Author / tessbrennan

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Posts by tessbrennan

I've felt the pain, the frustration and the depression. I've fought the feelings of hopelessness and despair and have come out on the other side. Now, I help others do the same. Through diet and lifestyle choices I have improved my health, increased my energy levels, and eliminated the need for prescription meds. I've been over 200 pounds. I've lost over 60 and maintained it for over 8 years. I've also lost 6 prescription meds, depression, asthma, and frequent colds & bronchitis. Today, I help others to regain better health and exciting quality of life. I coach those interested in committing to a lifestyle of fabulous food, fun times, and healthier choices. I teach classes, group coaching sessions, one-on-one, and via teleconference. Contact me for additional information.
by tessbrennan

What you wear CAN make a difference. Sparkle Skirts

Comfort when walking or working out is very important. If you aren’t comfortable you can spend more time worrying and thinking about how your clothes fit (or don’t) than on muscle control and technique.

I do A LOT of walking, on purpose.  Smile  I have walked in a lot of different attire, including tutus, and other inappropriate clothing for working out.

I understand the discomfort of shorts riding up between my legs, wedgies, pulling them up repeatedly so they would not fall off, and just being annoyed by the fit.

Healthy Knees

Attractive, yes. Functional, not so much – annoyed for 60 miles in a tutu…

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Again, cute, however… these skirts lasted only 20 miles.

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Comfortable, functional, useful, AWESOME.  This is one of my Sparkle Skirts.  I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE this skirt. 

A friend of mine recently asked me about my Sparkle Skirt. I didn’t realize how much I liked it until I started telling her about it.  Here is how the conversation went.

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It appears I was having some issues typing, but you get the gist.

I highly recommend these American made gems.  Functionality, appearance, comfort all A+++.

I am also excited at the spread of sizing.  0-3X and on occasion they will accept special orders for 4X.  Everyone deserves the right to look good, feel good, and be comfortable when working to improve their health and Feel Good Fast. 

Thank you, Sparkle Skirts!  And I do wish I could wear them to work! That would give me good reason to walk the 2 miles rather than drive them!!!

If you would like information on local walking events or healthy support groups, contact me!

This last photo is an inspiration to me.

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Just for the fun of it.  These two men, wore these skirts, 60 miles at a time for 14 60-mile walks in 2012!  They are living by example!  They were fascinating to talk with.  Walking for a wife.

(No, these men are not wearing sparkle skirts.)

by tessbrennan

A Walk in the Park… Three Oaks.

Sunday, try as fate may, I was determined to get a walk in.  My back muscles were tight and hurting, I was drained and tired, and didn’t feel like getting off my duff.

Personal experience, with my body has taught me that if I didn’t get up and go do something about the sore muscles I would feel worse on Monday and the pain and exhaustion would get worse.

So, off I went on my walk. My baby girl wasn’t feeling well so I didn’t want to get too far from home, but I did want to get 3-5 miles in.  I headed to Three Oaks Park, I hadn’t walked there in quite a while.

The improvements they have made to the walking trail are fabulous!  They have markings telling you how far you have gone, which direction to keep going so you know how far you are walking, and a loop that is a little more than 1.25 miles! 

20130203_174409Small arrows point you in the correct direction to keep on the measured route.  Very easy to see and very clearly marked.  Only one area had enough pine needles on the trail to make looking for the markings difficult.  VERY well marked path.

 

I dubbed my Sunday walk the “Day of the Squirrels” I must have seen a hundred of them, sometimes 3 at a time just sitting on the path looking at me until I was almost upon them, then they would scatter to the nearby trees. 

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What I really like about this park, besides the walking path, is that there are SO MANY different things for people to do.  Even saw a couple little girls playing in the sprinklers as the maintenance team was working on the system.

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A friend recently told me that the squirrel is a sign of big changes ahead.  After seeing so many of the little critters all at once causes me great excitement to see what is ahead!

If you would like more information on local walking locations, please, contact me.

Happy Walking!

by tessbrennan

Guest Speaker for Feel Good Fast February Support Group

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Chris Green will be the guest speaker at the February Support Group meeting to be held Thursday, February 21, 2013.

Biography_Dr_Green

I speak from experience when I say, Dr. Green is an excellent practitioner.  He works diligently to get you back on the road to recovery, moving pain free and loving life in the shortest time period possible. 

He too, wants us to Feel Good Fast!

We will also include tips to muscle relaxation, a healthy recipe, tips to Feel Good Fast and an Action item to work on for the next month.

Remember, that your support doesn’t end at this once a month meeting, but also includes the private Facebook support page as well.

We are here, as a TEAM to get you onto the road to better health and more life in your years!

Contact me for more information on the support group meeting OR the private support page on Facebook.

 

by tessbrennan

Where do you like to walk?

We are four weeks into the new year.  Better health and continued healthy living, as well as sharing it with others is my continued resolution for 2013.  In doing such, I am looking for new places to walk with my friends and family.

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My goal is to compile a list of all the places to walk in the SW Florida area so when you are ready to try something new, you can click here and find somewhere new to try.

Contact me, here or on Facebook at Feel Good Fast and let me know where your favorite place to take a stroll or an aggressive walk and why you like that location and I will add it to our database!

Thank you!  Make it a GREAT Weekend.

PS: you can join us with the Feel Good Fast Walking team at the Moving Toward a Cure for Brain Tumors walk at Lakes Park tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM! Just Look around me.  I’ll be there in a black sparkle skirt and a couple of Team Mates.

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by tessbrennan

My 2012 Resolution and the Straight Line

My 2012 Resolution was to read the Bible. The entire Bible. I had tried this before and failed, beat myself up, and given up.  This time was different.

I got a reading plan from my friend Camille, that she was using to read through her Bible, and I followed that program.

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It wasn’t always easy, and I didn’t complete the task in 2012.  It took me an additional 12 days to complete it, but I DID IT! 

My challenges were the same for this goal, as they have been for any other goal I’ve worked for.  There was a time commitment, I needed to be consistent, and I needed to commit to the goal. 

I did very well, only fell behind a couple of times, then caught up…until… October 26th.  On October 26th I stopped reading and got out of the habit, and found it excruciatingly difficult to find the time, to find the desire to complete it.  I fell a month behind and then began the usual.

Healthy Grease Monkey - Goal Straight Line 

I am so happy that I finally STOPPED, beating myself up, laying blame and guilt on myself, and just got back on that “line” toward my goal. Its been the same for any goal for me – weight loss, training for an event, eating healthy. 

I get into a great routine, its going well, then “life” happens and interrupts the routine and instead of just going back to the line I get stuck in the circle of Guilt, Blame & Shame until that goal is all but out of sight.

So, MY 2012 RESOLUTION IS COMPLETE!!!

2013 Resolutions:

  • Enroll a team for at least 1 walk/run event per month.
  • Invite those striving for better health to join me on those events.
  • Celebrate the victories, no matter how small.
  • Get over the stumbles, get back on the line, and achieve.
  • Assist others in attaining better health.
by tessbrennan

Are spider webs causing you joint and muscle pain?

As I rounded the corner to 42, I noticed more aches and pains in my daily dealings.  I also noticed times when there were more aches and times when there were fewer.  It has occurred to me that these aches and pains are a direct correlation to my activity levels and my diet.

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When I exercise regularly (that’s walking for me) my muscles and joints in my legs, back, arms and neck don’t hurt as much.  When I take my supplements and choose wise culinary options, I feel GREAT!

However, just as a spider web is built one strand at a time, so do the tight, sore muscles and joints in my body. When I don’t provide the nutrition my body needs its ability to run properly is compromised.

When I don’t get out there and walk or exercise from home in some way for days at a time, each day the aches and pains increase in number and intensity.

So, how do I unravel that web of pain and discomfort. I begin with gently stretching and adding some activity. I recommit to healthful eating. Rather than just eating for the moment, I make the effort to choose more fiber, higher quality protein and foods that support my health. I also opt for a massage from my trusted LMT at Serenity Healing Studio or Dr. Green, my Chiropractor for an adjustment.

Just because I abused my body and avoided healthy choices for years, doesn’t mean I can’t make a difference in my body’s ability to perform today.

Feel Good Fast -Power of 7

Please contact me for more information on how you can begin to unravel that spider web of tight muscles, and aches and pains.

Thank you to Chris Griffith and Life in Bonita Spring for the photo at the top of the page.

by tessbrennan

How to spend New Year’s Day–Just for fun!

(Update: She slept like this for a WEEK… She grew 1.5 inches in that week!  WOW)

Get up, eat a healthy breakfast of a chocolate protein smoothie.

Play with your new toys.

Put on your New Year’s PJ’s.

Turn on your Bowl Game and realize your team has forgotten to show up. (Sorry Purdue, but you Really inhaled forcibly today.) Then resort to the following sequence of photos.

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Avoid watching the horrific bowl game on the television

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Snuggle with momma like you did when you were only 10 pounds. (I know she doesn’t weigh much more than that now, but humor me!)

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When mom gets up, stretch out and enjoy the W.H.O.L.E. couch.

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When you fall off the couch, move to a comfortable location near daddy.

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Don’t forget to make room for your cat. (Actually, she is HIS human.)

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Now if we could just eliminate the finger sucking, today would have been perfect.  Now that the game is over she just came and told me, “Mom, we can go to the beach now.”

Black-eyed peas are in the crock pot and life is grand.  (We won’t really make it to the beach today, but I am happy to have gotten to spend basking in the sleepy snuggles of my darling daughter!

by tessbrennan

Blueprint for a successful, healthy lifestyle.

What is your plan? What are you looking for?Binoculars

The holidays are over and it is time to get back to normal, perhaps because of the new year, a New Normal.

When getting ready for a vacation, there are some things that you look at before you lock the door and head out for the adventure. (typically) What are you looking for, what do you want to do or see while on that trip? What is the most important part of that trip? The entire vacation hinges on the plan, just like building a new business, or just like writing a good paper. Begin with the end in mind – where do you want to be.

Since one of the things many people look to do in the new year is lose weight, here are some things to consider.

What are some of the things you are looking for as you choose a weight loss program? Here are 22 things as a place to start with. What are the points that are important to you?

Once you know what it is you are looking for, you can begin to build a plan that works. Begin with the end in mind. You not only want to lose weight, you need to maintain your muscle mass and your metabolism so that you can keep the weight off.

Why wait? I am ready to work with those wanting to get started NOW!

Get started in January for a Healthy, Happy New You.  Call me for  assistance, please feel free to contact me at Tess@HealthyGreaseMonkey.com

 

Its time you start to Feel Good Fast!  Get started today.

by tessbrennan

Get “Ripped” for the New Year! (How about you get healthy)

Since we’ve been home more over the holidays, we’ve had the boob tube on more than normal.  I’ve been amused at some of the… well a lot of the commercials.

“Get Ripped” “Drop 16 dress sizes in 16 DAYS!” “Look like me just by taking this magic pill”

It IS the New Year – at least at midnight it will be. It is another chance for a NEW start and a healthy new you!

I’ve noticed one thing missing from all these ads. How to stay there.  All these companies are offering magic pills, tools, foods, machines and the like to help you LOSE the weight, to get into better shape and such however… None of them offer maintenance to stay there.

I want to offer you the opportunity to not only begin to shed some pounds, if that is what you need, but also the chance to KEEP it off for the long term. 

When we say “Feel Good Fast” it’s a relative term. Relative to how fast you want to get there and how long you want to STAY there. I’ve been there done that– lost and gained, and finally, almost 6 years ago lost and maintained that loss. I’ve lost the prescriptions, the weight, the depression, the asthma, and the need to yo-yo diet repeatedly!

We’ve got the vehicle, if you have the drive.

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(Taken by my 5 yr old at Busch Gardens)

Happy New Year and Healthy New You!

by tessbrennan

Christmas, the best laid plans… Its not about being perfect.

I really had a relaxed attitude about Christmas dinner this year. It was going to be super easy, nothing really difficult, I had it all under control, or so I thought.

I got up and 5:15 and started the bread dough to make Christmas Cinnamon rolls then returned to bed.  When the timer for the rising mound of goodness went off I got up for the day to begin the wonderful feast.

I turned on the oven to 400 degrees and I made 1 loaf of bread from the dough and a small pan of cinnamon buns for the other, and placed them on the stovetop to rise as the oven heated and headed to open gifts.

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After 30 minutes I returned to the kitchen to put the rolls in the oven. (we had been opening gifts for those 30 minutes but still had more to go…that’s a whole ‘nother story) Plan B

Upon returning to the kitchen I realize… the range has died.  No heat, no warmth, no cooking/baking/roasting/broiling to be had at this location.

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NOT TO FEAR!!! Daddy got a new grill this year.  Smile 

We heated the grill and baked on the top rack of the grill using the thermometer to watch the temperature periodically as we continued to open gifts.

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Not too bad and very tasty.  (The circle on the top of the bread is where it rose into the smokestack in the top of the grill.)

Time to start the home made “tasty beans” as my daughter loves them but cannot eat the store bought variety. (also known as baked beans) I fired up the crock pot, added the ingredients and all is on its way to a tasty dinner.

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Now onto the rest of the dinner. Had all day to prepare since our meal wasn’t until 4 PM, so there was no rush. I made cream of anything soup on the grill’s side burner for the Green Bean casserole.

I reached into the veggie drawer in the fridge and my three, HUGE sweet potatoes were all rotten. I opened the freezer and my French cut green beans were missing. I had no other potatoes in the house.  What now?  SWEETBAY!!! They are always open on the Holidays.

NOT THIS YEAR.

plan C

I found a package of instant mashed potatoes in the back of the pantry cabinet. (My daughter can’t eat those – nasty ol’ corn) There’s a potato for our traditional Christmas dinner.

My turkey had been cooking in the crock pot all day, the spiral ham slices had thawed nicely.  I returned to the grill burner to make traditional cranberry salad.  This turned out to be a snap and very easy.

I reached into the cabinet to pull out my bread board and wall-a… it is now TWO bread boards. I sat down to enjoy a short cry and watch some “Lifetime” Christmas movie.

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I found a lone mater in the fridge so I made a small batch of pico de gallo to add to the festive coloring of my dinner and kick it up a notch! (Hubby loves my pico)

Since I wasn’t sure about how many we would have for dinner, the only veggie I had enough of were peas.  So we had PEAS for Christmas.  You know, PEAS on EARTH and all!

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It was a lovely, relaxing dinner with a couple of friends.  A very Old Fashioned Christmas as we prepared what we had and shared with friends.  Desert was organic ice cream with the option for Reindeer cookies.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

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It’s not about being perfect.

Its about making what you have the perfect option.