The Birds and the Bees...

Got my new do with streaks and all. Helps the grey blend in :o)

Eating went pretty good yesterday because the power went out and I had to go to bed early with my book and my new book light. That way I wasn't tempted to snack all evening. Boy is the book light nice. Before I got it I was propping the flashlight on my shoulder and it's one of those mag lights and it sure is heavy.

Now these humming birds are driving me crazy. I got the second feeder and both hold a quart of liquid. So now when I fill them up I only have to do it every other day. But the birds... Being right outside my window I see them flitting around all the time and at last count there were 11. It's sort of like a swarm of bees. They are really getting on my nerves. So much so that I'm considering moving the feeders back to the front porch so that I don't have to look at them all the time or see them out of my peripheral vision.

Happy Thursday blog buddies.

The Scales Dropped...

The scales said there are 1.5 more pounds gone!!! Fantabulariffic! I've broken below the 190's! Now I wonder how long it will take me to break below the 180's? I know, I know, you just can't satisfy me.

Going to get a haircut today. And boy do I need it. I look like a shaggy dog.

What fun to wake up to a heaving dog. And he was right by my pillow too. I got him off the bed in time but had a mess to clean up off the floor. Then to beat it all I came down to go to the bathroom and there were several piles in the bathroom floor. He must not have felt good in the middle of the night, because it has been years since he missed in the house. At least he had enough sense to do it in the bathroom where Mommy does.

Telephone people are coming today to check to see if I can get DSL. Boy, would that be nice. They finally put a hub within 2 miles of my house and the limit for the distance from the hub is 22,000 feet. Two miles is definitely less than that, so cross your fingers. I really need it with the amount of time I spend on this thing.

Have a great day blogger buds!

Pros and Cons..

Cammy asked, "Do you think living in a remote-type area helps you or hinders you in weight loss efforts?"

There are good things and bad things about losing weight and living where I do. But they are mostly good for me. I don't live near any big cities and therefore don't have to worry about the fast food joints that I love, like Taco Bell and KFC. The closest city that has either is over an hour and a half away so I don't have to worry about those cravings. No way would I hop in the car and drive that far for one of those treats. The only fast food establishment in our little town is a Dairy Queen and I'm not crazy about it at all. I do love their biscuits but never go to town while they are still serving breakfast so that's not a problem. Banana splits are the only thing I would crave from there and they are way to filling and expensive for me (even when I was fat). We also have no big chain restaurants, only Mom & Pop types. And for some reason none of the restaurants around here have any one that knows how to cook. Everything they serve is frozen or from a can (warmed in the microwave), so that is not a temptation for me either.

One of the problems is that I don't live in a farming area so there isn't fresh produce grown locally, it's all shipped in so I don't have the advantage of inexpensive produce like most of you do. And I know most of you probably don't live in farming areas either but it is easier and cheaper to truck in the fresh produce than it is here. Where I live it is 32 miles from the nearest interstate and with the mountainous winding roads it takes about 50 minutes for me to get there and a truck would take even longer because of the size and weight of it.

Then there's the exercise problem but I talk about that enough to probably bore you to tears. So I won't reiterate. I sure would love to live on flat land to be able to hop on a bike (I'd have to buy one first though) and peddle away for miles.

The biggest advantage for THIS weight loss journey is living alone. I've been on this roller coaster many times and it has been really hard. It's hard this time too but in a different way. It's hard in that I don't have someone in the house encouraging my weight loss but so much easier without someone else here. I don't have to worry about preparing meals for anyone but myself. I don't have to fix one kind of meal for someone else and one kind for me. Neither my X nor my late husband had a weight problem. And I don't have kids at home that would snarl up their noses and what I eat. And I can eat whenever I want not on someone else's schedule.

Thanks Cammy, for giving me something to post about. I was at a loss this morning too.

Not Much to Report...

It's been just another weekend and not much to tell. Couldn't think of anything to post about Sat. or Sun.

I've been really good eating wise. Have stayed under 1300 calories for the past 4 days. The scales showed it this morning but it isn't my official weigh-in day so it's not even worth mentioning. Sure hope it stays this way or gets even better by Wednesday morning.

Have a great week.

Clothes and Hummers...

Every time I get dressed I think I'm putting on someone elses clothes. Having worn 2X to 3X t-shirts for the past 20 years these L's and XL's seem too small. Well, I need to explain a little better. They aren't too small actually, they fit just right, it's the feel of them when I put them over my head. When I put my arms in them and get ready to pull them over my head my arms are so close together that I feel like I've got someone elses shirt. It feels like it's going to be too small. Wonder if that feeling will go away. Course it's a nice feeling and I revel in it every time I get dressed but... I've gone from a 3X to an XL in shirts (is that 2 sizes or 3?) and from 20/22 jeans to 14 (I know that's 3/4 sizes). It is a wonderful feeling.

The strangest thing is going on at my hummingbird feeder. In all these years of feeding them I've only had one little family of hummers. Mom, Pop and a Kid. Yesterday evening I looked out and counted 7 setting on the feeder at once vying for one of the 6 holes. The feeder was one third full at 6 o'clock and by 8 o'clock it was empty. I usually only fill it half way and only refill it once a week. At this rate I'll have to do it every day or every other day. And I'm running out of sugar. I may even have to go buy another feeder when I go to get more sugar. Are hummingbirds worth 2 gallons of gasoline it will take me to go to town to get the stuff? Probably. And maybe the store will have more strawberries today. They were out when I went on Monday.

I'm a lovin' my bedtime snack of cereal and soy milk. Actually I'm using it as my dessert and snack. Sure takes care of the sweet craving after dinner. Now I don't have to hit the 100 calorie snack packs to get rid of that sweet craving and the cereal is so much better for me even though it is more calories. Hey I figured out how many calories the french toast and homemade syrup would be and it is only 20 more calories than my cereal so I may have that tonight instead. Course after I open the bottle of syrup I'll have to put it in the fridge and the cute little bottle won't be setting out on the counter any more, but...

My plans for today are mowing and weed eating. I also need to run the sweeper but I know lazy ole' me and that will probably wait for a couple more days.

Hope your weekend is the greatest!

Some Exercise...

I still haven't walked since the 18th but I did get some exercise in today. I just got finished shoveling 3 (3 gallon) buckets full of gravel and carrying it approx. 100 yards to fill in two holes in my yard. Now I have to get some soil to put on top of the gravel. Why do I have two holes in my yard? Well the idiot that cuts my grass decided he didn't like looking at two rocks that were barely showing so he decided to dig them up and roll them over the hill. One hole was about 2'x 2'x 2' and the other about 1x1x1. And here comes the idiot part. He just left the holes there so anyone could step in them and break a leg or something. Maybe he was hoping he'd do it so he could sue me. This person is dating one of my friends and I really didn't want to make any waves so I was going to ask him "kindly" when he came back to mow to please fill in the holes. Well, my grass is about half way up to my knee by now and he stopped by day before yesterday and said it was too hot to mow now he'd come back later in the evening and knock it off. It only takes him 25 minutes to mow AND weed eat. He didn't show. So when I was talking to the friend yesterday I told her to give him a message not to bother coming back up. I'd take care of the yard myself. I don't have any doubts that I can do it now that I'm 59 pounds lighter. I just kept having him do it so he could earn a little extra money. He's always complaining that he's broke. Good riddance.

It is a beautiful day here. Not supposed to get above 75 today and it really looks like they might be right. When I was lying in bed last night I was looking out my window at the stars. They were georgous last night. I've been trying to look at them for the past two weeks because the nights have been clear most of the time but the durn moon kept getting in my eyes. No problem with the moon last night. It must be in a smaller phase or was in a different place.

Just before I carted the gravel to the holes I rode the ATV down the mountain to the mail box to put something in there for the letter carrier. About half way up I was kicking myself for not putting on my HRM. I wonder how many calories riding one of those things eats up. Then I still didn't have it on for the hole episode. Oh, well, I know I got some calories off with all that.

Another installment on pictures of my cabin. I decided that I didn't want over head cabinets because it would cover up the logs so my husband and I made 4 shelves to put on the walls just like they used to do back in "the olden" days. I have one for dishes, one for glasses and two (on either side of my stove) for spices.





Have a b-e-a-u-tiful day.

Another day on the mountain...

Just another boring day on the mountain. And I'm not complaining considering last the last week and a half. I think it's just what the doctor ordered.

The one pound gone stayed gone today. So, YIPEE!

Here's another photo that I thought you might enjoy. It's our bathroom door. My late husband and I made it out of cedar. Wanted it to look a little like a outdoor privy. And I think we succeeded.


The crescent moon isn't a hole like the real ones. It's a cut out that I painted black to look like one. There's one on the other side of the door too.

Have a great evening.

French Toast, Mmmmm...

My "Posting" Window has changed here on blogspot, has yours? I'm no longer getting the options of changing the size, style or color of fonts. Just curious.

Well I saw a new number on the scales this morning. 190. That would be a pound gone if this were my regular weigh-in day. But that's tomrrow and I know how the scales tease me. It won't be like that tomorrow. But at least I got to see a new number.

I was awakened this morning to the strangest storm. The rain came first and it wasn't all that hard then the thunder started. Of course I know from my science classes that thunder always follows lightening but my eyes were closed so I didn't see the lightening, ok. The thunder lasted for a good 2 minutes steady. That had to have been one long lightening bolt that I missed. Wonder if it was long in length or duration? That happened several times so I thought it was telling me to get out of bed.

Here's another picture of a unigue bear in my cabin.



This is setting on top of my microwave. The little jug on the right is driving me crazy. I bought it before I started on this trip to healthiness. And for some reason recently it has been talking to me and at times shouting at me. But I'm resisting. It's made locally and I just couldn't resist the cuteness of the bottle as well as the wonnderful taste. Well, I haven't tasted it yet. It's actually never been opened, that's why it isn't in the fridge.



I keep thinking I can make myself one piece of french toast with light whole wheat bread and 1/4 cup of egg beaters and give the syrup a try but I haven't given in yet.

Have a great day.

Not Much Here...

Had the dogs groomed today so I made it errand day. Splurged on a hot dog while in town. Haven't walked since Friday.

My life is pretty boring right now and not much to talk about. Just watching TV, reading and crocheting.

I've made 4 pairs of socks now. If they start multiplying like my dish clothes did then I'm going to have enough socks to outfit everyone in my county. I already have enough dish clothes to last me for 3 life times and I keep giving them away. And they keep multiplying. Stupid rabbit dish clothes.

Hope you have a great week.

Just another Saturday...

Yesterdays walking stats:

Walked for 25 minutes
Minimum heart rate was 100
Average heart rate was 133
Maximum heart rate was 152
Calories burned were 387

Just couldn't make myself go the 30 minutes as planned. But, hey, something is better than nothing.

Finished the book yesterday and it was one of the most enjoyable ones I've ever read. Sure hated to say goodbye to the main character.

I've had a hard time getting milk down since starting this weight loss and usually only get the calcium in with cheese. I'm a person that loves whole fresh cows milk and can not stand the 2% or skimmed kind. I decided to try Soy Milk. I'd heard a lot of pros and cons about the taste and just decided I'd find out for myself. I love it, well the vanilla flavored one at least. I had really missed my bedtime snack of a bowl of cereal and I've had that most every night this week with some strawberries on it. Yummmmm. Now if I can just find a way to fry my skinless, boneless chicken breasts and still have them be healthy, life would be good.

Have a happy!

Lazy Thursday (and Probably Friday)...

Well, I tried something different this morning. I decided to read blogs before blogging myself. Actually I came here and started to type and nothing came out of my head. I even contemplated not posting at all today. But here I am.

Fingers are really sore this morning. All that "old age" joint pain. And it's quite uncomfortable to type...but.

Had a really restful day yesterday. House was clean, laundry done and lazy set in. Didn't get my walk in and I have no excuse or reason for it. Just didn't do it. I started a new book on Monday night and I can't put it down. With Monday and Tuesday being so busy out of the house and Wednesday so busy in the house that I didn't have time to read much those day. I made up for it yesterday. Gosh it's a good one. It's called "The Good Guy" by Dean Koontz and it is really different from his regular genre. No creatures, ghouly stuff or weird stuff, just plain old suspense. I think it's the best one he's ever written (except for all the big words he's been using over the past few years).

Had a restless sleep and am rather tired this morning but life happens.

Thought I'd share this picture of my toilet paper dispenser with you. The company I had a few weeks ago told me she got a real kick out of it every time she uses my bathroom.


Have a great weekend.

A Brief History Lesson...

While lying in bed last night I was thinking about a previous post of mine. In it I mentioned that I didn't have a bath room in my loft and had to trudge down the stairs to potty. I also mentioned that I sometimes took my thunder mug with me to use instead of navigating the stairs half asleep. I got to thinking that most of you are way younger than I and probably mostly city folks and you probably don't know what a "Thunder Mug" is. So here are some pictures and explainations. The thunder mug was used in the mid 1800's in homes of mostly wealthy people so that they wouldn't have to go outside to the "privvy" or "out house." Thunder mugs (bottom picture) ususally had handles so they could slide through the back into a potty chair (top left picture). But mine is a little different (top right picture). And there you have it, a brief history lesson.

I did get my walk in yesterday.

Walking Stats:

Walked 33 minutes
Minimum heart rate 104
Average heart rate 138
Maximum heart rate 154
Calories burned 525

Gosh am I ever hungry after a walk. I wanted to eat every thing in the house last night. I settled for a salad with kidney beans in it and later a half a peanut butter sandwich.

I also got the sweeper run, even the cobwebs in the corners way up high. Got 2 loads of laundry done (that's about all I have) and the kitchen cleaned. I really felt pretty good about myself for getting all that in yesterday. Now if someone would just find a way for the dishes to do themselves I'd be a happy camper. I hate it when I finally get the kitchen cleaned and have to cook and dirty it up again. What a vicious cycle. And I'm a procrastonator big time. No way I'd actually do the dishes as I go. Or even right after I finish a meal. No, not me, I have to wait a day or three. Course there's only me and there aren't many to wash and I hate wasting well water on just a few. Sounds like a good excuse doesn't it?

That's all for today folks. Have a good one.

What a Restful Night...

I have to admit I took Cammy's advice, sort of. (And according to her comment left yesterday about driving using 200 calories an hour I used more than I consumed yesterday, so there.) Since I was soooo hungry when I got home I ate supper and then was way too full to walk, so I was waiting for my dinner to settle some and got so sleepy I could hardly keep my head up. I went to bed at 9:00 and after trying to read for half an hour was asleep by 9:30. Wondering how I could know that it was 9:30? Well, I kept reading with one eye while resting the other and couldn't make it any more by 9:30. I don't even remember turning off the light, so I must have fallen right to sleep. Got in 8 hours of uninterrupeted sleep and then decided to roll over and sleep a little more so I finally got 10 hours. I feel great today!! Even though it is morning!

On the agenda for today is running the sweeper, do a little laundry and calling Orkin. Sounds rather boring but I need boring. I don't think I'll be behind the wheel of a vehicle for at least a week. I'm sick of driving and running around. I'm really looking forward to enjoying my beautiful view from my porch swing for at least 7 days.

Official weigh-in was this morning and it said 191 again. Not up or down. I still think my scales are broken.

Have a great "middle of the week."

ARGH...

I'm about ready to go jump off a cliff. Good thing there aren't any very near, just mountains.

The Hummer service called bright and early this morning and said I could pick up my car. I got dressed and headed out. They couldn't find a thing wrong with it, and it didn't overheat on the trip home. Not even on the way up my mountain.

I left around 8:00 and just got home at 4:30. That was fun. ::she says sarcastically:: And I'm starving. Didn't eat anything until around 1:00. Took two bottles of ice and water with me and just finished the last one as I was walking in the door. I still haven't gotten my walking in today but I still have hopes that I will. I'm gonna try at least after I rest my legs and arms a little from that much driving.

As much as I love where I live it sure is inconvenient and if I could afford it I'd move. But I can't. Prices of housing in other places that I would consider living are just too steep. I don't have a mortgage on the place I live and if I moved I'd have to have one at least until I could get this place sold. So I guess I'm stuck living in the boonies where nothing is convenient. Right now life pretty much sucks for me but I know in my heart that it will get better.

Oh, and to beat it all I still have sawdust falling from the rafters. Gotta remember to call Orkin tomorrow.

Have a good evening.

Monday, Monday...

2:35 PM

Just got back from the dentist and I have two new major $$$ crowns. Sure feels funny since the temporary fell off over a week ago.

8:15 PM

Well, here I go again. I'm not walking today either. Had planned on it as soon as I posted and company came by. They just left and I'm just too tired to tackle it now. Sound like a good excuse to you? It doesn't to me either. But I'm sticking to it. Tomorrow for sure! Without fail! I promise! Honest!

I called to check on my sick car and they can't find anything wrong with it. They can't make it overheat. Figures! They aren't ready to release it yet, they're going to try some other things first. Great! After all I went through Friday and I could have just let it set and cool and drive it again. Or maybe it's like people. You know how you have a tooth ache until the morning before you go to the dentist and all of a sudden the pain is gone?

Hope your Monday was a good one.

That's 2 Days Off, Will This be the 3rd..

I'm a little better today but not much. Thanks for your encouragement to just relax. I did take all of yesterday lounging and crying. At one point I was wondering whats the point of life, but I got over that after a good cry. Can't figure out why this ordeal is bothering me so. I usually bounce back after something like this and just get on with it. But for some reason it's hard to push it behind me this time.

I did get a surprising phone call the night of my ordeal. My late husbands grandson called me. I haven't talked to him since his "Pawpaw" died and I really missed him. I had tried to call both him and his mother several times, but they wouldn't talk to me, so I gave up after a year (it's been 2 1/2 years now). He appologized and said he was having a hard time coping and finally broke down and cried and decided it was time to get back in touch with me. He's 18 now and getting ready to start pre-med at Marshal in the fall. It should have lifted my spirits more than it did but I was really in a low mood.

Obviously I didn't get the walking in yesterday and I'm not sure I'm up for it today either, we shall see. Maybe by this afternoon I will be.

Have a dentist appointment in the morning so I may be a little late in posting tomorrow.

Have a good Sunday.

The Friday from Hell...

This is goinng to be a long post so if you don't have much time you might want to come back later or skip it altogether.

After posting yesterday morning I immediately got on the phone to the Hummer dealership and service manager where I bought the H3. He didn't give me any advice as to what I could do here to find out what the problem was and told me to call custommer service and see about getting it towed in. So off my little fingers went with the dialing. To my dismay I was told that they wouldn't tow it to the dealer where I bought it but to another one in the opposite direction. I was a bit upset and argued about the distance. It is longer mile wise to the one I bought it from but shorter time wise because of the interstates. Seems they don't look at the time but the mileage only. Then came the dilemma of having a vehicle to drive while mine is 4 hours away in a shop being cared for. The customer service people said they couldn't authorize a renter or loaner but the dealership had to do that. So I hung up and called the dealership. They said the customer service people had to authorize that. So I hung up and called customer service again. At this point I was getting really frustrated and broke down in tears with customer service. A renter was finally authorized (by the dealer) and I started trying to find a rental. Since I live at the end of the driveway from hell, I had to have a 4-wheel drive or at least All-wheel drive. Nobody in my area has one because of the rising gas costs. Again the tears started, just when I thought I had them under control. In the mean time customer service was calling a towing company to make arrangements to pick up my car.

I finally found a rental in Virginia (1 1/2 hours away) and called a friend (again in tears) to take me to it. And she did, but more on that later.

Customer service calls me back and says she can't find any one in my area to tow my car. Seems there's this shindig going on in my local town and no one wants to leave the area in case they are needed. I told her that Monday would be fine and she tried again. Then she was told that their tow trucks wouldn't make it that far to deliver my car where it needed to go. She tries some more and finally says that she found someone but they won't accept purchase orders and that I will have to pay for the tow and then send an application and hope that Hummer approves it to get reimbursed, but she can't promise anything. Tears start again. So I get out my phone book and start giving her numbers and names and after FOUR hours she has found someone to come get my sick baby. We finally set it up and then I find out that they are bringing a roll-back and there is no way it will make it up my driveway. So I have to meet him at the bottom of the mountain.

I called the friend and comfirmed where I'd be for the trip to Virginia to pick up a rental. I started the car and put it in neutral and coasted down the mountain. At least I was smart enough to take a book and lots of water with me and found some shade to park in and read until friend arrived and tow truck came.

Off we took for the rental. When we finally get there the man informs us that there is a problem. He doesn't have the keys to the rental. Someone accidently had them in their pocket and was on his way back to the other rental place an hour away. So we went to a little family restaurant and had a wonderful late lunch/early dinner of chicken livers. Back to the rental place where the car and keys awaited. After going through the walk around looking for dings and such the man informs me that it is a non-smoking vehicle. At this point the tears almost started again but I kept my cool and said nothing. No way after the day I'd had and the trip back home was I going to make it without a smoke. So I just puffed away all the way home with the window down and will carry a bottle of Febreeze with me when I return it. Oh, and the rental guy informs me that if I'm returning it in West Virginia there will be an additional drop fee and Hummer may not authorize it. They'd better!!!

On the drive home the adrenalin subsided and my body went limp and the eyes started drooping. Well, you can tell since I'm posting that I made it home safely but completely exhausted at 6:30. I came in and fed the dogs and colapsed on the couch with my book. I didn't make it outside again to get my walk in. I think that maybe the stress was enough exercise for one day. And besides exercise makes me tireder and I was afraid I'd collapse trying it.

You'd think that after getting everything taken care of yesterday that things would be better today but as I'm typing this the hands are shaking and the tears have started back. Think I will just rest today, and durn I was so looking forward to cleaning house, yea right.

Almost forgot the best part. OnStar sends me a diagnostic email every month on the H3. I haven't been near cell coverage in a couple of weeks so while it was being towed they must have gotten a signal and when I got home there was an email awaiting telling me that there were NO problems with my vehicle. Go figure.

Hope your Firday was better than mine and that your weekend will be wonderful.

Errands and Exercise?

Don't think I'll do that again. Errands and exercise on the same day? That exhausted me totally. Yep, I got my walking in, even on errand day. Whew! I was so tired and sleepy by 7:00 I had a really hard time staying awake until bed time. I could have given in and gone on to bed then but who wants to be up at 3:00 in the morning if they don't have to and remember this is the lady that hates mornings anyway. I did make myself stay up until 11:00 (there was a new show I wanted to watch that came on at 10:00) read about a half hour with droopy eyes and fell fast asleep. Only to wake up at 2:00 wide awake. Had to force myself back to sleep. So looking back I should have napped on the couch for a little while when I first got sleepy around 7:00.

Walking Stats:

Walked for 30 minutes
Minimum heart rate was 98
Average heart rate was 138
Maximum heart rate was 167
Calories burned were 582

I was so proud of myself for getting the walking in after errands I had a hard time not posting again yesterday evening. But then I realized I'd have nothing to say today so I waited. I ran for 0.0476 of a mile again (one lap) and incorporated some arm exercise into the walking too. My shoulders and arms are sore this morning as well as my legs. When Boot Scootin' Boogy came on the iPod I didn't have the energy left to line dance so I just sang along. I was really ready to quit after 20 minutes but I had to keep telling myself that "it was just 30 minutes out of my sedentary life so suck it up and finish." I can't believe it, that made 6 days on my exercise plan. That's a new record for me!

I had a weird experience when coming out of the grocery store. I drive an H3, sort of silver in color. It's the only one in the county. When I was exiting the store there was a silver H3 parked on the opposite side of the parking lot than where I parked mine and it's just a small lot (only holds about 30 cars). I started toward it wondering if I had lost my mind and forgotten that I parked on the other side then saw mine out of the corner of my eye. Glad I didn't make the mistake of trying to get into it and loading my groceries in someone elses vehicle.

I have an H3 because of my mountain and driveway. Most other 4-wheel drive vehicles will make it up the mountain in the snow but not up my driveway. I've had several different ones and even a jeep has difficulty, not the H3 though. I sometimes feel guilty driving it because of the gas mileage but then remember how little I do drive. I only go off the mountain once a week or week and a half and only to Lewisburg about once a month or every other month so I am conserving on the fuel. I just need it because of where I live.

When I got home and was unloading the groceries I heard a funny noise coming from the non-running thing. Sounded like water dripping onto a hot skillet. I popped the hood and it was really hot. So I got back in the car and turned the key to on without starting it and the heat guage was way up there. It's only 7 months old and I never even thought to look at that guage while I was driving it. I checked the coolant reservoir and it is half full. Now I don't know what is happening with it and the nearest Hummer service center is 4 hours away. I can just imagine driving an overheating car that far. Drive for half an hour and set and let it cool for an hour. That would take me 12 hours to get there. I'm going to call the service center this morning and see if it will still be under warranty if I take it to a Chevy dealership and have it checked. I sure hope so. I have to go to Lewisburg on Monday to get my new crowns put in and I'm afraid it will overheat driving it down there. This is one of the few times when I need a man around.

Hope your weekend is the grandest!

Ruminating on Mornings...

I hate MORNINGS!!!

I have no energy in the mornings. Not after 10 hours of sleep, not after 8 hours of sleep, not after 6 hours of sleep, or 9 or 7 or...you get the picture. Anybody else out there like this? I don't start feeling good until around noon (or at least 4 hours after getting up). And then it gets better from there. My body just doesn't want to wake up that early in the day. I think I could count on one hand the times that I have awakened felling perky. There have been some times that I went to sleep so late that I slept until around noon and I felt alright but not many. I've been this way my whole life. Getting up to an alarm clock for school or work was torture. Now that I'm retired I don't have to suffer that agony any more but I still hate MORNINGS! Enough of my complaining.

Ok, I have to fess up. My feelings weren't really hurt about yesterdays comments on my post (the first one yesterday). I just thought the second one yesterday would be a fun post. I was feeling kinda ornery and wanted to put some spice into this thing. Forgive me? The braless running was true though.

Well, I didn't make it off the mountain yesterday to run my errands so I will be doing that today. Had to set here yesterday and wait for the Orkin man to arrive and he didn't come until around 4:30. I really felt like going into town to do my errands after he left but one of them included the bank and they weren't opened that late so I had to wait until today. Since yesterday was a scheduled day off from walking I took it. Now I have to run errands and walk in the same day. Sure hope the ole determination kicks in this afternoon and I get them both done. Hey, I could strap on the HRM and iPod and bop through the grocery store. Think they'd send the men in white coats after me in the meat isle? Remember this is a REALLY small town and they don't see things like that around here so they probably would. Hey, I'd get my name in the local paper!

You should see their local paper. It comes out once a week on Wednesdays. Guess what's on the front page...the obits! Yep, here in this county that's how you get yourself on the front page of the newspaper..you have to die. Don't know who dreamed that one up but it's kinda gruesome to me.

Have a good day out there blog buds.

Nonchalantness...

Now you've gone and done it! You've hurt my feelings. Making fun of my nonchalantly mentioning my running one lap. One whole lap, good grief. It takes 21 laps to make a mile and one lap is less than a drop in the bucket. You all act nonchalant about your exercise so I thought that was the way I was supposed to do it too. I'll do better next time.

I didn't tell you the best part of my running for 0.0476190476 of a mile. Now you have to picture this 'cause I sure as heck ain't gonna capture it on film for you. Ok, here goes, picture a 60+ year old fat woman walking in a t-shirt and jammy bottoms (no over the shoulder bolder holder). {can you tell where this is going?} This old lady decides to crank it up notch and put in a lap of running. Guess what started moving up and down? Yep! I had to use my hands as a bra {::ouch that was hurting}.

Orkin man finally came and climbed on a ladder and sprayed and put out bait to kill them (this one says they are carpenter ants not bees) as they entered the house. I sure hope that does it. He only put it in one place where he thinks they are getting in so if that doesn't do it he will have to come back with plastic tarps and cover everything in the house and climb on the ladder again and do a little bit at a time across the entire house. I sure hope he brings someone with him to help with moving the ladder and holding it for him. I helped today.

Oh, ::and again she says nonchalantly:: I lost a half pound. But alas I've seen this weight before. I want to see a new number before I'll be excited. And my legs hurt.

Just more stuff...

Hey, hey, hey, it's Hump Day. All you workers out there, you're half way to the weekend and some rest or relaxation!

Almost forgot about my walking yesterday. Was really hungry around 4:00 so decided to have my supper then and lunch later. I made some cornbread and had a little square with some pinto beans. YuMMMMM. Was setting here talking on the phone to a friend and all of a sudden I looked outside and remembered that I hadn't walked yet. Well, at that point my tummy was too full to go out there so I had to wait. Went out around 7:00 as a storm was blowing in and sprinkles were coming down. Didn't take my rain coat with a hood and it was a little on the coolish side but after I began walking I warmed up nicely. The sprinkles stopped and never did get hit with the downpour I was expecting.

Walked 32 minutes
Minimum Heart Rate -> 106
Average Heart Rate -> 140
Maximum Heart Rate -> 167
Calories Burned -> 570

The higher calorie burn was probably because I ran for one lap. So there you go, 4 days on exercise plan.

While talking to the friend we just couldn't come to an agreement on walking together. She must do it in the mornings because it really energizes her and she can't sleep at night if she exercises in the afternoons or evenings. Me on the other hand, it wears me out and I'm really sleepy after exercising so if I do it in the mornings I need a nap within an hour afterward or at least to set around with my head propped up in my hand. So I guess I'll just keep doing it alone.

Official weigh-in today but that's not until around noon so I will add those stats later or tomorrow.

Errands today. I've mentioned them enough here that you probably already know them by heart so I won't go there.

Orkin is supposed to be here today and that will be a stressful time for me because I may have to get huffy with the man if he won't climb on a ladder and spray the beams where the carpenter bees are.

Have a good one.

Tuesdays Plan...

Since I posted late yesterday there isn't much to talk about today.

My plan for the day is to clean the kitchen and run the sweeper. I hate cleaning house but someone has to do it and I just can't get the dogs trained to do it for me. Durn they are stubborn when it comes to learning new tricks. Oh, and I will walk today too.

I had a really yummy supper yesterday. It's kind of a long story so I'll start at the beginning. I picked up some really thick boneless pork chops a few weeks ago and got some mesquite marinade for them. After soaking them for a couple of hours I grilled one and it was awful. Tough as shoe leather and had a funky taste. So I bagged the rest up separately (still raw) with the marinade and put them in the freezer. Took one out yesterday to thaw and then put it in a pan with lots of water. Basically boiled it for about an hour then made a little homemade BBQ sauce (didn't have any bottled in the house) to pour over them about half way through. It turned out really tender and quite tasty. Had that with a baked potato (with LOL light butter) and a small can of turnip greens.

I really need to go to the store because my cupboards are getting bare but that will have to wait until tomorrow, unless I get a wild hair and trudge out today.

Did Ya Miss Me?

The Internet has been down in West Virginia most of the day. I've been checking periodically all day and finally it's baaaaaaack.

Didn't walk yesterday but did today.

30 Minutes
Minimum Heart Rate -> 98
Average Heart Rate -> 136
Maximum Heart Rate -> 168
Calories Burned -> 338

My plan is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I'm taking Wednesday off because that's my usual day to run errands and Sunday is my rest day.

Haven't counted calories in the past two days but have been good.

Back to Walking...

Hey, Y'all!! I walked for 30 minutes yesterday!! In the rain!!

Minimum heart rate -> 98
Average heart rate -> 137
Maximum heart rate -> 168
Calories burned -> 335

So how's that??

And I'm up 2.5 pounds this morning from my excited 190.5 (the past few days) to my depressing 193 (for the last 2+ months) again. WHY?

I tell you this is really getting to me.

I need some help here. My average calorie intake from week before last was 1340. And I've been keeping it around there for the past few months while fluctuating between 191.5 and 193. Last week it was 1574 where I lost a half a pound. Is my body telling me that it will only lose weight in the 1500's? That just doesn't make any sense to me. I searched and searched several sights and they all said approximately the same. That I should consume between 1200 and 1550 calories to lose weight and I've tried to keep it closer to the 1200 all this time. When I was counting WW points along with calories I was keeping my points within the range they had set and sometimes going over by a point or 3 only. Again within their range because I wasn't eating all of my flex points, just a few. I just don't understand. Do you?

Could it be the stress? The stress over watching my food intake and stressing over what I can and can not eat the rest of the day to stay on track? When I took my little mini-vacation from this "diet" I still counted my calories but I didn't do it until at the end of the day after I had been bad or good and didn't know it. I just enjoyed myself and most of the time I did really well but some days I didn't. I know stress can affect weight loss or gain, so maybe that's it. By now I know what I should or shouldn't eat and if I ate something I shouldn't I was careful not to over do it.

Happy Sunday to all.

The Day After..

Boy was I wrong. I figured no one would be posting yesterday since it was a holiday so I just posted my little celebratory pic the night before and didn't even get on the Internet yesterday except to input my food intake. And this morning as I hit my forehead with the butt of my hand I remembered that not all of us live in the USA, duh. So, sorry to those of you that came and saw nothing. And I guess a few of us USAers didn't have such a busy day that blogging couldn't be included. I won't make that mistake again.

My fourth was a boring day. I spent it totally alone, except for the dogs and cats. No special foods, no celebrating with friends, just watching JAG and NCIS marathons. And reading a lot. I hate living along when holidays roll around!!

I was up fairly early yesterday morning (around 7:00) and by the time 5:00 rolled around I had already eaten my breakfast, lunch and dinner and thought, OH NO, now what am I going to do. I knew I'd be hungry before bed time and had to figure out what I could have to fill me up without many calories. Well, I made it and decided to go to bed around 11:00. The scales said 190.5 this morning as they have for the past couple of days. That's a one pound loss since weigh-in last week. Hope it will be just a little bit more or at least stay the same until weigh-in next Wednesday. I am so looking forward to kissing the 190's good-bye.

Don't have much planned for today except walking. Yes, I'm going to make myself get out there and walk today even if I cry the whole time because I'm so lazy. Why, oh why, couldn't I have gotten my Mother's hyper genes instead of my Daddy's lazy ones.

Have a great Saturday.

HAPPY

Best Layed Plans of Mice and Men...

Someone just shoot me. I had the bright idea to do some tie-dying. I wanted some tie-dyed shirts and I thought that since I was doing a couple for myself I'd just dye some for the entire family. Below are pictures of my Tuesday from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

We dyed 30 shirts and 35 hats. Can anyone out there say CRAZY WOMEN? Oh, my goodness! Imagine five hours of bending over buckets dipping, rinsing and wringing. Neither one of us could walk standing up straight when we finished. Oh, and I didn't mention spending about 6 hours Monday tying them all.

And to beat it all it was for naught!! I washed the first set as per instructions in the washer and they all bled and now I just have solid colored t-shirts. I haven't washed any more. I just want to look at them for a while and admire them before I ruin them by washing them.

Hey, I have a lot more ideas about projects. Does anyone want to come and help me?

BTW, I weighed myself after I posted yesterday and I lost a half a pound.

Happy Anniversary to Me...Happy Anniversary to Me...

Today is my first year anniversary of starting on weight loss (this time around) and a healthier life (for the first time). I've lost 58 pounds in 366 days (yep this was a leap year so I had to add an extra day).

As I set here reflecting...

About a month ago I was really disappointed that all the weight wouldn't be off by my anniversary. All the times in the past that I lost weight it came off really fast (at least 2 pounds a week) so I had figured that surely I could get almost 100 pounds of in a year. I've still got 42 pounds to go and the year is up. In thinking really hard about it I realize that this time I haven't been stressing so much with just staying on a diet but learning to eat healthier (with the exception of a few little cheats along the way). That way I could eat some of the things that I like, just prepared in a healthier way. I'm sure this has made it slower as well as the age factor. I'm no spring chicken anymore. And this time I've had a lot more weight to lose than the previous times, since this time I was the heaviest I'd ever been.

So I'm just not going to kick myself in the rear for not being skinny already and enjoy the life I've started. If it takes me another year or so to get the rest of it off, so be it. At least doing it this way I'm not a grumpy butt all the time like I was when I was on a STRICT diet. I'm enjoying life a lot more this time around. And enjoying life is what life's all about, isn't it?

Reflections on Exercise... and a BIG thanks

Thanks gals for the comments yesterday. Don't know what I'd do without you to spur me on and support me. Yeah, I do know; I'd quit all together. Well, thank God for you all, so that I don't. I'm sure that's why He led me to blog (through Cara). I have friends now that care about me, that I can talk to candidly about my weight loss and exercise or lack there of and understand and want me to do better.

I did some Yoga yesterday from a DVD that Dani brought me. Boy is that tough at first. I had no idea. I thought it was just a wussy type of exercise but it isn't. I sure do need the stretching and need to learn to balance better. I am going to try this for a while. Of course I'll get bored with it too and stop it but maybe by then I will have learned enough from the DVD that I can do it anywhere without out the TV to help. She also brought a Latin dance one and my hips just won't move like they are supposed to. Don't think I will do much with that one.

The funny thing about the walking (wancing) that I was doing is that I really enjoyed it with the iPod. I really enjoyed bopping with the music and enjoyed laughing at myself when I'd stop to do the Boot Scootin' Boogie. I'm just such a lazy person I couldn't make myself get out of the chair and put my shoes on to go outside and walk. It's one of those habits that I am just going to have to work hard on to make myself form. I know I have to do that or I won't be around much longer.

As for the "eating vacation." I've eaten some things I shouldn't. I've had a small slice (1/2 inch) of Friendship Cake every evening for the past 3 days, and the piece of pizza and ice cream cone Sunday for lunch, but I haven't deviated from my eating plan in any other way. I have no idea how many calories the cake had but I went with the highest caloric cake I could find on SP to enter into my eating log. I did go out to eat last night and had some oven fried chicken and baked potato with sour cream and I only had one bite of the homemade hot roll that came with it. The salad came with gooey dressing on the side but I took your advice and ate it by dipping my fork in the dressing first then picking up a fork full of greens. I'd never tried that before and it was pretty good that way. My calories have been a little high because of the splurges I've eaten but I expected that. Will find out tomorrow morning what it did to my weight. I won't be staying on this vacation. I'm back to my regular ways today. I just can't chance ruining everything I've worked so hard for all this time.

Getting ready to go outside and work on the project I mentioned last week. Still not going to tell you what it is yet. You'll see it in pictures later in the week.

Have a good and healthy day my blog buddies!!