yesterday was day 4
Good day just went on forever. I didn't stop around here till about 1 am I think. I am getting my basic requirements in but I am not eating enough. Am lucky to get in the 1200 calories. Can't wait until I have everything done and am back on schedule lol. As you know, I thrive on schedules lol. Today is an easy day

Straighten basement
Clean spare room
Clean over head fans( 8 of them )
Clean oven ( self cleaning but you still need to clean it out )
Do laundry
Get grass from between concrete sections in drive
Clean all trash cans inside and outside cans
Weed eat yard

I am finally getting to the bottom of my list of things to do. After this, the house gets a good cleaning top to bottom and I should be done lol. Not so bad, I will have Monday and Tuesday to do this. Plus I want to mow the yard again one of those days. That will give me Wednesday to take the dog to the groomer and take myself to the groomer lol. Then Thursday is the vet and do my nails. Then do anything that might need done around the house. Friday morning I am out of here until Sunday night. Thursday night I will get the food together for the camp grounds. The camp grounds is the easiest place to stay on track as far as eating goes. We only eat what I take so there is nothing to tempt me lol.

Apple
we have rain rain rain. I went forever that I was doing 10 miles two times a week of walking/aerobic videos and 8 miles three times a week of walking/aerobic videos along with 40 min of some kind of resistance training and it didn't make any difference in my weight loss. I was losing at the same rate I did when I didn't exercise at all. Now mind you, the toning that is going on with my exercise makes it well worth the time I put into it. I burned myself out and since I wasn't seeing an increase in weight loss and it was killing my knees. I have cut back to 6 to 8 miles 5 days a week and about 40 min Resistance training 3 times a week. I still stay within some general ranges for myself, 1200 to 1400 calories, 30 to 35 grams fat and 180 to 210 grams carbs or general ranges of no more than 25% fat, 60% carbs the rest protein. Seems I am generally 22% fat, 55% carbs and 23% protein. Just seems to be how things come out to get the required amounts of the four basic food groups eaten each day. I haven't seen any weight loss for awhile but that was expected since I was back on the meads for awhile. I am just happy to be maintaining the weight loss.

Jolly
I think I beat myself up far more than anyone else does too.

miriam
Any given day my kids think I am the worst mother in the world. GOOD, means I am doing something right. They aren't suppose to like me at their age. Did the step kids ( teenagers ) before I had children. Teenage step kids can be killers lol.

Hey all. Real quick post. I officially reached 50 pounds lost today. despite myself I am very proud of what I have accomplished so far. And very excited about what the future holds. I am trying to decide if I want to sign up for one of the online dating thingies. I am finally realizing that I am not boring, and I have something to offer.

Well, I need to think about doing yoga, and gettin some sleep. More later all Have a great night!

Hey all. Am going to be restarting everything and going WITHOUT pauses till my birthday Aug. 8. One of my cats died yesterday. She's been with me nearly 20 years. It was hard, really hard and I still have to deal with her body, not easy in this city of concrete...that and the mess and that on top of a ton of work to do at home and staying home from the office. I am NOT in good shape. I was eating junk food, drinking tons, smoking tons. It's going to stop and today and then July 1 as an official start is what I plan on doing. I miss my cat.

Awww Red!!! So sorry to hear about your cat

I bet she was a good friend all these years.

Good for you for cleaning yourself up and making new resolutions.

We're rooting for you!!!

Jolly - WTG - 50 pounds!! Woohoo!!!!! And why on earth would you think you're boring?! Because you carry more weight than other people??

Thanks, Miriam. That's sweet of you. I really miss her. She was a friend for all these years. Unlike the others, it was always Mu who was there for me to hold as I cried, often into her fur. Nozomi and Momo don't like to be held, and Mu's brother Shachi ALWAYS wants to be held. Also, the others weren't there as long as she was. The first two are younger and Shachi preferred to live next door until that person moved into an old folks' home. Of course, I knew Mu was failing. She was, after all, 19 and recently especially she wanted to be near me, which she didn't used to. Sigh. Ah well, I'm going to clean up her favorite spot and buy some flowers to put where she died. I buried her outside this morning, clandestinely and right outside the door. Though I'm not religious in the go-to-church sense, I try to make the burying easier by thinking, "from dust we come, from dust we shall return." Never really understood about the "from dust" part, but the words are comforting nonetheless. It beats the garbage and I'm not big on the Japanese way of cremation. I did consider it this time, but somehow having the ashes around don't comfort me or I don't think they would. Of course, the Japanese bury the ashes after a period. Still, I have my memories and it's not about the body as far as I'm concerned. Ok, enough. Sorry for the outpouring. I am thus far being good, trying to get myself together, feel like totally falling apart but where would it get me, for whom?

Red, so sorry to hear about the poor little cat. You've certainly done her proud - 19 years is a very long time for a cat. She must have loved you plenty to stay around that long.

Long time no talk but I have been extremely busy, I have however been lurking about. I'm working between home and Jakarta. It's kinda stressful, but okay at the same time.

Catch up with you later.

Oh Red, I am so sorry to hear about your cat. Even when they have lived a long lovely life, it is never easy to say goodbye. Pets, our "fur children", bring so much to our lives. My thoughts are with you, and good luck with your restarts. Here's to July 1!

Shad! You sweetie! Lurking but coming in for your kind words. Thank you! And yes, 19 is long for a cat. I hoped she loved me as much as I loved her. Oh, darn, there I go crying again....
And jolly, thank you so much. Yes, they are our "fur children." I guess it is kind of amazing that she had such a long life, with no real problems or accidents. She was a very smart cat. Her brother is still with me. He is mentally not as strong, takes to howling a lot lately with what I suppose is some sort of senility but as soon as I call his name his howl changes to a sweet little meow. Thanks for the encouragement too. Maybe I'll do these challenges in memory of Mu.

Photo of Mu taken late last year...

Oooo - I love black cats! So sleek and sexy looking
RIP, little Mu!!! Red loved ya, look after her from cat-heaven!!

30 min exercise, start over I guess....I missed a cross training work out and the I loafed around yesterday too. I did go running today, another 4 miler. I improved my time by 5 minutes! I think just knowing that I CAN do it, made me able to relax and enjoy. Friday is a 5 miler....
Starting to think again about a no beer challenge, but I might be just thinking about it for a while....
Shy, after my run today, hot hot hot I was thinking about how I can't wait until the fall to go running in the rain again. Every since I moved to California it seems weird to me that it rains else where in the summer. Your calorie limit and carb/fat/protein breakdown is about the same as what I shoot for when I diet. I find it difficult to diet when my husband is around though. (He travels a lot, so I have periods of time when I can at least try.) Anyway, I should be more disciplined.
Red, sorry to hear about your cat. Having recently lost my old dog, I know how you feel. A part of your family has left, and it's hard. Find comfort in your memories! Good idea to dedicate your new challenge to her. The MU Challenge!
Jolly, you go girl! Watch out all you guys out there! a friend of mine actaully met her husband through an on line dating thing. I'm so proud of your new out look, and congrats on the 50! Thats AWESOME!!!!

Hey all. Red, that is a gorgeous picture of Mu. RIP, Mu. Apple, how are you doing with the fires out by you? Hope all is ok. Thanks for the encouragement.

I think I am making some slow progress in the area of self esteem and body image. I had all these oversized sweats for working out. I hacked them off shorter. and now, I am almost wanting to buy spandex, or something that at least fits a tad closer to the body, as I am liking how my legs are starting to look. It is ironic, I was telling a friend of mine that she can look great no matter what size she is, but have such a hard time accepting that in myself. Baby steps.

I went out for a bike ride to check out the flood areas, then we played tennis for a while (note: how you pack your tennis rackets in your backpack is VERY important, if you don't want to get whacked in the head!). It felt great. I am enjoying being active. I only wish I had discovered my inner "Sporty Spice" when I was like 8!

all righty then. I have a 6a shift tomorrow, so must grab some sleep. Have a super night all!

Wow Jolly - You're almost halfway to your goal! WTG!!
I see you on the spandex - I have started coming to the gym in shirts every now and then and I actually feel good about showing off some skin. Not my stomach though. That's serious plastic surgeon material only

Good morning, all.


New month - fresh start! I did finish my last challenge while I was on holiday. Then I just sort of slacked. I haven't been on the scale in almost two weeks, but have my monthly checkup this Thursday, which now has me concerned. I will just wait until Thursday morning to weigh myself.

New challenges are:
At least 3 servings daily of fruits/vegetables - day 1 completed (start 6/30) 2 pauses
No fast food - day 1 completed (start 6/30) 3 pauses (I shouldn't give myself any pauses for this, but I want to make it doable)
Calories under 1800 - day 1 completed (start 6/30) 3 pauses - As Rennie said, I am NOT eating for two! I just need about 300 more calories daily!

*****
Red - I am so sorry to hear about Kitty Mu. I am glad you were able to inter her near you.

Jolly - congratulations on 50 pounds lost! That is fantastic!

I will chat more later. Great to see how everyone is doing!

30 min exercise, Day 1, 2 pauses left
Just a fly by! Hi everyone!

Hey all. Good luck with your checkup Fish. hope all is going well with you and the little Junior Mint.

I am feeling pretty discouraged right now. Had a really bad run. Did a 4 mile route we have been doing. Just felt like I had elephant legs, and that every stride was just slamming into the ground. My get up and go had got up and went. Then, to top it off, my knee went. I know it is just temporary, and just because I was striding so hard. But sheesh! Sunday's 4 mile run was fabulous. Yesterday morning's 2 mile run was great. Then I backslide. I am trying not to listen to the tapes in my head. The ones that say I will never do this, am crazy to even try. But it is hard.

Good news is that one of hte bridges is open in town, so i can get to the gym in the morning again finally. Hurray!

Here's to a better day tomorrow folks. hope your days are all going well