FFF Diva Advice: We Only Have to Survive 3 More Days, Not a Month

This week we do not have Operation Boot Camp because it is the Turkey Day week. All I have to say is that I have been nervous ALL week because I don't want to gain holiday weight. On Monday I did boot camp HW (various substitute exercises), tackled the jump rope, and cardio on the bicycle. Tuesday I did more boot camp HW, cardio on the elliptical, and jogged on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Who knows what I will do tomorrow, AKA today. I just know that I want to be in my 230s lbs by November 30. This will happen...

Below is some advice from my trainer Ronny...I actually feel it is good sound advice:

Hey guys,

I just wanted to say thank you ALL for another great month at camp. Going into the holidays is a fun awesome thing, but can also be dangerous to our bodies if we don't act right!

Keep in mind - we only have to get through 3 more days- Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years- not 21 days! If we only cheat on those three days, we will still be able to make some progress during our time off, but if we allow EVERY opportunity for work parties, get togethers, social gatherings, to be revolving around crap food- we may be in trouble.

Your Assignment: I know we are out of camp, but I DID want to send leave you guys with a little thing to keep in mind - we only have 3 days to get through. Follow the plan through the other days of this week, and do not allow yourself 6 Thanksgiving Dinners/Lunchs/Breakfast - only ONE. If you happen to be doing 2 Turkey days at separate houses, then eating accordingly with proper portions. Don't fall into the stats and start the uphill scale tip of 12 pounds the week you have off from camp! EAT YOUR VEGGIES!! :)

Thanks again guys... I hope you use some of the tools we've learned in camp to push us through the week!

Ronny Varghese
Director of Operations
Operation Boot Camp - San Jose
1-888-7-FIT NOW (734-8669)
Ronny.Varghese@operationbootcamp.com
OperationBootCamp.com


So to combat the pounds I have decided to run the 10K (6.2 miles) portion of the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot race on Thanksgiving morning. Registration is still being accepted even the day of:
http://svturkeytrot.com/

Anyways time for bed...I have the gym early in the morning!

FFF Diva Miss Mo

FFF Diva Quote of the Day: Words from my Operation Boot Camp Instructor Ronny Varghese

Something for YOU to think about the next 8 weeks during this holiday season...

"Nothing will taste as good as the way being FIT feels"
--Ronny Varghese, Operation Boot Camp Owner/Instructor

Tell your friends. Think about it before you grab that extra serving!

Some words to think about....

Best of luck from your FFF Diva, Miss Mo : )

FFF Diva Advice: Holiday Survival Guide

Did you know that the average holiday weight gain for a person is 5-10lbs? Unbelievable right? Well to combat the battle of the holiday bulge I decided to sign up and commit to a 3 week mini holiday boot camp. Interested? Check out: www.operationbootcamp.com.

I attend the OBC in San Jose, CA but there are many other locations on the East Coast. If you hail from the ATL or Chicago it's definitely worth the look! I always feel supported by my fellow campers especially during this crucial holiday season which could make you or break you (health goals wise that is).

Below is an email one of my instructors sent to us campers. Enjoy the useful advice...

Hello Campers,

Many of us overeat during the holidays. An occasional overindulgence will not sabotage your efforts, but the abundance of food usually continues from Thanksgiving to New Year's - and adds up to an extra 5 to 10 pounds of weight gain.

Is this a familiar situation?

"You overstuff yourself with thousands of calories at Thanksgiving. You feel that you've blown it, so the next day it doesn't matter if you overstuff again with leftovers. Then you rationalize that its only four weeks to Christmas with many parties and festivities, it becomes your New Year's resolution to lose weight."

This situation is not inevitable. You can maintain control of your weight and still enjoy the holday season to its fullest.

Here are some Strategies:

1. revise your typical holiday meal to lower the fat content

2. choose those foods that are special for the time of year (i.e. have the stuffing but pass on the bread)

3. do not starve yourself that day, eat breakfast and a small snack

4. exercise that morning to start the day off right or plan a walk after the meal

5. continue to exercise as usual throughout the holidays

6. do not wear elastic waisted clothing -- they expand with you

7. set realistic goals, which may simply be to maintain your weight during the holidays

8. think of the phrase "overstuff your turkey, not yourself" as you are eating your holiday meal.

Enjoy your family and friends focus on them not on the food, and have a wonderful and healthy holiday season.

Remember: ONLY YOU can prevent weight gain during this holiday season. Plan ahead before you attend your next holiday party---your body will thank you later on!

Your FFF Diva,
Mo

FFF Diva Song of the Moment: "Defying Gravity" from the Broadway Musical Wicked

The TV show GLEE's rendition of "Defying Gravity" by Leeloo Doyle

"Defying Gravity" by the London Wicked Cast w/ Indina Menzel

"Defying Gravity" by Indina Menzel and Kristin Chenowyth (Original Broadway Cast)

Lyrics of "Defying Gravity" from Broadway's Musical Wicked

GLINDA 
(spoken) Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for 
once, instead of flying off the handle! 
(sung) I hope you're happy! 
I hope you're happy now 
I hope you're happy how you 
Hurt your cause forever 
I hope you think you're clever! 

ELPHABA 
I hope you're happy 
I hope you're happy, too 
I hope you're proud how you 
Would grovel in submission 
To feed your own ambition 

BOTH 
So though I can't imagine how 
I hope you're happy right now 

GLINDA 
(spoken) Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry: 
(sung) You can still be with the Wizard 
What you've worked and waited for 
You can have all you ever wanted: 

ELPHABA 
(spoken) I know: 
(sung) But I don't want it - 
No - I can't want it 
Anymore: 

Something has changed within me 
Something is not the same 
I'm through with playing by the rules 
Of someone else's game 
Too late for second-guessing 
Too late to go back to sleep 
It's time to trust my instincts 
Close my eyes: and leap! 

It's time to try 
Defying gravity 
I think I'll try 
Defying gravity 
And you can't pull me down! 

GLINDA 
Can't I make you understand? 
You're having delusions of grandeur: 

ELPHABA 
I'm through accepting limits 
''cause someone says they're so 
Some things I cannot change 
But till I try, I'll never know! 
Too long I've been afraid of 
Losing love I guess I've lost 
Well, if that's love 
It comes at much too high a cost! 
I'd sooner buy 
Defying gravity 
Kiss me goodbye 
I'm defying gravity 
And you can't pull me down: 
(spoken) Glinda - come with me. Think of what we could 
do: together. 

(sung) Unlimited 
Together we're unlimited 
Together we'll be the greatest team 
There's ever been 
Glinda - 
Dreams, the way we planned 'em 

GLINDA 
If we work in tandem: 

BOTH 
There's no fight we cannot win 
Just you and I 
Defying gravity 
With you and I 
Defying gravity 

ELPHABA 
They'll never bring us down! 
(spoken) Well? Are you coming? 

GLINDA 
I hope you're happy 
Now that you're choosing this 

ELPHABA 
(spoken) You too 
(sung) I hope it brings you bliss 

BOTH 
I really hope you get it 
And you don't live to regret it 
I hope you're happy in the end 
I hope you're happy, my friend: 

ELPHABA So if you care to find me 
Look to the western sky! 
As someone told me lately: 
"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!" 
And if I'm flying solo 
At least I'm flying free 
To those who'd ground me 
Take a message back from me 
Tell them how I am 
Defying gravity 
I'm flying high 
Defying gravity 
And soon I'll match them in renown 
And nobody in all of Oz 
No Wizard that there is or was 
Is ever gonna bring me down! 

GLINDA 
I hope you're happy! 

CITIZENS OF OZ 
Look at her, she's wicked! 
Get her! 

ELPHABA 
:Bring me down! 

CITIZENS OF OZ 
No one mourns the wicked 
So we've got to bring her 

ELPHABA 
Ahhh! 

CITIZENS OF OZ 
Down!

One thing that has always helped me through my weight loss journey has been listening to music. Lyrics of songs specifically move me, not necessarily just the beats of the song. The lyrics to Defying Gravity has motivated me through all my running races, especially my 1/2 marathon. It is definitely a song I personally relate to when being challenged by my weight loss. It's beautiful and it's on my iTunes list and iPhone player! HIGHLIGHT: I lost 3lbs this week! I am officially in my 240s lbs! By the end of this month I should be in my 230s lbs! I have to stay focused!

FFF Diva Dance Song of the Moment: "Evacuate the Dance Floor" by Cascada

Evacuate the dance floor...I'm infected by the sound...

FFF Diva Song of the Day: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson performing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"



Beyonce performing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

Recently, a friend of mine have me a pep talk. I wasn't feeling like myself and I felt that I was in a slump. She told me that I needed to just change my perspective on life. Did I want to do it the Beyonce way or the Jennifer Hudson way? I looked at her with a confused look and instead of explaining it to me she said she would just let me listen and judge for myself.

Above are YOUtube clips of the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" being performed by Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce. When Beyonce sings her version it is beautiful, soft, & flowery. However, when Jennifer Hudson sings her version it is real, passionate, gritty, & full of love, pain, sorrow, etc. In the end I decided that I want to live my life the Jennifer Hudson way: real and full of passion.

Who knew it would take a song comparison of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to show me that...

So do you want to be a Beyonce or a Jennifer Hudson?