<p>I’ve been going through closets and finding clothes I didn’t even know I had. I’ve now found a pair of brand new pair of pants, labels still attached, that I never wore before I put on too much weight to fit in them AND a pair of brand new pants, label still attached that I never wore because I’ve lost too much weight! And, just to complete the journey, I can now fit in the brand new pair that were too small before!</p>
<p>We grilled a whole bunch of wild sockey salmon from TJ’s last weekend, then threw the leftovers in a big ziplock and pulled salmon out all week to add to our nightly salad. Cold salmon is so delicious. I think the little bit of added quality protein in the salad really helps curb the night time munchies.</p>
<p>Sewhappy - I LOVE cold salmon. Here in our house, I am the non-compliant vegetarian so I try to add fish several times a week to my diet. That is one of my favorite things to add to a salad or with some scrambled egg whites. I wish so much we had a TJ’s around here. </p>
<p>Congrats to everyone who has made such a huge commitment to staying healthy. We have lost whole bodies on this thread with the total weight loss. I am so impressed with your persistence. It is so difficult in our society to lose and maintain weight loss. Socializing is usually centered around food so it can be hard to stay on track when there are all sorts of goodies around. </p>
<p>For those of you who may have lost your motivation a bit - don’t be discouraged. This is a free health club with no contracts, so you can re-join at any time and we will all be happy to greet you.</p>
<p>Rest day yesterday after nine straight days. iPod nazi workout today. Just so so. The exercises mostly felt pretty good. I finally did 45 seconds of plank on the ball without feeling like it was getting pwned. Out of gas by the time I finished the intervals on the bike at the end.</p>
<p>This is a great circuit of exercises, but there isn’t anything fun about them. It is fun to feel the progress.</p>
<p>Did my bar-b-q chicken tonight (after getting rained out yesterday). Hmmmm. Mighty good. I have a little homemade sauce from a book of bar-b-q sauces. This one is from Middle Georgia, the old family recipe of some old state insurance commissioner, passed down through the centuries. Thin vinegary sauce – vinegar, sugar, catsup, and a ton of black pepper. Really good on chicken. I put it on at the end, after the chicken is cooked.</p>
<p>A friend is going to run the Rock N Roll marathon tomorrow. I’m going to weed the garden and mow the lawn. :(</p>
<p>I’m about to become a proud member of two gyms – my regular gym that I’ve belonged to for almost five years, here in CT, and my “weekday” gym in New Jersey, my new work location. My one-week trial ends on Monday and I’m pretty sure I’m going to join. </p>
<p>Life sure would be cheaper if I had found a job in my own state . . . . </p>
<p>I’m proud of myself, though, that the gym has become a virtual necessity for me on a regular basis. I could no sooner stop going to the gym than I could stop – oh, I don’t know; brushing my teeth. It’s good to have good habits.</p>
<p>I did a nice Saturday afternoon 5k walk, extending my normal hilly walk to include a fourth quarter-mile hill and some walking trails through a nearby state park along the river. It’s funny, I cruise along for the first mile thinking that these walks don’t get my heart rate up anymore. Then, I hit the second quarter-mile hill and that theory goes out the window.</p>
<p>Woke up early to go work out but H wasnt awake. Waited and waited and waited…finally went to work out together.He was done early even though I said
1 1/2 hrs!!! Ok…he read paper… still I felt pressure to finish early. Got my 25 miles in but no weights. Will not do this again!!!</p>
<p>I’d be reading the paper with your husband! I couldn’t work out for an hour and a half if you paid me. You guys amaze me.</p>
<p>Wow…not sure I could do a machine workout for an hour and a half. At the very least, I would have to SERIOUSLY update my IPod exercise playlist. Northminn…you have staying power!</p>
<p>H and I did a 20 mile bike ride yesterday that did take about an hour and a half. On a shady cinder trail, mostly flat but with a few hills thrown in. A nice fast pace. Weird, but it actually felt easy…so I guess I’m ready for significantly more mileage or more hills. Next weekend, we’re doing 40 and I think I’m ready! </p>
<p>Getting a “pasture chicken” from a local farm for dinner tonight. The local corn and tomatoes are getting real good…so that will also be on the table along with a salad. Love summer food!</p>
<p>2 miles running to keep my streak going and then 35 mile bike ride with H. We went out on the Natchez Trace, which is truly the most amazing place for cycling in the world. We came back on back roads, which H likes but I prefer the Trace because it is smooth and I don’t have to worry about rocks or anything. (Well, someone we know hit a deer with his bike on the Trace and was badly hurt…but I wasn’t too worried about that.) It got hot and I got tired. 2 hrs. 33 minutes. Very hilly, but not the huge climbs that are on some of the routes around here. Just constant up and down. Finished up going by the Judds’ complex (Naomi, Ashley and Wynonna have adjacent (large) houses) out in the country. Tennessee is just so beautiful. It really is. Had breakfast at the famous Puckett’s in Leiper’s Fork when we finished the ride.</p>
<p>VeryHappy- Glad you found a gym. You will like having that weekday access.
N MN- Good job on the cycling! Let H wait!!!</p>
<p>Well, I am here to proudly report that I haven’t had any drinks with caffeine for two weeks. I can’t begin to tell you how hard that is for me. I don’t drink much - really a diet coke or two a day (and once in awhile a splurge with a regular coke)</p>
<p>At around 2:30 or 3, I just crave that little bit of caffeine. I have broken the habit before, but have fallen off the wagon. I really don’t think having one a day would be a big deal, but my blood pressure is sensitive to caffeine, and I am doing everything I can to stay off meds. </p>
<p>I have also come to realize that my bp goes up with stress. I am trying to take stock of what I can do to minimize stress in my life and to cope with it better. I have found that mindful listening to classical music for twenty minutes seems to really help. </p>
<p>I think if I lose those last few pesky pounds, continue to racewalk everyday, watch salt and caffeine, and use the music to relax - I might be okay. This weekend my bp was perfect (120/77), but during times of extended stress, it has been more like 158/90. I am very motivated to do this. And in fact, I think before I would go on bp medication, I would try some anti-anxiety meds. My mom’s bp really fluctuates depending on stress, and for years she was probably on way too much medication. Hoping to avoid that scenario.</p>
<p>Went for another little stroll this afternoon. An hour and 39 minutes of walking to be exact (N Minn threw down a challenge with her marathon workouts!</p>
<p>Walked over to the nearby state park and explored some of the trails. Felt like Indiana Jones at one point, pushing my way through dense rhododendrums growing over the trail!</p>
<p>I’m learning how to pace myself a bit on the hills. I even stopped a couple of times to look at the trail map and try to figure out where I was. It still felt like I’d put all 35 pounds back on coming up the last quarter mile hill on the way home.</p>
<p>It’s good to be able to crank up the distance a bit. Making a little progress. If you had suggested this walk to me a year ago, I would have said you were nuts.</p>
<p>Good luck to you WIP! Quite an accomplishment…giving up caffeine. I’m quite addicted to my coffee in the morning and sometimes need tea in the afternoon to pick me up. I absolutely adore Coke but stay away because it doesn’t fit with my clean diet 
</p>
<p>Some of my family members have HBP. One uses some device that takes you through deep breathing and gives you biofeedback. It’s working well. So, I think the meditation practice you’re doing might be very helpful. I don’t get HBP from stress…I tend to have low blood pressure…but I think I DO tend to get a fatter belly when my life is crazed from stress (from all that cortisol). And that’s a health risk too…on top of looking just awful.</p>
<p>Well, unfortunately I have the HBP/belly fat combo. Drives me crazy. It is absolutely the resting place for any weight I gain.</p>
<p>I investigated the biofeedback machines and I decided that it was essentially about relying on breathing to bring down BP, so that is why I decided to try to music. The music has been helping, at least temporarily. How often do your relatives use the machine? I am thinking I should cut down the time, and maybe do the relaxation stuff twice a day. I figure I already own the music, so why not give it a try. If it doesn’t work as much as I would like, I would buy the machine. Like I said, I will do what it takes to put off taking medication or at least keeping medication to a very small dose.</p>
<p>I think it’s a once a day thing for that biofeedback machine (but I’m not absolutely sure). I’m with you though…try it on your own first before handing over that kind of cash. </p>
<p>I’ve been doing a meditative style of yoga for three years now and I find it to be real helpful for stress. Breathing is a big part of it. I go to a class once per week and practice at home. I have a yoga playlist on my ipod…all calming music. I wish I started doing this years ago. Anyway, my belly is not so bad right now, but it’s primarily due to eating less! </p>
<p>On another topic, did some gardening for about an hour this afternoon. Good exercise I think…but I practically DIED out there. Came in soaking wet and it takes a LOT for me to sweat. I hate this weather!!!</p>
<p>I found some flickr photos of the trails I walked today. The first one is the narrow little trail overgrown with rhododendrums leading down to this little hobbit bridge. I thought, “what am I doing here…” Now, I know that the trails marked by little dots on the map are barely trails at all.</p>
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<p>Most of the park has more developed trails, winding along streams and the old ruin gardens of a once lavish estate with views of the river from hilltops. Nice walking:</p>
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<p>Well, if I’m going to have a significant weight loss in a couple of days, this will be the week. Have my first colonoscopy scheduled for Wednesday, so tomorrow is my last day of real food until after it’s over. Picked up the prep stuff, and am just not convinced I’m going to be able to go through with this all. I get hypoglycemic and I just don’t know how I’m going to restrict myself to just liquids on Tuesday. I think the nurse from the facility is supposed to call tomorrow, so I guess I’ll ask her for any hints. One of the symptoms I get with my hypoglycemia is nausea, which is not going to be conducive for helping me keep the yucky stuff down.</p>
<p>On another note, met with my trainer today (usually don’t on weekends) because I won’t be able to see him again until Friday. Brought a friend along who is considering getting a trainer and wanted to sort of shadow me (but he had her working out along side me… albeit with different weights) and I got just a bit jealous sharing my time with her (I didn’t know he was going to have her work out, too) as she was unfamiliar with all the equipment. Oh, well.</p>
<p>Starting this week, I’ve also been given some hours at work, through the first week of August, so we will have to adapt our schedule accordingly. All of his prime time hours (after work) are mostly taken, but he assures me we’ll continue to get in our twice a weeks. While some women would still not wear sleeveless shirts at my weight/height, I’m doing it and feeling proud of how my arms/back are looking. For a day or so earlier in the week, I weighed in under 150 lbs. for the first time in probably over five years or more (I’m 5’ 5.5"). But I’ve become accustomed to the 1-2 lb. weight fluctuation from one day to the next, so I wasn’t surprised when it was up 1 1/2 lbs. the next day. Like I said, I’m sure I’ll hit a new low, come, say Wednesday morning. </p>
<p>Celebrated a 50th birthday of a friend with some others last night, and sort of gorged on Mexican food (and, OK, a couple of - oh, let’s be honest here, three, frozen margaritas). Drank lots and lots of water when I got home, and again this morning when I got up, and all throughout my workout. Was sweating like a pig, and kept wondering if I was going to get dehydrated due to the alcohol consumption last night (and several days of spending time out in the sun, working in the yard and playing in the pool). But I made it through fine. </p>
<p>Funny story, last weekend a friend of mine and I were trying to convince our husbands how difficult balance boards and balance beams can be. I was feeling particularly good because I’d held one balance for over 20 seconds. The guys were laughing at us (big, big mistake) about our ‘balance’ efforts. So today, H came into the gym while I was still there and I proceeded to bring the balance board over to him and tell him I was ready to watch the new world record. Yea, he gave it the good 'ole college try and managed maybe five seconds, then admitted I’d been right and he’d been wrong. </p>
<p>Yea, it feels good sometimes to be right!</p>
<p>Ha. After falling off a stability ball, I will never again question the difficulty an exercise, especially one requiring balance. </p>
<p>If you really want to get your husband, challenge him to a “plank” contest. He’ll probaby bet you that he can hold it for five minutes!</p>
<p>Gorgeous pics idad. Yeah, I can walk on decent paths right within my neighborhood but we usually take our dog out for nice river or stream walks…some hilly…some not. There’s LOTS of terrific choices around here and they’re just a short drive. . The surroundings make a big difference. </p>
<p>Teri…good luck with your colonoscopy. No big tips here…other than selecting drinks you enjoy. Maybe some jello and chicken broth too? </p>
<p>Balance IS hard…and it’s a really good thing to keep working on as we get older. I got SOOO mad at that WiiFit program when it told me my balance was horrible. I work on it in yoga and actually do quite well…you know standing on one leg in tree pose. But I guess wii has a DIFFERENT kind of balance test. Annoying!</p>