Changing Habits

You see that beast. It stares at me every single morning and has for YEARS! I decided to make some more changes in my life:

- Watch my carbs (you need some for brain health and energy)

- give up diet soda (an occasional one, I mean maybe 3 a year!)

- watch fast food consumption (sometimes it’s the only option and totally acceptable-no judgement)

- Cooking healthier at home (you’ve seen some of my posts!)

- Adding some bone strength health workouts via @osteostrongtulsa

- AND utilizing the Beast

So far I’ve managed riding the Beast 9 times in 2024, starting at a mile, then 1-1/2 and today 2 miles. Several years ago I was doing 5 miles at least twice a week. So I’m setting a goal to work up to that again. There was a time I was doing Jazzercise 5 times a week, 5 miles twice a week on the bike and walking 5k once a week (or so.) My knee had a miniscus tear and cartilage pieces floating around so it stopped me dead in my tracks. Then the dang hip. It’s time to TAKE CONTROL over all of it.

I Have A Plan

I don't think I've shared this but I had a mammogram and bone density scan the other day and let's just say one of those came back not good, the bone density scan.  My mammogram was just fine, thank goodness.  You know every single year I have one and I am absolutely terrified of the outcome.  So many of my friends have faced breast cancer, losing one this summer from it.  I almost want to cancel the appointment the apprehension is so great, but if I don't have it checked I would worry more, so onward to boob squishing day!

The bone density thing I knew was probably going to not be good as it was down a couple of years ago but I did not expect my doctor to want to put me on more drugs.  His nurse called and said he wanted me to take Fosomax.  I've heard some nasty stories about the stuff and I immediately told her I wanted to research it first, but in reality I am NOT going to take it.  I am not going to go into old age with a counter full of pill bottles with the remedies more damaging than the cure.  I am going to do other things to offset it.  First of all I joined OsteoStrong recently.  OsteoStrong is a type of bone strength training that uses low-impact, high intensity exercises to help increase bone density and reduce the risk of fractures.  My doctor said my other hip has significant osteoporosis in it, much like my replaced hip, and arthritis.  I can work with that.  I am also upping my Vitamin D3 and Omega3's and drum roll please, more exercise.  I'm sure if I lose weight it will help too, so I have a plan.  

Oh, and my doctor, every time I go in there, tries to get me on like Ozempic or Mondoro to lose weight.  I am so leary of that stuff and really don't understand it.  Years ago there was a drug program out called Phen-fen that I took, lost weight, but of course, put it back on.  Not long after it had been on the market people started having heart issues, having to replace valves attributed to the Phen-fen thing.  I certainly dodged a bullet on that and I've TOLD my doctor about.  Plus there is a rare thyroid cancer with these new drugs and since I have thyroid issues, as did my father (2/3 of his removed) and my brother has, and my great grandfather having thyroid cancer I am NOT going to chance it.  

I asked my doctor why it works, the skinny guy he is (he's diabetic and a pencil thin man,)  and he said it basically makes you feel full, you don't eat.  Um, that's not healthy, to not eat.  You don't get your nutrition and the stuff causes your body to not poop right.  Hey, I've already got mine working just fine, I'm not mucking that up again.  

Back to my plan.  I am retired, don't have to be anywhere I don't want to, there is absolutely no reason I can not get on that damn exercise bicycle gathering dust in our bathroom and use it.  I have only one reason, I'M FUCKING LAZY!  So, that being said, I have decided that Monday's and Wednesday's I will ride the bike.  I'm not going to push, or have an unattainable goal, just get on and ride as long and as far as I can and build up.  I used to ride 5-10 miles a day.  Then on Thursday's I will go to my OsteoStrong and do my quick workout.  I think this plan will work, will fit into my life.  I thought the perfect day to start would be New Year's Day, and Monday is New Year's Day, that it would be the day to begin.  Although this morning I did get on to see if I could do it and you know what I did a mile, easily, well, sort of easily.  I recovered very fast, a good sign.  No, no excuses, I have an attainable plan and when I go to see Dr. K in a few months, hopefully, my weight and blood pressure will be down.  The bone density we will recheck in 2 years.  I'm willing to wait.  

I will keep you posted how this PLAN goes.

Thursday Musings

 Good morning, how's it going in your world this fine Thursday morning.  My week is kind of bumpy and feels a bit disruptive but I can deal.  Monday was work at the office to check out the new printer that the girls set up.  The old one last week bit the dust and when I get a new one it also causes me to have to readjust all my printing needs.  By the way, the printer is AWESOME!  

I did workout on Monday morning with Af and the trainer but it was hard going and I just ended up walking the whole time.  I had not taken any Aleve for several days because of an upcoming doctor's appointment and bloodwork and I didn't want to skew the results, so I was in pain.  Tuesday was a day at the easel, not too successful but it was painting and that is what makes me very happy.  Then I had to rush off to the accountant to get our employees W-2's and quarter ends financial stuff.  This all meant that I didn't workout.  I'm really having a hard time trying to work all that back into my life again.  It was so easy before, to have exercise be the first thing I did in the morning, but this trainer doesn't get started till the middle of the day and I just can't seem to make that work for me.  It cuts into my painting time and I'm not too keen on that.  I did get back on my stationary bike on Tuesday for 5 minutes, which is a big deal for a gal who has a hip that doesn't work right anymore.  

Yesterday, Wednesday, was an 8 am doctor appointment.  I was not looking forward to stepping on the scale, not at all.  I have been tracking my food on NOOM and My Fitness Pal, in the free part, calories, and the scale is NOT BUDGING.  I am trying to be very truthful in logging, even with maybe drinking a cola or a handful of Cheez-Its, and that, I'm sure is why it is not budging.  I'm staying between 1,000-1,300 calories a day.  Salmon, cabbage soup, quinoa and over-easy eggs, lots of good food, organic, homemade food.  I'm sure when I move more it will start taking effect.  Today I know I'm supposed to go to the trainer again at 11:30 but, again, that taps into my time at the easel and I AM NOT HAPPY about that.  I'm trying to figure it all out so I can make myself happy.  I know that the exercise is what I need for my body but the easel is what I need for my mind!  Yesterday I thought I would make it to the easel but it was not to be.  I ended up at the office and my desk was absolutely knee deep in invoicing, mail, tax stuff.  I couldn't leave I had to get it done or I would be there all weekend trying to play catch-up.  By the time I was at a point that I was close to leaving The Hubby went to get us lunch and I could not say no to a greasy cheeseburger and onion rings.  Cheeseburgers are my all time favorite food, that would be a big FAT yes and I totally ate it.  My danger place is to be out at lunchtime, especially if I'm driving and have control whether my mind can say no!  Yesterday I had no choice because I had fasted for the bloodwork and was ravenous and was still delving deep into paperwork with a bit more to go.  I needed steady fingers to type the rest of the invoices.  By the time I left I was ready for a nap because I had been awake tossing and turning in bed from 3 to 5am when the alarm went off.  Sometimes I just don't sleep well and Tuesday night was that.  Oh, and the bloodwork came back awesome.  For a fat girl my cholesterol, triglycerides, etc., levels are all in the perfect ranges.  I couldn't be happier for that and it tells me I'm still okay, but I do worry about my glucose levels.  Right now they are all within the range of good but, my mother became diabetic, as were many of my grandparents, and I don't want to go there.  I know weight plays a huge part in that so that is one reason to lose the weight.  I did talk to the doctor about the horrible ortho visit with the idiot hip doctor telling me I was too fat and barely looked at my pain and how that visit really made me feel, but also glad I didn't push it because with Daddy passing I could not have managed it all and surgery/rehab.  He did set me up to visit a podiatrist about my ankle/foot/short leg issues.  He recommended to see about getting a lift in my shoe to help with my walking and I'm totally on board with that even if it means UGLY shoes.  Right now that is making things so much worse on my back and knees, wobbling and uneven in my gait.

Today I know there is a workout at 11:30 but my desire to hit the easel is too overwhelming.  I also have to go to the office YET AGAIN as many large checks have come in and I have to deposit them.  Tomorrow is payroll and there will be an all day invoicing typing day again as he finishes the billing cycle.  GOOD GRIEF, I am so ready to retire and be done with this business thing, he is too.  I also have to start in March I think signing up with Medicare!!!  Yup, it is that time of life and I'm a bit scared to start the process but I will.  There is still a possibly that we will still keep working a bit longer than expected because of a job we're on but The Hubby is not sure about any of it.  This really is a hard place to be in our life and not sure how to get off the self-employed merry-go-round but we will get through it.  

Losing Weight Rant and Sob Story

No pictures today but doing a quick post driven by my trainer to think about.  She asked for us to come up with one or more things we could see ourselves doing again, ONCE we start losing weight and getting back in shape. 

Hmmm, the first thing is NOT TO HURT!  I know my joints are full of arthritis and are breaking down but that is mainly because of the weight that I've allowed to accumulate onto my short 5'3" body.  The joints are just over it and rebelling.  I want to not be in pain with every single step I take.   I know losing the weight will make a huge impact on that.

Second, is I want the ability to get up and down off the floor with little Min, play with my granddaughters, not use them as go-fers for me.  Again, this goes back to loss of weight will make it easier for me to move.

I can't really think of anything else except to be able to move better.  It's funny that 2 years ago I was in such good shape but ever since the hysterectomy and the knee procedure the weight has just accumulated by leaps and bounds.  I'm pretty sure part of my issue is hormones or lack there of because of the hysterectomy (hair loss too and dry skin) but I am NOT going on hormones, not ever.  Just going to eat better and that is what I am trying to do.  

Guess this is a weight loss rant and sob story.

Clayton Update and NY's Resolutions?

Life with this poor guy is getting better, thank goodness.  I was able to send a video of him to our vet yesterday and this morning will go in and pick up some more meds for him and see what the vet thought.  I don't know if there is anything we can do or do I need to bring him in for an exam, or maybe some laser treatment.  I'm very afraid he has another kind of cancer possibly in his neck/throat area.  Why I question this is that our whining-barking dog has ceased whining or barking.  He occasionally does it but before these recent episodes it was constant, bark to get up on the couch, bark to get down, bark to go outside, bark to go inside, bark to beg for food...now, crickets mostly.  I do know the area where he is most in pain when it happens is the neck-shoulder area.  Poor guy.  Of course when he's good and better he's real good.  Sunday evening it was steak night and he was begging for a bite and barking for his after dinner treat, running, yes RUNNING to the laundry room where treats are.  It's like nothing is wrong with him all of a sudden.  Yesterday I was giving him his pill in cheese and I thought he was awake but clearly he wasn't all the way awake and he snapped, HARD on my thumb.  Then he yelped and had a spasm.  It's all very confounding what is going on with him, hence the video to the vet.  I need more video.

Yesterday I finally went back to working out.  We (Af and myself) tried it in November with her trainer but that was short as the trainer was possibly exposed to Covid so we all went into quarantine until negative tests were had.  Now the new year has begun and it's back to what I know I must do.  My body is KILLING me and I have a doctors appointment at the end of the month!  It is painful and because I have the issues with my knees, hips and being so overweight, it will be a long process.  I have to push through.  I also decided to give the damn NOOM app another try.  Last time I paid for it and good grief the text messages and emails NAGGING me set my teeth on edge.  I have enough of that with The Hubby and my own conscience going on.  This time I'm just using the free version to log my food, watch what goes in my mouth and My Fitness Pal with the trainer.  I know I can do this.  Yesterday when we were done with workout I went home to have lunch because I KNOW that fast food is a weakness for me and I'm trying to avoid.  During workout I remembered I had a frozen pack of quinoa with chopped veggies in the freezer.  I decided to over-easy a couple of eggs and top the quinoa and let the ooey-gooey drizzle over the quinoa.  OMG, so very yummy and satisfying.  I will do it again today and tonight will be salmon and chard for dinner.  Last night was roasted chicken breasts and broccoli with a 1/2 cup of dressing.  It's going to have to be a meal at a time.  Tomorrow night I will have pot roast, onions, carrots and maybe a small potato.  

It's all about planning the stuff.  Typically on Thursday nights we have some sort of takeout, high end food.  We might do Saffron, Mediterranean Cuisine.  They have a chicken dish with a saffron rice that I cannot get enough of.  Of course I will then have to think of Friday and Saturday night.  OMG, meal planning is getting old but I've done it for a few years now, nearly 45 for that matter.   

MY Year in Review

First and most important for me was the loss of my Daddy.

Yes, there is much bigger news in the world but in my tiny world the year of Covid, the year 2020 brought about the loss of Daddy.

The loss of a parent and the loss of our old homestead and all the memories that have rushed through our conscientiousness.  It has been an unnerving year to say the least with Covid, mask wearing, virus warnings, death...EGAD...

but first and foremost for me was the last time I told Daddy, "I love you!"  

We said goodbye to Daddy and to the house that we grew up in but we are stronger as siblings than ever before.  We are still family!

It has all been a whirlwind and I can't wait for the year to finally end and hopefully we have brighter days with a vaccine in play. 

It's not been all bad because sadly for our youngest and her family, living in LA was just too scary and money wise too difficult during pandemic (HATE THAT WORD!)  So they packed it up and headed our direction.

So we get to hold this darling anytime we want now.  Get all the kisses and hugs, anytime, as long as one of of is not in quarantine.  I get to watch another granddbaby grow up.  

I will reflect back to my first post of the year, 2020 and not even realizing what was in store for us this past year.  I again was prattling on and on about losing weight, dieting, the story that never ends, me losing weight.  Of course, the dreaded pandemic set in and shut down all my ideas of working out and left us basically stranded at home, close to a kitchen and no desire to get out and about for fear of the virus.  Fear of illness, fear of spreading the contagion, fear of DEATH!  Everyone in the world has had these fears, except for the doubters who don't believe it.  I do because I have friends who have lost family members, I have family members who have caught the virus and survived.  It is real and frankly I DO NO WANT TO DIE!  So the new accessory to our daily attire is a mask, which I wear proudly.  We've learned how to shop for delivery or pick-up, take-out food on a daily basis.  Yes the world, our world has changed, probably forever.  Weight loss, dieting, frankly that is not high on my list of worries right now.  Staying healthy and alive is.  I think I'm eating better and my one foray back to the workout world led me to be possibly exposed and having things poked up my nose, Covid test.  So, I'm just staying put until more people are vaccinated at this point.  

Here's to 2021, may we start getting the world, our world back to spinning like it's supposed to be.  

Happy New Year

First Post of 2020

It is 2020...I cannot even believe it is 2020.  Never in my younger days did I even conceive that the year  2020 was even possible.  

I rang in the year as I have the past few years with this little Snicklefritz.  It was quiet and early with a splash of sparkling pink lemonade.  The Hubby went dancing, her parents had a quiet New Year's at home and Mini, her momma and daddy went to friends so quiet it was around here.  

They only have a couple more days before they head back to LA and I will miss them terribly.  Getting to watch Mini grow up on Facetime with an occasional visit either way. 

It was awesome to see Mini get to meet her great-grandmother for the first time.  

She's also pretty partial to her cousin Snicklefritz and vice-versa.  Snicklefritz is pretty good at changing a wet diaper and holding her like a champ.  

Life is good around here and I feel like I'm the luckiest Granny ever.  

Guess I need to visit the idea of resolutions...nah, goals, I like that term better. 

1.  Work on the workout plan:  Curvy Yoga, Trainer 2 days a week, Stationary bicycle 2 days a week

2.  Continue the Nutrisystem Plan

3.  Paint more, enter in more national shows

Simple things that I think are very achievable.   I put the food thing on hold to get through the holidays.  Good grief we had party after party and I just could not keep it all up, but spring around the corner will be much easier to manage.  

Diet/Food/Fat HELL!

I've been thinking about this diet/food/fat thing a lot lately.  Well, really, it's ALWAYS on my mind and always has been.  The idea that I am basically obese is a thought that has been on the forefront of my thought process for years and frankly, I'm tired of it.  I can't seem to get started again on the exercise program and I do eat fairly well, but this idea has popped into my head and I have to share.  

You don't put a drug addict in charge of a pharmacy do you!

You don't put an alcoholic in charge of a liquor store do you!

THEN WHY IN THE HELL am I, a food addict, in charge of going to the grocery store, planning meals, cooking food, making my own choices!!!!!  WHY, WHY, WHY!  

I know you have to finally heal yourself from your addiction by staying away from the thing that makes you an addict then you can hopefully be around it in "social" situations, but with food.  Man, it is all around us, constantly bombarding our every sense.  Television commercials, billboards, fast food places on every single corner and street, it's everywhere.  

When I grocery shop I'm pretty good now, talking myself out of candy bars, cookies, chips, dips, just crap.  I actually talk to myself in the store.  I usually have a grocery list ready for the exact thing I need and I try NOT to go when I am hungry.  It's best when I have already eaten.  99% of the time I can get through the whole gauntlet of end caps and register temptations without buying that thing I should NOT have.  

The last time I was in my doctor's office he said it might be time to consider taking a pill like Belviq, which curbs appetite, and most of the prescription ones that is what they do.  I DON'T have a problem with that I have a problem with being a sedentary person most of the time.  Maybe I need to go to a hypnotist to put the suggestion to WANT to walk or exercise or get up off my ASS!  I need to find a group thing again that fits my needs.  Jazzercise for nearly 15 years, in a group setting was wonderful but my knee can't do that anymore.

I also do not want to take pills that could possibly have side effects. Years ago I did the Phen-Phen thing and luckily I did not get the heart damage that others did.

I've talked about this before, but when I was 11 I broke my leg very severely and it was at a time when kids are very active.  There was track, softball, baseball, basketball, riding bikes, etc.  I walked, yes I walked because that was the only way to get to school or my friends house that was halfway across town.  I hate to walk!  I used to ride bicycles when a kid, but now I'm afraid of falling off of the damn thing.  Hey, maybe I need an adult tricycle kind with three wheels.  Would love that but I also have to have the URGE to do it!  

The one thing I did love was swimming.  We had a pool two houses ago and man I loved swimming.  I was in that pool every single day in the summer.  It's wasn't big or deep but it was round and I could swim around it.  As kids we swam at the public pool or at the Boy Scout Ranch pool that was open to the public.  I had my Senior Life Saving patch and was an extremely strong swimmer.  That is probably what helped me when my brother and sister were involved in other sports.  I would love, LOVE to have another swimming pool but The Hubby says he would NEVER EVER have another pool again.  He hated cleaning it out and it was a vinyl liner pool that was a pain in the butt.  We have the perfect yard for a lap pool, if we took the huge oak tree out?!?  The next best thing is that I decided, just now, to check out the YWCA that I drive by every single day.  Our friends Beverly and Kelly do water aquacise there and that MIGHT be my option.  I have checked out the schedule and will look into that.  It also means I have GOT to get a new bathing suit.  EGAD!  The only problem with the schedule is that I watch Rio at that time.  Rats...

Hitting a few road blocks...

Sabotage

Oh my goodness, perfect timing I think.  Mama's Losin' It! blog post suggestions this week arrived in my email box and as I was reading them the very last one caught my eye and stabbed me in the gut: 

 6. What is sabotaging your plan to drop 5 pounds? (Actually for me 100 pounds)

Yup, really what I needed to think about since I haven't thought about losing weight in the last 5 minutes for the past 30 years or so!  

When I was a kiddo I really didn't have any issue with weight at all.  That didn't stop my bro and Daddy calling me fatso for some reason.  I expect it from a sibling, that's just kids but my Daddy, not sure why.  

I had the usual child plump but as I got into junior high and on I kept it down, I also didn't eat well or much.  

Watching what I eat started when I was in 6th grade when I broke my leg.  It was a hugely traumatic event in my life and being in a cast for nearly 6 months took a toll on my mobility and growth.  It was at a time when your body is moving and grooving and I didn't move or groove.

High school rolled around and I was definitely curvy but I also ate sporadically and not much.  I LOVED food but I didn't eat.  I lived on popcorn, Dr. Pepper, occasional cheddar cheese or Momma's fried chicken.  I also did 100 sit-ups every single night.

It worked but was not healthy.  

We didn't grow up with fast food at all, there just was not availability in our town at that time.  So when I met The Hubby he opened up my life to fast food and we ate at weird times.  That was the first time I had to have Tums because of the level of food we ate.  I don't want to blame it on him I blame it on fast food.  I was bitten by the fast food bug.  

I got caught up in fast food, Dr. Pepper, and Twinkies and Ding dongs (The Hubby liked them in his lunch, I just liked them.)  Chips, dip, Taco Bell, I was a mess.  That first year of marriage I started going to Weight Watchers.  We really couldn't afford to eat out so I learned to eat right at WW.  That was when you ate a can of dry tuna, a lot of tuna.  I lost about 20 pounds and looked great and felt great.

Then babies came and I had the old-fashioned thought, "I'm eating for two." Boy did I eat for two.  Back to the Twinkies and Taco Bell.  After the birth of  B I got right back to WW and also started to actively garden in the backyard,  I had a huge garden.  I tilled it myself with a TG&Y tiller (we still have) and the thing just about beat me up.  I got muscled up and was in the best shape I had ever been in.  I was so strong and looked great.  Baby #2 and I let myself go again.  Not as bad and I actually lost a good part of the baby weight, not all but a lot.  

I was not happy and so food became my go too.  We were in business by the time the first girl arrived and he was working 7 days a week 12 hours a day.  I was lonely.  We lived in a part of town where I knew NO ONE except my next door neighbor.  I was lonely.  I ate and my food-drug of choice was fast food, Taco Bell and McDonald's.  I also had a friend who ate and sympathized.  Sadly she passed away from a heart attack at the age of 49...EYE OPENING!

I did do Jazzercise for about 15 years every single day and then a trainer but as of last year I have stopped.  I am not self-motivating and I know that.  I am lazy, flat lazy and I LOVE food.  Over the years I've let my knee problems dictate the lack of exercise but I'm LAZY.  I don't know if I actually sabotage myself but if you want to call being lazy sabotage then there you go.  

Doesn't really help that to work out I have to do it the first thing in the morning and frankly I don't have time in the morning anymore.  I'm usually running to the office to watch Snicklefritz or to art class or just work.  By the end of the day I am pooped.  I still am getting up at 4:45 every single day but I am enjoying my early morning to read blogs, post, read Facebook and emails, or just wake up.  Now that age 60 is looming in my very near future I know I need to get it together, but there goes all my best laid plans.  I'm a good talker yet I SIT and do nothing.  

I have discovered something though.  Last month while I was getting my monthly massage and facial I got a B12 shot they were offering.  I remembered my mother-in-law talking about getting them when she was trying to raise three rough-n-tumble boys and needed the energy.  I thought, "Why not!" Let me tell you, I didn't necessarily notice the energy but my KNEE!  The swelling and heat from the inflammation had almost disappeared!  WHAT!  I'm taking the stairs in a different, getting into a standing position is a breeze.  WOW!  Will have another one today.  

So did I answer the question?  I think I did, my Laziness sabotages any attempts to lose weight.  

Eat, Exercise and Babies

So, I'm totally stealing this photo from Rio's momma's Facebook page but how DARLING is it.  I mean reading by the fireside with Mondo, her daddy and that face, oh, that face.  Speaking of fireside, the weather she is a changing for sure.  We are just waiting for the snow to begin.  Goodness, I am so not ready for winter, for the cold mainly and the dark, dreary days.  What gets me through is that I know that in a few short months the sweet green of spring will pop out of the dead stuff and the world will be flush with color and beautiful sun filled skies.  That is what I look forward to.  What I do now is to stay very busy and that is not a problem for me.  I will kiss Rio, paint lots of pictures, read, crochet, do counted cross stitch ornaments, and cook.  I have to be careful with the cooking because I have quit my trainer and the cooking thing entails EATING!  

I don't know if I have shared about my trainer but yes I have quit him.  There were a lot of factors in my decision to be done with him.  Don't get me wrong I am not giving up on exercise but I am taking a break.  I've pretty much done it 5 days a week for years now, early, EARLY in the morning, but sleep has been a pressing need.  I am in need of a new place, a new kind, and new people.  I don't have time to check it out yet but hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will be back at it.  FYI, doing it at home on my own is not an option.  I am not self-motivating.  I will not get off my keaster to ride the bike that sits gathering dust.  Just not in my head to do.   

Selfie

All dressed up for workout this morning and with a little slipping and sliding I headed back into the garage and hit the bike instead.  I'm at least staying the same weight during this holiday season but being stuck inside away from party stuff it has been easy.  Last night was our bank Christmas party and I dolled up with the hair and dress.  Unfortunately I forgot to get a snapshot.  I wore a dress that I had from last Christmas and boy did it fit MUCH better.  Not tight at all and I didn't look like a stuffed sausage.  Felt quite pretty!

This morning the hair still has some pretty so I just brushed, fluffed and sprayed!  Too much washing can do make my hair weirdly dry yet oily.  Can't explain it.   

One Restful Day At A Time

Sorry I've been missing, but Sunday there was just nothing to say and yesterday the migraine monster popped up.  I started seeing a white light-thingy-squiggly in my eye and knew that if I didn't get proactive and take something and close my eyes for a bit the migraine would soon follow.  So far, I've been pretty successful in keeping them at bay with simple Advil and I was yesterday too. 

This is day whatever of my not exercising, so far so good but looking forward to getting back to it next week Wade.  The knee is better but not great and even last night as I was walking it just went with a sharp hot poker feeling again.  Got to be easy still. 

Trying to find something to write about today, the first thing I do is to go to the NaBloPoMo website for an idea which always is posted the night before.  I went and there was NOTHING!  What happened, someone fell down on the job there.  Have we run out of ideas or did the idea person just go to sleep, forgetting their job.  Now I'm left to my own imagination for ideas, as usual! 

Think I'll have an opinion on some stuff:

• Oklahoma politics - Stupid!  Makes me want to move.
• Politics - Stupid in general...Really, Republican party, is this all you have to offer up, really!
• The Bachelor Ben - Stupid!  Is it really surprising he picked her or that he took a step back after he saw her antics on the show.  My take is that it won't last.
• Just heard a news report about people stealing Tide detergent from store shelves and re-selling! What?  Hmm, black market Tide!
• Pinterest - Not so much anymore...Delete!  Had posted some stuff that I felt might not be accredited back to me, the creditor!
• Girl Scout Cookies - Not in my house! (Really would like but the hips not so much.)

To Walk or Not to Walk!



(playing with the camera yesterday)

 Monday evening was the start of the second week of my WalkFit program.  We are supposed to come to the group walk Monday and Wednesday nights and then on our own Saturday's and another day added in somewhere.  Last week I missed the second night, Wednesday, because of the party at Cain's Ballroom, but I figured we danced our little butts off and that would work.  This week I went Monday night and just as we took off walking my shins started burning like they were on fire.  I had to STOP!  I waited until the group came back around with one of the coaches and that gave enough time for my legs to stop hurting.  I know it was because I needed more warm up but my feet were hurting and had been for awhile and my right knee was giving me a tweak here and there.  I'm just in horrible shape with my knees and feet, I have to face it.  With plantar fasciitis in my feet and the dancing torquing my knees this 56 year old body is just not what it used to be.  I'm still getting up and working with my trainer 3 days a week and the dancing on top of it all.  I decided that I needed a BREAK before my body breaks.  So I emailed the WalkFit people and told them I was going to stop the rest of this week and next.  I contacted my trainer and laid off the rest of this week and next week.  I am resting this body.  That doesn't mean I can't walk the dog, slowly and ride on my stationary bike but walking on the asphalt is just going to have to stop for a bit.  I'm tired of getting up at 5 every morning.  I tired of hitting the floor every morning and run, run, run till the end of the day.  The morning stuff is not that bad and I prefer getting my exercise out of the way in the morning.  By the end of the day, when the walk stuff starts is when my body and head wants to stop and do NOTHING!  If I'm going to do this walk thing I need to do it in the mornings.  So I will keep up with the trainer but the walking in the evenings...STOP! 

I Have A Headache

There is a lot of thinking going on around in my noggin lately and I'm beginning to get a headache from all buzzing between my ears.  There's just so much stuff that bounces around all the time that sometimes the thoughts just get in a jumble. 

The mind has been on my recent decision to join the Walk Fit Program at Fleet Feet that starts February 27 here in Tulsa.  It is a 10 week commitment of walking with their group Monday and Wednesday's and an additional day, usually Saturday.  Unfortunately, we are most of the time at the cabin so that will have to be done there.  Plus I'm still with my trainer 3 days a week and even though my sentence is up with the West Coast Swing dance class, I'm still dancing.  We are, for the month only, taking Two-Step in preparation for the Bob Will's Birthday Celebration at Cain's Ballroom March 3.  The Hubby wants to make sure he can dance a two-step, EGADS!  So for the next 3-4 weeks that is still part of my exercise routine.  You know something, you would think I would be pencil thin with all that I do and this tells me that I HAVE to get a handle on the food thing!  I SHOULD be pencil thin or at least Laddie pencil thin.  I've actually toyed around with the idea of doing Nurti-System or Jenny Craig so that I get out of the cooking thing but that is just not practical because of The Hubby, although it might be an option for both of us for awhile.  Oh, I just don't know.  I just get a weakness or depressed or mad and find myself in the fridge or pantry or WORSE through a drive-thru (which doesn't happen often).  Oh woe is me! 

See, lots and lots of junk rolling around up there.  I do know that my exercising will be kicked up a few notches soon and with spring around the corner I will be gardening too.  I haven't had a garden in years, an actual veggie garden and I looking forward of playing in the dirt.

Struggling

Today is Day 4 of my everyday blogging for 366 days and I'm hitting a wall of still fingers.  Hmmm, well let's see, yesterday I finally got the Christmas all boxed and in the garage ready for the attic for yet another year.  It felt good to get it done but I do look forward to next year already.  Hopefully, if the rest of the work we want to do on the house is done we will have one hell of a Christmas party again.  Every few years we host a HUGE gathering that is catered and possibly this time valet parked.  I LOVE to do it and if I have a year to plan all the better.  I even have a larger tree in the attic I haven't used in a couple of years so I may have two trees.  Oh well, we will just see what happens. 

This is also day four of my trying to regulate the intake of food through my pie hole.  I'm doing okay, not great, but okay.  I've joined a website called http://www.sparkpeople.com/  that has a wealth of info, food tracking, exercise tracking, blogging and support.  I've done it a few years ago but I found that I can do the app on my phone and on my Kindle Fire!  I opted to also use the treadmill yesterday that I haven't done for a bit.  I've been mainly doing the stationary bike but I'm going to do a walking program that begins the end of February so I want to get my feet back in the game. 

See I did have a bit to write about.  I'm eating better, working out harder, reading a LOT, life is moving forward!  Hope you stick with me.

Resolutions or Life Changes

Now that Christmas is done it is of course time for the dreaded New Year's Resolutions.  I can't help myself when it comes to making them.  Seems like the new year rolling around makes a great time to start anew and I'm all about starting anew and sadly failing!  I've already started by changing my computer habits, blocking my habitual playing of Farmville!  I was spending hours on that stupid game and it was NOT healthy for me.  I must admit that I am a gamer addict starting with Nintendo years ago.  I may not drink or do drugs but I have food and games addictions.  I WON'T give up blogging!

(Rats, The Hubby just came in and interrupted my train of thought ranting about clothes on his unused workout equipment...yah, yah, yah...)

Whew...

I am giving The Hubby one more month of dancing, if my knee can stand it as I have missed nearly a month, and I promised 12 months last year.  So the month of January is still dancing, then NO MORE!  That twisting and turning on the dreaded floor is killing me.  I can walk and bike, but the dancing is ARGHHHH!  I just signed up for the Fleet Feet Training Program for walking.  It starts in February, twice a week.  I did it a couple of years ago and had a great time.  I'm hoping that giving up a bit of the computer stuff (sitting on my tail) will allow me the time.  I will also have to forgo my TV addiction that has plagued me for years.  I will be recording a lot and just have to play catch up if I really MUST see a program.  The Hubby was just informed of my intentions, including that Wednesday night time slot that he dances in.  "Hmmm," he says. 

This year, since Daddy is finally well and not in need of my constant attention I will devote to me!  Painting, reading, walking, exercise, eating better, spending time with friends*** and family.  This past year has been all about Daddy and the construction and I'm so glad it is OVER!  Life can hopefully get back on it's usual track and rock along for at least a year.  The Hubby and I have made it a must to have dinner with a lot of friends every few weeks or so and will continue that practice.  Have the neighbors over for drinks and show them what was happening in all the construction.  Dinner with old and new friends.  Family time and a trip to sunny California to see A, after I finish the walking program I think.  Lots of stuff for the new year of 2012!  Hope it all goes well for me and everyone else.  Happy New Year to one and all.  I will take a break here and not be back till 2012 to maybe start an everyday blogging fest for 2012. 

Vomiting on the Page

Not sure where I'm going with this today but decided to just start typing, "vomit" on the page, as one writing instructor told me. 

It's Wednesday morning and from the view from my window right now, quite beautiful, windy.  I got the day started with Wade and an excellent training day then home to find The Hubby grousing about the new audio system.  He was trying to get it on to workout at home in the new home gym and it would not come on, the music part.  He was ticked off, as was I because we spent a LOT of money on the darn thing and can't get it to work.  In fact, we couldn't even get it to turn off once it was on.  Never got the music to actually play, but the system was on saying it was playing!  Frustrating.  On the way back from my trainer I decided to spend time on the new bike but with The Hubby huffing and puffing around on his equipment and angry I was afraid it was not going to happen.  Finally, I just ignored him and hopped on to begin the pedaling.  About 35 minutes later and I was DONE!  Adding this more and more to my workout should help me start really losing, I hope! 

Yesterday in art class I was happy to finish yet another painting.  It's of our nephew and his beautiful little girl, our great niece.  I snagged the pic from her mommas Facebook page and just had to paint it.  I love her little hand on her daddy's back, it spoke to me.  I'm giving it to them.

Today is of course dance day so doing the bike thing was probably not good as I will be pooped tonight, but that may work out as sleeping has been tough.  Last night I slept pretty well if you don't count the nasty dream about a HUGE snake!  Then I wake up to the news and pictures of a huge python that swallowed an entire deer.  ICK!  Really don't mind snakes too much but spiders....EEK!!! 

Well, that worked fairly well, vomiting on the page.  At least I have some words to share.  Later gator's!

Recent Stuff

Workout equipment!  Yes we have purchased the workout equipment and I GOT my exercise bike.  I wanted a treadmill in the beginning but The Hubby said there was no room because of the stuff he wanted and since the bike is what I've been using lately, I gave in.  I really should be on it this morning but I slept so badly the past few nights I have absolutely no energy.  Nightmares, hot-cold-hot-cold, and just not being able to sleep.  I do this occasionally and I guess it is the occasional time again. 

I'm trying to get on the blogging band wagon again but the words are just not coming for some reason.  I'm feeling kind of inhibited by all those around me and not being able to express myself.  I love blogging and love for people to read my words but it seems that is a two-edged sword because people I KNOW read my blog.  I have to edit and I don't like to edit myself.  Oh well, just have to be peppy, non-threatening and have no opinion on anything.  Yeah, that's healthy.

I've finished yet another painting.  Check out the art blog listed at the side of this blog to see my most recent.  There is another art show at TCC starting next Monday through Dec 2 and I'll have two paintings and a photography entry.  Slowing down a bit in the art stuff, not feeling inspired lately.  Maybe when I get my space kind of cleaned out again I can focus.  Especially since Daddy is taking care of himself again.  He's grocery shopping and paying his own bills!  Almost don't know what to do with myself.  This coming weekend we are taking him to the cabin and hosting a brisket dinner to celebrate his re-entry in to the world.  He's excited and I can't wait to introduce him to my friends. 

Monday, The Day After

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day yesterday.  I went to see Daddy and just hung out with him yesterday.  We chatted and I fixed something on his computer.  I assessed his food in the freezer and decided that a run to the store wasn't necessary until about Wednesday.  I took his trash out and cleaned his toilet.  That was my time with Daddy yesterday.  I feel so bad that he is really stuck in that house.  He sits in his front doorway, with it open, just taking in what fresh air he can.  I have toyed with the idea of a ramp so he could go outside, but he only has a month left before the surgery and I HOPE that he will not need it after.  We take him to the doctor every two weeks and that is a trial in itself, especially since the last ordeal of me dropping him.  I really wish the doctor would get it together and push him up on the surgery list.  This waiting is agonizing for Daddy and us.  I want him mobile again so he can get out and do stuff.  I want to take him to restaurants and to the cabin and fishing.  It's just sad and depressing. 

Last week I did yoga on Monday and Friday really enjoying it.  Today I was going to get up and go but I don't have to leave this house for anything today and that is what I plan on doing.  I don't have to be at work or workout or the store or appointments or anything!  I'm staying put.  If I don't want to get dressed, then I won't.  If I don't want to brush my teeth, then I won't (not really).  I am washing the sheets from the bed because Clayton got sick last night on them.  I am going to blog, read blogs and paint.  Time to myself with no workers and no place to go.  Now that is a Monday. 

St. Patrick's Day Race

The day came and although not technically St. Patrick's Day it was to celebrate and for a good cause, Special Olympics.  The band was a playin'

and we were amassin'...

The gun was ready to fire then...BANG

We're off.

The crew ready to run.  Me, son-in-law, B, A&A, and me wee daughter B...

Huh, just noticed we had adjoining numbers.

The sweet couple getting ready to celebrate 3 years of wedded bliss. 

Now the story.  I took off running or lightly jogging with the huge 2600 mass crowd and kept it up for a short bit before the shins started SCREAMING at me.  I hadn't even gone half a mile and I was ready to quit, quit I tell you.  I knew that B&B and A&A would take off and leave me, I didn't mind.  I'm usually at the back of the pack because of my short stride and slow pace.  I was passed by person after person and soon on the other side of the street I saw B&B as they were heading down towards the finish.  I had a long way to go yet.  I was a bit scared when one guy passed me wearing a portable oxygen candula thing.  Great.  I pushed through the pain by walking most of the first half of the race and suddenly just before the turn around part it stopped.  I decided that I would round the orange cone and begin the run part. 

I kept up my steady plodding and soon I could see the finish banner and hear my family yelling! 

I heard B&B yelling that I was going to beat my time.  I looked down the way and saw a huge clock ticking the time away.

It said 58. something seconds and I was so close.  The best I've done on the 5K on the treadmill was 60.57 and I was about to beat it.  I don't know the exact finish time, but I know it was 58 or 59 something.

WOW!  I did it and I feel such an accomplishment.