I'm trying very hard to relate, but just can't. We've been fogged in the last two days again. I have heat on in the house. I'm wearing socks, jeans, and a sweatshirt. My spring garden cleanup isn't even done.

We did have a few nice days this month but none this week. Summer starts slowly here. And, I hate Fall. Shorter days, cooler temps, wind and rain.

Hang in there! We are having a heatwave and no rain, it’s too early for that. I have been dragging 300 feet of water hose behind me in 98 degrees. Did you ever watch the biggest looser when they did this kind of weird waving around their arms with the thick ropes? Well, that’s how I feel. I am glad it has at least the purpose of keeping the trees alive. Not looking presentable to even meet the UPS guy while doing so. Hope this makes you feel better.

I do the same thing every morning. To my tomato plants. And every morning to change the doggies water. And every other day to my new roses. Well,mine is only 100 feet. But it FEELS like a mile. Phew.

I drag hoses too. One outside faucet on the whole place. I do like summer, but it takes me a couple of weeks to get used to the hot weather.

Oh, my, and I have cool temps, going down to 56? Right now 66. A bit over a week ago we had 82 at this time of the evening.

Amy, hang in there. Bring a shirt to change in to after the walk, and put your head under the faucet before drying it... ;) It will cool you off.

Moni

To all of you dragging heavy long hoses through the yard, may I recommend the 400 series of Water Right brand of light-weight hoses? Seriously. Their hoses weigh only 3 pounds per 50 feet. They are also safe for drinking water. I adore mine, have several as my yard is large, and as I am less than 5 ft. tall, these hoses have been a huge blessing. Amazon has them, as does Gardeners.com. Treat yourselves!!

Well I am done with my 10000 steps for today. I was kinda busy work wise so it took me at least 30 minutes longer than usual, which didnt help. I look like a drowned sewer rat, and I am cranky and HOT. I just cant stomach trying to do 5000 more tonight. It's just too hot and humid. Looking forward to the dead of winter now.

Oh my...hard for me to relate...yet. It's in the 50s and foggy this a.m. We had more rain yesterday. We had rain in 20 out of 30 days in April and I think almost as many in May. A little sunshine and warm temps would be a welcome change! At least we managed 3 nice days in a row for Memorial Day weekend.

Some of my family members are vacationing in SC this week and sweltering in the unexpected heat. Back here in PA, temp this morning is 57. Heavy t-storms every day and tornado warnings (once unheard of here) two days in a row. My roof is still nowhere near finished, and the roofers haven't been here since Friday. I expect to see them tomorrow, for one day only. But there's no point in complaining about the weather. To coin a phrase, it is what it is. :-)

I lost a big limb off an apple tree in the orchard. It hasn't fallen yet, just a big crack. Tree guy won't be here until Sat. morning. I'm sad about how all my stuff, me included, is getting old. :(

Schoolhouse, I know the feeling. And with every storm I'm nervous about my big King apple tree. Once divided into five massive sections of trunk, it's down to two now. I guess they'd be called limbs. I worry about them.

Hang in there! Your planned number of steps and getting out there should have you in great physical shape! Yes....getting out there is kind of miserable. I too would rather not be sweating then going back to work around people. I once had a job where I ran mileage on my lunch break, but they had showers....and I had an hour. I was always surprised at the number of people that told me they wished they were in shape or they wished they were motivated to exercise. GOOD JOB Amy!

An interesting article about 10000 steps:

https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2019/05/29/10000-steps-longevity-older-women-study

I used to live in Southern Louisiana so I can totally relate to what you’re saying about the heat and humidity. Where I live now it gets humid but it’s not even remotely comparable to the way the south gets. I admire your determination.

I used to live in a humid climate, and it's stiffling.

Amylou, if I were you, I'd just stick to 10,000 steps and decrease my caloric intake by a few hundred calories a day. (If you've ever been at the starting line-up of a marathon, you'll understand why.) On the most humid days, I wouldn't worry about getting the steps in.

Perhaps bring a towel spritzed with a refreshing essential oil to dry off and a fresh shirt to change into at work. Do you wear headbands? If so, go buy some new, cute ones with patterns to wear while you walk... anything to make the experience a bit more pleasant. It's not even June...

Is your office air conditioned? If so, check out pedal exerciser at Amazon. Maybe you could use this during hot humid days. I use mine while watching T.V. or reading a book.

Amylou I mostly cycle for my exercise but I don't when it gets too hot. I have a tiny area in my bedroom set up for days I don't go outdoors to exercise. There is a chair with a desk cycle under it, a basket of resistance bands, and some small hand weights. I listen to something lively with my earphones and can get a great workout while sitting in the chair.

BTW just because they look simple and are relatively cheap, don't discount resistance bands, they do get the job done.

I had a portable elliptical for indoor exercise at work at one time, but was told to take it home because of space. Apparently a 12x18 inch thing was too bulky. Ridiculous. Our boss is a bit of a spaz about such things. So annoying.

As for the 10000 goal, I do have an ulterior motive. While i am primarily trying to get healthier and drop weight, when i get steps, I get points towards Amazon gift cards. I try to get 15000 total throughout the day to get the maximum points. I do notice an improvement in my overall feeling better!

I just wish it weren't so friggin hot and sticky!!!!!

Amylou, I am right there with you! I hate it too. I can barely walk outside in the heat of early morning, much less run/jog. I keep telling myself I will be flying (yeah, right) once it gets cooler. And forget working in the yard more than an hour or two. So much I need to do. It was too wet and rainy in the spring, and now too hot.

The pedal exerciser is very portable and fits right under your desk.

My elliptical was stashed out of the way under my desk. Completely out of the way. It was still "in the way" by some standards.......

I miss that thing. It was so handy to have.

AmyLou, we are opposites. We have not even turned our A.C. on yet. To me it is not humid yet. I take our dog over to our friend's 3 or 4 days a week. Our dog, Ali, & I walk 2 of their dogs a mile & a half. We generally go over around 11:30 in the morning. When we do turn on the A.C. it is just to pull the humidity out, we keep it around 80 so I do not get cold. Don't lose your motivation, you are doing great!!

Amylou, I wonder if the step program (rather than other exercise) nets your employer a discount on their insurance? In my experience, when something just doesn't make sense, the answer usually has to do with money.

I hear ya, Amy. The last few days temps have made it into the high 80s and will be flirting with the 90s next week. It won't be long and we'll be in the triple digits. Ugh!

We don't have the humidity found in the south, but hot is hot. I don't even venture outside when it gets like that unless I have to be somewhere. Between the heat and the wasps, outdoors is not my friend in the summertime.

I've been walking two miles (mostly hill wallking) all winter and spring, but I'll be switching over to things I can do inside. That includes a 45 minute yoga routine, going up and down the stars (start at 10 times with a goal to get to 20), some light weight training and dancing around the house while I do my chores.

It's too bad your company doesn't have a gym for employees to use. Having something like that available would help you get to your daily steps goal. Hang in there; you are doing great and fall will be back in just a few short months!

Actually Lucille,the elliptical counted as steps on my Fitbit. I have no doubt that the wellness program they use benefits them in some way. However, you can earn points for all sorts of different exercise activities. Not just steps. Steps are just what fits into my life best. I actually get a discount on my insurance premiums for participating in the wellness program and meeting certain requirements. The discount is very very generous. I pay less than 50 dollars a month for very good health insurance.

Dawn, they do offer discounts on several gym memberships, so that is something. They also offer help with weight loss programs and other things. There will be some sort of thing next month where you can go and get all your organs screened for abnormalities, and a seperate,more detailed series of tests on the heart and arteries. I think that's neat. Even though I know that in the end,it is more for their benefit than ours,I plan to take advantage of it.

Anyway, I guess you can't have it all all the time. I like being able to kill two birds with one stone. Making money, getting my steps in at the same time. It helps me feel better when i get it done,and I think i sleep better,which is saying something, because I am a good sleeper. Unfortunately, I have to have a trade off for that I guess. For at least half the year,I will be miserable doing so. I love doing my walk when the temps are in the 30s and 40s. Even the rare 20s.