER your RMR aka Resting Metabolic Rate (refer to #2).

Reason #4: Now, knowing that to lose 2 pounds you have to create a deficit of 1000 calories per day, imagine how unrealistic it is that Bob told one of the women on the show last night that she needs to eat 1200 calories per day and burn 6000 calories in one day. I wanted to jump through my television screen and slap him upside the head. Really, Bob? 6000 calories in ONE DAY. Let's just assume that, since the lady on the show is a larger woman, she really does burn 500 calories per hour because carrying around more weight does mean that you expend more calories. Doing the simple math would mean that she would need to work out for 12 hours (at 500 calories per hour) in order to create that kind of caloric deficit. Basically, for someone to lose 12 pounds, like they try to say happens on The Big*est Lo*er in one week, that means that the person has created a deficit of 42,000 calories in 1 week. Or even better 15 pounds equals 52,500. Possible? I think not! And if it does happen, I can assure you - it's not healthy!!!

Reason #5: What normal human being has (1) that kind of time or (2) that kind of will power. Working out for 12 hours per day over several days (or weeks as the show presents) is setting yourself up for over-training, injury, and at the obesity levels of the contestants, even death.

Reason #6: There is NOOOOO WAY that show is taped on the timetable that it tries to say it accomplishes the weight loss for these contestants. There would be too much liability involved to do that...so I guarantee that they have all contestants sign some sort of waiver that promises they won't disclose that kind of information because it would ruin the show's credibility and thus, their fan base.

Reason #7: The kinds of exercises that they have the obese contestants doing are absolutely ridiculous. Their own body weight is enough resistance...so if they just walked on a treadmill or road the exercise bike, they could accomplish the expentiture of calories. At the morbid obesity levels of the contestants, their joints, tendons, ligaments, stabilizer muscles, and secondary muscles are all at risk already by just walking around with so much extra weight on them!!! WHY? Oh WHY? then would they feel the need to have them doing exercises like lunges (SO much pressure on the knees) or (for the love) the Jacob's Ladder Climbing System. Exercise should be about quality movements that improve strength, stability, flexibility and quality of life. Instead, on the show, it's about product placement and because making these contestants sweat and suffer while we sit on the couch eating ice cream makes for entertaining television. Over time - and after significant weight loss - pieces of equipment like Jacob's Ladder absolutely have their place...it breaks up the monotony, fine tunes motor skills, etc...but it's not safe or necessary at weights of 200+ pounds, I promise!

I could go on and on, but I won't because no one is probably even reading now...still, I truly believe health and fitness should be about creating manageable, realistic, obtainable, measureable goals...and I don't find that to be the case - at all - with this show. It's setting normal, overweight American men and women up for failure because when they go into the gym expecting to lose weight and don't see results even remotely similiar to that show, they leave feeling like failures. And because they feel like failures, they don't work out and they eat. It perpetuates the problem. I would personally look anyone in the eye - even Bob & Jillian - and say the same thing...and probably more. So until I'm on that television set and able to see for myself that this weight loss is legitimate and that the timing isn't skewed...I'll keep saying it:

The Big*est Lo*ser is a scam.

What's a Little Lightening in the SEC?

DW and I went with the Kid & Krista to the Auburn vs. West Virginia game last night and it was an absolute blast! (Thanks, Lauren & Joe!) I can honestly say that I wasn't so sure about the whole sitting-in-the-pouring-rain thing while watching a game, but it was strangely fun and was the perfect way to spend a Saturday night!

DW & I:

Kid & Krista:

You know, if I'd let my brain do the talking yesterday, I would have reasoned myself out of going to the game. It would have been easy to say that driving 1.5 hours to a game that might be cancelled wouldn't be that smart or that sitting out in the pouring rain wouldn't be a fun way to spend an evening...but I would have been wrong.

There was something strangely energizing about sitting in a stadium as ominous dark clouds rolled toward 80,000+ fans, everyone's eyes locked on the impending sign of a downpour. All around me there was an undeniable love for Auburn football buzzing in the air, so thick you could cut it with a knife and everywhere you turned, it was a sea of plastic ponchos and rustling rain jackets and an excited buzz of voices and laughter as people wondered aloud what in their "right mind" they were doing here! At one point, I turned my plastic-covered head to glance over at DW and when I saw the twinkle in his eyes as he grinned at me, rain dripping from the ends of his dark hair and rolling off the bill of his visor, looking like something of a man-child in his excitement to be there, I suddenly realized that there isn't anywhere else I would have chosen to be at that moment. It was a little bit of magic on what could have simply been a completely normal night.

Just about the time we got all settled in and seconds before kickoff, the announcer came over the loud speaker and said that we had to "seek shelter" because of lightening in the area and that we would resume the game 30 minutes from the last sighting of lightening. I expected a lot of people to leave, but obviously I have a lot to learn about SEC football, don't I? As you can see (below) it didn't even phase these fans:

As we retreated for cover inside the stadium, a song began to play over the loud speaker and I got chills and had to laugh out loud as the entire stadium burst into Creedence Clearwater Revival's Have You Ever Seen The Rain? at the same time:

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

Coming down on a sunny day?

Once the game resumed, it was initially looking pretty ugly for Auburn, but they were able to deliver an incredible recovery and the team made every soaking wet moment was worth it! So really, besides the fact that I had a blast, there is really nothing else left to say but this:

War Eagle!

Out of the mouths of babes...

This has been a long week! DW was out of town in Boston all week for work so I really missed him and I had to deal with several car-related issues. I had to get his car fixed from my little incident with a mailbox and then last Saturday on our way home from Birmingham, our transmission light came on and by the time we made it safely into our driveway, we knew we were in trouble. The next morning, I woke up and took it across the street to a trusted mechanic and was told my transmission was shot and I had to have it either replaced or totally rebuilt. After a lot of research, a million calls to find local experts, and a lot of wheeling and dealing...our transmission is getting fixed to the tune of $2600. And I'm ill about it. DW and I have an emergency fund and I know that's what its there for...but can I just say how much I HATE spending money on things like fixing a car? Especially when we were planning on booking a vacation together and now we can't until we build back up our emergency fund. Poo poo. The good news is that I never take first offer on anything price-wise, especially on a car. The first offer I got was $3500- so just doing my research saved us $900 AND we got a 3 year warranty on all parts and labor. Yay!

Funny story...the people that own the cycle store next door to us have two little ones that hang out at the shop while their parents work. This year, the older child started preschool and so he's not around as much, but when he is, he likes to come into FitLab and hang out. Hi, Miss Amy! he says when he walks in yesterday. Hi, Tristan! I reply, but I pause when I see him looking at me, a curious expression on his face. Miss Amy? he says and then continues after thinking for a second: Your hair looks really crazy today! I had to laugh...my naturally curly-ish hair was like a gigantic frizzball from all of the humidity in the air and it was raining outside so there was really nothing I could do. But you have to admire the kid's honesty! ;-)

Anyway, all that blubbering to say that I'm really ready for a weekend and I'm SO glad it's Friday! I'm also pumped about going to Auburn tomorrow to watch the Tigers play!

Commitment

My 7:00 a.m. class on TU/TH is pretty much a riot! It's a group of men from the ministry team at the church we attend and they definitely keep me laughing!!! This morning, three of the class members were missing, so those in attendance had me take a picture of the faithful attenders. It was meant for use as evidence of the slackers not in attendance. On that note, here is what one of the guys created:

Sometimes I'm So Domestic I Surprise Myself...

Lately, I've gotten pretty sick of all of the local restaurants that DW and I frequent on a too regular basis. Which, depending on how you look at it, could be considered a good thing...because I'm now excited to cook/eat at home, which is a first. I've been rather domestic this week - if I do say so myself - and since most of my recipes were fairly painless to make and were pretty darn yummy, I thought I'd share. And did I mention they were fairly healthy as well (other than my obvious love for carbs)?

MONDAY NIGHT: BREAKFAST FOR DINNER
Organic Scrambled eggs: added a little splash of low fat milk & salt & pepper
Skillet potatoes: dice up 1 small potato per person & add diced onion for flavor on regular potato or cinnimon/sugar mix on sweet potato; add about 2 quarters worth of EVOO.
Jalapeno cheese grits: Cook grits according to package instructions, add 1 cup mozzerella cheese, a dab of butter, freshly chopped jalepeno, and salt and pepper
1/2 of a toasted 100% whole wheat bagel w/ honey: pretty sure you can handle this one on your own

Grocery list:
Organic (free range) eggs, 100% whole wheat bagels, 1 jalepeno pepper, 1 small (white or sweet) potato per person, 1 white onion, Quick Grits, Mozzerella cheese, EVOO

TUESDAY NIGHT: BBQ CUPS
To Make BBQ Cups, preheat oven to 400 degrees...

Ingredients:
1 can refrigerated biscuits or Bisquick biscuits (prepare per box instructions), 3/4 pound lean meat (ground beef, turkey, diced chicken) cooked, 1/2 cup BBQ, 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation: In a skillet, cook meat (ground beef, turkey or diced chicken) over medium heat, drain off fat. Remove from heat and stir in BBQ sauce. Grease 6 jumbo muffin pan cups and place a piece of biscuit dough in each cup, stretching dough up the sides. Divide meat & sauce mixture among the biscuit cups, sprinkle with cheese, and bake 10-12 minutes, until golden. Serve immediately.

Another option is to use pizza sauce instead of BBQ Sauce and mozzerella instead of cheddar to make "Pizza Cups".

Salad (ours included: organic baby spinach, organic strawberries, reduced fat feta, & Newman's own Light Balsalmic dressing b/c it has no High Fructose Corn Syrup in it).

The Ingredients (for Pizza Cups):

If you cook ahead of time, just cover in foil and put in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat, follow instructions below:


Grocery list:
Laura's lean ground beef or ground turkey (or diced chicken), canned biscuits, grated cheese, pizza or bbq sauce, baby spinach, strawberries, reduced fat feta, Newman's Own Light Balsalmic dressing.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: SPEGHETTI w/ MEAT SAUCE:
Speghetti w/meat sauce: Using the leftover meat from last night, mix in with organic speghetti sauce and add your family's favorite ingredients (mushrooms, diced peppers, onions). We use 100% whole wheat pasta but mix with spinach pasta. If you can't handle the grainy-ness of whole wheat pasta, either use regular or mix 1/2 and 1/2.
Grissini breadsticks: pre-packaged breadsticks
Green Beans: for green beans, I use about a dime to quarter of EVOO and then season with Lawry's Seasoning Salt.

Grocery list: organic speghetti sauce (& ingredients you like), whole wheat (or regular) pasta, Grissini breadsticks, Green beans (I like fresh the best even though it takes a little longer to prep and cook than canned), Lawry's seasoning salt.

THURSDAY NIGHT: GREEK PIZZA
Greek Pizza: Let the pizza dough set out until it's room temperature before trying to spread out. Cook diced chicken and set aside. Drain artichoke hearts. Once dough is room temperature, spread out on cookie sheet, and brush with olive oil and minced garlic. Add chicken, artichoke hearts, banana peppers and cover in mozzeralla cheese. Sprinkle with reduced fat feta and cook for 15-17 minutes or until edges start to look golden brown.
Salad: spinach salad with shredded carrots, broccoli florets, and italian or greek dressing

The Ingredients:

The pizza before going in the oven:

Grocery list: Diced Chicken, canned artichoke hearts, banana peppers, reduced fat feta cheese, 1 bag of mozzerella cheese, pre-packaged pizza dough or Boboli pizza crust, EVOO, and minced garlic (in a bottle). Also, pick up salad ingredients of choice.

Have a great weekend, ya'll!