Today My Weight is 316.2

A while back my scale broke. My boyfriend's mother gave us her old scale, but I never could get it to work consistently. Then she died last April. Without the nagging a scale provides, I started losing track of my weight. After she died I felt like I was eating everything in site. Finally, here it is July and I was getting really worried. My ankles were getting all puffy. My favorite shorts were getting too tight. So I told my boyfriend I was going to buy another scale. Of course he said, "But we already have a scale." But a scale that doesn't work is just a big paperweight. I'd been on the Paleo/ juicing diet a week and I wanted to see if I'd made any progress. But who knows. I got on and my weight was 15 pounds higher than it had ever been in my life. Egads! I had already made lifestyle changes. I had started to swim in the community pool again. Eventually those changes will be reflected in my weight. But for today, I'm really discouraged. When I was at my daughters for 11 days in July I was eating a lot of fast food. I mean I'd already made the shift to healthier eating when I got back home.  For all I know I lost 10 pounds this week, since I don't know what my weight was when I started.

I'm glad I have a scale now so I can keep better track. Part of the problem is when the heat is in the triple digits, I hardly move at all. My head is pounding even now. For the better part of 3 weeks it has been over 100 degrees. I just walked out to water the garden and I about died. It is 101.7 right now at 3 PM. Yikes.

Update: I feel a bit better this morning, because when I weighed myself it was down to 312.7 and so I'm using that as my baseline. They say to weigh yourself at the same time each day. and typically for me that is right after I get up in the morning, and before I've had anything to eat or drink.

Hula Hooping

A perfect Saturday for hula hooping. I made this hoop. I should use it more often.

Ahem

Why do some people feel it is okay to make rude comments to and about fat people? I wouldn't go up to someone and say, "Gee your nose is big," or "Your dance video shouldn't be on youtube because you are too short?" I hate that I internalize all the rude comments I hear people make to other fat people. I have a friend that lost 200 pounds, and random strangers still come up to her and inform her that she's fat and should see a doctor about losing weight. People, you have got to stop this. Your own prejudice and hate is rubbing off on other people who don't need your opinion. Does it make you feel superior to be so rotten? Do you think you are going to shame them into losing weight? Does that ever work?

Say something nice or go away. Grow some manners. Sheesh.

The Belly Dancing Arborist

Today I was determined to get enough exercise. No one was here but me, so I went out in the yard to stretch and warm-up to belly dance. Suddenly I felt someone watching me so I turned around. It was my landlady who lives next door. She's like, "Whatcha doin."

So I say, "Getting some exercise." She says, "My friend and I are pruning all the fruit trees. Wanna help?" How could I say no. We pruned six trees and picked up most of the branches. I got a lot of exercise, even if it wasn't the kind I had intended. My arms are still shaking from holding the loppers higher than my shoulders to cut branches. Fun and a good work-out. And eventually I'll get a lot of fruit to eat. She's very generous that way. And we got to snack on almonds that had fallen off and dried in the hot sun. Now for a nice shower because all the tiny scratches on my arms are starting to itch.

Juggling Practice

I have a cold so my workouts have been cut way back. But I am working on my juggling and my contact juggling.

Stand Up And Be Counted

My fitness challenge today is to stay on my feet all day. I've become way to sedentary. And if my boyfriend can stand at his job all day, I can at least attempt to do so. Typing while standing is a challenge in itself. I put some belly dancing music on to keep me company. I showered, did dishes and took out the trash. And I have bread baking in the bread machine and its not even noon yet. Definitely more productive this way.

Arm Series

Today it was hard to find any exercise motivation at all. I had 2 sleepless nights and no energy. Finally, at 10 PM, I was watching Shakira videos on Youtube and looking at her amazing body and I got up and worked on some belly dancing arm movements. My arms felt like they weighed a ton! I got tired instantly, which means I'm on the right track. My arms used to be one of my strongest areas, being a juggler and all. Also my neck and shoulders were really tight from typing and crocheting and reading today. Way too much sitting! Phooey on that. I'm going to rest a few minutes and do some more arm movements.

Check out Shakira's Gypsy video. If that doesn't inspire you I don't know what will.

Now For Something Completely Different

Funny animal barstools.

Big butterfly on giant mushroom.

Fake Snake

Forever 21

Amazing butterfly.

Huge grapes.

Huge grapes at Ontario Mills Mall

My favorite shop.

If I only had a waist!

I'd be all over this.

Rainforest Cafe

Rainforest Cafe

Yesterday I was hiking out in the desert in the middle of nowhere. Today I walked a lot longer, only it was inside a mall. I got to go to the Ontario Mills Mall for the first time. It is a giant rectangle so I walked and I walked and I walked some more. Finally I got to the end of the loop. I took photos so after dinner I'll post them if I can.

I love walking in new places. Everything is a surprise.

Twilight Hike

Sometimes my goals work at cross purposes. My goal to read a book a week got behind because family visited for 3 days. There is no way I'm going to read with a crawling baby and a 3 year old in the house. So today I tried to read half a book so I wouldn't get behind on my new goal. Suddenly I realized it was almost dark and I hadn't done any fitness for the day. So I decided a twilight hike was called for. I just had to make sure I was home before dark, because wandering around in the desert without a flashlight isn't a real good idea. I was aiming for a 30 minute hike but I was home in 20 minutes. Oh well, I'll plan ahead a little better next time, but at least I did it.

Azurite Road

Hedgehog cactus

Two large rocks

Two old trucks

S curves

Twilight Hike

The long and winding road.

Almost dark

Country Fitness

I decided to make my word of the year Fitness. I could have made it create or dance or something more fun to me, but I will do those things anyway. So fitness it is.

The last 3 days my work-out was chasing around the 2 grandkids I haven't seen in 6 months. The boy is almost 3 and the baby just started to crawl. Mom brought them over for my birthday and we did kid things for 3 days including 2 parks, shopping and running around my giant yard. I'm so tired, so I was declaring today a rest day.

Snuggles

Monster Trucks

Busy all the time

Unfortunately my boyfriend declared it 'help the neighbor by cutting down 3 trees' day, so my fitness today is hauling  branches and tossing logs either into the cart or over the fence into our yard. Fun, but whew...work...yep, more tired.  But we still have one more tree to do so I'm going back over there.

We also hung up five lines worth of clothes.

That's what I call fitness country style.

Timber!

The first tree was the easiest. The next two were buried in shrubbery.

Free firewood, but we earned it.

Resting between trees.

Eating on the Road

I've noticed it's a lot harder to stick to dietary goals while traveling. I get agitated when I don't have my favorite meals. Then I end up eating all kinds of junk food and I can't stop snaking. I'd really like to lose weight while traveling but that never happens.

I hurt my back right before the trip. Even walking is painful and slow, especially stairs. So I'm stretching every day hoping to get the kinks out of my back. I don't know if it's a pinched nerve or a pulled muscle or just old age and scoliosis catching up with me. It's just no fun being in this condition.

One of my favorite things to do in San Luis Obispo, CA is to walk around and see the sites. But I can't. I had to content myself with a visit to the craft store and then a long sit-down on a bench in the shade as traffic and people went on about their business. I wish I could stay here. I never want to leave.

New Giant Yard

I'm getting a lot more walking done now that I live in the desert and have a giant yard. I purposely planted things on the very back fence where there is no running water to force myself to walk down there and back at least once a day, and on some days half a dozen times. I started a Zen garden back there so I can get exercise by moving rocks and wood and raking sand and carrying water. Yesterday my sunflowers sprouted and I planted gourds everywhere. We have miles of fencing, and I want to grow as many things as I can on the fences. After being cramped with apartment sized yards for years, I'm not missing any opportunities to grow things. All that gardening is great exercise that doesn't feel like 'I'm going to exercise now.'

Why Portion Control Doesn't Work

I just had a revelation after tracking my food on Sparkpeople for almost 2 weeks. My Dr. kept telling me all I needed was portion control. From doing the food tracking I realized there is nothing wrong with my portions. The problem is that I'm eating too many foods with no nutrition. So at the end of the day my salt intake was too high and my intake of calcium, potassium and magnesium was way too low. And potassium is one of the things that helps regulate blood pressure.  So I made a list of all the best foods for potassium and I need to stuff more of those into my diet to replace the empty calorie foods. I like everything on the 'best potassium' list, I just have to remember to buy things like yams. Mushrooms are great so I'm thinking more mushrooms on my pizza and mushroom and spinach omelets.

Once again it all boils down to eating more fruits and veggies.
Best Potassium: dried fruits and nuts, green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, wheat germ, bran, yams, bananas, oranges.
Good Potassium: Many other fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, legumes, and poultry

I also found out miso is a good source of Zinc. So in this cold and flu season, have yourself some miso soup or black eyed peas.

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.