11/07/18, Wednesday

Falling is one of the main reasons I work so hard on balance and leg strength. I think enhancing balance and lower body strength is probably the most beneficial thing we can do for ourselves as we get older.

Happy Hump Day! (My mind immediately goes to the dogs when I write Hump Day! I'm so naughty! LOL!)

This morning proved to be a happy scale day for me! I was ecstatic to see a significant 2 pound drop to 250.4. That means only .5 more to go until I am in a new decade.

Posted a pic of Ron and me on FB after voting yesterday. I immediately focused on my neck, of which there is currently a little too much. Then I noticed my smile and my eyes. I thought, what the hell? I'm just fine, even if the neck is a bit thick and fluffy. I was able to let it go and post without embarrassment. Silly perhaps, but still a very positive step for me in self acceptance.

I have really been giving a lot of thought to what a first rate version of myself could be. The answer so far is that I don't really know. The only thing I can do for now is do my very best to commit to making the behavior changes I want to make and embrace the physical challenges that present themselves. For instance, last night my trainer presented me with an exercise I have never done before: straight arm plank T's on a ball! I had to use a sand ball to maintain my balance, but let me tell you that exercise was taking balance and strength to a new level. We also worked on chest and glute isolations. For chest we pushed to find my failure weight, but didn't find it doing traditional dumb bell chest presses. I went up to 55 lb dumb bells for the last set, but was still able to manage more than 12 reps. I'll start with 55 lbs next time and go from there. I did do 100 lb inside chest presses and that was my failure weight. Third set I couldn't quite get the 8th one out.

An opened box of donuts was presented and offered to me yesterday afternoon. My response: "Thanks, but I think I'll skip today. I am really working on keeping sugar out of my diet. It's a gateway drug for me!" The response was, "To what drug?" I said, "The one called a binge!" and laughed ! I enjoyed being honest and owning my truth. You know what? Instead of pushing the donuts, the librarian said, "Well, good for you" and put the lid on the box and put them away. BOOM!

Diane O., I am going to have to look at your pics. For all the times I've been to the desert to go to the January shows in Indio, I have never taken the time to go to Joshua Tree. It really is a shame. Sorry you didn't get to hit the outlet malls on 10 by the casino. That is probably the best "outlet" mall I've been to. Ron and I spent a few hundred each the last time we went there and got incredible buys on really good quality clothes and leather goods. Seriously, we spent thousands less than list price on some high end stuff. I got a Burberry shirt in the traditional Burberry plaid for $40! STEAL!

Ann, hope you are healing and not too terribly sore today.

BB - congrats on the new job for DH!!!! Isn't it nice when things work out as you so desperately hope? And yes, a bit like Meet Me in St. Louis! You and I must be the two biggest MGM musical buffs out there! LOL!

Diane S., hope we can meet up on Saturday. Let me know what Ardith has planned for Saturday. If she allows you a little free time, I'll pop on up to the show. I'll bring Liza so she can have a little show exposure.

Hope we are all first rate versions of ourselves today!

I saw that picture and thought it was great! I wish we could see each other through outlooker's eyes. I feel like we'd be much kinder to ourselves!

I figured you'd get my reference. Yep love musicals, love old movies. (which, btw, when I say old movies, I'm probably talking about something pre-1970, at the very least, pre-1990. How very strange it is when I mention a "new" movie to my stepkids and they're like "oh, you mean that old movie from 2013??!")

LOL! And to me, an "old movie" is one from the 1930s or 40s.

I keep forgetting you were born in the late 1980s. In that decade I was already a cougar picking up guys in bars. :)

Old movies are from the 30s and 40s for me, too! I find it hard to believe that Dirty Dancing is an "old movie"! Or Grease, which is even older! And I'm about 20 years your jr.! I guess it's all perspective... To me old movies mean they pre date 1970. LOL!

Oh totally. I like the pre-code stuff ;) Give me Jean Harlow any day. Or Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers. Myrna Loy, Greer Garson. I keep TCM playing on loop :)

Hey don't forget the old Betty Davis classics and Bogart. Those are the old classics indeed. Play it again Sam ...

Good Morning all - Thursday here and its freezing! Went from 100 last week to 35 overnight. Rain and thunder of which the puppies did not enjoy. But cant complain - rain is much needed

I weighed this morning and Im up 3.5lbs 171.38 - ugggg - trying to work out if its all the physical stuff I have been doing - muscle gain or the fact TTOM is going to arrive in the next week or so and Im starving - likely a combo of the two. Not too fussed - will weigh again on Monday before I leave to go to the farm. Taking the scales with me this time as will be up for 2 weeks

Ocean - Joshua Tree is on our list for when we come over - it looks stunning. Will have to talk to you further before we come and get some tips. Sorry about your fall! Not good.

Ann - Thinking of you - wow you have had a lot to deal with. Be thankful to be away from such a draining negative nasty force. my DH's is exactly the same - we had years of battles with her re bringing DS home to the farm etc. Long n ugly story

BB - Hope Becca gets better soon x Awful when the little ones are poorly

Peps - Well done on avoiding the donuts and feeling good about the pic you put on facebook. I always try and live by the motto "be happy in your skin" We are all too critical of ourselves - reflection as to the wonderful things we have achieved in our decision to have this surgery, the weight loss and the constant battle to keep it real in maintenance. You should be super proud :)

Liz - Glad you have settled into Florida and DH is becoming more familar. Hope this means you can get a few pockets of downtime

Cec - Thinking of you

Shel - Your picture of me as an ex city girl now farmer n fire fighter made me giggle - thank you :)

Diane - Hope you have a productive day

My day is a little quieter. I baked some banana muffins and 2 batches of zuchinni loaves yesterday, trimmed the roses as they got pounded by all the rain we have had (pics attached) - will drop the yellow ones over to my mum today as she is still battling this chest thing and its getting her down- who doesnt love flowers. Dropped a batch of loaves to my neighbour who is around 3 weeks off having baby number 3 - Nice to help people. It makes my heart sing.

My other DS is coming for dinner tonight - so it will just be me and my 2 sons. Im going to make Lamb Loin Chops with Mash n Veg - homegrown off my SIL farm. YUM - Looking forward to quality time with them both. DH is still away on business.

Well I best go start work all :) Have a wonderful evening and keep smiling :)

Shirley

Shirley, I think I want to come visit YOU! You have such a rich life -- and you're the right age to really enjoy it.

Is your knee surgery scheduled yet? Can't remember if you've said.

Awww welcome anytime Ann - and yes we do have an amazing life. Very lucky indeed

See the Orth Surgeon for consult on Tuesday so will know a little more then........

Thanks for asking