Back on the bike ....

Good morning all The LAST thing I wanted to do at 4:30 this morning was to get out of bed and go to the gym after taking 3 days off, but I did it. I was there and on the recumbent bike by 4:55 a.m. and did 30 minutes of random hills. I always feel great afterwards, it's just the getting there that is a drag especially at 13 degrees out there ... brrrrrrrrrrrr.... I had a very lazy weekend after my two late nights (Thursday night for Bob Seger in DC and then Friday night for a retirement party). The only major accomplishment was going shopping to BJ's on Saturday afternoon and stocking up on my lettuce and fajita chicken for the week's lunches and some other staples (South Beach meal replacement bars and Flintstones). Verizon discovered that they couldn't install my FIOS internet on Friday (they discovered this the day BEFORE an appointment that had been made two weeks ago) without a permit from the County to bring the cable across the road, so I am no on hold for that. I've been promised a Saturday or Sunday install now because they have inconvenienced me .. but I've got to find a Sat or Sun to be home now ... but first they have to get the cable to the house ... arghhhh I'll see y'all tonight in Crofton. Have a wonderful day! Hugs, Mo

Morning Mo - I, too, feel great after I exercise - it's just getting there that seems to be the problem! So I bow to you, Mo the Flamingoed Exercise Diva!!! BUT, I did buy my treadmill this weekend - I did lots of research, and after getting brain overload, kind of winged it and bought one at Kmart for $300, which seemed to be a good deal. After looking on the web and getting sticker shock, I kind of decided that I didn't need a lot of bells and whistles and simply wanted an electronic one w/power incline that folded up - nothing more, nothing less. So that's what I got, but it does have some more features that while nice to have, I probably will never use. I almost felt guilty spending that much on myself - I tell myself I'm worth it, but it's so much easier to spend it on clothes, etc. for KB than to take care of myself. It's at my brother's right now, I simply have no room for it, and this way, all three of us can use it. And I'm there most nights anyway, so it's not like I have to drive to the gym. Of course, we had KB this weekend and were going to go bowling, but B's asthma has been acting up, and he just wanted to stay home and be babied. I was up with him at 6:30, and once my Mom got up, K & I left around 1 to have lunch and run some errands. Around 4:30, Mom called my cell and said B wanted to talk to me, so he got on the phone and CRIED, "I miss you, when are you coming home?!" OMG! The guilt - I felt so bad. When I got home, I thought he was going to knock me down. He's been very clingy to me lately and has started crying when I leave at night. Poor little thing! Sunday a.m., I had breakfast with all of them at Cactus Willies (Ick - I hate that place!) It was B's turn to pick, and I honestly think he picked there because of the wrapped butter mints they give you at the end of the meal!! He LOVES butter mints!! So I asked the waitress if he could have a few extra, and she must've brought him a whole pound! Happy B!! Then we went to Kmart and bought the treadmill, which just BARELY fit in Gary's truck. Then we ran some errands and I dropped them off and went home to cook and type. I made them a Bisquick Impossible Cheeseburger Pie, which they promptly demolished! It makes me feel good to cook for them, especially when they really like it! So, here I sit in Pikesville. A friend of mine in the office just told me that the briefing is here instead of Annapolis, something SHE has not bothered to tell me yet. So I guess that means I won't be in Annapolis on Friday to meet you - we'll have to pick another Friday. Well, that's it for me. Have a great day! Say a little prayer for Cira, who's prepping today for her surgery tomorrow!!!! LY, Tia

(((( Tia )))) You need more Tia time! Good deal on the treadmill. I still think I wouldn't mind having a treadmill at home, but then I think I might rather have a recumbent bike (I already have an upright bike, so a treadmill would be a better idea). When we finally move to NC (or where ever we end up) I will need a room to designate as a gym and put a treadmill, and bike and a bow-flex kind of thingy in but that is still a few years away yet. Don't worry about Friday. I'm here MOST Fridays so anytime is just fine with me. The concert on Thurs night was AWESOME. Bob is showing his age, but he STILL ROCKS !!!! We didn't get home til about 12:30 a.m. and then I was wound up so I didn't get into bed til about 1:30. The retirement party on Friday night was fun too. I had volunteered to do the photography, so I was on my feet and moving through most of it with the exception of a small bit of time that I took to eat. There were over 300 people there, and I was busy working the room to get pictures of everyone and the guest of honor, etc. I was up at 5:15 on Sat a.m. and kept thinking I should go back to bed and never did. I was a mess when we went out Sat night. We got home from dinner about 8:15 and I went STRAIGHT to bed and slept in until 7:30 Sunday a.m. I wasn't moving to fast yesterday. Spent most of the day editing the almost 600 pictures from Friday night. Even after deleting the really bad ones, there are still over 500 pictures left. I need to come up with a plan to move them to my laptop so I can burn them onto one DVD rather than take up 2 CDs. I'll worry about that tomorrow night, because tonight I am headed to Crofton for the group meeting. Ok, time to get back to it here. Have a wonderful Monday. Hugs, Mo

Well, I'm working on giving myself some Tia time. The problem is, when I do, I end up being so tired that I blow off whomever I was supposed to meet! Not a good thing! This week, I'm supposed to meet a g/f for dinner on Thursday, so hopefully, I'll keep that date! Also have a date with my therapist, who's more like a girlfriend, except I have to pay her and she doesn't give me wine! That was a HUGE retirement party - can you imagine the varicose veins in THAT room? Today is sure "cuddle your mailman weather!!!" The wind hurt, even for the few minutes that it took me to go from point a to point b!! Can't imagine working outside in this weather, that's for sure!! So glad you had a good time with Bob, sounds like it made for a nice bday for you!! Good! You deserve it! Have a good afternoon! Going to eat some crab soup to which I added shrimp, also!!! Tia

Hi Tia, Wow, sounds like you had your hands full this weekend. I am excited for you that you have a treadmill. I don't care for the treadmill myself. I prefer the eliptical and then the bike. But the treadmill is a great exercise tool to have. Sounds like you got a good deal too. I like the idea of you having it at your brothers house so that others can use it. Anything to help them along. I am trying to convince my girls that they need 30 mins of cardio 4x a week. They aren't there yet but I am sure in time they will work towards it. We have a bike at home and they have DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). DDR is a fun way to exercise too. They just don't have a lot of time in all honesty. They go to school, come home, do homework, leave for Fine Arts rehearsals or some other group they are in, etc. They typically are gone until around 8:30 or 9:00 several nights a week. Maybe in another month when fine arts Regionals are over things will calm down a little & they can have more time for exercise. I had quite a productive weekend with my house. I enjoyed getting the house clean and things put away. Kinda weird I know but I always feel so good about things when my house is in order. I am trying really hard this week to do no carb and restart my weight loss. I've only lost 2 lbs since before Christmas. I really want to put a dent in the last 25 lbs before my 1 year checkup in March. It's not easy! I realize how much I have been eating and the kinds of foods I am eating, especially when I have now cut them out. I know I can do it though. My hubby basically told me this weekend that he doesn't know if I should lose any more weight. My spine shows a lot and he thinks its cuz I am losing too much. I told him it shows cuz I have terrible posture. He also basically told me he doesn't like the way I look. I think that the excess skin, flat boobs, and my spine gross him out. Which is okay, it grosses me out too. I know he loves me, but I don't think he's as attracted to me anymore. He won't say that in so many words but I can tell. At least clothes hide a lot of my problem areas. Don't get me wrong, my hubby loves me and is proud of my progress. I just think he is having a hard time getting used to the changes in my body and I know he hopes we can fix some things so I look more attractive. He always tells me how proud he is of all my weight loss and that he loves me very much. Well, I have got to run to the gym. Have a great day. Hugs, Robin

Hey Rob - Sorry it took me so long to get back to you! It's funny, I used to HATE the treadmill, probably because at my heaviest, I was soooo uncoordinated. Now, I think it'll be just what I need. Hopefully! I like to watch K do DDR, but as far as doing it myself - no way - see my note about being uncoordinated! I'm trying so hard with K because I see so much of myself in her at that age, and I don't want her to become a wls patient! I want to help her learn the good habits now. Unfortunately, she's like her aunt - carbs make her gain weight, while her skinny little brother can eat ANYTHING! It's frustrating for her, and harder, I think you'll agree, for girls. I'm soooo sorry I tested the waters again with carbs - as you know, carbs beget carbs!!!! WOW! When are you coming to my house? Doesn't it feel great to have a clean/decluttered house? I wouldn't know personally, but I know how good I feel when I iron a bunch of clothes - pathetic Tia, I actually LIKE to iron - it gives me time to think about nothing! Yes, I do need some Tia time, but actually, my weekends are typically about the same as this last one, which didn't seem all that busy to me. I'm glad your hubby is supportive, and happy to hear that he's proud of your progress. If you can deal with the sags and bumps, then he should, too!! I'm sure no one likes it less than you, and YOU are what's important. Okay, gotta run! Have a great rest of the week! Tia

Morning MO. Well, almost afternoon now. I didn't do any official exercise this weekend but I did clean my house really well. I vacuumed & mopped the kitchen, dusted and vacuumed the dining and living rooms, even under the couch & loveseat. This I cleaned the windows in the kitchen and livingroom. Then I vacuumed the stairs, the upstairs hallway, my room, dusted my room, cleaned my bedroom windows and my bathroom and the bathroom downstairs and then I put away a lot of stuff! It was a very productive day. I felt so good getting all that done and I also felt good having time all to myself. I cranked up the radio and just enjoyed myself. So while I didn't go to curves I did work my body. My thighs felt the squats from cleaning the glass doors! Later in the evening Stephanie & I went shopping for our shoes for this weekends events. I also got a new pair of tennis shoes for working out in. I'll have to take Meghan for her shoes later this week. On Friday evening she's getting her hair color fixed. Last summer my mom colored her hair auburn and added some blonde highlights. She's tired of it and ready for her own color back. I am having the salon do it cuz I don't want to turn the blonde green. Yikes. I am having an apprentice do it since she will be cheaper. I hope it turns out okay. Yesterday I enjoyed a nap and then went to the Superbowl party at my church. We had a great time. Yay, the Colts won! Yep, I'm a fan of theirs. It was a really good game. A lot of back and forth and great defense on both sides. Well, I am getting ready to head to the gym. I personally don't care for the treadmill so I do either the eliptical or the bike. My exercise therapist said the upright bike is better for building endurance and muscle strength. I don't know which I'll do today. What ever I am in the mood for at the time, and of course what is available. Have a great day. Way to go on getting out in the cold this morning. That's motivation! Hugs, Robin

I'm exhausted just reading what all you did in the house this weekend!!! I've been working on de-cluttering and cleaning too, but didn't do much of that this weekend. I'll be back on it probably Wednesday night. I am scheduling a dump run for Saturday! I envision MANY dump runs before we are done. It would be easier to get a driveway dumpster, but Mr Mo thinks we can just take it to the dump in big blue .. the problem is actually GETTING to the dump with the stuff. I don't mind the treadmill once I get going on it. I seem to be elipitically-challenged, so I stick to the easy stuff. The upright bike seems to bother my hip, so I do the recumbent and I discovered last week that I do like the rowing machine, so I am throwing that into the mix too. Hugs, Mo

I had to use the treadmill today. Wasn't too bad. I get shinsplints though from that so I use other stuff. You go on that rowing machine. That thing is a good little workout! I used to have a lot of problems with my hips. I still have some issues. When I was pregnant with Meghan, my pelvic area got all out of whack and I've had problems eversince but losing the weight has really helped. Still, I have to get the hight just right on the bike or my hip really gives me fits. I hope to tackle the basement sometime this spring and really get rid of some stuff. As much as we have moved, we get to clean out a lot of stuff but this last move I didn't clean our as much as I wanted to. I think with hubby in Korea at the time that I didn't do as much before he came home to move us. So a lot of stuff followed us here. Maybe over spring break? Hugs, robin