The long and winding road to fitness, day 102

Well…I woke up still not feeling well, but was doing better by noon or so.  Hopefully I’m finished with being sick, not a lot of fun…

My eating was okay today…still wasn’t feeling well enough to eat a lot.  And another day of zero exercise…hopefully I can pick that back up tomorrow and get at least a little exercise in over the course of the day.

My day wasn’t a total loss though.  I’ve been in the market for a new (to me) car for quite some time and today just happened to be the day that I found one that I liked and that I could afford.   I had intended to pay cash for a car, but decided to take the plunge and get a car financed.  I needed something that was dependable, was not especially concerned about the make or model…I’m not a big car person…as long as it gets me where I need to go and has minimal problems, I’m fine with whatever.  Having said that…

I think this little car looks pretty sharp!

A gold Chevy Malibu…

Not too shabby…smooth ride, has some get up and go, and looks pretty good too!  I may not sound like it here, but I am super excited!!

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The long and winding road to fitness, day 101

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I woke up this morning after being sick all night, crawled out of bed and got ready for work.  After throwing up three times in less than an hour, I just gave up and took the day off work.  I hated to do that to everyone since we had a big old truck delivery today, but I think they’d rather I not give them whatever it is I have…feels a lot like the flu, maybe a mild case…hopefully I’ll feel better in the morning. 

One positive about being sick is the calorie intake certainly plummets!!  All I really tried to do today was drink, was hospitalized once years ago with dehydration and don’t want a repeat of that.  I’m still feeling a little icky (yes, that’s a medical term, ask any doctor), but I hope I’m on the mend.

Now on to the negative part of being sick, beyond the obvious ickiness of it, no exercise.  Just a lot of sleeping and trips back and forth to the bathroom.  Blah.  Felt so bad for most of the day that I didn’t even log on to the computer…now you know that’s some kind of sick!

Spooky enjoyed the day though.  She slept cuddled up to me all day.  Then I came downstairs to watch Days of Our Lives and she came down to sit on my lap as I’m sitting on the stability ball.  She kind of watches television, or at least the fast movements.  See, I think she actually sees what’s on the tv because she loves to watch the bird shows on Animal Planet or PBS.  Hmm…should I leave the tv on for her when I go to work?  Nah…I think she spends most of her day under the comforter on my bed.

So I got a flu shot a week ago, do you think there’s any possibility that I’m feeling sick because of that?  I’ve always poopood that, and still don’t really think you can get the flu from a flu shot.   What do you think?

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The long and winding road to fitness, day 100

Okay, to be honest, this may be day 101, but I didn’t want to miss the celebration of 100 days of working toward leading a healthier life.  I feel somewhat proud that I’ve done this for 100 days in a row, even if some of those days didn’t go as I’d planned…but then life often doesn’t go as we plan it, does it?  But to stick with it and at least make the effort is pretty cool.

I also just realized that this is my 300th post on the run4joy blog…wow!  This is so much fun, I’ve met so many wonderful people through this blog, and I’ve been able to reconnect with old friends (hey, Kim…wish I’d had more time to talk with you today when you stopped by the store…you look marvelous, girl).  I’m able to do something that I feel passionate about and (hopefully) improve my craft just a bit.

Another reason to celebrate today…our corporate visits are now over for the remainder of the year (unless that much feared auditor would happen to stop in for a surprise visit).  We had the head of HR in our store today…what a nice guy…seriously.  Totally different feeling with this visit than with the visit we had last week.  Oh yeah, and I almost forgot, we got an A!!!  High fives all around!!  The store really looks fab!  Now to just keep it that way!  I stopped at Kroger and bought some yummy looking brownies for Sean (the HR guy)…and no, I didn’t bribe him with them, I gave them to him as he was getting ready to leave!  Oh, did I mention, we got an A for the visit?  I did?  Well, I’m just trying to get it to sink in.  I’m just so darn proud of how hard everyone worked for this!!

So let me leave you today with a picture of something I noticed outside my kitchen window this evening…

The  rainbow after the storm…kind of speaks to life, doesn’t it?

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Dancing like a star

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As I’m watching Dancing With The Stars (yes, Chris, instead of the Cowboys), it brings back some feel good memories of how good dancing makes me feel.  I’ve been struggling with my weight loss efforts and I just realized I need to do something that brings joy to my life, a smile to my face and a little more grace to my step.  Dancing fits the bill.

I’m going to get some dancing in at least three days a week, work on getting in better shape, and then start taking some dance classes after the first of the year.  Now, before you all start in with me, wondering why I don’t just start the dance lessons right now…time, work, time…this isn’t the time of year for me to be starting anything that’s going to require a big time committment.  But getting involved in some dance classes is stepping out of my comfort zone…and I need that! So…New Year’s resolution #1:  dance lessons…

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The long and winding road to fitness, day 99

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ooh…big milestone coming up.  Just wish I could report that I was eating perfectly and getting lots of exercise.  It’s just not happening and I don’t know why.  I want it, I want to feel better, stronger, healthier, but I’m not working all that hard for it.  Not working anywhere near as hard as I know I need to be.  I need to decide on a plan of action and then go for it.

I guess you can see that I’m feeling just a tad discouraged with myself and my actions.  Last night I said I had my meals and snacks planned and that I needed to go into the kitchen and prepare them.  Surprise!  I didn’t do it.  Then, when I was getting ready this morning, I looked at the clock and realized I needed to leave in less than five minutes and hadn’t put my shoes on, gathered the trash, got my jacket and umbrella out.  So…I didn’t take all that healthy stuff to work that I’d intended to take.  And ended up eating lunch out as well as a blasted Snickers bar (ha, Diane…see, I’m not trying to hide anything here).  I finished the day with 2,125 calories and not a lot of exercise.  I walked twice for 10 minutes at a time, did upper body strength training and stretching before work, and a bunch of running around and heavy lifting at work.  So not terrible, but not what I need to do to get this weight off.

We’ve got another corporate visitor coming this week (I know, really?).  This guy came last year for the fall tour and was such a nice guy, very pleasant to talk with, would listen when we voiced concerns (actually took notes!), and wanted to meet everyone.  We still have some fluffing to do to get ready for the visit, but I expect this one to be much more enjoyable than last week’s.  And then I am going to do my best to make sure that Chris takes at least the weekend off (can I also get him to take Monday off?  I’m sure going to try.  This guy needs some time off.  Hello, Chris?  Do you hear me?   Dude, sleep for an entire day.).

Do you sometimes find your actions to not be in line with your desires?  How do you deal with that?

 

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Making wrong assumptions

After reading a friend’s blog today, I was thinking about the assumptions I make about other people.  He was talking about homelessness and how he has viewed homeless people.  I have to admit I’ve had similar views and experiences in that regard. 

 Then I started thinking about how my assumptions are sometimes wrong.  For example, I had avoided reading his blog because I assumed it would be overly religious and preachy, I mean his blog title is practicalproverbs…what was I supposed to think?  Totally  wrong assumption on my part.  His blog was well thought out, well written and very applicable to everyday life.  No preachiness at all.  How could I have assumed it would be otherwise?  I mean I’ve known this guy for years and years, I know what he’s like, I know he’s a good guy.  But I allowed my wrong assumptions to keep me from reading something that I ended up thoroughly enjoying.

So where else in my life am I allowing my wrong assumptions to keep me away from something that will be beneficial or enjoyable?  Something to think about, isn’t it?

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The long and winding road to fitness, day 98

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My last day off work, darn it!  It didn’t seem like I had much of a vacation this time, between doctor’s visits and going to the bmv, working one of the days I scheduled off so I could be there for that wonderful corporate visit, then yesterday’s headache..well, I didn’t have time to do much around the house.  Oh well, why should my vacation time be any different from any other time, right?

I did walk for about 30 minutes this morning…thank goodness for my treadmill since it rained all day here.  We needed the rain, so I’m not complaining about that.   And my eating was okay today, not great, but not terrible either.  I’ve got my meals and snacks planned for tomorrow.  Guess I should go into the kitchen and get everything prepared so I don’t have lack of time as an excuse for not taking healthy food to work with me, huh?

I used my new carpet cleaner today.  When I put it together, I was a little concerned with how small the clean water tank is.  But I was able to use it today and clean up all the spots I wanted to clean and still have some cleaning fluid left in the tank.  It worked really well and was easy to clean.  I’d say I’m a satisfied customer.  Now if I can just keep Goldi from puking on the carpet…why do they always do it on the carpet anyhow?  I mean, my kitchen, bathrooms, and entry are all tile and would be much easier to clean.  But does she ever throw up in one of those rooms?  Heck no!  She’s got to do it where I have to get out the carpet cleaner.  Oh well…it can’t be deliberate, can it?  Do you think she’s mad about something?  Nah…not Goldi.  Spooky I could see doing something out of meanness…or, well, make that mischieviousness…that’s it.

I had a great day of writing on my book.  It really flowed well and rereading what I’d written made me smile.  I wish every day could be like that, but I know they won’t all be that good.  Such is life…

Well, I hope everyone had a good weekend and is ready for another fun-filled week!

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The long and winding road to fitness, day 97

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Wow, I went from accomplishing a lot of necessary things yesterday (and having some fun) to getting next to nothing done today.  I woke up with a bad headache.  Usually, when that happens, it goes away once I get up, get moving, and have breakfast and tea or coffee.   Not today.  Not a migraine, but not  a little, simply annoying headache…you know, the kind that you can just go ahead with your day, the headache bothers you but doesn’t keep you from doing what you need to do.  Nope, this one was one of those I have to go back to bed and I need quiet headaches.  I finally started feeling better around 3 pm, the headache is still there, but not to the point that I can’t do a little.  But a little is all I’ve done.  I did assemble my new carpet steam cleaner (yep, the old one bit the dust) and baked a pan of pumpkin pieless (pumpkin pie filling without the crust).  What I really need to do is get some housework done.

My eating has been pretty good today…that’s what one of those headaches will do for you!  I’ve had just under 1400 calories for the day.  Not much exercise though.  I did walk for a little while this afternoon, but nothing too strenuous.  Maybe tomorrow…

Along about 1 pm today, I heard a lot of noise from the little park area across the street from my building.  I climbed out of bed and stood at the window to see what was going on.  Apparently some group was going to have a get-together over there (they allow church groups to come in and have cookouts and games for the people in the complex) complete with a live band…NOOOOOOO!!!  I have a severe headache and a band is playing just across the street?  Seriously?  Just a few minutes after they started playing their loud music the rain started coming down…aww…what a shame.  They had tents up, but it wasn’t long before they packed everything up and headed out…too bad…Sorry for all of the people who were looking forward to some entertainment, but I was so glad to see them leave…hopefully they won’t be back later tonight…they wouldn’t do that, would they?  Please, please, no…

So, how was your Saturday?  Got any plans for tomorrow?

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The long and winding road to fitness, day 96

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This was quite a busy day for me today…busy and productive, and I wasn’t even at work! A dear friend of mine came down for the day and we did some running around, I had to go to the license branch, she had to go to the dentist, and in between we did a little of this and a little of that.  While she was at the dentist, I went just down the road to Goodwill…hadn’t been there for a good little while…ended up buying some books, no clothes…honestly, there were too many people looking at the clothes that I wanted to look at, so I gave up, walked over to the books and found a few that I hadn’t read…well, I found lots of books that I hadn’t read, but not a lot that I was interested in reading.  So I ended up spending about $5….not bad!  While I was killing time and Margaret was getting her mouth pushed on and prodded, I drove over to the Hyundai dealership and drove thru their lot.  I’m in the market for a car, but I don’t want to have to make car payments, so it won’t be an expensive car.  Just something to get me around town, up to Indy and down to Mitchell on occasion.  So let me know if you hear of anything…well, not you Simone…I’m not coming out to Kansas to pick up a car.

After all of our more pressing errands were taken care of, we decided to go to WalMart…have I mentioned that I hate going in to WalMart?  Well, I do.  There are always way too many people there and they’re always in my way.  Ambling through WalMart isn’t high on my list of enjoyable activities…I usually just try to get in and out as quickly as possible. 

We stopped at a local restaurant (Cloverleaf…a locally owned family diner, not too many of those around these parts any more) for lunch.  We both ordered grilled tenderloin sandwiches.  I can’t even tell you the last time I ate one of those.  It was quite tasty and now I’m good on the grilled tenderloin for another five years or so.  I had a few fries with my sandwich, why is it that these places always give you way too many fries?  I ended up eating about half the bun on my sandwich and maybe 8 to 10 of the fries.  So I’m feeling pretty good about the lunch.

At the end of our day, we stopped at Jiffy Treat.  I went in intending to get their 8-calorie per ounce “ice cream”, but found the homemade pumpkin ice cream to be irresistable…and delicious.  Ahh…had I been in Mitchell for the annual Persimmon Festival, I would have been able to get persimmon ice cream.  If you haven’t tried it, don’t wrinkle your nose at it.  Persimmons are really quite versatile…pudding, cookies, bread, ice cream…yum, yum!!

So not a lot of exercise for the day and not the best eating either, but it was a fun day with an old friend and that doesn’t happen too often.  Thanks for everything, Margaret!  You rock!!

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The long and winding road to fitness, day 95

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I must say today was a much better day for me than yesterday was.  No corporate people showed up at my house to give me a hard time…ha!  I slept in until…oh…5:30 or so…got up, fed the cats, put the tea kettle on, fixed breakfast and sat down at the computer for an hour or thereabouts.  Quite peaceful.

I made a small pot of turkey chili…probably four servings altogether.  It was really easy to throw together.  I had some turkey in the freezer that I’d shaped into patties when I bought it, so I pulled out a couple of those, threw them in the pot with some diced onion.  Once that was all good and browned, I opened a can of chili beans and a can of tomato sauce, mixed all of that together, added a little water and some chili powder.  Cooked for a while, then added some pasta (now don’t go crazy here, I’m from southern Indiana, not Texas…we always put pasta in our chili and I’m not changing that…I like it that way).

Okay, so I didn’t really make this like my mom used to…she always used elbow macaroni.  I didn’t happen to have any elbow macaroni, but I had some whole wheat pasta and figured it would serve the same purpose.  And it did…this was pretty good and I was able to make a small enough amount of it so that I’m not going to have to eat it for the next 30 days…just kidding…more like 2 weeks, but you get what I’m trying to say, right?  So, I also didn’t have any saltine crackers in my house (I’m going to remedy that tomorrow) so I subbed flaxseed crackers…hmm…not such a great substitute…not terrible, but it definitely didn’t evoke memories of my childhood down on the farm…wonder if Grandma even knew what flaxseed was?!

As I was sitting here writing this, I realized I haven’t eaten anything since that bowl of chili while watching Days Of Our Lives (holy moly, did you see that Jack is coming back?!)…could be why I’m hungry.  I’m thinking a bowl of cereal and a banana sounds pretty good.

I didn’t do a lot of anything today…a couple loads of laundry, vacuumed the whole house, changed sheets on the bed,  and made that pot of chili…a nice, fairly lazy day after that corporate fiasco yesterday…forget about it, Patti…I’m sure they’ve forgotten all about you~

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