Fighting Cabin Fever

After yesterdays near miss on my treadmill I almost went flying off the back end I ended up jumping at the last second and landed safely but it was scary.I decided to change things up a bit and go back to my park and walk outside.

It was dreary and wet but not cold just mildly cool I were a light wind breaker for a jacket nothing heavy. I saw some squirrels playing and a forlorn looking dog sitting by the fence as I went by it didn't even bother to bark.

I completed 8 laps, and wore my heart rate monitor to make sure I stayed in my zone,which is hard to do just walking so I had to throw a few jogs in as well.

All in all a good time was had at least the scenery changes as you go round and round the park. Not another soul in it but me today wonder why?
Came home did my abs now I am done for today:)

Whats on your workout schedule for today? How's your weather?

What I found Out

Even though I know a lot about exercising trying to figure out my calorie needs was driving me crazy. Yesterday, I took this quiz at Web Md Personal Diet Evaluator and now I have my answers which I will share.

The quiz asks a lot of questions such as your age, height, current weight, activity level, pant size... Mine is age 46 my height 5'6, weight 162, activity level moderate, pants size is 12,my bmi 26 (overweight) range.
So to live my calorie level needs to be 1388, 2151 to maintain, to lose weight 1651. They suggest reducing calories by 233 and burning 233 with exercise.

They say I could be at 150 by April 16, 2011 how cool is that? I thought it was funny that they suggested my shape is becoming pair I always thought I was a apple due to being big chested...My waist size is healthy supposed to be half of your height or less:)
Just thought I would share...encourage any one reading this that is struggling to take this quiz find out your numbers.

Yesterday I did a short but intense cardio session plus weights I am sore today along with my abs and eating was OK. Today is another cardio day probably a long one.
Make it a great day.

First New Post Of 2011

Sorry to be so absent lately not much to say I guess plus I was busy with the holidays and all. My holidays were very good and I hope yours were too! I managed to regain 3 pounds over them though so I now I am in the process of removing them again.

Last weeks workouts went very well I think I only had one day out of the five that I did not meet my goal of 50 min of cardio. I did weights twice, abs 3x.

I set a goal of 250 minutes of exercise a week so that I could eat in the 1600 calorie range.I bought a new heart rate monitor over Christmas wearing this helps me workout out hard enough but not too hard. My target heart rate is between 113-121 with 139 being tops at 80%. You find your target heart rate range by taking 220 minus your age and mulitplying that by 65% 70% 80% so you know your safe training numbers.

I'm finding that using my heart rate monitor really helps keep me in my target rate zone where I am working out hard enough but not to hard. I feel better physically since I started this not so stiff in my lower back and spine which I think OVER training was causing.

Oh yeah, I went down 1.5 pounds from the week before in spite of myself lol I had some good moments eating wise last week and some really bad ones. With me I find if I have a bad eating episode then at the next meal or snack I try to make good so the ratio of good eating is higher than the bad.

My other new fitness toy is a used rower I picked up for 5.00 at a garage sale. It is a Weider and very light weight but I do feel it all over when I use it.

Yesterday I had a major setback with my eating I ate out at Wendy's and had major junk food:( I make no excuses this is why I usually don't eat out my resolve and will power stay in my truck...oh well today has been better so far.
Tommorrow starts a new week time to move on!

Thanks for sticking with me I'm better at reading blogs than I am at blogging sometimes....

Merry Christmas!

Hi all,

Just dropping by to wish every one a Merry Christmas!

Hope your holiday is all you could wish for it to be that is good.

Mike and I will be having a quiet Christmas here at home this year just the two of us:) I'll be baking a small turkey with some healthy fixings and some treats:)

My left knee is hurting once again:( so I am resting it probably for the rest of the week...I call it my weather knee when it turns cold it hurts just arthritis I think no swelling etc. so all you guys who can workout please do so for me.

Take Care, Merry Christmas and thanks for all the support!

In Memory Of My Mom

Today marks the sixth anniversary of my moms death. I've been dreading this day all week. Its kind of funny how when I woke up it didn't immediately hit me like I feared it would. I am doing OK surprisingly well all things considered. I do still miss her always will I guess.

The holidays have been hard for me since mom died. My mom is the one in our family who "did" Christmas. She loved that time of year everything done to the max! It was easy to get caught up in her happiness and enthusium with cooking, decorating, presents galore she started Christmas in July. Now not so much.

The thing I know for sure is you only get one mom and one dad and you miss them when they are gone...so if you still have yours call them and love them the best you can. My relationship with my mom was far from perfect but I loved her and she loved me.

Rest in peace mom.

Still Struggling

This week has been mixed I got my five days of exercise done but it was a struggle
Sun and Monday were hard workout days and Tuesday was easy due to my back hurting it quit already so I don't know I think I just overdid on weightlifting or something.

Yesterday I walked inside on my treadmill in the afternoon hated every minute of it but got r done. Today I walked and ran for 35 minutes on my treadmill it went better then I lifted weights and did abs.

Eating has been some what better I have dropped back down to 160 hoping to finish the year at 155 miracles do happen you know...

Well I guess thats it for now oh we are getting our first freeze of the season and i hate cold weather have I mentioned that before? I thought so,....

Looks like Mike will still be getting laid off all though not till January now lots of stress there.

Chris is alright as far as I know supposed to go help him clean and organize his place tomorrow really not looking forward to that...

Thats been my life lately till next time.

This Spoke To Me

As I was reading one of my favorite blogs this morning this quote or line from a song ( John Mayer wrote or sings this) jumped out at me and resonated with me and I think it applies in so many areas of our life not just food so here is the quote:

"Oh twice as much ain't twice as good
And can't sustain like a one half could
It's wanting more
That's gonna send me to my knees"

I printed out this quote and put this next to my computer....

I completely fell off the food wagon on Thanksgiving night and my weight jumped up three pounds immediately which I know is temporary since I am reigning in my eating and watching calories.

Will get back to exercising maybe today definitely tomorrow.

I haven't kept a journal in about 10 years now and maybe its time to get back to it as a healthy way to deal with my feelings instead of with food etc..

Well I'm off to eat breakfast have a great Saturday!

My Son Is Missing!

Briefly,
I am beside myself tonight with worry my 22 year old son hasn't been seen or heard from in over 20 hours we are frantic with worry this isn't like him. We filed a missing persons report with the sheriff today this is so hard its like hes fallen off the face of the earth...
Please pray for him and us his family.


He was found late last night and taken to a local hospital and admitted. When I know more I'll post.
Susan

Turned My Ankle

Well I have managed to turn/twist my right ankle raking leaves of all things I stepped into a small hole didn't seem bad at the time but now a couple of days and workouts later my ankle is sore so I am now resting it:(

All together I got four workouts done this week and 1 weight training session.

Today I went and got another pair of Asics workout shoes the same kind I got at the beginning of the year. I just love them but they are truly worn out and that can cause problems too..

So that's it from here have a great night everyone.

The Long Road Back

I am taking the long way back from being sick it seems. Haven't been that ill with upper respirtory stuff in about 8 years it was awful. Went to my doctors got meds and after resting for about week I finally feel human again and ready to resume my workouts.

Got up felt fine on Sunday so I put in a hard 3 mile workout on my treadmill with my walk run program lots of walking thanks to being sick.

Then Monday I was trying to do my run/walk and my lower back and hamstrings started really bothering me so I just ended up walking two miles. I tried to lift weights but that didn't work out well either.

Tuesday was better I went to my park walked the 8 laps came home raked for 20 minutes called it a day, Then Today I went to the park and I was able to jog some so I did my 8 laps a little faster came home stretched so I can be able to keep walking if I don't stretch out after working out now I get so stiff its just terrible.

Been working on my abs and watching my eating as well. I am hanging in at 159:) trying to get to maintenance this month we will see how that goes...

Still dreading my husbands layoff next month trying to position ourselves so we can survive both emotionally and financially. If you believe in prayer please pray for us that we will come out alright from this situation...

Stress Will Make You Sick

Well I managed to catch something I think it is a cold all I know for sure is I feel crappy:(.

I did a short workout on Sunday and none yesterday and the rest of the week is questionable.I hate trying to "workout" when you have to work just to breathe ugh its been a long time since I actually caught a cold lucky me at least for now we still have insurance and a check coming in:)

Mike is looking hard for the next job and when I get better I am going to start looking for something as well we need the $$ on a steady basis you know?

Wish us luck. Last weeks workouts were great 14 miles plus weights and abs and the week before was 18 miles a record for me I think.

If you can workout and run do some miles for me.

Recap of Workout Week

I started my workout week last Saturday when I got back home 2.5 pounds up now I am down to just a half pound from where I was when we left and this too shall go next week I insist:)

Recap
Sat 38:11 2.73 miles with a 5/2 split and abs
Sun 49:06 3.34 miles same as above no abs though
Mon 60:01 4.07 miles plus abs
Tues 38:01 2.58 miles
Wed 50:05 3.50 miles plus abs and Shred level 2
Thurs easy walk in the park 8 laps
Fri & Sat rest:)

Sunday starts it all over again. So far no stress eating like I said down to being just a half pound above where I was so I am satisfied with my workout week just have to keep it going I guess.

Have a great weekend

The Bad Economy & My Life

Mike and I found out upon our return home on Friday that his company that he has worked at for 14 years is planning to close the plant at the end of this December short of a miracle. There main client has started producing there own plastic bottles so they don't need Constar anymore and so far the company has not found another customer to take its place so they are shutting the plant down.

Needless to say we are very upset and stressed out about this his job has been the one stable bright spot in our financial life for so long...I'm scared the job market here in Orlando is lousy. We are trying to stay positive and take this one day at a time. My husband has about 10 years left before he could draw social security he has a excellent track record and will get stellar references etc... This company is only offering 4 weeks of severance if you can believe that usually its one week for every year you have worked there.

Well I couldn't sleep or should I say I slept for 7 hours...I am feeling better with regards to my sore neck/shoulder combo I think I slept wrong on it or was tense with my husbands driving home from daddy's...we brought back a washer in our little pick up very tricky driving especially in the mountains.

My weight has already dropped down two pounds yippee! I have been jogging/walking on the treadmill inside every day since I have been back plus my eating has been stellar:) Cutting way down trying to cut out soda especially Pepsi products in light of what they are doing to Constar:(

We (I) am thankful for the advance warning we were given about the situation now its just time to see whats out there and where we will end up nothing is off limits including moving. The one bright spot right now is my eBay business is finally growing and I am making some money which I am SAVING plus we are going into our busy time of year hopefully it is all going to work out. I know God has a plan for us and his hand on us.

Thanks for listening and caring.

Back From Vacation

Got back after a long 10 hour drive yesterday was exhausted I slept almost 12 hours last night very unusual for me since entering menopause.

I thoroughly enjoyed visiting my dad and his wife Shirley the week went by too fast. I did manage to use my dads treadmill 3 days while I was there.
I tried running on it but the thin air kicked my lungs/butt bad so mostly a lot of walking briskly for about a hour each time.

I tried to eat healthy but that is VERY challenging while on vacation and yep my weight is up some hopefully a temporary situation from being off my usual food and workout schedule.

Today was aggravating at home as well they say it comes in three and I had my three today hopefully things will get better.

Got a good workout in today with a 5 minute jog/ 2 minute walk split plus abs I don't remember exactly how long it was over two miles though...

Turned another year older on October 7th now offically 46 after yesterdays drive I do feel it:)

Will catch up on every bodys blog as I can this coming week thanks for all your support and for stoping by.

Trying To Kick My Soda Addiction

Are any of you out there like me and love their soda both diet and non-diet? Everyday I have a glass of diet pepsi with lunch then usually in the mid afternoon when the 3:00 energy slump hits I have a glass of sprite mixed with water. I tell myself drinking a regular soft drink with water makes it not so bad for me but deep down I know better.

For 5 or 6 years I had regular soda kicked to the curb then in 2003 while I was working out of my house I started having a little afternoon pick me up with you guessed it regular soda for the sugar hit and to help alleviate the boredom of the job now I don't do that job anymore but....I still have my afternoon soda.

Last week I saw the Dr. Oz show about soda addiction and I am trying his plan to see if I can get soda back out of my life again or at least way down. I know it has empty calories and it raises your odds of getting pancreatic cancer by at least 20%. Yet it is still soooooooo hard to do.

I have already cut way down on the amount I drink plus now I measure it out so I know the calorie load. Yesterday, I tried the selzer water mixed with sugar free cranberry juice boy was it tart tasting...but I got through will see what today brings.

This morning I went out to my park and slogged through 12 laps in the humidty came home and did The Shred so I am working out hard this week so far.

I would love to hear your thoughts on how you break this habit and what to put in its place or how you kicked soda to the curb..

Inspiring Other People

I was out in my park yesterday to walk with my friend who stood me up so I decided to see if I could still jog especially outside.I walked one lap as a warm up then started jogging for 2 minutes in each lap and walking one minute. I was able to get my 8 laps in 30 minutes which I am very proud of its much harder outside than on my treadie. After that I walked the last 4 laps for a total of 50 minutes.

The best part of it was I met a lady in the park who has seen me out jogging from the road for a while so I inspired her to start coming to the park and walking and so far she has lost 20 pounds and hopes to go off all her meds soon. Moral of the story is you just never know who your gonna inspire...My park can be seen from a major road and I never think other people are watching what I do. Wether we intend to or not, other people do watch what we do especially if we exercise outdoors.

Part of the reason I decided to write a blog was to hopefully encourage others to exercise and eat right but it was really thrilling to meet someone in person and yes I am careful and carry personal protection with me and my cell phone when I am out alone in my park just in case.

Thats all I've got for today till next time. Remember other people watch our example be it good or bad.

Maintaining not going forward

I have been getting my exercise in and then some. Latley I have been back to walking with my neighbor in the park behind my house for about a hour a day not faster but definetly longer sessions than when I am by myself.

Today I did the shred level II as long as I am careful about squats and lunges I can do the tape without a problem.

Nothing else is new still hot but not as humid down here. Eating has been so-so could be better could be worse mostly

I am maintaining right now when I am ready to crack down on my eating then the weight will GO.

Thanks to everyone who gave a donation for my Alzheimers walk on Oct 30th it is much appreciated.

Whats new with you? Tell me in the comments..

We Need A Cure For Alzheimers

I have signed up to walk and raise money for Alzheimer's research and cure here in Orlando on October 30th.

I am trying to raise a $100.00 for the cause. My beloved aunt Mary just passed away from this dreadful disease in June of this year.

Please if you can spare just 5.00 donate this is a worthy cause and I appreciate any help you can give.

Here is the link to my donation page whatever you give is so appreciated!!

http://mworlando2010.kintera.org/susanc7818

Power Walking

Its been a pretty good week here:) My workouts went OK I did something to make my lower back hurt some...so I only lifted weights once. Only jogged on two days the rest of the time I power walked outdoors need to replace my shoes NOW my body is telling me they are worn out which I knew....

Since I last blogged I have started setting time goals for my cardio. I am trying to get 250 minutes done weekly.

Didn't make my time goal this week came close but no cigar.

Weight is holding steady back at 160 again..sigh...been doing my abs and stretches religiously though the back ache is a reminder to do them:)

So 5 days of cardio, 1 weight workout, 3 abs. Total time is 230 minutes short just 20minutes lots of power walking I miss my jogging will get back to it though!

Have a great weekend!

Just Another Monday

Last week turned out OK after all. I was able to get in 5 hard cardio days with three days of The Shred level II and my eating was back on track with no sweets and no binges! Yeah!!

I bought a copy of Dr. Phil's book for a dollar the Ultimate Weight Solution in there he talks about emotional eating what causes it and of course how to change it...I know the books been out a few years now I'm slow what can I say?

This week is going good so far today I had a great really hard workout I jogged/walked 3 miles plus level II shred. I've started watching level 3 to see whats in store next....

My weight is down to 158.5 which is one pound away from where I maintained my original weight loss for 5 years. I am thinking of taking my weight down just 4 or 5 more pounds and stopping there for a while.

Can't wait to do my measurements next week I think my butt is shrinking my clothes feel loser down there from all those squats and lunges I've been doing.
All else is good for now hope it stays that way. Can you believe Labor day is almost here? Wow the summer went by fast.

Till next time be well and keep working out.