Heatwave in Anaheim

We are having a heatwave. I need to focus on drinking more water today.  I keep meaning to crochet water bottle holders so I can take water on my walks. I started one at an SCA event. I just need to finish it if I can find it.  Nothing every seems to get unpacked when we get home and it can be the devil finding things.

The other day I was walking over some laundry and a pain shot through my foot.  It was spiking pain up my leg about every 20 steps.  The pain stopped by evening, but now I'm really worried about walking very far. I try to cling as close to my apartment as I can in case I have to turn around and walk back home.

My last daily walk before I hurt my foot.

Tummy tummy go away.

I hope to get a ride to the library today so I can sit somewhere cool. It's too far to walk, especially in this heat.

Cutting Out Sugar

A few days ago I started eliminating sugar from my diet. My weight was down a bit this morning, so that gives me hope. At this point, I need all the hope I can get.

Taming the Sugar Monster

This is the second day of me trying to eliminate most sugar from my diet. I'm not taking extreme measures. I'll still put ketchup on my french fries, for example. But I'm weeding out soft drinks, ice cream treats, cakes, cupcakes, and things that are pure sugar like candy and cotton candy. 

I don't know how wise it is to try to make major changes just now, because we may be losing our apt. It just went into foreclosure, and then sold. The new owner wants to fix it then sell again.  That is stressful enough. On the other hand, my weight is making me so unhappy, I really am in a crisis situation, and the only time there is, is now. And I'm realizing that most of my comfort foods when dealing with stress are things like pancakes and syrup. I really have no desire to eat pancakes without syrup. Ditto with donuts. And junk food like Cheetos. So I'm not coping well with the stress at all.

My boyfriend isn't the least bit supportive. Last night when I told him I got through a whole day without soda, he didn't even say anything.  When I asked him to say something, he said 'great, or wow' or something like that, with zero enthusiasm.  After all the times he's nagged me to give up soda, you'd think I'd get a bit of moral support. Yesterday his mom took us to dinner at a restaurant I hate.  I don't hate it because of the food, I hate it because they always sit us at one of those curved booths and I can't fit without the table impaling itself on my stomach. I just grin and bear it but it makes me want to cry.

Heart Attack

Another one of my friends just had a severe heart attack. So he finally quit smoking. As the saying goes, everyone stops smoking sooner or later. But I'm thinking it's better to be fit than have issues like that.  Sometimes I wonder why I'm working so hard to get fit, then something like this happens and I think, 'oh yeah.'
I was so tired today.  Friday we moved a queen sized bed. Saturday I went to an SCA event and threw axes and knives and also juggled. Plus carrying things back and forth from the car is tiring.  Sunday we put the camper shell back on the truck.  So it's not surprising that today I was sore and tired. I still tried to get up and do things. But I didn't really exercise today. I got up at 5 AM after tossing and turning all night. I should at least do some stretching before bed.
Take care of yourself. You are the only 'yourself' you have.  

My axe throwing group.

DIY Hand Weights

I was watching a Zumba fitness commercial and they had these hand weights and I thought Ooooh I can make some of those.  So I bought a 1 1/2" PVC pipe, cut 2 11" lengths off of it, and bought 4 PVC caps.  I filled it with lead scraps, put the cups on tight, and I had a set of hand weights for my very own. Now I can work out my arms a bit more when I dance. I don't know how heavy the official ones are, but I made mine 2 Lb. each.

Oh I just looked them up. They call them 'toning sticks' and the 1 lb 'toning sticks' are $19.94 and the 2.5 'toning sticks' are $24.95. I spent $6.00 on mine, and the filler was scrap I had on hand. Not bad.  And I still have enough PVC pipe left to make another set or two.

Two Heads Are Better Than One

I tried to squeeze in a 45 minute workout before the rain started today. Before I even got going a mini van parked right behind me and the two passengers just hung out there for the next 30 minutes. And a moving van parked in front of the other garages and had five people tromping in and out loading the van from the upstairs apartment. I just can't catch a break, can I?


The cold weather makes my joints ache, so it was a rather painful and self conscious workout. I just tried to keep visualizing what I'd look like without all this extra flab. But when my 45 minutes was over I was more than ready to go back inside.

 My workout partner.

Walking Was The Best I Could Do Today

I got a lot of walking in while shopping today. I had hoped to do more, but it was dark before I knew it and I don't feel safe being out in the alley after dark. I'm trying to clear exercise space in my bedroom, which involved moving a Japanese lantern and a mobile, and I have overhead space now, but not floor space. #FAIL It's such a simple concept; why can't I get it right? Tomorrow is going to be problematic too, because it's supposed to rain. Hopefully I can work out in the morning before it starts. Wish me luck.

Since today is Superbowl Sunday and I pretty much figured the potheads would be gathering in the garage next to mine to watch the big game, I opted for taking a long walk today instead. I walked to McDonald's, ate breakfast, wrote 3 pages in my journal, and then walked home at a faster clip than normal to get my heart rate up. I'm so tired today. I think I have a sinus infection. So I'm going to take it easy today.

New Fitness Plan

This morning I was sitting on the couch when this fitness program came on and talked about an insanity workout where they work out 45 minutes a day for 6 days a week for 60 days. So I decided to do my own workout only in their time parameter.

I decide the alley in front of my open garage is my best option. Our neighbors let their dog poop on the grass so unless I want to clean that up every day the common lawn is out. Plus it's often marshy because the timer is set on too much water. Ah the joys of renting. I laid out a mat so I could take my shoes off on the asphalt. I want to get a rug instead because the mat is slippery. I also got a radio hooked up and an easy to read clock. I put up a calendar so I can keep track of my workouts. Now the hardest thing is to grow a thick skin so that when my neighbors park right there and stare at me, I don't get rattled. They aren't supposed to park in the alley but they do. Then they just sit there while one of them runs upstairs for 20 minutes. I found out I don't work out as hard when I'm being watched. Even if they aren't watching, I can't forget they are there. My workout consists of any moves I can do without aggravating current injuries. So it is mostly stretching and dancing, though I might incorporate some juggling.

Up Early

I got up early this morning so I can be more physically active.  It's a bit chilly. I need to get up more often from the computer and break the inertia of sitting and staring at the magic box. I don't want to make too much noise and wake my boyfriend up though.

Bike Riding

A few days ago I started riding my bike again. The weather in S. California has been gorgeous as the new year gets off to a warm start.
The day after I rode, my shoulders were pretty sore. I'm not used to leaning over handlebars. And I had some trouble with the shifting process, but over all I'm getting over my fear of bicycling.  And it's so much more time efficient that walking. It's nice to go fast for a change and not spend 30 minutes just getting around the block. I hope I make bike riding a habit.