We Interrupt this Long Hiatus to Bring You a Post!

Hi all!

Yes, I'm still here, and yes I'm doing just fine.  In the month since I've posted, I've survived a two week killer-cold, hosted my aunt and sister for a week-long visit, biked over 100 miles, run 36 miles (mostly in the past week), shaved more than a minute off my running pace, lost 8 pounds according to my morning weight record, fit back into some formerly-too-tight clothing, and generally done well and felt great about my progress.  I'm still there.  Sorry for the lack of posting.  I'm still trying to find a balance between my workouts and my connections with you.  I pretty much kept current on your posts, but I've slacked off on composing posts.  I miss it.  That cold really did knock me out--I was taking afternoon naps every day and going to bed super early and doing no structured exercise.  Maybe I can catch the wave again about posting.  Hope so.

The 17DD/WW Core combination is continuing to work well for me.  The WW Core plan calls for limiting grains/pasta to whole grain varieties and to one portion per day.  I had no trouble with the whole grain part, but, in the past, I'd edged up to three portions per day.  With the 17DD influence, I've reduced that component to less than one portion per day.  Eating bread and pasta always makes me want more bread and pasta.  Not eating them, makes me lose weight more easily and I'm over early cravings for them.  I choose losing weight and no cravings.  I eat pretty simply, but we occasionally work in a dessert or a dinner out.  I'm practicing portion control--it makes a real difference.  We haven't used the dinner size plates for a couple weeks--that trick of small plates making the offering look bigger works!

My DIL has gotten a great internship which has her working long days.  My responsibilities with the youngest grandchildren keep me on my toes three days a week.  Today after nap time (did I mention I LOVE nap time) we did art.  Jack made a motorcycle out of saved milk bottle caps, mini-popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners.  Ella made a ballerina doll out of wooden beads, pipe cleaners, scrap material, and yarn.  Each was quite pleased with his/her project.  Art is not my strong point, but love and a well-stocked art box go a long way.  I'm happy to let them do as much as they can--Jack had a ball painting the bottle-cap, motorcycle wheels  orange.  I wield the glue gun, and help out with cutting and other tricky parts, but they do a lot themselves.  They actually come up with a lot of good ideas.

I'm really pleased with my running recently. It took me so long to feel comfortable about running after my surgery a year ago March, that I really thought I'd probably not run again.  Not so.  I'm finding I look forward to running and while I'm not planning a late life career as a marathoner, I think there's a lot of running in my future.

I'll leave you with some random pix from the past few weeks.

Ella and Jack decided DH's soccer cones would make great hats.

There is a bumper crop of poison ivy growing all along my
favorite running path.  I'm hyper allergic and hyper careful!

I had a great day biking with Sharon (Gains and Losses).
This was the beginning of the WO&D trail.

Dame's Rocket was blooming all along the
trail that day.  Beautiful and fragrant.  

More WO&D.   Doesn't this make you want to grab
your bike and come to Virginia??

Wild iris growing along the running path today.  I probably could
have had an even better pace had I not stopped to snap a few pix!

I'm at that very happy place where I'm entirely sure that I will reach my weight loss and fitness goals. This year. Maybe by the end of summer.  Once again, I'll try to be better about posting more often so you can peek in on my journey.

Ciao for now!