Refuse To Regain

Clothing the Maintaining Body

By Lynn Haraldson-Bering Let’s talk clothing for a minute. I mean, let’s really talk about clothing. Maintenance clothing. The kind we who have lost weight – any amount of weight and any body type – feel comfortable in despite of or considering our body flaws. I make no secret that I have some skin issues after losing nearly 170 pounds. I’m grateful it’s just a nuisance and does not hinder or restrict my movements in any way, nor do I... Read more →

Additions and Changes to the Site

Who knew maintenance could be so exciting and yet so detailed? We did! And you did, too. It's been four months since we launched this blog and we're so encouraged by your comments and support. We've added a page on the right called "The Green House Philosophy" which incorporates Lynn's and Barbara's first two blogs to help newer readers of this site understand how we approach, live, and write about the maintenance lifestyle. Also new to the site, we've divided... Read more →

Beware the Numbers Game

By Barbara Berkeley So a couple of days ago, a marketing person from my hospital called to ask me if I would be willing to be interviewed for a newspaper article. Apparently, the Associated Press had released the results of a 2008 study which ranked the 50 states by levels of obesity. Ohio, which has always been one of the heavier states, had gone from 15th most obese to 17th most obese. Great! Things were looking up and we were... Read more →

Adapting to Changes: Flexibility and Maintenance

By Lynn Haraldson-Bering I had a humbling reminder the other day that not everyone’s schedules are created equal. Although my schedule is tighter than it used to be, I need to be more appreciative of its flexibility and learn to use it to my advantage. As I was losing weight, I was in awe (and still am) of people who worked full time, raised children and/or were otherwise crazy busy and yet still made time to eat right and exercise.... Read more →

Investigating the French Paradox

By Barbara Berkeley It’s a tough job, but someone had to do it. Your intrepid reporter is filing this dispatch from Barcelona, Spain. When my husband discovered that Continental had established a direct flight from Cleveland to Paris and that we had enough frequent flyer miles to get us there for $150 in processing fees, he grabbed the seats before you could say, “Parlez vous francais.” We’re on the last leg of a two-week visit to France and Spain. I... Read more →

A Little "Fear" is a Good Thing

By Lynn Haraldson-Bering As a woman, I know to be a little extra careful when alone. I know to look under my car and in the back seat before approaching and getting in. I carry my keys in eye-gouge position between my fingers and don’t look at people as they approach me when I’m walking alone, particularly in a strange place. I keep my cell phone close by and I let someone know where I’m going and when I expect... Read more →

Reentry

By Lynn Haraldson-Bering If you heard some slight moaning and complaining coming from western Pennsylvania this morning, it was my muscles saying, “What the…? You mean we’re home already?” I hadn’t worked out since August 1, the day before I started my Minnesota vacation. I had every intention of exercising at least once while traveling, but you know what they say about good intentions. It was enough for me to keep up with eating well, let alone fit in working... Read more →

The Faux Pas of Fitness

By Barbara Berkeley About a year or two ago I started to take notice of an interesting behavior that I named the “Pretzel Phenomenon.” One of my occasional deviations from Primarian eating is a 99-cent bag of Rold Gold pretzels. I generally find myself succumbing to these pretzels when I have to go into a gas station to pay. Those little, harmless-looking bags are hanging right there and every once in a while I’ll buy one (plus the requisite diet... Read more →