Jill Kemerer

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Don't Mess with My Coffee!

Guess what? I gained weight!

Yeah, I'm not excited about it either.

I know from experience if I don't take steps now to get back to my happy-weight, I will continue to gain. And that means grouchiness, unpleasantness, and a list of other yucky moods I tend to indulge in when I'm "fluffy."

Diets and I don't get along, so I don't do them. But when I make an effort to watch my calories, eat higher quality foods, and *gulp* exercise regularly with intensity, I always get back to my goal weight, and I usually can maintain it.

I have one rule. Don't mess with my coffee!

To kick start my motivation, I stopped at the library and checked out their Health section. Skinny Chicks Don't Eat Salad by Christine Avanti, CN, sounded fun, so I headed home and cracked it open. Sometimes books like this can be too dry and boring, but Skinny Chicks sucked me right in. The testimonials and easy-to-understand biology lesson convinced me to try her method.

Christine discusses how carbohydrates convert to sugar in our bloodstream, so she recommends always eating a combination of carbs and protein to slow the insulin train down. I've read many, many books and articles about diets, and this one makes sense to me. You're not eliminating food groups or starving yourself. You're just eating a meal that contains protein, carbohydrates, and a small amount of fat, and you're eating every four hours.

My one resistance to any diet is the effect it has on my coffee habits. Skinny Chicks allows you to drink coffee, but I have to watch my carbohydrate/calorie additions. This means balancing my coffee with protein (like eating a yogurt or an egg), which isn't a biggie, but when I read the label on my favorite flavored creamer, I about choked. The carbohydrate level is way too high (considering I double the serving size with each cup I drink!), and the ingredients contain bad fats.

Logic gets me every time. I will try--try, mind you--to healthify my coffee for one week, but if it's hurting my day in any way, I'm going right back to my favorite creamer. Right back.

How do you maintain your weight? Do you have one rule about health plans?

Have a fantastic day!

My Dingbat Dog

Our mini-dachshund Sophie has been with us almost four years, and though she's calmed a big, she still regularly acts like a dingbat.

Sophie!

As I'm writing this post, she's staring at me from the floor. I bend to pick her up, but she scurries to the side. I resume typing. She "begs." I'm like, "what?" She puts her front paws on the edge of my chair. I roll my eyes and grab her, setting her on my lap.

Heaven forbid she sit anywhere without a blanket over her. No, that wouldn't do. So I have an old blanket on my chair that she can snuggle into. She'll curl up and sleep for hours...unless I print something. Then it's a bark-a-thon. The printer clearly contains evil.

Another quirk of our wiener dog? She has issues with ceiling fans. One whirl and she's jumping at it and barking because, again, the fan is a threat. Will it kill our entire family if she doesn't alert us to the madness?

Dinner time brings out an interesting habit. Sophie tippity-taps her paws over to her dish, proceeds to take one piece of kibble out, moves it three feet away, and then eats it. Why? We will probably never know.

Sophie can be a lot of fun. If my son and I play catch, Sophie joins us, and yes, she'll trot through the yard with a baseball in her mouth! She's faster than all of us, too. She likes soccer, football, and any other sport that involves running and a ball.

Our dog might be a dingbat, but I still love her!

Do you have a pet? What weird things does it do?

Have a terrific Monday!!

Is a Simple Goal Eluding You?

Two years ago I came across a magazine at Barnes & Noble called Success. The articles inspired me, plus the magazine included a CD with interviews. Listening to leaders share their advice made my mom-taxi commute less of a chore. I kept the magazine (it's in my office) and refer to it whenever I need a jolt of motivation.

The online version of Success brims with helpful articles, too. "Tiny Habits" by Jennifer Chang (article is linked) made me pause in a good way. In it, Jennifer shares how she was unsuccessful at one simple goal--flossing her teeth--until she tried the Tiny Habits method.

Maybe you're great at flossing. But what about drinking eight glasses of water a day? Or jogging for thirty minutes? Or writing five hundred words? Sure, these goals sound simple, but for most people, actually sticking to these tasks is complex, difficult.

If we've tried and failed at a goal in the past, how can we make it a habit now? Enter Tiny Habits.

Based on the research of Professor BJ Fogg, Ph.D., Tiny Habits involves starting small, finding an anchor to act as a trigger for your new behavior, and celebrating immediately.

For example, if you want to drink more water throughout the day, your small start might be to fill a glass of water. The anchor to trigger it? Filling the glass whenever you get up to use the restroom. If your glass is still full when you get up, you'll be reminded to drink the water. Pat yourself on the back each time you fill that glass!

Since I'm on a mini-health kick, I'd like to add small strength moves to my day. I'm going to add a 15-second plank to my routine before I check my e-mails.

Small goal? 15-second plank.
The trigger? The "Mail" button will remind me of my goal.
Celebrate? A wink, fist-pump, big smile? I don't know! I guess I'll find out!

For more information on incorporating Tiny Habits, read Jennifer Chang's article, "5 Tips for Turning Your Tiny Habits Into Big Results," and check out the website of Professor BJ Hoff, Ph.D.

What simple goal has been eluding you? Is there a Tiny Habit you could start?

Have a lovely weekend!

Creating Your Story's Timeline

Ah, a new story! A little idea bud to nurture and feed until it grows--talk about exciting!

Whenever I pursue an idea and develop it into a book, I go through a process of brainstorming until I'm ready to write. One important detail? The story timeline.

Sometimes the timeline will determine the story. For instance, if I wanted to write a Christmas book, I probably wouldn't set much, if any, of the book in the summer--I would focus on autumn and early winter to give it that Christmas feeling throughout.

For most of my books, though, I figure out the characters and their goals before thinking about a timeline. Their goals typically determine when the book will start and how much time will pass.

It's important to consider genre when thinking about timeline.

If you write suspense, there's bound to be a "ticking time bomb" element. As you consider what has to happen from point A (the beginning) to point Z (the end), think carefully about a realistic time frame. If the book unfurls over a course of twenty-four hours, break each hour down and make sure the plot can really fit. If the book spans a month, try not to devote twelve chapters to day one.

Maybe you're writing historical fiction--a sweeping saga. The book could chronicle more than a year. You couldn't possibly write every day of the journey. Think about what details deserve page time and if there are weeks or months you can skip and wrap up in a short summary. Do this before you get to page 265 and realize only one month has passed.

If you're writing a romance novel, please honor your audience. Most romance readers simply will not find it believable if your hero and heroine meet, fall in love, overcome their obstacles, and get their happily-ever-after in a few days time. I won't give you a hard-and-fast rule, but use your judgment and respect your readers.

The book I'm currently plotting features two characters with goals that require a four to six month commitment. The goals are seasonal, which narrows when my book can start and end. By coming up with clear character goals before I start writing, I'm able to plan the ideal setting and timeline.

Questions to help you determine your timeline:

- What genre are you writing?

- How sweeping or compact is the story?

- Do the characters' goals impact the timeline? Example: A woman wants to purchase and renovate an old building. The timeline would need to be anywhere from four months to over a year.

- Are their seasonal limitations? Does any of the plot hinge on the weather?

- If you are working with a long timeline, how will you keep the pace tight? What action can happen "off-screen" and summarized?

- Is this timeline realistic?

Do you have anything to add? I'd love to hear your tips!

What pet peeves do you have about fiction timelines?

(No surprise here, but mine is the romance where the hero and heroine fall in love and get married after a week's time. Ugh.)

Have a terrific Wednesday!!

Woolly Bear Caterpillars

One of my favorite things from childhood was finding woolly bear caterpillars. I grew up in the country, in Michigan, where woolly bears are common. Their fluffy bodies remind me of a kitty's tail. I love cats!

Over the years, we've moved to different areas, and once routine woolly bear sightings became rare. Imagine my delight when I saw five of these caterpillars this weekend.

I posted the following picture on Facebook Saturday. This was one of the caterpillars I came across.

A few friends of mine discussed the winter ramifications of the stripes. A narrow brown band supposedly means a harsh winter while a wide brown band signifies a mild winter. One problem? This one had a black band rather than a brown band. The colors had flip-flopped! The other woolly bears I saw had the traditional black bands with a wide brown stripe.

I'm going to use my unscientific analysis to predict a MILD winter. Hey, why not? The markings must mean something, right?

Here are a few links to learn more about the cute woolly bear caterpillars.

http://cropsci.illinois.edu/news/woolly-bear-caterpillars-and-weather

http://www.almanac.com/content/predicting-winter-weather-woolly-bear-caterpillars

Do you remember any special insect from your childhood? How do you predict a mild or severe winter?

Have a lovely Monday!!

Let's Talk Reading Habits!

I'm currently reading three books. Yes, I said three. This is pretty normal for me!

1. Kate Walker's 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance by Kate Walker
2. The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough
3. God's Story Your Story: When His Becomes Yours by Max Lucado

I've been reading Kate Walker's book for two weeks, and I'm about halfway through it. Why so much time for one slim book? Easy! I'm studying it chapter-by-chapter, taking notes, and fitting it in during my less busy days.

Max Lucado's book jumped out at me from the library. I couldn't NOT start reading it. I'm almost to the mid-point and anticipate finishing it this weekend. Very uplifting.

David McCullough's book isn't to be rushed through. It's one to savor. Full of fascinating historical and personal details of Americans who spent time in Paris between 1830 and 1900, The Greater Journey appeals to my love of history and minutiae.

I will be adding a fourth book to this mix soon, too. I came across this goodie by Stephanie Laurens, The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh, and it's been a long time since I've read one of her books.

This brings up the question of the day: Is it wrong to read three books at once? Should a person finish one before starting another? I don't know! I've been this way as long as I can remember. However, I will say that I rarely have two novels open. I tend to only read one work of fiction at a time.

Care to share your reading habits? Do you have more than one book open? Or do you finish one before starting another?

Have a fabulous weekend!!

4 Things I Love This Week

Four Things I Love This Week:

1. My local walking route exploded in autumn colors, and I actually jogged most of the route!

2. Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd rocked my world. Several people recommended this book to me in the comment section of one of my old blog posts. I finally got around to reading it. Wow!!

3. The movie, Enchanted April, charmed the socks off me. Gorgeous setting, terrific characters, and happily-ever-afters all around--what more could I ask for?

4. Still haven't turned on the furnace. For those of you who endure cold winters, you know the mental satisfaction of keeping that furnace idle as long as possible!

What are you loving this week?

Have a fabulous Wednesday!