I've decided to focus more on cardio workouts this week. I'm also going to figure out a plan for my eating TODAY! I don't feel that what I"m doing right now is really working; there's too much margin for error.

Melinda, glad your knees are better!

Well, I've been doing blah lately. I'm able to make the gym, but yesterday didn't cuz on the ride there I got real nauseous.

I feel better today, am going to go this evening so the pool will be open and I can do cardio and then swim.

I've decided for now to do free weights at home for my arm workout.

sounds like most everyone is doing well this week for the most part. Good job everyone!

I havent been tracking BEFORE I eat, been tracking after, and going over a bit, so back to trying before. Today is my day off. I plan to go to whole foods get some snack foods so I amnot eating three giant meals and starving in between. I also plan to go to the gym after that, and then to come home and cook bulk for the rest of the week. We FINALLY went grocery shopping and after today we will be totally stocked up and ready for the week so that will help.

bf and I are planning a trip to vegas for our 17 year anniv in March. This new job is really helping with the 'being less broke' thing.haha. I plan to apply to become a shift manager at one of my jobs in august when the positionj opens up. That's a 15% raise and twice the hours I get now. Should make saving for vegas way easier.

I'm working on my book a lot this week, I plan to do that while I cook this evening. Should probably take the laptop into the kitchen so I don't forget I'm cooking. haha.

I'm also daydreaming a lot lately about improving my credit so we can open a restaurant someday.

In first grade my teacher told my mom I was a dreamer.

Not much has changed.

Lottie, I think having a dream is a postive thing. It gives us something to work forward to and keeps us from becoming stagnant, wandering aimlessly. What kind of restaurant? Congrats on 17 years together!

patchwork, thanks! We want to open a vegan restaurant with a bar and gluten free options.

I did two workouts from Leslie's Ultimate Collection~ 1 Mile Get Started, then a brief trip into Laundryland, then the 2 mile Brisk Walk, for a total of 40min. I'm hoping I can get Hubby to do another short walk with me tonight.

Dad had a routine phyiscal that resulted in finding a heart murmur, so he went to a cardiologist today, who told him that 'sometime' in the future he will have to have open heart surgery because of one damaged valve. He was also told that he shouldn't put it off but to have it while he's still healthy and not experiencing symptoms; the longer he waits the longer/harder his recovery will be. He has to go back to the regular Dr in a month after they have had time to review tests and consult {or something}.

I took an eating plan from Kathy Smith's "Feed Muscle Shrink Fat" book and I'm tweaking it a very little to fit me. It basically contains B,L,D, plus 3 snacks. She breaks some of them down into generic '1 protein, 2 fruit/veggie, 1 grain" but some I'll have to guess at. She also has recipes. I've followed this plan before and lost some weight, but it found it hard to follow then, and switched to counting cals which I found even more annoying {kudos to anyone who has the willpower to CC!} So I did do 'The Plan" today fulfilling my edict for myself. We shall see how things go fomorrow. I have a routine appointment with an eye specialist which will take at least 3 hours, but is right in the middle of lunchtime.

Tues 28
B= 2 c milk, vits
L= salad {3 cups lettuce, 1 can tuna, carrots, tomatos, craisins, blue cheese, 2 T dressing}
S= protein shake {banana, instant coffee, fiber, and protein powders, milk}
D= homemade chicken soup, 1 slice bread with butter
S= greek yogurt with strawberries, 2 crushed walnuts
E= 5 miles with Leslie spread thoughout the day

I took my first Zumba class today! I have never felt so klutzy and uncoordinated but I liked it! There are some fantastic dancers in that class. Our instructor is over 60 y.o. but boy can she wiggle her butt. My gym offers only two classes a week - Tuesday and Friday.

Today:
B: coffee, hb eggs, pumpkin
S: strawberries
L: WW wrap with lc cheese, spinach, bell pepper
S: cantelope
D: lean cuisine, laughing cow
E: Zumba

melinda - dog has arthritis in back and rear legs and hips. If she was in bad pain, she wouldn't be continuously pacing, would she? Today she hasn't moved around much. But she is finally eating some boiled chicken and rice. I am so glad vegan is improving your health. I'm sure 214 is right around the corner.

mj - ZUMBA!

penguin - sounds like you have a case of Happy Feet!!!! (I love that movie) Sorry to hear of your father's heart issue. Maybe a second opinion??

lottie - Vegas sounds like a nice anniversary plan.

Good Morning! Well, appt #1 was excellent (endocrinologist). Went over my thyroid biopsy in more detail. Absolutely nothing to be concerned about. They will still u/s it every 6 months to keep an eye on the nodules, but they are nothing. My bloodwork was fantastic. They did a whole metabolic panel, B12 and D..all are fantastic. My Dr. is thrilled w/ my weightloss, particularly HOW I am doing it. Even the girls in the office were asking me for tips (that was funny to me, LOL!). They said that by the time I come back in December they won't even recognize me.
lottie--Sounds like a great plan! I love being able to get stocked up on groceries and then cook in bulk...makes it SO much easier! I agree...nothing wrong w/ being a dreamer!

patchworkpenguin--Great workouts! ++ thoughts to your dad!

DixCChix--YEA!!! Oh my goodness...that's TOTALLY how I was my first several classes, TRUST ME! My instructor kept telling me, give it time...and I did. Even as uncoordinated as I felt (and am), I loved it and still love it more and more!!! My instructor has some of her dances on youtube if you want to check them out (NO, I am not in any of them!) search: lauriejwalker My hubby likes to watch her shake her booty (among other things), lol!

I saw my brother last night. THAT was awesome. His reaction was priceless! So, so good to have him home, if only for a short time.

Follow up appt from my surgery this afternoon. I don't expect any "big surprises" but...you never know...I'll get the pathology report and any details that I wasn't coherent enough to remember from two weeks ago, LOL!

I spent most of the morning at the eye docs for a routine exam which went well {except for all the waiting...} However, the Dr wants me to go back and see my cataract surgeon, there's a membrane that holds the fluid away from the lens, so they can't take it out when they replaced my lens, but it has gotten cloudy and is affecting my vision so I will have to have it fixed. They apparently punch a hole in it with a laser, and its a routine procedure, happening more often than not. Planned on a different cardio than Leslie, but since everything is blurry. and probably will be for the rest of the day, I guess she is my safest bet.

MJ, glad your appointment went so well. Yay, on the weightloss. LOL, on the staff asking you for tips!

Wed 29
B= 2 c milk, vits, Egg Mug {egg sub with peppers and onion}, slice bread with pumpkin butter
L= Old Venice Cobb salad
S= protein shake
D= homemade beef and veggie stew, slice bread
S= peach with honey/greek yogurt
E= 5 miles with Leslie

Good Morning! My surgery follow up appt was excellent. I don't need to do anything unless I start having problems again, phew! Pathology report was clear, double phew!

patchworkpenguin--That stinks about the eye surgery. Hope it isn't too bad.

Tonight is Zumba!!!!! Cannot wait!!! I am going to a little bit later class, which is a bit more intense. We are also ordering tank tops. I am actually starting to like the way my arms look, so I might actually be willing to wear it out in public, LOL! (thank you trainer and my killer arm workouts....they are working!)

Have a great day everyone!

Its mani/pedi day!!! - Yay!!! And also a rest day so that means housework!Dog is doing much better and getting her tummy back on track with chicken, rice, plain greek yogurt.

My veggie garden is doing good so far with 3 peppers coming, 1 cherry tomato and lots of foliage on the zucchini, cukes, beans, grapes and pumpkins. Fig tree is getting third set of leaves.

Patio flower pots and front flower garden are getting stressed with the unrelenting sun and heat. When I went out this morning to fertize, there's no mistaking the smell and heavy haze of smoke that is back in town again. Please God, send us some rain!

The weekend is almost here. BIL and sis are planning a party for Monday and I am waiting for details on the food so I can make a plan.

Anybody else making plans for the holiday weekend??

mj - What a good health report card you have nowadays!!! Can't wait til you show us your 'guns'!!! Awww, nice to hear bro is back from overseas even if for a short visit. Please thank him for his service.

penguin - your menu sounds yummy - especially the pumpkin butter! Sorry to hear you're having eye issues. Hope it works out well for you.

Thurs, 30
B= 2 c milk, 1 scrambled egg beater with salsa and cheese
L= Canned tuna on salad
S= protein shake
D= 4 cups homemade chinese with soba noodles
S= straw greek yogurt + 2 walnuts
E= 5 miles with Leslie

I do workout DVD's at home. I keep track of them each day; title, time and then at the end of the year add it all up to see what I've done, what I'm not using, and if I need to purge/buy something, LOL. Jan- June I did 112 workouts, which breaks down to 60 cardio {walking, kbox TM workouts}, 44 strength {mostly weights, some yoga and pilates}, and 16 weights/cardio circuits.

Chix, today is my dog's weekly Spa Day; I brush her, rub her down with a wet cloth, clip her claws, and give her a treat for being so good. You can tell who gets spoiled around here! No plans for the holiday.

MJ, glad all is well. What surgery did you have?

Good Morning! It is a gorgeous day here again. Awesome Zumba class last night and I am feeling it this am...my abs are sore!!!

DixC Chix--Awesome! mani/pedi day is my favorite!!! Having one of those myself next Friday! AND your dog is doing better...SUPER awesome!!! Yes, SO good to have some good news from the Dr for a change! I will thank him!

patchworkpenguin--Go you!!! Awesome workouts! Lucky dog!!! I had some ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and a fibroid removed two weeks ago. It was all laproscopic (luckily!)

jab--How are you doing??? I hope work isn't keeping you too busy!!!

Beverlyjoy--Thinking of you!

Hubby found out that he has the WHOLE weekend off AND to make it even better...I am not on call for my work. WOW!!! Must be the stars and planets are all lined up this week, LOL!!!! So, we want to do some fun stuff this weekend. I will hit the outlet mall at some point...I want to find a cute outfit to wear to my niece's grad party next weekend...we will be seeing some friends and family we haven't seen in a looooong time, so yep, I wanna look GOOD We may go to a movie Saturday night, but who knows....Hubby has started taking some great nature pictures, so I just texted him to see if he would like to go to one of the state parks and go for a hike--there are some great trails w/ waterfalls and stuff. We could pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it.

I am taking next Friday off for an "MJ day". Can't wait! I'm getting a mani/pedi AND hair cut and color. That night there is a party for my brother, but some friends are throwing it, so we just have to show up. Hmmm...maybe need a new outfit for that too, LOL! Thank goodness for the outlet mall and bargains!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Morning all. Just starting us off! I have to clean house today.

I managed to lose 1.4lbs overnight. I shouldn't get excited, with my track record it will be back tomorrow and have invited a few friends along. I can't even change my weight because I gained and never reset it.Hopefully all the cardio and the new eating plan are working. I plan on taking my measurements today also.

Whoops this is July...should we start a new thread???