Good morning! I've been up since way-too-early-for-me-usually. LOL I was invited to visit the Methodist church here in town, so I went to the 8:30 service, then attended my friend's Sunday school class. I felt right at home even though it's been 40 years since I last attended a Methodist service. Ironically enough, all the hymns today were old familiars to me! I enjoyed the women's Sunday school class, too. I'll definitely return next week if all goes well around here. McPeg, so glad to read that you're healing inside and out. I think it's natural to remember things about your mom. My mom passed away almost 9 years ago, and there are times when I feel like it was just the other month. Memories are sometimes painful, but mostly, they're cozy and comforting. Patti, sounds like you had another good crafting weekend! I need to pack my bag with my tools for this afternoon's card-making class. I'm so looking forward to going, learning new techniques, and making new friends. This making-new-friends business is really growing on me, and I'm very thankful. Internet friends have always been so special to me, but it's nice to have RL friends, too. Today is the beginning of 2+ weeks of keeping grandchildren. (until the 15th of July) Aubrie and I are going to have such good bonding time together, something we've never really had before now. (Alexis comes to stay beginning next Sunday.) Today at church, I was introduced to the nursery lady in case I decide to take Aubrie with me next week, just for a change of pace. She may miss being around other children, so it's nice to know I have that option. QOD: Is there an area in your life that you would like to unload to help you with your goal? I think forgiving is a tough one for me to let go. I did great being around my xh and his wife at my son's wedding last fall, but it wasn't easy. We're supposed to have lunch with them next Sunday, and a tiny part of me felt angst when I heard about it, I have to admit. I am trying to grow up finally at age 60, but there's this small child in me who feels that until someone says "I'm sorry", it's not official. Silly, I know, but there it is! I have let go of much of my past resentments since moving here, and coincidentally or not, my desire to lose weight began around the same time. Maybe that Peter Walsh book, "Does this clutter make my butt look fat?" really pegged it. Sending restful, peaceful Sunday wishes to everyone. Have a great one!

Whoo Hoo!! Ran the 10k Cotton Row Run yesterday and finished with a decent time (for me anyway)! And I feel good today so that is even better. No soreness, which I attribute not only to good training, but also to the stretches I've been doing before and especially after the running. My DD and DGD ran the 5k and I'm so proud of them! DGD killed it and was 10th in her age group out of 52 in that group. She is 14 and ran it in just over 29 minutes which I thought was really great for her first 5k. My time for the 10k was 78 minutes which isn't a barn-burner by any means, but keep in mind it was very, very hot, sunny, and humid, even at 7 am when we started. The first half of this course is a gradual uphill climb, with a quarter mile hill just before the 3 mile point that is so unbelievable that almost everyone walks up it. Then the last 2.8 miles or so is mostly downhill which is a relief but still by then you're zapped. The 5k course isn't so bad. Now on to the next great challenge, which is to keep running in our summer heat and humidity. Most of the races around here in the summer are 5k races until September. Too hot and dangerous. Our running group has a get-together this evening at a local watering hole...should be fun and I've met some great new friends and running buddies I hope to see again on the trails. There is also a group that runs trail runs on Tuesdays, 1-3 miles, from now thru October, so that is a good thing to do. Anele, so glad you are noticing progress. Normally you'll notice some change in 2 weeks and big changes in 4 weeks, so am really happy for you that you've stuck to your plan. Hope you have a wonderful vacation and can work in some exercise, even in 10-15 minutes here and there per day, to keep it going. I've read that those intervals do just as much good as long workouts. Oh yes, forgot to mention...I treated myself to a day off today and had a massage. Sometimes you just have to do things for yourself as I'm sure you've all figured out. We had the family over for dinner last night and celebrated DH's birthday too. So it was good to have another day to recuperate after a busy weekend!

I had a long message I posted a few days ago . . .apparently it didn't go through! Annie, re: cellulite, I do think carbs/diet is part of the picture, but I also think it's far more complex than just that. And, unfortunately, it's hard as a vegetarian to limit carbs , but of course, avoiding refined carbs is always a good thing. I do always eat them with fats/protein-- always. As I stated in another thread, I had it since when I was 13! I was underweight, even. My mom does not have it (lucky!) but my aunt did, very badly. There are many causes and it's not understood so well. In my case, I think it's a mix of genetics and hormones. I am going to try dry-brushing to help with my circulation (some say it's tied to the lymphatic system); supposed to yield good results. We'll see . . . Joanie, the best thing is that, even though you feel discouraged, you are not quitting. That counts for a LOT. That is when it's the hardest, I am finding . . .so yay you!!! I suggest you throw the scale away. I really do. The scale does not mean anything. You can gain muscle and feel like you are not losing fat! It's very deceptive. You can retain water weight (or lose it)-- and then what? If you really need numbers, measure yourself with a tape measure. The easiest thing, though, is just to see how your clothes fit. I strongly suggest you add weights to your routine. Building muscle is so good for you (bone density!), AND, the more muscle you have, the better your metabolism is. Have you had physical therapy for your back? I wonder, too, how your "core/center" strength is. (See link below.) The trick will be to find a workout that does not further injure or strain your back/neck . . .I agree that perhaps jogging is not so good for your back at this point. Maybe you need something lower impact? In any case, I am really, really hoping you find answers soon because back pain can affect everything. I am so sorry you have to deal with this. :( Legomom, the Fitbit sounds like a great idea! If you want to add the plank and stretch, just plan ahead of time exactly when you'll do them, and you will get it done! Outside, that sounds like a fun trip! Does your DH exercise with you? I worked out with a ballet video that I hadn't used for awhile this am. I am really thinking that (for me), variation is key. Because each DVD is different, they each work the body in a slightly different way, giving more challenge. Even if one is a little easier, if I've put it away for awhile and come back, I get a benefit from it due to the variety. Yay to everyone for sticking with this, even when we don't feel like it! Here is a link that might be useful: Core Myths

Anele, I have totally "drunk the koolaid" when it comes to crossfit. When I was going to planet fitness, a crossfit box opened up in town. I emailed the coach and said "I'm 45 and going from being completely sedentary to going to the gym every day and doing 7 weight machines and 30 minutes of cardio". I was wondering where my fitness would need to be to start crossfitting?" The coach coaxed me into coming in and doing the three session on-ramp class, and the fitness evaluation. I couldn't even do a squat. I couldn't do a lunge. I couldn't jump rope.. My balance is just... Tragic. I have a bad knee, and I was 70 lbs overweight. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I apologized about my capabilities the whole time they evaluated me. Then they asked me to come for a class and assured me they would modify the workouts to my level. There are a few ways in which crossfit is miraculous: 1. They have somehow managed to inculcate a supportive, encouraging tone into an industrial gym with loud aggressive music. Everyone takes pains to help each other, praise each other, encourage each other! I very quickly felt that no one was judging my weakness, only pleased for me that I was trying crossfit. Love the people! 2. The workouts are different every day. Some days they work on strength, some days agility, stamina/speed/flexibility.. Benchmark workouts are repeated every few months, so you can see the improvement. 3. MODIFICATIONS - this is key! For example, today I was told to do three sets of 10 pull-ups. I clearly can't just do them, but instead of telling me to skip that part, one day I will... They simply stretch 3 big rubber bands across for me to stand on. I bounce and pull-up. Then at the peak, I dig in and lower myself as slowly as possible. If bouncing makes the pull-ups too too easy, then a coach steals one of my rubber bands, making me pull a little to get my chin up.. If you can't run well, you can row. Can't do push-ups, do them on rings. 4. Performance psychology... So they taught me how to lift weights with decent form. Then they tested me for my maximum ability to safely lift.. Then: they put me in a team with a 35 year old guy who was 6'5" tall with full tattooed sleeves. Our team score was the time it took us to lift 65% of our max weight 50 times between the two of us. I was lifting 45 lbs. he was lifting 160 lbs. but while I lifted the weights 5 times, he had to hold all that weight at a collar position, straining. So you better believe I hurried!! And while he was struggling to lift 160 lbs 5 times, poor me, standing there, shaking, trying to hold my weight up. He hurried too! So we were each encouraged to perform better. It's diabolically clever!! A couple of things i've learned: I thought I was doing great doing 10 sit-ups. The first time I had to do 30, the coach told me I could take as long as I wanted, just get them done. You know what? It took me a while, but the next time he said do 30, I absolutely knew it was doable. And so I was willing to put a little more energy in to do it a little faster. And a few days later, I was asked to do 50. The confidence I had from doing 30 helped me do the fifty. 90 % of the game is mental! It really is! I may feel incredibly puny at crossfit, but I walk proud the rest of the day. One big thing I've learned is that your body has to warm up. Honestly, when doing a bunch of sit-ups, the first 30 are the worst. After that, you are warmed up, you find a rhythm and it gets easier, much. Then as you approach the end, it gets tougher again. But however hard you feel something is when you start, it won't stay that hard. Your body will loosen up and perform more efficiently. Being surrounded by fit people pushing themselves HARD is motivating. Changes my perception of what working out is. I have been doing crossfit for five weeks, and I can't believe the changes I'm seeing. The workout generally takes 20 min to 1 hour, and I go 5 days a week. My motto for this week is: walk in strong, crawl out stronger. Lol. In 5 weeks I've actually gained 1.3 lbs, but I've dropped two pants sizes, from a stuffed into my size 18 pants, to a 14!!! And I feel good except I'm sore somewhere every day. I'd be happy to talk more if anyone has questions. I