First of all, I just wanted to say that I have been 'around' here but it seemed like when I reported on one thread and then am doing my best to lead another challenge on another thread, this gets pushed to the back. I apologize for those choices that I made because this is where it all started for me this past fall and I miss all of you, I really do!
Well, I will report the
"good news" first. I managed to exercise every day for the month of January.
I do enjoy moving since I am at home a lot but I have a second bedroom set up as a designated workout room. The problem is that I had to move all of our porch furniture in there earlier this month when our leasing management decided (in the middle of unseasonably cold weather here in Atlanta) to power wash the exterior patios and porches. Really? Well, it hasn't happened yet but in order for me to access my treadmill I had to spend about a week rearranging lots of stuff. Well, to add another "hurdle" in the way, I overdid it with my free weight workouts and my left shoulder and left elbow are inflamed, especially my left elbow.
Mea culpa. 
So, lessons learned in the month of January is exercise on warmed-up muscles (I hate to admit this but I often jump right into a routine because I do so much of it on the fly
) as well as treat injuries at the beginning and not ignore them. Yes, I know this but I just didn't practice it. Now, I am!
The
"not so good" news: after bobbing up and down for the past month, I had to scrap my January goal of weight loss (which I did not make)
and redo my profile to reflect accurately my weight today. I am at the upper end now of the 240s. Two reasons: I ate more calories than I burned and I made poor food choices---mostly too much sodium.
"Good news" again: I spent time about a week ago and I went through everything that I ate (I keep detailed food logs) and I made a list of the good and not so good food choices. Since then, I have been more careful in choosing foods that have sodium in them. The best place to do that is where it all starts: at the grocery store. I am not a dieter per se. I focus more on eating healthy. What was lacking this past fall was being active. Period. Now, that I have been more active and my metabolism is starting to show signs of responding, I do think that I will start to see the scales respond more in my favor (as
Mara pointed out). So, for me, it is really all about being and staying active. Since I simply do not want to follow a super low calorie food plan (I just think that brings a whole set of new problems), then I know that I
have to "move". It may not have been as necessary a couple of years ago, but today it is. My metabolism is just simply slowing down as I get older.
As my avatar says" Finish what I start!"
axelgoldstein ,
calypso214,
jodoto and
MissMollyM.
For those of you who asked or shared your plans/workouts: I am following a diabetes weight loss plan (devised by a R.D.) that emphasizes healthy eating (meaning fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein) along with moderate daily exercise. The later has become more important as my life is very sedentary if I don't actually do a specific workout. I have a huge selection of really good dvds that I rotate so my workouts seem fun and interesting. I do have some physical limitations (especially during the colder weather) with RA and I need knee surgery. I still have found several dvds that address this and I have been able to do workouts.
Again, for all the "regulars" I am so sorry that I have been "missing in action". I hope to get back into posting on a more regular basis. To all of the "newbies", again
and you will certainly be happy you choose to join us. This is a great bunch of "chicks".
Take care, Pam :comp"
