You know....it's not really that hard!

This spot on eating is....well.....it's actually getting easier.  It's kinda falling back into place.  Yeah, some days I'm looking at it and going......I need to drop something or change something to make this work.  But for the most part it's working pretty well. I've only been over that one day which was a choice due to the insane amount of activity.  Other than that I have been 'spot on'!!!    Five fruits and veggies a day really helps to fill up the belly but keep the calorie count low.  (and whadya know.....that's the recommended amount we should be eating anyway!).   Admittedly, I don't always make the 5.   Some days it's a little less some days it's a little more.

And the amazing thing?????  It's working.   Last week I dropped 2.5 pounds.  I'm tickled with that.  But I'm still in that 5 pound hellish range that I've been in for the last umpteen months.  (yeah yeah yeah yeah....I was at the very tip top of that 5 pound range the other week)    I will feel better when I acually get OUT of that 5 pound vortex and prove to myself and the world (Ha...like the world cares) that I have totally overcome it!

Have I made sacrifices the last week and a half?  Absolutely!   Has it been a huge issue?   NO.  I've been full and satisfied. My mind tells me I want something else.  But I find that I really don't need it and I'm just fine without it.   I will say this.....eating smaller portions...I am actually hungry by the time my next meal rolls around!  Sadly, this was NOT a common occurrence in recent months.

What is Normal

I've talked at normality so many times.  I've moaned about the fact that I want to be normal.  I don’t want to constantly be the girl that is watching her weight.  I want to live normally.  I want to eat normally!!!!  I want to eat like a normal human being!!!   I've come to terms with this desire so many times throughout my personal weight loss journey.  

I've written more than once about this.  I've written about how I noticed that a super thin gal I worked with who seemingly ate everything in site was actually eating 1 bite of something and calling her self satisfied….and she would save the rest and eat another bite the next day.   Yes, seriously?  She did that with cheesecake.  Me, I would have wanted two pieces of cheesecake….let alone one bite!

The first time I lost my weight I did it in my own personal style.   I did most of it via the weight watchers program.   I quickly figured out (at least at that time) that there were some ‘free foods’.  These were foods that were so low in calories and points that they didn't count toward your daily points.  Green beans anyone?   Would you like a serving of sauerkraut with that????  Yes, green beans and sauerkraut were freebies.  I ate the heck out of green beans and sauerkraut.  Oh yes I did.  Everyday in my lunchbox I ate green beans and sauerkraut.  They worked to fill me up and in that way the quantity of food I was eating was not affected.   It worked…..surprisingly well it worked!

OK, maybe it didn't work all that well……eventually I got sick of them.......for a while just saying green beans and/or sauerkraut made me want to hurl!  Yeah, I OD’d on them!

This time around, I’m taking a different approach.  I’m actually working on quantity.  Yes, I’m still supplementing my daily eating with low calorie foods.  But I’m also learning that a half sandwich can do the trick in place of a full sandwich.   The other morning for breakfast I made breakfast pizza.  Typically I would scarf down 2-3 pieces of this delightfully delicious food.  The other morning I had one piece and then rounded it out with a serving of applesauce (homemade of course).   When I was done did my mind tell me that I wanted another piece?   Of course it did.  Habits don’t just go away.   I just ignored the call of the pizza while I packed it up.  And guess what?  I survived just fine with just one piece.  Was I hungry by the time lunch rolled around?  Of course I was…..but that’s not a bad thing.

Normal…....I think I may be FINALLY understanding what normal is.  Normal is not eating rabbit food exclusively.  Normal is not eating one bite of food.  Normal is eating the foods that I like, but doing it in a way that STILL fits into my caloric count is the way to go.   It’s not rocket science.  I can still have the breakfast pizza….I just can’t have half of the darn pizza (at 313 calories a slice)….I can’t even really afford two pieces. (626 calories total…as that’s half of my days allotment).  But I can have one slice…that fits into my day quite nicely!!!!   I’m being normal! 

I put miles and miles on my legs last week.   I ran on my own.  I walked with Sherry.  I even got some walks in with Todd!   

Today, Sunday was a CRAZY day.   I woke up and headed out run.  It was the run for this months virtual 5k that I am participating in.  So far I've done every run!  YIPPEE!!!   Today was in 39 minutes.  

After my run, I sat down beside my car and pulled out my lunch box...or should I actually say my breakfast box?   I enjoyed my cantaloupe and some string cheese while I relaxed for about 15 minutes.

After my picnic breakfast I only had a few minutes to rest before Sherry arrived.  We walked just shy of 4.5 miles...and hit the HILLY section.   YIKES!

I got home shortly after 9 and Todd and I threw the bikes on the car and headed out!   Oh yes, we went biking!

Why yes, I was SOOO hungry by lunch time.    I actually didn't really go off the rails with my eating...but I didn't eat 'spot on'.    I decided to not sweat it at all.  I enjoyed my food.  I wasn't stuffed when I left the restaurant.  Furthermore, I had already burned MAD MAD calories and it was only lunch time!!!!!

After lunch we ran into one or two stores and then headed home.  I was already tired....and even told Todd that I could take a nap.  However, upon arriving home I jumped right into my afternoon.  

Mowing.....Push mowing!!!!!!   I didn't time it....exactly.  I know roundabout....it was about 3 hours....I only counted 2 hours in my exercise app.   

So the final calorie count for my earned activity calories?   3178.   I  actually ate over my self imposed 'spot on 1200-1300 budget' for the day.  NO worries.  I was only at 1900 calories for the day.    So even though it was over budget I'm going to call today's eating a victory!!!

I tried!!!

This morning I got up.  I knew that I planned to ride my road bike.  I was determined to do it!   My bike still scares me.   I know it hurt last year....and I know that simply changing a tire is STILL an elusive skill that I can't manage on my lite speed road bike (I can do my trek tires slick as a whistle).  So round about 8am I pulled out my bike.  I started to pump up the tires and ready my bike.  Hmmmm. Something just wasn't right....is my pump going bad or am I just stupid?   Seriously?   How difficult can it be???  (Apparently quite difficult).   Finally I deemed my bike ready.   I threw on my clothes, dumped some water in a water bottle (whih I promptly left on the kitchen table ....luckily didn't notice it's absence until my return home) and out the door I went.

I haven't been on my bike yet this year (bad MaryFran) so I took a bit of time to clip in and out once or twice before heading off.

Ahhhhhhh

The open air!  The breeze on my face!  The....what's that noise?  It was like a dull thud...but only when I was actively pedaling.  I slowed down.....chanting 'clips clipc clips' and safely came to a stop with one foot resting on the ground. My tires seemed to be fine. The bike seemed to be fine so I clipped in and off I went again.

Thud thud thud.  Ok not really even a thud...more like just a vibration...a feeling in the bike....something was not right. 

I slowed down, clipped out and stopped again.  Once again everything seemed fine...the tire felt a bit warm to the touch...but let's face it...it's hot outside so maybe that's not too uncommon. (Yes I know most people probably don't run around feeling for the temperature on their bike tires....I'm half nutty, I know it!!).  

At that point I KNEW that something was off kilter.   Could I have just not pumped the tire up the whole way (with my retarded pump/or user error)??   Could it have a slow leak (or fast leak?)???  Could there be another issue??  Hell could it all be in my head (pretty sure not)???   Regardless, I didn't want to get any further away from home...I tuned myself around and headed home.   So, I managed to take the shortest bike ride ever.   1.54 miles.  

I was totally bummed.  I am also disgusted with the fact that I'm letting my  bike get the best of me in regards to my fears.    And honestly, now that I'm at work I am slapping my forehead thinking 'why didn't I grab my trek and go out on the canal....duh!'

Good news....my lower back handled that 1.54 miles like a champ!   My hip/arse cheek pain did twinge but not enough to make me cry out in pain.    

So onward to different thigs......day three of eating.   I was 70 calories over the top end of my eating allowance.   Not exactly spot on.  But I'm ok with it.   I was active...so that's why I'm ok with it!!!

How active???   I ran early in the morning!   It was a brutal run!  My legs ached and it was hot!

Todd and I then went for a nice hike!! It was warm but not overly overbearing.      Sorry no picture!  

Then I went for another hike later in the afternoon.  The afternoon hike near about killed me!!!  It was hotter than hades!!!   It wasn't a long walk....but I found a door to an old coal stove that I carted home.   I'm debating different options ...a wall hanging...a out stool...ohhh lots of things.   It just spoke to me!!!!

Today at work I plan on organizing my stuff to take to the gal that will hopefully be illustrating my kids book.  Yes, I wrote this years ago as a lark but my artistic abilities in terms of drawing are slim to none.  So I am tickled to possibly get this book done.   Maybe published (self or otherwise)....but done.   Unfinished projects need to become completed projects...I'm tired of stuff hanging over my head!!!!

So I'm holding on.   I am utterly focused on my calorie intake.   I am taking sneak peaks at the scales (don't hate me...I'm an everyday weigher) and I'm anxious to see what the results will bee this week.   Or rather in anxious to see what the results will be at the end of two weeks.   Lately I can hold it together for one week hutc ace on week two.   And maybe...just maybe...if I am lucky I can reach July 11 and be back at the same weight I was last year.  (That is roughly 220 pounds....I was actually skirtig with 218 at the beginning of that week and on the morning of July 11 I was 210....but probably because of the case of flu I had been subjected to). So I'm gong with 220.   Long shot...considering last Friday I was 235...but I'm going to give it a gung  ho go!!!

Moving along!

So I'm on day two of my challenge.  I think it helps to look at this in a much smaller increment.  Like I said in yesterdays post...who can't do something for two weeks.  :-)

Surprisingly enough, I have been SUPER active the last few days...since I woke up Sunday morning that is 15.06 miles of walking and running.  Ohhh and that doesn't count the hours of push mowing that I did on Sunday afternoon!   My legs are just cranking out the miles!   Feels good!

This morning I saved a tiny turtle from possible demise on my walk.  (and this morning was a walk)  He was just lounging on the road.  I moved him to the grass.  Poor little tyke!

Allergy season has been around for a while.   In typical years my left eye (just my left eye....go figure) waters for a few days and then I'm OK.  Annoying but nothing major.  This year....it wouldn't let up.  It watered day after day after day.  And Sunday night when I went to bed my eye was SORE.  I assumed that like normal it would be fine in the morning...and get progressively worse.  However Monday morning arrived and my eye was SORE to the touch.  I didn't let it stop me...I went running.  I went to work and I caved.. The eye hurt....I had tears streaming from that eye.. my eye was swollen ....and it was goopy.  . went to the pharmacy and the pharmacist recommended a drop for my eye and I started taking Benedryl.  Today it's much better. Still a bit tender and a bit more 'wet' than normal...but over all much better!   Look close...you may see the goopy swollen eye!

My hip is still giving me grief....and into my butt cheek.  I guess I really am a pain in the ass!

Food wise....SPOT ON!   I kept it together yesterday...even though I was DYING for a snack last night!  I ignored that demon's call and did well!   Today I struggled between getting home from work and having dinner sitting on the table ready to eat.  I persevered!     Now if the scales just show my efforts (Yes, I'm taking sneak peaks...but my lips are sealed!)

Spot On

I walked with my friend this morning.  We had a long talk.  We talked about her kids and family and what is going on in her life.  We talked about everything going on in my life and where I'm at with everything going on in my life.    It was a walk with tears, laughter, jokes and utterly serious discussions  So in other words we had our normal walk/talk!

However, toward the end of the walk when we finally got to really discussing our weight loss issues, struggles and dreams is where the talk got REAL!    This friend has been hovering about 3 pounds from reaching her weight watchers goal weight.  She is like me....a life-timer that just needs to get back to her goal weight.  But she's been hovering above it for weeks now.   I pointed that out to her and she admitted that she had recently recognized her apathy toward it and drew the line in the sand.  She had cancelled her weight watchers monthly membership effective the end of this month.  We discussed it and both agreed that it was the right decision.   The conversation continued on and she said something.  "I don't really lose unless I'm spot on."  (or something like that.......hey, cut me some slack...it's bee 11 hours since then...and I'm getting old, my memory is not what it used to be...ha ha ha)   I quickly agreed.  You see, I haven't fallen off the rails in recent months.  I still eat pretty healthy.  I don't eat gazillions of calories. I'm not going nuts.  HOWEVER, I'm not eating spot on and for me, that is NOT enough to lose.
So thus was born my challenge...one which my friend quickly agreed upon.  For the next two weeks.  No long commitment.  NO forever.  Two measly weeks.  For the next two weeks, we will eat spot on each and everyday.  Starting on Monday June 16.  Every day...spot on eating. 1300 calories for me. Within her weight watcher points for her.  That's the way it is.....SPOT ON for two weeks.  Daily email reports for accountability....even if it is just as simple as "Hey....I did it....spot on for yesterday!"    Little does she know...I'm going to include my water intake too.

Bonfire yumminess from Saturday night bonfire

So eating is on spot....luckily we don't have any bonfire planned soon!!!!


Last night I was looking at old pictures with my youngest nephew.  He saw some old pictures of me.......his eyes got big (he was around but just very young) and his head whipped around to look at me and then back to the pictures.   I asked him "Do you know know who that is?"  He grinned and said "Well I THINK it's you...but...."   He stopped and I just grinned and said...I'm going to look like that again!

Those pictures made me really long for my weight to be lower.....I looked soooo different!

Here are recent pictures.  (Pardon the hair from today..I"m not sure what was up with that!)

Yeah, what the heck was with my hair?????  Is that wings?

Ahhh a hat...to hide my unruly hair!

And now.....lets look down memory lane!  And remind myself where I want to be!!

I thought I was still huge........size medium shirt.

My face just totally amazes me in this shot!!!!  (well, Todd's too...soooo glad he got rid of his 'grizzly Adams' facial hair!)

I'm getting there again.  I looked damn good!!!!!

An attack

I had my 'official' weekly weigh in.  My weight was up.  Could be natural fluctuation or it could be simply be the affects of vacation finally catching up on the scales.  Not sure...not gonna freak out about it.  Just going to focus!  

I know that my issues and the main reason that my weight is sitting still....or rather staying within the same 3-5 pound range is the fact that my eating is not spot on.  It is not off the cuff...but I'm just not where I need to be.  I know it.  I have to tighten that up!

My weekend flew by...of course.  They all do.  I worked on Saturday morning but flew into action after work.  I had some errands.  First up was Lowes to pick up some lumber to hopefully finish up some of our projects.  I then went to Sam's club where I picked up our vacation photobook.  Last up was groceries.  I rushed home to put everything away and immediately headed out for a walk with a friend on the canal.  I got home and Todd and I worked some on our backyard project and we had dinner.  A nice soak in the hot tub and our day was done.

Saturday started early with yet another trip to Lowes and breakfast out.  We got home and the work commenced.  I spackled a wall that I had plans to paint and then headed out to mow.  And that is where it went downhill. Shortly after starting  mowing (push mowing) I felt my sinus' start to drain and my body respond to the pollen in the air.  That was normal, so I kept mowing....and then I don't know what happened...but that stuff got REAL.

The affects of the pollen got intense and before I knew it I looked like I had gone through a field of tear gas.  I was gagging....dry heaving....snot was stringing from my nose and water was flowing from my eyes like I had lost my long lost friend.

Not a picture of me...but I am sure I looked as miserable..and I had snot stringing to the ground....yeah real pretty I know

 I was hunched over and shaking like a leaf by the time I got to the back of the house where Todd was working.  I called out for water (it took me a few times to get my message across to him because I was literally in pretty bad distress. )    I sat there for a while and got passed it.  I finished mowing....with two more 'attacks'.  Luckily the next two times I stopped immediately as soon as I felt the first inkling of 'badness' and I was never as bad as that first time.

Like I said, I managed to finish the mowing and I even managed to paint two walls in my kitchen.  Looks SOOO much better.  The only problem????   My sinus' are sooo messed up that my head feels like it's double it's size!!!! (and my eyes hurt....)  Kinda like this....

Oh well....tomorrow is a new day.  Planning to run in the am and zumba in the pm!!!

Steadily moving forward

BSo I micromanaged my time last night.  I planned my evening down to the second pretty much.  I also planned my morning today.   My first test came as a sat waiting for sherry to arrive to walk.  My phone rang and she informed that she was running late....REAL late.  I hesitated and I'm sure she thought I was upset (she thinks it's funny now that she knows what my hesitation was about). I hesitated because pushing our walk back and hour would severely disrupt my detailed plans for the night.  NO worries....I rolled with it.....I rushed home and started knocking things off of my list....pushing the 8PM activities to 6PM.  I rushed through everything that I could.  I ate my dinner (peanut butter and jelly sandwich) on the way back to the battlefield.  Seriously, I have to multi-task here so that I can feel halfway caught up!

 

This is not the second by second plan...but it's my scheduled activities through the weeks....

  

It worked.  I didn't have a lot of time left at the end of the day...and I have still have things that I wanted to get done that are still on my list...but I'm sitting pretty.   This morning...the same.  I actually overslept...but still managed to do everything on the list....well, I forgot to peel the potatoes for dinner tonight!  Minor issue!

I'm sitting in a better place now for the weekend.  The weekend will still be busy.  I have to mow (a few hours still...until we get our riding mower back), I still have some weeding to do, I will be helping Todd finish a few projects (he has I think 5 unfinished projects that I'm hoping that we can get done...ok, I'm hoping to finish the little things on 3 of the projects this weekend....).   I work this weekend.  I have tentative plans with a friend forSaturday afternoon.  I have concrete plans for walking on Sunday morning.  I have plans to go to hear the municipal band play with a picnic dinner before hand and cake and ice cream to celebrate a birthday afterward.  Ohhhh and I have a run that I'm scheduled to do...and hopefully a bike ride!  So I have lots to do.....

I managed to get my run in this morning!

And got umpteen loads of laundry folded (the load I took out as I was going to bed...the load I put in to dry as I was goign to bed.....and the load I dried while I was out running).  

Unfortunately, the last load I managed this morning is unfolded yet.....at least it's towels....but how could I interrupt such a pretty girl resting.  

Overwhelmed

Vacation was great.   I had a nice time.  We relaxed and more importantly, I stepped back from everything.  Some people may say I shouldn't have stepped back from exercise, but it just didn't work out.   We just ambled through the days (ok, some days were hectic and filled).  It was great.

Then reality hit and I returned to work.  And more importantly I returned to real life.  I worked until 6 each night....I did zumba step on Monday, I went to the gym with Shantel on Tuesday.  I did zumba step on Wednesday.  Each night I got home no earlier than 8...and I proceeded to make dinner.  I then cleaned up.  That doesn't give much time for much in my evenings.  I'm making plans...and I KNOW I need to run consistently to improve my time and succeed in my goals.  So there is three mornings a week.  I want to ride.....but when????   Seriously?  It's only been 5 days and already the laundry is piled up..and chores are stacking up around me.   Cat fur that has been shed  is padding under your feet right????   When am I to find the time?  How can I fit this all into my schedule.  How did I do it before??????   I'm overwhelmed and just feeling like I'm sinking!!!

At least I'm moving!  I have my timetonight, tomorrow morning andtomorrow evening micro managed on a schedule!  Tonight after work first up it's walking with Sherry!  Maybe if I micro manage my time for a bit I can get everything done!!!!

Food, fellowship and exercise...good times!

First day back from vacation.....what a killer!!!!  It went on SOOOOOOO long.  I just wanted to moan the whole day!  (Oh wait, I did moan about it!)

I stuck to my guns though....water only all day!  My calories were a bit over, but I'm OK with that.  My body totally got kicked off of my normal routine of meals and it was a rough adjustment yesterday to try to get myself back into line (I usually eat lunch at 2 on workdays....I work until 6....and go to zumba after work so dinner isn't until 8 at the earliest.....on vacation I ate lunch at 11 or 12.....BIG difference!)
After work I went to zumba.  Last night was zumba step.  Ho-lee cow....that class is tough under normal conditions.  The conditions yesterday was rough....a week with minimal exercise. A week with lots of heavier foods...lacking fruits and veggies.  My legs were HEAVY!  I didn't let that stop me though!  I plodded through the workout.

After the class I was standing there talking to some friends and somehow they ended up over at my house.  I made a frozen pizza (seriously, I almost always have a frozen pizza in my freezer.....it's a wonderful emergency meal!)....we shared some watermelon.....and some summer salad.  (the summer salad.......that is the bean salad in the pic below...and from my last blog post...

The salad is super easy to make.....quick, quite tasty, nutritional and relatively cheap! 

Yes, I served fine dining to my friends. Frozen pizza...paper plates....nothing but the best (but totally off the cuff...I wasn't planning on making dinner...I was just going to have a PB&J)

Then into the hot tub we went for a nice long soak of our abused muscles....and a long conversation!

Terri, Paula and Moi

Todd left us girls to our own devices........mostly!

So day one post vacation and I survived.  Day two has begun.  My food is planned...my exercise is planned.  Now to just stick to the plan!  I've got this!!!!!!

The end of the Vacation Trilogy

You know...vacation came.   But life continued on.  We got home on Thursday night.  I  spent quite a bit of time pouring over pictures.  I spent time updating my website where I chronicle neon signs.  Yeah yeah yeah, I am infatuated with neon and ghost signs.  

But life continued on and those normal duties that life throws at us had to be done.  Groceries had to be purchased. Laundry had to be washed.  The yard had to be mowed.  Yes, I did all of those things.  (Yes, push mowing...a few hours worth.... so that's good exercise at least!)    Todd spent the time working on the next step of this never ending backyard project.  This backyard project started as an 8x8 pad for a hot tub.....then that pad became 10x10 because it would be nice to have a little area to step on....that grew to 20 feet.   And when that sized patio was done we decided we didn't want the hot tub sitting on that patio...we liked the big area....so we built a 10x10 deck on to the edge of the patio.   Then we decided that the steps off of the old deck (one we put in ages ago...before the patio was even a twinkle in the eye) would take up too much space on the patio...so we decided to build a landing at the end of those steps and do a walkway around to the hot tub....that walkway turned into a deck walkway...and just today we finished that 'decking walkway'  which turned into another 10x10 extension....ha ha ha.   Next up flower box on the end of that extention.  (pardon the construction zone....and why yes....that was the chaise lounge I relaxed on while hubby worked today!!!  Hey, my work was done!!!!)

I'd like to say that the eating out and food-a-pa-looza ended when we got home...but it didn't.   We still ate out.  The good thing about my eating.....it wasn't snacky binge eating.  For the most part it was three square meals a day.  :-)    Here I am at one of our local chinese restaurants.  Hmmmm...wonder if that says Coke on the glass.

That said, I am SOOO ready to get back to healthy eating!!!   I have my food prepped!

 And I've already restarted the water consumption.  I'm tired of diet soda....which was primarily what I drank on vacation.  Water never tasted as good!

13 hours left and I'm ready to ROCK my healthy lifestyle.  PRoud that I didn't fall totally off the wagon....three square meals a day is healthy.  Limited desserts is healthy.  (And split with hubby at that).  I think I did a fair job!!!

Vacation Part Deux

I normally weigh in on Fridays.  However, I have decided to weigh in on Monday.  (My lack of water has been crazy.....so I'm hoping to rectify this now that I'm back home and before my Monday day of reckoning).

Back home?????   What????

Monday, Memorial day was a lazy day at home. We ran a few errands and spent some time at home.  I focused on laundry and packing.  Yes, packing.   But just a lot of relaxing!

Three days.......1200 miles.......4 museums.  I'm going to let the rest of this post speak through pictures!!!

The food....oh the food!

I was however inordinately proud of myself that I actually woke up early....dressed for a run and went out running!!!!!!  It was a fun run too...exploring a new town!

And Museums.....lots of fun museums!

Bethel, NY (the site of the Woodstock Music Festival)

                                 

Desilu Studios- Jamestown, NY

Lucille Balls Grave

Lucille Write Air Museum

Lucy Desi Museum

SOOO much Fun!   

Vacation chronicles part uno

I was so excited on Thursday.  My weight was down and I was looking like I was going to show a decent loss.  But then when I weighed in I was 233.6.  I was OK with that (even though I was 232 the day before).  It was still a bit done.  And the amazing thing?  I wasn't at all focusing and my exercise was sporadic at best.  You see, I shared about my back being sore.  (Heck, who am I kidding the first day I couldn't even stand up straight......it was a bit more than 'sore').      Literally 5 days later I ran a 5K and running with a 'tender' back somehow triggered a hip issue.  I can only assume that me running so sensitive caused a bit of stress on my hip.  (there must have been a hitch in my giddyap due to the sore back).    I am hesitant to say anything about my most recent 'fun' because I just plain outright feel like I'm falling apart.  But on Wednesday I was getting groceries. I felt fine before and hurt like hell afterword!   As best I can figure somehow while hoisting the 35 pound (or however much it weighed) container of cat liter up into the cart or out of the cart and into my car I wrenched my shoulder).  Yes, my arm hurts when I move.  Yeah...lovely.   It's been bad enough that when I move in my sleep it wakes me up....and for me that is a bit amazing because I usually sleep like the dead.  Sooo, other than zumba on Tuesday (which was before the shoulder...and I just pushed through the hip pain) I haven't done much in terms of exercise....some walking, but nothing else.    Meanwhile, I'm totally bummed out about these issues..it's keeping me from doing what I want to do!!!!!

SOOO on to more exciting stuff.  I worked Saturday until noon.  The town Memorial Day parade was held an hour or so after I got off work.  It is actually a very historical parade...as it's the oldest continually running parade in the country.  Todd and I volunteer and donate the sound system for the grandstand.so of course we were there.

Honor Guard 

Spectators at the parade

We left the parade and within 15 minutes we had guests at our house.  You see, we planned to have a party that evening.   While the party was about 2 hours after the parade, there were some people that were in town for the parade and it made no sense for them to drive 20 minutes home...stay at home for just a few and then head back down to our place.    We had the fire going strong and we had a great time with friends around the bonfire and in some cases in the hot tub.

Some of our guests enjoying the hot tub.

It was a late night....but it was lots of fun.  I woke up early Sunday morning and I just couldn't bear to get out of bed.  You see my husband was tight on my right arm (that bad hurting arm...not that it matters) and snoring heavily....and I had my little old (shes actually not my oldest though) cat tight on my left side.  Seriously...I couldn't bear to interrupt her.  So I took a picture....and yeah, I look a bit demented!

MF and Ethel

Eventually she moved and I got up.  Todd kept snoozing away, so I headed out to the fire pit.  I spent some time cleaning up the yard and recovering various items (cooking tongs and skewers were strewn about..I moved chairs too...that sort of thing).  I also spent a few minutes adding water to the hot tub and heavily shocking the hot tub to return it back to it's pristine perfectly chemicalized (my word...but it works) state after it's HEAVY usage. (There was at least one person in the hot tub continually from about 4PM and until the party ended at 1 or 2 AM).  I went inside and washed all the dishes from Saturday night and packed up our gear for our Sunday fun.

Out on the river we went!   The  weather was perfect! We enjoyed a nice lunch on the boat and had a grand time!  All in all we were out for about 6-7 hours.  Long day but so much fun!

  

Today, Memorial Day has turned into a relaxing work around the house day.  I hadn't done one stitch of laundry last week....that needed to be done.  Todd had/has some work to do around the outside of the place, so he's been outside.  I've been getting inside stuff done.  :-)  (Ohhh...and we went to town this morning for an errand...and I saw my family for a few minutes...that makes me a happy girl!)

I was worried about my weight this morning.  Yesterday on the boat Shantel (one of our hosts) and I nibbled on food all day long.  Saturday night I ate at the party and really didn't think or worry about what I was eating.    Not something I recommend for weight loss.  But hey...it's life, I would be totally insane if I said that it was never going to happen.   I stepped on the scales and the scales read 232.6.  I'll take it.  Two rough days of eating (OK, they weren't rough...they were fantastically delicious!)and right now I've been lucky.  But I've got to turn this ship around...or at least turn it a bit healthier so that I can maintain that the rest of the vacation.

We shall see what comes next...but I'm here....I'm hanging tight and best of all....I'm enjoying my vacation time thus far!

Well then

Not much to say this week.  I'm just existing.  I haven't done much in terms of exercise  and I haven't been spectacular in my eating.

Ok, let me break this down.  My hip has been sensitive so I took it easy.  I don't want to be incapacitated on my vacation!   I did make it to zumba on Tuesday night with all my gals.

I however am ashamed to admit that that was the only time I've worked out this week.  Lame and sad!

My eating.....I haven't been bad, but I have been no where near where I need to be.  I'm not eating tons and tons of food.  But I haven't been getting anywhere near enough fruits and veggies.  This morning my weight was actually done.  I was hoping for tomorrow...but...

I made cookies tonight.  For some upcoming events.......my favorite cookie...it has banana, chocolate and peanut butter in it.  How can it be a bad cookie???   Yeah, I ate a few......lets just leave it at that!!!  A few!

Vacation starts on Saturday at noon.  I can't wait.  I need a break from life!!!!!

One day closer

Life just gets busier and busier!

After my run my hip hurt....BAD.  It kept waking me up on Saturday night.  On Sunday Todd and I got up early and went to a clients house.  THey had a relatively new deck that they wanted removed.  We removed it for them...and thus got a ton of pretty decent wood.  OK when I say 'we'  I mean to say that I drove the truck and I did minimal work taking down the deck.  I wanted to protect my back.  I did however sit and remove nails from boards.   So that was all morning...and a good portion of the afternoon  on Sunday.

After returning the truck to my brothers house, we ran a few errands.  Todd got a much needed haircut...I got a trim up.  We picked up a few things at Lowes (I think I should just direct deposit my paycheck directly to them for our purchases).   When we were done we were on the way home and decided to run the car through the wash.  We like the tri color wash.

Tri Color Car Wash

Monday morning dawned early.  Poor little Frawley had to go to the vet.   We tried to get him up there a few weeks back....and he caught wind of his impending neutering and he decided to run and hide.   So Monday was round two.  We caught him!   He headed to the vets office dropped him off and guess where we went.....LOWES!  Seriously,we did.   

I worked all day and had to skip zumba that evening.   My back and hip were feeling ok...the back a bit tender the hip a bit sore but not toooo bad.   HOWEVER, I skipped because little boy Frawley was ready to come home.  (OK the technician when I picked him up said he was petrified!)

Frawley's homecoming

Tuesday dawned and I was ready to work out!    After work I headed to zumba.  Here is my peeps from this Tuesdays class!   We had fun!!!!

Me, Terri, Ann, Paula and Shantel

Soooooo....I have to admit that my eating has not been spectacular........this is just rough!   Vacation is coming up soon (as in it starts on Saturday).  Vacations are notoriously difficult to stay on track.  Seriously.....this is gonna be hard!   I'm going to try to run and be religious about my activity.  I'm planning on throwing in my running clothes when we go up into NY.   There, it's out..I've vowed out loud to exercise during vacation!!!!!!