Great beginnings in 2010

by Jo Anne Montoya

Wow. My 8-year anniversary with Aunt Ann's Home Care was yesterday. Time sure flies when you’re doing what you love to do and working with some great people. Oh, and the old saying about time flying when you’re having fun? How true this is. 2010 brought in a brand new baby granddaughter for me. Talk about fun. And pink!

While my original plan was to take off a few days to watch my grandson while his mommy was giving birth and recovering, that plan got a little iffy. My co-worker/office mate (two-girl accounting department) was going on her yearly vacation to visit her parents out of state right around that time. I crossed my fingers the baby would be born on a weekend or on a day when one of us would not have to be in the office.

Then I thought I better have a back up plan of some sort, so I sent the entire office an email. I let them know that I would be taking time off but that if it was absolutely necessary (meaning I had to get paychecks out), I would bring my grandson to work with me. “Not to worry,” I assured them. “He will not bother anyone nor be upstairs without me.” My office is downstairs away from everyone. It was a sure fire plan, should I need to do this.

I got several emails back, one of which said,

Thank you for the Heads Up. There is one issue I see with your plan, and when you have taken care of it I will be in total agreement. When Jojo is in the building you MUST share him with the other Nanas present!! You are expected to spread the Joy, as we all need our “cool Kiddo” time!

Wow, what a terrific response. I was in heaven knowing that I could do this without a problem and mostly knowing what great people I work with.

Jojo did come to work with me, and I kept my end of the bargain bringing him upstairs to have lunch and visit with everyone. Not only do I have the best co-workers in the world but little Jojo has another Nana and some Aunties too.

Now the real task is how I’m going to get this little bundle of “pink joy” in to meet everyone.

Labels: grandchildren, grandparents, work/life issues

posted @ 7:58 PM
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2010 Healthy Resolutions

by Anna Fong

Hello everyone … Happy 2010!

The New Year is here, and what better time to focus and to incorporate positive changes in our lives. One of my goals this year is to develop and follow through on an achievable weight loss/ fitness program. My family is very high risk for heart disease as I have a sister who had a triple heart bypass at the age of 49, and I lost a brother to a massive heart attack when he was 51 years old.

I have joined gyms, taken exercise classes by myself, and have not been very successful in the past. I would come up with every excuse imaginable to avoid exercising.

This year a friend and I have decided to partner up to become diet/exercise buddies. Having someone there to hold you accountable for your actions (or lack of) and to also encourage and to challenge each other, has proven to be successful.

We plan on incorporating the following 10 recommendations to achieve our goal:

1. Do activities you like


First, find an activity that you truly feel is fun (or at least most bearable). It doesn’t matter if it’s country line dancing, aerobic classes, or running.

2. Integrate fitness into your schedule


Make a set schedule so that you automatically know it’s the time and day for your workout. By leaving this to chance, it’s easy to put it off and say “I’ll do it later.” Later either never comes or is interrupted by life.

3. Use the buddy system for motivation and support


Find a workout buddy to exercise with you. On days you don’t feel like working out, your buddy will help motivate you. And, on days your buddy is down, you’ll repay the favor.

4. Stay off the weighing scales!


Weighing in everyday can be discouraging. Especially since fat usually drops or increases all at once after several days. Stay off the scale except to monitor weekly progress.

5. Start off slowly on your workout program


Doing too much too soon only leads to sore muscles and an unwillingness to do the same routine again. When you do too much your muscles will have a hard time performing the next time. If your workout is making you sore, you’re doing more than you should. Back off and cover less distance, workout for a shorter time, or use less weight. Gradually add more over time.

6. Remember: You’re unique


Everyone is different. Comparing yourself to others is a dangerous pitfall. Stress follows and before you know it you may feel discouraged, hopeless, and depressed when in fact you may be doing great. Nothing is more important than where you are at now. Improving and challenging yourself from your starting point is vital to long-term improvement.

7. Don’t work too hard - go at your own pace


During any strenuous exercise it’s important to work at your own pace. That means at a level at which you can still breathe and talk. When you get out of breath it’s a signal you’re working too hard. Instead of stopping, reduce the intensity to an amount that’s more comfortable. You’ll find yourself able to exercise for a longer period of time and enjoy it more.

8. Reschedule missed workouts


One workout leads to another, but a missed workout shouldn’t lead to another missed workout. Things in life happen that interrupt those with even the best intentions. If a workout gets the nix, schedule in a replacement as soon as possible. If that’s not feasible forget it. Do a little extra next time and let it go. It’s not the workouts you miss that count, it’s the ones you complete.

9. Make fitness a habit


Avoid a mental duel each time you get ready to exercise. Considering your routine as an option – should I or shouldn’t I – is treacherous. You wouldn’t consider brushing your teeth as an option, or taking a bath. Working out needs to be thought of as just another habit. Something you do without thinking or talking yourself in/out of.

10. Have a plan of what you want to achieve from your workout


Regardless of whether you want to lose weight, tone up, or just get healthy, you need to have a plan. One that is effective.


We all would like to be in a state of good health as we approach our senior years and what better time than to start now…

… our first goal is "to lose 10 pounds by March 2010"…


For more information on heart disease: http://www.americanheart.org/

Labels: exercise, fitness, New Years resolutions, weight loss

posted @ 11:39 PM
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