Life is Good

Life is good....real good...very good.  Just think about it.  No matter what you have going on, you DO have a life and that's a good thing.  I am a positive person.  So much so, that I can't be around a lot of negativity.  It just weighs me down.  When that happens, I have to regroup.  Normally, I shut out the world by going for a walk, whether it's through my neighborhood or at one of my favorite parks.  Nature always resets my mind and makes me feel better.  Or being around kids.  I love to hear their laughter and conversations.  My granddaughter is 3 1/2 now.  She is so much fun to be around - even on her bad days (which I admit are few and far between).What do you do to reset and get away from the every day things that are weighing you down?


Big news!  Honey-Buns and I have been eating healthy since the beginning of the year - January 4th to be exact.  Honey buns has lost 60 pounds - yay!  Me?  One pound away from 25.  We're watching portion sizes - measuring our portions of rice, 4 ounces of meat, etc.  I have been cooking fresh vegetables only and we always have a green one - green beans (snap or pole beans), asparagus, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli.  If I have a carb like rice or potatoes, we measure it out.  I have found lots of great healthy recipes online that we are always trying out.  Our favorite is a chicken/spinach/tomato spaghetti one that uses sundried tomatoes.  I feel like such a chef whenever I make it - lol.  I've cut out all sodas and drinks, only drinking water and milk.  I can see such a huge difference in my skin since increasing my water intake.  I really am hydrated now - inside and out.


I have been walking, but it seems like if I walk too many times during the week, my weight increases.  I have the weirdest metabolism of anyone I know.  It doesn't help that I'm going through peri-menopause either.  Oh well...it is what it is.  I'm happy that I made my driver's license tell the truth on my weight for a day or two.  I will have to change my weight when I renew them this summer, but this time the weight change will be in a good way.  And THAT makes me happy.  :)

I worked out today!

So...yesterday was my 51st birthday.  Yep.  Five...one.  I wonder if that's why I decided to work out today?  idk - All I know is I felt like so I did.  Yay me.  I know I've said it before, but will say it again...I believe running after my almost 3-year old granddaughter has helped me physically.  I am pleased to say I was able to get on my treadmill and run, even though running to me is at 3.8 speed I was still able to run.  :)  I listened to Megan Trainor's newest cd, Thank You.  It's a great, upbeat cd.  Check it out if you haven't already!


I did last Friday's workout from HIIT Mamas..."Katie" - 3 rounds of running 300 meters, 20 wall ball shots, and 10 push-ups.  My time?  20:19:57 - Not bad for my first workout in months.  I started running all three segments at 3.8, did slow down to 3.6 on all, and I slowed down even more to 3.4 on the last one.  I started cramping really bad in my side during the last run.  Yep...more water needed.  I had no issues with the wall ball shots, but I did modify the push-ups to knee pushups.  I was able to do all 10 without stopping during the first two segments.  I did pause twice on the last set of pushups.  I was too quivery!


Anyway - I did it.  I feel good.  Let's hope I make this a priority again.  :)

You can do it!

This is what I constantly tell myself during one of my "run" segments on my treadmill.  "You can do this.  You got this."  Then I start with "only ___ seconds to go".  Sometimes I even close my eyes as say "20 seconds 20 seconds 20 seconds"  or "halfway there halfway there".  You'd be surprised how well I can chant this in my head in correlation with my steps.  lol 


Well, I did it!  I stayed at 0 incline, but still - it was done.  I completed 1.5 miles in 28 minutes.  If my mind was working correctly during this workout, I did 8 segments of walking (2.8) for 2:00 minutes and running (3.6, last two segments at 3.7) for 1.5 minutes.  Munchie arrived during my last walking segment and really wanted on the treadmill, but I was able to distract her and avoid all looming disasters that could have involved.  :)   When I completed my workout, she went to hug me and was like "Grammy - you're all wet."  Yes, Munchie...I'm sweaty.  It was a great workout and I actually drank almost half of my water quota for the day, so a plus all the way around!


I didn't "work out" yesterday because I stayed up way later than I should have on Monday night reading and just had zero desire to move yesterday morning.  Munchkin and I did go on a picnic at a park yesterday, then we played for about an hour outside.  It was our first time going to this particular park and I must say it was the cutest park ever!  All of the playground equipment looked like it was made out of tree logs.  The steps were made out of "rocks", so there was lots of rock climbing and sliding through hollowed out logs.  They even had a water stream for splashing.  Needless to say, it didn't take Munchie long to strip down and sit in the water "cuddles".  I stopped her from going completely naked and made her keep her panties on.  She was only allowed to play in the water for about 15 minutes because I didn't have any sunscreen and didn't want her to get burned.  It was a hot, sunny 85 here in Georgia yesterday. 


I purchased  a little swimming pool for Munchie yesterday.  My plan for today is to buy her a swimsuit for my house, then I'm hoping to cut grass in the backyard (on a hill, with a pushmower) while she splashes around - so maybe I'll get a "pseudo workout" in as well.


My thought for today - Do it.  Doesn't matter what.  Doesn't matter how.  Doesn't matter when.  Just get out and do it.  You got this!  :)

Beautiful Georgia Weather

So far so good as far as exercising goes.  It's a beautiful, sunny 80-degree day in Georgia.  Naturally I went outside for my workout today.  I actually went for a hike at a local park.  I have been wanting to go hiking on these little woodsy trails where I walk and just have not done so.  Now that Munchkin is older and LOVES being outside, I thought I'd check one out to see if she'd like it.  She stays with her other grandmother (Nonny) on Mondays.  Needless to say, she will love it.  The one I went on started at a playground we like to go to and ended up inside a state park at not quite a 1/2 mile away.  It was a great, wide, easy walking trail through the woods.  I continued walking along the roadway inside the park to see if I could find another trail that might circle around, but ended up turning around because I didn't want to get too far away.  I know...I'm a pansy.  But it's okay.  I did get out and do something "exercise-y" today and that's always a good thing.


I didn't post on Friday, but I did a pre-programmed treadmilk workout while wearing my 12 lb vest.  That was pretty intense.  I feel so energized after I do a workout and it really sticks with me throughout most of the day.  I've increased my water intake as well, not drinking anything else until I get a minimum of 5-7 cups of water per day.  I will drink a little bit of milk, but I absolutely LOVE milk!  I hope I never lose the taste for it.  I know people who don't drink milk and it makes me sad, because I have enjoyed it for as long as I can remember.  I just get in the mood for milk! 


Just so you know - I also walked on the treadmill on Saturday. The only day I missed a walk was yesterday and I was so busy.  By the time I was un-busy, I was super tired.  I even napped for  an hour and half late yesterday afternoon.  Then paid for that nap by not being sleepy until after 1:00 this morning.  Luckily I can sleep in on Mondays since Munchie isn't here.


I do still plan on adding CrossFit to my workouts, but am going to give myself another week or two of just walks/hiking before doing that. 


My thought for today....do your own thing...be happy...live happy.

:)

I am kinda/sorta/maybe back.  I have renewed my relationship with my treadmill and am hoping to make it last awhile this time.  I'm not starting back with CrossFit yet because I do NOT want to be sore yet and I know that will happen.  lol  Just being honest. 


I have started a new blog titled Queenie Figures It Out.  This will be about life as a 50-year old mother/grandmother and all of the changes that come along later in my life.  If you're interested in that sort of thing, then go check it out.  I will warn you, though - it's pretty graphic and detail-y and personal.  If that's not your thing, then do NOT go check it out.  :)


I will say that I'm surprised at my capabilities on my treadmill.  Before I never could breathe if I tried running...I would always have coughing fits.  Well, I can say that I've been doing a walk for two minutes/run for one minute routine and have been able to do my run segments without hocking up a lung or two.  I think it's from chasing around my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter.  I'm super excited about working out again and am really, really, really hoping I will be a runner.  It's all I've talked about in previous blogs, so let's hope for the best.


Another thing I have discovered is one reason for my inability to lose weight, no matter how hard I've tried is because I apparently have entered peri-menopause.  Yay me.  Anyway, the weight may or may not come off this time.  I don't care either way.  I just want to be able to keep up with my Munchkin.  Right now, she doesn't run very fast so I'm lucky.  My goal is to be as fast as she is.  Isn't that an awesome goal?  I think so. 


Anyway, I hope y'all have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

A beautiful day today!

It was a beautiful, sunny day in Georgia today!  Mid-60s, no clouds, just a tad windy - but overall gorgeous day.  That being said, I took Addy to the park.  I pushed her in the stroller on one of the mile-long walkways, then we played on the playground for another 45 minutes.  Twenty of which was me pushing her in the swings.  That little girl loves to swing!  The rest of the time was me chasing after her as she just ran around - she also loves to run!  lol

I know this is a short post, but I wanted to let you know that I did get out and do something today.  I'm watching what I eat and try to sub healthier choices at least once a day.  Baby steps, right?  I've also upped my water intake and other than milk, I will not drink anything else until I meet my minimum 8 glasses of water.  I don't drink a lot of soda anyway, but I do like my sweet tea and kool-aid which is just as bad.  Normally, by the time I drink my water  I don't want anything else.  :)

Tomorrow is supposed to be another gorgeous day, so I'll let you know what I decide to do then.

Bike Ride day!

I did not work out yesterday.  My mother-in-law was admitted into the hospital with mini-strokes.  It's a good thing because I had a very hard time moving/walking yesterday.  I felt like I had bricks on my thighs, they were so sore!  I'm going to do my bike ride today.  Short and sweet today...I have a very active 17-month old who wants Grammy to read and play and play and play!


*************************


Done!  I actually worked out after I took Addy home tonight since I didn't get a chance during the day.  My thighs are already screaming at me - lol.


Pre-programmed workout #8 on recumbent bike
30 minutes
5.26 miles


Boy!   Was I slow compared to what I could do before, but I did it.  I told Honey-Buns 5.26 miles beats zero miles all day, every day.  :)


Tomorrow is payroll and billing, plus I'll have Addy, and Hayley's wheelchair folks are supposed to come by and replace the motors in her chair.  It was quicker to replace the motors than it is to order a new one.  This just puts off us getting a new until next year.  She's been without a motorized chair since right after Thanksgiving, so I'm excited to get it back.  I know she is as well.