10 Miles!

Caleb and I ran 10 miles this morning. We are moving into the double digits now.

But now as we move into the bigger numbers, we are in search of a new race. The LA Marathon was moved to a Memorial Day weekend which just happens to be the weekend of Jody and Leanne's wedding in Illinois. Bummer. Who wants to race the first weekend of summer?

Who wants to find us a new race?

Jaime

Gearing Up!

Caleb and I just got back from the running store. It is my "new" favorite store with watches and socks and most importantly cute running clothes. I am so excited. We each have a new pair of running shoes. I am excited that I have good shoes that I will be running about 500 miles in. That is so crazy to me! That's like two tanks of gas. And its insane to think that we will need a new pair of shoes before the marathon.

So now I have cute clothes and cute shoes on my feet. We are off and running.

Jaime

La familia de mi.

Hola!
I am in the middle of writing various spanish papers and am really happy to take a break to tell you that being off sugar is the best decision I have made in years. Seriously, I feel so freaking awesome, it is ridiculous. I think we should all cut out sugar, maybe not everyone so drastically, but the results are insane. Thanks Caleb! You can take best big brother award this year. Also, cutting out sugar isn't that hard, it's relatively easy.
I went to pilates today and feel very centered, possibly because all I can think about it my core. It is killing me, but in a happy, fun way.
I am off to write more on South America and the atrocities that have taken place there, which leads me to this decision, let's live our lives to the fullest because so many don't get to. We are so incredibly lucky to have our bodies, to live in freedom, and to live in safety, let's take advantage of it!
Love you guys.
I'm off my soapbox, don't worry but also don't want Pixote or else you will be on a soapbox too.

Confessions of a Sugar Addict

Caleb called me yesterday and read the symptoms of a sugar addict to me so now I feel as though I need to say it out louf. I love sugar, I am obsessed with it, but I also think it may be causing some of my medical problems and also my craziness, so here I am 20 hours into life sugar free and it's all I can think about, but I think that will go away within a few days. My deeply personal question here is, does anyone have any great ideas for sugar free foods? I would love some.
Now you go off and enjoy your mochas and your cheesecake, I am going to take a nap.
Love you guys.

Amazing Grace or Race.

That is so awesome that you guys are doing that! Yay! I am excited for you two. I hope that when you run the race you wear something neon so as not to be hit by a car.

We are running!

So, we did it! C-Web and JWhoa are running in a race. February 1st we will run a half marathon and a month later we will run in the LA Marathon. Wish us luck on running 26 miles.

Running a Race

I have been feeling like I want to try running in some type of race. This is something that I have never done before, but is a secret or not so secret dream of mine to run a full marathon.

I am trying to get Caleb to join me in running a 5K or or a half marathon. I think this is something that we can do in a few months of training if we can commit. Call up Caleb and speak to him about joining me in a race. Maybe Caleb and I can even think about doing a race in Montana one of these days...

Much love.

Fellow athletes on the journey to righteousness.
I think we need to spice this thing up. Get on it, tell me about your lives, your foods, your loves, your adventures, your attitudes towards food. Also, I think we all need to get serious about our workouts because Matthew McConaughey has a baby and I am sure that baby is already doing pull ups and sit ups. We have stiff competition, get on it men and women, stand up. Love you.

Mi familia.

Hola familia,
Well I went to the doctor, which was a huge fiasco in and of itself, but worst of all I have gained weight, a significant amount. I mean, I am not Santa or anything, but I am definitely making my heart work harder, so now is the time to get serious about my health, so I guess I am asking for support in this. Thanks guys.
Love you.

Foods that Help your Heart

Dr. Kirkland gave me this list of foods to help improve my cholesterol levels. They are similar to the list of Superfoods, but not exactly the same.
Here they are:
Almonds
Avocados
Beans
Chocolate!!!!Yes!!!!
Cinnamon
Grapes
Oats
Onions
Pistachios
Yogurt

The article was written by David Grotto and he refers to www.americanprofile.com/heart

We are making progress! Have a good weekend, everyone.

I love you,
Mom

A lesson in love...

Or a lesson in superfoods. A superfood is a food containing high amounts of phytonutrients, including but not limited to: antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin c. They are a food that it is speculated fights cancer and overall helps your immune system.
Here are the four main superfoods and the qualifications for why they are such.


Beans: A great low-fat, low-calorie source of protein and an easy way to help control your weight and your blood sugar.
Blueberries: The best food on the planet to preserve a young brain as we mature.
Broccoli: The best food on the planet to prevent cancer.
Oats: A sure-fire way to lower your cholesterol.
Oranges: The most readily available source of vitamin C, which in turn lowers the rate of most causes of death in this country, for example, heart disease and cancer.
Pumpkin: Loaded with phytonutrients, which keep our skin young and help prevent damage from sunlight.
Wild salmon: A guaranteed way to lower your risk for cardiac-related death.
Soy: The only complete vegetarian source of protein.
Spinach: The best food on the planet to prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, thus ensuring a lifetime of good vision.
Tea -- green or black: The easiest and cheapest no-calorie way to avoid heart disease and cancer.
Tomatoes: One of the easiest ways for men to avoid prostate cancer is the consumption of tomatoes and tomato-based products.
Skinless turkey breast: The leanest meat source of protein on the planet.
Walnuts: Consuming walnuts is an easy, tasty way to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Yogurt: A tasty, easy way to boost your immune system


There you have it. Dr. Pratt loves superfoods, he gave me that information...check him out online.
Also, he wrote a book called superfoods which list out what exactly is healthy for us to eat. I am heaps interested in this book. I think I may go purchase it now. All my love...

Fettuccine with beans and pesto

I tried out this recipe for the first time the other night on Caleb and our dear friend Paul Cho. It was a hit, so here you go Hannah.

1 C. beans (You can use any kidney, chickpeas, black, or black eyed beans) This is nice cause you can stock this stuff in the pantry.
1 1/2 C. firmly packed fresh basil (I think you could use spinach too)
1 C. romano or parmesan cheese
Olive oil
1 lg. yellow onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 C. vegetable stock or water
fettucini
handful of pine nuts
salt/pepper

1. Process the basil, cheese and about 6 T. olive oil. (I added some of the vegetable stock too, cause I was having trouble getting it all processed and I felt like I had added a lot of oil already.)
2. With a little heated oil n a pan, add the onion and garlic and saute about 10 minutes. Add the stock and beans, bringing to a boil. Reduce heat and reduce the liquid to about 1/4, approx. 5-10 minutes.
3. Cook noodles.
4. Add the pesto to the bean mixture. Add noodles.
5. Garnish with pine nuts.

This makes enough for 6, so I even had enough pesto to reserve for another meal.

More good stuff

Hey all,
First off, let me say I'm a bit disappointed in myself b/c I still haven't exactly figured out Hannah's superfood thing. But I will.

I just wanted to let you know I signed up for a recycling service today! While I know this isn't exactly our bodies getting fit, it is helping our environment, which helps us, which equals getting fit. Right? I'm pretty excited about it b/c it's only $11.50 a month and they give you the bins, they pick it up every 2 weeks, and all we have to do is throw stuff away into the right bins. Woot woot.

Also, I did the Women's Run this past weekend with my book club. It was so fun! Becky and I have still been walking 3 times a week, and after doing the run, we decided that we're going to start adding a little bit of jogging to our morning walks. Today we didn't add the jog b/c I had Evey with me, but we will. And, I'm excited.

Just wanted to give you all the update.
Hope all is well.
Love you! ~ Heather

I only got 4 minutes to save the world.

Family.
I wanted to communicate with you, but it is late and I have many a paper to write before summer. So here is what I want to update you on. I love superfoods! I am making it my personal goal to eat at least two servings of superfoods a day. I have been doing this for a week, my body is probably thanking me by allowing me to stay up well past three in the morning to write a paper about American Political Thought, and also by letting me absorb spanish and dream in it. Crazy! I recommend superfoods to all of us. Spinach is way cheaper than lettuce and so much better for you too. Blueberries, beets, turkey, avocados, and for our family, most importantly tomatoes...We need all the heart help we can get. So I challenge our family to become the superfood family! Get on it, go for it, and save your body...channel Madonna (she probably eats only superfoods, I am wearing yoga pants so I am practically an expert on Madonna at the moment).
Mom, how are you doing?

yummy time

here are some recipes. they're super good!

pesto -
8 sun-dried tomoato pieces, not packed in oil
1/2 c. water2 cloves garlic
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach
1/2 c. shelled walnut pieces
1/2 c. already grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 c. sliced black olives
1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil

place the sun-dried tomoatoes in a 2-cup glass measure and add the water. microwave 1 1/2 minutes, covered on high, or until the water boils. remove tomoateos from microwave and let them stand in the water to soften, about 5 minutes.

place peeled garlic in food processor, process until minced, about 30 seconds.
microwave frozen spinach for 5 minutes.

add walnuts to the processor with the garlic and pulse until the nuts are finely chopped, about 1 minute. add parmesan, basil, and salt into the processor.

drain tomatoes, add them, along with thawed spinach and its juice, and the olives. process until finely chopped, stopping once to scrape the sides of the bowl. then scrape again. then with the motor running (and cover back on), slowly add the oil (in a thin stream) thru the feed tube. continue to process until thoroughly combined (about 30 seconds). if you want it a little thinner, add water, a tablespoon at a time. (i've been adding about 3-5 T of water). soooo good.
put it on spaghetti or other pasta. we've also been spreading the pesto on frech bread and then putting the bread in the oven for about 10 minutes. good stuff.

taco salads (so good) -
tortillas
chili powder
1 lb (ish) lean ground beef
1 c. match-like carrot sticks
3/4 c. chunky salsa
2 T mayo (light if you want)
Salad
tomato (if you want)
shredded mexican style cheese
fresh cilantro

heat the oven to 425. Crumple large sheets of foil to make balls; place on baking sheet. place 1 tortilla on top of each ball (we made 4 tortillas). spray each tortilla with cooking spray, then sprinkle a bit of chili powder over them. bake 6-8 minutes or until tops are golden brown. (the tortillas will drape over the balls as they bake.)

brown meat with carrots and about 1T chili powder. after it's browned, add 1/2 c. salsa; cook 2 minutes or until heated thru.

mix mayo and 1/4 c. salsa in large bowl. add salad and tomatoes; toss to coat. spoon into tortilla shells; top with meat; cheese, and cilantro.
very good.

The power of tea

Hey everyone,

I enjoyed reading all of your responses to the question about life extension. I agree with all of your thoughts, and think that quality of life is always the important thing to keep in focus.

I wanted to share an interesting thing I came across in the book that is of particular relevance to us Webster's. It says that the American Heart Association reported a study that found that, "drinking at least two cups of tea a day reduced the risk of dying from a heart attack by a remarkable 44 percent." Apparently this applies to black and green teas, but not to herbal ones. And, sorry Ben Web, but not to sweetened teas or Arnold Palmers. Anyway, I don't like tea, but think this is a good reason to try to develop a taste for it.

Hannah, not sure what to give you as a good recipe. Jaime and I will try to think of one that you might like.

Water Aerobics!

I am to be a water aerobics instructor. I think that is the funniest thing I have ever heard and I am really excited about it! I wish I could play the Kanye West Workout Song, but I have a feeling that the water aerobics demographic will not be super into it. Shoot. Does anyone have any delicious recipes? I want to cook something awesome. Jaime, any vegetarian treats?

happy birthday to a lighter caleb!

Caleb,
Happy birthday (a day late)! I hope you had an awesome day yesterday. I was thinking of you. Which leads me to thinking of your and your questions regarding if we'd want to live forever (ish). I agree that I would like those around me to live forever, or at least as long as I do. Losing Dad was awful and if I could avoid ever grieving like that again, I would like to. But, I can't say that living forever would be so radical. Things are supposed to have their end, right? Also, logistically, I don't think our planet could support all of us if we all kept living, reproducing, then they kept living, and then they reproduced, and so on and so on. I think the other issue with prolonging life is that we need to have a society in which the quality of life is better as well. While my life is amazing, thanks in most parts to our family, there is a level of violence and poverty out there in the world that scare me. Would it be that only those who could afford to would live long lives, but the mentally ill homeless people or the poverty-stricken inner-city people would die young? The disparity in income levels would be even more disgusting in that case. That's my thoughts.

On a lighter note, what did you do for your birthday, Caleb? I can't believe you're 26! One memory of you I keep having is in shorts, socks pulled up to your knees, and an army cap. You were a so lanky and goofy. You still kind of are, eh?

Love you!

Mi familia,
The weather has changed! I am so thankful to have the sun back as a part of my life. Along with the sun comes a bright new attitude. Along with this bright new attitude comes a bright new outlook and a craving for healthier foods. Jaime, I bet that with summer coming you will find those last ten pounds melting away. I am so excited to be able to go outside and not feel like my hands are going to freeze off or I am going to fall on my face.
Caleb, I have thought about those ideas before and I totally agree that I want everyone around me to live until I am long gone, but I don't necessarily see the allure of living forever. I do want to have a high quality of life while I am alive though, I want to be able to swim in the ocean, to go for a run, to take a hike, to play with Evey (and all my future nieces and nephews), to do my own housework, to breathe the air and fully appreciate what the world has to offer. I think that in order to fully appreciate life you have to be able to do the things you enjoy. I enjoy watching a movie every now and again, but the thought of that being my daily routine makes me sick. Also, there is something so beautiful about knowing that you are using your muscles and feeding your body what it craves (fruit, chicken, sausage (Heather remembers), a cookie, etc) when it craves it. I guess ultimately for me being healthy is being in tune with my body, listening to it, respecting it, nurturing it, and most importantly loving it. I am intrigued by the mediterranean diet and what you were saying reminded me of that. If you guys move here I will get a cookbook and cooks delicious meals for you. If you don't move here, I will cook them for myself, it would be lonely.
I love you guys. Have a great day!
P.S. Missoula has made me new age. I am moving into a hippie commune with only organic foods after finals week. Cage free eggs all the way.
I would let you try my meals during visits, not all would be lost.

Sorry

So, I only have another week or two of hula. It's fun and something that I have enjoyed doing on Thursday evenings. But these hips don't lie...it's not a natural motion for me.

I have been hitting the gym again. Biking and my usual set and lift classes.

But I just can't knock off these last ten lbs. I am not having the same luck as everyone else.

Recommendations?

Fantastic Voyage

Here's an attempt at adding some spice to the blog.

I'm reading a book right now called Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever.  It's by a technological forecaster, Ray Kurzweil, and a family practitioner, Terry Grossman.  The authors are extremely optimistic about the future of medical technology to not only radically extend our lifespans, but eventually to eradicate death altogether.  My friend Collin recommended the book to me.  He is interested in the religious implications of this new trend of "radical life extension."  Of course, all religions have tended to shun on the human attempt to transcend death.  According to religion, immortality belongs to the divine realm and not to this one.  At the very least, immortality is attainable through one's spirit, but not through one's body.  I think it is all very fascinating, and it seems like a place where science and religion will really butt heads over the years to come.  Medicine is always about extending life, and all of us subscribe to that goal to an extent.  We would never go to a doctor to find ways to live a shorter, less fulfilling life.  But there is something about trying to avoid death that seems to fly in the face of the religious messages we hear again and again.  So, where do you all place yourself in this issue?  Do we need to have a balance between the two positions of religion and medicine?  What is the proper age to want our bodies to last until?  What is the point of having our bodies in great shape?  For the authors of the book, it is so that they can live long enough for the technology to arrive to allow them to live indefinitely.  I think that it is also interesting to think about it in terms of other people: I may not want to live forever, but I want all of you and Grandpa and Grandma, etc. to all continue living for a long, long time.

Anyway, thought that might give some food for thought.  I actually really recommend the book to all of you, not only because it has some thought provoking statements on life extension ("The idea that aging and dying are inevitable is deeply rooted, but this age-old perspective will gradually change as gene therapies are successfully demonstrated over the next two decades."), but also because they give a lot of information about the science behind how our bodies work, and what sort of things to do to optimize our health.  For instance, I knew that omega-3 was a good supplement for our heart issues, but this book explains the differences between different kinds of fats, and notes that much of the reason that an omega-3 supplement is important in todays world is that the less beneficial omega-6 fat outweighs omega-3 in a typical American diet by as much as 25-1.  Apparently the relationship was much more balanced a hundred years ago before fast food and the abundance of artificial foods.  The point is that the supplement is good, but it is most beneficial if the bad fats are drastically reduced as well.  Anyway, the book has some good stuff in it, and is thought provoking to boot.

So, please everyone, share your thoughts on life extension, and what for you is the very purpose of good health.

Updates

Hey fam,
Well first of all - CONGRATS, Caleb! Twenty lbs is a big deal! And we're not even that far into 2008. Great work! I'm very proud. And mom, good stuff on losing some weight as well. I don't have a scale, but I'm feeling pretty good too.

And I couldn't agree more that Hannah has been adding some nice flavor and spice to this blog. Good work, sister.

In keeping with our healthy theme, I thought I'd let you know that Evey's ears are "looking great" according to the doc we saw today. She's having some bad tummy troubles b/c of the antibiotics and I really wanted the doc to tell us she could stop before her 10 days were up. No dice - she has to finish. But, I'm hoping that this will be the last ear infection of her year. So, she's getting healthy too. Plus, she loves hummus so I think she could live the vegetarian life with Caleb and Jaime if she wanted.

I'm still walking 3 times a week. It's been going great. I love getting out in the early mornings (who would've thought I would EVER have said that) and it's really fun getting to chat with Becky so much. I've also been trying to make sure I am eating plenty of veggies/fruits, and I've been trying to watch my sodium intake. Also, I've been chasing Evey around everywhere. She doesn't like to pull herself up on the things she should, but likes the scary glass coffee table or the bathtub (when she's in it), so I think that is helping my activity level.

Love you all so much!
~ Heather
p.s. Jaime - how's hula going?

20 lb mark

Hey all,

Thought I would share with you that as of today I have lost 20 lbs. since the new year. It hasn't been terribly difficult. I've just been trying to go a little faster and farther each day on my runs, and Jaime and I have done a pretty good job of eating healthy. So, now I'm at 263, and almost halfway to my new year's resolution goal of 240. It felt really good to get out of the 270's, and I think it will be even better to see the 250's. A few weeks ago I said I was shooting for 260 by the end of March, which didn't happen, obviously, but I still feel very positive about my progress.

Hannah, thanks for the motivational blog. I'm sorry I haven't been posting anything for awhile. I actually haven't fallen off the wagon or anything; I'm just not sure what to write to keep things interesting on here. I'll work on it. I'll try to make my next post a little more creative. But Hannah, you are an inspiration to us all with your positive approach to health and life in general, so thanks.

Mom, good job on losing some weight. I know you've been working hard this year to get healthy so I'm glad you have some good numbers to show for it.

Alright, I'm off to talk to our dean about my thoughts on leaving the program and finding out what my options are. Good job to everyone, and good luck on making this a healthy week, however that may take shape.

Finally Losing

I am happy to report I have lost a few pounds this week, finally, with a little help from my new doctor, Brenda Kirkland. She took pity on me and prescribed an appetite suppressant and it is working. I'm still eating right and exercising, but I get full faster. I am still taking fish oil tablets too. I will only take the appetite pills for a couple months. I walked outside last night, but it was too cold to imagine a beach.
Hannah, I love your writing. Keep up the good work!

Why do they call it a hamstring?

Heather. You have become my motivation. I have been going for early morning runs this week (cue to shock from all family members, especially Ben Sather). I love it. I can see why you do it, the world is peaceful, there are deer everywhere, so close in fact I nearly ran into one Monday morning, hardly any cars, and even better you feel so accomplished by 8 a.m. It is crazy. The running has led me to a lot of time for thinking about the world and two things have been really bugging me. 1. Why in the world is it called a hamstring, it's creepy, I don't like a part of my body sharing a name with the product of pig. And 2. Women's suffrage in 1919 wasn't really for all women, I would be pissed if I were an African American women and taught that womens suffrage happened in 1919. Hell, I'm not even an African American women and I am pissed. So there you go, fuel for your workouts.
Love to you all.
Also, please start updating, I get tired of reading my own blogs. Caleb, I want to hear about your running and classes. Are you going to become a step aerobics junkie? Jaime, are you nearly the new Shakira? Heather, updates, have you taken to wearing ankle weights and t-shirts that say "World's Best Mom?"... Mom, the walks, are they long and romantic? Do you imagine you are on a beach walking towards the sunset where a nice table shall be set for you with fine wine and brie? Ben, what is track like? Are you dominating?

Muscles, I hear you roaring.

Hola family!
I did a poor job of exercising over the easter season, but i am back on it in Missoula and my muscles are loving every second of it. By loving it I mean they are screaming and shouting and shaking during my workouts, I feel like I should be on a commercial.
I am doing this great program where I get a cardio workout while lifting, it is a killer, but so rewarding in the end. Also, my goal this week is to get in 4 servings of vegetables a day.
love to all.

Hula Lessons

Well, I am getting ready to go to my second hula lesson. It's much more of a workout then I had originally thought it was going to be. My knees, legs and my oh so flabby tummy ache on Friday morning. My knees pop and crack throughout the class. Hopefully, by the end I will have a firm tummy and wiggly hips.

Additionally, I am back to being a vegetarian (except for those days when I eat Korean BBQ). I am trying to watch the cheese intake. I think that I am at a disadvantage though. I have loved cheese from the time I was a toddler. Any suggestions for going off the cheese? Hopefully, if I drop the cheese, I can drop the pounds.

Yo!

Hey family.
I am having a hard time trying to get fit without becoming obsessive about it. That being said, I have decided to try and concentrate only on my health, my blood pressure, my cholesterol, my heart rate, and my overall feeling of wellness. I think that includes my happiness and not being obsessive about my weight or my size. I think that next time I am in Billings or when I get my bum around to getting it (cholesterol) checked in Missoula, I can assess how much I need to work on it, but I have decided that I need to be making healthier food choices. In therapy we often talked about viewing food as fuel, so I am going to only treat myself to the good stuff-91+.
Good luck guys. I am excited to see you even under such sad circumstances.

blood pressure

Hey Heather,

I think maybe you found your long-term goal: lower your blood pressure by 2009.  Good job on going for early morning walks.

I haven't done a very good job with exercise, partly because I've had a cold the last week.  But I'm starting to come out of it, so there goes that excuse.  I've also decided to try keeping a food journal, since I think that my snacking is my biggest hindrance to getting healthy.  I'll let you know if I find the practice helpful or not.  I'm not really restricting myself from any foods, but trying to hold myself more accountable to eating them.

I'm off to work.  I'll try to get a run in after class this afternoon!

good and bad

hey all,
so good news - i had a very successful early morning walk. it was great and i was energized all day. bad news - i have high cholesterol. we had our blood work done for life insurance and it turns out - i have the family blood too.

which leads me to some questions, nurse mamawebsterjames. what do i do about it? let me know.

love you guys!

gonna need your support :)

becky and i are going to walk 3 times a week. i'm feeling very optimistic about this - but we're planning on going mon and wed at 6:15am and saturdays whenever we can. the thing is - i get up with evey around 5:45 anyways, so actually getting up at that time isn't that freaky. but i am a little nervous. it's early, but i really need to make a plan and have a partner. so, becky's on it. i'll keep you posted.

wish me lucky tomorrow...

also - ben webster's show rocked tonight. he was amazing!

Tammy

I think we should include Tammy in this blog. She is clearly in better shape than any of the rest of us. I think she would be a good balance for the rest of us. Caleb, would you send it to her?

I agree with Caleb

Little goals are great. I've got the goal to workout tonight. Hmmm...that doesn't seem quite big enough for the little goal. I'm not really sure yet. I guess I'm looking for ideas. I'd kind of like to lose some weight too, but I'm so hesitant to set a goal. I think I'm afraid of failure. Plus, I've never operated by weight. So then I was thinking pant size. But then I think I'm afraid of failing on that too. Sigh...not too sure. Guess we'll focus on tonight. I'll take ideas, anyone.

Love you!

And, go Caleb - I know you can lose that weight. Our visit focused more on pastries than on workouts, but we sure did walk a lot. That was good, right?

New mini-goal

Hey all,

I've noticed that we seem to all be losing steam and running out of things to say on the post.  I'm still brainstorming ways to keep this thing active and helpful.

One idea I have had is to do some mini-goals.  A year's resolution can be a big chunk to take on at once, so maybe setting weekly or monthly goals would be helpful.  I think it will for me, so here goes.  My goal for March, which I am getting a head start on now is to hit 260 lbs.  I've gained small numbers the past three weeks instead of losing, so I'm going to set that number as a six week goal.  I'm at about 274 right now, so it will take some significant work.  But I know it is reachable - realistic enough to accomplish but not so extreme as to be unrealistic.

I'll let you all know how it is going in the coming weeks.

STRONGER

Kanye West once said....Work it, make it, do it, Makes us harder, better, faster, STRONGER! Us Webster kids can become stronger. It'll be tough, but it will happen.
Ben W

Hannah Montana

Well, way to go Hannah! We are going to have so much fun watching you on National TV.

I have bad news on the fitness front. In spite of my 6 day a week treadmill walking, I have gained weight the past two weeks, 2 #. I know it will pay off and I feel better, but it is discouraging to go to Weight Watchers and see the numbers going the wrong way. Oh well, next week should be better.

1/12th of the way to the New Year

Can you believe we're already four days into the second month of 2008?  It's going by fast.

I wanted to give the update about my resolution to lose a pound a week.  This week was my first time to fail on that goal (damn Super Bowl party).  I gained .6 lb (I like the precision of our scale).  I am glad I built in a safety clause to the goal, giving myself 12 weeks in the year to not lose a pound, so I don't have to give up on the whole goal because of this one defeat.  But overall, January was a great month (I know I have to give some credit to my "-itis"-filled adventure in Korea).  I lost 12 lbs. from Jan 1 to today.  I think cutting out soda and beer was a huge part of this.  As Jillian from Biggest Loser says, "We never want to drink our calories, people."  I don't expect as big of numbers the rest of the year and expect I'll have to work harder for the pounds I do lose.  I haven't exercised as much as I would like - partly because of the weather, partly because of figuring out the new semester's schedule.  But with only one car I have done a lot more walking, which is a great thing.

So, my goal for this week is to be more careful with what I eat, get a little more exercise, and take off that 6/10s of a pound (plus one)!

Baked Sweet Potato Chips

I made these today and took them to a Super Bowl party. I think I was the biggest fan of them, but they are almost as good as those at Montana Brewing Co.

1 large sweet potato, peeled
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 2 baking sheet with cooking spray. Thinly slice potatoes in a food processor or by hand; they should be no more than 1/8 inch thick. Arrange slices on baking sheets so they don't overlap. Brush with oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake chips until they begin to lightly brown. (I got this recipe on weightwatchers.com and the cooking time was supposed to be 15 min. But it took well over half an hour to cook and I turned them over halfway and added more salt.) If leftover chips become soggy, put them back in a hot oven for a few minutes to crisp them up.

Hannah: A Sore Tale.
So this week I went to yoga with Angela and had my bum kicked, well actually my hamstring. I loved it and I think I will go to it weekly. Also, Angela and I had a fabulous day after that of kickboxing, oh my word. We ran lines and stairs and it basically destroyed me, but it also made me crave healthy food, a good start.
Today I could barely walk...but I felt pleased.
Mom, I channeled you and said, "Back, thank you. Legs, thank you."
Love you guys.

Trying to get fit

So, it was impossible to get fit in Korea...but now I am trying to get back on a routine. I have been to the gym a couple of times this week to take classes. They were classes called S.E.T and L.I.F.T. combining cardio and lifting. I am weak. Who thinks 5 lbs. is a lot? I do.

I tried to make the Core class that I like mid week, but it was slightly painfully to move that morning, so I passed.

I know I am weak, but by the end of this hopefully I will be strong.

yoga does not equal motivation

hey all,
so last night i went to yoga. and it felt great again. but i'm losing steam on this. i am going to make myself do a home workout tonight. i'm trying to eat healthier. but, i'm not as motivated. i think that caleb is right - i need some kind of goal. so i'm thinking of that in the next few days.

just wanted to share what's up with me. love you guys.

Ice Chipping

I spent an hour today chipping ice off our driveway. I know it actually was a good workout because I used muscles that I forgot I had. I had a few negative thoughts about our big wide driveway and the men I live with who didn't shovel it all off before we drove over it and smashed it down. But in the end, it felt good to be outside in the 45 degree sunshine and I'm glad I did it. And more good news, Doug spent a little time on the treadmill. :)

Home work #3

Never fear, I won't post every single time I do a home workout, but I wanted to post under my own name, say way to go mom and Splash, and say way to go Caleb on figuring this out. :) And way to go on some running.

Yay us.
Love you guys!

Here I Am

Hello. I am getting ready to go down and walk on the treadmill. I have only missed two days of walking since Ben put the treadmill together almost two weeks ago. Doug hasn't been on it yet, but Splash went for a short little walk the other night. Doug wanted her to be Astro from the Jetsons. I still would rather walk outside, but for now this works.

team blog

Hey all, I figured out how to make this officially a "team blog" meaning that we don't all have to sign in to the same account, but can post from our own accounts.  Apparently you need to have a gmail account in order to sign up, so if that is a problem, you can just use the email we've been using and show up as "Mike's Marvel."  But if you want to have your own voice on the blog, just create a gmail account for this purpose (I know Heather already has an account and it looks like Mom created one to add comments).  Let me know if you have any problems.

runnin back in the states

Well, despite a poor diet and lack of exercise, I came back from Korea lighter than I was when I left. I attribute this to being sick as a dog and to my anxiety over certain spicy Korean dishes. So, my goal is to try to maintain this lower weight for the week rather than ballooning back up.

I went for my first run since being back this morning. I'm actually still suffering from jetlag a bit, but I'm loving it. I like being a morning person - I get so much done. But I know it won't last. I always seem to settle back to my night owl behavior eventually. Still, I look forward to being more active and productive this spring. One thing I know from watching Biggest Loser is that better diet and exercise are great at making you feel more energized and inspired to be productive. So I'm hoping to start that not-so-vicious cycle.

Also wanted to encourage all my siblings. I've really enjoyed reading about your running and swimming Hannah, and your yoga and at-home exercising Heather. Also, it's been a major advantage having Jaime committed to getting healthier and having her around to motivate me. So, keep it up everyone. Almost a month into the new year and I think we are all taking positive steps toward being much healthier at the start of 2009. Thanks for jumping on board this fitness thing.
-Caleb

home workout #2

That's right - I did it again. Ooops, as Britney pre-mental break would say. Anyways, it was great. I like the feeling in those 10 or so minutes where my muscles are really working. Still a little embarassed about how hard the push-ups and sit-ups are. But, pretty stoked about the whole thing anyways. Way to go, Caleb on motivating us to get in shape.

home workout #1

Hey sibs,
Amber signed up to be my long distance personal trainer. Well, she sent me a workout to do at home. It was hard. And good. And short. So, perfect. Anyways, I just finished it and my legs are going to be sore tomorrow. Hello lunges! Good stuff though. Love you guys!

gettin fat in korea

Hey all, it's Caleb. Wish it was a typo in the subject line and that I meant "gettin fit" but 'tis not the case. It's been a week here and it has been hard to keep a very good diet or get any exercise. Add on the fact that I've been sick, and it is a bad combination. I tried to do a few exercises in our hotel room last night, but it is pretty tough to get any kind of cardio here. Also, with people buying us food, and with a limited amount of choices for food, I haven't really been able to dictate what I am eating. So, long story short, my new year's resolution is on a bit of a hiatus. It's ok, I was anticipating this. It just means I have to be that much more dedicated when I get back.

Swimming

Hey fam.
I went for a swim last night and I can't believe I used to swim for two hours five days a week. Crazy. It was really hard, but today my legs feel as though I ran a marathon, so that's good.
Also, Caleb, how are you keeping it real in South Korea?

heather: yoga was good

Last night I took an awesome yoga class! It's crazy because today I am feeling like a new woman. My posture feels better, my body feels less tight, my mind feels clearer. Good stuff, dudes. Ooooohhhhhhmmmmm.

Only 7 days in and I have already fallen (literally)

Hey Websters/Sathers/Kims/James peoples!
Today I went for a run, I fell within the first two minutes, but I continued on the path to righteousness and ran 2 miles, not much, but a start. (To add to the story, a nice woman stopped and asked if I was okay, I was.)
Also, if you are working out outside in Montana or any other type of cold weather, I strongly recommend UnderArmour, it is amazing at keeping a body warm.
I love you guys!
Heather and Jaime I recommend listening to JLo's "Do It Well" while getting your sweat on that and Beyonce "Get Me Bodied"

Heather: small steps

So, one thing I decided to do is ALWAYS take the stairs at work. I have been taking the stairs about half the time. I work on the fifth floor, so it's a healthy little trek up to work. Granted, it only lasts a minute (not the cardio workout of the century), but I think that is one easy little change I can make to my days.

Hannah: My goals!

I think this idea is radical and going along with it, I joined the Missoula Running Association and will as a result be enjoying more running in my life. I would like to run a 10k almost every three months, so here I go.
Also, I have decided to try to take at least two classes a week at the gym.
All my love siblings!

I would like to offer a recipe, but most of mine are baked goods and that's not really a Get Fit idea...my sincerest apologies.

recipes

Jaime - thanks for the recipe. I've made two things this past weekend that are reallly good and while, I don't know the caloric values of these, I think you all would like these.

1st - Chickpea Pasta w/ Almonds and Parmesean
1 tsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped (I used minced garlic tonight)
7 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth (I used more like 5 or 6 cups)
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
kosher salt
1 pound angel hair pasta
1 15.5 can chipeas, drained and rinsed
1 cup parsley, chopped (I used dried, and not nearly a whole cup, but I could see how fresh would be lots better)
1/4 cup unsalted roasted almonds, chopped
1/2 cup grated parmesean

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium/high heat. Stir in garlic and cook for a minute. Add the brother, red pepper, and 3/4 tsp of salt and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring until the broth is nearly absorbed and the pasta is al dente (about 6 minutes). Stir in chicpeas and parsley. Divide among individual bowls and top with almonds and parmesean. Serves 4.

2nd - Mustard Roasted Chicken with Vegetables
Chicken breasts, cut into large chunks (I used two big ones, but you could use more or use a whole chicken cut up)
3 tblsp whole-grain mustard
2 tblsp low sodium soy sauce
kosher salt and pepper (why kosher, not sure - I used normal)
4 small carrots cut cross-wise in half
1 fennel bulb, cut into wedges (I used potatoes instead, one sweet potato, one regular)
1 onion (whichever color you prefer)
8 spring of thyme (I used dried thyme)
2 tblsp olive oil

Heat over to 400 degrees. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Combine the mustard, soy sauce, and 1/4 tsp pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken and stir to coat. Combine the carrots, fennel (or potatoes), onion, thyme, oil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper in a roasting pan. Coat all the veggies in the oil. Nestle the chicken among the veggies. Roast until the chicken is cooked thru and veggies tender (about 45-50 minutes). B/c I couldn't find our roasting pan, I used a big pan and covered with foil.

Good work, guys - Loves - Heather