So how did it work for you? and more….

If you did my challenge with me can you leave a comment and tell me how you did, please? I’m just curious and felt honored you joined me. I also have something for you, if you’ll leave me your e-mail address.

I rode 22 days out of 31. Logged in 57 miles, I didn’t try for any certain distant just getting on the bike. I am still going to keep riding and just take the doctors advice and just go for joy rides, nothing hard.

This week I will refine my personal challenges for Debbi’s Slimmer this Summer Challenge and get it posted on Saturday.

This week I’m going to just concentrate on practicing for this Saturday. I haven’t beaten my 33 minute time but am happy with it so will just keep working at it.

I am going to take this week off from blogging and just try and get some other things done. I am so far behind on taking care of business here that I’ve got to do that. I’ll be back after my race on Saturday.

Take care my friends and have a blessed week. Keep up the great work that you’ve all been doing. Keep up working as hard as you can to become the healthiest, best you possible.

33:18….practice….and this week’s weight…

I’m working on it. This was my latest time for my 5k walk/run. 5 more days, 3 more practices and then Saturday is my day.

As for my weight this week, staying on plan, exercising (but not as much as usual) and it being my TOM I gained a pound, 174.4. This will come off next week, I know it will and a bit more if at all possible.

I am so tired this weekend. We’ve been beyond busy and I was hoping to go fishing, we’ll just see what tomorrow will bring.

Hope you all have a blessed night sleep and a great day tomorrow. Take care my friends.

I wanted to share….

This is the post I put on my everyday blog. I wanted to share what my life is other the diet and exercise. Though I work hard at that, I wanted you to see I have a life that is filled with so much more.

THIS WEEK….

Has been busy but here it always is in one way or another. The kids and I have been busy doing what we do best, playing and learning.

 

One of our biggest events was Justin graduating from Preschool. It was such an honor being invited to watch Justin graduate. He has come so far this year. I am very proud of him.

 

 

Another big thing in these little lives. Jon, Justin and Hannah have never had a wiener roast. So Mike taught them how to roast wieners and we had a picnic.

 

We got our boat ready this week and while it was sitting by the garage we had to play in it.

We transplanted, for the 3rd time, the tomatoes and peppers. This should be the last planting because after next week it’s time to plant the garden, that is if it warms up. This morning when I got up it was 30* and quite chilly out there.

 

Jim and I got the boat launched. It was such a beautiful day. Wilbur loves going for rides. We had a blast and it felt so good to just be out with Jim.

We feed the last of our bird seed to our birds and Junior (he’s our Yellowbellied Sap Sucker) came for one last visit.

Today Justin and I made chocolate chip cookies except I didn’t have any brown sugar so just substituted white and a bit more flavoring and I swear I bought chocolate chips but couldn’t find them anywhere’s so we took the last of the Valentine and Easter candy from the freezer and beat the living daylights out of it with a hammer.

So between this stuff, mowing, tilling the garden, scouts, getting some spring cleaning done and making a bracelet for an older customer….no wonder I’m tired and tomorrow I’m going to work out in the morning, take my daddy garage saling and I so want to do some kind of BBQ.

And I think last but not least, the rhubarb is ready so I went out and cut a stock pot full and make sauce. I made 12 quarts. I don’t have a picture to show you, you all know what canning looks like. But I have to say this was the tastiest batch I’ve ever made. I put the last of the apples from last fall, the last of the cranberries and the last of the freeze dried raspberries in it. Oh plus a box of sugar free orange jello.

I’m off Monday, time to relax and do some fishing. AND…. do a huge Memorial Service Flag ceremony at our VFW for our veterans. Our scouts and leaders were asked to do the flags and lead the pledge so that’s where Mike and I will be Monday at 10:00. Remember what Monday is folks, a day to say thank you and pray for all the families that are or have put their lives on the line for our freedom.

Take care my friends and have a blessed, awesome, relaxing, rejuvenating and wonderful weekend.

Try as I may….

I can not leave a comment on anyone’s blog. I am sorry because I am reading and I have tried and tried and tried, for the past two days. I even thought it was my computer and did a clean up, restore (in case some how I changed some setting). I can’t find a place to e-mail anyone so I am just hopping blogger fixes itself and I can go and tell you I was there but until then please know I am reading and I have tried to e-mail a few of you telling you this. Most have gone to you, some come back.

Just wanted you to know. At least I can post and see what’s going on in your worlds.

Jim took me for a boat ride tonight. IT WAS AMAZING!!! It has been at least 5 years since we’ve taking the 14’ out on the lake. It felt wonderful. You know the biggest deal, I fit in the seat, between the seats, on the spotter seat and was able to get in and out without help.

Take care my friends. Have a blessed nights sleep.

Talked to the doctor and the doctor said….

No more bike riding. That was the biggest change. Really I can bike ride but just pleasure, only me on the bike and only a mile or two at a time. My knee is terrible, not going to improve and it’s life. I told him I didn’t like the bike because of the pain but figured I’d get stronger and could learn to like it. Nope, that part isn’t going to happen he says. Okay so the next thing we talked about….

My cholesterol. It has come down 28 points since May 2009, nothing to worry about. Yes the LDL was a little high but less then last year, lots less then the year before. My good HDL is excellent which makes up the difference in the bad so nothing to worry about there. Okay so the next thing we talked about….

My thyroid. It’s funky and with the 55 lbs gone it’s changed but not for the good, yet. So he upped my dose and in 6 month go back for a lab test to see if that helps. So if it does it means no more thinning hair, a normal sleep pattern will come back, I won’t be so stressed feeling when really like if pretty good. Things will even out. Okay, I can handle that so the next things we talked about…

Since last August I have lost 30 lbs. He was amazed, in awe and so very impressed and happy. He asked what my goal was and I said 165-170 and he jumped with joy. He is very happy with those numbers and said by next May when I come back he’d like to see that. I did the show and tell with my last race and he was happy for me. He wanted to know what else I had planned told him about the 5K walk/jog next weekend, told him I guess the Cuyuna Bike Tour is out so won’t do that, there’s a couple more runs coming up and then normal every day working out and learning to live healthy. He told me NO!!! NO!!! running but jogging and walking is great. He agrees with my chiropractor on this. Okay, I was giddy he was happy with all I had done so the next we talked about…

My back. I have lost another 1”. That is 2.25” in about 5 years. I have problems with my lower back and the compression stuff doesn’t have much cushion anymore. There is nothing we are going to do about this. I do not take medicine unless I have to but when it gets to the point I can’t handle it anymore then we’ll talk. The exercising will help and has helped so will just keep working on that. See, I can handle that…at least for now. So we then talked about….

The lady stuff. My periods are less the 3 weeks apart. It is screwing up with my hormones and other stuff. A couple of years ago I had a biopsy done and found out I have an enlarge uterus. I can have it taken away or just let nature take it’s course cuz sooner or later I’m going to be old enough for it to just shrivel up and quit doing it’s job. I opted for the wait and see. It’s not dangerous, just annoying and I will pray to God that he’ll one day agree with me, that it can go away anytime. Here’s the goody (NOT!!), I ended my period on the 7th of this moth, guess what came today for the ladies tests, yep…it’s here, again!!

So all in all I had a great physical. Found out a few things I didn’t know, learned a few things I hadn’t a clue on and shared a few things I thought he needed to know. He was kind, happy, sweet and so unlike he’s been all my adult life with him. He said he’s very proud of me and excited for me to see just what I can do with the next 50 years of my life. If all physicals could be like this I wouldn’t stay away for a couple years or more at a time. Camp physicals is what I go in for, the eyes, ears, weight and sign the papers so I can go stuff.

AND THE BIGGY!!!! READY??? HERE IT IS……….for the first time in all my years of scouting, I am under the weight requirements for ALL, yes ALL scouting adventures. I CAN GO AND DO ANYTHING!!! White water rafting, Sky Diving, Scuba, rock climbing, ANYTHING!!! I am so excited, I’ve never worried about it because some of that stuff our troop doesn’t do but you just never know, now that I can, I just might start looking into some of the other wonders of scouting and more!

So there you have it, physical. In all my years I have never come back feeling like this, it’s amazing, wonderful and so worth every little bit (really big bits) of work I have put into my new life style journey.

I hope today is amazing for you too. Take care my friends and GOD BLESS!!!

Slimmer this Summer Challenge…

 

Debbi and Mir are hosting this cool challenge. Now I am already in a weight loss challenge with Allan so my goals aren’t going to be food or weight related but I have some other challenges I’ve been thinking about. I’ll still post my weight every Monday like I’ve been doing but will just include both challenges. Why mess with my first challenge that’s working.

This challenge starts June 6th – August 28th. 12 weeks, 84 days.

I really need to get back to my floor exercises. I call them fish flopping exercises. I don’t think it matters if it’s an exercise DVD or a Wii work out or even just plain floor exercises. I am not going to the gym for the next 3 months, I am on hold there until September 1st. So I have to be sure I do and keep up doing something. I also want to keep up my walking but now more jogging and running. There’s also the bike. So I think for this challenge, Slimmer this Summer Challenge I am going to do this:

1. 3 days a week, 20 minutes a day of fish flopping exercise. Monday Jillian, Wednesday Zumba, Friday crunches, push ups and jumping jacks. I can mix them up or change who I work out with, just for sure 20 minutes 3 days a week.

2. 4 days a week walking/jogging/running. Monday, Wednesday, Friday pushing as hard as I can and a pleasure walk on Saturday. A total of 12-15 miles a week.

3. That darn bike. How about Tuesday and Thursday to Great Grandma’s and back with the kids. And if possible I’ll go for an extra ride in the evening. I’m not going to put a mileage on this, just out and about.

4. To continue with Allan’s challenge and losing the last of my weight. 165, that’s my number I’m shooting for. Once I hit that the real challenge will start, maintaining.

So there, that’s my Slimmer this Summer challenge ideas. I do reserve the right to change them up as I need to but to keep up with the challenge and share whatever I might change along the way, as long as I get slimmer this summer!!

Now if anyone is interested, go check out Debbi's and Mir's Slimmer this Summer Challenge. There’s already a great list of people participating.

**Now before I close I do have to update you on my loss for last week. Drum roll please, 3 lbs. 173.2. That is my weight for this week.**

I have my physical on Wednesday and am going to talk to the doctor about my LDL being up slightly and also my Thyroid being higher then last year. Otherwise I don’t have any issues and I hope he’s kind with the 25 lbs I’ve lost since I saw him last. I’m only fat now, no longer morbidly obese. 55 lbs gone and never to return.

Now take care and have a blessed week.

44:28…

Well I beat my time, I wanted to do it in less the 45:00 and I did. I came in 9th, 3rd in my age group. The fastest time was 40:56, over all in the competition walk, so I am going to work hard to make that my best time.

Mike came and gave me lots of love and encouragement and I was so glad to see him at the 1/2 point. I was starting to cry a bit because of the challenge, the rain, the being alone but when he came and gave me some water and a smile I was ready to finish good and felt much better. I now know I can do this again and alone as long as there’s a friendly face in the crowd. It was weird, I live in a small town where most people know most people but out of the better then 100 people I knew maybe 10. It was a lonesome experience but a rewarding one.

Wilbur walked too in the Fitness Walk with a Venture Scout of mine, Kori. They did an awesome job too. Thank you Kori for taking Wilbur. He loves to walk so much and looks forward to you too.

Mike took some pictures so here they are. Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement also, I really needed it and it made all the difference in the world.

 

Ready, set GO!!!!

Half way point. The 5 of us were in the middle of the group.

Almost done and Mike there taking pictures. You guys, you have to know that Mike makes me so proud. He’s there always to give me what I need to keep going. I LOVE YOU MIKE!!!

 

And just about done.

All done, wet but so happy.

Kori and Wilbur crossing the finish line.

 

My partner in all my exercise walking.

And my sheet….

So I now have 2 weeks to improve my time but this walk is a walk/jog/run so my time should be about 10 minutes less. I’ll see what I can do to perfect that.

So now it’s time to relax, warm up and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Now before I close you’ve got to go to Michele's blog. Today she did her first bike tour. As of this minute she hasn’t posted anything for today but I know she will be. YOU GO GIRL!!! I am so proud of you.

Take care my friends and have a blessed and super awesome weekend. Weigh in is Monday, we’ll see!! :o)

Canoeing…and…

Mike and I took the canoe out last night and went fishing and canoeing. We worked hard because we went up the creek and two years ago it was more opened but we had beavers then. Well someone (not us because we don’t believe in trapping them from our area) trapped them so now we have muskrats. YUCK!!! They are so messy compared to beavers. Beavers make nice clean stand able dams, muskrats make mess soft yucky spots. Here, I’ll show you….

 

This is a beaver dam. There’s a difference of about 3’ in the water. Both sides are clean and we can fish either side.

This is muskrat mush, we had to portage around them and after doing that three times gave up and came back, portaging again 3 times.

I’m only complaining a little because out here all wild life is excepted just beavers are cooler.

Here’s a couple just because pictures and then I have to tell you about the loon.

We have a pair of loons that have been nesting on our lake for at least 10 years and if I think really hard I bet lots longer then that. They are so use to us they swim around the boat. Well last night on our way back we got to stop by mama loons nest and take some pictures and while we did that she swam close to the canoe just to make sure we weren’t touching. She never threatened us or us her we just sat and drifted along and took pictures. ENJOY!!!

 

So there you have it, our outing last night. I’m not sure the calories burned being out paddling, portaging and fishing use up but it’s gotta be better then sitting at home doing nothing (like that ever really happens here).

Jim and I transplanted some trees last night after fishing. Jim will buy or get small baby trees and put them in the garden until they are established and then transplant them. When we bought this land from mama and daddy it was a field. Now look at it…

This little guy came and visited us yesterday, he’s called an Indigo Bunting. He never stays real long, maybe a few days, but him and his lady are so fun to watch.

 

So there you have it. Nothing to do with diet and exercise, I’m getting bored with just writing about that. How many times can you hear how many miles I walked, how fast I walked, how many times I rode the bike, how many miles I went, how much weight I lifted, how much food I ate? I have been thinking about incorporating both my blogs together. I know I’d lose some followers but then again I know some of the ones that followed me at first have moved on anyways. What are your thoughts about that. Do you like two different ones, The Life of Riley and this one or is it time to put them together? I need your thoughts and ideas.

So tomorrow is my 5K. I’m a bit distraught about it. I had a walking partner, exercise partner but she has moved on with other things and some health issues so I’m alone. I know most of you already run/walk alone but I haven’t been that brave yet. I do now go to the gym alone and I enjoy myself so I’m expecting tomorrow will be just fine too but different. I have been practicing the past two weeks alone but tomorrow with all those people. I’m a bit scared. I’ll live but still scared.

Okay we’re off for a bike ride to great grandma’s. Soon I’ll have the little bike cart fixed and be able to have the girls in that instead of on me and my bike but for now this works. Speaking of bike rides, how is everyone doing on their 20 day challenge? 11 days left to get your time in and then I’ll have a drawing for everyone that participated. I have 15 days in now with a total of 65 miles. Not far but I am getting my days in.

Take care and have a blessed and awesome day.