Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Heartwarming
Filed under Alex Fleming Art, animal paintings
At this, the last day of September, I’m 2/10ths of a pound away from my interim weight loss goal of 40-pounds-off.
This is a report from MyFitnessPal.com showing the last year of my ‘lose-the-lard’ efforts. Although I’m only about halfway to my ultimate goal at this point, the trend is encouraging.
My husband and I had a talk this morning, since he has Type 2 Diabetes (though he won’t admit that and says he just has a ‘sugar problem.’) We BOTH are having to accept that our bodies don’t respond to our efforts as they used to. It takes being more serious with more consistent effort to actually realize improvement.
He says he’s being ‘good,’ but looked kind of appalled when I calmly reminded him of what I noticed he ate that was not on his diet recently. I told him I wasn’t the food police and that he was responsible – as am I – for what we put in our mouths. We BOTH need to keep tweaking to make the changes happen.
What seems to be working for me right now – with the occasional plateau – is monitored by my daily use of MyFitnessPal.com. I put in my information on KetoKarma.com (Suzanne Ryan’s website) and came up with this as my daily eating goal –
My experience after doing this about a year is that I need to stay under 1000 calories, where fitness pal says, “You might not be eating enough.” I eat as few carbs as possible, staying as close to 13 or 14 as I can, and try not to eat too much protein – that may throw off my progress. I’m trying to drink more water, alternating between that and coffee until my eyeballs are floating. I’m not snacking – at all. I’m taking Fruits & Veggies vitamin supplements daily to make sure I’m getting all the nutrients I need, as well as taking Calcium for my bones. I’m hoping that eventually, when I meet my ultimate goal, I might be able to stop taking most of the prescription drugs I’m taking now. We’re monitoring blood tests at the times my doc deems appropriate. I’m trying to exercise daily – videos with weights and my half hour yoga stretching.
SO – as of today, September 30th, there are 39.8 pounds less of me than when I was at my heaviest. There are 41.2 inches less of me now.
“Keepin’ on keepin’ on. “ I’ll report again at the end of October.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Healthy Eating
Good morning! We’re into a ‘throw-the-doors-open-and-enjoy-the-breezes’ time each morning and closing up and turning on the a/c around lunch time. I’ll take it.
I had fun in the art room yesterday. I’m hoping to get up there again today, but house stuff is taking priority – exciting stuff like laundry, changing the sheets, gathering trash, cleaning, etc. Though, I vacuumed the first floor tiles yesterday and there were ALREADY three tufts of Amber hair wafting around this morning. Makes me wonder why I bother at ALL. That dog should be absolutely bald.
Update to the first paragraph – I was writing this blog post and my husband is across the office from me, working on a computer program. We both jumped about 3 feet straight up into the air when Amber started fierce barking at the front screen door. She obviously smelled something and her hair was standing straight up on her back. I made her go to her place on her bed in the living room, but it took both of us a while before our hearts beat normally again and we were able to concentrate.
All was good until BARK! BARK! BARK! BARK! BARK!!!! – giving our hearts another big jolt. I have now closed the front door after making Amber get back in her place. Hopefully, this will be the end of it… I’m wondering – do jolts like this count as cardio exercise?
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
I think there might be room for ONE MORE signing on his cast…
Filed under Amazing Animals, kindness
Filed under LoveMasterPieces - Etsy, paintings I love
I have the old style Kindle Fire 7. If things go the way things have in the past year, it’s probably on its last legs and will die a cruel death soon. :0(
I have always liked REAL books. They are in shelves all over our house, plus in ‘discrete’ piles :0) elsewhere – I LOVE real books and fought the idea of getting a Kindle for a LONG time after my husband got one. He loves his and rarely reads a real book anymore. I do like the fact that I can throw my Kindle in my purse and take it places and read where I’m having to wait a long time.
I also fought the idea of Kindle Unlimited, where you pay a monthly fee in order to have access to lots of ‘free’ books at no extra charge. The main reason I like this now is that a LOT of books being written these days that are truly awful, in my humble opinion. I like characters with whom I can identify or I can admire. I like plots where I care what happens to those characters. I won’t read a book with lots of grammatical or spelling errors. I also don’t like ‘formula’ stuff that is predictable, being buried in questionable language, or kind of shocked by too much explicitness when I appreciate ‘romance.’
I can upload a book, get started with it, and send it back from whence it came in a matter of seconds without feeling guilty about having ‘bought’ yet another bad book not worth reading. There is no limit. I DO have to return one in order to download another from time to time, but that just takes a second.
I still prefer a real book, but paperbacks now, since the arthritis in my hands makes it uncomfortable to hold a hardback these days. The Kindle enables me to read as much as I like without guilt – a great thing for sure!
Filed under Hobbies, quality of life, Reading is FUNdamental
I’m also working on two custom Christmas cards and two wood-burned signs. I just love being able to spend time in my art room lately. My husband’s efforts lately have been working on a computer program, rather than death-defying projects, so I’m very, very grateful.
He slept in this morning. When I tried to make coffee, the pot didn’t do anything. I checked it over a couple of times, but it just wasn’t doing anything. I finally searched and found an old Mr. Coffee in the pantry and ran it, so we didn’t have to do without today. When he got up, he checked the coffee system and declared it dead, so I don’t feel stupid, just disappointed in the newer pot.
It’s a gorgeous day here today. I feel guilty because so many people have been devastated by Helene, flooded and without power and more, while all I have to grouse about is a non-working coffee pot. Donation seems such a small thing to do, but I’m doing what I can to help.
My husband got antsy last night and decided that we should do our grocery shopping and miss the Sunday crowds. It was about dinner time, so it was kind of an odd time to be going out to do errands. The weather was lovely, though, and we enjoyed taking Amber with us in the truck and opening the windows to the wonderful breeze.
We watched the Alabama vs Georgia football game last night. We gave up when Alabama was ahead 24-0. It turns out we gave up too soon. Georgia came to life, tied the game, and Alabama scored once more at the last minute to pull out a win. Sorry we missed a really good game.
I hope you have a nice Sunday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Indian Hills Signs – Vince, the Sign Guy
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Indian Hills Signs
Heartwarming – BoredPanda.com – Miguel Ordonez and Mindaugas Balciauskas
Filed under Good in the World
I gained weight-retained water – swallowed a bowling ball – or SOMETHING overnight, so my weight is up a pound this morning. I’m just gritting my teeth and will keep on keepin’ on, working toward my interim weight loss goal. My ‘maturity’ is making this a real character-building exercise, aided and abetted by my husband, who has been crunching on potato chips lately. If there were fairness in the world, just the fact that I resisted that temptation should allow me to finally reach this goal. It will really feel good when I reach this one and can officially set the next one.
I’m really enjoying this exercise. There is a whole list of short videos with these ladies and others drumming and exercising to music. Since I don’t have an exercise ball, the tub, or drumsticks, I’m just keeping up with them as best I can holding 3 pound weights. Yesterday I did the warm up plus 4 more videos, giving myself a pretty good workout. I also did my yoga stretching later in the day.
I played in my art room yesterday afternoon and some more in the evening, finishing several individual Christmas ornaments, working on a custom Christmas card for 2024 to offer in sets of 6, and started two more signs. It feels good to escape and play.
While back my husband and I changed out most of the transformers in our fluorescent light fixtures, being forced to change to the new LED lightbulbs. We finally got that done, leaving only a few much-less used fixtures and the leftover old-style bulbs. One group of those was over our entertainment center. My husband changed those out while I was having my massage Thursday morning. Since it involved balancing on a ladder, I was relieved he was still in one piece when I got home. The other one that needed new bulbs was in my closet. The light has been super dim for months now, but I just didn’t want him trying to change out the bulbs, since he kept getting so frustrated and tired, holding his arms up in the air and fighting to get the bulbs in and working. Yesterday the two of us tackled that and got the new old-style bulbs in without too much hassle. The last ones lasted over 30 years, so I think that problem is ‘fixed’ now. :0)
I’m relieved that my friends and relatives made it through Helene just fine. I feel so sorry for the loss of life, the devastation, and the aftermath of the storm.
I hope you enjoy your Saturday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Indian Hills Humor – Vince, The Sign Guy
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Indian Hills Signs
Filed under Dean Crouser Art, Watercolors I Love
Smile – BoredPanda.com – Nikita Manot and Dominyka
Filed under Good in the World
I had a wonderful slothful day yesterday.
My talented, caring massage therapist, Lynn Moody 479-629-7501, found all my sore and stiff parts and healed me, at least for the rest of the day. Ahhhhhh! After Lynn made me feel loose as a goose and happy, I went to visit my dear friend, Linda, who lives at the retirement place where Lynn’s business is now.
Linda has been a long-time friend here in Arkansas. I really believe she is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known. Her memory is mainly in the moment now. She recognized me, but didn’t remember that SHE was due for a massage at 1pm. Thankfully, Lynn comes and gets her so that she doesn’t miss out. She said she hasn’t seen or heard from Kay and Bud, our other Lunch Bunch core people, either. I saw our Lunch Bunch waitress at Walmart recently, and she said that she didn’t think Kay recognized her the last time they were in the restaurant. It’s sad when times change, but I’m thankful to have so many wonderful memories.
I dragged the trash can up to its spot and got the mail when I came home, then fixed lunch. When my belly was full and I was comfortable in my chair, I stretched out and enjoyed a long nap. I cooked dinner, but that was really the only other thing I did. I’m a GOOD sloth.
Today my husband and I will try to get the fluorescent bulbs in my closet changed out. The ones I have have been dim for quite awhile, so it will be good if we can do this.
Otherwise, I’ll do my exercises like a good girl today – the ‘fit sticks’ videos (warm up plus at least two more) today plus my yoga. My eating plan and exercise are finally yielding good results. I’m less than a pound away from an interim goal now. Maybe I’ll reach it tomorrow.
I plan to spend time in my art room today. I have some things almost finished and a couple of things ready to start. :0)
We may get gusty winds and some rain this afternoon and evening. So far, my friend in Florida is safe, and my SIL outside of Charlotte in North Carolina, are safe from Hurricane Helene. I’ll be keeping up with news from this today.
Stay safe.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Yesterday I was happily reading posts and responding on X.
One showed an image of two men trying to fix an air conditioner, I think, and doing it in a very unsafe manner, just asking for trouble. The post asked readers to respond to it in three words. I wrote, “Accident Happening Soon.”
As soon as I posted it, I received a message from X that my account had been blocked for ‘violent content.’ I could appeal, so I did. They acknowledged that I answered and said they would review it. My account was blocked for 12 hours. I am now in good standing again now, since I can post, but I think I go on a terror watch list or something and my account could be suspended.
So much for free speech. So much for humans making decisions.
Oh, well. Be advised that I MIGHT be a terrorist and that I should have either skipped the post, not responding at all, or should have ignored the fact that the method the guys were using for the repair was dangerous. I will be more careful in the future.
Filed under Challenges
Filed under LoveMasterPieces - Etsy, paintings I love
Smile – BoredPanda.com – Nikita Manot and Dominyka
Filed under You Only Had ONE Job To Do
I have a massage this morning. I’m really looking forward to Lynn Moody’s healing hands, finding and easing all of my sore or stiff parts. I’ll also try to visit with my friend, Linda, while I’m at the retirement place. My husband forgot to get the trash can when he drove down to get the mail yesterday, so I’ll do that when I get home.
Yesterday I did the ‘Fit Sticks’ warm-up video plus two more in the series. Each series of exercises features a small group of women using drum sticks on elevated exercise balls, moving to the beat of a nice song. Since I don’t have an exercise ball, I just moved with them, doing basically the same moves, holding 3-pound weights. By the end of the third video, I was tired and didn’t want to overdo, so stopped. I plan to do them again today. It was fun. I followed that up with my yoga, so the weights and the stretching seems like a good combination.
I’m seeing good results (for me) on the scales lately, getting closer to my interim goal. I’m hopeful I’m on the right track for this to continue.
I finished this set of 4 wooden painted Christmas ornaments yesterday.
This is the back, waiting for personalization before I spray them for protection.
I’m having a lot of fun in my art room, working on various things. It’s good to have some time to myself, doing something fun and challenging.
We bombed out on putting a new innards kit in the toilet tank yesterday. My husband isn’t strong enough to get the new part ‘stuffed’ into the inner front of the tank. I’ve called our plumber, asking him to put us on his list for whenever he can work us in.
Our project for this afternoon is changing out some fluorescents over the entertainment center in the living room today.
People in the path of Hurricane Helene are in my thoughts today. I hope everyone comes through this safely.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Miguel Ordonez and Mindaugas Balciauskas – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Encouragement, Heartwarming
Good morning! It rained overnight here. It’s still wet, cool (63 degrees F.), and quite foggy right now. I’m really enjoying the change.
I’m happy to be enjoying lots of time in my art room. The ornaments I’m working on require lots of steps with drying time in-between, so I dash up there, do the next step, then come down again to do something else until things are ready for me again. I’m going up and down several times a day – a good thing for my ‘moving more’ goal. :0)
I should have ornaments to show you soon, and the ideas for more wood-burned and/or painted earrings are flying around in my head, as well as some ideas for another wood-burned sign. It’s so much fun!
My SIL told me about a class she attends at the retirement community where she lives now. She suggested I look up, “Cardio Drumming – TC Seniors” to give me an idea of what her class was doing. I was intrigued, and decided that I would try to follow along with the first video, but using my weights instead of the drumsticks the ladies are using. It’s all a part of looking for fun ways to move more and should be fun – at least once – as long as they don’t get too rambunctious…
We’ll go down and get our mail and see if our trash can is full of water from the rain. We need to drag it back up to its spot beside the driveway. No other errands I know of. We may get the Kohler toilet innards delivered today. If so, we’ll tackle putting the new kit in today.
Enjoy your day!
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Indian Hills Humor – Vince, the Sign Guy
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Indian Hills Signs
Filed under animal paintings, Sandi Mower - Watercolors
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