More Updates

Had another nice hike last week, but unfortunately, I'm going to have to miss this week's hike because my knee needs a rest.  It's just not healing fast enough!  We hiked Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park and were we surprised to find it had snowed the night before at the 8,500' level which is where the trail head starts.  In fact, we had some light snow off and on throughout the hike!


We had planned on doing a 5 mile hike up to Ouzel Lake and back again for a total of 10 miles and a 1,500' elevation gain to 10,000' (our highest training hike for Mark and me).  The trail was snowy, wet and difficult in some areas, particularly the last 1/2 mile or so.  (There was no path so it had to be broken in and it was on a downhill part of the trail.)  Because I'd slipped a little earlier in the day and hurt my knee again, I chose NOT to do the last 1/2 mile and instead had the rest of the group finish while Mark and I hiked back.  I wanted to take my time and be extra cautious and I didn't want to feel like I was holding anyone up.


We ended up getting back about 15 minutes before the rest of the group.  It was a very beautiful hike and this one has been my favorite so far.  I want to go back and do it again when there isn't any snow on the ground.  I'm sure it will look so different and be just as spectacular!  Plus, I want to make it down to the lake, too!  Click on Mark's photo on the right to get to other pictures during the hike.


So, with hiking aside for a week or so, I'm still working on on my spin bike and/or elliptical as best I can; I'm just not doing the intensity that I used to.  But whatever I'm doing is working as I've dropped more weight!  I made it to my first goal weight and want to lose about 2 more pounds.  (I need a little buffer, plus I need to figure out what I have to do to maintain the weight loss, which always seems to be the trickier part.)  I turned over my new leaf starting on Dec 14, 2011 and 24 weeks later, I've lost 26 pounds and dropped 3 sizes; and in certain clothes, 4 sizes!  Whew!  It's definitely been worth it.  


It's funny, but this is the first time in all my years of "dieting", that I haven't been concerned with the pounds coming off.  I think that's because I've finally realized that I'm going to always workout and always eat this way!  I still go out to dinner, I still have a glass or two of wine each week. And, if I want dessert, I'll have it!  The key for me is to track my calories and my workouts...it's as simple as that.  If I snack too much, I'm not afraid to include it...I track it...period!  And since I use the application "Myfitnesspal.com" it's accessible via computer and on my Android phone so I can always enter something.


My plan all along was to lose weight so that I could come off of my cholesterol medicine and so far, I've successfully been able to do that!  I go for a cholesterol check next month which will be 3 full months that I've been off the medicine and during that time, I have worked out 6 days a week, almost every week.  I'm hoping that I'll be able to stay off the medicine...I don't want to lose my memory!


One last thing I'd like to mention is:  hand, foot and mouth disease...yeah, what's up with this disease going around in children?  This isn't something that I remember as a common childhood disease when I was growing up or when our children were growing up.  But, it seems to be a fairly common occurrence these days.  Poor Sophia has it now and last year Zoe and Ezra had it!  Thankfully, Sophia seems to be getting better now!  (Glad she didn't get it on her birthday!)


Well, we are anxiously awaiting when we get to see Holly, Zoe and Ezra again!  They will be visiting in July!!!  (Wish Erich could be here, too!)  Hope to have lots of fun times while they are here!  We have several things planned...more on that later.  :)

Updates

Gene's hernia operation went well although not everything is back to normal yet.  He has an appointment on March 12th to see a urologist.  Hopefully, things will be better by then.  He is quite weak still and on pain medication.  Mom says he seems a bit better today.  More prayers needed for his recovery.


We spent yesterday with Sara and Sophia.  Sophia was so cheery and having fun with a new walker toy that her Mommy got her at the store.  She seemed to be doing much better!  Still some sniffles but not bad.


I continue to have success at my weight loss and fitness plan.  I'm feeling stronger every day.  I really hope I can get off the statin drug so that I don't experience any of the side effects.  I'm concerned about the recent warnings about memory loss, high blood sugar levels, and muscle pain!  I'm taking a blood test on Tuesday to see how my cholesterol levels are since I've been working out 6 days a week for 3 months now.  The numbers should be much better now.


So, here's a quick recap on my progress...I've lost 17 pounds, and just over 14.5 inches overall. This includes 5.5 inches in the waist and 3 inches in my hips and about 2.5 inches in each thigh. I've dropped one whole pants size and the size I'm in are loose now.  Hope to lose another 8 pounds so that I can fit comfortably into size 12s.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

The sun is about to come up and despite the little bit of remaining snow on the ground and the cold chill in the air, it's another great day in Colorado!  The cloudless sky will bring abundant sunshine today, a perfect backdrop for Valentine's Day!


I'm about to head downstairs to do an hour of my cardio workout before I have to get ready for band rehearsal this morning.  I'll finish the rest of the workout later this afternoon.  I'm still doing quite well on the weight loss (13 lbs. so far), although I have plateaued the past two weeks.  But, the inches are still coming off!  I've lost 5.5 inches in my waist and over 2 inches in my hips and thighs in just 8 weeks.  Yay!  It sure hasn't been easy, but it's become a habit and will stick with me the rest of my life...I'm sure of that!  


I took a big step yesterday and got rid of ALL my big pants, even the practically new ones!  Yes, rather than boxing them up, I gave them away!  I will never go back to that size again!


Well, the spinning bike is calling so I must be off!  Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Busy January

This was a whirlwind month that kept me so busy I didn't even have time to blog!  The month started off with a Sara's 30th birthday celebration followed by spending a night at Sara and Zach's to babysit Sophia.  It was the first time both Mom and Dad were away for the whole night!  Sophia did quite well, too!  


We loaded up the car and headed for the East Coast on January 9th and didn't get home until January 25th.  During that time we stayed with Mom and Gene, my sister, Julie and her husband Ray, and my brother, Larry and his wife, Stephanie.  We were so excited to meet our new niece, Samantha Solimini and to see our other nephews, Lucas, Alex, and Zachary!  As always, it's GREAT whenever I get to see family!  And, we also got to have lunch with an old college (and AF) buddy of mine, Louie Botta while we were at my Mom's.  He lives just a town over from her!


Our main purpose for the trip was to photograph Stephanie's sister, Melanie's wedding in Wilmington, Delaware.  Mark and I shot the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding day preparations, the ceremony, formals, and reception.  It was a lot of fun, but admittedly quite stressful and tiresome.  We were on our feet most of 12 hours and had some restrictions on photographing during the ceremony.  When we awoke the next day, both of us felt like we were hit by a Mack truck!  Our feet were sore and my arm and hand muscles ached from holding the cameras so long!  We did get a lot of nice pictures...took about 2,000!  We're in the editing mode now.  Check out the beautiful bride and groom on the right!


Mark had a New Horizons Band swing band gig this past Friday night and now we're preparing for a concert band performance this Thursday!  (Because we missed a lot of rehearsals, I'm not playing on 3 of the songs because the parts were handed out after we left.)  


Sara and Sophia visited with us yesterday and I can't believe how much Sophia has grown!  She's 8 1/2 months now and is always pulling herself up to a standing position!  I think she is going to be an early walker!  Her two bottom teeth look like they are completely in now.  I imagine we'll be seeing some others pop through soon!  Thankfully for her parents, she is now sleeping through the night!


I updated our white board "to do" list and it's completely full!  We have wine tasting events to plan, a newsletter for the New Horizons International Organization to prepare, upload photos to sell in my Etsy shop, lots of photography tasks to do for my business, in addition to drum practice and band rehearsals!  And, this month is Mark's birthday, my brother, Larry's 40th birthday, Ezra's 4th birthday, and Valentine's Day!  Whew...lots to prepare for!  


And, certainly not last on my list...I'm still working out with a trainer twice a week and working out additionally on my own a total of 6 days a week!  I started with my trainer on Dec 14th.  In addition to working out with him, I use the online program, myfitnesspal.com, to track my daily calories and workouts.  (Thanks, Michelle for the suggestion on this app!)  This program is available on a smart phone, too and automatically syncs.  So far, I've dropped a size and almost 12 pounds!  I've also lost 5 inches in my waist, 1.5 inches in my hips and 2 inches in each thigh!  IT WORKS!!!  There is absolutely no mystery as to how to lose the weight...you must be dedicated to watching what you eat AND workout 6 days a week!  That's it!  There are NO shortcuts!  My goal is to lose another 10 pounds and then to MAINTAIN.  I know the 6 days a week of workouts will need to continue forever.  That's what it takes to be healthy.  (And, that's what the medical community recommends for exercise.)  When I was on our trip back East, I couldn't always do a cardio workout but for many of the days, I found ways to do strength training in the house.  And, I used the hotel fitness rooms when we were traveling.  You can check on my weight loss progress at the bottom of this blog...you'll see "myfitnesspal" tracker there. 


As busy as the month of January was, February is starting out to be even more so!  I'll check in as I can.  

Update Time

The latest on my weight loss journey...not so good this week.  While I was on target for my points this week and up'd my activity I managed to gain 1/2 pound!  How discouraging!  Guess I'll just keep doing what I've been doing and see if a weight loss can kick in over the next week or two.


Getting excited about seeing Sara and Zach on Sunday!  Going to try my hand at a pregnancy photo shoot.  I'll take more pictures of Sara than Zach.  I'm trying to think of poses that are not the goofy traditional ones.


Looking forward to Sara's baby shower next weekend, too!  It was so nice of Sara's friend, Dani to hold the shower at her place! Should be fun!


Still have to practice drums tonight.  Spent the afternoon in Old Town browsing some of the shops.

Lifestyle Change...How to Make It Permanent

Over the years I've probably lost and gained hundreds of pounds.  I could tell you the calories or point values of countless foods.  In the last 15 years, my clothing size has gone from 8 to 16 to every size in between at different times during this period.  And, I've tried just about every diet on this planet...well, almost.

I know I "feel" much better when my hips and thighs are a few inches smaller than they are today.  It was a rude awakening to me when I recently got into a go-cart and realized the seat was a bit snug on my butt! That was my "aha" moment and I vow to make a permanent lifestyle change.

To begin with, I need to get to a comfortable weight and then need to maintain it which is the key.  In my 57 years I finally learned the secret to maintaining a weight loss and realize there is no getting around it...keep moving!  Yep, move EVERY day!  This is particularly important for women who have reached menopause.

My daily routine involves a lot of sitting.  I do at least 2 hours of drums and guitar practice.  I fill in the rest of the day with my other loves:  writing, reading, blogging, and more photography study.  (No wonder my backside has spread!)

I am tired of all my excuses for not incorporating more movement into my daily activities.  I want a permanent change.  With the help of my watch and a pedometer I will track my progress.  Whenever I can fit in movement, I'll do it.  I will start with a 30 to 40 minute movement goal or 8,000 to 9,000 steps a day goal...no ifs, ands, or buts!  And, I am counting Weight Watcher points again to help me lose the unwanted pounds I so successfully gained.

I'll write about my progress weekly and look forward to sharing any ideas with you.