sparkly jewelry. LOL How true that is Robin. I think we each have our own little "perk me up" thing. One of mine is looking at mandalas and the other is going outside into nature. I can always find something that grounds me instantly. Don't ask me why,I haven't a clue other than it brings me to the present moment. I don't do exercise videos Florey. I've tried but it's too regimented for me. I like yoga because I can do anything I want,I do the treadmill with rock or whatever blaring in my ears..need that beat,and I really need to do some weight bearing in the winter but I don't. Foodwise..well I've tried most of the diets and everything works temporarily. Low carbs really knocks the weight off fast but i can't sustain it to any great degree. The thing that works best is eating whatever I want in smaller amounts,mostly whole foods,and a disgusting splurge a couple times a week.Disgusting doesn't mean a couple of cookies,it means the entire bag,or maybe 1/2 pound of fudge,or half of a pecan pie..GROSS. But...twice isn't going to affect my weight and it really gives me my sunny disposition.( Winking here) Robin...here is one of thousands of mandalas. This is what many Hindus and Buddhists focus on when they want to meditate.I just happen to think they're beautiful. Hey..they'd make great jewelry wouldn't they?

Thanks much for the welcome :) I have ordered the WATP videos on half.com and can't wait for them to arrive. But since I posted, I decided to start anyway with the treadmill in our basement. I have done a mile of brisk walking every day since then. EXCEPT *sigh* the weekend. DH took me to this most awesome restaurant in NYC and I stuffed myself to the gills the food was sooo good. But today is Monday...I am gonna get back on track or rather on treadmill :) Speaking of the treadmill, I tend to slow down (in other words, "give up") once the counter says 1 mile. Do you think throwing a towel over the counters (speed, distance etc.) would work?? Superbee

Forget the treadmill.Use your child as a weight! You can lift her over your head and work your shoulders.Bend over and lift her up to you and you are working your back.Lay her across your arms like a barbell and "curl" her. Hold her while you do some leg exercises. I think they make baby carriers for people that like to hike.Put her in one and do squats and donkey raises for your legs.You can sit her on your thighs, hold hands and do some crunches for your stomach. I have had three kids and you just won't be able to make the time right now. My husband also works nights so I understand the problem. But I would definitely look into hiking gear for parents and walk around the neighborhood daily.Or how about a jogging stroller? If you bike, they make these little enclosed cars that you can attach to your bike.Check yard sales. I found a very expensive stroller once for $5. Or you can check any consignment shops, Goodwill, or Play it Again Sports shops. I have found that , if you look in the right places, you can find anything you need for alot less money.

Zach, if you’re considering taking a trip every now and then, and are interested in the Four Corners and southern Utah areas, here’s some info! Here are links to a couple RMG threads where I posted “travelogue” pics and info. The first one was when a girl from Boston was asking for help planning a trip to Colorado—but a few pics in New Mexico and Utah got thrown in too! The second one was a Thanksgiving thread where I posted a pic of a wild turkey by one of my cabins when I was trippin’, and then it kind of morphed into another mini-travelogue type thing, with a few more pics in Utah! http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2128462/off-topic-can-anyone-help-me-plan-my-trip-to-colorado http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2142319/happy-thanksgiving-everyone Here are a couple of MY pics of Bryce. It’s pretty amazing to just look at it, and it’s even more amazing to be walking around among the hoodoos down in the canyon. (NO photoshopping!) https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Im_TOj4qZ8Wt93e_oL1Ne6GaInEnMwO5fmMhph2TRlo?feat=directlink These two were taken this past fall at the beginning of my (what was supposed to be easy) walk thru the canyon! It was mostly cloudy when I was there this time, so the colors aren’t as spectacular as they were the first time I went there! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wX-I73rS7BxkK2igSoxP4jrG3Rrw_wgtl13h5wBFIHI?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/r0PeWxvk14sxXOf9TWCOfjrG3Rrw_wgtl13h5wBFIHI?feat=directlink And here are a couple other possibilities that weren’t in the previous threads! A few pics of the Ute Mountain Tribal Park that I talked about in the “Boston girl” thread, but after a hard drive crash I wasn’t able to post pics to go with the info! This is just south of Cortez! (This is the place I’ve talked about where I’m getting seedling trees to try to help reforest burn areas—visible in the 5th pic, and also the place that I was looking for help with info to “eradicate” the tamarisk! They are, actually, succeeding fairly well in getting rid of some of it, and this past year, for the first time in a long time, the Mancos River had water in it even in the fall!) Eagle Nest Ruin https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/scJiSLfwMmkhycgT0dKB2TyYSD5telCfXwXDTcTl_2U?feat=directlink Rick, my guide, going up the 30’ ladder into Eagle Nest https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MrNNjVyZT1ovQDpVvMOG8jyYSD5telCfXwXDTcTl_2U?feat=directlink And me coming back down the Eagle Nest ladder! (I LOVE this ladder!) https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MMAwSZg-gRETyb1NEtiwsTyYSD5telCfXwXDTcTl_2U?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kTah9DkANrcVVCfnitHGPDyYSD5telCfXwXDTcTl_2U?feat=directlink Three of the ruins alcoves on the “main” ruins trail (Lion Canyon Trail) from the other side of Lion Canyon https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gXVB7vULD7GfaX863k5kkzyYSD5telCfXwXDTcTl_2U?feat=directlink Thousand year old potsherds and corncobs, which, unlike Mesa Verde, are still all over the place in the ruins! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TvQsml8vvqFMqtw0M7RvFDyYSD5telCfXwXDTcTl_2U?feat=directlink This is a very, veryveryvery cool slot canyon, Little Wild Horse Canyon, that’s not very far south of Green River, Utah, which is on I-70. I was planning to hike it again when I went by on the way back to Colorado this past fall, but there were thunderstorms ALL around! Slot canyon PLUS rain EQUALS: Bad Situation! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fcRrKleLnb9KDmFHzO73BGVY7bTWTqbxp-YJkmJRdpU?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yu9F0B68Vfa3zfYMzL2qkWVY7bTWTqbxp-YJkmJRdpU?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G4HJbdgIeueg_Dnflj1gq2VY7bTWTqbxp-YJkmJRdpU?feat=directlink And this is my all-time favorite hike in a National Park! It’s Sulphur Creek in Capitol Reef at Torrey, Utah. WAY cool! I’ve done it twice, and plan to do it again this coming fall! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Qpu1dmmmPXA6Wxih6cxcLiw_A8tejszRFUnjA0dV3qI?feat=directlink The trail! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bx79GKT5Rq4UoWWCan2U7Sw_A8tejszRFUnjA0dV3qI?feat=directlink In the narrows! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/A1VKYnBNkupd-NHNLF7kJCw_A8tejszRFUnjA0dV3qI?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J5VMqXeKXKYaCMHpAZjeNSw_A8tejszRFUnjA0dV3qI?feat=directlink Along the route there are three waterfalls you need to “get past!” This is after passing the last one! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dKYi8ktzpadNlNi-WJQtLyw_A8tejszRFUnjA0dV3qI?feat=directlink None of that’s gonna help with exercise NOW, but, in my opinion, there’s no better way to get exercise than to go out and “become” part of Nature! If you ever DO decide to head down that direction and would like info about a specific place—or area, just let me know. I have nice little (usually isolated) cabins/houses to stay in at/near all these places—with kitchens, so I don’t have to spend money on food—and they’re all very reasonable! (Many are no more than a motel, some are actually cheaper than nearby motels!) Ok! Where are those weights????? Skybird