Candy Coma

Is Halloween about the dark night time fun, costumes, or gathering and eating candy until you fall into a candy coma?  What about when you become almost fifty years old?  It's too cold to be out in the dark night time, the costume does not fit anymore, and eating a handful of candy corn can send your blood into "sugar shock"
My kids are all grown up and Halloween does not have the same excitement as it had before. I was not even home to pass out the color changing cheetos snack bags that I had bought.  I spent all afternoon and most of the evening helping out my mother and her computer-printer "fall out" (they were not talking to each other)  At 9:30 pm I came home and popped in a L.S. dvd and did a 3 mile walk ending up at 10 pm, all sweaty, and ready for bed....no, make that a shower and then bed!

Friday Family Fun Nite

When my kids were little we instituted Family Friday Fun Nite.  We would go someplace to eat, then to the Mall, or to the book store (B&N), come home and play board games or cards.  My kids are grown, one is 21 and has joined the Marines, the other is 17 and thinks having fun with his Mom is "lame".  Now, Friday Family Fun Nite is all alone, no one home except "lil ole" me. For "fun" I did a full hour of exercise dvds, ate a cold ham and low fat cheese sandwich, drank ice tea with no calorie sweetner...Fridays are now minus the family and minus the fun.  Maybe I should rename it, Friday Fitness Nite,  it is still minus the fun but maybe I'll be able to add that later.

The Squeeze

Well, I almost didn't "squeeze" it in tonite.  I got sidetrack by a craft project, and I wanted to watch Survivor at 8:00 pm so I decided it would be best if I rode my bike while watching the show.  I found that during the challenges I rode a little faster, as in my mind I was trying to help the team by speeding up.  I am sure this has some psycological terminology, text book explanation, a science experiment involving laboratory rats.  All I know is that it worked, I rode hard for 40 minutes and when I was done I felt like a "survivor".

The Candy Isle

I made a stop this afternoon at Walmart to pick up some new deoderant.  With all this exercise, and sweat, I seem to be using more than normal.  While I was there in the health and beauty aids, I had to pass all the bins of candy in the center isle, who can pass up candy corn for a $1.88?  With a bag of candy corn in hand I found the pit perfume and as I started back to the center isle I made a left instead of a right and landed in the Halloween candy section.  I was trying to think of a reason to buy candy, "Maybe, I should take some to work and give it to my co-workers", "Maybe, I should buy some extra to have at home in case I get a bunch of trick-or-treaters...", Maybe, I should buy it because there is so much of it and it's cheap!" I was trying really hard to find a great reason to pile my arms full of candy sacks just because it was there.  I settled for some dark, sugar free, dove chocolates and the sack of candy corn (its a tradition).  I did the B.L. Cardio Max dvd tonite and I am really happy I didn't load up with candy....you all know what would happen to it....you all need to fess up!

Autumn Walk

There is nothing like a good walk around the neighborhood and today it was sunny and inviting.  I took my camera out just in case there would be a good autumn picture to shoot, so I did not really walk at the brisk pace I normally would.  I did go for the walk and it was more than 30 minutes...it counts!

Stick to the Plan

Today was a Monday and a half, it was a tough day at work, and the weather was rainy and grey.  I came home and had great plans to exercise, eat dinner and go to a photography workshop.  Some how, after I walked in the door I was starving, so I ate dinner first.  Luckily I had set the crockpot up in the morning and made a chicken soup with rice, so I am sure when I walked in the door it was the smell that made me instantly hungry.  After I ate, of course I had to let it settle before exercising so I sat down on the couch to watch the news and before I knew it I was asleep.  I woke up, and did 3 miles of indoor walking, got all sweaty, and missed my photography class.  Better luck tomorrow...

Me-Time

I have started to notice that 41 days into this project and it is an expected part of my day to exercise.  Do I always want to exercise?, no, but I spend 30 minutes doing it anyway.  It is starting to become "me-time", a part of my day that I give to myself.  I used to choose napping or reading, watching tv or talking on the phone (sometimes both) as time for myself or "me-time".   Now, I am putting that time into my health and wellness.  Ocassionaly, I sneak in a small "rest time" before "me-time" exercise!

OOps!

I did it again!   I exercised yesterday (24th) and forgot to blog about it.  If I could figure out how to back date it I would,( I did figure it out and now this one is dated correctly!), but for now I will just have to post twice, once for yesterday and once for today.  Yesterday (24th) we spent all day outside in the yard removing leaves from everywhere!  Jaryl and Marshall were raking and removing and I was mowing the lawn to remove leaves.  I also dragged a ladder around to remove leaves from the gutters along with lots of dirt and roofing material.  We need a new roof desperately, it has deteriorated and most of our roof is in the gutters!  After a long day outside,  I came in and could have considered all that activity as my exercise but it didn't feel right...it wasn't "me time"....a time set aside for 30 minutes of exercise.  So, I popped in a L.S. dvd and did two "powerful miles"

Wee Bit

I am sweating just a wee bit right now, I just got done with a Leslie Sansone Walk and Kick dvd.  It was just a wee bit fun, and I wish there was an option to play this dvd just a wee bit with the music only.  Don't get me wrong I love the woman a wee bit too much, I use her dvd's almost every day.  It her use of language that has me a wee bit on edge.  If you have ever seen one of her dvd's...you would understand just a wee bit more of what I am refering to.

I Lost Something

No one was home at the time when I decided to break out, once again, the Dancing with the Stars Latin Cardio Dance dvd.  This is the type of dance dvd that, unless you have the body of a 20 something, and are too young to care about why you are grinding your hips, should be done without an audience.  When I was young and perky,  I could cha-cha with the best of them, mambo like there was no tomorrow, samba all day and nite, and mix it all up with a little merengue in the morning!  I have lost something over the years.  My samba is sad, my mambo has lost its "bo", I can only cha, and forget about the morning merengue...the dvd did promise that no partner was needed, and right now, I would not want my partner to endure such visual torture.....

The Early Signs

Today I came home from work early because I felt like I was coming down with a cold.  I get those early signs that over the years I have learned to recognize...excessive tiredness, my nose gets cold and I start to sneeze.  I went home, put on the pj's and went to bed.  I am trying to address the symptoms early in hopes of stomping it out, before it slams me full force and lays me flat out.  If I get really, nasty sick its going to be really hard to exercise.  I got up this evening around 6 pm and did a 3 mile indoor walk dvd and it did not take me long before I was sweating ( I probably have a low grade temp).

Cocoon

Metamorphasis, today I am thinking about metamorphasis.  I can honestly say I resemble a big, sluggish caterpillar munching my way through life, eating everything in sight.  I guess exercise could be considered my cocoon, only, it is not restful at all in  my cocoon.  In my cocoon its a little hot and sweaty and after spending time in my cocoon my body starts to ache.  In the past I have used sleep (naps) as a cocoon.  I would come home from work and take a nap to find some peace and quiet.  Today I came home from work and used exercise, Leslie Sansone Walk Strong dvd

Have You Ever Wanted to Exercise?

Today I waited for "it" to happen again. "It" is the feeling I had yesterday that I actually wanted to exercise.
I think I felt that feeling around 2:00 today except it happened so fast I would have to call it a "flash" feeling.  It was like a hot flash but faster and without the sweat.  I was waiting all day for the feeling and was not even sure "it" would re-surface.  I hope the feeling grows, thats my hope, that my day won't feel right without exercise included.  I want to be addicted to exercise, its my only hope to be and stay healthy.  I have focused ALL my lifetime on eating right and I know what I am supposed to consume and what I am not supposed to ingest.  I have never had to ask myself if I wanted to eat, thats a "no brainer" to someone who's overweight, but I have always battled with asking myself if I wanted to exercise, thats also a "no brainer" to someone who's overweight.

Amazing Race

I got on the stationary bike tonite and watched the amazing race.  I really felt like I was a part of the race, except for the heat of Dubai.  My friend Siti is moving soon to Dubai with her family and I already knew that the world's tallest building was there.  I would love to go visit and see the world someday.  Right now, I can't even leave Spokane for the weekend.  At the end of the project, I plan to visit my sister in Colorado and exercise my 365th day with her.  I am looking forward to taking that trip and many others.... How do you sign up for a show like The Amazing Race?....

"IT" Happened

Today my husband and I had many errands to complete and most of it involved the RV that my Mom and Dad gave us.  While we were driving around town.... "it" happened in the car today, a strange and unfamiliar feeling, it startled me enough to realize I have never felt like that before.  The feeling that I had a glimpse of was...I wanted to exercise today.  I know, it almost took me aback, it shook me up a little, it was weird.  I came home from errands and although a little sleepy, I change into exercise clothes and did a 4 mile walk (Leslie Sansone dvd) instead of laying down on the couch for a little nap. I wonder if I will get that feeling tomorrow?

OOOH GNATS!

It was a balmy 65 degrees today and most considered it a heat wave, since our temps lately have dropped into the low 20's and high teens.  I decided it would be a great day for a walk outside around the neighborhood.  Unfortunately, flying gnats also decided it would be a good day for swarming the "hood".  Once I laced up my shoes and started down the street I did not want to turn back.  I was committed to the "walk", so I buried my head down, kept my mouth closed, and breathed through my nose.  I barreled my way through one swarm after the next, plucking gnats from my eyelashes, and wiping gnats stuck to the sweat on my face as I walked faster just to get home.  I know I swallowed a gnat, and when I got home I blew my nose...just to be sure..I may have gnats stuck in other places...I think I need a Q-tip.

Signs

I have started to notice small signs.  I am not talking about the kind of signs that advertise merchandise.  I am refering to the kind of signs that elude to the fact that you have been exercising your head off for 32 days.  For example, I have noticed I can remove my wedding ring to apply hand lotion.  This is not the kind of "flag waving" sign that you have lost some major "pound-age", I mean its not like I dropped a whole dress size or anything and it is certainly not the major signal as if a co-worker said,  "Have you lost some weight?"   No, its a small sign, know only to me and my slim fingers (hey,... the body has to start some where).  The other small sign happened today at work.  I zipped up the stairs to the 3rd floor!, no... floated, bounded, hopped to the top and could not believe how easy it felt!  That sign had me thinking that this project is really going to pay off!....today, (2 Power Miles, Leslie Sansone dvd)

The Smell of Chlorine

I almost ran out of time tonight.  I finally stopped what I was doing and made time for 30 min. of exercise (walking dvd).  That sounds very strange coming out of my thoughts and typing fingers.  I have never stopped what I was doing to go exercise, except when I was on the swim team in my youth and we had to go to practice.  I was so healthy back then, I swam 5 days a week, sometimes twice a day, and about 3 miles a workout. On the weekends we were competeing at Swim Meets.  There was not an ounce of fat to be found on my body.  I was so skinny my nickname was "Lane Line" because I resembled the lines that stretched the length of the pool, separating the water into lanes for swimmers.  It was such a healthy sport to be involved in, great cardio, calorie burning, and muscle toning.  I was involved in this sport for about 15 years and when I was a senior in high school I quit the team...I swam for so many years, and too many laps... it is really hard for me to go near a swimming pool.

Let's Celebrate!

It is a banner day.  The 30th day of continual exercise.  A full month of perpetual activity.  A small stepping stone in a large pond.  I rode the bike for 30 minutes on my 30th day.  Tomorrow I am on to the next stone, 60 days of exercise and guess what?....I get to celebrate that day with 30 minutes of exercise.

Give Her an Inch...

Tomorrow is a milestone.  Today, is day 29 and tomorrow will be one month of constant physical activity.  I did the Biggest Loser workout again today after work, it seems that about all I lose is sweat.  I have not noticed really any difference in the way my clothes are fitting.  I have noticed that the battle of the "selves" has simmered down.  Between Dooit and Don't, Don't has surrendered.  However, between Dooit and Dooit Later, Dooit Later still thinks she still has some control. It is really hard to come home from work and exercise, right away. When I walk in the front door, Dooit Later seems to be waiting for me on the couch, calling my name.  I have to ignore her, march right past her, go up the stairs to change into my exercise clothes.  Give her an inch.... and she will have you taking a nap on the couch.

How Many More?...

Three mile indoor walking, with a heart monitor, stopwatch, watch.  It took exactly 37 minutes and 48 seconds.  I got really sweaty.  This makes post 28 and....tomorrow will be day 29  I can't even look at the amount I have left to go to complete the project...I am trying to focus on the little achievements and feel proud of those.

Walking and Talking

Two miles indoors and it really goes by fast if you are talking on the phone with your sister.  The phone rang tonite during my walk dvd and for an instant I debated whether to answer it or let ring.  I picked it up and when I looked at the caller ID I saw it was my sister, so I answered it.  She said, "Hi, how are you, what are you doing?"  With beads of sweat rolling off my face, I panted, "I m walking", this answer, of course, threw my sister's brain off...."Whaaaaat?", she said (thats how you know her brain went off the track), "OH, you are walking inside to a dvd", (brain engaged, and back on track), "I can hear it in the background, and you are breathing hard", so we continued to talk thru my two mile walk and it made the time really go by fast.  I miss my sister and I wish we could enjoy more walks together without a phone against my sweaty ear...

Medley

I did a medley of exercising today.  I went to Walmart tonite after dinner, checked out their exercise dvd's and found two new ones.  I came home and it was like Christmas!  I ripped off the cellophane and popped in the first one..."Dancing With the Stars Latin Cardio Dance"...oh my...it was tough.  I did about 25 minutes of merengue, cha-cha, and samba.  First of all, I did not wear high heel shoes or skimpy costumes, and it got too complicated in steps.  I ripped the cellophane off the second one, another Leslie Sansone dvd, called "5 Mile Fat Burning Walk" and did two miles.  I love her dvd, so simple, yet so effective.  My medley of exercising lasted about 50 minutes.  I had a dream last nite that I went Garage Sale-ing and all I bought was exercise dvd's...this project is invading my life...every part of it...even my dreams...

Strategic Planning

One would assume that if you sat all day for 8 hours in a chair you would be happy and anxious to get up and move your "Bootyville".  I am not happy or anxious to exercise when I get home from work.  I feel tired after sitting all day and solving all the credit card terminal issues in the world.  I just want to drag my tired body home and hold the couch down with it.  Today, I had to come up with a new strategic plan.  I decided to get "it" over with quickly.  March straight through the door, stomp up the stairs, go directly into the bedroom, change clothes, and come back to the living room,  kick my 17 year old son off the x-box, so I can use the tv for my exercise dvd.  It worked, I got it done and now I can have the rest of the night to hold the couch down and watch reality tv....got to love the American lifestyle.

Holding Down the Couch

I finally got up enough nerve to try the Biggest Loser Cardio Max dvd again tonite, and I can tell you...wait let me wipe the sweat from my eye,....it is still a booty kicker.  I layed on the couch after I got home from work and decided I would need a small nap before working out and it was hard to convince my body to get up off the couch.  My schedule changed at work and I now work from 7am to 3:30pm and it is great to leave in daylight, it is easier to find my car.  My schedule, when I started this project, was 10am to 6:30pm.  It was easier to exercise in the morning and go to work but, I did not like coming home at 7pm.  Ah me, oh my, it is not a perfect world.  This project is going to get tougher, ( I hate to work out in the afternoon) before it gets easier.

Bike for Sale

Stationary bike today and I wore my heart monitor to see if it was even worth it.  It really took a long time to achieve the "zone" and it was hard to keep the heart rate from going too low.  My bike only has one speed and I ride and sweat.  When I bought it at a Garage Sale, several years ago, it was supposed to have variable speeds and have the ability to be programmable, but as soon as I got it home, in the door, and up to the bedroom it became sedentary, covered with dust and dysfunctional. After I make use of it this winter it may end up in another Garage Sale, mine.  Thats where all exercise equipment goes after it dies, Garage Sale Graveyard for all equipment that does not live up to our New Years "promise" to he healthy.

Pain, Pain...Go Away...

My aches and pains are lingering from the Biggest Loser Workout.  Honestly, I don't know how the contestants on the show survive it.  I only did one little workout (week one, no less) and I have been hurting for two days now.  Today, I did a Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds DVD and I wore a heart monitor just to be sure I was in my target heart rate zone for fat burning and I was...for at least 30 min.

Here I am Again

Second "go round" today on the blog.  I went for a walk around the "hood" and it was a little rough out of the gate, thanks to Bob ( Biggest Loser Trainer).  He killed me with lunges yesterday and my "glutes", "hams", and "quads" are suffering.  I found a penny on my walk and I was not sure I could even bend down to pick it up.  I thought about leaving it there on the road, because it would involve too much work (and pain) to bend over to retrieve it.  But, I really wanted to add it to my total (now, $1.38, thanks to the penny today).  I often wondered about why you find money on the ground, especially in these hard economic times.  Now, I know why,... we are too fat and lazy when we drop a penny to pick it up!  This penny almost got to stay there, because half way down to pick it up my body started to growl, whine, and scream with pain and we almost didn't make it back to a standing position.  The penny is mine now and in my wallet. Its a little roughed up from being run over by cars but it will spend just fine!

Teachable Moment

I had a teachable moment this morning.  It all started when my eyes opened and I moved a muscle.  I felt the pain left behind by yesterdays "Biggest Loser Cardio Max" exercise routine and then it hit me...I didn't blog about it.  I felt terrible about the fact I didn't blog, there by messing up 365 days of blogging about my exercise. Now, I know you might be thinking, and I feel sort of stupid, about the fact that I did exercise, and that I should be happy about that.  I am estatic that I haven't missed a day of exercise!  However, the other part of the discipline is the accountability of the blog, a record, like showing up to weigh in at a meeting.  I feel like I missed a meeting with the keyboard.  So, today there will be two entries, just to make up for yesterdays blog report that went A.W.O.L..  And, I did, I did, I really did exercise yesterday, I promise!  If only you could see me get up and walk away from the computer, you would know I did by the stiff limp.

Rain, Rain.....Go Away

I know Winter is coming soon, Fall came without Summer leaving.  You could probably say Fall arrived and blew Summer out the door!  My blogging might get a little cold and dry (like the weather) because stationary bike riding is not that exciting.  What I can tell you is that the bickering selves have quieted down and Dooit was the boss today.  That is actually quite exciting, but I don't want to "count my chickens" just yet, its still too early in the project to say that exercise is a part of my life.  I did exercise today, on the bike, and I have noticed keeping to a schedule keeps Dooit Later from showing up!

Tortilla Chips Lament

It was cold and windy outside today on my walk  I went backwards on my route, just to mix it up a bit, I walked on the other side of the road.  It was a nice walk under blue skies and sunshine and, as always, I was looking to get paid.  I did not even see a penny.  I see many interesting things on my walks and today it was a busted styrofoam container of salsa, tossed to the side of the road and splattered all across the sidewalk.  How could someone do that?  Salsa does not go bad, so they did not toss it out because it was rotten.  My concern is for the poor tortilla chips that now have to be eaten dry and without their best friend salsa.  Who would do such a terrible thing? Why would you eat chips and salsa while driving or maybe strolling down the sidewalk, and who would you eat tortilla chips without salsa?!? They were meant to be together, the wet compliments the dry, the red looks great with the yellow, the salty pairs with the spicy.....I am starting to feel a little hungry now, time for breakfast!