Fibro Flare

What a person with fibromyalgia looks like:

What she feels like:

Thoughts on Turning 50

My birthday was four days ago 
and it took me that long to recover!

The truth is, I've been playing too much Kakuro on the computer, and I'm really tired too, in spite of trying to go to bed earlier--Which I am partially succeeding at.

It's kind of sad to realize I am 50 years old and I feel like I've never really improved in so many areas, not just fitness. It's been a few days of soul-searching.

I decided I can still have some fun, and keep working on those bad habits.  Today we took a walk for our exercise. At the end, I decided to make a snow angel on our lawn.  I haven't done that for a long time. I usually just avoid the snow.

Here I am, getting ready to fall. 

It was hard to trust myself and let go.

I didn't go down easy, more like a tree.

I might have heard someone shout "Timber!"

Here I am spreading my wings to fly.

I forgot to spread my legs too so my angel has a skinny gown.

I had to really dig my heels in to get up.

Anthony had to pull me up with both hands. 

I think my angel making days are behind me.

And now I hurt. My back hurts and I ache all over. I already did; I've been having a fibromyalgia flare, only now it is worse.  I had been doing so well at no treats, maybe too well, because a tiny little slip has me in pain. That's one way to completely lose any craving for sugar.  It is just not worth the constant ache it creates for me.

Juan Moore and The Birthday

Well, I had the big 5-0 Birthday.  

I'll talk about being 50 another day.

For my birthday, I take care of myself. Anything else is a lovely surprise. If I want a cake, I bake it. This year I didn't. Didn't want it, didn't bake it. What I did do for myself was go to the doctor and get my lab results to get my thyroid medicine adjusted. Then I took my husband to lunch.  We enjoyed a nice lunch out, and then it was back to work for both of us.

In the evening, I paid bills awhile, timing it so we could watch a movie and end by 10:00, at which point I would start getting ready for bed. Since I putter a bit, this usually gets me into bed by 11:00. In the middle of bill-paying my husband came in with a dozen red roses and a couple of other small gifts. That was very nice.

At some point in the evening I checked Facebook and was pleasantly surprised at how many people posted a happy birthday wish for me.  My sister sent me an Amazon gift card. That was an extra surprise. Two of my sons posted birthday wishes, one of them calling me an "awesome mom."  Another little gift.

What I didn't count on was Juan Moore.The phone started ringing, and I talked well past bedtime. It was just
Juan Moore phone call, followed by another. I still need to call my sister and daughter-in-law. But I am happy with Juan Moore just this once.  Those loving phone calls from family members gave me several very pleasant birthday surprises. I'll forgive my jester, at least Juan Moore time, since it's a special day.

Juan Moore and the Night Owl

For as long as I can remember

I have been a "night owl."

If you're a lark, you just won't get it.

I like to stay up late at night.

Not doing anything important.

Just goofing off, doing whatever.

The day is done. I am tired. Self-discipline went down with the sun. Its not that I am doing anything important enough to stay up for.  It's just Juan Moore who causes the problem.

There's always just one more computer game, just one more Facebook check, just one more snack as I take my pills, just one more chapter of the book.
 

Sometimes Juan Moore is actually useful. Just one more seam to sew. Just one more bill to pay, receipt to enter, load of laundry to fold, blog to post. But usually it's just one more hour. And that turns into two. Before I know it, it is midnight or one o'clock in the morning.

Weirdly enough, I do this even when I'm exhausted. I push myself to stay up. That seems like really dumb behavior. I'm ready to fall asleep and my eyes and throat hurt, yet I still stay up.

I don't know how to break this habit, because when I do go to bed earlier, I toss and turn. But at least I'm resting, laying down listening to classical music, or a book on CD if I get desperate. 

Maybe I'm afraid I'll miss something. I always hated to go to bed before the family. I like to be in on things. My family always had something interesting going on.  Still, at this stage of life, what's to miss? My lark husband is usually in bed by 10 o'clock, and up bright and early.

What I'm really missing is morning.  One day, for no explainable reason, I woke really early and saw the sunrise and I felt really good. Most days, I am dragging myself out of bed, hitting that snooze alarm, and it takes me hours to get past sluggish state and get anything done. And then it's time to go to work and my day is used up by the time I get home.

This is a big monster for me to beat. Juan Moore is a nuisance, a time waster, a royal pain. He's a jester. Yet I keep him in my life, not knowing how to kick him out.  Even now I am thinking about Juan Moore Kakuro puzzle... 

If I exercise right now, I'll surely be awake for hours, but a puzzle just takes a little while. That's the thinking problem here. Ugh! I see it! Juan Moore, you're ugly!

Monster Computer

 

I have an addiction.

I am addicted to the computer.

Facebook,

email, 

blogs,

Sudoku,

Kakuro...

that computer just reaches out its tentacles and grabs for me every time I walk into the room.  It lures me like a siren. It mocks me. It traps me. It promises all kinds of fun and games, and then delivers hours of wasted time.

I made a new rule:

Computer stays off until my daily goals are met!

But somehow Wednesday the monster took over.

I pushed that little button and it lit up all blue and happy for me and I was lost for a couple of hours.

I did not work out.

Sadness.

But yesterday I won.

And today I won.

But that's why I didn't post for a couple of days.

I was leaving the computer off

and then it was late.

and it's late now.

so goodnight.

Happy after

yoga yesterday

1 mile today!

Introducing the Fitness Fairies

What do Monster Ducks and 

out of shape people have in common?

They waddle!  

And they get fat

in places normal ducks

and normal people don't,

like their bellies and legs!

However, flying to the rescue...

the Fitness Fairies!  

They are here to fight the Monsters,

starting with Monster Duck!

I was walking down the hall at work today, and I suddenly felt very professional. I paused in my thoughts to analyze just what was different. 

I was walking, not waddling! 

After only one week back on the program, I feel lighter. And slimmer.  And that is incentive right there. And so I came home and cheerfully walked a brisk mile.

The fitness fairies are butterfly fairies.

They are good fairies.

They are here to help me in my goal:

METAMORPHOSIS!

After the Storm

I mentioned on Saturday that I had a killer headache. 

Well, it continued on through Sunday, finally beginning to abate by evening. I woke up exhausted today.  It was all I could do to get on my feet.  I felt like all the life had been sucked out of me.

I dragged myself into the shower, through breakfast, and over to work. I had a light schedule today, only one student for an hour, so that was okay.  I got home and slept for a while, talked with  my son on the phone, and finally decided I'd better get moving.

My replacement Leslie Sansone video had arrived, so I popped it in.  It turned out to be mostly light resistance exercises, simple weights and floor movements, about a 35-minute workout. That counts for 2 miles. So, once again I made it.

I figure if high blood pressure can cause headaches, though I don't know how it works, I better keep working and get that blood pressure back down.

I've had a couple of new visitors lately; I appreciate your comments as well as those of my loyal supportive followers.  You give me a boost and incentive to keep going, and to keep posting--it's a positive cycle--not at all like the negative spin cycle depicted above!

Sunday Peace

God created the world in six days

and the seventh day he rested.

Sunday is a day of rest at my house.

A day to ponder.

A day to worship.

A day to serve others.

A day for gratitude.

A day for a nap.

And not a day for exercise.

Except what happens incidentally

or an occasional walk 

with my husband,

to walk and talk 

and build our

marriage.

Sneaky Saturday

Saturday is a special day.

It's the day we get ready for Sunday--

And go out on dates

participate in church activities, 

decorate Christmas trees,

do a little shopping, 

and have friends over.

It's also a high-demand day at my tutoring job, since many students have Saturday off of work.  Today was the last day of fall break so I didn't have to work.  

We combined date with church activity, which was a nativity display with hundreds of beautiful creches on display. We had friends over and they helped decorate our Christmas tree.  We did a little Christmas shopping in between.

And exercise...well, I decided on Saturdays I will just do a mile, just fit it in somewhere.  Of course, I'm only at a mile right now so today was a normal workout.

So today, after our visitors around 7:30, I took a little nap, because although it was a fun day it was exhausting. But I set a timer for 12 minutes, and then I woke up, and I looked at the pretty Christmas tree, and I asked myself,

"Which is more important, reaching my goal or taking a longer nap?"  I sat there for a very short debate, and then I got up and...

I walked a  mile!

The verse--the first two lines-- is by Rita Robinson, in Children's Songbook, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Monster Headache

HEADACHE.

Bad one.

Persisted through 2 meals.

Persisted through 2 headache pills.

Persisted through homework,

and dishes, 

and laundry,

and journaling,

and scriptures,

and through some bad news.

And then I walked a mile!  

And it went away for a while.

Maybe I should go walk another one.

Nah, I'll just try a different headache pill.

Did you notice that the picture is a hammerhead shark?

Monster #4: Sleeplessness

Sleeplessness.

I tried. 

I went to bed before midnight.

I tossed and turned.

I got up and read a book until  2 a.m.

Which means I then slept until 8, tossed and turned and finally got myself out of bed about 9.  It wasn't a good sleep either. My CPAP mask was bugging me, and I had weird dreams, and it just wasn't restful. I am working on getting that mask replaced but there has been a huge delay.

So I got a late start to the day, and laundry has to be done even though I try to put my goals first.  And then I was so tired that I slept a couple of hours in the day.  Which may result in another sleepless night.  But if it does, I'm okay.  I'll just get out my journal and scriptures and get a head start on tomorrow's goals.  And then I will sleep.

But I walked. 

1 mile with stretchy bands. 

And I feel pretty good.

And after all that, I finished before 6:30 p.m.

Fighting the Monsters: Day 3

The monsters of procrastination,

sleepiness,

lack of motivation,

justification,

laziness...

I fight them every day.

Today I walked one mile.

It felt good.

I picked out a scale on Amazon but I haven't ordered it yet. I haven't had a scale in my house for years, but I decided to get one and put it in the basement where I can ignore it six days out of seven.  I find I am more consistent if I weigh in just once a week and then average out the month.  I don't get as discouraged at little fluctuations that way.

Begone, Gremlin!

Day Two

Another Gremlin vanquished.

Yoga today.

I got a new Leslie Sansone video through Netflix and I was excited to try it out, but alas, the disk was broken. So I'll have to wait a few days for that one. I have my Netflix queue the old-fashioned way, mainly DVD's in the mail. I set it up so every five or so I get a new fitness video, or about once a month. It's fun to try new ones, and if I like them, I can buy them.

Just for Today

Just for today, I chased away the gremlins and walked a mile. 

One day at a time.

Three weeks till my birthday!

Still undecided if I'm turning 40 or 50!

Leaning strongly toward 40.

Curtains vs. Fitness

I've gained back all the weight and feel like crud.  That's a word my husband hates me to use. But it fits.

This week I was sewing curtains, which I will feature on my other blog once I get them finished. And this nasty little opposition thought occurred to me:

 (It's just not fair. When I make curtains,I can spend a few days on them and they are done, and I put them up and they'll last for a few years.  But fitness, I have to do that every day or lose it within weeks.  Let a few weeks go by because I am sick or tired or just moved or started a new job--or all of the above hit at once--which is what really happened--and I have to start over.)

I gotta get my oomph back. It's only about 3 weeks until my birthday. Ouch.  Maybe I should join Curves after all.  I guess fitness bills are better than medical bills. Did I mention that my blood pressure was back up to 152/84?  No wonder I'm getting headaches!  The doctor said I have a heart murmur but I never did before so I think her ears were deceiving her.

Have a great December!

Clothes

Ooh, I know this isn't fitness, but I found a store with a variety of really cute plus size clothes. I've got to go back some time when I am not in the company of a bored 22-year-old male.  Or even a bored 52-year-old male.

This place is called Cato. I looked at the website, and I wasn't too impressed, but the clothes in the store were awesome.  I also got some nice tops on sale at Kohl's recently.  I do like that jacket, if it comes in more flattering colors than hot pink.

 Now I just need some good walking shoes, or to find a store that carries the style of Reeboks I like. I have very high arches, narrow feet, and long feet. Fun to find the right fit. I've worn Reebok Princess for a long time but they let my ankles turn inward a bit too much.

Wardrobe Changes

With my lack of activity I've been pushing the outer limits of my clothes again...and recommitting to getting in shape again.

Meanwhile, I have also started a new job, where the appropriate dress is business--skirts, slacks and nice blouses, or suits. I'm more a casual jeans/capris kind of gal, so this means I need new clothes.  New temporary clothes.

As an inexpensive solution I went to Goodwill, where I invested 3 hours and about $38 and ended up with a nice black skirt, a black velvet split skirt, 3 pairs of slacks, 1 shirt, 2 sweaters, 1 short dressy jacket (brand new), and a pair of gently used, very cute black snow boots.  As cute as snow boots can get anyway.

That's just the clothes. I also gold-colored chain necklace, a vinyl record, a brand new ornament for a party gift, and a darling pitcher shaped like a snowman, (just for fun.)

At our Goodwill most of the prices end with $0.38, so it's fitting that I spent about $38.  Several of the clothing items were actually half price--$1.69 for the skirt.  Can't beat that.

The most expensive item?  The snowman pitcher--which was also the impulse buy. Naturally.

Goodwill is having a donations photo contest.  Check it out, make a donation, and help people like me! It helps people who need job training and a hand up in life as well.

The Process of Maturing

"The process of maturing is an art to be learned, an effort to be sustained. By the age of fifty you have made yourself what you are, and if it is good, it is better than your youth." --Marya Mannes

This was the thought for today in my journal ideas pile.

My response: By fifty--and I'm nearly there--I am what I am at 50, but it doesn't mean it's what I will always be. God doesn't slap a magic age limit on change.

The picture is an album cover I created in a Facebook app some time ago.

Fifty is the New Forty

If you hopped over here from the Blog Hop, Welcome! I'd love to see where you came from in your comments, and where you are going next.

I have gotten discouraged, knowing I'll never reach my weight or fitness goal by 50. It's less than two months away now.  Do I change my blog to Fit by Sixty?  It just doesn't have the same ring to it.

There's a country song that expresses the idea that on the internet the guy is all the things he's not in real life. If I could remember an actual line of it, I'd put it here.  Anyway, everyone knows that on the internet you can be whatever and whoever you want.  So I decided on my birthday I will simply erase 10 years and be forty.  At least for the blog.

I'll just lie about my age. Don't all women do that? I've already been doing it for Yahoo, only on there I'm 76 years old! And my husband is 84 and female.  By doing this, we have discovered we rarely get the spam for beautiful women, bigger male parts, or Viagra. Seriously!  We get scam retirement plans, which Yahoo generally throws directly to the Spam box anyway. But I digress.

In December, I will turn 40.  I graduated from high school at age 8 because I am such a genius.  I got married at 9, and had my first baby at 11, about the same time I had my first period. And I have 10 years to get in shape--which I will start on--again-- instead of waiting until I am 40.

If you like the clock, I found it it for sale in blue and yellow.

Leaving?

I discovered a great exercise for the obliques! Raking leaves! It gives the waist, shoulders, and back a really good workout.

Somewhere in this picture, our giraffe Ginger is hiding in the leaves. Can you find her?

Finding Curves My Own Way

Well, the verdict is in. I am not joining Curves. And I did walk a mile with Leslie today. And then probably two or three miles at work! Just back in forth in front of a classroom whiteboard for five hours tutoring math.

I wish I had worn my pedometer to work. But I try to exercise in addition to daily duties. Still,  it would be interesting to know how much I walked.

Curves

I went to Curves for their tour. Frankly, I'm kind of bored with Leslie lately. I think I need something new to add momentum.  I liked what I saw at Curves, but I don't know if it's what I want and I don't want to make the two year commitment.

I decided to research other gyms online. It wasn't too hard because there are only a few in town, and only a couple of them on my side of town.  They all had one thing in common: they don't put their prices online. Are they afraid they will scare people off if they see it before they see all the fancy equipment and talkative salesman?  It was frustrating!

Pros and cons of Curves:
Pro: it looks like a friendly place.
It's really close to where I work. Like right next door.
It's bright and cheery.
It's women only, and the women I saw there are all in the same boat as me. (age, size, etc.) But obviously in better shape.
I am impressed with the new Smart Curves program which helps you set and keep track of individual goals.

Con: A two-year commitment that will cost me $39-49 a month, depending on which way I choose to pay.
I'm not sure I like their equipment. It's kind of counter-intuitive, at least to what I've been taught.
They don't have classes or variety. It's just go in, pick a machine, and do the circuit. Change when they tell you to. What if I feel like I need more or less time on a particular area? Can I do the same thing for two years?

I kind of like yoga now and then, and water aerobics, walking some days, etc. But if I could drop by Curves and do my 30 minutes after work, or on the way to work, then maybe I would actually get it done. It's easy, it's quick, and there are people there. Once I park I'm committed. Unlike exercise at home, where I can find a million other things to do.  Like blogging instead of raking the lawn!

Bonus

 We decided to walk outdoors yesterday, so Anthony put on his pedometer and off we went. We wandered around the neighborhood for blocks, tracked down two garage sales, and headed home. It was hot and it felt like quite a long walk.

When we got home he looked at his pedometer and it said 1.35 miles. That's all?  I guess we better range further next time. Maybe track down four or five garage sales.

At the second garage sale they had mostly baby stuff, but the lady gave me a blue silk flower bridal bouquet. It's exactly the same colors and flowers as my wedding colors, so I can augment the  faded silk flower bouquet currently adorning my living room. I carried the bouquet several blocks, feeling a bit silly.

I guess after 30 years of marriage I shouldn't worry about feeling silly. Some people renew their vows; I get to renew the bouquet.

Are You Having a Good Fall?

 

Things That Go Bump in the Day

I was minding my own business, innocently walking down to the basement to put a load of clothes in the dryer, when I discovered the reason slippers are called slippers. Mine slipped right out from under me and I bumped down at least three steps. These are not carpeted steps, either, but wood steps with hard, textured plastic runners. 

My right elbow took the brunt of the fall and cracked wide open, resulting in three stitches. (and I'm right-handed!) Fortunately the x-ray showed no broken bones. I've got huge purple bruises in at least two places on my arm, and a giant one on my behind. It may be padded, but it still bruises! And a whale of a headache today.

Guess what? Lortab makes me dizzy as well as sleepy. Hey, is there a dwarf named Dizzy? there ought to be!

Anyway, a couple of days of rest and a visit to a chiropractor should help set things right again. No more procrastinating finding a chiropractor here.

My slippers are no longer called slippers. They are called trash. They are history. I'll find a pair with tread on the soles or go without. Maybe I can stretch my cold toes up to my headache instead of an ice pack. 

Onward and upward. I am going to start being grateful for any days I can actually work out!

Pushing the Reset Button

What more can I say? 

Reset goals. Start over again. 

Don't give up. Yep, that's me today. 

Determined again. 

Got my sticker calendar up, ready to roll. 

Or walk, at least. 

Maybe I should switch to red stickers 

to remind me not to have to reset again. 

And I did walk yesterday.

So today is day two. 

Where Have I Been?

Oh, just off fighting the aftermath of moving, combined with allergies/sinus problems/cold/who knows what? Therefore not exercising. I am eating healthy but not necessarily lightly. Fibromyalgia flare and all that. Ain't life grand?

Yesterday I set out to do my daily three, and after unpacking and filing and rearranging most of the office, I did my scripture study and then decided I was DONE for the day and shouldn't push too hard.

Right decision, apparently--today I am tired and not up to much, so imagine if I'd done any more yesterday. Ugh! I want to be normal! I want to be able to exercise consistently again! It will just take a little more time I guess.

When I read about people my age running miles a day, I just sigh. Slow and steady and short, that's me. Until I overdo it and have to start over. Again.

It's really quite discouraging but there it is. My life. I am grateful for the days I feel good. And I hope I don't have to move again for years. I am starting a savings account so the next move I can just pay someone to do it all.

Back in Iowa!

I'm back in Iowa! I wore a pedometer off and on  all week to make sure I got some walking done! I walked over 2 miles in airports on Tuesday, mostly Minneapolis/St. Paul.

On Wednesday I went to Temple Square with Dominic and Holly. I forgot the pedometer and we did everything at kid pace, so I counted it as a mile.

Thursday I packed and worked around the house, and then went to get Anthony from the airport, picked up the truck, and worked some more, logging about 2 miles. I also got to play with the grandkids a bunch!

Friday was Dominic and Holly's sealing; again I forgot the pedometer and I don't remember how I counted it, but I know I did a lot of walking to and from parking lots, around temple square, and on stairs. Plus their reception was outdoors, so between milling around visiting, taking grandkids to the potty (which of course was at the next pavilion) and crossing the long way to the parking lot, I logged three to four miles.

Saturday was pack, clean, load...for another 3.7 miles, and Sunday and Monday were drive, with walks whenever possible at rest stops, for a couple of miles each day. 

So I feel more fit than last time; I know I am doing well and ready to get back into a routine.

2 in a Row

I know, to all you die-hard exercise fans, it won't sound like much, but we worked back up to doing 2 miles, twice in a row. It's amazing how quickly you lose muscle tone.

Just in time, I might add, to fly to Utah and pack up and disrupt everything all over again. That's life. I'll get lots of strength training this week!

Conditioning for Success

"In all primates a confident posture is a self-fulfilling prophecy of success... It's also possible to condition yourself for success by starting with small victories and working upward." --Richard Coniff

It's out of context to use this quote for exercise, but I love it. It's the only way to succeed in exercise. Start out with small victories and gradually increase. However, we have to assume we will eventually be able to do great things--and that's what I've failed to do. I just plod along, fearing my health will never be good enough to do things like run or take long bike trips.

Time for an attitude adjustment; I need to keep my goals realistic, but  develop a bigger long-term picture.

Who Am I Kidding?

I am so down and struggling right now. Yesterday I didn't do a darn thing all day. Not even walk a mile. Today was a little better, but I haven't walked yet. I at least took a shower and dressed, paid some bills, and got my husband's car registered in Iowa--which is a laugh, because the car is still in Utah.  It will be here in about 3 weeks, but the Utah registration expires tomorrow. 

I've been eating and eating, but mostly good, healthy foods, so that's good at least. Fresh fruit, nuts and seeds, high-fiber cereal with rice or soy milk, that sort of thing. I think this move just derailed me. And we've only done half of it. I'm just exhausted, and sore, and lonely, and bored.

So, it looks like I need to pick myself up and leave the pity party.

Have fun without me, you miserable party-poopers. Time for some motion. Shake up the place. Or at least march to an exercise drummer, not a gee-I-feel-so-sorry for-myself drummer.

I got the picture at another blog; I don't know where she got it!

I'm Back!

 Back on the internet, after over two weeks of hit and miss wherever I could find a place to log in, and back into a workout schedule. It's amazing how quickly I lose muscle tone when I stop for even a few days.

I still don't have my calendar but I figured out how to put one on my desktop and add stickers to it, so that is helping with my motivation. Not to mention keeping track of other activities and obligations!

Mental Health Day

Angela suggested I call my miss a Mental Health Day. So I did. And then I took a couple of more.

Yesterday I couldn't get motivated at all, and then I started wanting a soda. I decided to walk to the grocery and pick up a diet coke, and while I was there I found a pint of the world's fattest blueberries and a box of low-fat, low-salt microwave popcorn. Add a couple of ice cube trays, and now I've got a little resistance for my walk home. It was only 1.2 miles but I enjoyed a treat and a change of pace.

I think I'm done wallowing now. I hope so. I need to print a temporary calendar to put stickers on. I left my calendar at home, which in retrospect was pretty dumb. Amazing how motivating those daily little blue stickers are!

First Official Miss

I finally missed a day of officially working out. I suppose I could count the 2+ hours I spent wandering around Walmart pushing a cart with a heavy bag of potting soil and air mattress in it. But it feels like cheating.

And then I missed today. I worked hard for a little while, gardening and hanging up clothes, but I did not do an official walk.

I met a man today who went on a Boy Scout trip and they said "Bob can walk to the Meadows. He's in shape!"  He said they've got it wrong. It's not "Bob can walk because he's in shape" but "Bob is in shape because he walks." Bob is at least 5 years older than me, probably more because he said he moved here in 1974, when his wife started grad school. So I guess he's pushing 60.

Well, at the rate I'm going I'll have to change my goal to Skinny by Sixty! However, I do not intend to fail. Tomorrow I hit it again! At least one mile.  And I did so well on the trip too; I guess I just got lazy or tired today. Or distracted.

Moving

We are enjoying our trek to Iowa.  The first three nights we found hotels with pools and got in a good water aerobics workout. It was amazing how good it felt--even joyful!--to play in the water after a day in the car.

Now we've moved to a cheap Super 8 motel while we continue our housing search. It has terrific internet access (better than all the others) but no pool. So tonight we walked to Wendy's for a healthy salad for dinner; it was only about a mile round trip. It's going to be fun trying to pick up the 2-3 miles again.

The thing is, we are moving, even as we move!

Moving

We're moving. To Iowa. From Utah. And I am not ready. And my exercise program has gone out the window. Except that I'm pretty sure I'm weight-lifting. And walking. Packing boxes aerobically. We try to get in at least a mile every day, but seriously missed even that due to fatigue from all the other physical activity. 

So, do I count packing and cleaning and shoving boxes around as exercise? It's not "sticking with my program" but I am physically more tired and sore than ever, worse than the sculpting class.  Or am I just making excuses?

Six Months!

Today marks the official 6 months mark! I have walked or exercised every day but Sunday for the last six months!

It's kind of hard with the move and all, so this week we've yet to go more than a mile, but we are determined to keep in the habit and stay flexible and moving our bodies as well as our stuff.  And soon we will be walking in Iowa!

It's Getting Easier!

2-mile workouts are getting fairly easy, so after we move we plan to order a 4.  Give ourselves a new challenge. Right now it's about all I can do physically to get ready for the move.

Near Miss

Yesterday I had a really busy day, incredibly so,  with too much to do and a short, poor, night's sleep to go on.  I did pretty well, until about 6 p.m., when a massive headache hit. I went to bed and got up about 10 when Dallen got in from work. At that point I dragged myself out of bed, had a snack, and went to work on my writing assignments. By the time I finished, it was about 2 a.m. and I still hadn't walked.

Solution: do a 20 minute yoga session. I found a little relief for the headache, and by 3 I was going to bed. I slept better but I still have the headache.

Any suggestions?

I am considering going to a neurologist to see if there is some underlying cause. I think it's time to keep a food journal and see if there is a correlation. The fact that I'm always congested might have some bearing on it too. Maybe I have a sinus infection. I don't know.

200 Mile Pictures

As promised, here are my 200 mile pictures.  I have since gotten my hair cut, which is cuter and I like it better.

Looking better but I still have a way to go!

Sidewise I look like a brick.

My best view. My rear is shrinking.

It's not as big and saggy as it used to be.

Hey, at least from this view I have a waistline again!

I did it

I guess I just wanted to whine a while yesterday. After I got done posting I got up and walked my 2 miles. Of course I felt better afterward.  Today I walked a 3 before lunch! Hurray for walking!

Unmotivated

That's me, and not just today either. I've struggled all week to get going.  I'm just feeling tired and run down.

Today, even a sticker is not motivating me. Nor the idea of missing a day, though if I can finish up June I will have exercised 6 days a week for 6 straight months. I've got a goal to walk at least 10 miles a week. My online partner walked 16 miles last week. I would like to catch up with her.  And even that is not motivating me. Nor is being skinny or healthy. I'm just blah. Apathetic. Uncaring. Lethargic.

I wonder how many similar words I can find if I use a thesaurus. I guess I better get off and go walk 2 miles whether I'm motivated or not. Just grit my teeth and work up a little "have-to" and do it. Ack.

A hot bath is so-o-o-o tempting right now.

Blood Pressure

G

    O

        I

           N

               G

                          D

                               O

                                    W

                                         N

Yesterday when I stopped for my prescription, I did a blood pressure check. 146/90. Not bad considering I was about 2 miles into my walk. I sat still and took about 12 deep, slow breaths, and then did it again and it was 128/84.   That's the best it's been in a long time!

I also noticed the blood pressure cuff didn't hurt like usual. It squeezes so tightly it really pinches my arm. Only it wasn't as bad this time -- perhaps because I'm a teeny bit smaller now! 

Half-Marathon

Congratulations to my brother-in-law and his two daughters for completing the half-marathon on Saturday! They finished in the time they hoped, under 3 hours.  They are inspiring! (probably per-spiring too, at least after the race.)

Errands on Foot

I walked to the library and grocery store--took the long way there and the round trip was 3.7 miles. By the time I did dishes and made dinner, I had walked over four miles! I am pretty sure I have a blister in the curve of my big toe but I don't even care. I'll survive.

I added a bit to the workout by pulling a wheeled backpack full of books both ways--and some luscious raspberries I picked up at the grocery along with my prescription. Yummy! I ate the whole package while I watched Numbers later.

Strolling Along

Yesterday we had grandkids all day, and it was a busy day. The girls went home about 5, and then two little boys showed up at about 5:30. We hadn't walked yet, so we planned a route that we thought would be about 2 miles, popped the boys in the stroller, grabbed some water bottles, and off we went.

We forgot to take our pedometers, so we didn't get exact mileage, but I found a website where you can easily map and adjust a route, and according to it, we went 2.65 miles and burned about 357 calories. That's not accounting for pushing a big double stroller, though. It was a really good workout.

If we do it again, I will do one thing differently: oil the wheels of the stroller first. It's an old one, and it does squeak and squeal and even whistle as it goes along. The two-year-old kept leaning over and studying it, as though he was trying to figure out where all the noise was coming from.

Small Breakthrough!

I finally dropped below 190! It has been a hard battle so far, but the news that I hit 188 was so encouraging that I enthusiastically walked a 3-miler yesterday! Hurray for me. I mean, I usually cheerfully do the workout, but I went at it with gusto, knowing that it really is making a difference!

Back to Walking

Playtime's over for a little while. Yesterday we did a 3-mile workout. It felt so good! I was glad I had done other activities to keep moving over the weekend.

Swimming

For Memorial Day I had a change of pace! We went swimming for about 45 minutes. Not just lazing in the water but actively playing with the kids, and believe me I was tired by the end, wobbly legs, etc. I just have to post some pictures of how cute these little guys are!

N. loved the water when he got used to it, especially if we were playing with him! 

J's a natural little waterbug!

 T. blowing kisses to his mom.

At first T was scared to try the ring...
Grammy forced him, controlling lady that I am! 

Here's T., after he discovered he really was safe, he had a bunch of fun.

R and his daddy, Dominic!

When I first came out in my swimsuit, T. patted my tummy and said, "Grammy, you're getting big for your suit!"  That kid will keep me motivated if he keeps this up!

A little later we realized he was wearing the swimsuit his brother needed, and I went to pull his off and realized he had nothing underneath. Duh! Anyway, I sent him off to change. When he came out he pulled up the bottom of my swimsuit a little and said, "Yep, you don't have anything under there either!"