Happy Valentine's Day!
I looked back and apparently, I haven't posted since New Year's, so I guess I'm holiday posting?
So, things here have been calm this year, thus far, which is just how I like 'em.
As far as it goes with me, I put on a few pounds over the holidays - which pissed me off so much (at myself) since I had lost some weight! *sigh* But, back at it now. And with exercise - I mean, lots & lots of exercise - at least this week. With Christmas money from my mom and sister, I purchased a recumbent bike to use at home. I swear, I've never had a piece of equiptment that has gotten so much use. One reason is that it's in the living room. The xmas tree went down, and a week or so later, the bike arrived. It really didn't cost that much - less than $150 and had good reviews. Nothing fancy, but it does the job. Also, since Rick's bone is still healing, he can't do much walking, so it's good for him.
Then there's the treadmill, formerly, the coat rack of the kitchen. I've had the thing for at least 10 years, and have probably used it more in the past couple months than I ever have before. One big - THE BIGGEST reason was that with smoking - well, it just was harder to walk at such a clip without it being really uncomfortable.
Honestly, now that I've had some quality time away from smoking, (about 8 months) and had my knee fixed 4 months ago (not ever as good as my normal knee, before arthritis was, but a far better cry than my pre-surgery knee was) I can see how much all of it was related. When I was younger, the smoking didn't bother me that much - I weighed a lot less, and could still exercise, but as weight crept up, it became harder (b'cuz of the smoking) so I sat around a lot more, developed arthritis, which then further decreased my motivation to exercise and so on and so on.
So, between the bike and the treadmill, I set a goal this week (a lofty one at that) of 21 miles and 5 hrs. of exercise. As of yesterday,(the week started on Monday for me) I'd done 18.17 miles (approx. 15 on the bike) and exercised for about 154.08 mins. or 2.57 hrs. in 3 days. Not bad for an old...er, upper reaches of middle-age? lady, huh? Nope, I didn't think so either. Even doing some weight lifting w/ weights and bought (though haven't blown up) an exercise ball.
I'm just so sick of basically being at the same weight year after year, or within 10lbs. or so (except early 2000's, I was about 30lbs. more) I really do need to get it off to preserve my new knee, and my other one, too.
Wanna know a secret? I'm actually kinda diggin' it. Esp. since my 'gym' is right here - basically, feet from where I'm sitting right now, so don't have to do anything more than go put on workout clothes, and VOILA! I'm at the free-membership gym. Since I don't 'die' from the exertion, I don't even mind the sweat - makes me know I'm doing the job. And, it makes me feel young (Ah...sweet, endorphins) I put on my MP3, and I'm motivated. In fact, for every 5 miles I go, I'm buying myself a new song I don't have on Amazon to add to my repertoire. I still wobble when I walk a bit, and am still stiff at time, but, like O.N.L. (ha-ha-ha) I'm a work-in-progress.
The money situation still basically really sucks and sucks bad with no other money than what I bring in from eBay and Rick's 401(k), but at least in March, he'll start getting a couple thousand in disability payments until he go back to work (but that may not even be until next fall, as his bone isn't healed, and he'll need another operation). So, that really sucks.
Ending on a good note, my daughter passed her insurance exam, so she's now able to sell health and life insurance. She's still in college and had once passed it (but as she didn't actually make it work for herself back then - tried to sell Aflac - she let it lapse, so had to take it all again.
Rick, April, and her b/f are going to the Auto Show tomorrow, so I'll actually have some time to myself. Whatever will I do???
So, things here have been calm this year, thus far, which is just how I like 'em.
As far as it goes with me, I put on a few pounds over the holidays - which pissed me off so much (at myself) since I had lost some weight! *sigh* But, back at it now. And with exercise - I mean, lots & lots of exercise - at least this week. With Christmas money from my mom and sister, I purchased a recumbent bike to use at home. I swear, I've never had a piece of equiptment that has gotten so much use. One reason is that it's in the living room. The xmas tree went down, and a week or so later, the bike arrived. It really didn't cost that much - less than $150 and had good reviews. Nothing fancy, but it does the job. Also, since Rick's bone is still healing, he can't do much walking, so it's good for him.
Then there's the treadmill, formerly, the coat rack of the kitchen. I've had the thing for at least 10 years, and have probably used it more in the past couple months than I ever have before. One big - THE BIGGEST reason was that with smoking - well, it just was harder to walk at such a clip without it being really uncomfortable.
Honestly, now that I've had some quality time away from smoking, (about 8 months) and had my knee fixed 4 months ago (not ever as good as my normal knee, before arthritis was, but a far better cry than my pre-surgery knee was) I can see how much all of it was related. When I was younger, the smoking didn't bother me that much - I weighed a lot less, and could still exercise, but as weight crept up, it became harder (b'cuz of the smoking) so I sat around a lot more, developed arthritis, which then further decreased my motivation to exercise and so on and so on.
So, between the bike and the treadmill, I set a goal this week (a lofty one at that) of 21 miles and 5 hrs. of exercise. As of yesterday,(the week started on Monday for me) I'd done 18.17 miles (approx. 15 on the bike) and exercised for about 154.08 mins. or 2.57 hrs. in 3 days. Not bad for an old...er, upper reaches of middle-age? lady, huh? Nope, I didn't think so either. Even doing some weight lifting w/ weights and bought (though haven't blown up) an exercise ball.
I'm just so sick of basically being at the same weight year after year, or within 10lbs. or so (except early 2000's, I was about 30lbs. more) I really do need to get it off to preserve my new knee, and my other one, too.
Wanna know a secret? I'm actually kinda diggin' it. Esp. since my 'gym' is right here - basically, feet from where I'm sitting right now, so don't have to do anything more than go put on workout clothes, and VOILA! I'm at the free-membership gym. Since I don't 'die' from the exertion, I don't even mind the sweat - makes me know I'm doing the job. And, it makes me feel young (Ah...sweet, endorphins) I put on my MP3, and I'm motivated. In fact, for every 5 miles I go, I'm buying myself a new song I don't have on Amazon to add to my repertoire. I still wobble when I walk a bit, and am still stiff at time, but, like O.N.L. (ha-ha-ha) I'm a work-in-progress.
The money situation still basically really sucks and sucks bad with no other money than what I bring in from eBay and Rick's 401(k), but at least in March, he'll start getting a couple thousand in disability payments until he go back to work (but that may not even be until next fall, as his bone isn't healed, and he'll need another operation). So, that really sucks.
Ending on a good note, my daughter passed her insurance exam, so she's now able to sell health and life insurance. She's still in college and had once passed it (but as she didn't actually make it work for herself back then - tried to sell Aflac - she let it lapse, so had to take it all again.
Rick, April, and her b/f are going to the Auto Show tomorrow, so I'll actually have some time to myself. Whatever will I do???