I lost a Pound - ONE POUND - That's GREAT

I'm working out. Not the 5 days a week that the trainer said I had to do - 3 days a week. But that's okay. I'm doing 35 minutes on the elliptical machine then 20 minutes of strength or ab exercises, then 35 minutes on the bike. That burns about 600 calories. And I'm back to eating better. (I hope I can keep up the eating better part.) So, I lost a pound - doesn't sound like much, but it's progress - heading the right direction. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

Work ate my life - and I ate almost everything else

It amazes me that it's been almost a year since my last post. A lot has happened.

Work ate my life. Yes, sad to say, it just came in and ate me and didn't even burp over the bones. A colleague left for greener pastures and they did not replace him - consequently there have been numerous added hours, sometimes exceeding 80 hours a week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is not good.

A side effect of working more hours is that I don't have time to eat right or to exercise right. So I gained another 10 pounds back last year.

MUST NOT DO THIS. THIS HAS BEEN DECLARED THE "ME TIME OF MY LIFE" - read that corporate America -- ME -- M-E -- It's MY TURN and I WILL NOT let anyone or anything take that away from me!

For Christmas I gave myself a gym membership which included 5 sessions with a trainer. I'm getting back into it. I just take my stuff with me and stop on the way home and spend an hour of ME time. I bought an IPod so that I don't have to listen to the STUPID tv stuff (sports or news - the original reality tv shows). I feel so GOOD after a workout. I was up to almost an hour of cardio stuff (half bike, half ellyptical) and a 20 minute routine in the middle (alternating days strength and ab) and was wedging it into my life 3-5 times a week.

Then I got sick.

This winter's crud is really not nice. I actually spent a weekend in bed - without even LOOKING AT ART BOOKS. I absolutely NEVER lay in bed and do NOTHING. I eat more when I'm sick. Hot stuff to open my head up - tabasco sauce, horseradish so hot it brings tears to my eyes, black pepper on chicken noodle soup. Now my tummy is starting to rebel. It's been two weeks now on antiobiotic and I'm starting to feel human again. I wonder if I can begin working out again? I'm going to try to do a light workout today. We'll see how it goes.

No, I did not drop off the face of the earth

I've just been really busy.

Weight -- I got down to 180, but I'm back to 190 right now. Haven't had my BP done for a couple of months. Time to get serious again.

Part of the problem is EXERCISE. I just can't make myself get up at 6:00 a.m. to go out in the freezing weather and ride my bike and get all sweaty. And I was enjoying the bike rides so much that I don't want to get bummed out on it. So soon it will be warm again. After all, Tennessee winters aren't that terrible.

In the rest of my life -- allow me to brag for a minute. My youngest son got his Associates Degree and is at home for a little while until he gets on his feet. My middle son gets his PhD (YEAH!!!) in May. My art is still a huge part of my life (http://www.valry.com) and I will be in a gallery soon. I've become a CASA volunteer and I REALLY recommend it to any and everyone (http://www.nationalcasa.org). ). Work is challenging as I continue to try to master a new line of equipment (http://www.emc.com/products/systems/clariion_cx3_series.jsp if you want to see). I work on that and Dell servers, which I've been repairing the Dell servers for years and feel much more competent there.

So that's my life. Keeping busy and VERY happy.

biking progress

I made my stretch goal last week - biked five times. Saturday and today I actually went 11 miles! I feel SO GOOD!

I'm down to a size 16 and it's SO FUN to wear normal sizes of clothes and get compliments.

My whole life is getting to where I want it to be. This is the 'ME time of my life" when I focus on making sure I am where I want to be. My health, finances, activities ... everything. I finally am taking the time to focus on ME.

Yesterday I cleaned my art table and took time to paint. Ended up with a fairly decent miniature, very good emotion and I think it's okay technically. I will put it on eBay tonight. If you're interested search for Valry.

My youngest son passed his six week unit on welding at the trade school he is going to. He earned his Associates Degree and in six more weeks will be done and ready to actually start earning his own money and living on his own.

Well, time to get ready to work. Working from home today but I can't abuse that. That means I have 20 minutes to finish my stuff and get in here working on the boss's stuff.

Be good to yourselves.

WOW! 70 pounds!

I would have never believed it. I'm so happy. Okay - day-before-yesterday's weight of 194 must have been the scale was set wrong or something - or maybe the time of day - whatever. I'll take 186 and be HAPPY!!!

BP was 128/88. With the stress we've had the last few days I'm surprised it wasn't higher. Discussed with the doctor how/when to go off BP medication.

Yeah!

still biking

I just got back from my bike ride. I drove my route a few days ago to actually determine the distance of the basic route - 7 miles! And I've been adding an extra 1-mile loop the last few times. So I'm riding 8 miles in 50 minutes 3-5 times a week. And I'm actually, really DOING it. My "rule" is a minimum of three times a week, four is the actual goal, five is the stretch goal. Four times last week.

Last week my BP was 130/80 and I weighed in at 194 - a one pound gain. Sad. I am toying with the idea of deluding myself that it's muscle gain since I'm finally exercising. That's possible. But I still have lots of fat to go and my clothes are not fitting looser so I'm not buying that idea.

Yesterday I ate a whole bag of fritos - the large snack size - that says it contains 4 servings. Very sad. High stress day but that was NOT the way to handle it.

Today is a new day and the start of a new week. I have started the day right. Which means that I have started the week right. I cannot change yesterday but I can change my todays and tomorrows, one at a time.

Bike Riding

I am exercising ... again.

Maybe this time it will last.

It's been almost a month. I'm riding my bike. It takes me from 30 to 60 minutes and I'm not sure how far I'm riding - guessing about 5 miles. The first week I did Saturday and Sunday. The second week it was only Saturday. The third week it was Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Afternoon DID NOT work -- TOO HOT. This week I did Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm enjoying myself.

Actually it feels good. I find myself craving it, just like I used to crave food. It's a darn good thing because I'm not losing ANY weight. Maybe the exercise will start to get the weight going back off. REALLY want to lose at least 20 pounds more.

The exercise is getting my BP down. Yesterday it was 130/80 but that was having skipped my medications for 3 days. Not bad at all. I AM GOING TO GET OFF THESE DRUGS.

LOVE feeling skinnier. Want so much to get down to 170. 150 would (might) be nice but I'm not really betting on it.

Everyone be good to yourself. Courage and Joy to you all.

BP was down!!!

My BP was 128/74 this time!  Yeah!!!

I've been biking - 45 minutes Saturday and Sunday for the last 2 weeks. Also doing some crunches off and on through the day.

Continued progress. Check out the new dress. I have a waist!

Hmmmm - no loss

Trip to the Dr. today -- no weight loss over the last two weeks. Hmmmmm. I guess I'll go radical for a few days: cereal for breakfast; sandwich / cottage cheese / veggies for lunch; big huge bowl of green beans for dinner = about 800 calories. So far that's worked real well for me. Do that for a maximum of 3 days and that breaks the plateau.

New Clothes

I sold ALL of my old fat clothes in a garage sale -- every last one of them. Now I CAN NOT gain all that weight back. Then I took the money and bought some new clothes -- SIZE 16!!!!! And I surprised myself -- it's a different style than I expected to want to wear. Knee length dresses and shorts and soft colors and light weight fabrics. One dress that actually has a waist! And looks GOOD on me. I will try to post a photo soon. So exciting.