The Midwest Misery weather has arrived in Maine. The chickens don't much care for snow underfoot.

It's a good day to enjoy being indoors, mostly. I started my morning with a little warm up on the stationary bike and the Totalgym. Then went on to the free weight program I started on Friday. This is much simpler than what I'd been doing, but much heavier weights. Just 4 simple exercises: Dead lifts, Bench presses, Dumbbell squats with overhead presses, and Pull ups/Chin ups.

I was a little sore over the weekend from the routine, but much better today, and feeling stronger. Actually added a little more weight. Did 3 sets, 10 reps. I know I had a workout.

I also spent a little time reviewing and coordinating my thoughts on the three programs I've been working on. It's a little wrenching, because all of them involve positive lifestyle changes. The good part of it is that it seems to be helping. Change happens slowly, at least, change that sticks. The three-pronged approach I'm using includes the SparkDiet program, the Mind Over Body program, and the 7-Day Boot Camp Plan.

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I switched from doing Coach Nicole's strength training routines in order to have a free weight program that meets my own needs better. I still consider myself to be doing her plan in order to build redundant, habitual consistency, which is why I started it in the first place. (Courtesy of the Department of Redundancy Dept.)

A cairn is a place and/or path marker. I feel that using these three programs I have set some cairns to mark the path I'm following now. Part of the path is pretty steep and rocky. Some of it gets above my own treeline, where I can get a better view. I'm planning on building my own cairns, one stone at a time, to mark my progress along this path, how far I've come, and how many times I've visited each point.

I realize that what I'm doing may seem to lack focus, to go off in different directions in ways that can hinder my progress. That may be true, but I'm not just trying to loose weight, I'm trying to make some of the positive changes SparkPeople embodies. I expect it to take time. After all, I'm not trying to reach a set goal, this is a voyage of discovery.