The Journey

<you'll have to let us know how it goes>

You're doing so well JPB - so glad you had a great time yesterday with the boys - I can imagine you 'righting the world'

talk, talk, talk, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock... It went fine. It's still a project that may someday become an employment opportunity.

fingers crossed for MrB...

JPB, Your progress is impressive. Your self-discipline is impressive. Your determination is impressive.

Hey, I'm impressed.

Glad you had a fun time with the guys.

Hopeful about Mr. B. Not gonna use the teeny weeny type. Sorry. I'm currently working on something where I need a magnifying glass for the artwork. These old eyes ain't what they used to be.

How's the dishwasher working? How's the new AC?

That makes sense - and you did explain it before. I see it was me focusing on the diet thing without remembering the immediate need to get the bp down.

You know I liked that restaurant too - don't remember what I ate there but it was good. Your salad sounds wonderful.

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation - first about philosophy, a matter that has gone down hill in my regard lately, and then the rest of the items.

Joefromchicago and I agreed that philosophy threads on A2K would improve vastly, if the other philosophy guys would only agree with us.

Hooray to JPB and the lunch sounds very nice.

I didn't manage to do much today. I did get a walk in, which was less than the "energetic bike ride" I planned, but it was something.

Those are some lovely looking crossed fingers, Mz Izz. Who has hands like that? Not me, that's for sure. I don't think I ever had hands like that. Thanks for crossing things on Mr B's behalf. It'll all work out some day in some way.

(((( Boida )))) Thank you. I'm in the mode of success breeding success right now, which comes on the heels of wallowing breeding wallowing. It took me long enough to get here and I'm thoroughly enjoying the current ride. Many of the necessary repairs have been completed. The washer and dryer were the biggest benefits to me. I'd say the lawnmower and Mr B's car (they proposed an additional $1900 repair that we declined) were the biggest thing on his list. The ac is under wraps for the season; I just hope the furnace works when the time comes. Still need a new vacuum. Ours sucks, or doesn't suck, as the case may be. Not a critical item and it's staying on the list. There are still other car repairs on the list that will stay there for a while. I'll feel better once all the insurance premiums are lined up and we know exactly what's what. Applications are in for me with the state and the rest of them with BCBS (HORRENDOUS process!!!). Now we wait for final acceptance/denials/rates.

osso - I remember that lunch at the end of the first big Chicago gathering. That may have been the first time we were there. It's obviously become a favorite gathering spot for the locals since then. We would have loved to have you join us and not just as a fly on the wall.

jw - But!!! You said disagreeing was the point!!! I, clearly, still don't get it.

soz - something is definitely something! When is your next scheduled workout?

I had an interesting day yesterday. My schedule was wacky with conference calls at unusual times and various things that needed to happen by certain times. I did my 8MM before breakfast and then tried to figure out when I was going to get my walk done. I'd also hoped to get over to the therapy pool at some point because I hadn't been since Monday and my back was starting to stiffen up. I have access to the t-pool after 2:00 on Fridays so I figured I'd get over there some time after 2:00. Still not having taken my walk, I left here around 2:30 and decided that I'd walk on the treadmill at the gym for 30 mins before getting into the t-pool. I haven't used the treadmill since I started walking again, but it worked out fine. What was different from my regular walks outside is that I was HOT when I was done and had no interest in getting into a 95 deg pool. I waded into the regular lap pool to cool off. I walked a couple laps and then thought, "what the hell... I'll see how swimming feels" (these knees don't kick). I do an arms only stroke in the t-pool as a range-of-motion exercise for my shoulders, but I never do a regular stroke. I swam one full lap with a bit of a kick, rested, returned, rested, and then did four more laps (three round trips total) with a regular kick and decided that was enough for a first swim in almost 10 years. It felt very strange to use my legs in that way since perfecting an arms-only stroke, but I did it and my knees didn't scream. I went straight into the t-pool afterwards and did my regular workout, which does include some range-of-motion exercises for my hips and knees. I thought I might hurt later but I felt fine last night and this morning. YAY! I swam!!!!

It's still cool here but it's somewhat sunny so I hope to roust my neighbor out for a walk. I'll do my 8MM (inner/outer thighs), have breakfast and give her a call. Other than that it's just Saturday chores and errands. I told Mr B that I'd lost 16 lbs as of this morning and he said, "Wow! Maybe I should give this plan a try..."

You are making me remember my old swimming days, back when I was around forty. I was trying to remember about kicking, as I think I found it wasn't so much a knee thing as a whole leg(s) maneuver, and that it took me a while to get that going. So, I just looked up swimming technique - on only one site, so this is just one columnist's opinion - and he said something similar:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/29/healthandwellbeing.fitness

I can't remember if there should still be some knee bending going on..

Yeah, you don't use much of a knee motion for swimming but, whatever the cause, my knees don't like it. Here's Natalie's Kicking Tips - makes my knees hurt just watching it. I noticed a new commercial on TV recently about a new knee replacement technology. They show someone swimming in a pool, as if getting this particular procedure will allow someone to start swimming again. Apparently, I'm not the only one. Dunno. Just happy that I tried it and it didn't seem to bother me.

Today completes the end of week 4. This week I did

8MM (4 sets alternating of 12 reps each)
Monday - chest/back
Tuesday - shoulders/abs
Wednesday - biceps/triceps
Thursday - hamstrings/quads
Friday - calves/butt
Saturday - inner/outer thighs
Sunday - planned rest day

Walk - 30mins (1.9 miles) daily - up from 1.6 miles/day last week.

Yoga for people who can't do yoga - nope. Thinking about doing it tonight.

Therapy pool on Monday and Friday. I also swam!!! a few laps in the lap pool on Friday.

I followed the food plan, even while enjoying a lunch out in the city with a couple of my favorite A2Kers.

LOST 3.0 LBS! for a total four week loss of 16.5 lbs (6.5 to go) and got comfortably into my jeans and tops that I couldn't wear last winter. I saw a 7 on the scale this morning for the first time in about 3 years. 179.5 which translates to a bmi of 24.34. I posted a question about too rapid a weight loss to the support site along with a listing of what I've been eating. Not a problem so long as I'm eating sufficient quantities of high quality lean proteins and non-starchy vegetables along with the oat bran to capture and process released cholesterol. Besides, I'm still on a statin drug until I reach my goal.

bp is still fine - I'm calling that one cured so long as I continue to do what I'm doing.

I'm peddling on the cycler every morning and some evenings for 45 mins each. I'm very much enjoying having this available.

Finished Jane Eyre and thoroughly enjoyed the first class of the two-session discussion. It was interesting to hear the teacher try to explain Calvinism and Puritanism to a mostly Jewish group. I started reading Dostoevsky's The Eternal Husband for the class that meets on October 5th. I'm enjoying it so far.

Still feeling great and, barring things I don't want to think about, I'm now sure that I'll see this through to my goal.

Made my appt with the neurologist. Oct 21st. That's 5 weeks out, but just after a trip out of town. I'm already trying to figure out how I'm going to avoid gaining 1 lb/day average while traveling (it's been done before - just not by me!).

Leaving in a few to give the new church a second try. Left last week with an, "eh?" It might not be for me, but it's too soon to tell.

Week 5 goal: I'm definitely at the "keep on keeping on" stage. My goal for week 5 is simply to keep at it and see a loss of 1 or more lbs on Mr Scale next Sunday.

Interesting article in today's NYT

checking in our gal

hope you've managed your 8MMs - thinking of you, love you JPB.


gotta zzzz, catch up with you tomorrow.

posithoughts you way, hugs and love xxxx

I'm here. Crazy 36 hours. Could be crazier yet over the next 36. Both girls are in turmoil and my back went out this morning while reaching for my shoes. M was home yesterday and today. She's on her way back to school now but... we'll see... K had her wallet and keys stolen out of her purse last night at a concert. Her id and keys will direct whoever has them to and into my house. Lovely. Just spent three hours in the city getting her back into her apartment.

I can't walk, drive, or stand much. Gotta try to squeeze a chiro visit in tomorrow in between everything else.

((( Iz )))

stay tuned

Staying tuned. My first concern is that you not be in pain. Are you planning on changing the locks on your doors? I put your post in the "rain/pours" category.

<frustrated sigh>

staying tuned... hoping you were able to get some sleep and the girls... Let us know how you go... when you're able2.

love, very gentle hugs
x

Oh yikes JPB! Sorry about that avalanche.

Did you make it to the chiro?

I've been wondering this very thing.

Chiro appt Monday at noon. I've been flat on the couch all day. Finally sitting up. M has met with the dean and is taking the weekend to decide what she's going to do. K has been up here all afternoon getting a new drivers license and bank card. She still doesn't have a phone but can get that tomorrow. She and mr b have gone to dinner. They're bringing me takeout.

Daytime tv is so bad I was watching CSpan this afternoon. A Law a d Order marathon has filled the rest of the afternoon. Now I know why I don't watch daytime television.

Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts. I'm hoping to get some sleep tonight.