The Kibosh

Here it is, Wednesday again, but I didn't go to my WW meeting, instead I went to see the doctor.  My weird feelings in my wrists, arms and legs had not gotten better and finally I decided I needed to be seen.  My appointment was this morning and I'm back home now.  Putting my symptoms into Dr. Google had yielded some fairly alarming possibilities.  My normally nice and low blood pressure was rather elevated when they took it.  The doctor sent me to have an XRay (looking for arthritis along the upper spine).  The head radiologist decided I needed an immediate MRI.  After seeing the results they wanted to do "a couple" more tests--so back into the MRI machine.  I'd never had one before.  NOT fun.  I was gripping that emergency buzzer for all I was worth, but didn't use it.  Then it was back to the doctor's waiting room preparing myself  for some bad news. But it was not too bad after all, compared to what it could have been.  It seems I have not one, but three herniated discs--neatly causing symptoms in my arms and legs.  I'm to make an appointment with the neurosurgeon ASAP (well, in military medicine that means--call on Friday).  Meanwhile, no running, no lifting weights at the gym, no bike rides and, I guess, no pogo sticks. 

Funny how much I'd love to go out on this beautiful day and take a run along the river.

He neatly put the kibosh on my exercise plan, but I'm sure I can continue to try to eat well and stay on plan.  That's my plan for right now.

Later,
Tish

Is it really SATURDAY already???

I guess it is Saturday.  Amazing.  This has been a crazy week.  First, the earthquake.  My brother and SIL and their two kids live near Tokyo.  They're fine, thanks be to God, but that whole situation is so scary.  It makes my malaise with weakness and sore joints pale in comparison, but that has been with me all week.  I have tried to cut way back on keyboarding with good success and the wrists are much better.  I still have aches and weird sensations in arms and shoulders.  Also, not a lot of energy.  I got myself out the door and onto my running path on my free morning, midweek, and simply could not run.  I started to, but stopped after about 15 seconds.  I was able to walk three miles, but I was discouraged.  That said, I have felt better the last couple of todays and today am planning to tackle the running trail again.  I may settle for a 4 mile walk, though.  The running will come back when I'm over this strange interlude.

I'm still plugging away at the de-cluttering.  I tackled another room (and another bookcase) yesterday and have a neat little pile of giveaway bags next to the front door awaiting DH to haul them to the nearest thrift store.

I made an old favorite for breakfast.  Oatmeal with frozen dark sweet cherries.  Very yummy, filling and a lovely shade of cherry pink.

I'm off to my running trail.  What are you planning in the way of exercise today?

Tish

Monday, Monday

I think that cutting back on my computer time is helping.  My wrists and arms are still acting up a bit, but things are better and I was able to sleep last night.  It also frees up time that I spent on some of my "ought to" list.  Today I read lots of stories to my grand babies, wrote a thank-you note, did some laundry and got all caught up with my Bible study lessons.  All this while watching the kids.  What I didn't do is play a dozen or so games of "scramble" on FB (a minor addiction which I'm trying to nip in the bud) and spend a couple hours reading things online (blogs, articles I subscribe to, and new, mostly).  Baby J (20 months) loved Eric Carle's 10 Little Rubber Ducks and was able to operate the little "quack" button at the back of the book as soon as he saw it.  I heard that duckie quack about 37 million times.  Maybe time for a quack-ectomy . . . .  I do love sharing some of my favorite books for little people with my very own little people.  Three yr old E, on the other hand, on hearing the giant's Fee Fi Fo Fum threat to grind Jack's bones to make his bread, commented that the giant should take the beanstalk instead and make bean soup.  Pretty smart, that girl! I like Paul Galdone's version of just about any folk tale you can name.  His art is simple and the words are just right.

For dinner tonight, I made an old standby.  WW Baked Rigatoni.  Very tasty.  (1 c shredded mozzerella, mixed with 1 lb browned ground beef (93%), 4 cups cooked whole wheat rigatoni,  and 1 jar of Classico mushroom  & ripe olive pasta sauce--bake at 350 for 20 minutes).  That and a green salad plus a WW strawberry smoothie bar for dessert.  It was a good day.  Right now my shoulders are achey and I think I need to step away from the computer.

I'm hoping to feel good enough to go out for a run tomorrow--week 3 of C25K.  The weather's gotten rather chilly, but I know how to bundle up and that's what I'm aiming for.

My deciduous magnolia is just about to offer it's first bloom of the spring.  It's usually one at the very top of the tree (25 feet up there) where it gets the most sun.  Just  where I can see it from our sitting room window.  Here's what it looks like:

See you later.
Tish

Curtailed

What a funny word that is.  Curtailed.  A short note to let you know that my time in front of the computer is being curtailed.  I have been having painful indications that my carpal tunnel (in both wrists) is not liking my spending so much time at the computer.  I will still make time and come here and read and, sometimes, post, but I need to really curtail (that word again) my time spent in front of the computer.

This is probably a good thing as I spend way too much time  on FB, playing games, and "surfing."  I need to spend more time at worthwhile non-computer activities.   I'm still working at getting my house de-cluttered and I must tell you, it feels great.

I'm also trying hard to get the scale back on a sold downward trend.  This week I'm emphasizing water.  I've let my 8+ glass habit slide over the winter, but it's coming back and a good lynchpin for staying on track.

See you later.
Tish

De-cluttering

My little nano!

In some ways, I had a super day yesterday.  My plan was to tackle one room and to de-clutter it as much as possible.  The room is a spare room where my youngest granddaughter naps on the days I watch her and where the three out of town grandkids stay when they're visiting.  It has FIVE bookcases and is home to our children's books (remember I was a children's librarian for 20+ years--I love children's books!).  It also has a walk-in-closet that has been so jam-packed that it's been hard to close the door for years.  I clipped on my new nano (which I LOVE) and got to work.  Four hours later I had a dozen bags of trash, 10 bags of things for giveaway and a much better looking room.  I still have a crate full of "stuff" that I have to find places for, but I can actually take a few steps into the closet and now I only have 3 bookcases full of kids books.  Success.  (and more work to do on another day)

I need to take that valuable de-cluttering concept and apply it to some insidious habits that have crept into my eating.  Take yesterday.  We had a dinner invitation for yesterday night to a "fondue fellowship."  We had to go (don't ask) and we were the only guests.  I've just about cut cheese from my diet altogether--I don't crave it, it is quite high in calories, cholesterol, and salt and it wasn't too hard for me to cut it.  Well, fondue?  I recall the last time we had a fondue dinner (about 10 years ago)--masses of creamy warm cheese, wonderful bread cubes--good with or without the cheese, lots of wine, and mouth-watering warm, melty chocolate for dessert with strawberries and angel food cake for swirling.

I considered eating a mini-meal before we went, but I was at the airport picking up Johnny's family and got home just minutes before we had to leave.  So I was hungry.  Failure was certain.  How discouraging.  Wait.  When we got there I saw several plates of cut up veggies (broccoli, green beans, red peppers, tiny white potatoes).  It wasn't a cheese fondue!!  It was a broth fondue and we cooked our chicken and veggies at the table.  I probably ate 4 bites of chicken 6 green beans, 2 marble-sized potatoes, and 2 pieces of red pepper over the course of 90 minutes.  'Nuf said.  I need to get rid of the worry about those situations.  While it's good to pre-plan as much as you can, it's just one meal.  As it turned out, it was well within my plan.  I spent lots of needless worry envisioning fondue pots full of bubbling cheese.  Next time, I'll ask.  Wouldn't that have been smart?  I could have even worked around the cheese.  Instead, I just worried about it.

I didn't get my run done yesterday.  I put it off until noon and was getting dressed when I heard the first rumble of thunder.  It rained all afternoon with impressive lightning and thunder, so no run on the trail.  I'm heading out as soon as I push "publish post."  It's a bit cooler, but nice and sunny.  Week two of C25K today.

How about you?  Do you have any habits you need to de-clutter from your routine?

Have a good one!

Weekend Wrap-Up

I'd forgotten how quiet it is around here on the weekend.  Good for me, though, to have a little more chance to play catch up with you guys.  :-)

A pretty lazy day today.  We went to church in the morning and I spent an hour or so outside trimming bushes.I got them just in time, most of the roses, azaleas, and many other spring bloomers are already producing buds.   Our daphne has blooms.  If you don't know daphne, it has the loveliest fragrance.  I go outside just to breathe in the smell a few time a day.  I'll pick a bloom and bring it inside tonight.

Daphne

DH tried to talk me into biking over to our son's house to take care of their pets while they're away.  It's only a few miles away but there are some Major hills so I declined.  We did go do our weekend routine at the gym, so I wasn't a total laggard today.  

Tomorrow I have the day "off" (the grandkids are visiting their other grandparents in sunny FL).  It's supposed to be in the high 60s, but rainy.  I plan to run with my C25K and knock out week two.  I also have the painter coming in the morning and plans to cull out lots of "stuff" (books, clothing, clutter) to add to my giveaway bag for a pickup on Tuesday morning.  I've gotten rid of over 500 books in the past few weeks.  This frees up two full size bookcases!  I think I'll transfer them out to the garage to try to make some order out there.  Later.  The house comes first.  I also had my first sale on Craig's List.  I sold a piano.  It took only a week and I got my asking price.  Not bad.  I'm on an anti-clutter campaign.  

See you later.

Tish

Reporting for Duty

Hi Y'All!  I enjoyed my sabbatical but I'm rested and ready to come back.  I must confess that not blogging  didn't help my weight loss efforts at all.  I have some extra "avoir du poids" to lose and wasn't so great at keeping up with my 6 day a week exercise schedule, either.  However . . . I'm back and I'm happy to be here.

"Pearlie"

I'd like to introduce you to "Pearlie," my new bike.  DH got me a road bike for Christmas.  We went and sampled lots of different bikes and ordered this one.  It came about three weeks ago.  We've had snow twice since it came, but there was one beautiful 70 degree day a couple of weeks ago and DH & I went on a 33 mile ride on the W&OD bike trail.  It was a very nice ride.  Sharon (Gains and Losses) and I rode on the same trail in October and it was fun recalling that time, too.  The weather is getting better and better and I'm hoping that DH & I can resume our evening bike rides as soon as we "spring forward."

My running also suffered a bit over the past few months.  I went every once in a while, but walked a whole lot more than I ran.  Today I drew a line in the sand and restarted my C25K.  I downloaded a free podcast from itunes that has the C25K directions (when to run, when to walk, etc) put to music.  I love it.  The music is Christian music and some of it is very nice--search C25K in itunes store and select Christian Indie Broadcast.  It felt good to run and I did the week 1 run twice.  I hope to speed through the first few weeks in my next several runs.   

Also on the exercise front, DH and I have been folk dancing once a week for the past month or so.  This is a local group (less than a mile from our house) that has met for over 20 years.  My parents used to dance with them.  The session last 2 hours.  It's fun and it is exercise.  Other exercise includes my weight routine at the gym twice a week and my praise moves yoga once a week.  I had hoped to sign up for a zumba class, but it filled the first day and I didn't get in.  I'm hoping they'll realize that there's quite a demand and add another class for spring.

I have continued to go to my WW.  I saw small gains for several weeks in a row, but, finally, have held the line or lost for the past 3 weeks.  I'm counting on my renewed push and exercise AND you guys to help me turn the tide and lose again.  I still aim to reach my goal.  And stay there  This year.

I've mentioned before how much I enjoy oranges.  Costco had some wonderful Cara Cara oranges at a very reasonable price.  Yum!  The. Best. Ever.  Wikipedia describes it this way:  This medium sized navel is sweet and low in acid, the flavor is more complex than most navel varieties and has been described as evoking notes of cherry, rose petal and blackberry.  

I missed you all.  I'll be reading your posts and trying to get caught up.

Love ya!