Walking the Erie

Monday, July 06, 2009

When my husband was here last year by himself, he went for a walk with a friend along the Erie Canal. We tried to find it once, but didn't and ended up at a park instead.

Yesterday we headed out to try & find it again, and we did. It's not really all that exciting a walk -- it's a paved path that goes from Albany to Buffalo, and you only see the canal at a few points during the walk. But I get bored walking the same way every day, so it's nice to have options, and I'm sure it's pretty during the fall.

There are some parks at various entrance points along the path, and there are benches there -- but nothing for quite some time afteward.



The dogs check out the fence.



It was beautiful and dry yesterday -- the perfect day to be outside.



We walked down to this bridge, then turned around.



I wanted to get a photo of some of the flowers by the side of the path.



Apparently, once upon a time this was a train station.



Our house has a raised deck, and we made use of it when my parents were here -- otherwise we would have been rather crowded in the house. We haven't been able to use it too much, because the weather has been so wet. I feel guilty being out there when I can't let the cats out there -- especially since they can't go outside at all anymore. Still waiting on a fence.



I always tell my husband no one looks good photographed sitting down, but I guess having 2 dogs on your lap camouflages a lot. Lola wanted nothing more than to jump down, but we finally got the shot.



If you look carefully, you just might be able to see Gizmo laying on top of the couch inside. I thought it was kind of a cool picture, but it might not come across at this size.



A quiet, not very exciting weekend, but pleasant -- especially since the weather cooperated. DH wanted to go to the movies yesterday, but I wasn't about to waste such a lovely day!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MTER67 7/7/2009 9:58PM

Terrific pictures! Your dogs are so cute and that walk along the canal looks very beautiful! Report Inappropriate Comment

MOMMA_GRIZZ 7/6/2009 8:46PM

Thanks for sharing those picture - very nice! What a beautiful place to walk. Glad you enjoyed your weekend and have lovely weather. Report Inappropriate Comment

ASHERAH38 7/6/2009 12:36PM

I like to explore new trails too especially those with a history behind them. Love the photos! Hope today is another lovely day your way. It is here, only up to the low 80s, I am loving it! Report Inappropriate Comment

FITKAT2010 7/6/2009 6:55AM

Great pics! It is encouraging me to post mine. Report Inappropriate Comment

Tired & PO'd

Thursday, July 02, 2009

That doesn't describe my mood today, but it sure describes it yesterday.

DH came home early since we were going to the potluck. They'd decided to keep it at the park, instead of his place of work, even tho there was a prediction of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Bad move.

As we were getting the dogs ready, it started to thunder. I told DH we couldn't take the dogs, but we could still go. Lola is afraid of thunder, and while it doesn't bother Chester, he doesn't like the rain & I just knew neither of them would enjoy it. I told DH that taking a dog who's afraid of thunder out into it is the way people lose dogs.

I wanted to just go, since it wasn't raining yet, and everything was already packed up, but he wanted to wait & see if it would let up. Well, it poured. Just like the day before. Just like it's supposed to this afternoon.

I spent about an hour putting together the salad that morning. Not to mention the time involved in making more salad dressing (it got all used up when my relatives were here), slicing cake & packing that away.

I'd wanted to go out to eat on Tuesday, but the rain interfered. Like it did yesterday. Like it probably will today.

I'd also eaten too many chocolate chip cookies. Now, once upon a time, I probably would have finished them all off -- now too many is 2 or 3. Which is significantly better, but hey, once again, my WI was today.

I'd been looking forward to the potluck -- enjoying some different food, not having to cook dinner, meeting more of DH's coworkers. I was tired. I was having cramps from TOM. I don't usually become a b*&%# when TOM arrives, but I sure was last night. It wasn't DH's fault. He cooked a steak on the stovetop (but I had to clean the pan, and decided not to put an apron on -- bad move, got grease on my tshirt naturally), he took the dogs out in the rain several times without asking for any help (I think he was a bit afraid of what might happen if he had asked for help).

My reaction was, admittedly, totally out of proportion to the situation. I guess I'm human after all.

Anyway, I made DH eat the last 2 chocolate chip cookies (there's more in the freezer, but I can just take out a couple to bake when I want them -- it's the already baked ones I have problems with). He brought half the salad and the last of the cake into work today. And even with TOM on top of that, I lost about half a pound this week -- which I must say surprised me.

I'm still trying to figure out the proper ration of exercise to rest to indulgences to healthy eating. You'd think after more than a year I'd have it down, but it seems like it's a constant science experiment.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MTER67 7/2/2009 8:07PM

Sorry that the rain spoiled an afternoon you had been looking forward for. I am sure that the weather, TOM, and a host of other things contributed to the b!tchiness--I speak from experience, being something of an expert in that area, haha! Hope the weather improves soon! Report Inappropriate Comment

FITKAT2010 7/2/2009 2:49PM

Kind of makes me very happy I can't do even one bite. I don't need the additional stress of trying to figure it out. LOL Here's to having the rain stop for you! Report Inappropriate Comment

SKYEFYR 7/2/2009 2:46PM

Hate to tell you this, but once you "get it down" it's going to change. You night sounds like mine was - hubby-wise. Why can't they ever just listen and appease us? Tell DH to take you out to dinner tonight. You deserve a night off. And all your spark friends will agree. So there! Report Inappropriate Comment

If you do it, it will happen

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

I'm not talking about weight loss -- well, sort of. You could interpret the title to mean if you do your baby steps, the weight will come off. And it will.

What I mean is that eventually, your appetite will actually decrease. It may take a really long time -- it has for me -- but lately I've found I can go for longer between meals without getting ravenous; I can (sometimes) eat much less and be satisfied. Food just isn't on my mind as much as it used to be -- which means probably only 75% of the time, instead of 110%!

Even TOM doesn't make me as crazy as it used to it -- probably due to less fat in the body producing less hormones. I was expecting mine next week, only it started this morning -- which explains the cramps that kept me up Monday night, only sometimes I'll get cramps a week in advance.

I haven't been terribly hungry lately, but I will admit I've been struggling with those damn chocolate chip cookies. I haven't done too badly, but I could have done without the temptation of them hanging around. I wonder what it is about cookies? Does it feel like we need more of them because they're so small? The cake, for instance, while good, doesn't call to me. I have absolutely no problems resisting that. But the cookies . . .

And a final note on rest days (probably not final, but final for now): I do actually understand the concept of resting your muscles between ST sessions, and that makes sense to me -- which is why the 30 Day Shred didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

What I struggle with is whether or not the body truly needs an absolute rest day or two a week. No cardio. So I'm just experimenting with it. Will I stall my weight loss if I take it easy a day or two a week? Or should I really shoot for 10,000 steps every day? Every body is different, I imagine, and I'll get my answer eventually.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LEONALIONESS 7/1/2009 5:59PM

With running, I feel like active rest is definitely necessary. I don't just couch on rest days, I still walk around and go out to do things (my rest day is usually Sunday) or handle things like laundry or cleaning the giant ratling mansion, but I don't overly tax myself. And my running improves for it. There is a lot of physical pounding with jogging (and walking, too) and I feel much better having at least one rest day a week. It gives my muscles time to repair from all the little rips and gives my feet a break. My Monday run is usually the best of the week due to the rest day, I think. ;) Of course, your mileage may vary! Comment edited on: 7/1/2009 6:00:00 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

MCLYMORE 7/1/2009 2:18PM

I do agree, my appetite has decreased as well. I try to eat around the same time everyday to fuel my body so you have to find the balance. There are so many factors to consider on this weight loss journey and as you stated everyone is different so you must do what works for you. I know for me when I first stared I was exercising 6 days a week and that worked well, some how I have decreased to about 3 or sometimes 4, it depends on your body. However my goal for July is to exercise 6 days a week. Remember to listen to your body, it has the main control and it will rebel if it's not getting what it needs. Julynn Report Inappropriate Comment

SUZY6281 7/1/2009 12:59PM

I would say that if you don't want to take a rest day, then don't. Just be sure to vary your workouts so that the same muscle group are not always worked. suzy Report Inappropriate Comment

KEAKMAN 7/1/2009 9:58AM

Hmmm, what if your weekly average is 10000 steps per day? That way you could do a 5000 step day if another was 15000. For me, I try to keep it as close to 10000 per day, and on my rest (ie no running) days I find my steps hover around 8000. But on the weekends it skyrockets up to 25000 or more. So a week usually sees me around 100,000 steps. And I think you are right - the "little" foods are so small they MUST be okay to eat by the buckets full! A whole cake does nothing, but a box of cookies - those I can mindlesly eat in one sitting. Report Inappropriate Comment

FITKAT2010 7/1/2009 7:09AM

I don't know girlfriend, I vote aerobic walking everyday. But I did experiment and found it works that way for me. Keep us posted. Report Inappropriate Comment

Another NSV & rest days

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I have really been struggling with the whole rest day concept. Is it truly necessary? Just what does it mean? On many -- but not all -- of the rest days I've taken lately, I've still racked up 10,000 steps. I don't do any strength training or cardio other than walking the dogs. But sometimes life just adds up.

I dropped my nephew & brother off at the train station to continue their college odyssey. Originally I'd planned a run for this afternoon, but didn't sleep well the past 2 days & yes, stayed up later than normal for me last night (but didn't sleep any later than usual).

The only reason I'd planned the run in the first place was because I knew I'd be eating a bit more than usual the last few days. I also realized that that's not a particularly healthy attitude toward exercise, and had already decided to make today a rest day.

And that is where the NSV came in. We'd planned to go out to lunch before I dropped the boys off. I don't really know any restaurants in that town, but I'd seen the Website for a coffee/sandwich place that looked interesting. As I was researching this morning, tho, I came across a pizza restaurant that everyone seems to rave about, including friends that used to live here.

So I decided to take them there instead, knowing my nephew loves pizza (and it's not like my brother & I hate it, either).

The pizza was good, but frankly, I just didn't get what everyone seems to love about that place. I've had pizza closer to home that seems just as good, if not better, to me. I'd also come home briefly after dropping the boys off in the morning & stopping at the pet food store, and I'd had a snack of yogurt & banana.

Having the snack was a smart move. I knew I'd be eating lunch in a short amount of time, but it had been a while since my small breakfast, and I also know that I'm better off going into a meal with the edge already taken off. And it worked for me.

I ate one slice of margherita pizza (only this was actually cheese pizza, which while similar, isn't the same thing, and maybe that colored my opinion of the place). I'd planned to eat 2 slices, which is my normal quota, but I realized I just wasn't hungry after 1 slice. So I stopped. What a concept, huh, just stop when you're full? It doesn't always work for me, but more & more lately, it does.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MOMMA_GRIZZ 6/30/2009 9:06PM

Wow good for you - stopping at one piece - that's fantastic! Good planning your part. Report Inappropriate Comment

FITKAT2010 6/30/2009 8:39PM

I'm with you on What's Up with the rest day. For me I'm hypoglycemic with insulin resistance in the muscles. If I take a day off it effects me drastically. So, my rule of thumb is: If I do an all out training day, do a lower number the next, but still do it. Hope this helps. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUZY6281 6/30/2009 1:53PM

I think you did an awesome job of planning out your food. Good for you! As for the rest day, as I understand it, it gives your muscles time to "repair". I tend to do about one rest day a week from all exercise, but get in 3 cardio days and 3 core workout days. It works for me anyway. suzy Report Inappropriate Comment

A NSV & upcoming challenges

Monday, June 29, 2009

So I'm at my WW meeting this week, chatting occasionally with the woman next to me. At the end, our leader goes around & asks who's lost, how much, and for what total (I don't really like that -- when you lose as slowly as me, it's not terribly rewarding). One woman -- a larger woman -- had lost over 10 lbs her first week!

The woman next to me, who'd lost 40 lbs so far -- and is older than me -- commented that she'd lost 8 lbs her first week. I said I'd never lost more than 3 lb in one week -- ever -- both times of losing a significant amount of weight -- and that time was when I had all my wisdom teeth pulled at once.

She came back with "well, you're so small". Funny how even people in a weight loss meeting can jump to those assumptions. I said I wasn't almost 30 lbs ago!

The next few days are going to be challenging. We went out to dinner last night, after running a couple of hours worth of errands because my family is coming up today -- so that was after working my butt off all day & sitting out in the sun for an hour (sure, finally a warm sunny day when I didn't really need it) with the dogs at a small dog meetup.

My husband wanted to go to Red Robin. I'd never been there, so hunted up their Website. You have to jump thru some hoops, but they do have some nutritional data -- mostly not good. Even the salads were nutritional bombs. The one I finally decided on would have weighed in at over 1000 calories if I'd ordered it as is. I got the dressing on the side, and no croutons, and I think I did ok.

Today I've still got a fair amount of stuff to get done before they get here. I wanted to get in a workout before I walk the dogs -- I really wanted to do a run/walk, but the treadmill is downstairs & I can't keep an eye on the dogs that way. I decided to do a quickie exercise DVD instead, which I can do upstairs (where the dogs usually hang out). My luck, and Lola will decide to go downstairs -- she's the one I have to worry about. But if I used the treadmill, she'd go upstairs -- she seems to hate the noise. Or maybe it's the fact that I have to blare the tv while I'm on the treadmill.

My parents said they plan on us all going out to lunch. I guess my sister is coming too, since they said my nephew might come. I can't really imagine he would, frankly, we don't really know each other as I've lived 2000 miles away for the majority of his life, and my sister could never afford to come out & visit us -- and even if he knows you, he's a very quiet kid.

So there's lunch today. I'm not even sure where to go with them -- not to mention not sure we'll all fit in one car depending on who's coming.

I made my banana chocolate coconut cake, which was a bit of a disaster visually but should still taste really good. So there's that tonight. Plus I made chocolate chip cookies (had the dough frozen already) to bring to the meetup, but ended up bringing quite a few home. Now that's really a challenge for me. I do fine with unbaked in my freezer, but already baked & yummy & just available? I put them on top of the refrigerator for now to get them out of sight.

Then tomorrow I chaffeur my brother & my nephew around, then go out to lunch with them. Oh, plus I didn't sleep well, I'll probably go to bed late (for me) tonight because my brother doesn't plan to get here until 7:30 pm.

And then there's a potluck on Wednesday!

That may be a normal week for some, but for me that's a whole lot more eating out than I'm used to, and a lot more socializing, too. But it's good. I will survive & enjoy & do my best, pre-TOM be damned.

I did an lot yesterday: assembled the cake (a multi-step operation), vacuumed, laundry, walked the dogs, took the dogs to the meetup, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the bathroom, made guacamole, did food shopping. And yes, I was tired -- very tired, in fact. But I don't think I would have been able to get through nearly as much last year with the extra weight. I'm still not quite where I want to be in the energy department, but I've definitely go more. And I love it!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SUZY6281 6/30/2009 1:50PM

Keep up the great attitude and make healthy choices. You will do well. I know how much of a challenge social situations can be. My husband and I are both a bit on the "anti social" side. But you might find that you have a wonderful time. suzy Report Inappropriate Comment

KEAKMAN 6/29/2009 9:10AM

PLUS you are probably still recovering from your recent illness. Sometimes those things debiliate us for weeks afterwards. Make sure you continue to get your rest and take care of yourself! I will be thinking of you this week - with all of your eating out and socializing opportunities. You are always a good planner and wise in your choices. (Red Robin is a favorite of our boys, and you are right - anything you order has to be without half the stuff to make it fit ANY meal plan!) Best wishes! (And thank you for your kind words on my blog yesterday. They meant a lot to me!) Report Inappropriate Comment