What a wonderful benefit to us in the contest to get the free three months of YMCA membership.  I have signed up for four classes!   Cardio and Strength training, Swim w/ Fins, Adult Swim lesson and..... ZUMBA!  I am just loving it!  Everyone is so friendly too.  And I saw Jean Toth - she is in my adult swimming lesson! 

   I wasn't too sure what my swim lesson would be like.  But, it was great!  I made some progress in my swimming skill already.  Happy Happy Happy!

   I will go for my weigh in tomorrow (Saturday) I am pretty sure I will be down 10 from last month.

I am not trying to make an excuse.  I am just saying it is more difficult.  I brought along a really nice big salad.  1% cottage cheese, seeds too.  But when you get so hungry - and you are off of the home base - it is just really hard.  No, I didn't eat any ice cream or cake.  No, it was the extra thin and light tortilla chips and salsa that were just sooo  good!  I may have ate too many.  I will know in the morning I get on the scale.    There was ALOT of walking....? 

Please Lord, don't let me gain a pound.

WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM!

It is simple, rigorous, and effective.

1) Fly from Cleveland to the West Coast and back again within 25 hours

2) Hike all over Hopkins Airport, O'Hare, and Seatac with about 15# pack on back.

3) Hike all over above airports, in reverse order, this time with additional 20 pounds of puppy, and accoutrements   

4) Try to sleep semi-reclining on airliner overnight

5) Realize in wrong terminal at O'Hare, and dash like lunatic with above pack and puppy to make connecting flight two terminals over.

6) Arrive home, schlep from farthest point of airport (think in Medina County) to terminal. give up, take ding-truck.

7) Chase around with 2 month old puppy at home

8) Collapse into bed

9) Be awakened by puppy several times during night

10) Arise next day, get upon scale.

11) Rejoice!! Lost weight!!!

 

 

It is odd to feel like you are really trying to get somewhere but, you are only "treading water". 

I have learned this week that losing weight is as much nutrition and exercise as it is a mind set.

The little things in a persons psychology that affect your ability to accomplish a goal. 

 

I thank God for my trainer!  Ken is honest and to the point!  Just exactly what you need at a time like this.

I was getting so frustrated this week when I was eating less than 800 calories, exercising two times per day and not losing! 

So, what did Ken say? 

You are not exercising enough!  Climb the hill faster, swim harder.  He was right, I could have been working harder.  So - I did.  Guess what, I broke that plateau today! 

It is the hill near my home.  It has become a workout tool.  Before I eat breakfast - I walk up and down the hill at  least three times.  That will get your heart pumping.

 

No, I don't really own the hill...  but it is a great tool.  To think it has been there all this time.

This week I was excited to spend some time riding a stationary bike side by side with one of my grandsons, Cody.   It's always nice to have  some company while you work out.  Pretty soon Cody says,"I am sweating a little"  - I think he was surprized. 
Sometimes he would hold the handles where it will read your heart rate.   We would compare how fast our heart rates were.  We compared how far we were going.  How many rpm's, calories burned and how much we were sweating.  I told Cody that getting your heart rate up helps your body burn fat. 
Every now and then Cody comes up with a priceless line.   I think he was fascinated by his bodies production of "sweat".   It was on his mind.  Hey Cody, I have some sweat too. 
That is when he said "Grama, sweat is fat crying".  I said - well Cody that's absolutly right.  Good one.