Yay! February is over! No matter that there is still snow on the ground here, spring must be here soon!

Were you all waiting for me to start a new thread?

I've been incredibly swamped both at home and at work. These days I work full time, work out full time, and some of you know about my family food issues, so I'm also a full time chef. Every bit of food consumed by me or my son is made from scratch- and that includes bread and cereal so I do a lot of cooking and food prep!

Just finish cardio on the elliptical, will hit the shower, then clients and a back workout womewhere in there!

Here's to a great March

Mel

And here's Mel ... so busy but still thinking of us

I did shoulders today. Just shoulders and they feel fine!

How about that weather? I shouldn't really complain since I made it home without too much trouble but just wow! Why did winter decide to visit us now? Normally I can make it home from work in about 1/2 hour with one streetcar. Today? I think it was closer to an hour and a half and it involved two streetcars, some walking, a taxi and then some more walking.

Well, I still made it to the gym at lunch, did some shovelling and it's cozy on my couch so I'm good now. The odds of my DH's flight leaving tomorrow on time? Who knows.

I hope everyone who was affected is home safe and sound.

Yawn!!!!! I think that right now my life could be called "My Boss Wears Prada"!!!! I've worked late every night this week and just when he FINALLY goes out of town to a client site, the other boss comes in and he's been out the office for 2.5 weeks! I'll play catch up this weekend.

Tiki

hi LWL,

I'm working from home this morning. Went in to work yesterday, and made it through the day, so I am now officially recovered from the flu. Still coughing my lungs clean tough, so I'll keep away from excercise untill next monday. And my weight is back to pre-flu values. Now just to nip this creep-up in the bud! I really have to remember to take my 2 o clock protein drink, or I get serious munchies after 4.

Tiki - It's FRIDAY !!!!! Last day of the week !

Have a great friday all,
Rabbit

Quick post.

I've walked all round town, doing errands, etc. We call it 'rafting'. Then I moved a truckload of logs. Each time I do this it's easier and easier. Lifting weights is so useful in everyday life, don't you agree??

Food is not too good.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

Hi Silver,

Lifting logs ? Putting the wood back into the woodshed because spring is in the air?.. I was planning to do so this weekend..., it definitely looks like i won't have to use the woodstove again for the next months.

Have a great weekend,
Rabbit

Hi all, well March 1 was the 6 month celebration of my new lifestyle, and I guess this

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is what six months looks like! Funny, in the pic I don't "think" I look overweight anymore, but I STILL see overweight in the mirror (maybe the 3D effect). Used to be the pictures scared me and I didn't recognize myself but now things go the other way. Feel free to burst my bubble, but to me, this person looks healthy. A first for me, in a long time.

I never made a big "celebration" plan for my big 6 month date bc it didn't even dawn on me that it was coming up! Don't know if that's good or bad. I was all excited about picking out my new cardio shoes, which I knew I was doing after 6 months in my shoes, but never put 2 and 2 together. Oh well, not sure I would have done anything else beyond switch shoes and take a picture anyway! But it was really my scale frustration post that made me take the photo - to see for myself if I was still making progress. And thankfully, it was reassuring. So, in the end, it was just me and my donation bags yesterday!!! Actually, I did order some shoes from Endless.com. They are having a special right now where overnite is free and they discount your order by $5. I got Clarks shoes for $30 that on zappos are $65-85. Don't know what that's about, but I think they are new and trying to build a customer base. I in no way get any $$ from this pitch, just wanted to pass on a good deal, especially if the shoes you like are on sale like mine were! But I digress..........it's just that any day spent trying on shoes in the comfort of your own home that you ordered online the day before, is a GOOD day of celebration! Hmm, maybe a new reward for me from now on.

Ummm, so what WAS I going to post about??? Oh, I guess that was it. That it's been six months. And a big hats off to this forum and its wonderful moderators and founders who keep it running. It's one of the changes responsible for "the time that worked" and I love that it's a site unlike so many others, full of mature, rational, calm and supportive women and men. So cheers to all of YOU as well!

HR You look awesome. I am glad you are putting that scale away for awhile you don't need it. Happy 6 months!

Yesterday I could barely lift anything...terrible fatigue. I think I got bicepts shoulders and a handfull of pushups. I really meant to get to more but I just couldn't.

Today still feeling slow and tired I went out and....

Ran 5K!!!!! jogged stumbled whatever...

So this is good . It think I might need to tweek my workouts maybe do a 4 day split. Any suggestions on how to split this up. I am using dumbells and body weight excercizes. Wow I know I spelled that wrong. I am starting to come down from the run and my brain is turning to mush.

Other thing I need to do is strengthen area my knee. Squats are ok but one side is much weeker than the other. I have to figure out how to get the right leg up to speed.

OK now I am officially babbling.

Congrats, Fran! You look fantastic!

Beth

Congratulations on your six month anniversary, Fran! Your pictures tell an amazing story.

Meet ya back here in another six months so we can celebrate your one-year anniversary with you ... wonder what THOSE pictures will look like?

Wow Fran! There is a big difference between your January photo and your March photo. Look at you! Taking this picture for yourself as another way of measuring your success for yourself was certainly the right thing to do. Full steam ahead girl! You are doing something right here.

Fran, you look terrific!

Fran! Those pictures at the bottom of your signature say a lot more than the scale. Your six months progress is fantastic And as an unrecovered shoe-aholic (although the only shoes I ever really need are running shoes ), thanks for the link!

Hikerchick- 5 K is great! Is that with stroller or backpack? To strengthen each leg independently, try one legged "stand-ups". Sit on a weight bench or some other surface where your knees form a 45 degree angle when your feet are on the floor. Hold one leg up, and stand up on the other. sit down again one legged. do this ten times each side. If you can't do the "stand up" part, just do the "sit down" part on one leg (controlled- don't fall down onto the bench). Eventually you;ll get strong enough to do the up as well, and each leg works independently. Lunges also work each leg independently. Another good exercise is in this thread.

Cardio and back done today- clean eats. Scale is behaving, lol, I found the magic tile this morning!

Mel

I got wandering around that link of Mel's to Men's Health and I wondered about "SINGLE-ARM PRESS AND BEND" I don't usually do any sideways things.

Thoughts anyone??? Thanks

Edited to say ... those ab pages are amazing! It was abs day but I just had to try a few things.