Sunday back & forth

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Sunday is my church day--& some days the church stuff really does take up most of my day! For this morning I had begged off responsibilities for organizing the service, as a couple of weeks ago when most of the work would have had to be done I was still recovering from bronchitis. So at least I didn't have to be there early. The service was lovely & nurturing.

Then at 1:00 I had to trundle back to the church meetinghouse for a Skype call with one of our pastoral candidates, who lives in Pennsylvania. It was a conversation between him (an African American) & a Cambodian leader & a Congolese leader in our congregation. The rest of us were there to help out with logistics & see how they interacted despite some limited English proficiency. The answer is, very well--it was encouraging.

And at 8:00 this evening I go back again for a meeting of support groups for a wife in our congregation & her husband (who isn't attending the church these days) who are facing divorce.

So my exercise today is the extra walks back & forth! It's 5 Chicago blocks, adding up to 2 miles. I don't count the first walks to & from church, as I make that one every Sunday.

Life is so rich & full!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CZARINA_TV 2/21/2011 10:36AM

I use the same system -- I never count my first walking trip outside of the house, but everything else gets logged. Logging the walks and seeing things add up is my reward for not taking the bus. Report Inappropriate Comment

AMYLONGHORN 2/21/2011 9:11AM

That is so cool that you get to walk back and forth to church! I live in the 'burbs, so we drive EVERYWHERE...but walking all over the city is AWESOME exercise! I am active in my church, too, and actually blogged about taking donuts to my senior high Sunday school class! None for me, thank you! Report Inappropriate Comment

CTEMPLE 2/20/2011 11:07PM

Claudia Report Inappropriate Comment

SHANSHE 2/20/2011 10:36PM

Yay for extra exercise! Report Inappropriate Comment

JMCADE 2/20/2011 10:03PM

It is so wondeerful that you have such an involvement at your church. We are between churches right now, trying to find one we like. Hope your day was great. Also, count those two trips, exercise is exercise. Report Inappropriate Comment

BLEGNER1 2/20/2011 8:56PM

Praise God you fed your spitir and exercised your physical body at the same time Good going Report Inappropriate Comment

BEATLETOT 2/20/2011 7:42PM

I you, Ruth! It sounds like you had a lovely day! I'd've loved to have seen the different pastors interact! Report Inappropriate Comment

MORRIS1989 2/20/2011 6:29PM

You're right life is rich and full thank GOD for that glad you had a busy but, happy day at church and you walked too. Have a beautiful evening! Report Inappropriate Comment

5% Challenge kickoff!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Why am I doing the 5% Challenge? Here I'm repeating from a post about a week ago, but I'll phrase it a bit differently & add a couple of reasons.

1. To continue slimming down so I can feel comfortable in all my clothes, knowing that I'm looking my best.
2. To continue cultivating good health--so important as I get older.
3. As a celebration of singleness & independence! Earlier this month I passed the one-year anniversary of my soon-to-be ex's moving out of our bedroom in a huff. I am moving forward in my life as a happily single person now--& finding that it's MUCH easier to eat right & exercise nowadays.

My expectations:

1. Sometimes it will be a wee bit tedious to track food (as I'm committed to doing) as well as exercise. So I will need to keep in mind some ways to reward myself.
2. There will be lots of fun along the way--especially celebrating with fellow Starfish!
3. At the end of the eight weeks I will be slimmer & stronger--hopefully quite close to my long-term goal weight!

My goals:

1. fortifying good habits: outdoor walking/jogging at least three times a week for eight weeks--this will work with the 5K training I'm doing
2. fortifying good habits: 30-Day Shred at least twice a week for eight weeks
3. fortifying good habits: eating delicious food, most of it home prepared, every day for eight weeks
4. participating in the community: getting to know fellow Starfish better & cheering them on enthusiastically
5. losing weight: ending the eight weeks at or below 154 lbs (this will be only 4 lbs from my long-term goal!)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PJBOKC 2/22/2011 4:24PM

You do such good work and inspire so many. You just know how to say things the right way. I love this blog. After being out of town and therefore, a little behind on the challenge, this blog is just what I need to read. I LOVE THIS BLOG! Report Inappropriate Comment

KAREN_NY 2/20/2011 8:58PM

WOW!! LOVE how your list is all about CONTINUING to be FABULOUS! Because clearly you've already got it going on! Rock the day, K:) Report Inappropriate Comment

MORRIS1989 2/20/2011 3:19PM

You can do it my friend you are a very strong person best wishes to you. Report Inappropriate Comment

BOBBIEED 2/20/2011 10:44AM

Running is one of my goals as well. You can do this! Bobbie Report Inappropriate Comment

CZARINA_TV 2/20/2011 10:40AM

Good for you! Go Ruth go! Report Inappropriate Comment

SHANSHE 2/19/2011 9:56PM

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CTEMPLE 2/19/2011 9:35PM

One year: time flies! Great to read this blog dear Ruthie. I didn't know that there could private SP teams! I've discovered a website for writers that might interest you crumpetsandtea.me >Claudia Comment edited on: 2/19/2011 9:42:07 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

BEATLETOT 2/19/2011 4:00PM

I'm so excited that we're on the same team again! Report Inappropriate Comment

KRISTA64 2/19/2011 2:40PM

Go fellow starfish Go!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SASSACAIA 2/19/2011 1:56PM

I'm so excited that we're doing the 5K together as well! I'm starting today - I just finished some 30-day Shred and plan on getting outside in a bit!! I'm also glad to have your support, my friend! Keep up the stellar work! You are going to be at your long-term goal in no time!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

The upcoming 5% Challenge

Friday, February 18, 2011

The link that arrived in my Sparkmail a little while ago, describing the challenge, did not work. So I went to the 5% Challenge Community team page to find it. Here's the link:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/team_
messageboard_thread.asp?board=18590x48
544x39996261

It's going to be fun, but I'm thinking that some new Starfish members might not find the explanations altogether clear. Let me know if you need some help figuring it out! Of course the team leaders can help too, but feel free to ask in comments here if you like--it can seem a bit complicated & overwhelming when you're starting out.

(By the way, I have also started training for a walk/jog 5K in April [5K Your Way here at SP]. Because it requires timed intervals, I stopped by Target on my way home from work today & bought a stopwatch! Tomorrow morning I'm off to the Loyola track for my training! That will be so much more fun than using the oven timer & walking/jogging around my dining room & kitchen, as I did this morning. )

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MORRIS1989 2/20/2011 3:21PM

Glad you got out of the kitchen!! Onward to the track good for you! Report Inappropriate Comment

SASSACAIA 2/18/2011 9:57PM

Let me know how the stopwatch works! I'm going to make a playlist on my iPod with songs representing the intervals! I need to go work on that now! Report Inappropriate Comment

EYES_ON_THEPRAZ 2/18/2011 6:26PM

Thanks for taking initiative with helping on the challenge! SEAWAVE, Here's what I'm going to do for this first week LGL challenge. I do *most* of my sparking here at work (don't tell my boss), so I'm going to keep a post-it on my desk and divide it into 2 columns. One side for 5% challenge blog comments and the other for all other blog comments. Then as I comment, I'll just make a check/tally on the corresponding side and add up the totals (2 pts for each check on my 5% challenge blog side, and 1 pt for all others) at the end of the day. Hopefully this makes sense. RUTH, sounds like your 5k is timed perfectly for the end of this challenge. Having that goal at the end is the perfect thing to look forward to! Report Inappropriate Comment

SEAWAVE 2/18/2011 10:00AM

I'm worried I'll forget to log in my minutes/track responses to blogs, etc. in the team's thread. I hate having to track all that separately! I'll be working off a checklist every day to not forget! Aside from that, the energy that comes from the 5% challenge makes everything fun for me, so I'm expecting to really enjoy it! Have fun with the 5K! Report Inappropriate Comment

AMYLONGHORN 2/18/2011 9:07AM

Thanks for coming out and saying the guidelines for the challenge might be confusing for newbies...I know I'm overwhelemed by it all! Hopefully I will get the hang of it by just DOING it, but I appreciate your offer of help...I'll be sure to take you up on it if I need it!! Have fun with the 5K training! I have run in the past and did the Couch 2 5K (C25K) program and loved it...I am even considering starting it up again! Good luck!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CTEMPLE 2/18/2011 5:14AM

I hope is a nice warmish day for you! Loyola after Ignacio de? Claudia Report Inappropriate Comment

SHANSHE 2/18/2011 1:08AM

GREAT, I know you will enjoy training for your 5K and I bet that 5% will fall right off this time around! Shan Report Inappropriate Comment

MERRY2010 2/18/2011 12:24AM

Have fun with your new toy at the track! I think an occasional device gives us a way to judge our progress. Report Inappropriate Comment

I just bought a tent!

Monday, February 14, 2011

It's a small two-person Coleman tent, well reviewed on Overstock.com, & today it is on special for just $41. With $1 shipping, what a deal! I also bought a roll-up foam pad to go under my sleeping bag.

This is symbolic in a couple of ways--because:

1. My husband & I got a nice little Eddie Bauer tent as a wedding present--but we never used it. Because I was sole support of the family, I worked most weekends as well as weekdays, & there was never a good time to go camping. Besides, after a few years of marriage I realized that he was too anxious & crabby to go camping with--it wouldn't have been fun AT ALL.

2. When he moved out, he wanted to take the tent & the propane lamp (also a wedding present). It wasn't worth arguing over, so I said OK.

3. I am starting to feel better after two weeks with bronchitis--& spring is coming!

4. I am actually picturing using this as a ONE-person tent for getaways at Starved Rock Park (central Illinois), or by a lake in Wisconsin, to hike & write. I myself AM a fun person to camp with--things don't have to be perfect, I take problems in stride, I hugely enjoy the beauty of nature. And I enjoy solitude.

5. I also enjoy people! I can go camping with groups of friends. I can even bring the tent to future church retreats & thus have private sleeping quarters rather than sharing a dorm-style room. When my granddaughter (who will be born any day now) gets old enough, I can take her on short camping trips!

OK, this was an impulsive purchase (I just happened to scroll through Overstock's ad today & a larger version of this tent caught my eye). But it obviously speaks to some of my deep longings. I hereby proclaim that one of my 2011 goals is to take at least one weekend camping trip!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LESKASH 2/18/2011 12:18AM

not an expensive impulse purchase you could put in back yard. :) Report Inappropriate Comment

ALASKASKY 2/16/2011 12:05PM

Yaaaaaaa! I would love to go camping with you. It sounds like so much fun. That's what I call living life. Report Inappropriate Comment

CZARINA_TV 2/16/2011 8:55AM

Good for you Ruth! That sounds like fun... Report Inappropriate Comment

SHANSHE 2/15/2011 2:09PM

Impulse purchases can be good too and I can see you using the tent maybe even more than once this year! :) Shan Report Inappropriate Comment

GETHEALTHY231 2/15/2011 1:05PM

Ruth - that is absolutely awesome!!! I picked out a tent last year for my anniversary gift from the company I work for. I LOVE camping. Nice thing about a tent - you can keep it and a duffel bag of stuff in your car at all times for spur of the moment trips!!! ENJOY! Report Inappropriate Comment

EYES_ON_THEPRAZ 2/15/2011 11:49AM

Have fun! I loathe camping but I know others seem to love it! It's all about what makes you happy! Report Inappropriate Comment

SASSACAIA 2/15/2011 10:10AM

Yipee! That sounds like a lovely gift to yourself! Yay for future camping expeditions! Glad to hear you are feeling better too!! Spring IS on its way!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

BEATLETOT 2/15/2011 9:50AM

Heehee, the first time I glanced at this, I thought, "Aww, poor person shouldn't be so down on themselves when they go clothing shopping..." then I saw it was YOU, and then I realized that it was literal! =) Congrats! I hope you get to use it really soon! Report Inappropriate Comment

KRISTA64 2/15/2011 6:44AM

I LOVE camping...it is so relaxing! Enjoy! Report Inappropriate Comment

CTEMPLE 2/15/2011 2:00AM

Bargain , well done. I myself am nota camping person, but well understand the appeal. Life is good when you don't carry burdens! Claudia ( will check overstock never heard about it but they might not ship os) Report Inappropriate Comment

MY_HEALTH_BABY 2/14/2011 9:57PM

¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•´ (¸.•´¸¸.•¨¯`* Nice! Camp out where ever, when ever--just because! I luv it! Report Inappropriate Comment

MORRIS1989 2/14/2011 8:44PM

That would be nice to go on a camping trip I have never been. I really like nature too. Don't forget about your goal to go camping. Glad to hear you are feeling better. You still have to take it easy. Report Inappropriate Comment

I confess: it's mostly about comfort & the way I look

Saturday, February 12, 2011

This is my Motivation Blog for the next 5% Challenge.

My BMI is within the healthy range. My blood pressure is usually lovely (at my last visit to my doctor, despite this bronchitis, it was something like 100/70). My blood sugar is fine, my cholesterol is fine. I'm not disease prone.

But I still want to lose some weight & tone up, especially my upper arms. At my goal weight, 150, I will be at a BMI of 21.6--still healthy, not underweight at all. I want to get there so I can comfortably wear some favorite clothes--that sleeveless black dress in summer! that slinky wool-knit black dress in winter! that white dress with a jazzy belt! all my shorts! all the sleeveless shirts/tops!

Yep, I want to be strong too. But this round, it's gonna be for the way I look! Hurray!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MORRIS1989 2/14/2011 8:40PM

You can do it and you will!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

GETHEALTHY231 2/14/2011 4:39PM

You have to love the way you feel and you will love the way you look! Go for it and enjoy the next round! You are awesome!!! Strong and beautiful! Report Inappropriate Comment

CZARINA_TV 2/13/2011 6:49AM

No shame in that! Good luck Ruth! (and congrats on the blood pressure reading...) Report Inappropriate Comment

CTEMPLE 2/12/2011 11:46PM

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SHANSHE 2/12/2011 10:52PM

I do not think there is anything wrong with wanting to look good when you are working hard to be healthy! Shan Report Inappropriate Comment

BEATLETOT 2/12/2011 8:16PM

As you already read (and commented on--thank you!), vanity is a top reason for me, too! And it must be for so many people! Nothing wrong with it! But if it matters, I already think you're beautiful! Report Inappropriate Comment