Since I re-joined the program in July 2011, I have lost 11 pounds and 8 inches overall. I would have lost more than that, but I have not been exercising very much.

Today, I am recovering from oral surgery. It was done yesterday and as part of the recovery, I am not to exercise for one week. Although I cannot exercise my body, I can exercise my mind and fingers by typing. I have renewed my commitment to this blog. One way I have done that is by registering my own domain for this web site. My own little home on the web!

When I have my weekly consultation (Saturdays at 10:00 AM), I will write down my successes and challenges from the preceding week. During the other days, I will write about my fitness and thoughts along the journey.

Challenges for this week: I may be eating more Edy’s Fruit Bars than usual, since the cold soothes my post-op surgical site. The lack of exercise may cause me to stay at the same weight…. or may cause me to gain. I won’t fret about the possibilities. It is what it is.

Successes for this week: renewing my commitment to this blog; feeling good after having surgery!

I have lived in my neighborhood for almost 7 years. Not until I started riding my bike did I realize how many hills are around my house! My house is actually in the middle of a hill. When I say “hill”, I don’t mean steep, horrendous hills. Nonetheless, these hills are kicking my butt!!!

I have ridden my bike every day except for today, to give my quad muscles and lungs a little rest. However, I have been walking every day, sometimes in addition to riding.

Today, I walked 4 miles and tried to walk briskly up the hills. I did it!! These are small accomplishments, but I can feel the increased strength in my legs and lungs. I go a little farther each day.

I don’t know if I will do any outdoor activity tomorrow. I may give my body a rest. I have designated Saturdays to be my “weigh-in” day, so we will see how that goes!

I have also increased my water intake. I am averaging 24 – 32 ounces a day. This is terrible… I know… but it’s better than 0 ounces, which was my average not too long ago. Oh… the poor habits I’ve burdened my body with over the past 8 years or so. No smoking or drinking EVER, but lots of overeating, not drinking water and sitting around. Now, I am throwing those bad habits away and my body will reward me by getting lighter and stronger!! Good deal.

This morning, I took a ride in my van to see how far I had ridden yesterday (which is how I know I rode 3/10′s and 7/10′s of a mile). Then, I drove to see how far it would be to make it an even mile. Going in a loop, down one dead-end side street and back to that aforementioned stop sign is exactly one mile. I decided that would be my challenge for today. Yesterday, I was so excited about my new bike that I rode her before I bought a helmet. I don’t like riding without a helmet so I ventured out to buy one this morning. While I was at the store, I saw a basket that matches the bike seat and lettering (black). The basket locks into a bracket, but can be removed. It has a handle so it can be used as a carrying basket for groceries!

Here is my HK Cruiser with the new basket:

Here is the new helmet inside the new basket:

Equipped with my new helmet and basket, I was excited to meet my one mile challenge. I put a bottle of Gatorade in the basket and off I went! The bike rides a little differently with the added weight of the basket. It took me a minute to get used to it. My neighbor, who lives directly across the street from my house, was outside at the end of my ride. My quads and lungs were about to give up on me! Yesterday, I stopped in front of his mailbox and I was so out of breath that I couldn’t even talk to him. Today as I passed him, I said, “I’m going to make it to the stop sign.”

As I approached the stop sign, I could have walked faster than I was pedaling! My quads were burning, but I kept saying to myself, “You are strong. You are strong.”

Well, it worked.

I made it to the stop sign (which, as you remember, is uphill from my house.) I coasted back to my house and decided to try to make it up my steep driveway. I managed to pedal 1/4 of the way up the steep hill that is my driveway. Good enough for today!

I love setting personal challenges every time I go out to ride. On my street, after the first stop sign, there is another stop sign. It is up a long hill. I will eventually be able to pedal up to the second stop sign, but I’m not ready for that challenge yet! My ultimate goal is to be able to ride my bike to Subway, my neighborhood grocery store and Walgreen’s. All of these stores are about a mile from my house, with a lot of hills in between.

Little by little… a little farther each day.

For about 18 months, I have been reading a blog by a woman named Sheryl (a.k.a. *Bitch Cakes*). She is an excellent writer and her blog has inspired me to eat better and increase my physical exercise even though I tend to hate exercise. I see what getting active has done for Sheryl and a large part of her active lifestyle involves her ‘Hello Kitty Beach Cruiser’ bicycle. Once or twice I have mentioned to my husband that I would love to get a Hello Kitty Beach Cruiser bike. Hers is the Retro version, which is light pink. I prefer the dark pink version. Well, today, my husband went to renew his driver’s license. On the way back home from the DMV, he passed by a consignment shop and noticed a pink bike. He turned around to get a closer look. He remembered my description of the bike I wanted (Company name… Nirve; ‘Hello Kitty’ cute face and words on fenders, ‘Hello Kitty’ cute face on tire treads, etc…) He remembered every detail!!!

When he was leaving to go to the DMV, I asked him to stop by Subway to get me a Chicken Teriyaki salad (no cheese or dressing). So, when he walked in the door, I was surprised that he didn’t have the salad with him. He said, “I had to come right home. Come on. We need to go for a quick ride.”

I had no idea why.

Well, this is how much my husband really listens to me and cares about my hopes and dreams:

Meet my Hello Kitty Cruiser!!

I was overjoyed!! I rode it for the first time a few hours ago. I live in a hilly neighborhood, so a ride around the block just about did me in! I had to get off the bike and walk toward the end of the ride. I rode a short distance and my legs could have gone farther, but my lungs said, “Stop and let me catch my breath!!” When my breathing slowed down, I got back on the bike and rode to the house. My driveway is STEEP, so it will be a while before I ride my bike up to the front door. I am so excited about the bike! I still can’t believe I own it!

With my new bike, I have a renewed interest in blogging regularly about my fitness journey. I hope you will join me on my journey.

My official “before” photo:

Weight as of this morning: 172.4.

I am wearing a size 12-14.

I have not been exercising consistently. This blog is all about honesty, so I have to admit that I hate exercising. Once I begin, I am always glad that I did, but it’s hard to get started.

I have the Couch to 5K workouts on my mp3 player, in addition to the Cardio Coach workouts. I will use these for as long as it is not too humid to walk outside in a few months.

As a reminder, my short term goal is to lose 1.5 pounds per week. I will reach my weight goal of 125 pounds shortly before January 15th.

More later!!

May 10, 2011

Neck:           13.50 inches

Bicep:          12.50 inches

Forearm:    9.50 inches

Chest:          38.00 inches

Waist:          35.00 inches

Hips:            45.50 inches

Thigh:          23.00 inches

Calf:              13.50 inches

I use the Perfect Diet Tracker program to track my food, exercise, body measurements and weight.

I am struggling with the need to exercise -vs- my HATRED toward exercise. I used to just do it. I told myself that it was as much a part of my day as brushing my teeth. I lost 13 pounds in 8 weeks. I was on a roll! Then, I moved and got off track. That was in August 2009. I have since gained it all back… plus three pounds!

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