Catherine Coulter's Blog: I'm Baaaack!, page 77

November 7, 2017

Tuesday, November 7th - No rain, no rain, no rain, gorgeous weather, cool, warm, cool -- we have family coming in noonish today and guess what? Tomorrow and Thursday it's going to be cold and lots of RAIN -- I must have done something really bad and the regional weather minion supervisor has put me on their punishment list -- well, and my company too.
WEEK #9: 4-0 -- my very first perfect score this year. Lots of you were right with me at 4-0. We're great -- To Date: 22-14. How about you guys?
The Clean Writing workshop: focuses on not piling up adjectives and adverbs in sex scenes, primarily. Like, "He ravaged her rosy soft breast" Big yuck -- where to start? How about toss? As for writers who love description, well, that's their style but I agree -- anything that stops the reader from moving smartly forward is not good. So, where's the editor?
Good point made about toes: When you scoot your butt against the wall today (5 minutes of snooze time -- for you, quiet, deep breathing, you get the idea) lie there and relax and empty your mind, then beginning with your TOES -- wiggle them, stretch them, then work slowly up, pointing/flexing feet, again, you know what to do. This is before CARDIO -- who's doing a lot of walking? Remember shoulder blades together, feet straight, work arms -- You're golden -

November 3, 2017

Friday, November 3rd -- Rainy day here, first in a very long time. You guys, many of you are trying to keep those shoulder blades together (well, not together, but that's what you're thinking) -- Not only will you look 10 pounds lighter, you'll feel like a million bucks. FEET STRAIGHT -- it was pointed out that isn't what ballerinas do --so, f you're a ballerina, ignore this.
Great splendid news: I am finishing the final edit on PARADOX today. The book ended up very long -- it amazed me, frankly, but it simply wouldn't end, more and more had to happen and sometimes characters don't want to shut up. It's very interesting -- the difference between reading a manuscript from an "editor's" perspective and from a writer's perspective. And feels a bit strange, but finally, done. Paradox will be out July 30th of next year. No, I cannot write 2018 yet, it's too scary.
It's a glorious Friday, the week is nearly over and you're getting all pumped up to be wild and crazy this weekend. Don't forget, always be wild and crazy with someone else, maybe with lots of someone elses -- the more the merrier. Movies? The new Thor? Surprisingly (at least to me) the movie's getting good reviews. Is it a spoof? That's what I heard, so yep, going to see that. But I'm getting ahead of myself. It's today -- work and cardio and shoulder blades together and looking tall and thin -- that's the ticket --

November 2, 2017

Thursday, November 2nd -- It's going to be a great day, do not doubt it for a minute. You're getting out there, talking to people, interacting, being funny, a good listener. All is good.
Now, let's talk about POSTURE: Slumped shoulders, a "hump", this isn't what you EVER want. For perfect posture, it's easy:
l) When you walk, think of your shoulder blades coming together. You'll feel it and it'll feel really good. It will keep you nice and straight and tall, make you look good in your clothes, give you confidence. Shoulder blades back, you're walking tall.
2) Concentrate on walking straight, toes directly in front of you. Do not duck walk or pigeon toe walk. STRAIGHT.
3) If you're on the tread mill, think of your big toes coming together, that'll keep your feet straight in front of you --
That's it, that's all. Tell me how this works for you.
Sounds like many of you do what I to: if a relative is young, then it's always a gift card. If you can't stand the relative OR you have no clue what to get him or her, then it's a gift card to the movies, Starbucks, Macys -- and you can find out where they like to shop. I usually ask. Many probably could use a gym membership, maybe a trainer, but perhaps that would be a bit on the rude side.
Focus on posture today if you're walking, tread milling, running, get those shoulder blades going together. And then all you have to do is focus on posture every other minute of the day as well. You do not have to focus on posture when your head hits the pillow.

November 1, 2017

November 1st -- Wednesday. Goodness, to actually write November and it hits you, 7 weeks until Christmas (or thereabouts). So, have you done any Christmas shopping? Are you all done, like me, because I'm crazy? I'll make a video of my office -- I'm guessing maybe 250 presents? Yes, yes, I already told you, I'm sick, very sick, and it's all footballs' fault -- if only I could be a couch potato during all the games, but alas, I cannot. Wrap, wrap, wrap -- yes, I get gifts all through the year so they're piled up in storage, ready to come into my eager hands the first game in early September.
Those of you who were 4-0 -- I'm thinking you need a visit from the FM (football minions) to adjust you to where I am usually -- 2-2. 4-0 is simply too good. I really try to mix up my picks too, not simply pick the 49ers and Browns who you can always count on to lose. I was sure hoping the Redskins could pull it off and the Texans, but NO --
How is everyone doing on their fitness regimen? I want you to tell me, no talk today about your weather -- I want to hear about the state of your bod, your health and if you have problems, how you work around them,, what you're doing to get a perfect self going -- CARDIO today and check those tris and bis in the mirror. Remember, JUST MOVE --

October 31, 2017

Tuesday, 31st October: Yep, I got a bag of Snickers bars -- now if only one little kid would make the trek up the long long, steep steep driveway -- I even have big pumpkins in the window for all to see (what with the kitchen lights behind them) All gone tomorrow, and up with Thanksgiving. Time goes so fast from now to the end of the year. Do you know, I wouldn't want to be the Flash -- too much a reminder of time itself.
WEEK #8: NFL
Patriots won and the Chiefs won
Redskins lost and Bears lost
To I'm 2-2 this week and to date: 18-14
Many of you are right around me as well -- and that means we're pretty good.
After you stretch this morning, you're going to do the stairs (the best) or walk the length of your driveway 6 times or the length of your block, walk until you're breathing hard, then you do the exactly same amount of walking every day until you're not breathing hard -- then add on until you're breathing hard again. Easy, DO IT. Endurance, that's the point here and building up your heart. When you're walking, swing your arms, do very interesting things -- rolls forward and backward, swinging, up and down, elbows bent, working them while your legs are moving --

October 27, 2017

Friday, October 27th -- Thank you for more great advice about avoiding cancer. The whole deal about how embarrassing a colonoscopy is -- Here's the truth, they give you versed -- you have NO memory whatsoever about what was done. So GO DO IT. Is the prep disgusting? No, not really. Family history? DO NOT PUT IT OFF. If you don't know, find out your family history, who died from what when, okay? All your advice -- less stress, positive attitude, positive people around you, don't put off checks -- all great. Oh yes, a good night's sleep every single night. 8 hours, people, and the world is much lighter, you're much brighter, even the house looks cleaner.
This final day of a gorgeous week: walk those stairs, keep me posted on how long it takes for it to become easier and easier. Results you can see so very quickly -- Don't you just love that? No stairs? Then you walk one block -- are you breathing hard? If yes, then those are your stairs -- building endurance is the key here.
Tonight, having dinner at the Sausalito Yacht Club -- I know that sounds really hoity toity, when in fact, it's lovely funk, but right on the water. You can eat a taco with your toes in the bay. Can't beat that.

October 26, 2017

Thursday, 26th of October -- There's only one cancer you can stop in its tracks or prevent entirely -- and that's colon cancer, which means, when you hit 50, you get yourself a colonoscopy. It's no big deal when you compare one day of not eating to getting colon cancer. Hey, you also drop 5 pounds. f there's colon cancer in your family and if you're not stupid, you have a colonoscopy at 35 then however often after that, whatever the doc recommends, Okay?
Are there any other things you can do to improve your odds of not being one of the 1 in every 3 people who get cancer in their lifetime? Sure:
l) Exercise
2) Don't get fat
3) Don't smoke
4) Eat reasonably
Okay, enough said. Anything anyone wishes to add would be excellent. Not personal stories, please, but more preventative things you can do.
You're all set on #1 -- Exercise -- today after your cardio, get your free weights, two cans of peas, whatever, and take care of your upper body, mainly tris and bis -- remember, slow, pause at the top, then slow on the way down, keeping your muscles engaged in both directions -- you're dragging through mud.
If you have stairs in your house, do them at a fast walk as many times as you can until you get really out of breath. How many did you do? Stay with this number for a week, see what happens. You'll find after 6-7 days, you'll be doing them much more easily. You get the idea, you're going to build endurance, heart strength, core strength and feel really good about yourself --

October 25, 2017

Wednesday, 25th of October: Remember those Hump day commercials with the camel? I wish they'd bring them back -- there are so few now where you don't mute them automatically. There is one commercial I think is very well done -- various scenes with Aaron Rodgers with his dog in his truck (It ends up being wrecked) -- it's an insurance company, can't remember which one, but they paid out bucks for an excellent commercial. I wonder how much Rodgers made on that? Do you have a favorite commercial?
More work today on second edit of PARADOX -- I really hope to finish up this week, but I refuse to hurry, that leads to overlooking inconsistencies and leaving loose ends. Don't you just hate loose ends? They dangle and flap around in the slightest breeze and readers point and go EUW!
Is your cardio/exercise now simply a part of your schedule? You simply do it because it's time to do it? If not, MAKE IT PART OF YOUR ROUTINE, it's really the only way. Never be haphazard about your cardio and exercise, it's sort of like taking an occasional pill for your high blood pressure. Is that a good simile?

October 24, 2017

October 24th, Big Beautiful Tuesday:
For the first time, I'm 3-1. Big yea: So to date through Week 7, I'm 16-12. How'd you guys do? Both Carson Wentz and Kurt Cousins are very fine QBs -- it's a pleasure to watch them both.
Goodness, I just realized -- today is another glorious day that beckons the worthy to skip outside and do all CARDIO in the sun and fresh air and wave to people as you walk, run, job, double-walk, you name it -- then a huge glass of iced tea with maybe a macaroon to go with it. Who has the best macaroon recipe in the known universe?
Today, you will be outside as well if it isn't hailing and storming and snowing (goodness!) or maybe you like to swallow rain as you run, but surely not hail. Whatever you do outside, make it good. The minions are watching and are they ever hyped up to see those muscles of yours working hard.

October 20, 2017

Friday, 20th of October: Can you believe it? October is flowing fast through our fingers, like very fine sand (or something like that, you fill it in)
It is interesting that football players who are paid to play a game think it's fine to be protesters at the same time. I hate to see the NFL destroyed because of idiot behavior. Like Janice said, Chris Long is putting his money where his kneeling is --
Today, the last day of this gorgeous week -- yes, we got some rain to help get the fires out -- I want all of you to concentrate on two body parts (this is after stretching and cardio) -- Bis? Tris? Quads? (Lots of walking squats) standing half on a stair and going up and down to strength your calves? You pick it and DO IT or else the EM might give you a drive-by -