This Summer I am serving as the Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU program. It just so happens that week 6 of the BetterU program is all about activity. I’m sitting on the floor of the University of Illinois Chicago gym with my notebook computer in my lap typing this post. My 9 year old daughter is here to participate in a volleyball clinic for the next two hours, and I am sitting on my butt typing on the computer. When did my World switch from active to inactive? When did my hands switch with my feet for most activated appendage?
Miss Lori week 6 Go Red BetterU Program: Dressed for spontaneous exercise
Miss Lori week 5 Go Red BetterU Program: an apple in the hand is worth pounds on the scale
As you all know, this Summer I am the Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU Program. I started the program just after my 40th birthday in May. It’s been going well, this journey of enlightenment. It’s a literal journey because I have been traveling so much since I started this program. In fact I am on my fourth city this month alone this week. Which actually has been great for my pedometer. (Airports really help you rack up the steps). But traveling messes around with your internal clock and it doesn’t afford you the best food options when you are trying to optimize your health. That’s a nice way of saying traveling makes you chunky. [Read more...]
Miss Lori week 4 Go Red BetterU Program; Go Team!
Do you have a team? I have a soccer team that I coach. I have a PR team that I work with on ambassadorships. I have a Green Team song.… But apparently what I really need is a Better team. A BetterU team to be exact. This Summer I am serving as the Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU Program. I am spending twelve weeks evaluating my health, and then making key changes to my habits. Some big. Some little. But all of them important. According to week four of the Go Red BetterU Program this week I need to assemble my healthy support team. It stands to reason though, don’t you think? There is strength in numbers. When you feel accountable to someone you’re more likely to stick to your plan. And then, when you feel encouraged, even celebrated, well, then you feel like there’s nothing you can’t do. Happiness is the fountain of youth for the heart, don’t you think? (Well, I’m sure my doctor would quickly point out to me that my heart needs exercise, and nutritious, low fat food amongst other things to remain youthful, but you get the idea.) Nobody’s ever said, “Oh, she died from a happy heart!” [Read more...]
Miss Lori, week 3 Go Red BetterU Program; just WALK
Walking. That’s all you have to do. It’s really that simple. That’s what I am learning this week in the American Heart Association Go Red For Women BetterU Program. This summer I am serving as their Ambassador. Having turned 40 last month my health is at the forefront of my mind. Now, with the help of the BetterU program it is also the forefront of my priority list. Which hasn’t been the case for a looooong time. (Come on, you know you are the same way!) Ok, so back to walking. According to my BetterU Program quiz this week all you need is 10 minutes of walking to begin to make a difference in your health.10 minutes! Hey, that’s not so scary. It’s actually doable. [Read more...]
Miss Lori, week 2 Go Red BetterU Program; know your numbers
I am at the end of the second week of my journey to become a Better Me with the American Heart Association Go Red BetterU program, and though I don’t see any changes externally I definitely feel a change internally. And truly isn’t that the point? To become better I have to change my mindset, my habits, my instincts. But before I can begin to do any of that I need to understand what I am working with. That’s why I went to the hospital and had my heart screened. It’s one of the tasks for week two of the Go Red BetterU program. The idea is for me to fully understand my numbers. HDl, LDL, Triglycerides, blood pressure, weight, body mass index and the like. Now I gotta tell you. I did well in science in school, but I’m no doctor. (I don’t even play one on TV!) I’m as in the dark as most people when it comes to knowing and understanding what is good and what is bad when it comes to my biology. Which is why it was incredibly important for me to go to the hospital and have professionals not only test me, but provide me with an evaluation that I can review, along with suggestions for improvements, so I can be BETTER. And that’s just what I received in the mail this week. [Read more...]
Miss Lori is a Go Red For Women BetterU Program Ambassador this Summer
As many of you know I turned 40 two weeks ago. I was very excited to reach this milestone. For me 40 means the beginning of my true adulthood. Yes, I have technically been an adult for two decades now, but that was just a fact gathering phase. Now I’m ready to put all that I have learned through trial, error and exploration, to good use. I’m ready to be BETTER. A better mother, a better friend, a better daughter, BETTER. And I’m going to be a BetterME by utilizing the BetterU program.The American Heart Associations’ Go Red For Women BetterU Program to be precise.
This past year was quite an eye opener for me. After a few major things happened in my personal life I had a rude awakening, I was not the great mother that I had assumed myself to be. I thought that by making the sacrifices I was making with my time and my energy, being available to my children at every waking moment possible, attending to their needs in the immediate to the best of my ability, and sometimes to my own detriment, qualified me for a nomination for “Mother of the Year” quite frankly. But NOOOOO. What I realized was that if I am going to be a good mother, truly a good mother, than it is just as important for me to do for myself as it is for me to do for my children. Why? Because they are listening, watching and learning from my example, (whether they like it or not!). The way I live, the choices that I make in regards to myself, my happiness and most especially my health, is imprinting on them. So, I had to ask myself, “Self, is this the way you want your children to act when they grow up and become parents? Do you want them to ignore their health and happiness because they think that is the only way to parent successfully?” Goodness me, NO! Well then, be BETTER!
Good Lordy Miss Lori is turning 40. Let’s PARTY!
Friday May 14th at 10:05 am I will officially turn 40 years old! I can hardly believe it myself. I was pondering this morning, with some fellow bloggers on tour at Peapod, about what forty looks like, (because everyone at the table said I certainly didn’t look it). I tried to remember what I thought forty looked like when I was a kid. I remember my father’s 50th surprise birthday and my mother was forty then. So I guess I could relate it to that image. However, truthfully my Mom has always looked the same to me, like my mom.
For me 40 is more about my state of mind, where I stand in the World, and where I hope to go from here. With that in mind I decided it was important for me to start this pivotal decade out on the right foot, literally. [Read more...]
Miss Lori is stepping into 40 on the right foot to ACTIVATE SUMMER
IN ONE WEEK I WILL TURN 40! I am really excited! No really, I am. I know a lot of people step into 40 with trepidation, but I plan to step into it with energy, purpose, and most importantly a PLAN! Friday May 14th will not only be my birthday it is the launch of my Activate Summer initiative. [Read more...]








