I couldn't stop thinking...

This evening while preparing a yummy pot of beef vegetable soup, I purposely kept the television off. I am not afraid of quiet, as some people these days seem to be. I am a thinker. I think best when it's quiet. While peeling potatoes and carrots, and chopping onions and browning beef, I began to think of this...

If I knew that God would grant me one request right before I died, what would that be?

There is a song called Live Like You Were Dying, it's a great song and it lists some of the things a person would want to have done before they died. That's not really what I'm all about. I love my life and really can't think of anything that I wish I could have done, or places I wanted to visit. My request would be something else. I would love to know that everyone that I have hurt in any way, be it a hissy fit that I threw or an unintentional slight, or any thing I said that caused pain... that when I pass away that memory passes with me. I am not talking about leaving a legacy behind or asking for anyone to sing my praises. I'm not even talking about forgiveness. Usually if I have had words with someone or something has happened, we can usually talk it out. I just think it would be so wonderful, if when loved ones pass away, we really wouldn't remember anything but good. Wouldn't that be neat?

Well, after all that thinking and peeling and chopping, we had a lovely bowl of soup followed up by an nice orange. I hope you all have a nice evening and are looking forward to another day. I know I am. I always do. Tomorrow is always the day that we can do something a bit different. Tomorrow is one of my favorite days.

Take care and stay healthy and happy.

XOXOX

Arm rest...

Ok, I have to admit something. Well, several things actually. I am a slacker. I am lazy. I dislike exercise. None of those things are really true, but we all feel like saying that sometimes. I promised myself that I would be in shape when our local fitness center opens up. Well, I went past it today and it is making much more progress than I am. It is supposed to open in January and here I sit, still in my size 16 jeans, still weighing 170, still telling myself "just one more handful of peanuts, you need the fiber". Part of my reluctance to ramp up my methods to lose weight is the fact that (and don't get me wrong here) I look pretty darn good. For the most part, that is. I still have good skin, even though it is a bit looser than it used to be... and I still have good hair and am digging on the silver... and a good sense of humor. I laugh all the time. I have always been slightly overweight. I'm used to being chubby and I'd rather be sitting down doing art, or blogging or reading than I would be out hiking. I do love to putter around in my back yard, but it's a Catch-22... I have to be so careful because I am out of shape. One wrong reach and your back hurts. Then you are hesitant to even go back down there. You all know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, the reason for the title of this post is this. I recently realized that while I am sitting on the couch at night with the hubby, watching The Match Game reruns and laughing like a nut, that I have been using my "spare tire" for an arm rest. You know that area, just below the bust line? Well, I find that I cross my arms in front of me and nestle them under aforementioned bust line and rest my arms on my spare tire. This is not good. I do not want to have an arm rest under my bust line. This will not do.

Am I alone in this?

Shimmy

Quick Little Mini Post...

People have known for years that belly dancing is great exercise. I took a great course at our YWCA waaaaay back when. Imagine my delight when I clicked over to FIT TV and found Shimmy. If you don't have this on your cable, you can go to the website from this page and check out the moves there. Remember you can do this in the privacy of your own home and it is effective. I can really tell that I used muscles that have been hiding for some time. Feels good. Check it out.

Raining again

This is day four of the rain. My allergies are acting up and the backyard is way too slick to hike around in. No puttering for me. You may already know that I am a stay at home wife and artist/crafter/jewelry maker. This puts me at a work table for long periods of time. I have a tread mill that I seldom use and I just don't get enough exercise. I am 56 years old and have never been athletic. All of this combined, is not that conducive to staying fit, let alone losing weight.

There is a new family center being built about one mile from my house and my original plan was to lose weight in the year that it is being built, so I would more able to exercise and such when it is completed. I have lost about 10 pounds since November and plan to lose more before the grand opening in December. I am really looking forward to this family center. It will have indoor and outdoor pools, weight rooms, indoor track and lots of activities for all ages. I am looking forward to water aerobics, walking the track and who knows, I might even apply for a spot to teach jewelry making, or something of that nature.

In the meantime I have several habits that I need to break, that I know are adding to my body's resistance to losing weight. The following is a list of what I usually eat during a day, see if you can spot the booby traps.

Breakfast:

2 slices of Ezekiel Raisin Toast 160 calories
2 tablespoons cream cheese 70 calories
Coffee with milk & sweetener 60 calories
1 orange 65 calories

355 calories total

Not bad, though I would probably do better with oatmeal and fruit, because the raisin toast with cream cheese is....wait for it....comfort food. Yep, and I usually read while I'm eating (also not so good) so I go and make two more slices and more cream cheese, then I have to have more coffee with fructose sweetener to keep my food to drink ratio correct...(seeing the pattern here?)

If I am working at my table in my work area, I get busy and forget to eat lunch. This means I have forgotten to feed my work from home hubby, also, so for an early dinner we usually have

Late Lunch/Early Dinner

Large tossed salad with fruit and chicken in it
ranch dressing (left over idea from Atkins, and I use way too much)
additional fruit, because my hubby eats slowly and I don't want to be finished before him
Water

Snacks (while watching TV)

numerous handfuls of dry roasted peanuts, another comfort food
(I justify this as needing the extra fiber, while I'm probably craving salt because I'm dehydrated from not drinking enough water)

Sometimes another complete meal is consumed, due to the late lunch/early dinner...

You notice how quickly I stopped counting calories? It's easy to do, isn't it?

The whole point I'm making is I know that I'm eating too much and not exercising and have developed some bad habits. My cholesterol levels are fabulous and I have great blood pressure, heart rate, etc. I'm pretty darn healthy, I'm just a creature of habit, as we all are. I know the proper measures to take and I plan on taking them.

I don't use artificial sweeteners, I don't eat any refined flours or sugars, I monitor trans fats. I eat healthy. I feel extremely good. I wear a size 16 jeans and have for about 5 years. I have a healthy body image, I just want to make sure I'm healthy in my golden years. So to bring this rambling post to a positive close, I want to say this...we know how to do it, so

LET'S LOSE WEIGHT THIS YEAR!!!

I'm cheering us on, I know we can do it. Hang in there diet buddies, it will be worth it! Let's do something healthy each day. I'm going to start by measuring my food again, as portion control is my downfall. I'm a member of SparkPeople and I am also going to utilize those tools more. What will you do? Make sure it's healthy and for the right reasons.

That's all for now, take care of yourself...no seriously, I mean take care of yourself. OK?