Need to Lose 100 LBS -Robins Thread !

@Melifornia~Great news all around yesterday on the new writing assignments and especially that Frost is back to his usual self!

@Karen~I’m sorry your shoulder isn't progressing as it should, hope your doc has some answers. I injured my shoulder while moving into my house several years ago, I lifted a heavy box over my head (stupid, I know ) ended up with inflammation in the bursa—after a cortisone injection and a round of prednisone I was good as new (you may have tried this already, I can't remember ). I hope what is going on with your shoulder is easily remedied. Your evening snack sounded divine!

@Kaye~Hope DH heals quickly so he can enjoy your trip.

@Tracy~I had a craving for ice cream yesterday, too, which almost never happens. As ice cream goes, McDonald’s cones are 170 calories so not a bad choice and that is where I went!

@Laurie~I’m sorry running still isn’t your thing; I think some people could take it or leave it. I don’t wear running shorts, but wear compression capris—most of what I buy is by Champion or Columbia and made from moisture wicking fabrics, Kohl’s has a great selection and their prices are reasonable.

In honor of @skinnyjeanzbound (Karen) teaching Yeats to her students right now, I leave the newlings with this quote:

"There are no strangers here; only friends you haven't met yet." William Butler Yeats

AFM~Not much to report. After work I’m stopping at Trader Joe’s to stock up on some faves, then by Sherwin Williams (I their HGTV line of paint colors) for samples and then if I have time Bed, Bath and Beyond—so an afternoon of shopping (my favorite activity )!

Good morning everyone.

Happy National Spanish Paella Day
link to Paella Day

Keep your spirits up. Good things will come to you and you will come to good things. ~Terri Guillemets

Tom

@Lauriek70‌ - Someone sent me this a couple of months ago when I "knew" I would never be able to run a mile. Enjoy
http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/five-things-i-learned-when-i-started-running?icid=OBtrafficRW_TBD_AR1

*peeks head in and looks around to see if there's anyone she remembers*

Hey all spent a few HOURS catching up on everyone this morning. Miss you guys!

Hi! I started with myfitnesspal a couple of years ago and lost about forty pounds. Wasn't easy and took a lot of work. I suffer from extreme depression and anxiety and the doc had changed my meds. Well I was tired all the time and hungry. I stopped working out and gained all the weight back plus another 20 in about 6 months. In January I got the doctor change my meds and I decided to try this again. I've lost 15 since January just through watching calories. I have gained so much that it has put a strain on my hips and back so it hurts to even walk. I hope as more weight comes off I will be able to add exercise in. Any ways...I am looking for anyone that wants to help motivate and support me through this. Please send a friend request and I will add you. Thanks.

@Laurie... I get such an urge to run, but when I actually do it, I remember how hard it is! I have been doing about 10 min on the treadmill twice a week at physio, but I must say I HATE the treadmill. I would much rather be outside on a trail or even a road. That way I can focus on something up ahead and watch it until I reach it, then pick another item up ahead, etc. When I want to walk, I make myself run to that object in the distance and tell myself I can walk then. Usually when I get there, I just pick another object and do the same thing. I usually end up running instead of slowing to a walk(well, I'm already this far, just keep going). I feel this kills time better than staring out the window at a parking lot (trying to keep my eyes off the clock on the treadmill). And music is a MUST... fast paced trance that helps me zone out.

Apparently my chiro benefits ran out yesterday. I got notice from the clinic that I was no longer covered by my auto benefits (work benefits are long gone since they were used up first). I got a little panicky at the thought of not getting any more adjustments for my neck. I spoke to the director after.. I told him that I still had 1/3 of the total allotment from my auto benefits left (got a statement just last week). He said if I had a lawyer they could authorize the continuation of therapy if those benefits were not yet exhausted. I happen to have a lawyer for an accident benefit claim, and I just got a letter from them today attached to a statement of my remaining benefit amount, with a note saying I could continue treatment. I'm somewhat confused by all this, I will have to get it sorted out next week.

I can't believe it's so late in the day already, so late in the month already...and I've gotten nothing done. Feeling frustrated and crabby with myself.

I think for April, I will take things one week at a time instead of setting a goal for the month. It's too much for me. I start off great, but lose steam and completely fall apart by the 20th or so.

@robin--it's always sad when a car dies, but exciting to get something newer.

@amanda (hansea)--yes, I also feel this month completely got away from me. Even this week when I should have felt I had a surplus of time (being off for spring break), just flew by without my getting nearly enough done.

AFM--well, rugs and bedding are all done. I will get to the fish tank tomorrow or Sunday and the grout sealing will have to wait until summer.

I cannot believe how much time these Wuthering Hts journals are taking to grade. Usually I can just skim through to make sure the students addressed every aspect of the question. However, I'm having a hard time doing that due to the complexity of the novel and the questions. I've been grading for almost 2 hours and only finished 10 journals.

I may try to get more done at home tonight, but right now my brain is mush and needs a break.

March Challenge:
At or under calories 5/7 days every week and at or under as a weekly average.
Week 1: At/under calories 4/7 (but one day I was only over by 7 calories) UNDER FOR WK
Week 2: At/under calories 5/7 OVER FOR WK
Week 3: At/under calories 3/7 OVER FOR WK

All-in strength challenge=core work 3 x/week; PT 1-2 x/week; run 3 x/week:
Week 1: 1/3 core; PT DONE; 1/3 runs (sick most of week though)
Week 2: 1/3 core; PT DONE; 1/3 runs
Week 3: x/3 core; PT DONE; x/3 runs YUCK
Week 4: 2/3 core; PT DONE; 2/3 runs
8k at end of month (not sure what day) in 55 minutes (Thanksgiving 8k = 56:49, NYE 8k = 57:47, 1/25 = 55:41; 2/28=55:15)

Grading Goals:
1. x/64 AP essays
2. x/16 AP analysis activities
3. x/12 America Poem analyses
4. 24/64 Wuthering Heights journals

Exercise Goals: (week 4)
Sun--walk gunner DONE + gym DONE
Mon--walk gunner NOPE
Tues--walk gunner NOPE
Wed--walk gunner DONE + gym DONE
Thurs--PT DONE
Fri--walk gunner DONE + gym
Sat--walk gunner + gym

2015 Mantra = Just 15 minutes

My fitness this week has been a bit strange but fun. Wednesday I walked over KMart and back, just a couple of miles. Yesterday I walked to the wetlands park with sister, bil, and 2 of her grandsons. I walked around the ponds while they fed the ducks. Had 3 miles. This morning I got up and went out earlier. I walked 6.2 miles today, some around a walking track at the park, and some through the boyhood. It is a beautiful day. DH is much better. I'll just have to be vigilant and be sure he gets all of his antibiotic so it won't recur.
Welcome to the newcomers. A lot of us here don't go to the home page much. There is lots of support here if you return often and share when you can.
@mowmow good to see you pop in. We are still hanging in there.
Onward and downward. Kaye

@tracy (goins)--I'm so sorry about your situation with your husband. First of all, NO you are not being selfish. He is sick, but that doesn't negate your feelings and needs in the relationship. I understand what you're saying about not wanting to upset him and aggravate his condition, but going on like this isn't the answer either.

Do you have any family or friends who can help you with his care? If so, I think you should reach out to them and ask for some support. Someone who could just come visit with him for an hour or two, so you get a break. It would also be nice if it were someone who could help you two talk about what's going on. Maybe act as an intermediary in the discussion. Even if it doesn't result in you and he communicating better, it would give you a break and perhaps make him realize all that you do for him. Sometimes getting help from someone outside the situation makes us realize all we take for granted from those closest to us.

If you have no one you can ask for help, maybe it's time to look into hiring a caretaker. I'm not sure what kind of insurance you have, but it's worth looking into having a home health care worker who can attend to some of his needs. Again, even if it's only once or twice a week for an hour, that's time you could have to yourself.

@GOINSTD12‌ - I second Karen's suggestion to find someone to help with DH's care. Being a caregiver is stressful; you need a break!

@Morgori‌ - Today's quote = YES!

@RobinsEgg - Congrats on the poundage!

AFM, I managed to get that assignment drafted and submitted for review/editing before 10PM. It's pretty rough, IMO, but they didn't give much direction on the narrative bits, so... *shrug* Subbed at the high school all day as well, although it was a fairly easy day with the student teacher taking charge in half the classes and the other half the kids were pretty much doing their own thing.

Fitness Friday - missed cardio today, and haven't started back on my strength training yet, but I have done 20 minutes of yoga/day for 82 days in a row!

Good morning all,
@melifornia‌ You inspire me, thank you.

@GOINSTD12‌ I so wish I lived near you. Being a constant caregiver is so very hard. Get help, there usually is some organization that can assist you. I hope you reach out before you burn out.

@RobinsEgg‌ Hubby and I re-fi'd the house this week and got a 2.9% interest rate. Good luck on your hunt for new wheels.

@Tanya949‌ I hope the benefit fairy visits you. I have spent far too many hours on the phone with the insurance company. I have to keep reminding myself that the person on the other end of the phone is just an employee not a devil.

@tlh0407‌ - Since I changed to the calendar in my apple devices I have to be so very careful to make sure every thing posts to all the devices. I double book myself at least once a week. Glad you made the concert

@brandyeclark‌ Congrats on the 17 pounds, great loss!

@AngelikaLumiere‌ Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out - Robert Collier.

AFM: HUGE week for me. I went to my first Triathlon club meetings this week. On Wednesday was a Tri 101. Lots of information, demonstrations on how to do transitions. Stories, door prizes, handouts and some good laughs. Last night was about longer distances. I will be doing an olympic length so that was really informative and I walked out of there with some more door prizes and great contacts. I got a backpack because I was willing to change an inner tube in front of the group.

Next week I will start my new training schedule. I have an appointment with the trainer to go over everything and make sure I am prepared come race day. The schedule looks daunting but I will do it. I am not used to taking rest days but I have been told I have to start. The group has weekly group runs, swims and bike rides anyone can participate. So I guess I am all-in on this thing. I must admit I am quite intimidated.

Hubby's first week back at work really wore him out. He went to bed really early last night. His shoulder is not as bad as I thought it would be at the end of the week.

Picked up my new eye wear yesterday. I will post a new pic soon so you can all see. New bifocals for everyday and contact lenses for when I am at the gym (makes it easier to wipe down). They had a really good deal and I got prescription readers for only $45.00 and prescription sunglasses for $48.00. So I am set for everything.

Today I am off to the gym for a swim and then spin class. I have to work for a few hours. Then get the rest of the stuff ready for the taxes. Another busy day.

Love to all,
Lori

@RobinsEgg - I'm all for doing our own thing, challenge-wise. I want to go week by week, anyway, so reporting once per week is perfect for me. I weigh in on Mondays, so was thinking I'd report then.

Saturday Success: I had spinach with my eggs at breakfast today.

And I made myself the yummiest smoothie yesterday...
1 cup fresh spinach
1 bunch fresh mint (about 5 leaves)
5 large, whole, frozen strawberries
1 individual vanilla greek yogurt cup, frozen
1 cup milk

So good! I'm now in love with fresh mint.

Hi guys! Just a quick pop in to catch up with posts.

@robin--I like the idea of us each choosing a personal challenge. I want to really focus on my protein intake, but I know that's not something everyone is worried about, so doing our own thing works for me.

AFM--Got to sleep in a bit this morning, and then DH and I caught up on some of our DVR'd shows. I debated going to the gym, but I'm going to do my 8k tomorrow. I always have better runs when I take 2-3 rest days in a row beforehand. This will be my last training 8k before running the race in early May. Of course I will continue shorter training runs up until the race.

I'm through more than half of the journals, but need a break so I will now focus on the smaller analysis activities. I can't believe I'm not even going to get a start on the AP essays. I will need to get those done during this week b/c grades are due the following week, and I have a busy weekend. Bridal shower for a friend on Saturday and then Easter with the family on Sunday.

March Challenge:
At or under calories 5/7 days every week and at or under as a weekly average.
Week 1: At/under calories 4/7 (but one day I was only over by 7 calories) UNDER FOR WK
Week 2: At/under calories 5/7 OVER FOR WK
Week 3: At/under calories 3/7 OVER FOR WK

All-in strength challenge=core work 3 x/week; PT 1-2 x/week; run 3 x/week:
Week 1: 1/3 core; PT DONE; 1/3 runs (sick most of week though)
Week 2: 1/3 core; PT DONE; 1/3 runs
Week 3: x/3 core; PT DONE; x/3 runs YUCK
Week 4: 2/3 core; PT DONE; 2/3 runs
8k at end of month (not sure what day) in 55 minutes (Thanksgiving 8k = 56:49, NYE 8k = 57:47, 1/25 = 55:41; 2/28=55:15)

Grading Goals:
1. x/64 AP essays
2. x/16 AP analysis activities
3. x/12 America Poem analyses
4. 34/64 Wuthering Heights journals

Exercise Goals: (week 4)
Sun--walk gunner DONE + gym DONE
Mon--walk gunner NOPE
Tues--walk gunner NOPE
Wed--walk gunner DONE + gym DONE
Thurs--PT DONE
Fri--walk gunner DONE + gym NOT DONE
Sat--walk gunner + gym NOT DONE

2015 Mantra = Just 15 minutes

Lori- I liked the article and thanks for posting. If you are looking for a tri suit try Aerotech designs. I liked what I saw on their website.

Karen and Kelley- Thanks for the tips on the running shorts. I have ordered some tri clothes so I will see how that goes. I will try the other running shorts as well.

As usual it is late but I wanted to check in with everyone.

NSV I had a great swim today and started working on the 200 IM during practice today.

Have a great day.