Love this month’s title! And it’s a kick in the pants. In general, I’m more active in the summer so I tend to be slack on “official” exercise. I’m feeling the need to get back into a routine.

Mihani, I prefer walking, which doesn't always work out as I have joint & foot issues. Last winter I used the nicely cushioned walking track at the community center, which I plan to do again this winter. Otherwise, I use T-Tapp. It's only a 20 minute work-out but it is really intense. I always get great results when I am consistent with it. Two to three days per week is all you need.

Glad you are on the tail end of the sinus issue!

Hello,

Back from Canada trip. I love the title active in August! I had typed a long message yesterday but I lost it. It was a great escape from hot humidity to dry heat. The Pacific Northwest was in a middle of a heat wave. Brooks did the 1/2 iron man. Of 3,000 participants 250 did not finish. It was amazing and intimidating. I waited at the finish line for him where the announcer called out name, age and where they were from. Several woman were in their 60's and men in their 70's. I texted my friend after a 66 y/o woman finished and she said i have 6 years to prepare....hahaha. NO WAY. I like my little sprint triathlons. Next one is in 11 days. My asthma kicked up pretty bad last three weeks.

Sunday we went on a 23 mile bike ride...one of my favorite rides to work on hills. The road follows the Guadalupe River and is tree lined. Made it up the dreaded big hill and by the time we were done the temperature was 98*. That night Brooks fixed a healthy dinner BUT he bought Oreo cookies...we ate almost 1/2 the bag. Next morning, dieter's remorse because I did not work this hard to gain my weight back plus all the sugar and crap in Oreo cookies...we had an argument about this. We both turned 60 this year and I don't want to go back to eating and drinking junk. I was so mad because after Canada, swimming and walking I was down another 2 lbs and then overnight it was back. I know I should not be so emotional over the number of the scales and always after a big workout I retain fluids but I just felt sick after Oreos. We did need the calories but should have had the watermelon I bought.

Sigh, I guess there are worse things for a couple to argue about. He is gone for a week so I am going cold turkey on cookies & candies & wine.

Mihani - I hear you about morning workouts. I am not a morning person but I have found walking or swimming a peaceful way to start the day. Having the clothes laid out and a piece of fruit or something ready helps.

Hi here you Mihani. I was better when I was making soups and chili last fall through winter. It is so much easier.

Yesterday was another mini tri day of swimming, spin bike and ran 1 mile on treadmill. Eating was okay except kept eating these stupid sweet Hawaiian rolls Brooks bought. I might throw them away. Why can’t I resist?

Oatmeal mix and blueberries for breakfast

This is my salad with roasted broccoli, white beans, quinoa &sweet potato mix and balsamic glaze and 1 ounce of tuna.

Mihani - blueberries are so cheap right now. I just came back from store with blueberries, watermelon, mango and bananas. Plus some low cal almond milk to make some fruit smoothies. Are you still ordering groceries to be delivered?

I went to the YMCA late afternoon and walk/ran 3.0 miles. I was sweating, heart rate 140's and short of breath...I kept wondering if I was having a heart attack. One of the best motivation talks I heard was at the Ironman pre event. A trainer said you need an answer. Why am I doing this? Why am I pushing myself so hard? That when it gets tough you need to have the answers in your brain to get you through this. My answer is I love to hike in the mtns. I also want to finally solve my weight problem so that the next 10 years until I turn 70 are healthy as I can make them. I can mentally hike 5-7 miles (not too steep) but I have had a mental block about running again...not sure about my hips, knees and feet. Could I have a heart attack like Bob Harper on Biggest losers....don't laugh...I have had all these negative attitudes about running. To be honest, I have not had much pain anywhere at all except my thumb from gripping a tennis racket to hard. Even after our epic bike ride (pre oreo cookie binge) nothing hurts and I really think it is due to the healthy diet.

Dinner - baked tostadas with fat free refried beans topped with lettuce and mushrooms and salsa. Dessert - one coconut date roll (no added sugar) after dog's evening walk.

Congratulations on the job! What kind of work? What is your game plan for taking lunch?

Took yesterday off from exercising other than walking dogs. I met a friend for lunch at a salad restaurant called Salata https://www.salata.com. I had a big mixed green salad with all types of vegetables and beans plus unsweetened cold peach green tea. I think this is going to be my new lunch place. I like that it is not a salad buffet like Whole Foods that could be contaminated by a sick person. It is set up just like a subway where you tell them everything you want. It is so healthy I would take Dr. Furman for lunch there....hahaha.

I am rereading ETL. There is so much info in that book...I think the first few times I read it not everything sunk in. I think it makes sense for me to have 1-2 fruit at breakfast when my blood sugar is low then cooked vegetables at night. I have been on a roasted broccoli kick at night time. Less heart burn. What is left over I add to a salad for lunch next day. I have lost the Oreo cookies pounds!

Mihani - I don't know why but I never heard of non dairy yogurt. Does it still have live cultures and probiotics? Casserole sounded interesting.

Busy but fun day. Brooks is back on board...he made a veggie scramble this morning. Then Cleo & I went and did a new personal best for this year and ran 2 miles without stopping. It started to rain the last 1/4 mile which cooled me off. Humidity is still very high. Then picked friends up from airport, took them down town to their hotel. Had lunch, a really good lettuce, avocado black bean salad with delicious mexican bread. Next swam for 40 minutes with Brooks timing me for the triathlon next week. Laundry and now going to settle down with a movie.

Hi Mihani, yes we're going to Orlando for Christmas again. My brother & his family, my family and our parents are all going. We're renting an 8 bedroom house this time, so we're saving some money to boot. And we're going to go to LEGOLAND and to NASA this time too, in addition to Harry Potter World and Disney... We're all very much looking forward to it. I'd like to be at least half way to my goal weight by then too, so I really need to get back on track.

Bisky, glad you like the floors this time around; I am STILL trying to put my house together since the move last January. We *almost* have everything out of the old house, so I'm still unpacking boxes and trying to find a place for everything. And we still haven't bought the last of our decorations for the new house either (area rugs, art for the walls, etc), and I'm not finding what I had in mind, so it's not going to be done anytime soon, either. sigh.

On the bright side, we did accept an offer on the old house last week. They have until next Wednesday to remove conditions, so please keep your fingers crossed for me that everything goes smoothly between now and then!!! (knock on wood...)

Today is my 21 year wedding anniversary. Going out for a nice lunch date. I'm going to have a rice noodle bowl with steamed broccoli and tofu, with a peanut sauce (it's so tasty!!)

Glad the floors are in, Donna. Pictures?

We just celebrated our 27th anniversary yesterday (on the 16th) - dinner and back home to watch a movie with our young adult kids. Karrie, happy anniversary to you!

I start my new job on the 27th. Trying to get all my ducks in a row. Shopping for clothes and shoes (a month of all black until my office attire comes in). Eye appointment for new Rx. Found out I have early cataracts, the fast progressing kind. Boo. Probably thanks to long-term high blood pressure and pre-diabetes. Next week I'll be working on a final push of decluttering homeschool stuff, craft supplies that I haven't touched for years and certainly won't after going back to work, anything else that could use a touch up before I start.

I've decided that the best way to stay on track with diet is to keep my breakfast/lunch/snack a simple routine. Find something that works and stick to it. Likely this will be oatmeal, salad w/protein, larabar or piece of fruit. I will do a trial run this next week.