Remember when you were little and would make it a point to call out that you were 7-and-a-half years old? Yeah, I don’t do that anymore either.

Nevertheless, here we are: July 1st, 2010-and-a-half. Six more months left in twenty-ten.

In keeping with the theme of Fitness & Spice…where fitness, food, and fashion get a healthy shake, I set 3 goals at the beginning of the year:

• One for fitness…to kick it up a notch when doing cardio instead of just going through the motions
• One for food…to add more variety to my diet since I was eating the same ole things over and over again
• One for fashion…to get out of my work from home clothes (also known as gym clothes or pajamas) more often and wear “real clothes”

So how am I doing? Let’s just say I’m glad we have 6 more months left in this year!

I did great right out of the gate with my fitness goal, but I could work harder. I’m going to start wearing a heart rate monitor again to make sure I’m in the zone when doing cardio.

I’m rocking my food goal and trying out all sorts of new recipes thanks to all of the food bloggers and cookbooks I’ve read already this year…hello, kale chips!

My fashion mission needs improvement (kind of like my math grade when I was 7-and-a-half). If lululemon would stop making such comfortable workout gear, I’d have this one in the (shopping) bag.

It looks like I have some work to do to make sure I hit my 2010 goals, but where there’s a will, there’s a way!

What are your 2010-and-a-half year goals?

Now I really must go wrap up my half-time report and get ready a winning season!

One more rep.

One more set.

One more lap.

One more mile.

One more glass of water.

One level higher on the stairmill.

One more minute on the treadmill.

One more song before you end your workout.

You have the power.

What one thing can you do to move one step closer to reaching your goals?

Now I really must go wish one one-derful man a happy father’s day! I Love you, Dad!

I love watching the Biggest Loser. It’s full of ups and downs, sweat and tears, drama and triumphs, commercials and more commercials. That being said (and all in good fun)…

Here are a few things I’ve learned from watching the Biggest Loser:

• Bob can solve any problem with a Ziploc bag and a stick of Extra Sugar Free Gum
• The only reason why Jillian never loses her voice is because she drinks a lot of Brita filtered water
• The more the contestants cry the more water weight they lose before stepping on the scale. But then again…
• Johnson & Johnson should be a sponsor next season so there will be NO MORE TEARS!
• If this personal training gig doesn’t work out, Jillian has a great career ahead of her as a Biggest Loser psychologist
• Getting a bodybugg at 24 Hour Fitness does not require a prescription
• If you’re going to get kicked off the ranch get kicked off before they make you run the marathon
• It takes exactly 1 hour and 55 commercials to weigh 2 contestants

What have you learned from watching this commercial, I mean, reality TV show?

Now I really must go hop on my StreetStrider and go meet Shay at Subway!

Each year I set some pretty impressive goals for myself. One year I said I was going to learn how to speak Italian. Just last year I said I was going to get in the best shape of my life. And this year I said I was going to write a book.

Have I accomplished any of these things? Nope.

But, there’s hope for me yet.

I received a copy of Tom Terwilliger’s book, 7 Rules of Achievement last week and I have to say that in the 5 chapters I’ve read so far it has me fired up. My wheels are spinning and let’s just say two of my unfinished goals are now in motion!

Tom’s book is the blueprint for helping you put your vision into action. I’ve already learned how to (key word–>) properly identify and set goals for some of my most ambitious dreams.

Why is Tom Terwilliger qualified to write a book about achievement? For starters, Tom is the poster boy for fitness and healthy living, he is an author, professional speaker, and former Mr. America (swoon!) and longtime Fox Sports Net fitness TV show host.

Not to mention, Tom is one of the good guys. His contributions have been recognized by the American Heart Association, New York Games for the Physically Challenged, Colorado Special Olympics, Fetal Hope Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes association and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

In fact, Tom’s book, 7 Rules of Achievement launches today and proceeds from today’s sales will benefit Habitat for Humanity. How great is that!?

If you’re interested in learning more about this book, check it out on Amazon, read the intro, and see if it’s a book that might help you light a fire under your arsenal of dreams, too.

Now I really must go to the gym and then finish reading my terms of achievement, arrivederci!

Guess whose Dad got his 5th hole in one last week? MINE.

The guy is a legend.

When I asked him if it was luck or skill that enabled him to get yet another hole in one he simply replied, “Yes”…because funny runs in the family.

Can you imagine what that must feel like? I can not because golf does not run in the family. Ok, scratch that. Golf runs in my family, just not in me.

But, it got me thinking.

When was the last time I had a hole-in-one kind of moment?

Was it when I placed 8th in the state swim meet for 100 meter breaststroke for the entire state of Rhode Island? [Grin!] Or was it when I crossed the finish line at my (one and only) triathlon? Or was it when I set a personal record deadlifting a few weeks ago?

Nope.

It was when I heard my dad made this shot.

Congratulations, Dad!

When was your last hole-in-one kind of moment?

Now I really must go tell my driver it’s time to go hit the iron.

Do you hang out with people that help you spring forward or make you fall back?

I try to surround myself with people who bring out the best in me like you, and you, and especially YOU!

And, I have a tendency to weed out the people that hold me back like, well, like the energy drainers and chronic complainers, for example.

I have found my springs. The people who know more than I do, who train differently, who train harder, who eat better, who challenge me. These are the people who spring me forward.

I hope you find your springs this season, too. They’ll help you jump to the next level.

Now I really must grow.

Have you had an aha moment lately?

I have.

According to Mutual of Omaha an aha moment is…”a moment of clarity, a defining moment where you gain real wisdom – wisdom you can use to change your life. Whether big or small, funny or sad, they can be surprising and inspiring. Each one is unique, deeply personal, and we think, worth sharing.”

Want to hear my latest aha moment?

Are

You

Ready?

This is groundbreaking.

Go get a pen. I’ll wait.

It might change your workouts forever.

This might be Nike’s next campaign.

Or finally get me an invitation on the Today Show.

Is your mind open?

Wait.

For.

It.

“THEY DON’T CALL IT A WORKOUT BECAUSE IT’S SUPPOSE TO BE EASY!”

- Joanna Sutter

AHA!

I wrote this down in my fitbook this week and looked at it in the gym every time I wanted to quit.

Or slow down.

Or pick up a lighter weight.

Or take the easy way out.

Think about it.

Really.

Think about it.

Then go.

Do the work. Get the results.

Have you had an aha moment recently? Do tell!

Now I really must go WORKOUT so I can look good for my morning show debut!

Creepy picture borrowed from awkwardfamilyphotos.com

10. Taking candy from strangers is a bad thing but taking candy from large rodents is not.

9. Hiding chocolate-filled Easter baskets is not such a bad thing.

8. Eating endless amounts of garden fresh veggies will not make you fat.

7. Barefoot running burns Cadberry Eggs calories.

6. Jelly beans are neither fruits nor vegetables.

5. It’s good to go green and eat local.

4. Easter is a great day to hang out with your peeps.

3. Some chicks dig guys with gray hare.

2. Carrots must be good for eyesight since rabbits don’t wear glasses.

1. Regular eggercise keeps your tail in good shape.

Now I really must go get off my keaster and wish you and yours a very hoppy Easter!

In a previous life I worked in marketing and product development for a credit card and debit card processor. When we were introducing the concept of mobile payments to our clients we often told them that consumers realize they’ve lost their cell phones faster than they realize they’ve lost their credit cards. How true is that?

I think that says a lot about the world today…we are very attached to technology.

Sometimes I think I’m too plugged in.

I Twitter.

I Facebook.

I Blog.

I email.

I text.

I conference call.

I read a lot of online fitness and nutrition articles. A lot.

I Blackberry Messenger.

My Blackberry goes everywhere I go…except to the bathroom. As soon as my Blackberry buzzes, I jump as if the world might stop if I didn’t respond in record time. And, with all of the information I’m presented with, I tend to have analysis paralysis, especially when it comes to workouts and nutrition. I already have a great training plan, why should I question it?

Don’t get me wrong, I love technology, I just need to be a little less obsessed. Here’s what I’m doing to unplug just a little….

• Blogging 5 days a week instead of 6
• Turning off the Crackberry earlier in the evening
• Reducing the amount of time I spend (re)tweeting
• Reading quality online sources instead of  quantity

Just think of the improvements I can make in my life! I’ll have more time to:

• Work and workout
• Read and relax
• Write and walk the dog
• Cook and clean kickback

Now I really must go, I’m off to (re)boot camp!

To know me is to know that I love Captain Morgan spiced rum. We’ll leave it at that. No need to insert drunken sailor stories.

Moving on.

This weekend I had the sudden urge to shed my body of winter dry skin and apparently the 5,000 lotions in my bathroom were just not going to do. So, I Googled homemade salt scrubs and up popped 5,000 articles.

There were a lot of good ideas for all sorts of exfoliation remedies you can whip up with ingredients you can find in your kitchen cupboards.

I bypassed the ones with oatmeal and yogurt, and the sticky ones that used honey and sugar because one particular home skin care remedy caught my eye. The one that used Captain Morgan. Does this stuff work? Let’s just say, Captain Morgan is getting a promotion. Ladies and gentelman, say goodbye to dry skin and say hello to….

MAJOR SCRUB

• Juice of half a lime
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 shot of Captain Morgan

Stir all ingredients together in a small plastice container. Apply to your skin. Rinse. Pat dry.

You’re welcome.

Now I really must go mix up another cocktail and get ready for happy shower.