Life in the fast lane

Well, doing great on the weight loss front!  Also, my FM is doing so much better with the new vitamins/minerals that I am taking.  It is life changing!  If you suffer from FM (fibromyalgia) I'd be glad to share with you what I do.
Also, I have cut gluten out of my diet and have found this to help with my skin and FM.  I am no longer hungry like I was initially because my body is adjusting to all the goodness and not craving the toxins.   I did cheat and had a gluten packed fat sammy at Arby's yesterday at like 5pm.  I made a bad choice...it happens, but I regret it and it still feels like a rock in my gut!  UGH!  I was instantly reminded, NOT to do that again!
Life is moving along nicely.  I have more energy and am looking forward to tackling the day!

Peace be with you!

10 down, and on a roll. Fibro at bay.

i started weight watchers in december and recently cut gluten...i am officially ten pounds lighter. i also started a cocktail of vitamins and minerals of goldenseal, cats claw, milk thistle, vit c, vit d, probiotic, pau darco bark, and pro elite. i have not had any problems with fibromyalgia that even come close to to my normal. in three weeks i have only had two bad days. normal is five to six. i also have a crazy amount of energy. i have been drinking more water and less caffiene as well. i also dont have hunger or cravings. i feel great, sleep great and am feeling like im on a good path to health and weight loss

Did you know a teaspoon of cinnamon can...?

I live with fibromyalgia and have been searching the net for things to help out.  I have found that a tsp of cinnamon a day can help with the pain.  It also can help with some other diseases.  I started drinking a cup of hot water in the morning with my teaspoon of cinnamon.  Here is an article I found to describe it better.  Always speak to your doctor before changing your diet.

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html

Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol.

Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes.

In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections.

In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.

In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relief inarthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.

When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.

Researchers at Kansas State University found that cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.

It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

Before taking cinnamon, make sure to see our Side Effects of Cinnamon article for side effects and contraindications.

A long time...no blog

Well, for those of you reading this...I am back, and ready to blog again.
It has been an interesting few years.  I lost weight I gained it...I could tell you all the reasons why...but that doesn't matter. It really doesn't.  The facts are the facts.

I have started again, kicked into gear by an upcoming trip to the Caribbean.  I will be in a swimsuit.  So we will see how I do.

I have a different approach this time. I am not going to put number expectations on myself.  Last time I was like I wanna weight XX by XX.  This time, I wanna feel good.

I started Weight Watchers and it is easy, and it works.  I am looking forward to weigh ins.

I'll be weighing in soon enough, and will not be posting weight until I feel like it.

Happy Reading, Happy Eating!

I look forward to being skinny and it is my destination!

Day 28: Short term goal...

I have an idea...I am going to focus on my short term goals.  I always think 60 lbs by November/December.  When I don't set the short term goals, I can't celebrate the battle victories, and then it makes it harder to win the war.  So my short term goal number 1 is to be back in the 100's by May 9th.  I will then set a new goal when I reach my next goal.
I have been enjoying my time at the gym.  The kids enjoy playing with friends and I enjoy my time alone.

:o)

Day 24: Awesome cardio and feeling amazing

Today I woke up and felt like just kicking my butt!  I did 80 minutes of cardio and burned 1100 calories!  I felt so good!  Got 5 miles of 3 day training done in that time too.

I just feel so good about it!  Now I feel like cleaning my house.  It is so true what they say about how exercise makes you happier.  For me it makes me productive too!

That is all for todays post!

Day 20: Above the age of 35.

About 2 years ago my friend was trying to find out how old I was (I can easily say he was tipsy) and trying not to offend me with the question he asked "Are you above or below the age of 35?"  The question was hilarious to me!  We all got a kick out of it and still use this joke!

Well, now I am above the age of 35 and life is going along well.  My birthday was very nice.  I enjoyed a girls night out with some of my favorite girls.  One of my friends got us a hotel room in dt mpls.  It was fun!  We had some laughs, wine and then braved the wind for a quick walk to dinner, we enjoyed dinner, good conversation and more laughs.  We went back to the hotel room, put on our pjs and chatted a bit.  It was an early to bed night, relaxing and wonderful.

I came home in the morning to find a huge bouquet of flowers, a water bottle and some awesome cards from my man and kids!  It is a blessing to be celebrated.  I took a nap with the kids and we ended the night watching Mary Poppins in bed.  :o)

I am ready for a good year!  Filled with new adventures, new laughs and new memories!

Day 17: A busy life, 35 years of it.

Well, it is Friday.  It is a difficult one at that.  Parenting can be so hard!  I am sleep deprived last night due to it.

On to other things...I get to celebrate another year of life this week.  Yup, another trip around the sun.  I will be celebrating with a few of my favorite people quietly, and then a day of fun with my family.  It sounds like a good time to me.  I feel like I deserve it!

The weight loss is moving along quiet nicely.  I know what to do, and what not to do.  The warm weather makes for easy weight loss, but this resurgence of cold, windy and even wintery weather is NOT MY FAVORITE, and makes for staying indoors.

I can however, hear birds singing, even if it is in the 30s and we are expecting snow this week.  That gives me hope.

Well, off I go to make it through another day, with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.

Hugs.

Day 13: Crying kids, sunny days and ice cream cake

Good Monday morning!
I love a sunny day more than so many things!  However, right now in the background my son is crying, he has been for a few minutes. He is just a crab in the morning sometimes.  But i love him just the same.  The sunshine outside makes a morning a good morning!  I am delighted by it.  This past weekend we celebrated my birthday early with my family.  We had ice cream cake from DQ.  I love ice cream cake from DQ.  My mom suggested I cut it in half and then cut it in strips so the pieces aren't so big.  It was a great idea.  I had my slice of cake it was just the right size, not too big!  It was great, I tasted all I needed to taste and then I was satisfied.
I did it again with having a bite of something wasn't healthy, but wasn't horrible.  I had a bite of a hamburger.  It tasted great, but that was all I needed.  It is so simple but it made sense.

I remember my youth and young adulthood.  Food was something I ate and I did it because I needed food, not what I am dealing with now.  Here is my story:

I grew up the skinny girl.  When I graduated high school I was one of the skinny girls.  I always thought I’d stay that way.  When I went to college I gained a few pounds but remained the skinny girl.  I then joined the Army.  Stayed an incredibly fit skinny girl.  I could run two miles in 15 minutes, I could do 72 pushups in 2 minutes and I could do 100 sit ups in 2 minutes.  I loved exercising and running for fun.  I never thought much about food, I just ate when I was hungry, and never really thought much about it.  My husband and I got married and four days later I got out of the Army, just the same week that America went to war against Iraq. 

My life changed…I was recalled to go back in the Army, and off to war I went.  My husband left for war the same day.  However, he went to the south and I went to the north about 800 miles of Iraq separated us.  It was so hard.  We hadn’t even lived together yet.  The weight slowly came on.  Slow enough that I didn’t even really notice it.  By the 14^th month of marriage, and separation, my husband came home to me and I was 30 lbs heavier.  Then we moved to Minnesota and tried to have a baby, but I was told since I had a disorder (PCOS) that I’d have a low chance of getting pregnant.  During this hard time, more weight was gained about 10 pounds.  We adopted my amazing daughter and within two weeks of getting her…I found out I was 3 months pregnant!  We were overjoyed and amazed at God’s goodness!  Needless to say more weight was added to my already overweight body.  My daughter was 7 months old when my son was born.  I tipped the scales at 230 pounds the week before my son was born.  I only managed to lose 10 of those pounds and I am pretty sure that was all because my son no longer lived inside of me. 

So here I am… I am a mom of two amazing kids; Hava who is 4 and Gabe who is 3.  I started blogging at the very end of 2009 about my weight loss, my goal was to lose 60 pounds in one year.  By month 9 I had lost 30 pounds.  I was so proud of myself, I felt great and loved all the compliments I was getting.  I was even able to shop in a department store without going to the “Womens” section. 

My sister and her kiddos moved in with our family this past fall and for some reason I stopped exercising and stopped eating right and started my weight gain journey.  In 3 short months I managed to put all 30 of those pounds back on my body.  I blame myself and only myself.  I am an emotional eater, and when I get down and out I turn to food and start to hide away. So here I am, ready to start it again, armed with the knowledge that I can do this and it is a life change.  I now know that weight gain is much easier than weight loss, so I will be ready to do this knowing I can't “diet” and then when I get to a good place throw in the towel.  I need to continue my new healthy lifestyle of eating right and exercise for life.  I know when life gets hard, or times get tough that I need to remain healthy.  I will get through the hard times a lot easier when I have exercise as an outlet and food isn’t a weapon to use against my feelings. 

I want to do this for my kids, I need to show them what a healthy lifestyle looks like before bad habits in their life are formed.  I want to do it for my husband who married an athletic 135 pound woman.  Most importantly, I want to do this for myself.  I deserve good health, I deserve to feel good about myself and I deserve to feel good walking 60 miles in 3 days while I do the Breast Cancer 3 day again (for the 3rd year in a row).  Walking is hard with all this weight.  I weigh 211 pounds today.  I weighed 217 pounds 10 days ago.  I have changed my eating habits to include a healthy well balanced diet with proper portions and I started working out again.  I understand every week I will not lose such big numbers but as long as I do it right and do it for life, I too can do lose weight and keep it off. 

I stay home with my kids and work part time a few nights a week.  I live in a wonderful place with my husband and kids.  My niece lives with us now as well.  She is 13 years old.  I work out in the mornings so I can remind myself how hard it is to burn the calories I eat so I don’t make bad choices. 

Day 8: Still losing.

Howdy!  Sorry for the delay in posting this week.  My little girl and I are both sick with the stomach flu.  I have to say, it is horrible.  I feel more sad for her than I do for myself.  We are not really up to doing anything and my boy just wants to play play play.  So dad has been great helping out with that.

I tell you watching Biggest Loser is so amazing to me, but why can't I just "get into it" like Courtney.  She did so good at home, she did awesome at the ranch and her talk at the end of the show last night was so true and good.  I am still losing weight and I am doing it the right way, eating right and moving.  However this week has been a little challenging with my sick-self.  I am still a pound and half down.

I went for a facial last week at the St. Paul College with my friends mom Laura.  YOU NEED TO GET ONE, they are dirt cheap and she is amazing!  It was $15 + tip, and she makes it worth your while!  I even got some massage in there too!  It really perked me up too.  Made me feel better about myself which is what I need when I get down and out.

Life is plugging along.  I am training for the 3 day and trying to get in my miles as much as I can.  I am still looking for team mates so if you are interested, let me know.  If you'd like to donate, you can do it by clicking here.  It is hard to train when I am not feeling well, but I am pretty good at rebounding!  ;o)  I am so grateful for the the warm weather too...it helps for getting out and getting miles in.  Easier than the treadmill for sure!

Have a great week!!!

Day 1: Again!

Well, after losing 30 pounds in 9 months in 2010 I managed to gain it back in just 3 months.  Hardly seems fair right!?!  It felt so good to look good, and to feel good.  My home life changed a bit and I threw my healthy lifestyle to the wind.  However!!!  I am back and ready to do it again for real this time.  It is a journey, and I need to remember that.  It is disheartening to think that I lost all that weight and ate my way back to my old self so fast.  It is ready to kick it in high gear again.  After 10 days of making good choices and 5 lbs of weight loss I am back and ready to do this!  I have a gym membership again and this time around I have a trainer.  She is awesome.  I am able to take my cabin fever kids and let them play for a few hours while I work it out.  So we all win.  :o)  I appreciate the support I got last year from my blogging, and I am hoping to get it again, I also am going to keep this weight off this time.  I can't stand the way I feel when I look in the mirror or how I feel when I make bad food choices.  So, this mama is going to kick it back in HIGH gear and go for it!  :o)  I am walking the Breast Cancer 3-day for the cure again, and I want to make it easier by not having all this weight on me.  I know that I can do it!  I will do it.  For me, for my kids and for my husband.  This time...it's for real!  I did a photo shoot with my niece and awesome friend Jessica a few weeks back and was not impressed with how I looked...It was my new wake up call.  So here I go again.  I am blogging for health!

Day 344: Working out is working out!

I have joined a gym and have a little guidance with my workouts too!   Our new insurance has a deal where they reimburse us!  Gotta love that!  The childcare for the kids is awesome too at the gym, so they get a good work out!

I have been to the gym 5 times since last week.  I am going again today to workout with my man! ;o)

I have been keeping my daily food intake again in Livestrong's My Plate and that is helping me too.  I do get really snacky but haven't been drinking enough water and I think when I start doing better with water I'll be less hungry or snacky feeling.

I did lose another pound since last week, that feels great!

I learned so much last week about gaining lean muscle.  I know I already knew that but the last few months I found myself eating what I wanted and then doing cleanses to lose a few pounds, but those stinkin' pounds always come back!  So now I am focusing on burning cals going cardio 3 times a week and doing weights 3 times a week.  One of those days I double up on doing cardio and weights.  This way I can burn my calories (lose weight) and gain lean muscle mass which helps me to burn more calories when I am at rest and helps me to keep my fat at bay for the long term.

So the journey continues.  I thought about re-starting this year, but my journey isn't starting over, it is just continuing.  So it may take me 18 months or even 24 months, but I will get this weight off and off it will stay!  So while my destination still remains I will still stay the course!

I know I can do this!  I am ready to get back to work.

Off to the gym.

Weight 194

Day 339: What NOT to do when you are trying to lose weight

Howdy folks.  Man was I going strong.  Better than I had been, if my mind is good I was well on my way to weighing in the 170s...I had hit 30 lbs lost, THEN I went on vacation, and apparently I have been there all along.  I apologize for letting you down, but mainly I apologize for letting me down.  This is my problem and it is why I have a weight problem...So since Dec 27th of last year my goal was to lose 60 lbs...WELL, that ain't looking like a possibility at this point.  I started this blog at 212 lbs, today I sit at an ugly 195.  Yeah, I have lost 17 lbs total over the year, but I am sad that I had gained 13 lbs back after the summer vacation.  Depressing really...
SO what do I do about this?
I joined a gym, our new insurance will reimburse us so that was an easy decision!  So I started on Monday and I have gone 3 days in a row.  :o)
I am also starting back recording my food intake on Livestrong's My Plate.  That really helps me out!
I am still keeping accountable with my darling friend Dana who is dealing with her own stuff on the west coast.  So we share our struggles and we will do this together.

I am ready (again)  I know it is going to be a life long battle but it is the choice I am ready to live with.

Thanks for reading this if you did come back.

Hugs!

Day 243: Choose your own...(adventure)

Howdy ladies & gents.

Well, I am coming off a low.  I am only down a net of 24# from the get go.  Yes, it is 24#s less than I was 243 days ago, but I have to RE-LOSE 6#s that I lost already.  It happens, it is reality and so I will talk about it.  I gained weight, I ate terrible and didn't exercise to combat it...so here I am again, at 24#s down.

My BFF from high school, Dana, (not to be confused with my sister, Dana, whom I will mention later) and I have started talking and are coming up with a fab plan!  She has completed 2 FULL IRONMANS!  She is amazing to me!  She is now going to coach me as I do my first 100 mile bike ride, my first marathon and my first triathlon in prep for my first IRONMAN!  I will will do the first this in 2011, and do the IRONMAN in 2012.  I am excited for the venture.  However, before any of that, I need to lose the rest of my weight!  As we chatted we discussed that the weight coming off will be first priority, as I train.

So, she (fit as can be, as you can imagine) wants to lose 10#s. She isn't overweight, but would just like to be a little more slim.  So, her and I have developed an accountability plan.  We are both different leading different lives.  She is married with no children.  She has a full time job, and is a student getting her Master's degree.  I am married with kids and have a stay at home mom job.  So for us to do an identical menu is unrealistic.  We are doing what works best for us...individually.  There is not ONE DIET that is perfect for everyone.  We are all different and need to find what food works for each of us.  However, what we are doing is...keeping one another accountable.  We have to start the day with answering certain questions, such as the following:

Will get closer to goal weight today (not further from) by:

Food:

breakfast,

lunch,

dinner,

snacks,

# of glasses of water,

Today's mantra:

Today's exercise:

We have to answer the questions.  We also have to record our food intake and caloric output each day on our online tracker (I use MyPlate, she uses FitDay)

We have a goal of losing 1 # a week for 10 weeks.  This is my short term goal...Of course my long term goal is to continue on like this until I have complete it all.  :o)

I suggest you find a friend and do the same thing.  Make sure you are a good match.  That you will hold each other accountable and won't let each other fail.

Join us on our quest...

Weight: 188...(for the LAST TIME)

Will get closer to goal weight today (not further from) by:

Food:

breakfast,

lunch,

dinner,

snacks,

# of glasses of water,

Today's mantra:

Today's exercise:

Day 238: Bad Heidi!

Well, I refused to weigh in this week, because I KNOW what the scale would do.  I was SO UTTERLY HORRIBLE this past week.  So after I started feeling better, I just went NUTS.  I binged, I ate donuts, fast food, ice cream...everything!  I feel sick just thinking about it.  A friend of mine who is in incredible shape now who I will refer to as "Fun Fact" sent me her "then" photos.  It was so awesome to see her transformation.  She was beautiful when she was bigger, but she is stunning now.  She did it all the right way, exercise and eating well.  I think seeing her pictures made me wake up.  I am not sure why I let myself have such a nasty week of eating, but I did.  It doesn't get easier, it is still hard to be tempted by food.  I am still tempted, but it is just making the choice and remembering that the donut will only taste good for a second but takes an hour of exercise to burn (at least).  Clearly it isn't worth it.  I have highs and lows and today is a new day!  So again I will get back up and get back in the groove!

Day 228: Unhealthy BUT looking fabulous

First of all.  I do apologize for the giant absence!  I have been pretty sick with a belly ache for 4 weeks.  It has been getting worse and worse, until last week it landed me in the hospital for 2 days.  I have ulcers and some areas of my stomach lining are eroding.  I had a biopsy done but not sure what the outcome is.  I have been avoiding gluten since then.  We shall see...  I have NO appetite, and when I do eat, I regret it.

So "dieting" is not happening right now.  I am just trying to get through.  Exercise is on the back burner too, until I can figure this out.  I have only been eating like 300 calories a day, and even that is a struggle.  I have been drinking Vemma Next and will continue to do that to get my nutrients in.  (If you have questions about this product let me know)

I will continue to figure my guts out...

On a better note... It has taken years to feel good about how I look.  However, I feel pretty!  I even feel normal, like I don't look fat anymore.  This weekend only fed into that.  Sally had her wedding reception this week, and I haven NEVER gotten so many compliments in a 48 hour period in my life.  Not even on my wedding day!  It felt so good, to feel so good about my self.  Thanks for all the compliments.  Here is a recent photo of my body and positive self image!  I finally look on the outside how I feel I look on the inside!  It feels so good!  I looked in the mirror last night, and smiled!  

215: Weight gain, struggles and stuff

Well, I have been avoiding the topic of weigh ins for over a week now.  When I left for my trip to Seattle I weighed only pounds away from getting into the 170s.  However, after continuously making poor food choices and excuses as to why I should eat them, the weight came back on, quickly and easily.  I was devastated when I got on the scale after I got home.  Then two days later, I started the 3 day.  Dieting while on the 3 day is not recommended.  So I ate the right amount of calories and I know I burned more.  Then yesterday was the state fair... HOWEVER, I had grilled salmon on a stick, nothing deep fried.  Yeah!  Ok, back to the weight game...

So I am still in the 180s.  I am 9 lbs away from being in the 170s.  I am not happy.

In 3 months I lost 10 lbs...In two weeks I gained 10 lbs.  That is too easy and scary!  I need to stay on my game all the time.  It is a good lesson.  I love food.  I love nasty, unhealthy food.  But, food tastes good for a second and then...I step on the scale.

I need to work extra hard to get this weight back off, and then lose the rest of it...

Food never tastes as good as skinny feels.

Weight 188  (YUK)

Day 209: The 3 Day!!!

Got home from Seattle Thursday morning (Wednesday night) in the middle of the night.  Put the kids to bed, and went to sleep.  Woke up Thursday morning, and started getting prepared for the following days.
To be honest, the night before the walk, I wasn't jazzed up about it.  I didn't know who I was walking with.  I had met a woman at a wedding, Amanda, she was the photographer and I was the planner, she said I could walk with her team.  My team from last year wasn't walking with me this year, and I kind felt a bit lost.  At about 10pm, however I got a text from Amanda, she told me where I could meet her.  I was glad I got the text!  I felt a little hope.  Got a good nights rest and met up with them in the morning.  There was 8 of them and me, so that makes 9.  I kind of assumed it would stay that way, the 8 of them and me.  However, I was wrong.  There was 9 of us.  They welcomed me and accepted me as one of their own quickly.  All of these women are amazing, loving and kind.  They also were fun.  I got to know some pretty well.  As we walked we spoke of our kids and husbands, past walks we've done.  Many of them are runners too.  So that was fun.  I then found out that two of these amazing women are Breast Cancer survivors.  My brain tried to understand that... but they are moms, they are my age.  That doesn't happen.  Both are safe from cancer now.  It made it more real to me.  More real that I thought it would.

In the quiet moments of the walks I would think of and tear up about my best friend Kimberly, who lost her mom not to long ago and she suffered with breast cancer.  I thought how unfair it was.  How I don't understand why Kimberly (KJ) doesn't get to share so many memories with her mom by her side in the flesh.  How I don't understand why when KJ has kids why they won't get to know the awesomeness that her mom is!  So I prayed for my friend, to find and hold on to peace.

I then thought of my Aunt Roxanne, who has suffered through breast cancer two times, and survived! but still had to go through it twice.  How her life has been changed.  Why would she have to suffer two times?  Why so many women have to suffer two times.  Just one time...at all.

And most recent, my prayers and thoughts are with Beth, my sister in law's mommy.  Who is suffering from a massive headache right now as we speak from the chemo.  Her last treatment was last week.  How her life was turned upside down.  How her pain and sickness has affected her and those who love her.  Tears rolling down my cheeks as I walked!  I keep on walking with the wetness upon my face.  My knee was sore, but I'd pass by a girl holding a sign saying that we are walking because her mom can't.
As my feet became hot with blisters I'd pass another sign that said, "Blisters don't need chemo."  So I'd keep walking, sharing stories with my new 8 friends.

Walking for women everywhere.  I will always walk the Breast Cancer 3 day.  As long as my body allows it.  For my breasts, for your breasts for my daughter.  For Merideth, and Kimberly, for Candi, and Vicki. For Lily.  For all those who I know who may have it.  I walk and will walk for you.

Thanks for your support!  My team of 9 walked across the finish line hand in hand 9 across, as one team.  United to fight breast cancer.  The two women on my team that are survivors were selected to be a part of the the closing ceremony.  As we took off our shoe and raised it in the air to honor them, again the tears ran down my face.

Day 201: Knee and weight gain...

Ok, so vaca with the fam for 2 weeks isn't the greatest on the diet.  I have not weighed myself, and won't weigh in until I get home...HOWEVER, I do have to say, that it would be a miracle if I didn't gain weight while I was here.  I have thrown my diet out the window...so today I have got back on the saddle.  I am hoping that by next Monday's weigh in I can break even.  I do have a giant exercise week this week.  This week is the Breast Cancer 3 day!!!  So I know I will be burning some calories.

I have also had  some knee pain that I am trying to rest which is hard when you are training to walk 60 miles in 3 days!  I will do my best.  Last year I had some knee pain and I made every last mile without knee pain.  I am hoping for the same this year. 

Only 3 days left until I am back in the arms of my man.  I will be sad to leave Seattle, but it is always nice to be home.  Enjoy your week.

No Weigh In This Week.

Day 191: My longest training walk

Greetings folks!
I am here in the Seattle area, the weather is beautiful and so is my family.  I have been able to spend a little time with two of my brothers and their families and today we are going to the coast and my sister and her kids will be there too.  I am so looking forward to it. I can hardly wait!!!

Yesterday I did my longest training walk. I walked from Mukilteo to Edmonds Beach and then back.  I walked 20.1 miles.  It was great.  I felt great the entire time too.  I have been having this hip issue where my hip slides out and it hurts super bad.  However, funny enough it hasn't happend on a training walk.  It usually happens when I am relaxing!  :o)  I make the walk in over 5 hours.  I made a few stops along the way.  I dropped the kids off at their Auntie Merry and Uncle Spencer's to play for the day.  Then when I made it to Edmonds and popped in to see the Mayor of Edmonds, Mike Cooper.  He is a friend of many years.  In fact just after college I was his campaign manager.  It was one of the best jobs I ever had.  We had lots of fun, it hardly felt like work!  Ok, then I went down to have some lunch and then made my way back.  It was a great walk.  I get these great ideas and motivation when I am walking.  I came up with some good ones!  :o)  Much of what I was thinking about involved Haiti.  I just love that place! 

Last night I went to my older brother, Dick's, house.  It was fun to play with my niece and nephews.  I had a blast hanging out with Meri and Dick as well.  It was a great time.  I just wish there were more times like this.
Everytime I come out for a visit, I think, I should live here.  It is a hard one.  I do however LOVE my neighbors beyond anything I can explain.  I also LOVE my church and friends & Friend.  It is a great place to live.  If I didn't have that, I am sure I'd be living here. 

Being on vaca makes losing weight HARD.  I am doing my best.  My travel day...NOT GOOD.  I ate nasty junky food.  Yesterday I did better, but I also walked 20.1 miles so I think I am in the clear.  I just need to make sure I continue to eat well.  It is hard, but losing weight is harder.   I do have a few meals planned during my trip that I know will be junky, and I am ok with that.  I just need to do a long walk that day and eat healthy for my other meals.

Enjoying all the compliments from loved ones on my shrinking waist line!  :o)
Just a reminder I will weigh in when I get back home. 
Enjoy your weekend.