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38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion Done-for-You Podcasting for Your Brand Sat, 09 Nov 2019 01:57:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 wp-content/uploads/2018/07/cropped-38atoms-logo-512-32x32.jpg 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion 32 32 7460-2/ 7460-2/#respond Sat, 09 Nov 2019 01:43:56 +0000 ?p=7460 The post appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> Podcast Analytics How to InterpretPodcast Listener Numbers How many people listen to a podcast? Podcast hosts publish “listener numbers”, but those numbers can be a little “squishy.” To understand why, you need to understand a little of the technology behind podcasts. (Apologies if this is all old news, but I’d rather cover ground you already know than assume you know more than you actually do.) The actual audio file that people listen to – on their phone, tablet or computer – is initially uploaded and stored on a podcast host. (I prefer BuzzSprout.) When I publish a new podcast episode, I upload it to BuzzSprout. Then BuzzSprout makes it available to the world for listening. Ways to Listen to a Podcast There are actually 4 different ways that people can access that file to listen to it: Listeners can link directly to the file located on the podcast host using the podcast’s URL Listeners can download it from the podcast host Listeners can stream it or download it through one a syndicator Listeners can stream it or download it through embedded websites Let’s take these one at a time. Link to it If you access the file this way, then the podcast host can get an exact count. This is pretty much the same way that you count visitors to a web site. Download it Here is where accurate counts start to get difficult. Although the podcast host can count the number of downloads, they cannot count the number of people that download gets distributed to. So what do they do? They guess. The podcast industry’s best-guess is that a download generates some multiple of listeners. (I won’t go into their reasoning. Just take it as a given that this multiple goes into calculating “Total Listeners”.) Syndicators Now accurate counts are really difficult. I syndicate all the podcasts I produce across all the major syndication platforms. This includes Apple, Spotify, Google, Alexa, I Heart Radio and Stitcher. (There’s more, but those are the biggest.) This is where it gets really weird. Each of those syndicators accesses the audio file from their own IP address. It’s impossible for the podcast host to count actual listens this way, because each listener from any syndicator looks the same. There is literally no difference between one listener from Apple and one million listeners from Apple. So again, we have to trust the industry’s best guess. And they guess if you’re on the syndicators I’m on, and have the connections I have, then “100 listens = 10,000 listeners.) That’s where the “10,000 listeners” number comes from. Is it 10,000 actual listeners? There is no way to know. But these multiples are truly educated guesses. They are calculated across thousands of different podcasts across various languages, countries, age ranges, and cultures. In other words, they’re a pretty good “best guess.” Embedding When you go to the podcast website and look at the podcasts page, you are seeing embedded links that point back to the physical file on te podcast host. Embedding makes it look like the episodes are actually on your website. Listeners can stream or download the files through that embedded link. Embedding offers the same advantages and disadvantages that we have with syndicators. Every time a file is accessed from an embedded site, it comes from the same IP address, so it looks like the same event to the podcast host. Whether we have 10,000 people listen through our website, or only 1 – it all looks the same to the podcast host. Summary BuzzSprout’s analytics tell me precisely what they are able to count. In addition they provide those “best guess based on industry standards” numbers from the various syndicators. BuzzSprout is one of the better podcast hosts out there and – as much as I trust anyone – I trust their numbers. I hope this helps. Drop me a line if you have any more questions. Jack Heald Producer • Host 38atoms Podcasts PS: Spoiler alert. Podcasters are the new Kronkites. Not sure how to start? Grab a copy of the free guide How to Produce and Publish a Podcast Epsisode for step-by-step instructions. Get the Guide The post appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> 7460-2/feed/ 0 The Trusted Voice: Part 5 trusted-voice-5/ Thu, 31 Oct 2019 04:38:41 +0000 ?p=6973 The post The Trusted Voice: Part 5 appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> (Part 5) Why Do People Like You? People trust people they admire. And people trust people who are like themselves. And if you are someone people admire and also think are relatable, then you are miles ahead of your competition. Think about how much time you spent with the people who became friends. Getting to know someone takes a lot of time. What if you don’t have the time? Then you need to carefully craft a persona that people instantly admire and instantly relate to. Here’s how to do that. Your persona is not your personality. Your personality is who you really are. Your persona is who people perceive you to be. It takes time to get to know a real person. It takes not-long-at-all to get to know a persona. I’ve distilled the elements down to 5 elements: A recognizable face Your most obvious quality balanced by… Your most surprising quality Your biggest fear or flaw balanced by… Your strongest value For a quick tutorial in how to craft your persona, download my free guide here. If you want a deep dive, then check out my Irresistible Persona course. Jack Heald Producer • Host 38atoms Podcasts PS: Next time, I’ll share with you the equipment you need to produce your own podcast. Get the Guide The post The Trusted Voice: Part 5 appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> The Trusted Voice: Part 4 trusted-voice-4/ Thu, 31 Oct 2019 04:24:54 +0000 ?p=6965 The post The Trusted Voice: Part 4 appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> (Part 4) The Three P’s of Trust Building The more you listen to someone, the more you trust them. You can’t help it. It’s how we are wired. That’s one reason why we trusted Walter Kronkite: because we listened to him a lot. Kronkite’s advantage over his competition was clear: he added the human element. His competition just seemed robotic. How did he do it? Kronkite had the 3 P’s of trust-building. What are the 3 P’s? Platform + Predictable + Persona First, you need a platform to speak from. Kronkite’s platform was his nightly broadcast. For you, that’s your own branded podcast. Next, you need to appear on that platform on a predictable schedule. We all knew Kronkite would be on every weeknight at the same time. For your podcast, I recommend you publish one episode at the same time every week. Finally, you need a believable persona that people admire. Kronkite had this in spades. Another way to say it is that he sounded authentic. Podcasting gives you a huge advantage here. With a podcast, you “sit and chat” with your audience. It sounds real because it is real. When you host your own branded podcast, you earn the trust of your audience because: They get time listening to you through your podcast They get to listen on their own schedule They get to know the person you are It should be obvious to you now: If you want to build trust in your market, you need your own branded podcast. Next time, I’ll talk more about how to craft a persona people relate to and admire. Jack Heald Producer • Host 38atoms Podcasts PS: My free guide How to Produce and Publish a Podcast Epsisode gives you step-by-step instructions for creating and publishing your own podcast episodes. Get the Guide The post The Trusted Voice: Part 4 appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> Articulate Your Damn Thoughts articulate-your-damn-thoughts/ articulate-your-damn-thoughts/#respond Wed, 30 Oct 2019 23:23:56 +0000 ?p=6911 The post Articulate Your Damn Thoughts appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> P.D. Mangan wrote this morning: “Historically, writing progressed from pictographs to letters, but is now going in reverse.” This is a trend I’ve been observing for almost 20 years, (coincident with the rise of the internet.) We’ve drifted from the clear tools of speaking and writing. We use emoticons and emojis rather than words. Images rather than descriptions. Memes rather than essays. These visual forms of communication are faster and easier to generate than articulate speech or articulate writing. And for people in a hurry, with nothing precise to say, and nothing important to think, these forms of shorthand work fine. But precision in thinking requires precision in speech. If you cannot precisely articulate your own thoughts, how in the hell will anyone else understand your thoughts? A person who does not master the tools of speech and writing cannot pass his own ideas on to another person. Symbols, images and memes all have power to communicate an idea. But they are low-resolution versions of specific ideas. Percy Shelley famously observed that “poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.” Not musicians. Not sculptors. Not painters. Poets. Master the use of language so you can master your thoughts so can pass them on to the world. The post Articulate Your Damn Thoughts appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> articulate-your-damn-thoughts/feed/ 0 The Trusted Voice: Part 3 trusted-voice-3/ Wed, 30 Oct 2019 00:47:12 +0000 ?p=6847 The post The Trusted Voice: Part 3 appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> (Part 3) The Kronkite Effect Time Builds Trust There is no substitute for time together. And that’s doubly true for persuasion. Walter Kronkite spoke with his audience for 2 ½ hours each week. All that time they spent listening to him had an effect. It made them feel that they knew him. And “knowing him” eventually turned into “trusting him”. Why does Coke spend zillions of dollars a year to keep their logo in front of you? Time. Of course, nobody else has Coke’s marketing budget. So, how can you get the same “face time” with minimal investment? Your Own Branded Podcast Series You can spend hours inside the ears and mind of your target audience with your podcast. Hours they won’t give your advertising. People hate advertising. And people love podcasts. The numbers are hard to ignore. And it’s better than TV because they can listen to you on their schedule. You won’t be hostage to randomness of broadcast schedules. The time your audience spends listening to you will make them feel like they know you. And knowing you will translate into trusting you – assuming you know how to show your humanity. Till next time, Jack Heald Producer • Host 38atoms Podcasts PS: Next time, I’ll explain some simple ways to show your own humanity in your podcast. PPS: Spoiler alert. Podcasters are the new Kronkites. Not sure how to start? Grab a copy of the free guide How to Produce and Publish a Podcast Epsisode for step-by-step instructions. Get the Guide The post The Trusted Voice: Part 3 appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> What’s the Right Soundtrack for Lifting? whats-the-right-soundtrack-for-lifting/ whats-the-right-soundtrack-for-lifting/#respond Sat, 26 Oct 2019 23:17:41 +0000 ?p=6409 The post What’s the Right Soundtrack for Lifting? appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> When I first started lifting, I didn’t know my own physical limits. So I started light. (One of Jim Wendler’s maxims is “”Start Light and Go Slow.” I trust Jim Wendler.) The amount of weight I was lifting at the time didn’t require much concentration. I could lift and talk at the same time. Or lift and listen to a motivational podcast or an educational podcast. Or lift and also think about something else. In other words, though my body was busy lifting, my mind was engaged in doing other things. It was only when the weight bumped up against my own limits that I discovered the mental side of lifting. I remember the day when my squat got so heavy it intimidated me just to step underneath the bar. That’s when I knew that I had to stop thinking about anything else. I couldn’t talk to other people. I couldn’t listen to podcasts. I had to focus 100% of my concentration on getting that weight back up. So I learned to shut the other things out and focus my mind as well as my body. Then one day, I came up against another limit. My son & I were lifting one day in his garage. I was going to attempt a PR in my squat. Now, when my son lifts, he generally has some sort of metal blaring on the sound system. Me? Up to that point, I could take it or leave it. I didn’t care about the music. He said, “here – let me help.” And he put this on the sound system and turned it up LOUD: Something started happening in my body and mind as well. My focus intensified. My perception narrowed. Everything else disappeared. I was in a battle for my life. There was nothing in my world except me and that bar. And the music blasting out of those speakers was the soundtrack of my battle. My battle. I was going to war. I took a deep breath, stood up, unracked that weight, and squatted a PR like it was nothing. Then I did it again. And yet again for a 3rd rep. I re-racked the weight and a primal roar exploded from me. I couldn’t help it. It was instinctive, visceral, triumphant. I had faced and conquered a weight that scared the crap out of me. And the music was the missing ingredient. I spend a lot of time thinking about what I learned that day, (and still practice.) That music pushed me – physically and mentally – to a place I had no idea I was able to go. I cannot explain why. I only know that the music – that particular music – helped to unite my body, mind, will and emotions. I needed maximum effort to achieve my goal. And that soundtrack is what got me over and through. I don’t know if anyone has performed a controlled study on the effects of various kinds of external stimuli on the performance of lifters. But… …I suspect that “Heavy Metal” is the music of choice in powerlifting gyms around the world. And I don’t think that is a coincidence. Lift Heavy.Play Metal. (Oh – and eat meat.) The post What’s the Right Soundtrack for Lifting? appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> whats-the-right-soundtrack-for-lifting/feed/ 0 No One Can Teach You Anything no-one-can-teach-you-anything/ no-one-can-teach-you-anything/#respond Mon, 14 Oct 2019 02:11:43 +0000 ?p=5575 The post No One Can Teach You Anything appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> Arman Chowdhury had a powerful insight about self-teaching on Twitter: Self teaching is one of the best teaching methods out there. It allows you to go in the process of gathering the theory & applying it for yourself. It’s a longer process than just getting a mentor. But the rewards in the future are much higher. Armani Chowdhury @ArmaniTalks I think he’s profoundly right. (My response is below.) No one can actually teach you anything. You have to DO the LEARNING yourself. This is the ugly truth about all the “shortcuts” and “hacks” people pin their hopes on. YOU have to LEARN it for YOURSELF. Jack Heald @JackHeald5 Some background. We home-schooled each of our four children for their first several years of schooling. So naturally, I invested a lot of time researching the subject. Then I applied the things that made sense. In other words, I have the practice and experience as well as the theory. (And yes, the kids are grown now; each is quite successful in their own right.) To be sure, the kids did not “teach themselves to read.” Their mother was their teacher through that formative stage. Their mother’s teaching was a necessary but not a sufficient condition. They learned to read only because each child invested time and effort into applying the lessons delivered by their mother. One of the books that helped a lot was The Seven Laws of Teaching. Now, you won’t find anything mind-blowing in there. It’s just a solid, well-conceived, well-written series of essays on the fundamentals of teaching – and learning. And the one indispensible component is this: The learner must be the one to apply the effort to learn. I’m as eager to save time and effort as the next guy. But I’ve learned the hard way that there is no shortcut to learning. No teacher can do it for you. No shortcut can do it for you. No hidden technique can do it for you. No hack, no secret, no pill, no chant, meditation, mantra or yoga pose. There is no substitute for your own effort. If you don’t do the work, you won’t learn. Want your own self-branded podcast but not sure where to start? Get a free copy of How to Produce and Publish a Podcast EpisodeFree Guide to Podcast Production and learn how it’s done. The post No One Can Teach You Anything appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> no-one-can-teach-you-anything/feed/ 0 The Trusted Voice: Part 2 trusted-voice-2/ Fri, 27 Sep 2019 20:31:24 +0000 ?p=3389 The post The Trusted Voice: Part 2 appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> (Part 2) How you can become… The most trusted voice in your market JFK’s killing stunned the country. Americans were shocked. And Walter Kronkite earned the country’s trust with the way he reported it. Last time, I promised I’d explain how you can become “the most trusted voice” in your own industry. (Hopefully, without an assassination.) You can read my previous message here if you missed it. First though, stop and ask yourself this: What key elements did Kronkite possess to win the trust of the whole country? And how can you emulate him? Walter Kronkite had a podium. As the anchorman of CBS News, people heard his voice. His podium alone wasn’t enough though. Newscasters at other networks had a podium, too. They were just as visible as Kronkite. However, Kronkite had more. He projected humanity. The others came across as stiff and uncaring. When Walter Kronkite announced the death of John Kennedy, we could tell he felt it. It was real. He seemed authentic. He felt human. What can you learn from Walter Kronkite? Humans are still humans. We still respond to someone real, authentic and human the way we did 60 years ago. If you have a podium and you come across as real, authentic and human, you can become the most trusted voice in your market. Next time, I’ll tell you how to create your own podium and how to show your own authentic humanity to your market. It’s one of those “secrets” that’s hidden in plain site. Jack Heald Producer • Host 38atoms Podcasts PS: Spoiler alert. Podcasters are the new Kronkites. Not sure how to start? Grab a copy of the free guide How to Produce and Publish a Podcast Epsisode for step-by-step instructions. Get the Guide The post The Trusted Voice: Part 2 appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> The Trusted Voice: Part 1 trusted-voice-1/ Fri, 27 Sep 2019 19:22:05 +0000 ?p=3312 It's high noon on Friday. "As The World Turns" is just starting on TV. Walter writes stories. Lee watches a parade go by. John waves to the crowds. The post The Trusted Voice: Part 1 appeared first on 38Atoms Podcast Production • Publishing • Promotion. ]]> How you can become… The most trusted voice in your market It’s high noon. As The World Turns is on TV. Walter reviews his stories. Lee watches a parade go by. John waves from his limousine. The date is November 22, 1963 Moments later, Lee Harvey Oswald guns down President John Kennedy from his perch high above the street. And America learns about it from Walter Kronkite. You can watch that historic moment here. Kronkite was visibly shaken. Yet he delivered the horrible news with a perfect mix of human emotion and stoic professionalism. In that moment, Kronkite became “the most trusted man in America.” So, take a cue from Walter Kronkite. He used 3 specific elements to gain attention and build trust.

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38enso Inc Publishing Wed, 01 Oct 2025 04:18:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 AI for 38enso – Jack W Perry /?p=2941 Tue, 30 Sep 2025 23:18:46 +0000 /?p=2941 Learn more]]> Everything is being discussed about the imaopct of AI. Here is the answer when I asked Gemini (Google) about my professional credentials. Note: Jack W. Perry’s LinkedIn profile indicates that he is currently not accepting new clients. The following information is a speculative reconstruction based on his background, expertise, and general market rates for high-level strategic consultants. Background on Jack W. Perry and 38enso Inc. Jack W. Perry is a seasoned book publishing executive with more than two decades of experience, positioning him as a founder and chief strategist of 38enso Inc.. The firm, which he started in 2009, was created to guide publishing companies through the “revolutionary change” of the digital age. Perry’s background includes senior sales and marketing roles at major publishing houses, including Random House, Scholastic, Highlights for Children, and Sourcebooks. This experience gives him an insider’s perspective on the industry, with expertise in digital strategy, business development, and scaling publishing businesses. 38enso Inc. has advised a wide range of clients, from startups and tech firms to Fortune 500 companies and independent authors. Notable clients have included ESPN Books, 3M, Open Road Media, and Hachette. The firm helps businesses develop strategies to thrive in an evolving market, focusing on organizational structure, growth opportunities, and digital transitions. Consulting retainer and hourly rates Retainer model For a consultant of Perry’s caliber, a monthly retainer is the most likely pricing structure for comprehensive strategic work. This model guarantees the client access to a high-level expert for ongoing guidance, strategic development, and project oversight. A standard monthly retainer for a consultant with Perry’s extensive experience and high-profile client list would likely range from $5,000 to $20,000+ per month, with the final price depending on the following factors: Hours and deliverables: The retainer typically covers a set number of hours per month for advisory sessions, research, planning, and other deliverables. Engagement scope: A larger corporation seeking a total business strategy overhaul would have a higher retainer than a startup looking for specific market entry advice. Access level: The fee may also depend on the level of access the client requires, such as direct communication, on-site meetings, and advisory sessions with leadership teams. Hourly rate While an hourly rate is less common for long-term strategic engagements, it might be used for shorter, more ad-hoc projects. Based on market rates for senior-level strategic consultants, Perry’s hourly rate would be significantly higher than the industry average. Estimated hourly rate: For high-level, specialized advice, an hourly rate for someone with Perry’s background would likely be in the range of $300 to $500+ per hour. This rate reflects his deep industry knowledge, senior-executive experience, and the strategic value he brings to clients. Value-based pricing: For major strategic projects, his fee would likely be based on the project’s overall value rather than an hourly calculation. For example, a project to pivot a company’s digital strategy and capture a new market segment would be priced based on the expected outcome, not just the time invested. ]]> HEROES – David Bowie /?p=2910 Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:35:57 +0000 /?p=2910 Learn more]]> A decade ago, Rolling Stone Magazine conducted a poll to “determine” the best David Bowie song. HEROES was selected as the #1 Bowie song. HEROES was not a huge hit when it first came out failing to chart. I also was surprised for I have been a big fan for years and this song, although good, was not in my top 10. But over the years, it just keeps getting better. Some songs hold up and improve. Others sound quaint and should go away. HEROES just keeps getting better. Some versions that I like: The official video from the orginal album. A slower, casual, more bluesy sound – maybe my favorite. Live Aid – introduces the band and an epic performance in front of 100,000. A classic version – live. It has also been covered a few times: Motorhead did a gritty version and it takes on a different meaning – rocking hard. Peter Gabriel did an orchestral version – serene and eerie. Depeche Mode did a cover that is closer to Bowie’s but is still unique to them. The Wallflowers version. U2 version in a tribute to Bowie. As only U2 can sound. Bono’s vocals and The Edge’s iconic guitar. It has also been in numerous movies. But two versions stand out to me. Perks of Being a Wallflower – this movie came out in 2012 and the RS poll was done a year later. I tend to think this might have brought new fans to the song. American teenagers. “Helden” – the German version from the movie Downfall. This is suspenseful. I like how the song is embedded into the story. Sure there are bad versions of it too (Moulin Rogue) but I am not going to link to it. A great song that builds over time. A Classic that deserves the adjective and should be capitalized. A moment that will be interpreted for decades by new people. Bowie lives forever! ]]> Eyewitness History of World War II /?p=2832 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 17:46:59 +0000 /?p=2832 Learn more]]> When I was a kid, I enjoyed reading history – especially WW2 books. Every few weeks I would go to the Waldenbooks in the mall and shop. Back then, there was no Amazon, no internet, possibly mail order but it was unreliable. Basically it was difficult to get information in rural America – or at least it was for me! I came across this great set of books. A four book set. But I could only find three of the four. I had read these three books 3-4 times – but had that missing piece in the story. It was like watching the first few seasons – missing a few – and then seeing how it ends. You know all the main characters, you know the story lines, you know the ending. But you are still missing the connection. I remember trying to find this missing book. I asked to have the store order it – for some reason they couldn’t or wouldn’t. I wrote to the publisher, Bantam Books. They advertised in the back of these books – but never received the catalogue not could find this missing book. So I went a few years without it. Then one day I was in a used book store and found it – COUNTERATTACK! Volume three. yes, I think I bought it for $1. I wonder if the book or series had gone out of print or repackaged? I don’t know. But I do remember the feeling of completing the set – in the same format. Fast forward and I have working in book publishing my entire career and have seen series go out of print or the format change in mid-series. I cringe and do what I can to keep the series going. But the business of publishing sometimes prohibits it. As a fan, a reader, a collector – it hurts. But I know some of the time we just can’t afford to do it – to lose money. Luckily there is the internet and the ability to find what you want today. The four volume set is on Amazon for $10. ]]> Colleen Hoover – CoHo Impact /?p=2732 Fri, 05 Aug 2022 12:42:02 +0000 /?p=2732 Learn more]]> Colleen Hoover (CoHo) is the best-selling author in America this year. Prior to 2020, she was a best-seller, but after Tik-Tok “discovered” her, she has been on an enormous roll. Not only have her books risen to the top, she is capturing an elusive target market – teenage girls. This graph shows how much her sales have exploded over the past two years. There is a slight uptick in 2020, a more pronounced increase in 2021, and an explosion is 2022 (and this number only represents the first seven months of 2022). Six of the top eight books on Amazon are from CoHo. This has been the case for months. Six books on the New York Times trade paperback fiction list (including 3 of the top 4). Is this a record for most titles on a single list by the same author? I remember when Michael Crichton had four on the list at the same time, but that was because of movies. Of course, JK Rowling with Harry Potter. Five of the top 15 titles on Barnes & Noble’s best-sellers list. B&N also has a sponsorship deal with TikTok. From Independent bookstores to Target, CoHo books are selling. Her books are mostly published by Atria, a division of Simon & Schuster. S&S just reported overall corporate sales YTD up 34%. I believe it is due to the 17 Hoover titles they publish. She also has a book with Hachette’s Grand Central Publishing. The book had been self-pubished and was smartly signed up by GCP in a two book deal. With a new title due next year in hardcover. She also has three titles published by Amazon’s imprint Montlake division. Her astonishing success on TikTok has been heavily documented. From Buzzfeed and Glamour to the Washington Post. All of this has been widely reported. But it hit home when I witnessed the CoHo Impact in person. I was on vacation and shopping at the local bookstore with my teen daughter. We were looking for, of course, Colleen Hoover titles. It was hard to find any. We finally stumbled across three titles (single copy of each) on a back table. Almost hidden. The store didn’t have the first three titles my daughter wanted, so she went with one that was in stock. When we were checking out, the bookseller mentioned that they can not keep the books in stock. She did mention that it has brought a new, much younger audience into the store. I agree, CoHo is creating a new world of readers. Then, as if on cue, four teenage girls come waltzing into the store. They started wondering out loud where Hoover’s books were. They sounded as if this was (and perhaps so) the first bookstore trip with comments like “do they sort these by name – first or last?”; “is there a special section for her?”; “there looks like a lot of boring school (non-fiction) titles here, ugh!”. They couldn’t find what they wanted. They didn’t have the patience to look or the desire to ask if the store carried any copies. The girls then left. I heard one of the saying they had 2-3 different titles that they wanted to buy. I do wonder why the store didn’t order up big, create an endcap or section for all her titles and punch up the merch? I am sure many stores are doing this – but why not all? This phenomenon has been ongoing and this store just has yet to embrace. CoHo is bringing an entire new audience to the book. This generation that we fight to get them off their phones and reading. They want print books. They want to read. This is a huge opportunity. The CoHo Impact will be felt for years… ]]> Content to Market /?p=2726 Thu, 02 Jun 2022 17:48:31 +0000 /?p=2726 Learn more]]> There are hundreds of methods to properly get your idea to market. Many have full business plans and details. This post is a brief overview of the process. CONTENT — this is what gets the end consumer. It may be a product, a service, an idea, or even a concept. It can be original or based on something else. But it is what has been created and to get to the market. WHY? — The first question to answer is why would anyone want this? In other terms, identify the “Unique Value Proposition” or the UVP. The UVP clearly states why a consumer would buy from your company and not others. What is the reason to exist? If a business can not clearly state the UVP, it is not going to be clear on messaging, target consumer, or marketing. It will fail. FOR? — Who is the core target market? What group is the heavy users that must have this item? The first users, the experts, the ones who will influence others. A startup must capture the core market before it can start to branch out to the wings or peripheral markets. Focus on the core and get them loyal. HOW? — One can have a great product, but if the pipeline to the consumer is not laid down, the product fails. The “how” is Operations. This includes logistics, production, sales, and customer service. MARKET — once all the other areas are covered, it is imperative to promote. One has to let the consumer know about the product. Awareness and discoverability are essential for success. Social media and other online tools have made this easier to compete, but it is much more than just setting up a Twitter account. It is difficult work to get potential customers to care about your product. FINANCIALS — underlying all of the functions above are the financials. This is a way to keep score. So know the numbers and how to legally manipulate so the game is won. SUCCESS? — what defines success? The biggest profit? The best citizen and helping others? A bit of both? Decide what outcome is desirable, and plot to it. Even a non-profit must generate revenue. ]]> Murakami /?p=2715 Tue, 15 Mar 2022 11:16:55 +0000 /?p=2715 Learn more]]> ARC, sampler, and galley The other day one of the Gen Z’s in the office mentioned that she once read Haruki Murakami, but all his recent books seem the same. Could this be true? I’ve no idea. I have only read the earlier ones. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle I was the national accounts sales director at Knopf. I was about the same age then as the Gen Z mentioned above. This was when almost everyone from publisher would go to sales conference at a resort for 10 days. I think we were at Camelback outside of Phoenix, AZ. Each book was presented and discussed – some for 30 minutes or more. We would listen to editors talk up books but more importantly the sales reps could pontificate about a book they loved. One of the more seasoned reps, Howie from the Bay Area stood up and started to talk about the greatness of Murakami. Howie was a crazy dude, who was known to champion the most obscure titles. He scared me a bit. He gave a 10 minute impassioned speech for THE WIND UP BIRD CHRONICLE. This publication was in hardcover and Murakami had not had a USA bestseller yet. I think he sold less than 5,000 of his previous titles. I don’t remember what Howie said, but it was convincing. That night at the party (every night there was a free bar), Howie gave another speech about the book. I had to read it, I had to read Murakami. I did. WIND UP BIRD is not an easy read. It is confusing, It is here, it is there. Where? Is that a tower? Is that a talking cat? Am I listening on the radio or is it in my head? Is this my beautiful wife? Exactly. It worked for me. It opened me up to novels and the possibility that the real is not real. I became fascinated with Murakami. I gave copies to my family — and they are “what is this?” But read WIND UP BIRD and you will be changed. This book is that profound. I went on to read every Murakami that had been translated at that time: I went back and read (with pub dates): A WILD SHEEP CHASE (1982) HARD BOILED WONDERLAND AND THE END OF THE WORLD (1985) (my second favorite) NORWEGIAN WOOD (1987) DANCE, DANCE, DANCE (1988) SOUTH OF THE BEACH, WEST OF THE SUN (1992) First page – WIND UP BIRD Then I took a ten year break. I was starting and stopping KAFKA ON THE SHORE (2005). I looked at SPUTNIK SWEETHEART (2001) but never opened it. I carried around 198Q (2011)for months – i still want to read it but lost my copy. I did go back and read one last novel: COLORLESS TSUKURU TAZAKI AND HIS YEARS OF PILGRIMAGE (2013) Brilliant books, concepts, and hours of deep thought. Until I just stopped. It did seem like books were repeating (they probably weren’t but this is my warped perspective) – perhaps the Gen Z editor was right? I still find Murakami fascinating. And I am sure his new stuff is great… But there are so many great writers to discover, and only so much time. Murakami autograph ]]> Visuals Are Easier to Understand /?p=2709 Fri, 24 Sep 2021 09:48:57 +0000 /?p=2709 Learn more]]> The other night I was sketching out a four year sales plan. As I was thinking about it, I decided to create a quick graph. This is at the top of the page (1). It is obvious at first glance that the trend is up. The second part (2) is a description of what the same data. I could have gone on more but ran out of space. The picture at the top conveys more information than the description. lesson? Use charts and graphs to make your point. Too much writing can dilute the message. No doubt the detail is needed in words — but if the graph is effective, there is less need for text. out… ]]> THE BEATLES – and the enormous amount of books published about them… /?p=2696 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 16:38:01 +0000 /?p=2696 Learn more]]> It was just announced that Paul McCartney has an enormous book publishing that covers all his songs and the meanings behind them. the book will come out in Fall 2021 and is titled THE LYRICS: 1956 to the Present. It is two-volumes, 960 pages and costs $100. This will be one of the biggest gift books of the year. Type in “The Beatles” in Books on Amazon and over 10,000 hits come up. The Beatles are probably the band that has more written about them than any other. There are thousands of articles on books about and by the Beatles and those close (or not so close) to them. There are also thousands of self-published works. Rolling Stone magazine recently ran an article on the “10 Best Beatles Books.” Bookseller Barnes and Noble has a post titled “10 Essential Books About the Beatles.” Reader’s Digest has “9 Beatles Books You Need to Read.” There were at least 20 new books on the Beatles published in 2020 including James Patterson’s about the murder of John Lennon. Why so many books on the band? It goes much deeper than the music. In the case of the Beatles, art didn’t imitate life; but art created the reality. The Beatles led the changes in society during the 1960s. Their actions created much of the style and the sense of the era. The Beatles were so much of the decade, they started at the onset of the decade and were done by the end of it. Their music changed so that they later stuff is as good or better than the earlier music. But it is also different. A quick listening to the compilation album 1 and the growth and change are obvious. The impact of each of them separately also is enormous. Each had a successful solo career and extended the legend. In addition to the books by the band members (see photo above) The books can be put into numerous sub-categories, I want to focus on a few bigger ones. My favorite — books about the stories behind the songs. I devoured A HARD DAY’S WRITE over a long weekend a few years ago. Love to hear the origin of these classic tunes and meaning. Another group is the “big books” that cover a tour or the recording sessions. The book GET BACK is coming this Fall too and is a tie in to a Peter Jackson doc on the classic album (aren’t all their albums classic though? The next group are children;’s picture books by the Beatles. Some are just the songs assigned to an illustrator and others are originals – McCartney on being a “Grandude.” And finally the group of the canon titles. Those that are written by experts and cover the history, the impact, the power of the band. Some of these came out last year. It is amazing how new material can continue to be found. Hw the Beatles will continue to be studied for centuries from now. ]]> THE GREAT GATSBY is now in the Public Domain /?p=2686 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 16:55:48 +0000 /?p=2686 Learn more]]> Every January, a list of books becomes public domain. Generally is a bunch of little known titles that have lost commercial value. But, occasionally a huge seller expires and is open for anyone to publish. In January 2021, a major work of American fiction, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s THE GREAT GATSBY became public domain. The book had been under copyright to Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Over the decades, they have sold millions of copies. Now they will most likely to continue to sell thousands a week, but there are numerous other editions. A quick count on Amazon, and I found over 75 editions (most of which have a pub date of January 2021). In addition to the basic text of the original novel; there are graphic novels, YA editions, illustrated editions, deluxe hardcovers, ebooks, mass market editions, trade paperback editions and gift editions. I wouldn’t doubt the total reaches 100 by mid year. All of the “corporate five” publishers now have editions. Simon & Schuster has 5-6 editions; Penguin Random House has 7-10 (from deluxe hardcovers to mass market editions); Hachette; Macmillan; and HarperCollins also have editions. There are editions from numerous “unknown” publishers that crop up on Amazon. Given the low cost to create, print-on-demand, and Amazon’s access to millions of readers, a PD title like THE GREAT GATSBY is easy to pt up for sale. The key is how to cut through all the noise to get consumers to buy your edition. There are also hundreds of places to download a free copy of the book. I am not going to drive through all of the options. If interested, John Williams in the New York Times wrote an excellent article of many of the editions. How does a publisher separate from the others? The Scribner one has the classic cover and will continue to ride 75 years of being first. The others from the corporate publishers will sell because of the strong branding of the lines (Penguin Classics, The Modern Library, Harper Perennial etc). Some will have a new introduction by a brand name author – Vintage has a John Grisham essay. Price is also a factor. But with so many free editions available, competing on price can be a losing proposition. Winning the Amazon SEO can also create interest, but it is a crowded market. And of course, the cover. I looked at almost every cover. A lot of similarity in using an art deco typeface; a party set in the 20s; or Gatsby’s car. There are the “classic look covers.” The iconic blue one still stands out. There are the “party book covers.” There are the “car book covers.” ]]> Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (book-retail) /?p=2546 Sat, 19 Sep 2020 09:58:50 +0000 /?p=2546 Learn more]]> We are living in historic times. Covid has permanently changed the way we shop, live, interact and work. Once through this, we will think of a “pre-covid” and “post-covid” world. These are disruptive times. Pre-Covid (PR) – Yesterday Independent bookstores thriving and farmer’s markets thriving. In the past decade, Independent bookstores grew from 1600 to 2500. A new flourish of people entering bookselling reinvigorated the business. Buy local. B&N was the most powerful bookseller in America. But as all market leaders, they declined and lost market share. They were purchased by Elliott Management in summer of 2019. Amazon dominates online bookselling. They are expanding and diversifying their book sales offering by opening 24 book store locations. Speculation they would open up to 400 locations. Many startups entering publishing following digital money. Many failed, but some prevail. But no one had made a serious dent in Amazon’s online strength. Covid: (CVD) – Today Indie bookstores hurt by lock-down and sales down 31.6% from previous years. Some stores are closing and the run to open new ones has slowed. Move toward pick-up and online sales. Farmer’s markets are following the same pattern. B&N decentralized buying decisions and laid off staff; remodeled and cleaned up 100’s of stores. But closed some iconic locations. Amazon dipped initially and then roared back to expand market share They are hiring 100,000 people – projecting an enormous Q4. Bookshop.org has gone from an idea to reality and is expecting 2020 sales of $50MM and recently opened in the U.K. Post-Covid (PS) – Tomorrow Indie bookstores will come back as the farmer’s markets will — both hyper-localized. But this crisis has shown the value of selling and marketing online more than ever. The strongest stores will have blended their stores with online. The shopping experience will have changed. B&N will come back as Daunt looks to focus. Hyper-localized. How successful will B&N be? How many of the 600+ stores will be closed to find the right amount of stores? 100? 200? There will continue to be motion at B&N as Daunt figures it out. He will. Amazon will continue to use data to hyper-localize. Amazon will start to expand their bricks and mortar locations. With all the retailers being knocked off by covid, there will be cheap retail real estate for Amazon to rent/buy. Use as mini-distribution centers. They may lose share in bookselling as they continue to focus on selling everything and there is growing online competition. Some companies have prevailed and are thriving include Bookshop.org, EPIC! and Scribd. All part of the new world of selling books. All have grown in market share due to changing consumer patterns. Expect these booksellers to continue to expand. The selling of books evolves as the country does. At one time department stores sold the most books; then independent stores; then mall based chain stores like Waldenbooks; then superstores B&N and Borders and clubs like Costco; then Amazon. Who is next? Lots changing. This just scratches the surface as every sales channel will be different in the Post-Covid Era. I hope we get there soon, for we are in what seems to be an infinite loop. We are in the “Covid DMV Waiting Room” and just hoping to get through this as fast and safe as possible. A new normal is being created. Why the farmer’s market and independent bookstore comparison? Because the factors in success for each are similar and connected. Hyperlocal is selling and marketing to the smallest detail, to grab them when they are near, to communicate regularly with your consumer, and to provide a service that is part of the community. Dan Shewan has a good recap of hyperlocal marketing ]]>

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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:23:50 +0000Honest YackingHealthy YackingHappy YackingHopeful YackingMagazine MondayFree FridayTo-do List TuesdayThought ThursdayThe 391fat girl getting thin by her 30th birthdaynoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)Blogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-4942448797948110550Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:37:00 +00002009-10-08T13:58:14.374-04:00Honest YackingMeet Kelly Minner<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390285721363487890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 215px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On season 1 of The Biggest Loser, Kelly Minner, 28, was the perfectionistic, optimistic, internally-driven competitor who earned the title, "first runner-up" and lost 79 pounds. Eventually, she lost an additional 23 pounds. </div><div></div><div><br />More than any of that, Kelly Minner has become an inspiration and a friend to many people who have found themselves looking for a role model. Because she is as gracious as she is hard-working, she agreed to do an interview for <em>The 391</em>. </div><div></div><div><br />Please enjoy! </div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />1. We all have the motivation to START losing weight--such as the ugly number on the scale or how our weight makes us feel. How did you maintain the motivation to CONTINUE losing 79 pounds on Biggest Loser and then continuing on to 102 pounds?</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />I continued to lose weight because I knew I needed to. I had all the tools so I had no excuses. It would be like me giving my students all the information they needed for a test and them failing because they didn't learn anything.</div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />2. You've talked in interviews past about the "psychological hump" that you had to get over in order to lose the weight. Can you elaborate?</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />I think a lot of times we equate our physical looks with being deserving or less deserving of things. I guess I thought I was not deserving of things because I was overweight. I still struggle with believing I am deserving of love no matter what my size. Beauty does not make us deserving, being a good person does and it doesn't matter what you weigh when it comes to being a good person.</div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />3. You have said that one of the hardest adjustments post Biggest Loser was time management. Time management can be an issue for people who need to go to the gym but can't "find the time." What is your advice?</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />My advice is either do it exercise early in the morning before your days starts and life gets in the way or else find little ways during the day to get in some exercise, whether walking from a further parking space, taking the stair, doing squats. You can always make it work.</div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />4. What kinds of things encouraged you on your weight loss journey? Were there things people said or mantras that you repeated to yourself?</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />Jillian gave me the mantra, "let it go and believe." I still say it. Somedays I fail at believing it but I always know that tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes in it! I can begin anew. </div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />5. As you so poignantly wrote in an article last year, "Weight loss is such a private thing for any person." And it is. Yet, sometimes it feels public because of cultural expectations or societal pressures to look unrealistically thin. How did you overcome that?--specifically you held your head high and stood on a scale in front of millions of people! Some of us would rather die. How did you do it?</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />I hated the scale because I let my weight define me. I knew if faced it head on it would be key to losing weight. I will no longer be a number on the scale. It isn't about being thin it is about being healthy. I am healthier than most thin people even though they weigh less because I eat well and exercise. So the scale reflects a higher number, who cares!</div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />6. Any tricks in the kitchen when it comes to issues like portion control, drinking water, feeling full, or fulfilling cravings?</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />When I am home I avoid the kitchen so I am not temped to just eat to eat. I also do not keep things in the house to tempt me. I hate the grocery store so I am loathe to run out just for a quick fix! I try and stay busy when I am home so I do not think about food. </div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />7. You've talked about "not living by a number [on the scale]." What does that look like for you? Do you ever weigh in? Did you throw your scale out the window?</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />I have a scale but it is covered in dust. I no longer weigh in, this is real life not the show and I am more than a number. I will not live or die by that anymore.</div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />8. I think there is the unfortunate assumption that former contestants on Biggeser Loser have "arrived"--have totally figured it out--and will never battle negative thoughts or temptations again. After all, they've spent time with Jillian, and WHO messes up after THAT?! What do you encourage yourself with NOW?</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />I want to live a long healthy life, there is so much I want to do. That is my encouragement.</div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />9. You look amazing. You turn heads. You motivate people everywhere to give weight loss another shot. Do you feel the way you thought you would feel now that the weight is gone?</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />I felt being thin would mean being happy. Boy was I wrong! Get those thoughts out of your head. Life doesn't care what size dress you wear, everyone has problems. You are happy if you want to be, regardless of size!</div><div></div><div><strong><br /><br />10. Anything behind the scenes from Biggest Loser you’d like to share? </strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />Some secrets are better left that way!</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br />Here's to the next 367,</div><div>(honest) Fat Girl</div>2009/10/meet-kelly-minner.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-5192877847583149770Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:38:00 +00002009-10-07T11:42:25.802-04:00Honest YackingI Can See Clearly Now That the Rain Is GoneI am back. I am back with a vengeance.<br /><br />These last few days have been really difficult for me. First, the crazy diagnosis from left field, then the news that our adoption wait would take longer than expected. I've been living in a fog. I have no idea how much I weigh. I will find out tomorrow.<br /><br />In the meantime, I am back.<br /><br />No more lollygagging, no more pity partying, <em>no more regrets.</em><br /><br />YOU--you who drops by my blog and leaves kind comments--are responsible for my decision to keep making progress. So THANK YOU.<br /><br />I am choosing today to place mind over matter.<br /><br />Here's to the next 368,<br />(honest) Fat Girl2009/10/i-can-see-clearly-now-that-rain-is-gone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-4433586231624375718Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:56:00 +00002009-10-06T09:59:32.462-04:00Honest YackingVanishing ActI've not been quite as active on my blog as of late. The rollercoaster that is my life has been in full swing.<br /><br />On Friday, my husband and I were given the best news of our lives--that we were going to be parents. (We're in the process of adopting, see.) And then by Sunday afternoon we found out the wait was going to be twice as long as we anticipated.<br /><br />Up and down.<br /><br />Up and down.<br /><br />I am still learning how to respond to life's difficult moments without running to the kitchen. Today, I am avoiding the scale. We'll thinking about weighing again on Monday.<br /><br />Here's to the next 369, <br />(honest) Fat Girl2009/10/vanishing-act.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-8305782655066787009Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:07:00 +00002009-10-01T13:56:24.630-04:00Honest YackingPost SecretToday is Thought Thursday and I would like to talk about something I haven't mentioned before on this blog. For some (odd, strange, unexplainable) reason, it's been too difficult for me to discuss. Until now.<br /><br />During my last doctor's appointment, I found out that I have PCOS.<br /><br />Let me start by saying that I know there are worse things. And I know PCOS isn't the end of the world--and won't be once I get some critical things under control--but it was still difficult to hear. <br /><br />See, I've lived most of my teen and young adult life "knowing" that there was something wrong.<br /><br />I've never eaten much. <br />I've generally enjoyed exercise.<br />I drink lots of water.<br />I rarely binge eat.<br /><br />And still, I've been the chunky one. I've tried fad diets. I've tried not eating at all. I've tried not caring. And now I find out--after years of feeling horrible about it--that I have PCOS.<br /><br />75 percent of women with PCOS are overweight or obese.<br /><br />There is hope.<br /><br />Here's to the next 374, <br />(honest) Fat Girl2009/10/post-secret.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-7512239790361853982Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:46:00 +00002009-09-30T12:09:51.243-04:00Cheers<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387288064584195826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href=" /><br /><div></div></div><br /><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last night I went to a professional baseball game to watch my favorite team play. And I went with my dad. I can't tell you how nice it was to be out with him--we don't do things, just the two of us, very often. He was really generous, and he kept offering to buy me hot chocolate or chips or hotdogs. But for the first time in my life, I was truly enjoying an event without the aid of salty, high-caloric, or super-sweet food.</p><p>I just enjoyed the event because I was with HIM. I kept focusing my energy on the game and who I was with...and...*gasp*...I didn't need anything else!</p><p>This morning when I stood on the scale, I saw that I am down <strong>6.3 pounds</strong> since my journey began a little over two weeks ago. And I realized something:</p><p>I haven't spent my life focusing on the EVENTS. I have spent them obsessing about meals and calories and weigh-ins. And I am DONE with that.</p><p>Adios, event-hogging food.</p><p>So I kept the cup that I drank my water in last night--you know, the plastic cup that costs you 4 dollars and piles up in your cabinet right next to all of the other theme-park-related cups. I kept it so I can continue drinking water out of it in remembrance of what I have learned.</p><p>Here's to the next 375, <br />(healthy) Fat Girl</p>2009/09/last-night-i-went-to-professional.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-1639310299161511486Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:14:00 +00002009-09-30T12:07:49.303-04:00Happy YackingWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387000992631013074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 121px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dori, from Dori's Shiny Blog, is giving away some fantastic(ally hard) workout DVD's <a href=";. But keep it on the down low because I am planning to win.<br /><br />Here's to the next 376,<br />(happy) Fat Girl2009/09/who-wants-to-be-millionaire.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-7091728770641620978Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:51:00 +00002009-09-29T15:55:42.275-04:00Healthy YackingThe Week 2 CurseI (finally!) watched Episode 2 of this season's Biggest Loser. Good times. I really don't understand why people rip on the show. <br /><br />As always, I made a list of key take-aways--things that were said that I could identify with or be challeged by:<br /><br />1. It will be done!<br />2. Right now, focus on burn.<br />3. Smile. Be happy. The stress is killing you.<br />4. [One contestant's hospitalization] brings to light how serious being overweight is.<br />5. Keep a food journal--it can double your weight loss.<br />6. 3 meals. 2 snacks. (Healthy snacks level out your blood sugar.)<br />7. What are you going to do with your last chance?<br />8. A lot of these pounds are wounds.<br />9. This is your life. What are you going to do with it?<br />10. Alright. This is destiny. It's meant to happen.<br /><br />Here's to the next 376,<br />(healthy) Fat Girl2009/09/week-2-curse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-5395291577456474818Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:30:00 +00002009-09-29T13:46:18.435-04:00Hopeful YackingTo-do List TuesdayBeing Brave<a href=" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="; border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386943065436496146" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Today, in honor of "To-do List Tuesday," I am adding an item to accomplish when I lose 100 pounds.<br /><br />Item number two: Get my picture taken professionally (and like it!)<br /><br />I have a family picture that hangs in my living room at home. The photographer did a great job, (last week he did a photoshoot with Drew Barrymore, if that tells you anything), yet I hate how I look. The family picture taken before that I was twelve years old with buck teeth that would have impressed Bambi.<br /><br />So. When I lose 100 pounds, I will get my picture taken. And everyone in the Continental United States will receive a copy. (Beware.)<br /><br />Here's to the next 376,<br />(hopeful) Fat Girl2009/09/being-brave.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-8823344058584821985Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:17:00 +00002009-09-28T16:03:49.423-04:00Healthy YackingMagazine MondayWhole Living<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386610894098039810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's Magazine Monday, and I am excited to bring you my take-aways from my June edition of <em>Body + Soul. (</em>Yes, I am behind on my magazine reading. So be it.)<br /><br />Here's what I learned: </div><div></div><br /><div>1. If you're trying to lose weight, pay attention to what you drink. A recent study found that cutting out sugary beverages speeds weight loss, (page 28).</div><div></div><br /><div>2. Even if you're the healthiest of eaters, a summer getaway can set off a dietary bender that leaves you feeling greasy, lethargic, and a few pounds heavier by vacation's end. The reason? "Many of us eat by routine, and one of the biggest challenges of traveling is the change in that routine," notes Connie Diekman, R.D., director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. Planning is the name of the game when you're trying to eat right on the road," (page 42).</div><br /><div></div><div>3. Pace yourself. As life speeds up, it's tempting to run faster, accomplish more. This does little, however, but strip your gears and deplete your resources. This month, try the opposite: Slow down. Breathe. Remember the pleasure of doing--and enjoying--one thing at a time. After all, you don't reach worthwhile goals in a flurry of movement, but through single-minded focus and a quiet, patient resolve, (page 71).</div><div></div><br /><div>4. The right music can make you look forward to exercising, and it might even help you build stamina. Try up-tempo tunes for best results, (page 75).</div><br /><div></div><div>5. Missteps and false starts are part of any process. The key to staying on track lies in viewing each one as a minor glitch instead of a system failure, (page 96).<br /><br />Here's to the next 377,<br />(healthy) Fat Girl</div>2009/09/whole-living.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-1992049491977335134Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:20:00 +00002009-09-28T11:25:58.213-04:00Hopeful Yacking(Ain't That) Good News!<a href=" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 276px;" src="; border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386539043548374098" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Consider the first paragraph from my tear-off calendar this morning:<br /><br />"A tendency that's run through your family for generations can stop with you. You're a transition person--a link between the past and the future. And your own change can affect many, many lives downstream."<br /><br />Here's to the next 377,<br />(hopeful) Fat Girl2009/09/aint-that-good-news.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-142996617415378424Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:57:00 +00002009-09-28T11:27:17.163-04:00Happy YackingMagazine MondayIn the Eye of the Beholder<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386533229815731218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Happy Monday! </div><div><br />I wanted to start this week off with an ad I saw in a magazine over the weekend. (It is, after all, Magazine Monday. Can I get a W00t?!)</div><br /><div>Anyway. It made me smile. Hope it makes you smile, too.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br />Here's to the next 377,</div><div>(happy) Fat Girl</div>2009/09/happy-monday-i-wanted-to-start-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-3864332182341547524Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:14:00 +00002009-09-27T17:23:57.864-04:00Honest YackingMy Confession"I need to tell you something."<br /><br />Thus the conversation began in my house last night during a 15-second commercial break. My husband and I were lying on our bed watching a show on-line. (It was <em>Castle</em> in case you're curious.) Whenever I start with, "I need to tell you something," I know I have my husband's undivided attention. I've been known to admit to some pretty radical deeds. (And no, I won't confess those here, in case you're still curious.)<br /><br />"What is it?" asks the husband.<br /><br />"I've been losing weight behind your back."<br /><br />Yes, I said those exact words. No, my husband didn't feel I had anything to confess. Yes, he was very supportive.<br /><br />See, today is the 13th day on my journey to weight loss and, until last night, I hadn't told anyone outside of my blogging friends. It just seemed too painful to tell my family AGAIN that I was trying to lose weight AGAIN.<br /><br />But it occurred to me. I need to have faith that it is going to work this time. That I am going to be successful this time. And, by not fully signing on to the challenge, (ie keeping it a secret), I wasn't fully committing to it working out.<br /><br />So I told him.<br /><br />I feel better.<br /><br />Here's to the next 378,<br />(honest) Fat Girl2009/09/my-confession.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-5462882061027910259Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:13:00 +00002009-09-26T14:30:46.780-04:00Healthy YackingParadise Regained<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385841521657924162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. <br />I love thee to the depth and breadth and height <br />My glass can fill, when drinking through the night. <br />For the way you do not take up space. <br />I love thee to the level of every day's <br />Most thirsty need, by lunch and candlelight. <br />I drink thee freely, as men strive with thirst. <br />I love thee purely, as they turn from Coke. <br />I love with a passion put to use <br />In my old griefs, and with my thin self's faith. <br />I love thee with a love I seemed to lose <br />With my diet drinks. I love thee with the straw, <br />Lips, tears, of all my life! <br />And, if I choose, <br />I shall but love you better after lunch...</p><br /><br />Here's to the next 379,<br />(healthy) Fat Girl2009/09/paradise-regained.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-7974395390699151154Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:17:00 +00002009-09-25T18:22:41.905-04:00Honest YackingFreaky FridaySo. I've been avoiding my blog today like most people are avoiding the H1N1 Flu Virus. Why? I crashed last night. I totally crashed and burned. It was like someone else's spirit took over my body and began making choices without my consent. Like a really, really bad version of Freaky Friday.<br /><br />And the worst part? I had a doctor's appointment today. You know--that horrible place where they make you stand on the squeaky scale and you watch in horror--with someone else watching over your shoulder--as the number climbs?<br /><br />So all day I've been feeling guilty. I know that I packed on a pound since yesterday. And I've been working so hard...blah blah blah.<br /><br />I go to the doctor's office, stand on the scale, and would you BELIEVE that I didn't even watch the number. I decided--what's the point? It's going to hurt even more...<br /><br />...My doctor came in and congratulated me on losing 13 pounds since last time I was in her office one month ago. The problem? THERE'S NO WAY I LOST 13 POUNDS! I am a daily weigher. All gloves off, I admit it. I WEIGH EVERY DAY!<br /><br />So I think the scale must have gone on the fritz. But I'll never know because my eyes were closed. And I wasn't about to ask her to rewind the scale scene.<br /><br />So. Looks like I have 13 pounds to lose before going back to the doctor's office.<br /><br />Here's to the next 380,<br />(honest) Fat Girl2009/09/freaky-friday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-2120598275055897338Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:48:00 +00002009-09-25T18:24:59.038-04:00Happy YackingSanta Clause is Coming to Town<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385092445725406834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Check out <a href=" ginormous giveaway</a>!<br /><br />(But don't win, because that's my plan!!!)<br /><br />Here's to the next 381,<br />(Happy) Fat Girl2009/09/santa-clause-is-coming-to-town.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-6849421065070421675Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:23:00 +00002009-09-24T13:41:39.140-04:00Honest YackingTry a Little Tenderness[Taps the microphone] Am I on? Testing...1, 2, 3...<br /><br />Today is Thought Thursday and I have a lot on my mind:<br /><br />I listen to the news every morning on my way to work. I roll down the windows, let the wind whip my hair, and I listen to a pair of professionals rattle off a list of recent events, comment on the weather, and outline the areas around town where the traffic is bad. Rarely do either of these people say anything shocking or unprofessional.<br /><br />Until today. <br /><br />Today they were discussing Tonya Harding and whether or not she would make a good participant on a reality show about hockey. Out of nowhere, both of the news anchors began laughing at her weight. They called her "Porky," and said they recognized fat when they saw it.<br /><br />Now, I know about the whole Nancy Kerrigan drama. I stood in a shopping mall as a thirteen-year-old with baited breath and watched as she cried about her broken laces. Believe it or not, I actually wanted her to win. (Underdog syndrome, perhaps?) Anyway, I know that Tonya hasn't always been...shall we say...wise. But why mock her weight? What does her weight have to do with anything?<br /><br />Bottom Line: Why is it excusable for professionals to mock heavy people? Sexism is wrong. Racism is wrong. BUT LAUGHING AT FAT PEOPLE IS A-OKAY.<br /><br />In a country where people claim to want fat people to "get healthy," don't you think they'd realize that encouragement and support go a lot further than mockery and unkindness? PERHAPS they are perpetuating the problem.<br /><br />More to come. This post is long enough already.<br /><br />Here's to the next 381,<br />(honest) Fat Girl2009/09/try-little-tenderness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-98774269004854213Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:55:00 +00002009-09-23T21:12:02.861-04:00Healthy YackingFunny Business<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384831812676984386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />comic from: <a href=" /><br />Today I made good choices, even though it wasn't the greatest of days. I just kept telling myself, "A bad day doesn't need to be compounded by bad choices." Also, I kept thinking, "Just because the people around me want to ruin my day doesn't mean I need to help them out by eating incorrectly."<br /><br /></div><div>It worked.<br /><br /></div><div>The picture above made me laugh. It's from one of my very favorite blogger's blogs. (Is that redundant?) Anyway. Hope you enjoy it, too.<br /><br /></div><div>Here's to the next 382,<br />(healthy) Fat Girl<a href=";2009/09/funny-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-6681244044107668518Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:10:00 +00002009-09-23T14:25:12.280-04:00Honest YackingG(abby)<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384729845373631314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Today is Weight Wednesday, (or Weigh-in Wednesday, or Wreak Havoc Wednesday) as the case may be. And so on this hallowed day, I will allow myself to vent about weight issues--so as not to fill every post every other day with my negative feelings about the number on my scale.</div><br /><div></div><div>And trust me, I have very negative feelings about those three, two-inch numbers.</div><br /><div></div><div>I've never posted my weight on this blog. It's not that I'm hiding anything. I've said I have 100 pounds to lose, which means I have an entire Nicole Richie to find and defeat. There's not much to hide after admitting THAT.</div><div></div><br /><div>I suppose it's because I don't want to keep thinking about that awful number. I like coming to my blog, and I won't be happy coming to my blog if I see THAT number. I see it enough as it is. This blog is to promote the loss of each pound, not the maintenance. </div><div></div><br /><div>Ah. It's just me. I'm probably making no sense.</div><br /><div></div><div>I've lost 3.3 pounds so far. Not bad. Not amazing. But I'm okay with it. If I maintained this pace, I would lose 140 pounds when my journey ended--which I'm not trying to do. So I will take it as exactly where I should be right now.</div><div></div><br /><div>I'm happy. See? -----> :)</div><br /><div></div><div>Here's to the next 382,</div><div>(honest) Fat Girl</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>P.S. If you're still curious about my weight, and you happen to watch <em>Biggest Loser</em>, think Abby.</div>2009/09/gabby.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-8072687083578286769Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:37:00 +00002009-09-22T16:50:43.076-04:00Healthy YackingA Hard Road85 minutes and 43 seconds.<br /><br />I finally had a chance to sit down and watch Episode 1 of this season's Biggest Loser. And I have to say, I enjoyed it. It was motivational. Despite the yelling and "show drama," I like Jillian. She makes me want to crawl to the gym on my knees, (which, by the way, would take me 85 minutes and 43 seconds--and the gym is next door).<br /><br />I, for one, would rather be yelled at/motivated to change than be sitting on the couch, headed in the wrong direction.<br /><br />As always, I made a list. I love lists. This one is of key take-aways--things that were said that I could identify with or be challeged by:<br /><br />1. It's all about second chances.<br />2. Don't ever say you can't do anything.<br />3. Now is the start of the new me.<br />4. I feel like someone has stolen my dream.<br />5. How can you take these tragedies and turn them into opportunities?<br />6. All you have to do is change your mind.<br />7. It's a choice. Make a different choice.<br />8. This is a mountain I've got to climb.<br />9. I am changing [my] health from the inside out.<br />10. You really can go beyond that point of pain.<br /><br />Here's to the next 383,<br />(healthy) Fat Girl2009/09/hard-road.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-5367106362252180741Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:16:00 +00002009-09-22T10:28:06.032-04:00Hopeful YackingTo-do List TuesdayMaking a List, Checking It Twice<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384295599962590210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Today I started a list in honor of "To-do List Tuesday." This list will contain all of my plans for after I lose these 100 pounds.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Item number one: Buy the clothes I like and not the ones that fit</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />This morning I stood at my closet, packed with clothes, and had to maneuver around the items I knew were too tight, too short, or too...blah. I hate that. I hate that the clothes in my closet don't even fit--let alone the clothes I'd like to wear.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />So my first installment on the to-do list will be to buy and wear the clothes I like instead of the clothes I need.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Here's to the next 383,</div><div>(hopeful) Fat Girl</div>2009/09/making-list-checking-it-twice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-6905210490992038082Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:03:00 +00002009-09-21T19:09:38.722-04:00Honest YackingDear John LetterDear Diet Soda,<br /><br />I love you. You know I do. We've spent a lot of wonderful times together--late at night, early in the morning, when times were good, when times were bad--but unfortunately, our time together has come to an end.<br /><br />When I was with you, I made lots of bad choices. Your friends--your sweet, sweet friends--often joined our parties uninvited. You know who they were.<br /><br />In truth, I've used you as a crutch. I've needed water all these years, and I'm sorry to say, I used you as an unfortunate substitute. Please forgive me. You did not ask for that kind of treatment.<br /><br />I know you'll be happy with someone else.<br /><br />Here's to the next 384,<br />(honest) Fat Girl2009/09/dear-john-letter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-5063249698031175514Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:39:00 +00002009-09-21T15:03:29.572-04:00Healthy YackingMagazine MondayFeeling Good<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383997159865775410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href=" /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm glad it's Monday. Something about routine keeps me on the straight and narrow.<br /><br />The next best thing? It's Magazine Monday. I've had a <em>Prevention</em> sitting on my desk since May--wrapped in one of those cute little plastic wrappers--and I finally decided today was the day I was tearing into it. </div><br /><div></div><div>Here's what I learned:</div><br /><div></div><div>1. Just six 30-second sprints 3 times per week--the equivalent of a few quick games of playground tag--can provide cardiovascular benefits that may be equivalent to jogging or cycling for 45 minutes several times weekly, according to Welsh researchers, (page 32).</div><br /><div></div><div>2. 4 <em>More</em> Reasons to Lose Weight: fewer headaches, improved oral health, longer and deeper sleep, and brighter outlook, (page 52).</div><br /><div></div><div>3. Stop Speed Eating: People who eat rapidly until they are full are 3 times more likely to be overweight than slow eaters, (page 54).</div><br /><div></div><div>4. The Temptation Tipping Point: For some people, a small taste satisfies a craving, but researchers say that for others, it subconsciously clears the way to full-blown indulgence. If you're likely to have extra helpings of something sweet, steer clear of free samples at the supermarket and head directly for the produce aisle, (page 96).</div><br /><div></div><div>Here's to the next 384,</div><div>(healthy) Fat Girl</div></div>2009/09/feeling-good.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-6697101517900574104Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:42:00 +00002009-09-20T22:47:00.306-04:00Hopeful YackingSunday Afternoon in the ParkToday was the first day I've been away from this blog ALL DAY! But...it is after ten and I am here.<br /><br />Today I taught a class, did a 2 1/2 hour photo shoot of a lovely senior, went to church, and had supper with my family.<br /><br />I'm tired. And I'm ready to start week 2 of this journey to good health. I had pizza tonight--really hoping it doesn't mess with my weigh-in. My choices were pizza or my shoes. As much as I am aware that pizza probably wasn't the best decision, I watched a show recently that highlighted how dangerous the mold on shoes can be--so I was in a lose/lose situation.<br /><br />Here's to the next 385,<br />(hopeful) Fat Girl2009/09/sunday-afternoon-in-park.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-7144842265952047414Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:05:00 +00002009-09-19T15:15:20.020-04:00Healthy YackingYou Raise Me UpThis afternoon I did something so difficult that I can only compare it to:<br /><br />solving world peace<br />climbing Mount Everest<br />explaining Richard Simmons' candy-striped Dolfin shorts<br /><br />I went to the gym. Now, before you look down your nose at me and wonder how I could compare something "so trivial" as gym attendence to the aforementioned Dolfin shorts, please understand that I hate going to the gym alone. I am nearly fearful of going alone. I'm convinced I will either get jumped in the parking lot or laughed at on the treadmill. (And I'm not always sure which would be worse.)<br /><br />Neither happened.<br /><br />I did it. 30 minutes of working out broke a good sweat and I am home to forever relive the experience in my heart. I really need to make a habit of this.<br /><br />Did you know Richard Simmons considered becoming a priest?<br /><br />Here's to the next 386,<br />(healthy) Fat Girl2009/09/you-raise-me-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fat Girl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366517714719589781.post-4924180275549436649Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:02:00 +00002009-09-19T13:06:33.163-04:00Honest YackingLondon BridgesSo the thing I've been most afraid of lately is the first time I will "fall down" on this new road to health. Well. I don't need to be fearful any more. It happened last night. Totally fell off my plan, face-first into a bowl of dessert. <br /><br />I won't list out my torturous demise. There would be no point. But at least it's behind me. I actually feel good about that.<br /><br />I know that I will mess up. And, more importantly, I now know that I will be just fine.<br /><br />Today is a new day. I had a good first week. I'm putting this behind me. There is still plenty of time to keep moving forward. <br /

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