This morning I weighed in at 184! Wow! So that is 8 pounds in one month, basically. It's hard to believe. If you had told me on August 1, that on August 31st I would be eight pounds lighter, I would have scoffed in your face.
It gives me hope. Especially since I have not been exercising, due to this stupid knee. It bothers me as I write, but I think that later this morning I will march down the Prairie Path. Saturday morning, at six, I am sure that there were at least 100 people that I passed or that passed me. There was one walking group out in force, that must have had 50 at least. And this group did have some hefties. Unlike most of the people I see, real skinnies.
Today is not a diet plan day, but a using up stuff that needs to be eaten day. See, the diet does not have enuf leftover days. So this morning, I had two pieces of turkey bacon (it's really good) and 1 1/2 cups of Egg Beaters with a little salsa thrown on. Plus 1/4 cup of 1% milk in my coffee. It was a lot of ersatz eggs, but only 180 calories. 50 for the bacon, and a little over 30 for the milk. For lunch I plan to make a soup out of this really runny salsa, black beans, and maybe some rice. And there is a quarter of a red cabbage that is old. We'll see. Plus two leftover fish dinners.
If I'm thinking along those lines of 1 pound every five days, then on Saturday, when I weigh next, I only have to be 185. So I'm ahead, and it takes some of the stress out. But that doesn't mean I will ease off. I have figured out which of the weight and stretching exercises I can do that don't involve my knee too much. But the walking does, and I know that the more weight I lose, supposedly, the better my knee should be. It's the same old one that has sustained several injuries over the years, starting when I was in college.
So onward and downward.
30 days down.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
THE NEW ME
Well, here we are seven days later, and at 186 pounds. I did see 185 some days ago, but didn't weigh after that for a few days, because I didn't want to see it go back up, but of course it did, and on the 26th I weighed in at 186.
In reading the preface for this diet book, I saw that the woman who wrote it lost 150 pounds in two years. She was much younger, but my height, 5'2". She seems to have followed no precise plan, but just changed the way and amounts she ate, and started moving. I figure that she basically lost 1 pound every five days, so I decided to only weigh myself every five days. I don't for one nano-second believe that I can lose 1 pound every five days, but I can try, I guess. So that on the 31st, when I will weigh again, I should weigh 186. What I weigh now.
Perhaps I am too caught up in numbers. She said that she learned to enjoy the whole weight loss process, a concept I can't quite wrap my mind around. But eating better, and getting in shape is a goal all by itself. Even if you weren't overweight.
And to top it all off, this morning's Trib had a small article down at the bottom of a page, that said that as an eating partner, you should never ever eat with a thin person who eats a lot, because you eat as they do, thinking they're thin. Hah!! Guess who has lived with such a person for 41 years. No wonder. I do remember that in the year we dated before we got married, I gained 20 pounds. And I knew it was because I ate as he did.
And I've been skipping exercise. Not because I don't want to do it, but because yesterday it was raining, and today, my knee hurts, and I am reluctant to either dance around the basement on it, or do the weight and stretching exercies which involve my knees totally. It's the humidity, I think. Haven't yet decided about today, but tomorrow, unless it's pouring, I will get up and go trooping down the Path. When the weather is like it is today, damp, dreary, dark, all I want to do is read.
I am trying to remember something I learned when I watched a lot of tennis because I had a thing for Stefan Edberg, the Swede who eventually was #1 in the world for a while. I had started watching him long before that, in the early days, when he was not quite yet in control of his game. And when he made a mistake he would let it get to him, and so of course he would lose. But after a while of this, he began to learn not to obsess on the flub, but to immediately put it behind him and play in the very next moment. And that is when he began to win, and win, and win. I think it must be the formula for all winners. I have never forgotten it, and have tried to apply it to my life, and exercise and weight loss. Sure, it's the old stand-by "Live in the moment", but with the added caveat of "forget your mistakes, or at least learn by them and move forward". Easier said than done, I will admit, and requires great strength of willpower.
So today. I am still rising 30 minutes before dawn, well except for Wednesday night, when for some inexplicable reason, I went to bed at 8 PM, not being able to stay awake one more moment, and did not arise til 7:20 yesterday morning. And slept all that time, except for when the alarm went off, but it was raining, and I wouldn't walk then anyway, as the Prairie Path would just be a mass of puddles. It was odd.
Still eating right. The gram portion of my scale broke, and I have decided not to replace it. Most of this world does not weigh and measure things, and I must learn to do that too.
Still trying. 27 days down.
And I must report on Macy's Glamorata. It was such fun. Would definitely go again next year, and pony up for the more expensive tickets, figuring it goes to a very worthy charity, The Ronald McDonald House. We were in the nose bleed section, but still could see that all the models' legs looked like horses' legs, so skinny we wondered how they could hold them up. Most of the clothes were good, being things that Macy's would sell here, and not so haute couture as would be seen in Paris. The men's wet swimsuit show was a hoot. Generally speaking the men seemed to be having a good time, enjoying themselves, while the women took themselves much too seriously. And they all walked just like you would expect models to walk, slouched forward, and thrown back.
The very best part was just hanging over the entrance balcony and watching all the arrivals, what they wore, how they looked. There was far more of a mixture of humanity than I had supposed. Not at all just the rich and famous.
We watched them all leave too. It was only an hour, and thank god I had my ear plugs, and a spare for my friend, or we could not have endured it. The bass was so turned on you could feel it in your bones. I had never seen or even heard of Ne-Yo but I can now easily understand why he is a Grammy winner. He was terrific. The other two performers were forgettable.
I did wish one of my sons were there to see one of the designers shows. The light design was incredible. I have never seen anything like it.
All in all, a really fun evening. The Chicago Theatre, by itself, is worthy of many pictures, and alas, I had no camera. That place is the very epitome of grand old palaces. Don't die without seeing its insides.
Sunday I went with my daughter-in-law to a Greek festival held at a Greek church way up by Foster and California. I had not realized it was so far. And had thought there would be Greek dancing. We found out that the dancing would only be in the evening and we were there for lunch. I had a Greek salad, which I dearly love anyway. Lots of nummy feta cheese, and yes, I poured on the dressing they gave me, but only one portion. And some whole milk plain yogurt. The church was quite beautiful, in great condition.
Rides and games for children, and a craft fare. Of course I bought some stuff. But I dearly would have liked to see the dancing.
In reading the preface for this diet book, I saw that the woman who wrote it lost 150 pounds in two years. She was much younger, but my height, 5'2". She seems to have followed no precise plan, but just changed the way and amounts she ate, and started moving. I figure that she basically lost 1 pound every five days, so I decided to only weigh myself every five days. I don't for one nano-second believe that I can lose 1 pound every five days, but I can try, I guess. So that on the 31st, when I will weigh again, I should weigh 186. What I weigh now.
Perhaps I am too caught up in numbers. She said that she learned to enjoy the whole weight loss process, a concept I can't quite wrap my mind around. But eating better, and getting in shape is a goal all by itself. Even if you weren't overweight.
And to top it all off, this morning's Trib had a small article down at the bottom of a page, that said that as an eating partner, you should never ever eat with a thin person who eats a lot, because you eat as they do, thinking they're thin. Hah!! Guess who has lived with such a person for 41 years. No wonder. I do remember that in the year we dated before we got married, I gained 20 pounds. And I knew it was because I ate as he did.
And I've been skipping exercise. Not because I don't want to do it, but because yesterday it was raining, and today, my knee hurts, and I am reluctant to either dance around the basement on it, or do the weight and stretching exercies which involve my knees totally. It's the humidity, I think. Haven't yet decided about today, but tomorrow, unless it's pouring, I will get up and go trooping down the Path. When the weather is like it is today, damp, dreary, dark, all I want to do is read.
I am trying to remember something I learned when I watched a lot of tennis because I had a thing for Stefan Edberg, the Swede who eventually was #1 in the world for a while. I had started watching him long before that, in the early days, when he was not quite yet in control of his game. And when he made a mistake he would let it get to him, and so of course he would lose. But after a while of this, he began to learn not to obsess on the flub, but to immediately put it behind him and play in the very next moment. And that is when he began to win, and win, and win. I think it must be the formula for all winners. I have never forgotten it, and have tried to apply it to my life, and exercise and weight loss. Sure, it's the old stand-by "Live in the moment", but with the added caveat of "forget your mistakes, or at least learn by them and move forward". Easier said than done, I will admit, and requires great strength of willpower.
So today. I am still rising 30 minutes before dawn, well except for Wednesday night, when for some inexplicable reason, I went to bed at 8 PM, not being able to stay awake one more moment, and did not arise til 7:20 yesterday morning. And slept all that time, except for when the alarm went off, but it was raining, and I wouldn't walk then anyway, as the Prairie Path would just be a mass of puddles. It was odd.
Still eating right. The gram portion of my scale broke, and I have decided not to replace it. Most of this world does not weigh and measure things, and I must learn to do that too.
Still trying. 27 days down.
And I must report on Macy's Glamorata. It was such fun. Would definitely go again next year, and pony up for the more expensive tickets, figuring it goes to a very worthy charity, The Ronald McDonald House. We were in the nose bleed section, but still could see that all the models' legs looked like horses' legs, so skinny we wondered how they could hold them up. Most of the clothes were good, being things that Macy's would sell here, and not so haute couture as would be seen in Paris. The men's wet swimsuit show was a hoot. Generally speaking the men seemed to be having a good time, enjoying themselves, while the women took themselves much too seriously. And they all walked just like you would expect models to walk, slouched forward, and thrown back.
The very best part was just hanging over the entrance balcony and watching all the arrivals, what they wore, how they looked. There was far more of a mixture of humanity than I had supposed. Not at all just the rich and famous.
We watched them all leave too. It was only an hour, and thank god I had my ear plugs, and a spare for my friend, or we could not have endured it. The bass was so turned on you could feel it in your bones. I had never seen or even heard of Ne-Yo but I can now easily understand why he is a Grammy winner. He was terrific. The other two performers were forgettable.
I did wish one of my sons were there to see one of the designers shows. The light design was incredible. I have never seen anything like it.
All in all, a really fun evening. The Chicago Theatre, by itself, is worthy of many pictures, and alas, I had no camera. That place is the very epitome of grand old palaces. Don't die without seeing its insides.
Sunday I went with my daughter-in-law to a Greek festival held at a Greek church way up by Foster and California. I had not realized it was so far. And had thought there would be Greek dancing. We found out that the dancing would only be in the evening and we were there for lunch. I had a Greek salad, which I dearly love anyway. Lots of nummy feta cheese, and yes, I poured on the dressing they gave me, but only one portion. And some whole milk plain yogurt. The church was quite beautiful, in great condition.
Rides and games for children, and a craft fare. Of course I bought some stuff. But I dearly would have liked to see the dancing.
Friday, August 21, 2009
THE NEW ME
Where to start? Here I am, 21 days into this, and still at 187 pounds. Phooey!!! This morning I was up at 5:35 am and trooped down the Prairie Path, now back to a marching tape, a different one than the first one I tried. And only because that classical music one broke. My husband fixed it, but I like the marching one so much better. This one says it is 3.8 miles per hour, but I still only cover the three miles because of my short stride. With this tape it seems to go so much faster, the time, and I am horribly sweaty when I get done. I can keep up with it. It is a constant pace from the get-go to the very end.
Monday as I was crossing the bridge over Route 83, a moderate hill, I happened to look down into the Salt Creek, and there I beheld a deer, a rather large one, looking up at me. What a thrill! It hadn't rained yet, and I'm sure she was looking for water. She never took her eyes off me the whole time I crossed. Even though I was many, many feet above her.
I got the CD from "Bandslam" and absolutely love it. Danced around the basement yesterday morning to half of it, about 30 minutes. There are three songs that are not too great, but that's OK, I don't expect all winners.
Going to Glamorata tonight. Should be very interesting, if nothing else to see just who attends these shindigs. And to see how skinny the models are. I heard once that some of them only eat one apple in a whole day!
It is getting harder, however, to drag myself out of bed so early in the morning. This morning was a bitch. Yet I did it, because I know that if I let the day slip on by, I will not always exercise. I also knew that tomorrow I will sleep in, not setting any alarm, because I'll get home late.
I am somewhat discouraged by my lack of poundage loss. I am starting with 192 since that was the highest this summer, and two days ago I did see 186, but haven't seen it since. I work so damn hard at this. I am not a patient person.
Twenty days down.
Monday as I was crossing the bridge over Route 83, a moderate hill, I happened to look down into the Salt Creek, and there I beheld a deer, a rather large one, looking up at me. What a thrill! It hadn't rained yet, and I'm sure she was looking for water. She never took her eyes off me the whole time I crossed. Even though I was many, many feet above her.
I got the CD from "Bandslam" and absolutely love it. Danced around the basement yesterday morning to half of it, about 30 minutes. There are three songs that are not too great, but that's OK, I don't expect all winners.
Going to Glamorata tonight. Should be very interesting, if nothing else to see just who attends these shindigs. And to see how skinny the models are. I heard once that some of them only eat one apple in a whole day!
It is getting harder, however, to drag myself out of bed so early in the morning. This morning was a bitch. Yet I did it, because I know that if I let the day slip on by, I will not always exercise. I also knew that tomorrow I will sleep in, not setting any alarm, because I'll get home late.
I am somewhat discouraged by my lack of poundage loss. I am starting with 192 since that was the highest this summer, and two days ago I did see 186, but haven't seen it since. I work so damn hard at this. I am not a patient person.
Twenty days down.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
THE NEW ME
Saturday, August, 15th, 10:00 am
Well, I am still continuing. This morning I weighed 188, yesterday 187. Yes, I do weigh every single day. And I have read that those people who manage to keep their weight off for five years and more do the same. It helps me somehow to do this.
I did no exercise at all on Friday, the second time in two weeks. Thursday was my Chicago Art Institute Day and I walked my feet off, starting with walking from the train station to the Harold Washington Library on Congress because I was early and wanted to see if they had any back issues of Woman's Day magazine. There is one with a scrumptious yellow kitchen pictured in an ad, but damn, I can't remember what issue or even what ad, so I'll have to scroll thru microfiche. A real pain.
Then I walked to the AI and walked all over that place and up and down stairs til around noon, when I left and walked to The Chicago Theatre at State and Randolph to get tickets to Macy's Glamorata. Now at my age this would seem silly, but I have never in my life seen an honest-to-god fashion show, and I would like to. Plus it's a fund raiser for The Ronald McDonald House, and I figure it might give me incentive. Then back to the AI, more walking and up and downing, and a bus to the train station, and back to pick up my car, which my husband leaves so I don't have to walk home. A feat I'm not sure I could have done at that point. Miles and miles that day.
But I did have the cheapest lunch and stuck to my diet at the AI's cafe, which does have really good food. I looked at the salads, but of the three offered, two had cheese and other stuff, that I shouldn't eat, at least not now, so I opted for just the garden salad, then walked over to the sandwich station, and asked for two pieces of sourdough bread (I think it was just plain white) and some turkey breast. When he said "You want that on the bread, don't you?" and I replied "Not particularly", he plopped what was at least a quarter to a third of a pound if not more of meat on my plate. Wow! It was a lot. And I treated myself to a pat of butter for the bread. Plus I got some fat-free Italian dressing, which was like water, but it did the job. I had a huge salad with low-fat meat, bread and butter, and coffee. Lunch was $6.32, and coffee alone was $1.85. I do save the taxes because I am a member.
I felt good about that lunch. Sticking to the plan. This morning I got up at the normal thirty minutes before dawn, and trooped down the Path. My knees are bothering me now, and I'm not sure what to do. I suspect a lot has to do with dancing around the basement, but I truly love to do that. Everything I do involves the knees, whether walking, dancing, or the exercises I do. And I must do them in order to lose and then maintain weight. A Catch-22 indeed. In fact, yesterday I went to see a terrific flic, "Bandslam" and loved the music so much I came home and bought the CD off of Amazon, because I know I can really move to it.
But I am reading while eating. Period. I don't think I can give that up. I do weigh and measure my food, something that perhaps someday I can get away from. Not now.
14 days down.
Well, I am still continuing. This morning I weighed 188, yesterday 187. Yes, I do weigh every single day. And I have read that those people who manage to keep their weight off for five years and more do the same. It helps me somehow to do this.
I did no exercise at all on Friday, the second time in two weeks. Thursday was my Chicago Art Institute Day and I walked my feet off, starting with walking from the train station to the Harold Washington Library on Congress because I was early and wanted to see if they had any back issues of Woman's Day magazine. There is one with a scrumptious yellow kitchen pictured in an ad, but damn, I can't remember what issue or even what ad, so I'll have to scroll thru microfiche. A real pain.
Then I walked to the AI and walked all over that place and up and down stairs til around noon, when I left and walked to The Chicago Theatre at State and Randolph to get tickets to Macy's Glamorata. Now at my age this would seem silly, but I have never in my life seen an honest-to-god fashion show, and I would like to. Plus it's a fund raiser for The Ronald McDonald House, and I figure it might give me incentive. Then back to the AI, more walking and up and downing, and a bus to the train station, and back to pick up my car, which my husband leaves so I don't have to walk home. A feat I'm not sure I could have done at that point. Miles and miles that day.
But I did have the cheapest lunch and stuck to my diet at the AI's cafe, which does have really good food. I looked at the salads, but of the three offered, two had cheese and other stuff, that I shouldn't eat, at least not now, so I opted for just the garden salad, then walked over to the sandwich station, and asked for two pieces of sourdough bread (I think it was just plain white) and some turkey breast. When he said "You want that on the bread, don't you?" and I replied "Not particularly", he plopped what was at least a quarter to a third of a pound if not more of meat on my plate. Wow! It was a lot. And I treated myself to a pat of butter for the bread. Plus I got some fat-free Italian dressing, which was like water, but it did the job. I had a huge salad with low-fat meat, bread and butter, and coffee. Lunch was $6.32, and coffee alone was $1.85. I do save the taxes because I am a member.
I felt good about that lunch. Sticking to the plan. This morning I got up at the normal thirty minutes before dawn, and trooped down the Path. My knees are bothering me now, and I'm not sure what to do. I suspect a lot has to do with dancing around the basement, but I truly love to do that. Everything I do involves the knees, whether walking, dancing, or the exercises I do. And I must do them in order to lose and then maintain weight. A Catch-22 indeed. In fact, yesterday I went to see a terrific flic, "Bandslam" and loved the music so much I came home and bought the CD off of Amazon, because I know I can really move to it.
But I am reading while eating. Period. I don't think I can give that up. I do weigh and measure my food, something that perhaps someday I can get away from. Not now.
14 days down.
Monday, August 10, 2009
THE NEW ME
Here we are on Monday morning at 9:18 am, and still on track. Although yesterday I did no exercise at all (it was a scheduled walk day) because on Saturday we went to the Bud Billiken Parade. Whew! Were we ever unprepared for it's length! We arrived at a good viewing point at 9am, parade started to hit our spot at 10:15, and at 1:20 we bailed, with probably another hour to go at least. We had no chairs or real food, just some pretzels (not me, I had baked potato chips, one serving carefully measured) and I had brought a whole bunch of red and yellow pepper sticks. We had been standing since 9, and between the heat, no food, the incredible noise, mostly from the blasting loudspeakers of several parade entrants, the standing, we had had enough. But it was totally worth it, and we all decided we would go back next year. It was just plain fun.
Unfortunately, the best laid plans etc., etc. My car, which I had thought to drive to Hyde Park for some lunch for my two friends (I had brought a sandwich and a tomato in a cooler) simply would not start. I could not believe it. This thing is my favorite possession in all the world. So we had to sit in it, and the heat, for another hour and a half, waiting to be rescued by a significant other, and to my surprise, my husband, who had not been home when I called. But the significant other brought a rather large dog, and now there were five of us and the dog to go in a Chevy Yukon. With no air, no less! It was 93 degrees and steamy. So my husband and I opted for the Green line and the Metra station home. Blessed air conditioning. And then when we got back to our suburb, I had to walk a mile home.
You can probably guess why yesterday I did not move much at all. I had lost two pounds between Saturday morning and Sunday morning. Today I gained one pound back and weighed in at 188.
But I'm back to normal now, still got up early and did my exercises, and will dance around the basement here in a short while. I like to wait at least an hour after I eat breakfast before I do that.
Have kept to the diet pretty much, only altering it to my tastes. I do like onion and lettuce on my sandwiches, something the plan does not call for. I figure that can't hurt. And milk in my coffee. I usually just take it from my daily allowance, but today no milk is called for, so I added about 1/4 cup (skim) to my coffee this morning, and will add a splash at lunch.
Also I am still eating in the yellow porch, although I cut some flowers for the table, got out a place mat to match the dark blue plates and bowls I now use. And I simply find it almost impossible not to read at breakfast and lunch, and watch TV at dinner. These are really ingrained habits, even in childhood. My parents basically hated each other, and at dinner we turned the TV around to face the breakfast room where we ate, so conversation could be avoided.
If I only put on my plate the allotted portion of food, what difference can it make? Although all, simply all, the experts say to never do this, but only eat, concentrate on your food. I think they are right, because I do find I am not as conscious of what I am taking in as if I just sat there and ate. Sometimes I do this, but not often. Maybe I should try harder. I think I eat slower too.
Nine days down.
Unfortunately, the best laid plans etc., etc. My car, which I had thought to drive to Hyde Park for some lunch for my two friends (I had brought a sandwich and a tomato in a cooler) simply would not start. I could not believe it. This thing is my favorite possession in all the world. So we had to sit in it, and the heat, for another hour and a half, waiting to be rescued by a significant other, and to my surprise, my husband, who had not been home when I called. But the significant other brought a rather large dog, and now there were five of us and the dog to go in a Chevy Yukon. With no air, no less! It was 93 degrees and steamy. So my husband and I opted for the Green line and the Metra station home. Blessed air conditioning. And then when we got back to our suburb, I had to walk a mile home.
You can probably guess why yesterday I did not move much at all. I had lost two pounds between Saturday morning and Sunday morning. Today I gained one pound back and weighed in at 188.
But I'm back to normal now, still got up early and did my exercises, and will dance around the basement here in a short while. I like to wait at least an hour after I eat breakfast before I do that.
Have kept to the diet pretty much, only altering it to my tastes. I do like onion and lettuce on my sandwiches, something the plan does not call for. I figure that can't hurt. And milk in my coffee. I usually just take it from my daily allowance, but today no milk is called for, so I added about 1/4 cup (skim) to my coffee this morning, and will add a splash at lunch.
Also I am still eating in the yellow porch, although I cut some flowers for the table, got out a place mat to match the dark blue plates and bowls I now use. And I simply find it almost impossible not to read at breakfast and lunch, and watch TV at dinner. These are really ingrained habits, even in childhood. My parents basically hated each other, and at dinner we turned the TV around to face the breakfast room where we ate, so conversation could be avoided.
If I only put on my plate the allotted portion of food, what difference can it make? Although all, simply all, the experts say to never do this, but only eat, concentrate on your food. I think they are right, because I do find I am not as conscious of what I am taking in as if I just sat there and ate. Sometimes I do this, but not often. Maybe I should try harder. I think I eat slower too.
Nine days down.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
ME
7:48 pm Thursday evening - still on track. Getting up 30 minutes before dawn, tomorrow that will be at 5:20 am. I looked back in my daily journal, mostly garden stuff, but saw that at the beginning of the year dawn is at 7:20, so that means that the latest I will ever get up is 6:50. I guess that's not too bad.
Used that classical tape Wednesday morning. At first I thought it was way too slow, but it picked up finally and I walked the same distance, 3 miles, and arrived home in a sweat. All the joggers in the world. When I crossed Route 83 and looked down the path, I counted at least 15, mostly coming towards me. I'll keep using that tape for a while yet.
Dancing around the basement too, and doing the exercises, and sticking to the exercise program. Yesterday, I even brought my lunch to Arlington Race Track. Good thing too, as I left home with $56, and returned with only $20. I dearly love the track, having been born and raised in Louisville. My father's company had a box seat for the Derby, and so I went several times. I love horse racing. Anyway, the entrance fee is $5, and it is such a beautiful place, it's a shame it's so sparsely attended. At least on Wednesdays. I bet all 8 races, $6 each, so that's $48. I won two races, and lost all the rest.
Got home and collapsed on the couch at 7:30. Finally went up to bed at 8:45, but I did get up this morning after a good nite's rest.
Saturday I plan to go to the Bud Billiken Parade, and don't think I should carry a lunch in all that heat. And we have to get an early start, so I'm not sure how that day will go.
I did get out a nice placemat, and cut some autumn lilies for the table. They have such a marvelous fragrance. It perfumes the whole room.
So far, so good. Six days down.
Used that classical tape Wednesday morning. At first I thought it was way too slow, but it picked up finally and I walked the same distance, 3 miles, and arrived home in a sweat. All the joggers in the world. When I crossed Route 83 and looked down the path, I counted at least 15, mostly coming towards me. I'll keep using that tape for a while yet.
Dancing around the basement too, and doing the exercises, and sticking to the exercise program. Yesterday, I even brought my lunch to Arlington Race Track. Good thing too, as I left home with $56, and returned with only $20. I dearly love the track, having been born and raised in Louisville. My father's company had a box seat for the Derby, and so I went several times. I love horse racing. Anyway, the entrance fee is $5, and it is such a beautiful place, it's a shame it's so sparsely attended. At least on Wednesdays. I bet all 8 races, $6 each, so that's $48. I won two races, and lost all the rest.
Got home and collapsed on the couch at 7:30. Finally went up to bed at 8:45, but I did get up this morning after a good nite's rest.
Saturday I plan to go to the Bud Billiken Parade, and don't think I should carry a lunch in all that heat. And we have to get an early start, so I'm not sure how that day will go.
I did get out a nice placemat, and cut some autumn lilies for the table. They have such a marvelous fragrance. It perfumes the whole room.
So far, so good. Six days down.
Monday, August 3, 2009
ME
Here we are at 11:39 Monday morning, and so far so good. Still getting up 30 minutes before dawn, this morning that was 5:17. But right now I am very hungry.
Interesting thing on Saturday along the Prairie Path. On the north side, all is wild prairie, lovely and unkempt, as nature tends to be. On the south side, McMansions with a place for every plant, and every plant in its place. Neat and tidy to the nth degree. Such a contrast. I wonder if the homeowners are even aware of it. I don't much care for that style of landscaping myself.
Sunday I got up early and did the exercise routine and stretching, and was rather surprised at my lack of flexibility now, especially in my back and the back of my thighs. Those exercises were damn hard! But I already know that in the long run, they're worth it.
And sometime before lunch I did dance around the basement to Beethoven's Ritterballet - and loved it. I have two versions, and it is so interesting to hear how different conductors interpret the same music. It is 12 minutes long, and I did both versions, with a break in between. I enjoyed that almost more than the walking at dawn. I remember my father telling me that if he had had the voice, which he didn't, he would have been an opera singer. I grew up with opera, and hearing him sing "Figaro" in the shower. If I had had the body, and the chance, I would have been a dancer.
I am surprised at how easily I gave up sugar in my coffee. I always had one tablespoon of the stuff in the 7 cups (marker on the pot, works out to 2 /12 12 ounce mugs) every morning and 1/2 tablespoon at lunch. With 2% milk. Now I just use skim with no sugar, and it isn't hard at all. I had thought it would be horrible.
And I have discovered strawberries dipped in no-fat chocolate pudding. Really nummy.
There are tips in the book that I am reading, a zillion, but I am going to read one each day. The first is to drink a glass of water before each meal. Not hard. In the evening I drink sparkling mineral water, some Polish brand. Maybe with lemon or lime in it. Second tip is to eat from dark-colored plates. I had bought some navy blue ones back in 2002 so I pulled those out. No wonder I was having trouble all these years. We use very brightly colored plates, which apparently stimulate your appetite. Tell that to my thin husband. Third tip - eat in rooms that are blue or gray. Well, I'd have to eat in the bedroom to do that. Every other room in the house is a warm color. The back porch, where we eat all our meals is yellow, a color to avoid. Great. So maybe I'll try the formal dining room. That at least is cream.
This morning, when I went for a bowl for my cereal and half a banana, I had two choices, a large one and a small one. Now in the past that would have been a no-brainer, and you can guess which one. Even today, I thought the small one couldn't possibly hold 3/4 cup of All-Bran, that banana, and some milk. But I did try it, and of course it was perfect. Now I know what size to use in the future, even if I don't always weigh the cereal.
This morning I trotted down the Prairie Path, east this time. Won't do that again, however. I run into the underpass for both 290 and the North-South tollway, and the booming noise and creaking is not enjoyable. I was hoping to go west one day and east another, just to keep boredom at bay, but now I guess not. Tons of joggers again. Even two women, one jogging and a taller one walking, keeping together.
I'm also going to switch tapes from the Sargeant to a classical walking tape at 3 mph. Perhaps I can keep up with that, although as I remember the beat is not as good. We'll see on Wednesday. Work back up to the marching ones, which I do prefer. I was 189 this morning.
This morning's Trib has a front page article on OCD. I read the whole thing, and now wonder if I have it at all. I am certainly never anxious about my behavior in any way. I do have, to some extent, a need for perfection, but I have certainly had to make allowances for that with the man I live with, now over 40 years. One of my favorite things to do in fact is to arrange and/or organize stuff. And I do feel the need to follow the diet plan exactly, but I haven't always done that, like having more than 1/2 cup of broccoli and red boiled potatoes. It doesn't bother me a whole lot. I do like exactness, but don't get in a knot if I can't find it. You should see my house and garden! So maybe I don't have OCD at all, or if so, a very mild version. My sons say they have never seen one that takes the form of an alpha-omega obsession. But I'm not sure if iti s an obsession now, or just an easy and fun way to make unimportant decisions. Not every aspect of my life is dictated by that.
2nd day down.
Interesting thing on Saturday along the Prairie Path. On the north side, all is wild prairie, lovely and unkempt, as nature tends to be. On the south side, McMansions with a place for every plant, and every plant in its place. Neat and tidy to the nth degree. Such a contrast. I wonder if the homeowners are even aware of it. I don't much care for that style of landscaping myself.
Sunday I got up early and did the exercise routine and stretching, and was rather surprised at my lack of flexibility now, especially in my back and the back of my thighs. Those exercises were damn hard! But I already know that in the long run, they're worth it.
And sometime before lunch I did dance around the basement to Beethoven's Ritterballet - and loved it. I have two versions, and it is so interesting to hear how different conductors interpret the same music. It is 12 minutes long, and I did both versions, with a break in between. I enjoyed that almost more than the walking at dawn. I remember my father telling me that if he had had the voice, which he didn't, he would have been an opera singer. I grew up with opera, and hearing him sing "Figaro" in the shower. If I had had the body, and the chance, I would have been a dancer.
I am surprised at how easily I gave up sugar in my coffee. I always had one tablespoon of the stuff in the 7 cups (marker on the pot, works out to 2 /12 12 ounce mugs) every morning and 1/2 tablespoon at lunch. With 2% milk. Now I just use skim with no sugar, and it isn't hard at all. I had thought it would be horrible.
And I have discovered strawberries dipped in no-fat chocolate pudding. Really nummy.
There are tips in the book that I am reading, a zillion, but I am going to read one each day. The first is to drink a glass of water before each meal. Not hard. In the evening I drink sparkling mineral water, some Polish brand. Maybe with lemon or lime in it. Second tip is to eat from dark-colored plates. I had bought some navy blue ones back in 2002 so I pulled those out. No wonder I was having trouble all these years. We use very brightly colored plates, which apparently stimulate your appetite. Tell that to my thin husband. Third tip - eat in rooms that are blue or gray. Well, I'd have to eat in the bedroom to do that. Every other room in the house is a warm color. The back porch, where we eat all our meals is yellow, a color to avoid. Great. So maybe I'll try the formal dining room. That at least is cream.
This morning, when I went for a bowl for my cereal and half a banana, I had two choices, a large one and a small one. Now in the past that would have been a no-brainer, and you can guess which one. Even today, I thought the small one couldn't possibly hold 3/4 cup of All-Bran, that banana, and some milk. But I did try it, and of course it was perfect. Now I know what size to use in the future, even if I don't always weigh the cereal.
This morning I trotted down the Prairie Path, east this time. Won't do that again, however. I run into the underpass for both 290 and the North-South tollway, and the booming noise and creaking is not enjoyable. I was hoping to go west one day and east another, just to keep boredom at bay, but now I guess not. Tons of joggers again. Even two women, one jogging and a taller one walking, keeping together.
I'm also going to switch tapes from the Sargeant to a classical walking tape at 3 mph. Perhaps I can keep up with that, although as I remember the beat is not as good. We'll see on Wednesday. Work back up to the marching ones, which I do prefer. I was 189 this morning.
This morning's Trib has a front page article on OCD. I read the whole thing, and now wonder if I have it at all. I am certainly never anxious about my behavior in any way. I do have, to some extent, a need for perfection, but I have certainly had to make allowances for that with the man I live with, now over 40 years. One of my favorite things to do in fact is to arrange and/or organize stuff. And I do feel the need to follow the diet plan exactly, but I haven't always done that, like having more than 1/2 cup of broccoli and red boiled potatoes. It doesn't bother me a whole lot. I do like exactness, but don't get in a knot if I can't find it. You should see my house and garden! So maybe I don't have OCD at all, or if so, a very mild version. My sons say they have never seen one that takes the form of an alpha-omega obsession. But I'm not sure if iti s an obsession now, or just an easy and fun way to make unimportant decisions. Not every aspect of my life is dictated by that.
2nd day down.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
ME
Here I am at 7:36 pm, with a cup of green tea, the first day down. I did indeed rise at 5:14, throw on some clothes, set the coffee maker, and go out the door. And I did do the exercise tape for an hour, but only 3 miles, not four. I never can do the four, as my stride is simply not long enough. But today, I could not even keep up with the tape. It's called "Walking with the Sergeant", and I have five, all in different speeds, but none less than the four mile per hour pace, and that is not consistent. It starts slower, goes faster in the middle, and then winds down. They are good, but I realized fairly early on this morning that right now at least, I can only do this every other day. At least for the month of August, that's what I will do.
And I did not do any more exercise either. Although I did walk around Jewel finishing the grocery shopping. I guess I must start smaller and build up. Tomorrow I will do the upper body work and stretches, and maybe some dancing in the basement. I have a great Beethoven CD, the Ritterballet, which has some wonderful music.
As far as food goes, it was no problem. Stuck with it all day. Was hungry at times, but not horribly. But now I'm tired. Will probably go to bed soon, as I plan to be up at 5:15 tomorrow. Set the coffee and do the exercises then, just get them out of the way. It really opens up the day.
And I want to add an addendum about The Illinois Prairie Path, which Is what I walk. I have never seen the prairie plants so glorious. Must be all the rain. A stretch even has plants taller than I am. Somebody's lilac bee balm escaped into it also. Cone flowers, yellow ones, all sorts of other stuff. And the morning, soft and lovely. Was a pleasure to be out there. Why do I ever quit? And I was most certainly not alone, even at that early Saturday morning hour. Tons of joggers, a few bikers and walkers, and of course dog walkers. And all slim. It is an exerciser's paradise.
And I did not do any more exercise either. Although I did walk around Jewel finishing the grocery shopping. I guess I must start smaller and build up. Tomorrow I will do the upper body work and stretches, and maybe some dancing in the basement. I have a great Beethoven CD, the Ritterballet, which has some wonderful music.
As far as food goes, it was no problem. Stuck with it all day. Was hungry at times, but not horribly. But now I'm tired. Will probably go to bed soon, as I plan to be up at 5:15 tomorrow. Set the coffee and do the exercises then, just get them out of the way. It really opens up the day.
And I want to add an addendum about The Illinois Prairie Path, which Is what I walk. I have never seen the prairie plants so glorious. Must be all the rain. A stretch even has plants taller than I am. Somebody's lilac bee balm escaped into it also. Cone flowers, yellow ones, all sorts of other stuff. And the morning, soft and lovely. Was a pleasure to be out there. Why do I ever quit? And I was most certainly not alone, even at that early Saturday morning hour. Tons of joggers, a few bikers and walkers, and of course dog walkers. And all slim. It is an exerciser's paradise.
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