Summer Sounds ...

For you city dwellers who long for the peace and quiet of the country life.  

It IS peaceful, but it's not quiet!! 

(Audio only because it's nighttime - in my front yard).  

Birthday Shoes ...

I mean after all .... isn't that the perfect gift?  

I have no idea why my feet look orange.  Must be the iphone and the lighting.  

It's a real tan.  LOL

The pedicure was part of the birthday experience as well. 

The color?  Flashbulb Fuchsia. 

Life's A Beach ...

At Da Beach ...

Packing ...

Down, Down, Down ....

2.2 pounds this week.

Actually, on Sunday morning I was down .4 lower than this .... but then there was the dreaded Sunday dinner that I still haven't overcome!  LOL.  

The total for four weeks is 7.8 and that's right in line with the 'recommended' 'healthy' weight loss rate of about two pounds per week.  

Plus, I'm still going and working on the weight machines and trying to tone as I go.  (Trying really hard to lose the bat wing arms but not much progress there yet.)

Longest, Roughest, Toughest Workout So Far ...

It wasn't really all that long, rough, or tough, but still it was the longest, roughest, toughest so far!! 

Worked out my upper arms / chest / abs first.  (Really really want to lose the bat wing arms and the belly pooch).  

Then to the treadmill.  60 minutes, 3.5 miles, 4% incline.  (Actually bumped it up to 5% for about ten minutes near the end.)

Then another round on the arms / chest / abs.  

Then, I went to the grocery store and kept thinking "why didnt I get a buggy instead of a basket?"  I didnt need much at all.  Some fruit, half gallon of orange juice, and some bread.  But I also picked up three cans of Progresso soup (low sodium!).  

It was all I could do to carry the basket!!

I just kept thinking "if I'm gonna drop this, please wait til I get home and let me drop it in my own yard, not in the store or the parking lot!"  

I made it home ok.  Got in, put it all away, and made dinner.  Now I'm thinking about going to bed.  At 8:30pm!!

.

Sunday's Are Tough .....

on the diet that is.  Today it was meatloaf, cornbread, dried blackeyed peas, and mashed potatoes (yes, with milk and butter).

I didn't have any meatloaf and only a small spoonful of potatoes ..... but I just about used up my daily allotment of calories on the peas and cornbread.  

The only thing that might help save me is that last night we were at the ballpark with Nephew and so there was no supper (I didnt eat any ballpark food, I had taken some fruit cups for The Gabster so I indulged in one of those.)

I had a small salad when I got home at 9pm!

Stay tuned for Tuesday!!

Tuesday Ticker Time ...

Only one pound this week.

Three week total is 5.6 pounds.  

I'll get there .... someday .... 

Success!

Two (yes two!) swimsuits.  Coverup.  Beach sandals.  

Dress.   Blouse.  Dressy/work sandals.  

These pictures don't really do everything justice, but maybe you can get the idea.  

Swimsuits, coverup, and dress at JC Penny's. 

Blouse and sandals at ROSS'.  

Beach sandals at WalMart.

BabyGurl even got a dress and shoes at JC Penny's. 

(And had to try them on for a picture.)

Tomorrow ...

Going shopping tomorrow for the dreaded swimsuit.  Not looking forward to it.  I haven't had a swimsuit body (or a swimsuit) in many years.  Just because I've lost five pounds in the last two weeks does NOT mean I'm ready for a swimsuit!  I need to lose at least ten more before even thinking about it.  But I'm going to hang out with family in Pensacola in two weeks so I need something to wear to the beach.  It will be very conservative for sure!!

This one is on the JC Penny site.

We'll see tomorrow what they have in the store.  Taking BabyGurl along for opinions and moral support.  The trouble with that is, she is not nearly critical enough!!  "Yeah Mom, that's fine, let's go to lunch now!"  LOL.

Gardening ...

Ma and Pa have some mega-mater plants.  Trees in fact.  My mom is 5'10".  

They also planted a few hills of squash, and a few pepper plants - hot and banana. 

Wordless Wednesday ....

Tuesday Ticker ....

Well, I only lost 1.6 pounds this week.  

But at least I did go down instead of up. :-)

Long way to go.  

Fifty One Years ... Wow!

Happy Anniversary to my Ma and Pa!!

Still Trudging Along ...

Made it two miles on the treadmill this afternoon.  At one point I got up to 3.4 mph!  Yay!  Before getting on the treadmill I worked out on the machines.  I spend a lot of time on the ab machines!  Although walking on the treadmill (in front of a mirror! in shorts!) I've discovered I need to spend a lot more time on the leg (especially thigh) machines!!

As of this morning I was down another pound.  But I'm splurging a little with my supper tonight - baked potato with cheese and bbq chicken.  And a (small) glass of Riesling.  So we'll see how it goes tomorrow morning.

Yes, I know you're not supposed to weigh every day but it's the only way I can keep myself accountable.

And no, I dont freak out and fast if I gain a pound because I know the body's weight fluctuates all the time, but if I gain two .... well then, I'll need to step it up a bit!

Thursday .....

Did an abbreviated workout today.  

No cardio.  

Just a half hour on the machines.  

So I could get in an hour of watching this:

Whew!

Only did cardio today.  No weight machines.  Added 5 minutes to my cardio routine though!  It was hot in there today and since I was only gonna do the treadmill I didn't change into my "workout clothes", I just changed into my walking shoes and went.  Well, that was a mistake because my pants were thick (black jeans) and I had on a camisole under my shirt, so that was all just a little more than I could stand.

Never-the-less, I did go two miles and I did up my speed a bit for at least ten of my 35 minutes.

Baby steps.