Saw Brittany today

I ran into Brittany today at Costco. It was so good to see one of my new "Heart Challenge" friends in a different setting!! She had her two adorable preschoolers with her. What a trooper she is to keep up with them and the Heart Challenge.

I really wanted to be outside today, but with all the rain I decided it would be more prudent to get on the treadmill instead. I surely don't want to catch cold. One thing I like about the treadmill is that I can read at 3 mph and not worry about the weather. Of course that's not too good for interval training.

Eleven days till we Race for Red!! CAN YOU BELIEVE? Good luck everybody!!

Fun journey

I am looking forward to meeting some of our group to walk the 5K route tomorrow. I feel so lucky that I got to know so many of our group. What a fun journey this has been--I would not trade it.

Good luck everybody !!

Shooting rattle snakes

We had a great exercise class with Shan'tel on Saturday. She told us a story about a cowboy and we really worked hard riding that horse, shooting rattle snakes, bailing hay, roping cattle, milking cows, etc., and would you believe, we got a great workout.

And something has motivated me to dust off my treadmill and start doing some cardio training on it. It is not nearly so boring when I crank it up as fast as I can go for a couple of minutes then catch my breath and go again. I am still breathing hard!! I just wish I could go faster--my run is Kendra's walk--oh well. But I now know that it is very do-able to improve, so that is my next goal--learn to run, really run.

I love to see how folks are improving. More than anything else, seeing others trim up and improve encourages me. So thank you fellow travelers on this Challenge.

Only two and a half weeks to go!

Only two and a half weeks left till we do the Race for Red!!! I was shocked when I just now looked at the calendar. I am not where I wanted to be at this point, but I am certainly in a lot better shape than when I started this Challenge. I plan to have the rest of this excess baggage gone by the end of summer...that is about the soonest I can realistically hope for.

We had a great workout with Shan'tel on Monday. I just did my weight type workout at home and I felt really good about what I had remembered. Shan'tel has worked hard to give us exercises that we can do at home.

I have been trying hard not to fudge on my food intake because it always shows up on the scales. I am trying to get rid of a couple of really stubborn pounds this week.

Here's wishing everyone a great finish to this Challenge.

Scales in rebellion

This has been a discouraging week on the scales for me. And my exercising has suffered also. Hmmm, maybe there is a connection. Sometimes I just want this weight off so bad I can taste it, but losing weight seems to be no quick deal, and sometimes, it just isn't a deal at all. Those fat cells think they have a right to be where they are and now they are in rebellion, demanding permanent residence.

Just check out all the samples at Costco, have a few goodies with the grandchildren, eat their left over pancakes, eat those potatoes I fixed my husband that he didn't want, etc., etc., etc..

But believe me, I am going to boot those fat cells out somehow, someway, forever !!! Good luck everybody with your struggles, and, please, wish me the same.

Super Chef Austin

We had a really entertaining meeting this morning with the hospital chef, Mike Austin. He cooked up a great lettuce leaf, but more than that, he talked with us about dieting in a light, jovial way. He has had his challenges and he told us about them. I think we all could identify with his struggles. I could have easily listened to him for another hour.

Thank you Mindy for scheduling Chef Austin for us. I am going to miss these morning meetings with only one more left. It has been super getting to know such great people all fighting the same struggle I am having.

Hospital chef

Somebody said we are going to get to sample some food tomorrow morning in the nutrition class. Now there is something I am good at--sampling food. Mindy said the hospital chef will be teaching our class--what a treat!!

I ate and ate today and I am still hungry!! Some days are like that. Last Saturday I had a hot dog--I love hot dogs, or I did until the scales screamed at me the next morning. I wish I had the metabolism to eat and eat and snub the scales, but I don't.

Oh well, we're all in this together, so I guess I am not alone with my battles. Good luck, everybody !!