Stacy Horany

Berry time - Stacy Horany

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:15:58 -0600

This weekend marked the beginning of an exciting fresh fruit and vegetable season with the first pick of strawberries out at the orchards in Charlie-Thornberry. I am happy to report that the strawberries I got at Young's Orchard on Saturday were both DELICIOUS and nutritious. I think I ate about two gallons all by myself as soon as I got them out of my car and washed-OK, I lie, I ate a few even before I washed them!!! Dirt don't hurt! And the kids I saw out at the orchard who had been picking their own strawberries seem to agree-the evidence was clear enough from their faces, stained red from strawberry juice!
In the coming weeks and months, our local farmers will have strawberries, blackberries, and the ever-popular peaches along with delicious fresh vegetables. Trust me, once you try fruit and veg straight from the farm, you'll have NO problem getting your recommended five servings per day. You'll eat five servings in one sitting if you're not careful! Of course, I would NEVER recommend eating five servings at once....
My favorite are the peaches and the fresh tomatoes that will be ready later on in the season. They both are around for my birthday and one of my fondest childhood memories included having peach cobbler every year from Charlie-Thornberry peaches for my birthday dinner dessert at my grandmother Alice's house. Who needs birthday cake when you get PEACH COBBLER?? Even though Grandma has passed on, I still have her peach cobbler recipe today, and it's a nice trip down memory lane to go out and get those peaches every year and then make the recipe.
The fresh tomatoes are delicious in salads, on the grill or even baked in the oven with some breadcrumbs and a sprinkling of cheese!
So if you get a chance, visit the farmer's market or drive out the Charlie-Thornberry. It might take a few extra minutes but your efforts will be rewarded!

Happy Trails - Stacy Horany

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:37:49 -0600

A 25-mile bike trail in Wichita Falls? I'm ALL in!

The next fun thing, Pt. 2 - Stacy Horany

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:57:34 -0600

So first I talked about the various new exercise options I'm trying, to keep things interesting and fun as I continue on the journey to better health.
Now it's time for the second, and equally fun part of the equation-FOOD!
I am a regular subscriber of the Washington Post's Lean Plate Club, a weekly e-mail update with health topics, recipes and discussion boards. One time the subject was bento boxes, a Japanese tradition that I would LOVE to try.
Apparently, bento boxes are divided into five compartments. Each compartment is supposed to hold a small portion of a different color and differently prepared food. The colors are green, red, yellow, white and black/purple. The preparations are bitter, sour, sweet, hot, salty and delicate. By eating a full range of colors and preparations, your eyes are treated to a visual feast before you even begin to eat. It's fun, and it's like a game. I don't have a box(see below), but I do try to pay attention to the five colors when I cook at home. And eating those different colors means you are getting several different nutrients all in the same meal. I don't know what it is, but I always end up feeling more satisfied when I go the five-color culinary way.
I don't know if any retailers here in Wichita Falls carry bento boxes, so I started an online search to try to procure one to bring to work for lunch every day. I found several traditional bento boxes but a new take on the bento box caught my eye.
It's called Laptop Lunches, a Web site aimed at providing healthier, more appetizing lunches for kids and grown-ups. Their bento boxes are actually made of colorful plastic, and they have a couple of options for buying them, including lunch sets and bulk purchasing.
They also list several lunch ideas, including fun stuff like cucumber chains and delish-looking berry granola mixes.
The boxes I found online are a little pricey, but enterprising folks could probably come up with their own bento box from scratch. I just think the idea is fun, interesting and could be a solution to the PB and J lunchtime blues.

The next fun thing, Pt. 1 - Stacy Horany

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:39:54 -0600

So much of our efforts to control weight or to get healthy revolve around steady, consistent action over a long period of time.
For me, that long period of time is hopefully going to be the rest of my life. But I've found in the last two months or so that if I want to stay in the weight loss game, I'm going to have to make it fun, exciting and yes, challenging. If I don't, I get bored. And then, you probably know what happens. I quit. It's no fun to do the same thing day in and day out, for months.
But I've taken steps to ward off this stuck-in-a-rut feeling.
First off, I've added new and different exercises to my daily routine-it used to be all about walking for me. Now I ride a stationary bike and have even stepped into the exciting (BUT HARD!) world of the elliptical trainer, along with staying on the treadmill for 20 minutes or so.
I have also started to discover different areas of the city that before were a little too far for me to walk. For example, on Saturday evening I took Chopper on a GREAT excursion over at Lake Wichita Park. We began at the dam, our customary start point, but we went way farther, all the way over to the little bridge near the little league park by Fairway Blvd. It was near dusk, and with the setting sun as a golden backdrop, the geese were landing for a rest on the lake right over our heads. As a game was going on over at the ballpark, we were cheered on by the excited fans watching their little ones play.
I'm also delving into the world of exercise videos, via my Netflix account. Why buy them when you can rent them? I started with a beginning belly dance video, next I've got some more advanced 'urban beats' dance videos on the way. It's fun, it's in the comfort of my own home, and what better way to burn calories than to listen to some great music and dance the hour away?!
In part 2 of the next fun thing, I'll fill you in on my plans for lunch, from across the globe!

BOO says you - Stacy Horany

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:40:39 -0600

I love Halloween. The costumes, the scary movies, the cold nights and especially, yes, you guessed it, THE CANDY!
Unfortunately, fair readers, you know I am no longer able to partake in the candy so much, as I am trying to keep up with my weight loss and fitness goals. Which, I'm happy to report, is going pretty well despite my crazy Air Force Air Show week last week. That's another story though.
So this year, instead of focusing all my energy into how many Reese's Peanut Butter cups I can eat in one sitting, I've decided to throw my all into one endeavor, and one endeavor alone: My dog's costume.
Yes, I like to dress up my dog for answering the door for trick-or-treaters. Some may think it's cruel, or stupid. But I just can't resist seeing an animal dressed up for Halloween. It cracks me up. And Chopper was just so cute when he had his sparkly devil costume on last year. The kids loved him. But I have a problem. The glitter on the devil suit got in his eyes and I want to do something more user-friendly this year.
Unfortunately, Chopper doesn't share my enthusiasm for costumes. In fact, I'm pretty sure he doesn't like clothes in general, seeing as how every single coat I bought him for last winter has disappeared. I'm positive he drug them off to his special place under my bed and chewed them to unrecognizable pieces. Yes, he is that smart.
So I'm thinking this year I need to either A) coat whatever costume I want him to wear in peanut butter and watch him wear it and try to eat it or B) find a light-weight, comfortable cape-like garment that he won't mind wearing.
I've wondered if a vampire get-up would suit my dog, or maybe a gladiator's chest plate. I visited one pet supply store and didn't find a single thing that fit the bill. So I am currently fielding ideas to see what I can scrape together before Wednesday. It might look silly, or crazy, but at least I'm gonna have some fun with it and hopefully Chopper will too. Unless he eats the costume before the big night, which is a distinct possibility.
I want to focus on something besides the candy involved with Halloween to make sure I have a great time without overindulging. And this is a strategy you can use yourself, whether for Samhain or Christmas, or the worst gastronomic offender of them all-Thanksgiving. Make crafts, clean and decorate your house- doing anything you can do that doesn't involve food is another step towards breaking the bad habit of overindulging JUST BECAUSE it's a holiday.
And no matter if Chopper is a ghostly ghoul or a mischievous wizard, I'll hopefully stick to my goals in a positive and fun way, instead of feeling cheated out of a good time.

Horany's Store - Stacy Horany

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:02:09 -0600

Horany.
It's a funny last name. My sister and I always joked we were going to marry someone named "Smith" or "Jones" just to get rid of it-and we pitied my brother for not being able to shake the crazy name. Despite our juvenile dread of having people make fun of us and our eagerness to get married just to put the pain behind us, we did always feel a little special, and a little exotic. We also felt like we were part of a history of North Texas that many people may not know about-the long story of Lebanese immigrants in this area.
Horanys come from Lebanon, a land a world away, in the Middle East. My great-granddad, Shukri "Sam K." Hourani, a devout Christian, saw the writing on the wall, so to speak, and moved his family to the United States around the turn of the 20th century. They came through Ellis Island on July 4, amid celebrations of Independence Day in New York. The old story goes that because of those fireworks, they were worried they were coming to another land filled with war. But they realized it was just a way to celebrate and all were happy yet again.
Like many immigrants, my family endured and prospered with hard work, perseverance, and faith in God. I always wonder what Sam would think if someone told him one of his many great-granddaughters would grow up in freedom, graduate from college and become a reporter! I think he would be proud, and I hope he would know he made the right decision to come here!
But I digress, as many do when speaking of personal history. My great-uncle Ray opened Horany's Department Store in Olney in the 1920's, and his brothers-in-law, Freddie and Johnny Horany, bought the business from him and kept that store open for many years.
After their first store burned in Schidler, Oklahoma, Sam and his wife Nebeha opened a department store in Archer City in the late 1920's. Sam died in a tragic traffic accident in the late 1940's, but Nebeha kept the store open until she died in 1963. My great-uncle Mitchell opened a store in Megargel as well. They supplied the area with everything a resident of a small town in North Texas could want or need.
Fast forward almost 60 years, to the 1980s.
When I was a little girl, my granddad, Melvin, the youngest of Sam's eight children, would take me to the department store in Olney. They had a Radio Shack inside, and I thought that was the coolest thing since sliced bread. They had dresses, they had shoes, and they had cassette tape players all in the same place, and the best part-it had the same name as I did! I felt welcomed there, like I had come home, even though I grew up in Wichita Falls. I think others customers, even if they didn't have the same name as the store, felt that way too. And I'll tell you why.
In my job as a regional reporter in Young County, every time I would say my last name, someone inevitably would tell me "I bought my wedding dress at Horany's Department Store" or "Are you related to those Horanys down in Olney?" It fills me with pride to know that my family has been able to touch so many people's lives in a positive way. The store is closed after a long run in the 1990's, closed, but certainly not forgotten.
Now Horany's Department Store in Olney will serve again, this time as a dentist's office.That funny name is on the outside of the building, and even if folks nowadays might not know why, they are still being served by Horanys.

Worst Cop-Outs Ever - Stacy Horany

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:17:12 -0600

I find the hardest part of anything in life, including sticking to an exercise routine, is simply getting started.
Sometimes we all shoot ourselves in the foot by making excuses for not working out each day. A co-worker requested I come up with some of the baddest of the bad when it comes to being lazy. I can think of a few excuses I've used, and if you think of any, post them as a comment on this blog.
Here are my top five weak (but oh so effective) excuses for not working out, followed by a way to get around each of those cop-outs.
1. I'm too tired to get up early enough to get my exercise in.
2. My spouse/dog/friend/coworker/relative doesn't want me to exercise without him, and he can't go.
3. It's raining/snowing/icy/windy/cold/hot/humid so I can't exercise outside!
4. I don't have time with work and family responsibilities to exercise
5. I'm too old/fat to exercise.
OK, those were pretty bad. But if you use the old noodle, you'll find each of them don't really hold water. If you're too tired to get up in the morning and exercise, do it at lunch or right when you get off work. Or better yet, start going to bed thirty minutes earlier. You'll be amazed at your energy level increase. If you workout buddy can't go with you, have a back-up solo activity, like inline skating, walking, or an exercise video, ready to go. If the weather is too bad, go indoors to a gym or again, do an exercise video. If you don't feel like you have at least 30 minutes a day to devote to exercise, think of it this way-no one else will care for you like you will. MAKE the time to work out, even if you have to bring the rugrats along. If you think you don't have time now, remember this-your kids/work will be better off with you alive and healthy than dead or ill. If you think you are too old or too fat to start an exercise regimen, go see your doctor first. If he advises you not to, by all means, follow his advice. But most people can at least walk down the driveway or around the house. Just do that at first, and work your way up from there. Remember, every mile starts with a first step.

Fall into exercise - Stacy Horany

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:33:42 -0600

With fall around the corner, many of us look forward to cooler temperatures, shorter days and longer sleeves. But just because it's getting cooler doesn't mean you can "cool off" your work out regimen.
If you exercise outside a lot, our milder fall and winter temperatures won't derail your running, walking or biking plans too much. Even if the weather does turn unusually nasty, there is a great solution-go to the gym!
I just did an hour on the treadmill at my gym of choice, the YMCA, for my lunch break. There are many gyms in town, and if you don't have a membership at one already, try a few out and see if you like them. Your employer may even have a deal set up with a gym to give you a discounted membership.
If you are new to working out like I was only a short time ago, have someone at the facility give you a tour and show you the gym's amenities. Get a schedule of classes offered and go to a few. Go at different times of the day or evening to see when the busy times are, when it's slow and when you feel most comfortable.
While you are looking at the gym, talk to other current members. Don't be afraid to ask questions, most folks are happy to share their experience with you. And ask around to find out where your friends and your family go to work out, so you can find a workout buddy and get going! A co-worker took me to the gym with her at first, which made it much easier for me to feel comfortable!
After you decide which gym is the right fit for you, pick three times a week when you know you'll be free for an hour and go work out! The majority of folks with gym memberships simply never use them-don't let your investment (i.e. the membership fees) go to waste! Soon you'll find yourself actually looking forward to going to the gym, to meet new people, talk to old friends and work up a good (and fun!) sweat.
I now seriously regret the time when I was too embarrassed to go to the gym before. I felt so out-of-place and insecure-I thought it would be like it was when I was a kid and always got picked LAST for sports teams, with others laughing at me! Don't let a little embarrassment get in the way of your health!
Even if you aren't in the greatest shape right now physically, doing a little bit of exercise and gradually working your way up will make a big difference, and it won't take near as long as you think!

Work-gain - Stacy Horany

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:52:44 -0600

I haven't really had a chance to make it to the market this week for groceries, so I stopped in at the local gas station this morning to grab a meal-in-a-can for breakfast.
At the counter, the lady who helped me check out looked at my can and said something I bet a lot of us can relate to-she told me that since she's been working there, she's gained some weight and she thought she might start drinking her breakfast as well.
I know I gained a bunch of weight when I went from walking around at school every day to sitting at a desk at work every day. She said she had access to candy and sodas and doesn't move around a whole lot.
For many, stationary jobs are part of life. In fact, I bet you could find some sort of correlation between the proliferation of computers and the rise in obesity and related illnesses. We're also pretty much guaranteed to find food whenever and wherever we are-no failed hunting parties keeping us from a decent meal! So these two factors have combined into a "perfect storm" of weight gain in America.
The solution to this problem is simple-for as much as we sit still every day at work, we've got to be that much more active before or after work, or even during our lunch break. You don't have to slave away at the gym for an hour every night. You can do yard work, house cleaning, ride your bike with your kids, the possibilities are pretty much endless.
And there are ways you can increase movement during your work day-get up and walk over to your coworker instead of e-mailing or calling her. Take two 10-minute walks around your building during the day. Take frequent stretch breaks in front of your screen so you can still be there to get work done but you also get the benefit of stretching, a very underrated activity. I've even seen some folks in New York go so far as to set up a treadmill at their desks. More power to you if you can get that going!
Another work-related weight issue that caught my attention happened yesterday here at the paper. A fellow editorial employee, Andy Newberry, won the company-wide employee of the month honor. Traditionally, whoever wins the award brings back a tray of "goodies" to the rest of his or her department. Usually those goodies are donuts, pastries, and other devilishly good but terribly unhealthy breakfast items. But not yesterday. The trays contained bananas, yogurt and a few donuts. So I say Bravo! to both Andy and whoever decided to give us healthy breakfast alternatives.

Good times, good news - Stacy Horany

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:37:47 -0600

Well, I'm finally back in the swing of things after a week up in the Rockies, and boy was it nice to get out of the heat for a few days!
I started out our drive with an easy trek up to Trinidad, Colorado. The first day, Thursday, was more about keeping up with my dietary goals than getting much exercise, but we did still manage to do a 15-minute walk around Trinidad when we got there-the elevation change from Wichita Falls was noticeable, but not overwhelming.
Day 2, Friday, had us stopping over for a picnic lunch at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. What a neat place! We began walking up the dunes around 11:45 a.m., and it was HOT out there with the sun reflecting off of the sand. Walking in sand is also hard, really hard. I got in about an hour-long intense walk and then had a nice low-calorie lunch at their picnic area-it's really shady, and full of great views of the dunes. After our sand-walking, we got back in the car and made it up to Crested Butte, Colo. in a few more hours. We went to a delicious restaurant called The Last Steep in CB and it was wonderful! I went for a black bean casserole and boy was it delicious! The portion was so huge, I could only eat half of it.
Day 3, Saturday, had us at Blue Mesa Reservoir zooming around on our friend's "Bond-villain-esque" speed boat. We got lots of sun but the drive zapped our energy levels and we were too cold to swim. But I kept the calorie intake very low to make up for no exercise.
Day 4, Sunday, was our time to explore the town of Crested Butte and the surrounding areas. We walked around downtown for about an hour and then drove over to a really great hiking trail called the Lower Loop, pretty close to town. The views of the mountains were SPECTACULAR and the hike was very invigorating. I even ran for a part of it, despite being at about 10,000 feet above sea level!
On Day 5, Monday, we explored Crested Butte's stores in downtown again and then drove down to Gunnison to walk around the shopping district. Because it was Labor Day, most of the shops were closed but window shopping was fun just the same. Afterwards we made our way to Garlic Mikes, an INSANELY good Italian food restuarant just north of Gunnison. I probably ate a little too much but that's OK, it was worth it.
We drove all the way back to Wichita Falls on Tuesday, and got in a 20 minute walk with Chopper late in the evening.
I knew I was going to have fun, but I ended up having a BLAST! I was worried about my weight during the holiday, but I managed to make some good eating choices and to get active and I ended up having fun and LOSING WEIGHT while I was there!

Labor of Love - Stacy Horany

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:55:00 -0600

The Out-of-Office reply is set on my work e-mail account. My voice mail message reminds you that I'll be back on Sept. 5. The dog is at the kennel, the bags are packed and I'm ready to JET out of here for a while.
Before I go, though, I wanted to at least say that this Labor Day holiday won't be a holiday from my weight-loss efforts. I've heard the horror stories about gaining 15 pounds in ten days, and I don't want any part of that!
I plan to hike a few easy-to-moderate trails in the mountains and climb a 700-foot sand dune in Great Sand Dunes National Park. We're going to a lake, and if it isn't too cold, I hope to swim! There will be plenty of healthy and nutritious meals for us out of our trusty cooler at roadside parks, so we save money and calories during our morning and noon meals.
Successful weight loss efforts are all about fitting small, positive changes into YOUR life. Unless you remain flexible and open to all options, it will be hard to find that goal weight at the end of the rainbow!
It's still hot outside, so activity outdoors isn't so much fun quite yet, but there is PLENTY you can do inside to stay active over the long weekend. Clean your house, play with the kids/pets, go to a gym....the possibilities for activities are ENDLESS!
Make your exercise fun and watch the "labor" part of it melt away, along with the pounds! And please, watch the Telethon or attend events this weekend around the city in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Many families are affected by muscular dystrophy and a cure could only be a few years away. Enjoy your active lifestyle and while you do, think of those who are less fortunate than yourself-what a great motivation to keep moving!

School Daze - Stacy Horany

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:26:10 -0600

For many, school is back in session, and the more I hear from folks who are starting classes this week, the more envious I am of their shiny new school supplies, their fresh books and their new back-to-school outfits!
Just because you're back in class for a majority of the day doesn't mean you should quit your summer activity habits. You might have to alter when you exercise, or what activities you do, but you can keep up the momentum and continue with fitness goals after class, or even before you go in the morning!
Why not try out some playground equipment, like monkey bars, as a fun way to get back in the swing of school and for some calorie burning? Sounds like fun, huh? Then run to the slide a few times and you won't even know you're working out! I love slides, as long as I don't get stuck on them! What a great way to relieve some stress!
One serious thing I'll suggest to kids who probably don't want to hear this-please eat breakfast! You WILL do better in school, you won't be near as hungry at night and you'll thank me later for the advice. I know, I know, my dad told me to eat breakfast all the time and he got a lot of eye-rolling in return for quite a few years but now, I have to say, he was right all along. Which I'm sure he LOVES to hear!
If you're skeptical, just do a simple experiment for me. Tomorrow, don't eat breakfast. Jump up and run off to class. At 10 a.m., jot down how hungry you feel on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being not hungry at all and 5 being famished. The next day, eat breakfast and then write down how hungry you feel at 10 a.m. You'll see what I mean. I used to say I didn't feel hungry in the morning, but once I got in the habit of eating breakfast, I started waking up hungry! And by breakfast, I don't mean a full spread with pancakes, bacon, eggs and grits. I'm talking about a piece of fruit (bananas and oranges are the original fast food), a toasted cinnamon-raisin English muffin spread with two tablespoons of low-fat peanut butter, and a glass of fat-free milk or a small container of low-fat yogurt. It takes about 10 minutes to prepare and eat, and it saves you from eating a LOAD of calories at night.
Good luck, and be sure to improve your body as well as your mind this school year!

Love the one you're with - Stacy Horany

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:57:05 -0600

As I am leaving soon for a few days in the Rockies, I was at a clothing store over the weekend looking for some long-sleeved shirts and jackets to keep warm at the near-10,000 foot elevation where I'll be staying. I am happy to report I'm now in smaller shirt and pants sizes!
So, like any warm-blooded woman cheered on by success, I was happily making my way through the store picking out exciting and cute things to try on. I rounded a corner and overheard something that made me stop and really think about how outlook affects your weight loss efforts.
Two women were browsing and I heard one say "I'm so mad at myself for gaining weight, but the crazy thing is, I am just so hungry all the time that I can't stop eating."
I wanted to run over and talk to them, happy as I am with my own success so far, but I didn't want to look like a nut jumping out at them from behind a rack of clothes. So I kept my mouth shut and kept walking. But if I had been more cheeky, I would have told them a few things.
First, getting mad at yourself, beating yourself up or any other type of negative self-speech is not only sad, but also quite detrimental to success. You wouldn't tell a friend you're mad at her for gaining weight, I thought to say, so why tell yourself those kinds of things?
Second, by saying she's so hungry she can't stop eating, the woman is basically making such a huge problem that it is obviously out of her control.
Take the big problem and figure out a way to break it down into more manageable pieces that you can solve. First, journal your food intake for a week. Write down when, where, what and how much you eat. Then look at it and see if you are depriving yourself at one time during the day (for many of us, it's the first meal of the day) and overindulging at another time. Maybe you need to eat six small meals each day. Maybe you just need to start eating breakfast. Whatever it is, journaling is an easy, small step you can take to start fighting the battle against overeating, because it makes you aware of your actions, and puts you in the driver's seat instead of being a passenger on the food superhighway.
The bottom line is, negative thoughts and failing to act combine to become hopelessness for many of us, quite often stopping us from achieving the results we seek. You've got to love yourself and want to change your actions for the better, and you've got to know you can. So, faithful readers, this week, give yourself a mental "hug" by telling yourself you are worth it, you are good enough. Try to quiet the negative voice in your head. Once you do, you'll find eating less and moving more only natural, because you are well worth the effort!

Best of the Best - Stacy Horany

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:25:54 -0600

I wanted to start by commenting on the recent article in Texas Monthly about the Coyotes football program-I'm a second-generation 'Yote (Class of 1999) and I was so proud to see my alma mater featured as THE BEST high school football team of ALL TIME in the state. To all the current and future Coyotes out there-You've got some big shoes to fill, but I know you can make us all proud. Remember, WFHS has always been a place where you can excel both on the field and in the classroom. Enjoy your time, work hard, play hard and have fun. Hold your head high, even though some might label you as "inner city" or "underprivileged". We know in our hearts that we are number 1, and now we've got a state-wide title to back us up!
Secondly, on my way in to the Downtown Y this afternoon for my daily walk/jog on the treadmill, I was greeted by several HHH bike riders-to all of you who might be checking in today, welcome and good luck! It was fun to watch all of the folks hustling and bustling in the lobby at the Y with their bikes while I did my three miles-it made for some great people watching time!
Which brings me to my Question for the Masses-When you exercise, do you listen to music, watch T.V., read or do other activities? I find that if I'm alone, my iPod does a great job of keeping me motivated and on the go. When I'm with my exercise buddy, I like to chat to gauge how hard I'm working out. Leave me a comment and let me know how you get into the groove when you're on the move!
This weekend, cheer on some bike riders, volunteer at a rest stop or host some riders at your home. The HHH is a great event for Wichita Falls, but it's only as great as the folks who make it happen. I've been all over the world and people everywhere know Hotter'N Hell! I'll be at the Mile Marker 88 Rest Stop, be sure and come visit if you get a chance!

The first 20 - Stacy Horany

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:41:35 -0600

Well, I've decided to dedicate this blog to healthy adventures, and I've got a milestone to celebrate already!
I hit the 20 pounds lost mark last week, and I feel great! The post-workout aches and pains are pretty much a thing of the past now that I have gotten into a regular routine. This just goes to show that if you keep working at something, you will see results.
A favorite piece of advice I've gotten along the way so far has been from my dietitian, Ann, who said "As long as you make more good decisions than bad decisions, you will succeed in the long run."
Ann knows me better than I know myself. She pointed out that I am a perfectionist, and as such, I expect my weight loss efforts to go flawlessly, without pitfalls. In the past, when I did hit a roadblock, I would say "Oh, well, I gained two pounds back, I might as well quit because I obviously can't do this right!"
But now I realize that if I do gain two pounds, so what. I'll just keep trying, make some good decisions like exercising daily, and hope for the best.
In other news, pictures were released recently of Vladmir Putin, president of Russia, on vacation-and he's TOPLESS! Surprisingly enough, the man is actually in good shape for a leader of one of the world's most powerful countries. I guess he isn't hitting the caviar and cigars-he is known as a fitness fan. In the story I got from the International Herald Tribune, Putin is quoted as saying "Sport has helped me form my own personal point of view on the world, on people, and on my approach to them." He apparently enjoys judo and downhill skiing.
I'm not endorsing the guy for his politics. But you have to admit, any world leader willing to go bare-chested in his vacation photos is confident with his own physique.
Speaking of vacation, I'm anxiously awaiting my trip to Colorado next week. I hope to get in some good hikes in the Rockies and relax at some hot springs, as a reward for my hard work over the last three months.
Feel free to leave me comments about your weight loss milestones, I'd like to blog about anyone finding success in her own fitness journey.
And I've even got a long-term goal in mind for next year-ride in the HHH!