Terapet, I like weightlifting. I try to look at it as a game, how many reps with what weight can I do today. I can get myself to do yoga and ballistic stretching as long as I don't hold the poses too long, I tend to get distracted and the next thing I know I'm dusting shelves. I know I should do cardio but I find it boooring. Once I get started I'm okay and keep going but getting myself off the couch in the first place is the challenge. I have a rather large exercise DVD collection but I'm just not interested in them. I need to snap out of this mindset!

Sandy-good job on the walking. Keep at it! Every pound counts.
April-What a day you had mowing. It seemed like everything was going wrong for you. I'm glad that you didn't let it get to you though.
Terapet-I love hiking too. That is my all time favorite.
Penguin-cardio DVDs are fun to do if you can get someone to do them with you. Maybe just one event a week. You may not be perfect at doing them, but at least you have someone there who can laugh with you while trying them out together.

Feeling much better this week. Will try to get my body moving more and my mind more on the right types of foods. Starting with lemon water...

Hi-Dee-Ho there neighbors!

Penguin: What is ballistic stretching? Sounds intense. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure I even want to know!

Terapet: I'm glad to see you back and that you are doing well. I, personally, had to quit drinking altogether. It's been a little over 15 years since I've had any alcohol at all. I have thought about starting to have a glass of wine a day for the health benefits, but when I begin to consider it, I become obsessed with thinking about it. That's a pretty good indication that I shouldn't make the transition from THINKING about wine to actually DRINKING wine.

Corinna: I'm glad you are feeling better. What are the benefits of lemon water? I've recently started drinking "Golden Milk". It's coconut milk brewed with ginger root, turmeric root and black pepper which have been ground into a paste with coconut oil, steeped and strained into a mug with a little local honey and sprinkled with a bit of nutmeg. It's calming and helps me to sleep. It's supposed to be good for the immune system, and ginger is great for tummy troubles, which I seem to have a lot of lately.

Sandy: How's the walking going? Have you gotten any rain? DH just returned from KY and he said it's very dry and barely green. The dogwoods and redbuds are usually in full bloom in the holler by now, this year they are just getting started.

Andi: I hope you survived your garage sale!

I think I'm going to start running some. DH fixed one of the bikes for me, so I may hit the trail for a little bit tomorrow! As always, I need to drink more water.

Yay Spring!

April, ballistic stretching isn't as dangerous as it sounds, basically you stretch then release and stretch again. It also involves movement such as sweeping your arm in a big circle instead of just holding it in a stiff pose. I find this method more interesting.

I've been thinking {don't faint! :P}. I think with the exercise I've been trying not to follow in the footsteps that got me stressed and burned out earlier, but I think I need a plan or a routine to follow, instead of 'I'll get to it if I think of it". I think the structure would help me focus and help keep me from making excuses.

My parents took Hubby and I for a little roadtrip today; they bought an apartment in a Retirement {eventual assisted living} building. The complex hasn't been built yet, so we are looking at about 3 years before they move in, but we got to see inside the model. My parents are in their early 70's, healthy and active, but they live 'in the country' on 2 acres and Dad is getting very tired of mowing that lawn and taking care of the house. The complex looks amazing and I'm very happy that they found a solution and have a plan. They have been talking about downsizing and moving closer to town, for a few years, so I'm delighted that they have a plan and will end up much closer to us and in a facility where they will be taken care of. Dad has been going through the attic and getting rid of things for the past few months so this isn't that big a surprise.

Penquin Your parents have a great plan and for them to be close to you is even better. We are older than they are and still in our ranch house in subdivision since 1965. DH has updated almost everything in the house and we'd have not trouble selling a always desired 1 story on flat land, but, we love it here and so far can still keep the place going. Gardening is harder but with so many perennials planted, shrubs in good shape, grassy area is smaller when we deducted so much area for plants including veggie patch. We gave up on lawn under big Maple, so it is mulched with the material that would have gone to dumpster or to compost if we had a hidden place to compost.

I've always taken care of house even when I worked except for a few years when our business first began and the hours were 70 to 80 hours a week, I cried for help at least 2 days a month. Big help. The exercise has kept me in fair shape, but the love of reading AND eating at same time has caused me to grow much larger. Scares my husband. I've cut back on food, weight stabilized, but refuses to go down.

Enjoyed family yesterday in mountains of West Virginia. Yes it has been dry, but it drizzled while we were there. Service berry and dogwood were out, but other trees not so.

Today with son and his family to celebrate his grandson's birthday and Star Wars toys everywhere. Believe the adults were more interested in memories of star wars while 3 year old played with the 3 shiny helium b

May each of you enjoy today and start week out well. Sandy

So, I love how I announce I am ready to lose weight and promptly spend the entire weekend overeating! Yikes. Part laziness(pizza delivery Friday night), part wedding shower, part husbands birthday. It is all finished now though. Well, at least for awhile. Maybe I can make some progress this week.

Penguin-I do a little weight training of sorts-I take strength training fitness classes at the Y. I have done yoga in the past and loved it but they are not offering it at a convenient time right now.

Corrina-Glad to hear you are feeling better.

Sandy-I love the eastern US forest trees-especially the dogwoods. We are enjoying a lovely spring here in Atlanta. My plants have never looked better. I just wish it was not so warm already-it worries me.

April-I should give up alcohol too but I don't really want to. I find it is often easier to abstain than to moderate but I really just wish I was better at moderation!

I have been gone for a while, no internet at my sisters house. Afraid to step on the scale, 10 days of family feasting and three days of driving while snacking. Hope to have internet at my new job site. I live in an RV and parking is part of my pay at my job for the summer.

patchworkpenguin, Are you a quilter? I do creative quilting with scraps. Picture crazy quilts in cotton as tote bags to replace plastic bags.

Jackie, I used to quilt, but have mostly given it up due to vision problems. I still sew project bags {drawstring bags to protect knitting projects} and the occasional gift such as an reversible apron I made a few weeks ago. Hubby and I have a travel trailer for weekend trips, I'd like to go full time once he retires but I'm not sure he shares my vision, but at least we could take longer trips then.

Terapet, When Hubby tells me that I can't shut my mind off, I agree with him, I think this is part of why I can't enjoy cardio or yoga as much, I need something to focus on other than 'is it over yet?". I feel weights lets me focus on form, the weight, its proximity to my foot or ceiling fan, and if I keep track of reps and weight something to count and write down.

Sandy, our front {full sun} yard is pretty much carefree as long as Hubby mows, but the back is a little more of a jungle being dappled shade, consisting of mostly weeds, hostas and azaleas. I bought two red Knock-Out roses for the front bed. I bought one a few years ago, but some of the bushes in the front weren't doing well so I dug them up and bought these to replace them.

I tried to make healthier choices this past weekend, including eating only half my meals {Hubby said when I do this it helps encourage him to eat less win-win} and I wrote out a basic exercise schedule.

Monday: yoga/stretching {this is the day I clean house}
Tuesday: kettlebells
Wednesday: cardio {see my parents for lunch, rest of day free}
Thursday: yoga {knitting in the morning, date night}
Friday: weights {laundry day}

I can start with this then switch around or add when I need to change something.

Hello kindred souls!

Happy to be back and mostly happy to be done with our garage sale. We had tons of stuff and brought in over $2500.00! I loaded up the 15 8-foot tables and took them back to the rental place this morning, and still have the remains of the stuff in my garage. Waiting for a call from a local boy scout volunteer, as they pick things up for you for their annual garage sale.

I'm stressed to the max from all this and haven't lost anything all weekend, but at least it's mostly over.

It's a pretty day here and I hope to get in a nice walk after work.

Terepet, don't be hard on yourself, we all slip up once in a while!
Penguin, I like your exercise schedule! Wish I had free days to schedule something similar!
April, I would also like to start running! Would love to complete a 5k every so often...
Sandy, I'm with you on the walking...we just have to be consistent. I know a guy at work who lost 45 pounds just by walking in his neighborhood every evening!
Hello to Corinna and GeoJackie and anyone else I missed!

Andi

Andi Thank goodness your Yard sale/Garage Sale is finished and a very, very good result. Hope you can relax now.

Penguin Today is my day for house cleaning, too, but weather was absolutely fantastic and this is April!!! I was inside very little today. After DH mowed, we drove to next town to get a hosta I've been wanting and used to have. We also took chance and got 3 yellow daisy (actually a summer mum) and blue Calabracia to put in 3 pots in front of my kitchen window, and in sight of chairs we sit in on patio. Housekeeping can keep and now I wish I'd changed the sheets at least because I must take a shower before bed. Heat like this in 80's is unheard of in zone 6 at this time of year.

Jackie All that wonderful time with family is worth letting the diet slide.

Terapet Atlanta was always beautiful when I visited my sister years ago, even in February! We've had the kind of weather that is normal for you. Minus the rain. We got a bit on Thursday night, but not nearly enough.

Corinna Sure hope you have recovered. Not fair to feel bad when weather is good.

Must go get a shower so people can stand to be near me. Sandy

Hello Chicks!

Just a quick check in. Managed to do a little running today. Ran a block/walked two blocks for 4 miles. Went for a bike ride the night before last. Running and riding around the neighborhood instead of on the trail because there are hills in the neighborhood whereas the trail is flat.

Andi: DH mentioned that he saw on the news today that there is a "groper" on the Beavercreek trail. He said he is a thin, young man on a blue or teal bicycle. Don't know if you are riding yet, but wanted to make you aware.

Time to get ready for work. Hope everyone enjoys the beautiful day. Supposed to be T-storms later. GOD bless...

Well, I exercised, but I think the kettlebell won! The beauty of Kbells is that you get cardio and weights at the same time, so I was worn out quickly. I did a form of 'sparking' where I do a few exercises, wait a few while, do a few more, wait again, repeat. I tend to get bored or overwhelmed quickly so I like to take frequent breaks or switch to something else for a while, no matter what I'm doing. Today, I also worked in my sewing room, I went through 3 boxes and several drawers. I didn't get rid of a lot, but its much cleaner and neater in there. I have at least 6 quilt tops that I've finished but never quilted, which is odd because I always liked that part the best. It is awkward unless you have a lot of room, which I don't.

Sandy, I'm in zone 7, but the 80's are pretty normal at this time. My favorite hosta that I have is a Guacamole, I bought one years ago, planted it by my seat on the backyard swing, only to discover is has a very sweet scent so I eventually divided it to spread all over the yard. Most of my hostas are variegated that I transplanted from my MIL's house and have divided over the years.

Andi, glad to hear the garage sale is over and you guys did so well.

I am doing much better during this week then I did on the weekend. Going without weekday alcohol is getting easier and I have been making all my Y classes for the second week in a row. No movement on the scale but that does not surprise me anymore. I am not sure what it will take to actually lose some weight but at least I am feeling stronger and sleeping better.

Penguin-Good for you taking on the kettleball. I have taken a few kettleball classes at the Y-they can be quite challenging. Breaks are a good idea.

April-Congrats on completing a four mile run/walk combo. I used to love running but haven't attempted it for quite some time now. I love that dopamine rush.

Andi-Wow, that was an amazing return on your garage sale. Woohoo! (Plus it is over with-woohoo again!)

Good Morning Chickadees!

Terapet: Fantastic discipline making those classes and laying off the weekday alcohol! I can't even make myself get out of bed before 11a.m. I'm sure the scale will start moving if you are able to keep doing what you are doing.

Andi: Did the Boyscouts arrive and pick up your garage sale remnants? I had no idea that they did that. Congratulations on your stellar garage sale results. I'm sure you are thankful to have it behind you. You are a faithful daughter!

Penguin: Your guacamole hosta sounds beautiful. I peeked out in my shade garden yesterday and saw the tips of my hosta poking up. I don't even know what kind it is.

Sandy: DH tilled a couple of our garden spots. We are late getting started this year. We usually have onion sets, greens and lettuce out by now. Sometimes even peppers, tomatoes and beans! Gardening is great exercise. You will probably see movement on your scale and it won't even seem like work because you enjoy it so much.

Corinna: Hope you are feeling better and that the lemon water is helping.

geojackie: I do envy your nomadic lifestyle!

I'm going to try and stay off the computer for a while. Don't know if I'll be successful, but that's my goal. If I don't check in regularly, that's why. Maybe I'll see you all a month from now and we'll all be 10 pounds lighter!

God bless you all until we meet again!

April

Well, my legs are really sore. Good thing my nickname is Penguin, because I'm waddling around. I did do my cardio, I put on a 30min show marching, tapped, and kicked in place during it. The cardio should help with the soreness in my legs and I stretched afterwards and after my nightly shower. I'm still working on my eating; doing better each day. Planning on weighing tomorrow.

April, enjoy your break from technology.

Terapet, sleeping better is always good! I'm a very light sleeper so I tend to wake up and toss and turn a lot. Cindy likes to check on me frequently during the night to see if its time to wake up yet. Her whiskers tickle and sometimes we scare each other.