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I set up a Facebook Fan page today– please see the box on the left sidebar if you are interested! What a fantastic weekend. I knew Fitness and healthy living bloggers were cool, but who knew I would meet so many amazing people in just 2 short days!?! The weather was AMAZING– Baltimore was sunny and in the high 60′s low 70′ the whole weekend. The hotel location was amazing– 5 steps from the harbor and pretty nice, considering I usually go on the cheap for hotel stays. I know I have said this 100 thousand times already, but Roni and the other volunteers really outdid themselves. They made this conference the best it could be and they deserve all the kudos they get. Plus 100 more. Even though I was still really stuffed up from my rotten head cold and had a horribly plugged left ear from the flight, I got up at 6am on Saturday to do the 1K walk/run (sponsored by New Balance) with my roommate Mary. There were about 70 runners and walkers– some of them did the 5K, some did the 1K. I walked with Workoutmommy and FatFighterTV. While I am glad I got up and did it, I was really congested and didn’t walk very fast. Saturday’s breakfast was yummy with Quaker sponsoring the oatmeal– I had oatmeal with dried cranberries and brown sugar, 1/2 a banana and 1/2 a Pom Drink. YUMMO! The first session started after some brief announcements from Roni and a perusal of the sponsor tables where I was able to pick up a bathroom scale, awesome food scale (I think by Eat Right — They are in a box on the way home from fitbloggin now– I will change this and link to them when I get them) and signed up for a new cool product at the New Balance booth (more on that as soon as I get them!) I can’t wait to try everything I am grateful for receiving and excited to review them here so you can both hear about the product, and in some cases, sign up to win the product! My first panel of the day was the SEO Myths panel– and I really needed it! Scott Stawarz was a fabulous speaker and gave alot of good tips about what to and NOT to do when optimizing your blog. I think the best piece of advise he gave was:
How to get people to link to your blog:
It is really hard to remember some of those things when you are just starting to spread the word about your blog. Staying true to YOU is the easiest way to keep readers. As the session wrapped up, I spotted a tweet from my roomie Mary: Going to the Hospital- Anybody wanna come? That totally freaked me out and I immediately DM’ed (Direct Message her for all those non-tweeters out there) her back to ask her what was wrong and why she was going. Earlier as we were getting ready after the 1K she had mentioned that she was a bit crampy, but she seemed to feel a little better after a bit (and some Motrin, I think). Well, she got worse. By the time she tweeted that she was in the conference main hall, and I got to her, she was green and not doing very good. I asked Mary if she wanted/needed someone to go with her– and she was OK with me going along. There was no way I was going to let her go to the hospital alone in all that pain. She is a grown-up, of course, but I am a firm believer that people need not only a friendly face but and advocate when they are that sick. Someone who can help make choices when you are too sick to make them yourself. Anyway, A kind and very cool local blogger, Kate, offered to drive Mary to the ER. She drove to what I thought she was calling “Baby” John Hopkins (remember my ear is still plugged up at this time ;-0) but is was really “BAYVIEW” John Hopkins Hospital. It was farther than the “closest” hospital, but I am so glad she took Mary to a JH affiliate. Seriously, they were awesome. mary was in A TON of pain and was pale and clamy and not able to keep anything down by the time we got to the ER. Gerri, Roni’s mom, is a nurse, and she had guessed Mary might be trying to pass a kidney stone. For those of you who don’t know, the pain is compared frequently to giving birth to a baby. A BIG one. After about 15 minutes (but seemed like 60 min) of waiting in the general waiting room (which was pretty empty), a nurse came out to get Mary and take he back for the initial assessment. Kate and I stayed in the waiting room with a colorful cast of (what seemed to be regular) characters waiting to be helped. I didn’t want to whip out my DSLR in the waiting room so, sorry, no pictures. At one point, the nurse said we could go back and see Mary in the temporary holding room, and she was not doing so hot. I think everything- the pain, the cost, being sick- caught up to her. She was teary, but was holding it together better than I ever would have. They had just placed the IV and Kate joked that Mary would have an AWESOME blog post from this– and that is when I pulled out the DSLR and took a photo of the IV so Mary could have it for all posterity. She has a post up now with her “side” of the saga, but I didn’t send her my pictures until a few minutes ago. Since she looked upset (not at me taking a picture- I asked before I did- but just sick and teary) I asked her if she wanted to be alone for a bit. She took me up on my offer to leave the room. I know sometimes when you are sick a hug and company help, and sometimes you just wanna be alone. I really wanted to make sure I was respecting her wishes. Kate and I hung out in the lobby for about 20-30 min longer gabbing and swapping info before the nurse took us to Mary’s new “room” in the ER. When we got there, she was getting the IV pain meds– Hallelujah! After about 10 minutes I could tell they kicked in. She wasn’t so squirmy and she could sit much easier. The PA called for a ultrasound and a CAT scan. Kate and I stayed for the ultrasound and talked the poor doctor’s ear off about what he was doing and why, It was a great nephrology lesson! Kate and I had not eaten lunch and my cell died just after Kepa called it from NZ to talk to Mary (her cell had bad reception in the room). Kate also needed to get back and let the gal who rode up with her that she was at the hospital. About 2:10, we drove back to the conference and wolfed down some food and I charged up my cell. I wasn’t feeling the best– my headcold was really bothering me– but we were able to give Roni and the other volunteers that had helped Mary an update on her condition. About an hour later, my cell rang and it was the hospital letting us know that Mary was being discharged, so we drove back and picked her up. She looked about 80 percent better and had a diagnosis of Kidney stones. That’s right — not 1 but 3! One one was being passed, but she might have to worry about the other two in the future. We arrived back at the conference about 10 minuted before the closing remarks were done. I was bummed I missed most of the sessions, but glad I was able to help a friend in need. I went to dinner with Yum Yucky, WorkoutMommy, FatFighterTV and (for the life of me I cannot remember her Twitter Name right now). It was a nice mellow fun dinner– just what I needed after a long day. I went back to the room to pack up before dark, and by 9PM was ready to sleep, but was pursuaded by others to come down to the bar to hang out. One thing led to another and I ended up in Fitarella and Fitinmyheart’s room went down to the bar to meet with Mary, JulieJulie, someone who will not be named, and Jeninreallife. I had a blast and seriously– almost peed myself a few times laughing. They are a great bunch of people. I didn’t get back to my room until 12:30. Sunday was busy running to the pharmacy to get Mary her pills (she was not feeling well again Sunday morning), finding out they wrote out the Rx wrong, and finding someone (Jeninreallife) to drive us back to the hospital to get the new Rx. It was a bit of a hassle to be honest, but it had to be done. I made back the hotel just in time to make the shuttle to the airport (Thanks for the awesome driving Jen!!!). When I got on, who should be there but Hope (WindyCitySocial) and it turned out we were on the same flight! We gabbed the whole way to the airport, and really had fun talking while waiting for our (Delayed) flight. I am so glad I got to meet her in person and we are planning to meet up sometime next week to compare notes on the conference. I brought alot of stuff back to giveaway on the blog and I am so exited to share it with you! The box doesn’t arrive from Baltimore until Wednesday, but be on the lookout starting next Monday for the reviews and giveaways to start! I am already planning and saving for Fitbloggin 11!
Powered by Twitter Tools Oh. My. God. I am so freakin tired. But I am having so much fun!! I woke at 330am cdt, and am beat. It is now 11pm edt. The plane ride was uneventful, but it was cool to meet up unexpectedly in the shuttle with one of the other blogger’s Rebecca. ( am on iPhone– will link to her blog tomorrow) The hotel is beautiful– and our room has amazing views. See pics below of the lobby, the view from the room and of fitbloggers going crazy waiting for food. I am beat– better recap, photos and other stuff coming tomorrow after the 5k run/walk when I am on my laptop. Night from fitbloggin!!
Fitbloggin is finally here!! I am busy trying to get over nasty headcold/start of allergy season crap. And trying to make sure I have everything for the conference. Business cards? Check Everything is packed and ready for my 6am flight to Baltimore tomorrow morning. I am taking ‘the good camera’ so I hope to get some great shots to share. I need to send a shoutout to true lemon for making awesome products that I love and for sponsoring part of my trip to the conference. If you are a going to be at fitbloggin, be sure to find me to get a free sample of True Lemon, and follow me on Twitter @ajlovestolose for your change to win a few cool prizes. Ok, off to run a bazillion errands before I leave tomorrow!! FITBLOGGIN OR BUST!!
Powered by Twitter Tools My poor 16 year old cat is at the end of his life. I found out last Tuesday that he has Intestinal Lymphoma. There is not a lot the vet can do for him other than make him comfortable. He has been a loyal friend for over 5 years and I am truly going to miss him when he is gone. I will find out the final final diagnosis on Monday. Needless to say, my stress level has been through the roof and I have been eating everything bad I can get my hands on. Workouts are a joke as I want to spend as much time as possible with him before I lose him. Below are a few photos of my big fur child.
8WCG7AHXXEWH A few of you have asked me what EXACTLY I did to lose 14lbs and 4 inches off my waist in 21 days for the Naked Fitness Challenge. Well, I am FINALLY getting around to telling you! 1. I walked 2 hours a day. Period. It was the dead of winter here in Chi-town, but I spent time either walking in front of the TV (during breaks of the Golden Globes, for one example). My pedometer was broken so I just kept time on my Timex Ironman watch. Everytime I started to walk, I pushed start on the timer. Everytime I stopped, I pressed stop on the timer. When I got to 2 hours on the timer, I stopped. Now I work toward 15-17K steps a day. It is hard, but I do it. Pre Naked Fitness, I would walk about 45 minutes and be DONE. It was never longer than 2-3 miles. I can do 7-8 miles easy now. Crazy I know. 2. Eating plan. Because the trainer (Andrea) is going to be coming out with a book soon, I can’t post the actual menu on my site. BUT, she did post the first week menu here. I followed that menu religiously (except for the polenta chili– I didn’t like it so I ate Chicken and veggies instead.) 2nd week was very close to the first week, and week three we really were on our own, but sticking with 2 hours of walking and eating 1200 calories a day– 80-100 grams of protein, 25 grams of fiber and 8-11 fruits and veggies a day. 3. Elations. I owe my joint comfort to Elations Drink. I have bad knees and usually am in a lot of discomfort during and after working out. After a week drinking Elations, I had no discomfort in my knees at all. When I stopped drinking it (becuase I ran out) my knees were pretty sore. Back on the drink, no discomfort at all again. (*disclaimer: Elations was a sponsor of the Naked Fitness Challenge. I was given a case of the drink, but have purchased it for the last month on my own. I will be passing out Elations at Fitbloggin ’10, but am not being paid or sponsored by Elations to do so. They just will be giving me the free product to pass out.) 4. Alignment exercises. Andrea Metcalf, the trainer, gave us specific movements to do depending on how we assessed ourselves in the mirror. Is one hip higher than the other? One shoulder? Which way do my hands face? If you would like more information about her techniques and to get an assessment, please follow her on twitter @andreametcalf or visit Andrea’s website www.andreametcalf.com. 5. Stretching and “rehab”. For me, this was the most important part. I am REALLY out of alignment when it comes to my hip and lower back. Without Andrea’s help, I would not have been able to continue with the program. When I walk, my lower back and hip tense up and I am pretty much pulling all my muscles. With her help (and a few of her Pain Free Videos) I can manage the pain through stretches alone. I can’t tell you how many chiro appts I went to over the years to help me fix this pain– literally, after TWO 20 minute stretching workouts, I was about 80 percent pain free. I could not believe it. I still do the DVD about 3 times a week to help keep the pain at bay. 6. Group work. Just meeting with the 30-odd other contestants kept me sane and on program. I met really nice people and made a few friends along the way. I truly believe the group helped me keep on the program. 7. A bit of greed. I can admit now that the thought of winning a cool new treadmill at the end kept me going a few of the hard days. OK, that;t it– really. That’s all I did. Nothing fancy– walking and eating healthy. |
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