Motivation

Reached 30 minutes on the elliptical  using the cross-train aerobic mode today!!  I plan to stay at 30 minutes daily while I increase my difficulty level.  

Springtime and kmmd: yoga sounds nice.  

dianenv: this past summer we spent the summer in a small beach town in Costa Rica.  No car, just biked everywhere -- it helped that the land was fairly flat so very few difficult areas but I LOVED it.  I could so enjoy retiring in an area such as that.  Tropical weather, warm blue ocean, fresh foods and daily exercise that comes naturally.  That's my idea of a DREAM LIFE. 

Joy, start with 10 minutes! and Wow, a Nana! Good for you. Oh guess what. We are having our first Pink Ribbon Yoga meeting this Sunday! Getting ready for another good one this summer. You are coming, right?????

Yoga tonight was SO GOOD! Gosh, I love that class. It is so much more rewarding to do Yoga in a group (for me). There is something about the camaraderie.  

tomorrow, Weights and Cardio. I came here and said it. Now I have to do it!!! 

My first pilates class went just fine....I am taking a class at the local college and was worried about being the "old lady" but there are plenty of old ladies there!  

I am taking this class for several different reasons.  1) They take roll....and I am expected to actually show up!  2) It's so cheap!  This class runs twice per week until May!  For the $80 I paid for my 1-credit course, I consider it a great deal!  3) Now that I am officially a student, I have full access to the gym!  So I can go to the gym all I want until May....for no additional cost.  Not to mention, I get to use the library.  

After struggling with the cost of a gym membership, and the fact that I wasn't doing so well trying to maintain a fitness program at home by myself, I am feeling very good about this solution!  The teacher had us take all kinds of measurements and write them down to hand in and compare at the end of the semester.  Plus, she tested our body fat %, which we will do again at the end! 

dbdaze, one thing I like to do is to process a bunch of veggies into bitesize pieces and put them in a big tupperware in the fridge (wash and cut up broccoli and cauliflower, peel and slice carrots, wash and trim green beans). Also I precook brown rice or millet and keep it ready to go (you can also freeze it once it's cooked).   Then just steam a bunch veggies for 10 minutes while I heat up some rice whenever I am hungry.  I find that I am much more willing to eat veggies when I am really hungry, if they have already been processed (even though I understand that I may lose some vitamins by doing so).  

Another super quick lunch is to put a couple cloves of minced garlic in some olive oil, saute it for 2 minutes and add one of those pre-washed boxes of baby spinach, saute for 2 more minutes and serve over aforementioned rice or millet.  Instant lunch!  If you are realllly hungry or need some good clean protein, as soon as the spinach begins to wilt, dig a little hole or two, break an egg into the hole(s), (if it seems dry, you might add a couple TBSP of water or broth)  cover the pan and leave it on for 3 more minutes.  "Eggs in a nest"  So yummy comfort food!

 I have found Bragg's Amino Acids to be a tasty and healthy thing to spray on any veggies for 0 calories.  Also a little Brewer's Yeast sprinkled on veggies is delish and buttery-tasting while adding good nutrition and no calories.

Joy, I'll give you a kick only if you'll kick me... my eating has been terrible several days this week!! We don't keep junk food in the house anymore, but somehow there was a small bag of Lay's potato chips in the pantry. I never even crave potato chips, but girls, I craved them last night. I polished off those potato chips (close to three servings' worth!!) with organic Greek yogurt as a dip (mmm).

Miraculously, my weight had dropped a couple of pounds this morning (in spite of all that salt! go figure) to the lowest it's been in months. But grrrr, I can't keep indulging cravings like that! (unless the potato chips are organic and salted with Himalayan sea salt! LOL)

Yesterday I did Stairmaster a whopping 15 minutes (got interrupted) and today a little over 30... as long as I get SOME in, like you all keep saying, that's what counts.

Great lunch suggestions, everyone! Yum! My fall-back lunch is two pastured eggs (if I didn't have them for breakfast) with a huuuuge salad. The salad varies depending on what I have on hand. The last few days, it was just organic baby greens and avocado with a sprinkle of Bragg's organic dressing... mmm!

I've also been making a lot of soups now that the weather is cold... usually a bean-based soup of some kind. I  make up a big batch and store in Pyrex containers. I don't use the microwave anymore so I heat it either in the cast iron skillet or (if I have more time and don't want to attend so closely to it) the convection oven.

Okay went to the doctor and I have shingles! The reason I have been sleeping so much. Back to work today on 2nd shift for the next 5 days. Still walking my dog twice a day so that is something.

Hey CrunchyPoodle - cyber kick!!! I screwed up last night too. I wanted sweet donuts and bought the small munchkin box and the clerk couldn't count. Instead of 24 I got 48. They aren't helping me!! But they are good! Back to work so I won't eat as much.

Everyone have a good weekend. Going to a boy's b'ball game for 10 year olds on Saturday. Stay warm Spring and yes I'm ready for the yoga retreat. Did the cd ever get finished from last year?

Kari - how are you doing on arimidex?

Didn't walk today since DH and I met up for lunch, but we made a deal to walk together after work!

Joy, my onc has ordered a bone density scan for me (I asked her to push the test up, since she was going to wait til March or so, after one year on Arimidex), but my chiro took an xray of my hip area the other night, and discovered the reason for all my leg/hip issues.  My pelvis is rotated and one side shorter than the other.  I got a lift for my shoe to help.  BUT he noticed my bones are showing bad calcium absorption.  I emailed both my PCP and onc and PCP called me back and gave me some suggestions on calcium:  Take 1,200 -1,500 mg per day, but I have to space out 3-4 hours since the body can only absorb 500 mg at one time. Calcium carbonate is harder on tummy but if I can tolerate it, then I should take that.  The citrate is less potent per pill she said.  So my onc wrote me back today and said she is ordering the bone density scan.  I'm anxious for that!  I get achy after exercise and walk like I'm 100 yr old after laying in bed for awhile, but all in all I'm doing very well.

How are you doing on Arimidex? 

No baby, my DD has schedule an acupuncture session with a lady for Monday 1/17.  Supposed to help her relax and open her hips to get that stubborn baby out!!

Great ideas on lunch....I'm a boring sandwich/fruit gal.  Love the class at the college idea, I looked into that last summer. 

Happy 3 day weekend everyone!!!  I hope everyone has a safe, wonderful and productive 3 day.  I am going to the lake to to walk this morning.  Las Vegas is supposed to be 70 degrees this afternoon.  I am so excited.  We have gone from 20 degrees below normal to 10 to 15 above. 

My DH and I went to see Santana last night and it was wonderful!!! I was not really a fan, didn't know what he did, but it was great.  Of course I had to take a nap before so I could stay awake and even that didn't keep me from closing my eyes on occasion.

Enjoy your weekend!

Hi there, I've been lurking and need to get fit. I'm not heavy but I have terrible muscle tone and strength. I just hate walking outside. I have a treadmill but my DH put it downstairs and its in pieces. If I could only put it together myself. You have motivated me to try. Thank you.

I like the fact that you all measure your activity. It gives me a place to start and a method of  motivation.

Saturday: Weights at the Gym and 50 minutes on the bike

Sunday: 45 minutes on the eliptical.

That is a successful exercise weekend!

Joy! We had the first Pink Ribbon Yoga retreat planning meeting today! Oh, the Web site (pinkribbonyoga.com) is open and accepting the initial deposit to hold your spot. Tell Joanne! You two should get in there and sign up!! 

Spring, loved the comment from your onc that you posted on FB, and hope you'll share it here!

Diane, you're so lucky to live where you have easy access to great shows!  I'll bet Santana was fabulous!

Hi Debbie!  Welcome.  Are you in treatment or finished?

kmmd, I saw the thread you started about neuropathy, and feel so bad for you.  I honestly think mine is still improving (2 years post-chemo), and hope someone will have some new ideas that will help you.  What more have you thought about the work question you'd posed here recently?

I was MIA here last week due to my brother & his fiancee making a rare visit from NY & France, where they split their time, so never have time to go anywhere else.  We had a great, active few days, but I didn't get in my long morning walks or gym time.  Then, on Saturday, I did the most stupid thing, which I'll tell you about so that none of you ever do it!  I was getting out of the car in a hurry (DH was driving), and somehow got both feet tangled in the straps of my purse, which was at my feet.  So, I went flying out of the car, knees first.  It all happened so fast, I was kind of stunned, and in so much pain.  Thank goodness, I was wearing jeans, but my knees (which hit first) are pretty bruised & sore, as are my wrists & palms.  I've known 2 friends who have reported doing the same thing, but I never thought something so clumsy-sounding would happen to me.  So please take heed from my experience and don't ever put a purse with straps at your feet in the car!     Deanna

You guys are awesome. I'm just going to reread the whole thread and not get intimidated!

Springtime: It doesn't get better than that -- to have a doc announce you look fabulous!  Congrats too on the diet change, helping your hubby lose that much weight!  You are such a great motivator, always pulling through with your daily exercises not matter what.  

Debbiemalcom: welcome, my dear! This site IS great to get you motivated, so just jump in and begin.  Maybe if your husband sees you working to assemble your treadmill, he'll feel compelled to help.  

Diane: Jealous of your beautiful weather.  Nothing but rain here in the Great NW.  The gloomy weather works against all motivation but I've somehow managed to start each day on the elliptical. Anxious for spring!

Decided to start a blog today and my first post was about my relationship with my elliptical!!  LOL 

I think the wet NW sent it to the East Coast. Thought about putting pontoons on my trailer last night. Sounded good hitting the roof to sleep but enough. My Dd is out and playing in the mud so that means I get to clean her up but will walk first before the rain starts back up. At least it is in the 50's.

After I do my taxes I hope to look into a Wii. I know a lot of you have it (them). Any help to what I need to look for will help. I figure with my swing shift this might help me do something.

Spring - no use in complaining about the pain from the shingles. Dd just looks at me. I only use the pain pills at night so I can sleep. Also signed up and sent in a deposit for the Pink Ribbon Yoga Retreat in August. Told JoAnne and she is too.

Hope everyone had a great weekend while I worked!! I'm off Wed/Thurs this week. Yoga on Wed and then out to dinner with friends. Welcome all new ones and (((((((hugs))))))) 10 minute rule

Finally feeling good enough to try to get a little exercise in today, I've missed it