Finding My Way...

I'm full of excuses...

My good friend Angie recently led me to find a lovely blog called Zen Habits.  I have been working my way through old posts and was reading THIS GEM this morning.  At the end it links to this video, which I think I need to start watching EVERY DAY.

Fell off the wagon, did ya?

Yup, I did.  Between a weeklong visit from Dad and the Easter holiday my eating and exercise suffered.  I even skipped a weigh in at WW because I didn't want to know the number.  But I'm back on track this week with a HUGE training walk on Saturday.  So watch for Photo Finish Friday this week.  Thanks to the friends who noticed it was missing and wrote to check in on me.  Knowing that folks are following along and cheering me on makes a world of difference!

Still collecting used books for my May fundraiser!  Going to be making pickups in Northern Virginia on Saturday, May 2nd.  E-mail or call to arrange a pick up time!  Williamsburg pickups can happen anytime!  Looking especially for kids picture and chapter books, local Virginia interest/history books and paperback fiction.  Thanks!

Photo Finish Friday - 4/3/09

Saturday, 3/28 - Hung out with my Mom and went to see David Cook at William and Mary (which explains some of the Twitter updates from last weekend!

Sunday, 3/29 - The clouds cleared and it went up into the upper 70's!  I packed the waist pack and took a hike.  Walked 5.12 miles today!  Lovin' the new pedometer. Chatted with a couple of friends in the neighborhood that might want to walk with me.

Monday, 3/30 - Cross training at Curves.

Tuesday, 3/31 - REST DAY, my Dad arrived in the evening.

Wednesday, 4/1 - Walked with my Dad through Colonial Williamsburg.  2.64 miles.

Thursday, 4/2 - Cross training at Curves.  Pushed it hard after eating out for dinner the night before.

Friday, 4/3 - Walked down to the community center and back 4.13 miles.  -.4 at WW.

Total miles logged this week: 11.89

Total miles logged in all: 49.61 miles

Weight loss this week: - .4 lbs

Total weight loss:  10.6 lbs

Photo Finish Friday 3/27/09

 

Saturday, 3/21 - Had a hair appointment with Josh at Salon Vivace this morning.  Talked to him about the walk and asked him to think about how we can work some PINK into my hair in late summer for my final fundraising push and the walk itself.  I made the rounds of the donation boxes and brought home $12 and a TON of change.  Not bad for one week!

Sunday, 3/22 - Today was Passholders Preview Day at Busch Gardens.  It was MOBBED!  We were out in the Ireland parking area.  The lines for the trams were madness, so we walked in.  We put in a solid mile by the time we made it to Germany!  I did indulge in a little ice cream though, so I got in another 3 mile walk in the evening along the river. 

Monday, 3/23 - REST DAY

Tuesday, 3/24 - Cross trained today.  Updated the inserts for my donation boxes to include info about the date and location of the walk.

Wednesday, 3/25 - Mom here to visit.  We went shoe shopping, does that count as exercise? ;o)

Thursday, 3/26 - Dragged Mom along on a 3.1 mile walk.  Too many rest days since the last walk.  I need to work on walking at least every other day!

Friday, 3/27 - Down 2 pounds!  Yay!

Total miles logged this week: 7.1

Total miles logged in all: 37.72 miles

Weight loss this week: -2 lbs

Total weight loss:  10.2 lbs

Photo Finish Friday - 3/20/09

 

Saturday, 3/14 - Had tickets to the theater, no workout today.

Sunday, 3/15 - Thanks to School Crossing in the Monticello Marketplace for allowing me to place a donation box at their store  not only do they have an excellent selection of quality educational toys and supplies, they have girl scout gear as well!  Click the link to see their site, and give 'em a visit if you are local!

Monday, 3/16 - Cross-trained at Curves.  Walked 4.5 miles to return something to a friend in a nearby neighborhood.

Tuesday, 3/17 - Spent the day in the car driving to NoVA!  Went over my training schedule with my doctor and he gave me the go ahead!

Wednesday, 3/18 - Walked around the historic area today, it was sunny and warm!  About 3 miles!

Thursday, 3/12 - Body needed a REST today!  Did some spring cleaning though! :o)

Friday, 3/13 - Cross training today!

Total miles logged this week: 7.5

Total miles logged in all: 30.62 miles

Weight loss this week: 0

Total weight loss:  8.2 lbs

Photo Finish Friday 3/13/09

Saturday, 3/7 - Heard woodpeckers on my walk today.  The paths through my community were so quiet and peaceful.  2.75 miles.

Sunday,3/8, Monday, 3/9 - Family visiting for Em's school play, visited Colonial Williamsburg and walked around a bunch, but no aerobic exercise.

Tuesday, 3/10 - Rode my bike to a friend's house and back.  It was 5+ miles.  I guess that saying "It's just like riding a bike" means "Your butt is going to hurt like heck."

Wednesday, 3/11 - Wednesday Women's Walk tonight.  About 3 miles.  Two killer hills!

Thursday, 3/12 - Cross trained at Curves today!  Also thanks to New Town Nail Spa and Great Harvest Bread Company in the New Town Shopping Area of Williamsburg.  They have agreed to let me place donation boxes like the one pictured below in their businesses to collect donations!

Friday, 3/13 - This week I passed the halfway mark on my fundraising drive for this important cause.  When I signed on, frankly I was more worried about the fundraising that training for the walk!  But now I am thinking I set my goal too low!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have supported me through this first month with your e-mails of encouragement, your prayers for me and for those who suffer from this pervasive disease, and for your financial support!

Total miles logged this week: 5.75

Total miles logged in all: 23.12 miles

Weight loss this week: +1.4 pounds (grrrr girl scout cookies)

Total weight loss:  8.2 lbs

Photo Finish Friday 3/6/09

Saturday, 2/28, Sunday,3/1 - Crummy weather over the weekend combined with family plans pre-empted any significant exercise.  Sunday we did a lot of cleaning though, so I put in some time with the vacuum!  :o)

Monday, 3/2 - SNOW DAY!  Schools were closed, so we stayed home and enjoyed the white stuff.  Headed to the treadmill in the evening after B came home from work.  Walked 2.08 miles on the treadmill.

Tuesday, 3/3 - SLUG DAY!  I didn't manage to walk today.  Too much snow and muck on the ground.

Wednesday, 3/4 - Tonight I went on a women's walk with some other ladies here on base.  Luckily I didn't ask about it first, or I might have backed out!!  We walked 3 miles in an hour and five minutes!  And man, it was cold.  Let me give high marks to handwarmers!

Thursday, 3/5 - Today I did some cross training at Curves.  Tried a new location, and there were more folks there, and they were quite friendly!  I might make that a perm change!

Friday, 3/6 - Spring is back!  I took a fabulous walk in the 70º+ weather.  I would estimate it to be 2.75 miles.

Total miles logged this week: 7.83

Total miles logged in all: 17.37 miles

Weight loss this week: 3.4 lbs

Total weight loss:  9.6 lbs

Photo Finish Friday 2/27/09

Saturday, 2/21 - On a whim, I dropped Em off at play rehearsal and decided to walk around the historic area of Colonial Williamsburg.  I drove over and parked in a short term lot and walked all around the outer roads.  Used Gped, Google's pedometer program (*awesome*) and calculated that I walked 1.5 miles today.

Sunday, 2/22 - Some friends have been trying the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred, and Susan and I decided to start together today.  I feel the shred!  I'm told it will hurt worse tomorrow, so I take some pre-emptive motrin.

Monday, 2/23 - The motrin seems to have helped, but I am still a little sore, so I go for a gentler workout at Curves this morning.  It's too dang cold to walk outside, I am ready for Spring!

Tuesday, 2/24 - Despite the cold, the sun drew me out, and I walked 1.5 miles in the neighborhood.  I was only planning to walk a mile, but when I walked by my friend M's house and thought about her battle with breast cancer this past year, I picked up the pace and did another lap!  2:30pm - A college pal dug deep this morning and donated $100!  I walked another mile this afternoon for him!

Wednesday, 2/25 - This is my busy day!  No training!  Hung out with the kindergarteners at the school library though!  :o)

Thursday, 2/26 - Man, I can't wait for Spring.  It was 60º today, and I tried a new walk route.  It was shorter than I thought, so 1.9 miles today.  I did it under an hour though, comfortably, so that is good.

Friday, 2/27 - Had to make the most of the nice weather today.  Tonight the rain is supposed to start and we may have snow by Saturday night.  I walked THIS ROUTE this morning, which was 2.5 miles.  I bought some new asics sneakers lastnight and tried them out.  My feet feel ok.  Weighed in this morning for a 2.2lb loss this week.  Woot!

Total miles logged this week: 8.4

Total miles logged in all: 14.62 miles

Weight loss this week: 2.2 lbs

Total weight loss:  6.2 lbs

Photo Finish Friday - 2/19/09

 

This was a good first week of training.  I needed to see where I was at starting from zero, and I was pleased to find that I was able to do more than I guessed at the beginning.

2/15 - Registered!

2/16 - Walked one mile in the neighborhood at an aerobic pace.  Lovin' the Biggest Loser workout mixes I downloaded from iTunes!

2/17 - Day Off

2/18 - Rainy weather.  Walked 2.22 miles on the treadmill, averaging 2mph.

2/19 - Unexpected sunny and temperate day!  Walked a mile outside.  Half with 1lb. handweights at a relaxed pace, then half without weights at an aerobic pace.

2/20 - Colder, but still sunny.  Walked two miles in the neighborhood at an aerobic pace.

Total miles logged this week: 6.22 miles

Total miles logged in all: 6.22 miles

Weight loss this week: 4 lbs

Logging Miles

I have plans on my walking days to walk some in the morning, and some after dinner.  Today I had girl scouts over to plan for Thinking Day this weekend, so I wasn't able to get out of the house to walk until late afternoon.  I decided to try out the 2 mile walk I had measured last night.

The weather was not in my favor.  After a week in Florida with temps in the 80's and then a mini spring here last week with temps around 72º all week, I was not ready for 40ish and windy.  At the end of the first mile I was about ready to hang it up and take a short cut home.  But I made it to the one mile point and turned around.  The breeze slowed a bit, and the sun came out from behind the clouds.  I felt like I was being rewarded for persisting as I poked my hands out from my sleeves and took down my hood.

Also, I received three donations today!  It's more of a reality now!  Thanks Deb, Carole and Mom!!