by Sweetie, purrsonal trainer and mischief maker

March is here, dear friends and with it comes a need to shake off the winter lethargy, wiggle our butts, shake our tails and start a movin' and a groovin'!  I know that'll be no problem for our wee Mousie.  She is often seen chasing her tail and scampering between bedroom and livingroom, kitchen and litterbox ... but those boys!  They are another thing altogether.  Sedentary, sleepy and slumbering sloths, they tend to sleep away their days - Kind of like Grammy when she isn't knitting.

What's that, Grammy?  I sleep all day?  Well, of course I do.  I patrol and keep you and everyone else safe all night while you all sleep.  BUT, to get you in shape I'm willing to give up my naps.  *Adjusts halo* 

Well, it's time to light a fire under all three butts and get them out of their beds, chairs or whatever they hunker down in and into a routine.  And that is my job.  I must say, it isn't an easy one.  No siree.  It is definitely a challenge with those three.

So, here's the plan.  Empty Grammy's cupboards of appliances, and anything else that is hard and uncomfortable.  You know the things I mean - Kitchen-Aid mixer, blender, food processor, slow cooker and anything else I can find.  If I put them on all surfaces where the boys might nap and Grammy's chair and bed they'll have no place to sit or lie down to nap.  Then drag them into my fitness gym to start exercising.  

That might take some work though.  They can be stubborn, especially Grammy.  Yep, She's bigger than me and feisty, but I'm determined.  *giggles* 

So, here goes... *Scampers into the kitchen to gather appliances*  Oomph!   This mixer is heavy.  *Drags it to the sofa.*  Exhausted she lies down on sofa beside it and falls asleep.  

Etude and Rondo giggle and creep quietly onto the sofa then Etude whispers. Whew!  That was close, Rondo.  

Well, folks.  I think we are safe for today.  She's out.  Enjoy your day.   

By Sweetie, Personal Trainer and Fitness Guru.

Good morning, Friends.
You may not remember my previous blog when I put the boys who were substantially lazy and overweight on a program to get fit.  Well, if you would like to read it and my plan to get them into shape click here and here.  

It has finally paid off.  Yes, between Grammy's monitoring and doling out their meals in smaller portions throughout the day and mine to keep them exercised they have lost a whopping 1.8 lbs.  That's a little less than a kilogram but hey.  Doctor White coat said they shouldn't lose too quickly and 10% was the maximum they should lose within a year.  Well, it took us close to two years but we have done it  That is what Etude lost.  Rondo lost just under 11%.  So now they are on an maintenance program which means they get about 1/10th more food a day.  BUT the exercise program continues.  We don't want any backsliders.  No siree.

Grammy mentioned to me the other day that she has noticed they are playing more,chasing plastic coils and fuzzy mousies (No, not our fuzzy Mousie) and other toys and all this without me prodding them. 

Grammy tried to capture one of them, Etude, to be exact, playing with a coil.  But then the silly thing dropped it.  The phone!  She dropped the phone.  Oh, Grammy, don't use your arm as an excuse.  You just got clumsy.  I saw you.   Yes, she dropped it and it seems she didn't think about what was being picked up in the video.    We have told her she must either redo the video or edit it.  Silly woman didn't consider  her laundry was hanging on the drying rack with her unmentionables in full view.  How gauche can the old girl be?  Unbelievable!  So, considering her ineptness I deleted the video. 

You'll just have to take my word for it.  I have to tell you though... Etude was so cute with his belly swaying like a hammock on a windy day, so proud of himself capturing the elusive coil.  Not only that I'm sure the whole world heard him as he announced it to Grammy. 

Next on the agenda.... Grammy.  "Hey, Grammy, get in here!"  Grammy?  Now where did she go?  GRAMMY?

Check out the photos of my fitness gymnasium and the boys after their weight lifting program.   The first is from when Whiskers was still with us.  Look how cute she is in her sweatband.  *Giggles*

Well, that's it for this week folks.   We love you.  See you in November.

by Sweetie, Fitness Trainer and Intrepid Defender of the Home

Good morning, dear friends.  

You might ask when reading the title if we are having goose for Christmas dinner this year and the answer is, No, we won't be eating goose but 2 chubby geese will be feasting with us.  Who are these chubby birds?  Why, they are our brothers, of course -  those overweight, under-exercised, chow machines.

Once again I address the topic of exercise and fitness... and as on the other occasions I, Sweetie, am frustrated as is Grammy.  

As you all know the boys are somewhat chubby. WHAT'S that, Mousie?  Okay, maybe I should have said the boys are substantially chubby.  They are substantial as in... they are NOT featherweights. Far from it.

Add to that that they are chubbier than a year ago despite Grammy watching their food intake and changing up the foods for various diet foods.   You can read about our foray into FAT CAT brand food here. That was a bust and yet, Grammy, ever the optimist, has started to  try new 'diet food' for them called Royal Canin Satiety.  Rondo won't touch the wet food so he's on the kibble equivalent but Etude is on a combo of wet and dry.

And you also know that Grammy bought a harness and leash for Etude and if that is successful, then Rondo will be getting his very own harness.  

Getting Etude used to this harness may be a challenge greater than Grammy realized.  The goofball slinks across the floor belly to the ground when wearing it. Of course, that isn't hard since his belly is already pretty close to the floor but it is evident by the way he bends his legs that he doesn't like it.   More days and weeks may be required until he adapts and accepts the harness.  Then getting him out the door into the hall will be the next challenge.  But, Grammy persists.  Years ago we tried exercising Grammy and the boys and that was close to futile too.  You can read about it here. That one almost got us evicted.  *Giggles*  Whiskers got the last laugh in that exercise.   

Then I decided to open up my Fitness Academy and while I've done well with other clients including Whiskers and my sister Mousie those boys are another matter altogether.  You may want to read about these here and part 2 here.  Working with them was a major frustration that I may never recover from but I shall try.  Always focus on the positive, I say. And so...

Grammy and I haven't given up.  We're going to get those boys down to a respectable weight, even if it does us in.  In fact, we are thinking about setting up bleachers and charging for the show. It should be good.  Do we have any takers?  Would you pay to watch the show?  

Well, that's all for today.  Grammy has a busy day ahead of her and Mousie has been feeling unwell this morning so we'll be keeping a close eye on her.  Just pray it is an off day for the wee one and a visit to the vet won't be required.  

We love you, dear friends. 

Comments are always welcomed.  We love hearing from you.

by Sweetie, fitness trainer

Good morning, dear friends.  
Once again I'm taking over the blog and this morning's topic is my chubby brothers.   Yes, the chubby bunnies who pester Grammy night, morning and many times in between for food.  

As you know from reading past blogs, these boys have never suffered hardship and live to eat.  It is time they learn to eat to live like we girls. BUT first we have to get them from beach balls to svelte handsome fluffballs. 

Grammy had been working with them on this for well over a year and in all that time the most either of them had lost was 1.5 lbs.  This at an exorbitant cost for a food that would speed up their metabolism.  If it worked it would be worth it... BUT, unfortunately when Grammy weighed the cost and lack of substantial weight loss with continuing the food with what her budget would permit her blood pressure hit an all-time high.  Something had to give and with a limited budget you can guess what.  But then, what to do?

Grammy decided to return to the food the girls eat and they were on before but try reducing the quantities.  So for the next two months they were fed the same foods as the girls but in reduced quantities: 1/2 cup each of kibble and 1/8 tin of wet food.  AND  NO TREATS, No extras.  Of course, we don't get extras... because Grammy takes our kibble from our dishes and pretends they are treats.  Sneaky but it works.  

Two months into this routine and Rondo and Etude were looking even more rotund than before and had ballooned from chubby bunnies to beached whales. Every ounce lost had been regained and more.  This is not good!

Now, Rondo is longer in the legs and the body so looks less like a blob than shorter, cobbier Etude.  BUT both are over the recommended weights BY FAR and neither can be determined svelte. 

So the question begs.... did coming off this metabolic diet cause a rebound effect?  We don't have an answer for that but going back on it isn't an option and the weight has to come off.

This meant Grammy would have to go on another hunt for something to bring down their weight while staying within a budget she could manage and off she went to a nearby pet food chain to look for something that might be effective while not putting them in the poor house.

Grammy really likes the staff at this petfood store and trusts they know what they are doing.  Our clerk suggested a high fibre/low calorie diet for a short term to bring the weight down and the best in his opinion was something called FAT CAT. He is talking from experience so, if the name is any indication maybe there is hope.  Definitely it is worth a try.

We introduced the food into their diet and slowly transitioned them to the new food.  They love it and so far they haven't been able to eat all they are allowed based on their current weight.  I assume the extra fibre fills the corners of their big tummies.  *Giggles*

And so, they get their 1/8 tin of wet food and the allotment of dry.  Whatever is left over at the end of the day is brought up to daily limit again ready for the next day.  So far, they are satisfied but it is early days.  We'll give them a month on the new food, weigh them and see what difference it makes.  Here's hoping!  

In the meantime, I, Sweetie, am planning a workout routine for the two of them once they're at a reasonable weight to stress those hearts.  Oh, and for Grammy too.   ​

 By Etude and Rondo in response to Sweetie, Fitness Trainer

Sweetie, please don't concern yourself with our fitness program. Our photo says it all when it comes to your planned regimen. 

You and the girls have it easy... free feedings, a room to yourselves, a cat tree to lounge in and a bed to stretch out on.  We, on the other hand, only have a sofa and chairs, doled out food and nighttime-only access to the bedroom. No snacks, no daybed, no cat-tree. 

We have it all in paw.  In fact, we have joined a program ourselves... and are working to excel at all aspects of the program.  We've joined the CPA.

Friends, you must wonder what is the CPA? Well here is a hint... "Hello, my name is Etude and I am a Couch Potato...."   We are surprised you don't know about Couch Potatoes Anonymouse.    Yes, we admit we are couch potatoes and we do it well.  Hey!  Grammy says if you're going to do something do it well.  We're just following her directive.  

So how does Couch Potatoes Anonymouse work?  What we can tell you is we are doing our best to fulfill the group's five rules which are...

1. Practice being Couch Potatoes daily - lie on the sofa and snooze. crawl onto the cat bed and cat nap, repose in a carrier and rest.  
2. Nibble tuna pizza, mackerel muffins or any other snack of choice and slurp lattes with gusto.
3. Avoid exercise at all times.... except when snacks are provided, then run like crazy to devour them.
4. Encourage Grammy to groom us removing excess fur to reduce the size of our image.  If we look slimmer maybe Sweetie won't  try to push us around so much.
5. Ignore sisters and others who think they know what's best for us.

So, Sweetie, you can keep your fitness gymn and bring in your friends and exercise them but leave us out of it.  We love every Kilo (or Pound if you are American friends) of ourselves.  

Anyway, Grammy has postponed our visit to the vet until Spring so we're just going to enjoy American Thanksgiving with our friends south of the border, and Christmas with everyone.   Spring is a long way off.  No sense worrying about something half a year away.  Best to enjoy one day at a time.

Friends, we love to hear from you... bring on the comments... and let's have some laughs.

by Sweetie, Personal Trainer and Fitness Guru

Good morning friends.

We have a problem.  Yes, you heard me... a problem... and it's a heavy duty one.  Grammy had been noticing that the boys seem to be bigger than they were in the summer.  They told her it was just their winter coat fluffing them out and so she relaxed and let it go UNTIL...

She picked up Rondo and just about dropped the chubby old boy. Well, he isn't so old but he sure is chubby... and it AIN'T fluffy fur.  No way!   Oh, my apologies, friends.  It isn't fluffy fur!  Is that better? 

Mr Chatty Chubbo Charlie, formerly known as Rondo had packed on some lard.  Either that or he was carrying a bunch of Looneys and Tooneys in his pocket and I can tell you this.  He doesn't have any Looneys or Tooneys… he may be looneytoonie in the noodle but he isn't flush.  He has spent every bit of his pocket money on lattes and tuna treats.... and he's paid and paying the price.

Well, after wrenching her back with Mr. Triple C, she moved on to 'little' Etude.  Picking him up gave her a hernia... Yep!  Mr Fattitude had increased his girth too. Those tuna pizzas will do it to you every time.   Will he ever learn? Once in a while a treat of tuna pizza is ok but a daily diet of them followed by a snack of mackerel muffins has made a muffin out of him.

SO, knowing a vet visit is due sometime in the hopefully DISTANT future Grammy decided it was time to weigh the porkchops and us.  AND what a shock!  Rondo has gained almost a pound since our last vet visit while Etude has amassed and additional one point eight pounds.. doubling Rondo's gain.   Seeing this we suggest Etude swap out pizza and muffins for lattes... or better yet... they both stop snacking.  The good news is we three girls have gained a little. Mousie put on a few ounces.. and topped seven pounds again, Whiskers had a few lattes with Rondo we think but is still under the maximum  (gotta keep an eye on her) and I've gained less than half a pound and am right in the middle of my ideal range.   As usual, I'm PERFECT! *smiles angelically.

Now the shocker for Grammy was that she's chunked up a bit.  She's regained some of what she'd lost last spring.   Yep, if she'd asked me I could have told her but then again, I value my life so I'd probably prevaricate or at least waffle warily on the answer. 

So, what to do!!!     

Well, I have a plan and it's nothing like in our previous blog on weighty issues.   In that one Whiskers bamboozled Grammy and we almost got turfed from the condo complex.  This time, I'm going to manage the program and work them hard. 




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Etude suddenly pipes up! 

Wait a moment here... Sweetie!  What are you trying to pull?  Rondo and I are quite capable of weight management.  We don't need you to harass and prod us to work out.  We are self-motivated.... and we'll prove it. 

Friends, we've joined the CPA...  So, stay tuned for our post next week. We'll show that little exercise nut! We will!