Darlene: I'm no expert, but my understanding is that sustained exercise raises your metabolism for several hours after you are done vs. what it is "normally". Then, muscle cells use much more energy then fat cells, so as you shrink your fat and bulk up your muscle you should have more permanent changes.

I certainly have noticed that I have a lot more energy than I did before- which probably took a month or so, but I'm sure just being lighter has a lot to do with that. And I love going up stairs now. I can't say that I'm exactly a gazelle when I'm climbing them, but it's the one area that I can really tell a difference.

Great work getting to the gym! If your experience is like mine, once you see some results (very soon!) you'll start to love the gym more and dread going less. As it is, I'm a bit bummed that I won't be able to go tomorrow because of the holiday. Keep up the good work!

I think I will commit myself to joining a gym in my home town for a monthly membership to keep my momentum going while I am away in the states. They also have personal trainers and I think I might just invest some of my vacation money with one. Like I said somewhere else...It will be good for me to have someone to get me on a different program and also to keep me going. I know we should not look to others for inspiration but the idea of staying on plan and if it means another trainer is a whole lot more attractive then losing my momentum.

Nope NOT Lake Michigan! BRRRRrrrrrrrr! LOL
A much smaller lake; we're going to Devils Lake for swimming. Will be cold anyway but it smells much nicer.