Celebrate Green Blog

by Lynn

A couple of months ago I wrote a review of Jonathan Bailor’s book, The Smarter Science of Slim. In that post, I talked about my lifelong battle with weight and how I had finally, at my advanced age, realized that my best weight is going to be my healthiest weight. So it’s not about numbers on a scale or even how I feel in my jeans, but about prolonging my life and staying fit for as long as I can.

I’ve taken Jonathan’s food and exercise plans and tweaked them so they work for me, which they have. I’ve lost a pound a week since I started which means that as of today I’m carrying around 20 pounds less than I was in January.

But I’ve been here before, many times. I joke that I’ve probably lost and gained 20 humans in my lifetime, although it’s not really funny.

Fortunately for me, I always feel good, whether I’m large or small. I’ve never suffered from any health problems related to my weight. But I’m now much closer to seventy years old than I am to sixty. The downward slide in terms of health is inevitable and I am much more willing than I ever was, to try to preserve what I can. The risk of obesity and overweight being a causal effect in so many serious illnesses (even though I don’t know whether that will be true for me in the end), is enough to motivate me to get to a “normal” weight and “exercise,” which it never was when I was younger.

I also believe that healthy people and a healthy planet are inextricably linked. And of course, it starts with me (believe me I wish it didn’t!). And as always, I share in the blog in the hope that something in my experience will make it easier for someone else traveling a similar path.

That’s why I’ve joined with a couple dozen other committed bloggers in the Go Green, Get Fit Challenge as part of the EcoMom Alliance Sustain YourSelf™ Program presented by PlanetShoes.com.

Along with everyone in the group, once a week I’ll be sharing my challenges and successes as well as my wacky ideas as I move toward becoming healthier and more fit. We’ll have some fun and surprises too.

Would love for you to to join us!

My overall goal:

By the end of 12 weeks I will be at my first goal weight and BMI and once reaching it, will maintain until I’m ready to move on down. (My long term plan is to reach my final set point weight in two stages, maintaining at the first level for a few months, then once again losing until I reach the set point.)

Here’s my plan:
1. Stick with current healthy eating plan.
2. Minimum 1/2 hour walk six days a week (can be broken up into increments)
3. Do minimum of one other form of exercise each day for at least 15 minutes
4. Once a week do interval routine and slow weight training

Join Us!
1. Check out the main program page
2. Like the Go Green Get Fit Facebook page.
3. Follow @GoGrnGetFit and #GoGreenGetFit & #SustainYourself on Twitter.
4. Get inspired by the Go Green Get Fit Pinterest board!

And here’s the list of all the bloggers working out and working their way to healthier lives during this challenge.

• Erin Naumowicz Editor, Healthy Home Magazine
• Kimberly Danek Pinkson Founder, EcoMom® Alliance
• Shane D. Shirley-Smith, Editor, Environmental Booty
• Paige Wolf Author Spit That Out
• Tiffany Washko Editor, NatureMoms
• Diane MacEachern Editor, Big Green Purse
• Katherine Scoleri Editor, SafeMama.com
• April Gatewood Owner and Writer, Mama on a Green Mission
• Robbie Schneider Editor, Going Green Mama
• Amanda Hearn Owner and Editor, The Eco-Friendly Family
• Sabrina (Bri) Radke Owner and Writer, Eco Baby Mama Drama
• Jenn Savedge Author and Blogger, The Green Parent and Mother Nature Network
• Brenna Burke Owner and Editor, Almost All The Truth
• Gretchen Sowers Owner and Writer, Healthful Mama
• Sarah White Owner and Writer, Mindfully Frugal Mom
• Nikki Board Founder and Editor, Modern Eco Life
• Erin Ely Owner and Editor, Ely Organics
• Katy Farber Owner and Author, Non-Toxic Kids
• Jen McLaughlin Blogger, Jen and Joey Go Green
• Penelope Jagessar Chaffer Blogger, Toxic Baby Blog
• Lori Popkewitz Alper Founder, Groovy Green Livin
• Jenny Gullen Owner and Editor, The Crunchy Wife
• Anna Hackman Editor, Green Talk
• Lynn Colwell Blogger, Celebrate Green
• Amity Hook-Sopko Editor, Green Child Magazine
• Laura Burns, Pug in the Kitchen
• Danika Carter, Beauty Editor, Greenwala.com
• Micaela Preston, Editor and Founder, Mindful Momma
• And Yours Truly of Course!

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.