You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.
You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus,
You're as charming as an eel...

It's December, and here he comes! He's got his eye on YOU, and he wants to take your Joy from you.
You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch.
You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile.

Who is this Grinch? Is it your sweet co-worker who brings in the homemade pumpkin bread and cream cheese frosting? Is it your not-so-sweet sister-in-law who compliments your remarkable weightloss, worries out loud that you are developing an "eating disorder" and then watches every bite you eat?
Given the choice between the two of you
I'd take the seasick crocodile.

Is it the food itself? The smells of the season? The sweet chocolate? The frosting? Those deepfried eggrolls, complete with dipping sauce?
You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch.
With a nauseaus super-naus.
You're a crooked jerky jockey
And you drive a crooked horse.

I don't think so. I believe the Grinch lives within us! He is the one who tells us "The HOLIDAYS are here!! You can't make it! You're going to crack!" He says it so often that you've come to fear him. You approach this season in fear. Can you hold out? By sheer grit and determination, will you make it through?

Consider what happened in the story. The Grinch was enraged by the Joy he saw each year in Whoville -- the singing, the friendship, the warmth. He saw the trappings of the season (gifts, trees, turkeys) and figured that was the reason for the Joy. So he stole the trappings and figured that would be the end of the Joy.
You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch.
You're a nasty, wasty skunk.
Your heart is full of unwashed socks
Your soul is full of gunk.
Mr. Grinch.
The three words that best describe you,
are, and I quote: "Stink. Stank. Stunk."

Well, the Grinch was so wrong! Sure, all the Who's were distressed at the loss, but they rallied. They joined hands! They sang, they danced together! And the Grinch was so impressed that he came around. He found the Joy! They converted him!! Who'd of thunk it???

Those of us who have had WLS are unable to approach this seasonal feeding frenzy the way the rest of the world does. We just aren't physically equipped to handle it anymore! Yet we still fear, and often we give into the Grazing Grinch within. Then comes guilt, weight gain, despair and the cycle or remorse/repentance/try harder next time. Is that what this season is about?

Is it?

I don't know what your core beliefs are, but this is the time to find them. This is the time to grab them and hold fast. The food and excess is not the reason we gather.

It's also the time to be good to your body. We need rest. Good nutrition. And one of the VERY BEST things we can do for ourselves is to build up our physical body.

Regular, intense heart-pumping cardiovascular exercise. Strength work to build up muscles and protect the bones and joints. Flexibility work to keep everything limber. Ever seen an out-of-shape person get out of bed in the morning? They kind of limp around for awhile? It's not a great way to approach a new day filled with new challenges.

Let's join our hands together, Neighbors! The Grinch is out there (or IN there), but he'll only take our Joy from us if we let him do it. Let's show him -- let's Sing! Let's Dance!

Let's convert the sucker and maybe he'll have some Joy this year too!

What are you going to do in December, 2007 that will convert the Grinch in your life? Come on in and talk about it.

Judy

Oh Judy! I'm just tickled PINK that you started up the thread for December. I was worried that you'd be busy with the holidays and knew that BARBARA in NZ would need a place to post...our Fitness Diva of the Southern Hemisphere!

Well, this post goes above and beyond what I had hoped to see! You are so great with your Fitness Threads and this is just another terrific example of how skilled and PASSIONATE you are about writing AND exercise. I guarantee that no other WLS site has a Diva that is able to rock all of us like you do!

No Grinch for me this year, thank you very much. What's the reason for the season? You are right...it is not about excess food, drink or spending. It's a time of spirituality, no matter what your beliefs are. Finding the spirit of the season within yourself is the greatest gift of all!

I did my Sunday Swim today! I purchased some goggles and ear plugs, as well as a nose clip. What a difference all of that made! Actually, the nose clip popped off. I don't think that my nose is designed to don a clip. That's okay! I did 30 laps and felt super great!

I'm not going to let the Grinch or the cold weather put a damper on my December exercise. I'm going to end this month tighter and more fit than I've been in a long time! It's my gift to myself.

Anyone else here do Curves? I've been going for a while & really love the supportive atmosphere. It's enough of a workout so I feel like I've done something, but not so much that it's a drag I'll get sick of it & quit. I am not a person who just LOVES to exercise - never have been - but I know it's necessary for good health & weight maintenance. Just wondered if there are any other Curves ladies out there on LAWLS.

I'm with ya Judy! No Grinch in this Christmas house!
I actually dusted off my treadmill today and took
a 15 min spin. It felt wonderful. It was pouring rain
outside and I was walkin'! So glad to have you all to
check in with.

My problem is, I love the grinch. I think that the grinch is a very interesting, complex antagonist! But I still will exercise, ok?

As always, Judy, thank you for keeping the motivation coming!

Hope everyone in the hood is getting their exercise in every day! Take care of your body this holiday season, and you won't be crying about your bathing suit this spring!!!

I so much needed to get a big push I have been lazy and getting lazier.....I need to remember this weight will not go away on its own I have to work it and just everyday moving is not enough so here I go I now reclaim my fittness I will do this I can do this yes I can.... I'm my own cheerleader ok so now thats it off the behind and get going do some inside exercise that will at the least be a start....hugs to you all

Thanks Judy I loved it.

This will be my first WLS Christmas and I am worry. It has been 10 months from my surgery. Things have been easy for me, but so many things happen this month and it could be easy to get off track. I have found it harder to get to the gym every day ( I had been going 6 days a week) for the past 3 weeks I am going 3 - 2 days a week. I go in the morning and it is hard to get out of bed at 4:30 in the morning. the COLD COLD COLD mornings do not make it fun to go out at that time. But I am not going to give in I will go atleast 4- 3 times a week this month.

Yes, the food is all over the office and people (not sister inlaw) are telling me you are to skinny you cannot afford to lose anymore wieght.

Thanks Judy all I have to do is read your post and enjoy life everyday.

Judy got this right, the Grinch! I am not gonna let him this win this year! I am back on track and can feel a difference in my clothes already even if the scale isn't showing anything yet. I am in this for the long haul!

No Grinch in my exercise plans. Put in 90 miles over the weekend even in the high winds on Saturday. This weekend might be tough as it looks like we might have three days of rain. Well see what happens and go from there.

Oh man...tonight I took a group exercise class at my gym called 20/20/20. It is 20 minutes each of upper body, lower body and yoga. The upper and lower body workouts included cardio. I AM IN PAIN...MY MUSCLES ARE SCREAMING! We used a step and dumbells as well as bands. The stomach workout was intense without much movement at all. I'm afraid to go to sleep tonight...for fear of waking up to a sore body!

I will most certainly do this class again! Judy, you would have been right up front leading everyone!

I sometimes feel that Grinch creeping up. I read posts all the time and see people with more weight loss then me in a shorter time and I feel discouraged...but I have kept my chin up and if I don't make it to the gym, I pop in a yoga DVD and get my stretching in. I am loosing slower, but its coming off and I feel great. I am down 52 lbs in 4 months and my committment to this new me is taking over. No more worrying about the scale and more focus on eating healthy and excersizing more. I will go to the gym tonight and do at least 4 days of the gym every week and 2 days of yoga from now on.

That Grinch is not coming to my house this year.
Antoinette

Fantastically inspiring Ms.Petite!!! I want to know how many of you were singing The Grinch song as you read Judy's post? I was!

No inner Grinch will foil my holiday happiness this year! I'm focused on my exercise (again) and recording food, water and vitamin intake. And with a small change in my work schedule I'll be able to avoid the vats of roasted salted nuts and bins of chocolates that cross my desk each year. This can only be a good thing. My workout schedule is 30-mins cardio daily and strength training 3x a week. I am trying to remember to stretch as often as a cat! And I'm still wearing my "Activity Meter" which is similar to a pedometer and measures activity including walking, climbing stairs, housekeeping etc. and keeps a calories burned tally for each day. It's been a good tool and a real eye-opener to how much I do or do not move on a given day.

For the new Neighbors, it was last holiday season that launched me upward on the scale 20 pounds - and that took a long time and a lot of 5DPT to get rid of. I don't want to travel that slippery slope out of Whoville again this year!!

Thanks again, Judy, for the great enthusiasm and inspiration!!! And thanks everyone for joining hands in unity this very challenging time of year!

artsygal4u: I think there are several members who belong to Curves. Pretty sure the Chayra and AmyR both belong. We can start a new thread and find out who else! I know it's a great program & good for you for doing it - even if you don't **LOVE** it!!!

Okay...did the Grinch already get the rest of the Neighbors??? This thread needs to pick up some speed! Let's get some posts here people! Make your December pledge right here, right now!

Stink. Stank. Stunk. That is how you will be feeling if you don't get your body moving!

OK all... I've printed out a December calendar and taped it to the mantle next to the tread mill.
Beginning today, I'm going to mark EVERY day. A smiley on days I use it and an X on days
I do not, thereby having to LOOK at it every day!
Hope this gets my rear in gear!
Good luck to each of us!

WOW!!! I am already planning in my head what I need to do. I am only 12 weeks out of surgery so this is my first Christmas after my RNY. I am nervous but I know I can't eat as much so it will be ok. I can do this. Just have to make sure I don't say.. oh one cookie I will be fine and then end up for 2 days dumping... I just have to keep that in mind. I already know how to say no to my co-workers.. they don't know I had the surgery but I surely don't eat every things that comes in.. and I work for the Girl Scouts... cookie season is upon me... ahhh... but I can do it... Thanks for the motivation. This site is awesome...

So I am goign to start walking to my Leslie Sansone walking videos in the morning since its so cold with snow out this way. I am going to also do my weight lifting.. (mini weights) at night with my dd... I have yet to start any excersize. I had planned to join a gym but finances got a hold of that and it didn't happen. So I need to take matters into my own hands and just do something small each day... get my work out going and lose even more weight then I am now. I have a 3 1/2 year old. I should be able to run around with her... I can do it I can do it!!!!

Thanks again!!! Here I go!!!

I do Curves and I LOVE it!!!!! In fact, I started going there a few years prior to my sugery. I've been a member for about 4 years now.

It's on my way home from work and I can get in there, get a great workout, get out, and be home before Weiner Man makes it home from work. The people there have become like family members to me. We all know each other "stories". It's all women, and they are everyday women, not like at some gyms, where all the women are these hard bodied, young, tiny little things! We are WOMEN of all sizes, races, and ages. In fact, my 88 year old mother exercizes along side of me sometimes. I go 3 times a week and on the days I don't go I either walk or ride my bike.

We are all supportive of each other in every endeavor, whether it's weight loss or family problems or whatever. I not only lose weight there, but, I lose a lot of weight off my shoulders while VENTING!!!!

Y'all are doing great!

Mickee and Me_in_Jeans, now is the time to establish some great habits! Even if you don't feel like it, do something anyway. Before long, your body will crave it. You may have to fight that Grinch often, but you can win! Hey, even Fitness Divas hear the Grinch whispering occasionally! I just dig in and work harder. Soon the joy returns and I look around to find the Grinch is gone.

You all may have heard of the mall shooting here in Omaha yesterday. That's MY mall, close to my house and my office. I'm there all the time and everyone I know shops there. We're always hearing of these horrific events, but it certainly puts a different slant on things when you turn on CNN and see your own neighborhood plastered all over it.

So -- I want to reiterate the original point of this post. NOBODY, not a Grinch, not a buffet table full of goodies and not even a gun-wielding fameseeker, will steal my Christmas joy from me! I'm holding fast and going on.

What's important to you? Grab it. Don't get caught in the little stuff, okay?

Oh, and get out there and get sweating! There is nothing that a heart-thumping workout won't help -- at least the endorphins make you feel good.

Keep dancing and pumping!

Judy

Oh dear I think I'd better hand my title back to Judy I have hardly done any exercise in the last week. But! In my defence (hehe) I did exercise 12 days in a row, sometimes twice a day, prior to that and was advised in the November Fitness thread to remember to take a break. So thats what I did and I lost 5 pounds in the following week! hehe Now I know that isn't going to continue and I HAVE to get back in to the exercise habit again. Feeling very guilty now so back on the bike, in to the pool and jogging the streets again starting tomorrow! I have a triathlon to train for afterall!

Not ready to hand back my title just yet

At least I don't have to battle with working off holiday food because I am really not interested in it at all. I haven't been tempted with too much yet but I'd rather enjoy the good stuff (oops did have 1 chocolate last night Oh well, better go for a walk after work tonight then).

Good luck everyone and get those sexy bodies mooooooooving!

Barbara

I get a SMILEY for today!!!!!

Okay Barbara...get moving sister girl!

I tried out a Turbo Kickboxing class tonight. I discovered that I'm really good at punching and kicking! Hey, don't mess around with me, as I'm one tough cookie! Shh...don't tell Stu. He thinks I'm a sissy girl.

I actually started to sweat. I don't sweat. Tonight, it was pouring off the back of my neck and face. Thirty minutes into the hour long class, I couldn't seem to turn off the persperation! A shower for me before I crawl between the sheets tonight!

Kick, punch, kick, kick, jab...yes!

Hi Judy thanks for the post.Hi everyone.I am new here.My surgery is jan 14th 2008 at ssf Kaiser,getting excited.I love this post.I need it.I have cfs,but I try to get my exercise in unless I am housebound because of it.

I go to curves and also walk or ride my treadmill.I think I will chart out my week and keep track next week.I use to do that,I want to start back up.And of course my inner child loves the stickers I put on there. he he.

Take good care of yourself everyone
Thanks for listening
Kime

Hi ,
Thanks for pointing me in the direction of this thread. I needed to think of the Grinch in a new way. Have a 'good' friend just like that... waiting for me to turn into a coon hound...and trying to fatten me up at the same time. I had not thought of doing curves. There is one on the way home for me as well. It seems to me that my whole life has been sedentary..so MOVING is not coming easily. Walking is where I started..but I need more. The cottage cheese has started to creep in... as the solid 'fudge' begins to leave.
I like the idea of the visible calender to show workout days as well as non ones. I will try that too!

Deb in COLD MN

I go to Curves also...have been for over four years. I agree with Beth. I really do love it there. I have met many good friends. I don't lose much weight anymore, unless I really try, (sometimes I talk harder than I exercise) but I do believe without it, I would gain...it definitely helps me maintain. I always go at least three times per week. The worse part is getting there...convincing myself to go. I joined by myself because I realized that if I had to depend on friends going with me all the time, I would probably miss going too much. It is very comfortable even going by yourself (at least my Curves is). Now I do have two people that I go with, occasionally, and if I don't really want to go, I call them, and I usually wind up going anyway...and afterwards, I am happy that I did...just that little push that I needed.

I just wanted to extend a very warm welcome to JoAnn, Deb and Seebreez to the fitness thread! I have undoubtedly fallen down on the job of welcoming those who are courageous enough to come here for the first time and post their efforts and viewpoints on fitness. If I have not welcomed you personally, please forgive me!

All Neighbors are welcome to post, whether they are INTO fitness or not! Even if they are still trying to find motivation! That's why we are here.

I think Curves is great, and I really would encourage anybody who is trying to make a fitness plan for themselves to investigate Curves. My 81 year-old mom has made great progress there! I think anybody of any fitness level can benefit from Curves.

There are many paths to fitness, and the best one is the one YOU will do consistantly. The main thing is to keep challenging yourself to do more and better, and not to allow your fitness routine to become ROUTINE to the point that you are no longer progressing. I like to remember that I am not only working my body, but engaging my MIND by concentrating on the movements, the areas I'm working and looking for ways to do it better.

We are deep into Holiday Feeding Mode right now, as you are all aware! Exercise is a great weapon. Hold it high and continue to fight off that Grinch! You have the power -- reach down and find it!

Judy

Thanks, Judy!
I've been just walking because I have a lot of hip & knee pain & was told Curves wouldn't be good for me. But...I think it's time to quit using my stationary bike for a coat rack and start using it. I am feeling pretty good, though, that I can walk 1/2 the block downtown, to & from my car four times daily and still breathe. I couldn't park so far away, and couldn't breathe if I did, before my surgery. Walking at WalMart works well for me too. And WalMart is the center of the universe in Wilmington, Ohio!
I'm not too worried about the holiday foods. I'm not even tasting anything with sugar, because I don't want to know if I won't dump with sugar. If I don't know I won't take a chance. I'm taking something to my family Christmas this weekend that I know I can eat so I won't have to worry about maybe eating something I shouldn't.
And, emarie, you don't have to be your own cheerleader. We'll all cheer you on! Rah! Rah! Go, emarie!!!

Great job, Jeannie! Just be sure to get the doc's okay for the stationary bike. Should work well with knee/hip issues, but get the official word.

You'll do great this holiday with the food. Good planning!

Walking is a great way to start down the road to fitness. Keep up the great work! By the way, I love your signature line.

Judy

Bump!

How is everyone doing? I'm sitting here with arms that are trembling. I over worked them...how is that possilbe? Uh...because I have SLACKED in the exercise department this month. Even when I'm doing it, my heart is not in it. Just going through the motions, which I know, is better than not going through any motions at all. Tonight, I tried reeeeeaaaaallly hard to be "into it". As a result, my arms are spasming. I did the treadmill with my heartrate in the fatburn zone for a half hour and then a half hour of crunches, squats and weight lifting. Whaaaaaahhhh!

Another 10 days of December to get your groove on!