Donna, I finally was able to sit down and watch that video. Lots of good stuff in there and I was glad that I watched it. I've been meaning to for several nights but never had the 30 minutes to sit and watch.. this morning I just made myself do it. Thanks for sharing. The one thing that she said about height and weight.... means that I shouldn't even weight 100 lbs!! I think I will keep my goal around 125 though. Take care and have a great day!

60 Soup Recipes:

http://tinyurl.com/yhj7l8b

Good Morning GG's

We had an absoluteally beautiful day yesterday! It got all the way up to 30, and after being 0 for so long, it felt like a spring day. I went to the mall and walked for a bit. Just once around, but that is an improvement. I'm getting there, slowely but surely.

Bobbi, you do so well once your mind is set. You will lose that extra few pounds in no time. Maybe due to all the upheval? I hate change, it makes me a bit crazy.

Rosie, I love the strawberry/pretzel thing too. I make it for holidays, the rest of the time it's just too fattening. At least then I can ratalionaze that everyone else is going to eat it.

Z, You're an exerciser!!! WOO HOO! I knew we would get your started again. And, don't you feel better?

Georgia, i'm with you. I can't be trusted around huge amounts of food to choose from. I think I need to "taste" everything.

Isabella, I haven't watched the video yet, but i'm looking forward to it. I am always looking for new information. It's hard to find 30 min of uninterupted time, yaknow.

Donna, When the scale shows a 3 lb. weight loss, it's the beloved scale, not the hated scale!! ha. congratulations!

Karen, You should always have what you want. Have that slice of bread. I've found that if I really, really want something, if I don't have it, I will have TONS of other things instead! But, it was just one tiny slip and you are right back on tract!

Lynn, I'm so glad to hear that you and DD are doing better. And planning that trip will give you new incentive and keep you busy. As Junie B. Jones says (I'm reading her books with my 6 year old DGD) you are a lucky duck!

Gayle, You sound so much more positive! I'm so happy that you are liking the new job.

Freda

Zoe,

Ours is a virtual journey. You can count the miles however you want. For example, my formula is 5 minutes of exercise (any kind) = 1 mile. You could count doing 1 session with Leslie Sansone as 5 miles or 10 miles or whatever you want.

The goal of the thread is to motivate us to keep exercising, and to teach us about each other's geography, and to get to know each other better.

I look forward to reading about your exercise journey.

Lynn

Good Morning Everyone,

Getting ready for big snowstorm here in PA. So far, we've got a "snow sky" - but nothing falling. This winter has been strange - more snow to the south than the north. First time I remember that happening.

DD & SIL are coming over to watch some DVD's and purchase our air tickets (online).

Stepped up my exercise at the gym. Added back the eliptical (first time since flu/surgeries) and upped my time from 60 minutes to 70 minutes. Hopefully, will get back to where I was pretty soon.

Hi Bobbi,
How are the house rennovations coming? What is it that you are doing to the house? Did you get back on the wagon/turnip truck? What about the migraines?

Hi Zoe,
I have a question for you or your DH - who are some artists I should become familiar with before my trip to Italy. Before France, I studied the impressionists. Should I focus on the Rennaissance artists for Florence and Tuscany?

Hi Donna,
Glad to hear your hips are better. Less pain and a weight loss - GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!

Hi Gayle,
I'm so happy that the new schedule is working for you.

Hi Georgia,
Good luck with the new diet. I will PM you with my divorce story.

Hi Isabella,
Are you still in the middle of nowhere? I haven't checked our Exercising thread yet. Looking forward to your next locale update.

Hi Karen,
I didn't last as long as you did on the VERY low-carb diet - but I did the same thing - had a carb breakdown. Probably just our bodies paying us back for depriving them.

Hi Rosey,
Any chance you can get your DH to help with any of the housework? Might tire him out & make him sleep better at night. I used to make my DH fold laundry for me.

Hi Freda,
I ABSOLUTELY agree about eating what you crave. Whenever I ignore a craving, I end up eating FAR MORE calories with other stuff. And, YES - I am a lucky duck! DD's face is healing nicely, cancer doctor is happy with my lymphoma progress, I have wonderful friends like you on this website, and I'm going to Italy. Who could ask for more?

Have a great day everyone,

Lynn

Okay. Day 5 of "walking with Leslie" for the lazy girl. I'm happier with myself, yes. I DO have to note, though, that I AM a little achey, as I said before, up at the tops of my legs. I think I'm putting a little more effort into the leg lifts and kicks, too, so that's probably what's doing it. I got a BIG reality check, though, in the mirror in my bedroom last night when I was getting undressed to take my bath. I have been feeling pretty virtuous, and even thinking that I was looking pretty good, too. But when I took a good look at my nekkid self in front of that mirror, I KNEW that I had been in denial. My legs and bum have slimmed down a lot, and even my lower belly is pretty flat, but I have a nice jello-y roll around my waist that I'm able to hide quite well under jackets and sweaters and such, but it'll be spring before we know it, and lightweight clothes aren't anywhere near as forgiving as heavy winter woolens and tweeds. Okay, yes, I want to be healthy, and that's my #1 reason for taking off the weight, but the truth of the matter is that I LOVE clothes - have even put a good deal of thought into designing my own line once I retire and finally have some time to call my own. A lot of friends and acquaintances have asked me where I find my things, and ask for my help in putting together their own outfits for special occasions. SO, to make a long story a little shorter, I want to look good in my own creations, and THAT means that my weight loss goals are maybe a little too conservative right now. I've been working towards 150, but now that I'm pretty close to being there, I think it's time to be realistic and switch it to 140. AND plan to exercise that waist roll away, too! So, over the next day or so, I guess I'll change my ticker and start getting serious(er) about getting this weight off.
Yes, Lynn, I will plan on joining your cross-country exercising as well. I'll start Monday. maybe I'll walk (exercise) down to my sister's in NC. I'm expecting to go down there in April, so I'll be able to tell her that I'm planning on walking there! Yep, Freda - you predicted that I'd become an exerciser, and it looks like you're right. A somewhat limited exerciser, but an exerciser nonetheless.
Donna, did I congratulate you on those three pounds, sister? : Freda's right - when the scales show us numbers like that, they are our friends. It's only when they show a gain that we have to shove them into the corner in disgrace - and until they learn how to behave themselves a little better.
Karen, I HEAR you about those "ideal" weights. Where do they get them? It can't be in any real world that I ever lived in, I can tell you that for sure!
Thanks, Bobbi, for that link to the soup recipes. I'll be checking it out over the weekend. I never used to like soup - I think because when I was in college, I was really poor, and virtually lived on Campbell's soup (which is one of the reasons, I guess, that I never had any problems with my weight back then). Then, after I got married and we had an income that allowed me to cook (and eat) whatever I wanted, I started with the Atkins dieting, which I did for years - and ate a lot of meat: soup wasn't filling enough for me. So, now with the calorie counting, I've developed a whole new appreciation for soups and really enjoy trying new ones, so I'm really looking forward to checking out that link!
A big smile to you, too, Rosey - thanks for yours - it was very nice to get!
Okay, back to work for the lazy girl,

Z

"I have a question for you or your DH - who are some artists I should become familiar with before my trip to Italy. Before France, I studied the impressionists. Should I focus on the Rennaissance artists for Florence and Tuscany?"
Oh, Lynn - we seem to have been posting at the same time! You just may be in luck! My DH actually studied art in Italy for several years, so he's quite well versed in Italian art history and such. I will convey your request to him forthwith.
Z

A few years ago when I was working I experienced severe joint pain in my hips so much that I was referred to a physiotherapist. One thing he suggested was I walk at least 15 minutes a day to strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint. I've been walking fairly regularly ever since and haven't had any major problems in that area. But I do get muscle soreness.

This week I've been cringing when getting out of a chair or even by the end of my walk. It's the faster walking and the increased length of practicing the fitness test. This morning things are less painful. I'm up to 10 full lunges (both legs count as 1), 10 clean squat & presses (10 lb dumb bells) and 10 lay down & stand ups. This is half the amount that has to be done. I can do the full 20 2-legged jumps (40 when you count left and right jumps separately). Today I did the mostly half fitness test in 4 minutes 54 seconds so I'm hoping to really cut my time down when I eventually do the whole thing. I did it in 12 minutes 20 seconds the first time I did it and maybe some of you remember I could hardly walk that week from muscle soreness. This was for Donna and Zoe's edification but you may all read it.

Freda, I understand that 30 minutes is a big chunk of time when you're working. I'm in the retired zone and may I say in a "I-can-do-what-I-want-when-I-want" zone.

Lynn, I would say I envy that trip to Italy but the Bible says "Thou shalt not covet." So, my friend, I'll just be happy for you. Sounds like you're going to be prowling around museums and other places of interest. I'll have to await a few posted pictures when you get back. So glad things are looking up for you and your DD. And I'm not sure where I am walking. I never dug out a good map yet. I have a fair idea as we've driven the route hundreds of times but I really have to check it out officially so I can post something.

Karen, I thought the weights in that video were quite low also, but that may be the minimum or optimal weight. But it was an interesting formula. I would be 110 lbs which actually would be about my sister's weight and we're almost the same height.

Bobbi, thanks for the soup link. Although only a few are vegetarian many can all be doctored up to become so. I like looking to see which herbs or spices are used, especially the soups that have beans as an ingredient.

Today we are getting our first real snowstorm and so far it's not too bad where we live although the schools were let out early. Both DS's are living in a blizzard warning area and they are getting dumped upon. This storm is supposed to last until Saturday night. I was out walking and of course it took me forever to get finished because I was walking against the wind for most of the walk but it wasn't nearly as cold as the rest of the week.

Today I had sweet potato fries (oven baked) with our lunch. So yummy. I sliced a large sweet potato into fries, tossed with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkled with sea salt and baked until done at 425 degrees. We had vegetarian burgers with them so it was a very good lunch.

Gotta run. DH and I are venturing out into the weather in the car to go to the post office and grocery store. Catch you all later.

Ohhhhh, Donna, how cute you look! You should leave it up for a while longer.

Morning everyone..its snowing here today but warmed up..i've got a pot of very vegie tomatoe based soup simmering..it smells devine..just the thing for a snowy day..nothing new or exciting going on here.. hope you all are having a great day rosey

Donna--love the picture!! It is so nice to be able to put a face with the name! You should leave it.

Look here, psychic twinnie.....your picture is GREAT, it's real, and it's you...just like all of the rest of us are "us" (we? ). AND we are all beautiful, AND you are no exception. We would love it if you "stayed" with us!
Z