Lucky Girl

Hi Friends!!

I've been gone for a while, but now I'm back!  Life is oh so good.  I went on a lovely bike ride today with my intended and all I could think the whole time was how lucky I am.

• I have my health, 
• a great job, 
• a wonderful son and 
• a fiance who is just as crazy and adventurous as I am. 
•  Not to mention the fact that we have the W & OD trail just minutes from our house. 

Joseph and I have been riding our bikes pretty regularly since June 21st.  Not every day, but many days for sure.  Most days we have been right on our street which happens to be about a mile and a half circle that is mostly flat.  I have built up my endurance until six miles feels like nothing.  Then I did some research and realized that if I did 12 miles a day I would lose these extra 30 pounds I have been carrying around at the rate of one pound a week instead of one pound a month.  So today, we drove the car over to the trail and rode 13 miles!!!  Let me just say I AM PROUD!!  I feel great.  I'm tired, but only in the good way.  We finished up at the barbeque restaurant that was smart enough to open right on the trail and had a quick light lunch before we got back in the car.  I burned a total of 557 calories.  It really made me wish we lived right on the trail so that we could always ride the trail.

The biggest difference between the trail and the streets around our neighborhood is the traffic and I don't just mean the fact that we don't have to contend with motorized traffic.  Good Heavens!!  That trail is like a bike superhighway!  Those bikers were going SOOOO fast!  It was a little disheartening to have people whizzing by me as though I was standing still.  But I was going the perfect speed for me, so I am determined not to let the bastards get me down.

A few weeks ago Joseph and I were staying in our hometown for our 30th high school reunion, we decided to ride all around town.  Luckily it's a relatively small town and the "downtown" area is pretty flat (although my mother's house is on a really steep hill and that's where the rig was parked), but anyway we zigzagged all through town and saw lots of lovely houses and lawns that we had never seen before.  We also saw all sorts of people, people working in their lawns, or running their errands.  It was about 9 am on a gorgeous Saturday morning and I just couldn't help myself.  Everyone we saw prompted me to sing out GOOD MORNING!!  Well, let me just tell you that small town or not, we startled a LOT of people.  I couldn't wipe the grin off my face.  I'm sure some of those folks are still wondering if they knew us.

Have a great Sunday and my app recommendation for today is MapMyRide!!!  I love it!!

Weightloss Plan (again)!

I have been struggling with 30 pounds for 3 years now. I put it on when my doc put me on a medication for anxiety. I gained 30 pounds in 6 months. Even the doc was shocked because as she said at the time "You NEVER gain weight!" Yeah, I know. I never had, other than when I was pregnant. I never had to worry, I could eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and nothing stuck. So when I visited my doc in a panic about the gain she changed my meds and I stopped gaining, but I also never lost.

30 pounds is a lot. It is two jeans sizes. It is more than that though. It is pride, it is self confidence, it is sex appeal. For 40+ years of my life I wasn't worried about any of those things in a physical sense, but now I worry about all of the above. I have tried to lose the weight, but nothing I have done so far has made a dent.

Last night I started reading "Eat That Frog!" by Brian Tracy and came up with a plan. Brian says to take every goal and break it down into smaller pieces, see what you can accomplish on a daily basis to make your long term goals happen. So here is the math that I figured out to make my goal happen:

I want to lose 30 pounds in six months, which the same rate at which I gained it. That comes out to 5 pounds a month or .166 pounds a day. There are approximately 2.5 ounces in .166 pounds.
There are 3500 calories in a pound so to lose 2.5 ounces I need to burn approximately 550 calories. Riding a bike for 10 minutes burns 80 calories so to lose the 550 calories I'll need to ride for one hour a day. Since I invested in a recumbant exercise bike last month I actually already have the equipment I need. Now I just have to force myself downstairs EVERY DAY for one hour to make this happen.

I actually did ride the bike every day the first week I had it, but then I started my second job and just didn't have enough energy to keep it up. After three weeks at the new job, I think I have stabilized my schedule and my energy output enough that I can get back on the bike. If the bike was in the family room or the bedroom instead of the basement I don't think I would have an issue, but to actually make myself go downstairs and set up the computer so that I can watch tv usually takes more effort than I feel like expending. Sigh.

Here's the thing though, it is totally do-able. I can ride the bike for 60 minutes a day. I watch at least 120 minutes of tv a day, I will just have to force myself to do it in the basement, alone. Cause I will beat this! I will!

me and my bike

A few evenings ago I was sitting out on my front stoop enjoying the quiet of dusk. All the children on our street, including ours, were inside, there was no traffic and the light was almost completely gone from the sky.

As I sat there, a woman about my age, wearing a filmy white dress came halfway down our court on a bicycle. She turned around just before she got to our house and headed back out of our court. I assumed she was just exploring and continued my daydreaming. A few minutes later she caught my eye again, she was riding past the end of my court. Now I was curious. What was she doing? I kept my attention at the end of the court and watched her sail past three or four more times. It was getting darker and darker but her white dress was shining out in the dusky light that remained. She came down my street one more time, and came all the way to the end and turned around. When she rode past my stoop she spotted me and just sort of nodded her head and continued on.

I was so jealous. She seemed like she was having such fun. Her dress was blowing in the wind she created with her movement, making her look like she was flying. I wanted to do it too, but by now it was entirely too dark. I made a promise to myself to ride my bike the next evening.

The next night around 8pm I hopped on my bike and headed out of my court. I realized that she must have been circling around the courts on our hilltop so I started off to do the same thing. As I made the turn out of my court I spotted her! She and her husband were in their driveway. She was holding her bike and her husband was filling the tires for her. I waved to them both and continued down the street. I rode in and out of 3 or 4 courts and before I got back to her street she passed me going the other way. I called out "I'm copying you!" she yelled "Great!". The next time we passed each other she said "Doesn't it feel wonderful?" and I answered with a resounding "YES". I have not officially met her and don't know her name, but one of these days I have every intention of stopping by and introducing myself.

Since that first night I have done this routine several more evenings. I even set the alarm on my cell phone to go off at 7:30 so that I would have more daylight. I think this is working well as an exercise routine for several reasons:

1. There aren't any steep hills. Lots of small easy inclines but nothing that makes me get off and push or takes the fun out of the ride.
2. I can quit at any time and not have a long trek back home.
3. I don't have to change clothes or put on special shoes or start my car. I just open the garage door and head out.

Not only am I getting some much needed exercise and fresh air, but I am enjoying the sunsets and checking out how our neighbors decorate and landscape their homes. I have seen several houses that I want to take Sheldon past so I can ask him if we can copy them. One has a freshly painted white stoop and another has a lovely stone stoop both of which I covet.

I have also seen strange things, like the neighbor who empties his cat litter under the mailbox. Is that a statement against the US mail or the neighborhood?

I did have to stop for several days though because I put my back out and didn't want to aggravate it further. I'm better today though and hoping to hit the street again!

The best part????

I'm down 2 more pounds on my weightloss goal!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!

August is a weird month...

Hi All,
I have a confession to make. I have a love hate relationship with August. I met, married and divorced my ex husband in different Augusts. I had my baby in August. My sweetheart was born in August. It brings hot and muggy weather to my part of the universe. It signals the Summer is flying by. This year I go back to school (year 26 of my 50 year plan) on August 31st and though I am excited about being back on campus, I am also terrified that I won't be able to cut it this time.

Also, as if this isn't enough stress, I have started Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. If today is the 4th I must be on day 4. Yikes, she is kicking my butt! She wants me to kick my own butt, but I just can't get my legs up that high. I did it in the evening Friday/Saturday/Sunday, but I skipped last night so that I could do it in the morning starting today. I'm not sure which is worse. The best part about the morning is the fact that it is DONE for today. The first night, I literally cried when I was done. The next two nights I was sore and moany, but I made it through the whole thing without tears. This morning I could hardly finish some sections but I didn't feel near as sore (no idea how that worked out!) But after my shower, all I wanted to do was climb back into bed and collapse for 5 or 6 hours. The only place I can do it is in the bedroom as we don't have a DVD player set up in the basement yet and I don't want to disturb the whole family by doing it in the family room at 4:30 in the AM. Sheldon actually got up and did it with me this morning, which was nice, but I don't know if he will continue.

The best part is that I am already down four pounds!!! Go ME!!!

Work Out Wednesday!

Sheldon and I met at the gym last night. It is so great that I have him to work out with because if it was just me I would go once or twice a month if that, but when he calls and asks me to meet him I jump right off the couch and run out the door! :) I did my favorite treadle machine first, then 20 minutes on the bike, then enough time on the rowing machine to equal a total of 400 calories!

I was totally craving french fries but Miles and I stopped at Subway instead. Sigh.

Today I didn't eat nearly as well. I went down the street to get a yummy club sandwich and my long craved french fries at Jonathan's on 14th street. I didn't eat til around 2pm so I won't be hungry again til 8 or 9pm.

Tonight is my normal Date Night with Sheldon. We have spent a LOT of time together this week, but have not been alone since last Thursday so I am really looking forward to cuddling with my sweetiepie!

We had a really long phone conversation last night about our relationship and our thoughts on living together/buying a house together this year. It was a very very good conversation, and as always we feel closer after we discuss things that we have analyzed separately.

Kicking my Ass!

http://www.nautilusgsa.com/brochures/Treadclimber.pdf

This machine is kicking my ass at the gym and I am loving it! It works you twice as hard as a regular treadmill and you don't have time to get bored. 20 minutes burns over 200 calories for me and every time I use it I feel like I have to crawl off of it to get to the bike for another 20 minutes and then the rowing machine for 10 minutes. I have used it 3 or 4 times now and I am planning on upping my time by 5 minutes today! It conveniently asks me at the end of each workout if I'd like to add 5 more minutes. I have wimped out every other day either because I forgot my water, or was too exhausted, but I am determined today. I am down 7 pounds in my search to reclaim my 40 year old body. I was hot at 40, at 43 I'm "not so hot"!! Sheldon and I go to the gym together which is great motivation for me as I am always more than willing to talk myself out of the going when I am on my own.

Weight Loss!

I have good news on the weightloss front!!!  Yesterday when I weighed myself I saw a number I hadn't seen in over a year, today when I weighed myself it was an even BETTER number, one I hadn't seen in over 3 years!!!  I came squealing out of the bathroom and Sheldon did not know WHAT to think, but he was very happy for me when he figured it out.  It was a very happy moment!!  Well deserved too, Sheldon and I went dancing on Friday and went to the gym yesterday.  The machine I chose at the gym yesterday really kicked my butt and burned over 200 calories in 25 minutes.  It was a Nautilus treadle treadmill where there are two separate belts you are walking on and they treadle up and down like the old fashioned sewing machines.  It is supposed to replicate hiking as opposed to walking and it is also supposed to be twice the workout.  I believe it because after 25 minutes I felt like I had to crawl to the bike...I didn't crawl mind you, I just felt like it!  That is definitely the machine I will be using from now on instead of the normal treadmill!

I have been doing quite well on my eating too.  Not eating unless I am actually hungry and trying to choose well.  I have had a few cheeseburgers...but I'd take a banana right now over a bowl of ice cream hands down.  I wish I had a banana right now!

January 6th and 7th Diet Notes

I have no idea what my calorie counts are as I didn't add them up as I went along and I don't feel like figuring it out now. I don't think I did too badly over the last two days though!

On January 6th I ate:
One waffle with butter and blueberry sauce
2 bowls of Total with whole milk
cheese and crackers
fruit salad
one slice of toast with butter
1/2 of a fluffernutter

I didn't move much...only walked about 5 blocks, not even a mile and not very fast.

On January 7th I ate:
one yogurt with grapenuts
one serving of New Year Soup
4 oz of cottage cheese
one jelly donut
one double stack from Wendy's
10 french fries
6-8 oz of sauteed cod
5 waffle fries

I had a fabulous workout, 40 minutes and 2.25 miles on the treadmill and then 20 minutes and 1.6 miles on the seated stair climber. Burned over 300 calories!

Biggest Loser

Really gonna do it!  I've been fighting this 30 pounds for 3 years and I'm really gonna do it this time.  I was down 4.5 pounds the last time I weighed myself at Sheldon's.  His scale is my barometer.  So I have approximately 25 pounds to go.  I am going to keep track of my calories and exercise here.

Today I have:

eaten 1334 calories:

2 homemade oatmeal cherry cookies 

2 cups of homemade New Year soup

2 oranges

2 slices of toast with real butter

1 container of lowfat yogurt with a tablespoon of grapenuts mixed in

2 prunes

1 cup of whole milk

1/2 of a fluffernutter

walked 8115 steps 

about 2.5 miles

Another Day of Working Out

I am proud to say I got off my butt for the third day in a row!  Friday Sheldon and I went hiking/letterboxing, yesterday we went to the gym and I swam 50 laps, today we met at the gym and I worked hard on the treadmill.  I walked uphill for an hour, walking over 3 miles and burning 324 calories.  Feels good!  

It also feels good to be home.  I left Sheldon's after the gym yesterday and today I only went over to his house for a little while.  This is important because I'm not sticking around with a knot in my stomach waiting for him to shoo me out.  I'm leaving of my own volition, because I have other things to do at home.  I'm leaving him wanting more.  For probably the first time in our relationship I am letting him miss me.  This isn't a trick or a game I am playing, far from it, in fact it is just because I finally feel some confidence in where we stand, and how important I am in his life.