Well, here goes….
It’s Day 71 of my 90 Day Wellness Journey and time for measurements!

First of all I want to say that during the past week, I had 3 social events during which time I splurged excessively!!!  Yes it was a lot of fun, and no, I have no regrets, however, my promise to myself was that in return, I would start my strength training program… and so I did!!!

As I write to you from my living room sofa, I have perfectly positioned a pillow behind my lower back allowing me to sit upright without using my abdominals!!!  It’s obviously been far too long since I “felt the burn” like this and I have to say that, as tender as I am in places that I had quite frankly had forgotten existed, I’m rather liking it!  OK, maybe not in the traditional sense like “I like chocolate”, but rather in the way breaking a good sweat feels along with a wake-up call to muscles groups that have been snoozing for far too long, and following it up with a hot shower or Epsom salts bath and a good stretching session — all those awesome “feel-good hormones” released!  Wow!!  Additionally, strength training not only firms and tones the places we want to be firm and toned (!) but muscle burns more calories than fat, not to mention all the health ramifications of this, so what’s not to like?!  My only question is this — what took me so long to get started?!

So, after 71 days, here are my results so far (yippee!):

Released a total of 27.5 lbs and 38″ off over 14 standard measurements!  (Yes, I did the math twice because I couldn’t believe it myself!!)

I must say that in the past few weeks I’ve come to the realization that I am actually NOT looking forward to my “Day 90” and the completion of my “90 Day Wellness Journey” as I have both enjoyed the process itself as well as the progress I have made toward my wellness goals… So I propose this: Another 90 days!!!  Since my first 90 day program takes me into December and those ‘oh so merry holidays’, I have decided to aim for maintenance  through the holidays and then I will begin a new “Journey” in early January 2015!

My question to you is this… Want to join me?!?  This is what our Transformation Team at Wallis For Wellness can offer you:

• free nutritional coaching
•  step-by-step wellness plan approved by our Registered Dietitian
  • access to on-line support and tools to aid your success
  • • emotional support on the days you feel defeated
    • • face to face workshops on a variety of topics that are designed to support your holistic health journey. We can even bring remote workshops to you via Google Hangout!

Sound good?  You can join us on-line  or simply call our clinic at 905 840-3486.

Keep well and keep smiling!
Lisa Blanden BC (KIN), RMT, CIMI

P.S. This week’s inspiration:

As many of you know, our clinic hosted a seminar entitled “A Taste of Mindfulness” this week lead by instructor Jaisa Sulit, a Neuro-Occupational Therapist and lecturer at U of T.  Jaisa survived an accident that left her with a spinal cord injury and as a therapist turned patient, she participated in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program which has enriched her recovery and continues to help her learn to cope with life with a disability.  She has since become trained in teaching MBSR and now teaches mindfulness to organizations across the GTA.  I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet Jaisa this week and want to thank her both for all I have learned from her seminar and for the great inspiration both her personal story and her enduring spirit have given me this week!

This is Jaisa Sulit.

I would also like to mention Joan Paliwoda, one of our Transformation Journey participants who suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis and shared this with us: I” reached out to Margaret Wallis-Duffy and asked for her help.  She and her team have been coaching me and since starting this program I have already managed to lose 9.1 lbs.   That is amazing as I have not even hit my full two weeks yet.  I feel amazing, my clothes have started to get loose, I am sleeping better and Ihave way more energy!!!   I have rheumatoid arthritis and have already experienced a reduction in some of my pain. I am looking forward to the rest of my journey!