Showing March who's Boss...or Plateau Has Broken

Friday, March 26, 2010

Today has been a happy day for me. I got to the pool, not once but twice, and got in lots of fun & fitness. Mel picked me up this morning and we got in a good hour workout before we got changed, picked up DH & had a nice lunch together. After the grandchildren got home on the bus, we headed back over to the pool and got in another hour & 15 minutes of workout then. Savannah & McKenzie practiced their diving with our favorite lifeguard instructing them while McKayla and I swam laps and did some of my water aerobic workout. She likes to be my coach.

All the girls were very excited that Grandmama had a happy weigh in this morning. I was singing to them: Plateau Has Broken...to the tune of Cat Stevens, Morning Has Broken. They thought it was funny that I seem to have a song for everything. You may remember the "Pool Glorious Pool" song that I created to the tune of "Food Glorious Food" from the Musical OLIVER! I still sing that sometimes when I am doing my laps at the pool.

Since I have been home I have had a nice healthy dinner, done some Sparking, and taken a nice hot bubble bath. Now, believe it or not, I am more than ready to go to bed early after watching a little bit of the Criminal Minds marathon on ION TV.

Bright blessings to you and yours my friends. I hope that your weekend is full of fun, fitness and family. It's Race Weekend in Martinsville and we have dear friends coming in from Minnesota. They come every race weekend and go to the race with DH. It's a GREAT time and we always enjoy visiting with one another. We all met on a BBW group online and she (Terrie) is the one who told me that DH had a crush on me before I even knew it myself. The first time that he visited the US (he's from Wales) she was here to visit, so we basically all met "in real life" at the same time. It's been a fast and true friendship ever since. So, you can see that MY weekend is going to Sparkle.... I wish the same for you as well. Be blessed and be well my Spark Family. Lots of love, Dawn

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Even Waterwoman needs a push every now and then...

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The bed just felt so good this morning. I didn't want to get up and go to my Silver Splash class. Originally I had even thought that I'd get up and go to the 10am regular water aerobic class and then do the Silver Splash class followed up by some laps in the pool. The morning when I woke up all I wanted to do was stay in the bed and sleep some more. I didn't hit the snooze alarm, but instead just kept dozing then staring at the clock. FINALLY WATERWOMAN won out and I got my sorry butt up out of the bed and went to the class. I got to the YMCA in plenty of time and once in the water was in my full glory again. I admit that the MAIN reason that I went to the class was that I posted about the class HERE and made the commitment NOT to miss any of the classes. When I make a commitment, I do my best to keep it. I've made this commitment to MYSELF and to my spark family. THANK YOU for a forum where I can do that because otherwise, I'd have missed out on a great class and good fitness.

A major MAJOR blessing to share about the class is this.... the strength exercises that I have learned in the class and am doing on a daily basis in the pool have allowed me to PUT AWAY THE CANE! I am not limping. My legs are not shaking when I stand. I am walking briskly. I am not in pain. I am so happy that I could dance... in fact, I think I WILL dance. I read a spark friend's blog earlier today and she was talking about dancing for 15 minutes before leaving her house for the day. I was so impressed by the idea that I may take it up myself. It's certainly a good idea. I admit that the other day I was literally DANCING in the pool (gotta love this MP3 player) and it felt GREAT!

The grand-daughters' mommy was off work today so I have been home most of the afternoon. I did a LOT of sparking. I got in 11,000 marching steps today and 30 minutes of chair exercises and 30 minutes of strength exercises. I am keeping the goals that I posted and YES... I'm still BOSSING MARCH around. Tomorrow is my weigh in. I am determined that it is going to be a good one. It's time for a plateau busting party! You're all invited. Now... it just has to happen.

Bright blessings to you all, Love, Dawn

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A Wonderful Wednesday, 03/24

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

My friend Mel's hubby is having some bad pain issues and she needed to stay home and take care of him this morning. We didn't get to go work out at the pool. Please keep "Bobby", and of course Mel, in your prayers. Bobby & Paul work together at the WalMart in Stuart. Bobby hurt his back last year and has been suffering from herniated and bulging discs since then. He was out on workman's comp but they just forced him back to work and he was only able to stand working a few days and has had to call out the last 3. He is on major pain medications and is in chronic agonizing pain. It's so hard to see such a vital and intelligent man being reduced to a pain induced zombie state. My heart hurts for both He and Mel, who loves him to pieces. I met them both back in June 2003 and have been fast friends with the two of them since then. I know that they would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Since we didn't go to the pool this morning, I got to sleep in a bit. I had lay down for a nap after having to pick up DH at 7am this morning. When Mel called and said we were "off" from the pool, I was glad to go back into snoozeland. LOL I got up and ate then did some sparking before the grandchildren got off the bus.

It was an absolutely GORGEOUS day so I took the children to the park for the afternoon. They had a great time and Becca went with us to take some pictures. It was really nice. I got to sit and get in my marching steps in the fresh air. Life is so good! Have I mentioned how much I LOVE to be outside? We dropped the girls off at their house and came on home ourselves.

I sat outside on the porch so that Kaydon could play outside while we were waiting for dinner. I did my strength exercises and got in some chair exercises too. I had done 30 minutes earlier in the day before the children got home. I did 15 minutes more on the porch. It's race week here in Martinsville so we have had a lot more traffic going by. I live on the main road (if there is such a place here in this little town) so you can imagine the looks I get as I am sitting on my porch marching away and moving my arms like crazy trying to burn all the calories I can. A couple of folks blew their horns at me. I just waved and laughed. This is just the beginning. Come this weekend, we'll be sitting on the porch waving at folks like we're the Beverly Hillbillies. It's a fun pastime for us here with all the out of town race fans. I have dear friends that come from MN every race weekend and stay here at our house. DH & they go to the race together. We used to put out Christmas lights all around the porch and then light them up and wave to folks as they pass by but I think that I am going to fore-go the lights this year. LOL We're pretty darn redneck without the lights already. LOL

After dinner we headed to the YMCA. The grandchildren have their swim classes on Wednesday nights. I took the MP3 player and got in a solid hour of swimming laps while Becca took pictures of their classes. After our pool time I delivered the girls back home (their mom dropped them off thank goodness) and then took Kaydon & Becca home. Dropped them off, got a plate of food for DH and headed over to AutoZone to pick him up from that job and then delivered him to the WalMart job. He's working a lot of extra hours this week because of the race. He's one tired cookie. Glad that he only has to work AutoZone tomorrow and is off from BOTH jobs on Sat & Sun because of the race & our company. He needs to do something FUN.

I am going to try to get to bed early again tonight. I have my Silver Splash Water Aerobic class tomorrow morning and am going to TRY to get to the 10am Y-Water Aerobic class that is before it. Then I'll stay and get in at least an hour of swimming laps before I head home. No pool for the kids tomorrow. I am going to try to take them back to the park IF it's not raining. Think happy "dry" thoughts.

Friday morning is my weigh day. I am feeling hopeful that THIS is the week the plateau is breaking. My fitness is good, my food is good, and my attitude of gratitude is soaring! Thanks for all your love and support. You make my heart smile! Spark On my friends! Bright blessings to you all... Love, Dawn

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Waterwoman is WHOOPED!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Today has been a great day full of fun and fitness. Too much fitness if how tired I am is the gauge to use. I don't have that answer. What I DO know is that I am very tired and going to bed as soon as I type this blog and post my Team Family Member of the Day for the 50 Pound Challenge Team. That's about ALL that I can do. I have to pick up DH in the morning so I have to be up at 6:20am and it's after 11pm now. Not enough hours in the day.

03/23: 10,000marching steps, 230mins pool exercises, 30mins chair exercises, 60mins strength exercises

The weird thing is that I am full of energy and FEEL GREAT... my body is just exhausted and I need to get to bed. It's a good feeling to be honest with you.

When I went to my Silver Splash class this morning and stayed after to swim laps, I didn't realize that I would be taking the grand-daughters back to the pool for so long. I wasn't sure if I would be taking them at all because the middle girl has been suffering from ear issues and our pool time depended on her. My best friend Mel gave me a waterproof MP3 player for my birthday and I was using it today. WOW! What a great workout I can get when I am using it. The funny thing that happened today was that I was jamming along to "So Happy Together" when one of the lifeguards came and held up a sign in front of me that said "WE CAN HEAR YOU". LOL Apparently I was singing WAY too loud! I turned around and there was a mini-crowd in the aquatic office laughing at me. Lip-sinc is the answer from now on. I wasn't too embarrassed but was glad that it was the song it was and not the Rob Zombie that had been playing earlier. Mel did the play list for me and it's always a happy surprise. I ended my workout with The Monkees! WooHoo.

I got home to the happy news that my son & DIL are having a GIRL. They had dropped me off at the YMCA on their way to her doctor appointment & ultrasound. Things sure have changed. They even have a picture in 3-D. So, grandchild #9, coming in July is another girl. That will make 6 girls and 3 boys. Kaydon is very happy to be getting a little sister. The grand-daughters are pretty excited too. At least there will be plenty of hand-me-downs.

The girls were all hot to go to the pool and Kaydon got a smiley face so I put on another bathing suit (the wet one was hanging on the porch) and off we went. I had thought we'd just stay a short while and ended up having the break bad to get them out of the pool. They worked me OUT! I had to RACE them, be shark, an alligator and chase them, carry them on my back, throw them, catch them, you name it.... probably burned more calories and did more strength work with them than the rest of the day. We had fun though. Life is good & I am very blessed to have these balls of fire in my life. We're keeping each OTHER happy & healthy.

I got home from babysitting at 9pm and ate my dinner and have been steady sparking along. Time for bed now. Much love to you all. I'm still busy BOSSING MARCH around! I met all my goals again today.

Bright blessings to you all and goodnight. Love, Dawn

PS: My friend Mel changed her sparkpage to public if you tried to visit yesterday and could not while it was still set to private. She's picking me up in the morning and off to the pool we are going to get ANOTHER workout! WooHoo! She's turning into my spark exercise buddy and I am HAPPY HAPPY.

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MERRY MONDAY... Celebrating the Success of a Sister/Friend

Monday, March 22, 2010

Today has been a GREAT day. My best friend picked me up this morning and off we went to the YMCA pool for some fun & fitness. We always have a good time when we are there. Her dad recently gave her the gift of a "health club membership" for a belated Holiday gift. WooHoo, lucky girl.

I got to talk to the Aquatic Director, Rebecca, while Mel was getting ready. I needed to go over some stuff about my grand-daughter's class. By the time Mel got in the pool I was finally getting finished with talking to Rebecca. WOW... it occurred to me that I had been STANDING there talking to her for almost 10 minutes and my legs were NOT shaking. That's new! I will also add that I was sharing with Rebecca that the Silver Sneakers class that I am taking is really helping my legs. I am not using my cane. I am not LIMPING! I am working out with the exercises that they have taught me even on the days that I am not in the class. I really excited. I am LOVING this class and intend to keep it up!

However, I digress... I wanted to write about the "rest of the story". Mel and I had our workout. We got in an hour together and then I stayed in for an extra 10 minutes before getting out myself. After my shower & getting ready I waited for Mel in the waiting area. She came out shortly there after (I don't have a health club membership so we have separate changing/shower areas) getting ready with a BIG SMILE on her face.... .... Rebecca and a couple of life guards were having lunch by this time in the food area so I was chatting with them about the fact that I was wearing a 2X dress (woohoo) when Mel shared with us that she had just weighed in on the scale in the health club locker room. BIG ANNOUNCEMENT PLEASE..... She has lost 20 pounds! I am so proud of her!

Mel & I share so much. We've been friends since we met in June 2003. She & her husband are both my friends, my family & my mentors. My husband met them when he first came over to this country and they became fast friends as well. We got married in a hand fasting ceremony at their house. They stood up with & for us. We spend as much time with them as we can, sadly it's not nearly enough with my husband's work schedule. She & I have been working out together at the Y on and off for about a year. Recently she has really been getting serious and even joined Spark People with me! WooHoo! I am so happy that we are sharing this journey together. Today I celebrate her loss with her! Today I celebrate her success and her journey.

Here's a link to her spark page... Please help me to share some of the joy & success with her. Here's to Many Many more lost pounds! Go Mel Go!

www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=GO
THICCHARMS

In the meantime, I got in lots of fun & fitness today. After Mel & I parted ways, I took the grand-daughters to the park. It's been a GREAT day. My food is good, my fitness is good and I have kept all the goals I set for myself in the blog yesterday. YEP, I'm showing March Who's Boss! (thanks again Simone)

Love to you all & bright blessings for a wonderful week. -Dawn

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