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The day has arrived to sign up for the Michelle Bridges 12WBT program and I am still 'sitting on the fence,' undecided.
The fact that my debit card is lost does stop me making any decision today anyhow, lol, it looks like I have to short circiut the bed rest instructions I am under and turn the place upside down and try to find it.

The need for an age related on line motivational and information program was written about in Third Age Life Blog.
I have an exercise bike, weights, treadmill, wii fit plus biggest loser workout and weight loss yoga programs. Currently racked with arthritis pain, very high bp, walking is about all I can or am medically allowed to do right now, in fact my current medico orders are for bed rest so I have a long come back ahead of me.I am not as fit as I was when I began the Michelle Bridges 12WBT, last year.  I had a huge set back mid last year and it has been bumpy (aged body not lack of motivation),  ever since. 

It would be a huge leap of faith to re join the 12WBT and I would have to modify the beginners plan to exclude all super sessions and go with steady progression so I still hope a seniors program will be written one day that has a gradual weight increment increase program. 

I have to set up a program for myself if I cannot find one planned by a trainer.

Red more here :- Michelle Bridges 12WBT Seniors Version Wanted.


I would LOVE any feedback on this. Comments are WELCOME.
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Happy Day!.

I went to our local Coles store and bought a trolley load of healthy food for the fridge freezer and pantry and a reduced price end of season heater for my art studio room and a bunch of flowers for me  (Cancer Councils’ fund raising Daffodil Day)and I did not have to flinch at the cost.  My supermarket trolley was so heavy I almost needed roadside assistance to push it to the car.



This was all paid for, as had been my last full trolley load by my $500. Coles Gift Voucher WIN from the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation :-).  What can I say, except a HUGE THANKYOU to Mich and her wonderful team at 12WBT and to wish them all the best and to HIGHLY RECOMEND the Michelle Bridges 12WBT program.  Just DO IT! :-) 

I have enough value left on that card for one more shopping trip. J.

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Congratulations to the wonderful Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation friends who did boot camp, yesterday and stood up at the end, smiling. xxx
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I took a quick scan through the forums, as I relaxed to prepare to go to sleep and saw an interesting post concerning how much the social networking in the internet was adversely, affecting a person’s life.  This is only one thing that can eat into our self care time and yet if it is kept within a balance, social networking even on the internet, can include positive mentoring sites, and may be, very valuable, self care. 

I try to find the balance where I can say my time spent on social media, benefits me.

I know the time when I lost the bulk of my weight, happened in conjunction with being very active in a weight release forum. I also know my blogging keeps me focused and moving forward to all the goals that matter to me and that my networking on facebook puts me in touch with positive mentoring and supporting people, I value these contacts even if I need to restrict the amount of time I can spend doing these things.

My balance system is not perfect, or equal, sometimes it weighs more heavily to the physical to the neglect of my creative needs and sometimes as in the last two weeks it leans heavily toward the creative me, nurturing the emotions. Balance is never perfect, it is in constant motion and requires constant work and I need to be aware and remember I am striving to focus on having a balanced lifestyle. 

The balance point, how we combine our physical and emotional needs, will be very different for each of us. Best of luck in finding your own balance.

It is very easy when we give up an addiction, such as the one I once had of overeating that we might replace it with another, such as excessive time on facebook, in forums or in creative work, and it’s something I need to remember; that I want to replace habits that do not support the new me with good habits, not another addiction. 

This past fortnight has been a good one for me in seeing my being able to add more of my creative fulfilment interests back into my life and develop my plan for the creative work ahead,  I am using an efficient document management system to make sure this new creative activity stays as a balanced part of my life and does not ‘take over’ and cause me to neglect my physical needs of planning and eating balanced meals and taking sufficient time to exercise.

I am very aware now of the importance of keeping a balance of the physical and the emotional, in my life.  As an artist writer I will always be tempted to allow the emotional creative self to dominate, that is why I wear a simple leather Pandora bracelet with one Pandora bead, the yin yang (balance), bead on my wrist these days, below my heart rate monitor watch, as a constant reminder of this, ‘Balanced Lifestyle’, commitment I have made to myself.

I do NOT diet. I strive for a ‘Balanced Lifestyle’.

 
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I'm having a few issues that interfere with Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation training.

I have not said a lot about it, but two months ago I discovered a painful lump over a muscle on my flank.  I weighted up then if I would do the 12WBT or try to have surgery to remove it immediately as it was painful and swollen.  It turned out that I would need to commute 200 kilometers to see a surgeon, one wasn’t even available here in north Queensland until September and I have no one to mind Reg while I have surgery. Even if it is minor surgery, I need someone to look after him so I decided to put it to the back of my mind, as I was told by the local GP ere and I also believe, it will be a benign fatty lipoma.  I have had one removed from my groin, years ago. 'Bull' to any doctor who says that these are not painful, it does depend where they are, mine seems to wrap around a nerve and cause a lot of hot swelling and inflammation that is aggravated by exercise.  This week I am afraid that aside from some walks, I have been in bed rest, just managing the inflammation trying to keep it to a minimum without going on to antinflamitory, medication.

So that’s the bad news, my excuse as to why I am not exercising very much at the moment.

I am striving to be positive, to pat myself on the back for what I do achieve, and accept what I cannot and fix what can be fixed when I get closer to family, so they can keep an eye on Reg while I get this sorted out. 
I am aiming to be back in Victoria, on September 1st and trying to get in to see a surgeon ASAP to get this removed and get back to normal.

So I am making the very best I can, of my current, need to rest my back muscles, (so as not to stir up a hornet’s nest in there), situation and I have thrown myself into preparation to write a novel.  Takes my mind off the muscles in my back being painful at the slightest movement now.  I believe in making life as positive as possible. J. I am also telling myself that a tortoise will achieve goal too, by staying on course.

I am searching for books to read in this resting time. I love Agatha Christie. Her sleuths’, the person who solves the crime, were always a little quirky, Miss Marples or Hercule Poirot, maybe my sleuth could have a quirk for always wearing pink ties.
Lol J. I am actually looking into developing a few extra sensory, perception, abilities in my hero, as the ‘eccentric factor’, in their character. I am using this rest time as positively as I can.

I am even suggesting to Reg, that we return to Victoria, while it is still winter down there, and get this issue fixed up, sooner, I hate having to be inactive to this extent and I would hate interrupting Reg's holiday. Yes I have a lot to think about. 
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I LOVE, fitness training through, NOT dieting, just eating healthy with portion control plus strength training, swimming, bush walks and keeping up with incidental activity exercise of walking regularly, through the day. :-).

This is not only keeping me healthy but given me an OMG! result, I was not expecting, when I did my 4 week measurment check. In 4 weeks, I have lost 8cm off widest part, hips and 5cm off each thigh and an average of 500 gram a week (in leaps forward, steps back and side slides, not steady), I am on target to weight management through increased fitness and great health and off to bush walk to a waterfall today. J.

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Tip: Stay Positive.

"Know that everyone has days where they go off the rails.

The difference between being successful and not being successful is that the successful just disregard a bad day or week and get back on track because not all is lost!

So why not adopt this attitude.”
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I was pretty proud of myself last week, I stuck to my fitness program consistently even after a fall on Friday left me jarred and bruised, I was at my body pump class on the Saturday.

I had the reward of fitting into this new pink, size 12 dress on Saturday afternoon to go out to dinner with Reg.  A dinner I succeeded in portion controllingJ. Oh happy daysJ. to feel so good, nearing my mid sixties.
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The hat party, roast pork for the caravan park crowd, meal :-). There will always be pork, I’m learning to enjoy it without feeling I have to pig out on it like I will never see it again.
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A Fidge Magnet from an artwork of a Kingfisher, I painted.
Training in a topical paradise. Today is day 3, of Michelle Bridges 12wbt, Round 2.

I am working out, at a higher intensity, than I was doing, at any stage, of round one. I am joking that as this blog won an award in round one, my body is going to win an award for round two.

I have a goal to return home to Victoria in Springtime and be able to open my closet of size 12 clothing and be wearing them all, not  just some of them.
If I do the actions, I have planned; it is a 'cinch'. My prize money for the 'best blog’ will be used for some great workout gym clothes and go towards, participating in round 3.  I won a 'Coles' voucher I believe, but I can reallocate what I save from my groceries to personal fitness spending money.

Wednesday is the weigh in day for the program.  I have decided I will weigh in due to program participation but I will not focus on the bathroom scales in my blog, or in my mind.

This is what I contributed to the ‘Week one weigh in, how did you do this week?’ post in the 12wbt forum.

“1.1 kilo that is just the loss, of a small recent gain.  I take NO notice of small variations of a couple of kilo on the scales as far as I’m concerned the small variations are only reflecting fluid changes, especially where your medications and body clock are being changed around as already mentioned.  I am trying to focus on what one month and then three months of consistent effort will achieve :-), that will over ride weekly fluid variations.  Congratulations to ALL, for the effort, never mind the weekly result. xxx

If you are new and disappointed with a small weight loss compared to others, you cannot compare to others, you have no idea how much sodium might have been in another’s diet, or what other variables there were. “

My Action Plan and To Do List Today is:-

Tropical rain overnight, and it rained all day yesterday so Reg has not been going fishing so I decided to slip easily back into carer mode, and spend the morning with him rather than attend the mid week body pump class.  A wise decision (my husband has frontal lobe degeneration), I need to be aware when I can leave him and when I cannot. This is not an excuse not to exercise, I will just watch for the opportunities to exercise where I am and use them.  

I have my own set of adjustable, weights, here in the caravan and the caravan sure needs a sort and tidy exercise session. Plus I have new running shorts and country roads to run on and a swimming pool I can and will use.  I will make absolutely sure I get out there and burn, the 750 calories target, for the day, that I have set myself in order to achieve my 12 week goal target.   

We also have two TV sets in this caravan, both on plasma mounts, one that we can watch from outside the caravan and one from in bed, so I can also use my Michelle Bridges DVD, I have with me for a workout.  You can order these DVD’s through the side bar links in this blog. 
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All ready this morning at Gym, waiting for the start of Body Step class and glad I had been practicing stepping up, using the caravan steps for months.
Day one went GREAT. Enthused with the news that I won the Best Blog, award, :-), I reset my own goals a lot higher and worked out what I had to do to achieve them and I am right on target to do this.

 Today I also spent in advance a little of the cash prize I have heard I have won.  I bought myself some Nike running shorts and sports crop top and I am about to head out the door and exercise in them, in the rain :-).

I received so many congratulations messages from my friends. Thank you :-). I will treasure that you were all so pleased it was me and this blog, that won.

Because I have had so much support from the 12wbt program and my friends I am going to brave the in 2 piece 'Before' photos for you here, and show you the after pictures in 12 weeks time and of course let you know of my fitness improvements as well.

Below, well that is what I look like under the clothes. almost 64, never exercised until I was in my sixties, I don't look all that overweight in my clothes in the side bar  at right but her you can see that at only 158 cm tall I still need to do quite a bit of work with this body to be at the fittest I can make it.  I do not know what I will achieve in 12 weeks but I will be striving for measurable improvement that, can be seen. 

I will not be giving weight as weight does not measure body composition and I think everyone who reads my blog knows I want healthy weight loss and loss of excessive fat, not loss of any muscle or bone density, in  fact I am positively working on gaining both of these and making time to achieve a balance lifestyle.



I am fitting in normal life, too. It's not just about exercise. I helped a friend set up her new blog tonight and suggesting she be an affiliate for Amazon books as an income source. I need to keep my life balanced.
The greatest secret, I could give anyone on how to be fit and release excess weight is that it is not just all about diet and exercise it is about feeling good about yourself and being satisfied with your life. 
Not overeating does not start with will power it starts by removing as many of the reasons why you were overeating, (all those frustrations, loneliness, lack of personal fulfillment), replace these with positive emotions and contact with positive people, then you are in a position to apply will power to the manageable amount of stress that remains in your life. 

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This is me. lol, ------------- Well actually it's me in a trick slimming mirror. -------------- That's the real, work in progress me, below wearing my new, part advance on my prize money, treat of new Nike sports shorts and crop top.



 
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 “Discipline, dedication & determination...

I was a woman on a mission.

I had my goals
& was definitely determined to reach them”

Sue Vernan (Round one 12wbt winner) Quote.
 

Congratulations Sue Vernan

 

The Michelle Bridges 12 week Body Transformation program is not about how to lose weight fast, it is about achieving a healthier, fitter body, which does result in excess fat loss.  I feel so encouraged that this blog has won the Best Blog award, along with a $500. value prize that I am going to strive even harder this coming 12 weeks to build on the fitness I achieved in the previous 12 weeks. J. I love my participation in 12WBT. J


 
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    Follow me in Facebook @ Kathy Shell

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    _Happy New year :-)
    I am going to combine several seemingly contradicting eating and exercise programs and put together my own Artslim Naturally slimming and Gray-Nomad fitness program.  I plan to bring these out as a low cost EBook and small paperback. They will suit anyone interested in managing weight with son=me difficult health conditions such as metabolic syndrome and past injuries.

     I'll be showing you some of the books I am reading that have some excellent qualities, although they will not be exactly what I am putting together to suit me and my style of doing things.
    I will be focusing on eating and exercising for wellness, weight loss if obese, weight management and balanced fulfilling lifestyle..

    Art and Art Print Gifts, available to purchase from The Art of
    Kathy Shell

       142 mm x 110mm
    large fridge magnets.
    View below.
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    "Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can." Spring garden with pansies. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell
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    "Everyday is a renewal of life." Mare and Foal. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Be weird whenever you have the chance. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Friends Forever. Gollies and bears family. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    "Fall in love with someone." Old English Sheepdogs. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
    Picture
    "If friends were flowers I'd pick you." Just Joey Rose. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Live, Love, Laugh.Learn. Hannah with Flower. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Indulge in the things you truly love. Blythewood Grange. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    "The winds of heaven are that which blows between a horses ears." Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Love your friends, no matter who they are. Bear grouping. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    "I always knew you'd make a splash." Jenny and Max. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    If friends were flowers, I'd pick you. Magnolia. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
    Picture
    Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. Three heavy horses at the gate. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    "Don't approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back or a fool from any side. Three heavy horses, side on. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
    Picture
    "Get to know your neighbour!" Rusty and Rosco the Clydesdales. "Don't approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back or a fool from any side. Three heavy horses, side on. Large Fridge magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    "Believe in yourself." Churchill Island farmyard. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    "Share with Friends. " Reg walking the dog. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    "Friends are welcome anytime, relatives by appointment only." Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
    Picture
    "Best Mates" Two Possums climbing together. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Grampians Farmyard. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Kangaroo Ground, Victoria. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Horses at the Dam. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Wattle Ridge. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Bushfire Haze, Enfield Forrest Blaze. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Campfire, Robe River, Pilbara, Western Australia. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Golden Holstein Rose on Blue. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Heavy Horse, Mare and Foal. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    28 Parrot, in McDonnell Ranges, Central Australian. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Old bush dunny.and shed. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Welsh Pony Mare and Foal. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Pilbara, Western Australia. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Brumbies of the Snowy River, Gold. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Clydesdale Foal. Vertical. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Carlton and United Clydesdale team and dray at Buninyong. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Oil painting Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Emu Twist. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Robe River. Pilbara, Western Australia. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Mt Sonda, the Sleeping Lubra, McDonnell ranges, Central Australia. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Kookaburra, Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Murray River, Right. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Homeward bound. Clydesdales and dray in Australian landscape, Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
    Picture
    Formosa Gardens )Beautiful Gardens) Ballarat,Victoria, Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
    Picture
    Cream Frangipani on Blue. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Heavy Horses at gate and in stable. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
    Picture
    Sturt Desert Pea. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Tennant Creek, Northern Territory. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
    Picture
    Composite of Heavy Horse art images. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.
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    Buninyong Bush early evening. Large Fridge Magnet featuring the Art of Kathy Shell.

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