Health and Fitness January, 2015

[Lady Maverick]

I started 2015 weighing 2 lbs more than I did at the start of 2014.

Doing the same thing over and over..... Yea, I know what it is a sign of.

Speaking of drinks - I'm trying two new (to me) drinks today. I've looked at the recipes several times because I like their names and the health benefits of the ingredients. But never stopped to give them a try until today. I was hesitant because of the expect yucky taste but pleasantly surprised to find that I like them.

This is my favorite of the new drinks tried today -

Good Girl Moon Shine
•Fill a quart sized jar with water and ice.
•Add a generous drizzle of raw apple cider vinegar (I use 1-2 Tbs).
•Add 1 tsp of ginger powder
•Add a few shakes of Nustevia Pure Extract Powder to taste. I only use 3-4 shakes because I don’t like things too sweet but you can play with sweetness and try more. If you use Truvia – try 3-5 tsp.

[Nancy]

Ten mi. On ex bike arm work out & gazelle done.
5# to take off.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I got on a scale. The damage over December was no more than 2 pounds. And according to the study I took objection too, all of that was due to too many sodas. The chips, quantity of healthier food, baking and boxed chocolates had no effect on my weight gain.

So I'm starting this month at 186 and it might be lower since I didn't weigh myself until noon.

I'm on the treadmill now since I had well less than 1K steps this morning. Didn't get out of bed until 9 and spent most of the morning on the sofa.

I showered and then laid down for a bit to rest before getting dressed. I've made my lunch but have to wait for the sandwich bread to thaw so am on the treadmill for half a mile.

I'm 7 pounds lower than my high in 2014 so I suppose that is a good place to be. I just checked my 'weight book' (where I've been recording my weight for the past 18 years) and I also weighed myself mid-morning on Jan 3, 2014 and weighed 187. So I lost a pound last year!

I have been updating MyFitnessPal today so I'm at least working towards that goal.

[Twins' Mom]

Kathryn, she is also about my age - give or take - so understands the post menopausal weight gain in the middle. She mentioned that the Fitbit gives step credit for the elliptical, but that what she is wearing (don't remember which other one) doesn't count the elliptical. I suspect the arm motion may be the trick for the middle? Do you still use the poles while walking?

[Harriet]

LadyM, I just had to comment - is that name because you would make the same face after a sip? (thinking of the ACV twang, LOL) Hope you enjoy it. Stevia in one form or another is probably in my menu every day now. I have decided I like this cute little plant I never even heard of until recent years. Some people grow it themselves. I think it looks like Ageratum or one of the ball-shaped Basils, both of which have grown well for me and gotten compliments in flower beds. I wonder... ... I'm sure it's a little tricky with the low germination. Burpee says seeds are "challenging", but I bet it's just temp that's the problem. (No new projects, no new projects!)

HRH continues in his determination to prick his finger every morning and keep a blood sugar chart. Except for some outlying numbers at Christmas while family was here, he can show lower numbers happen for him the closer he gets to vegetarian eating. He is never at a perfect number, never sees just double digits, but that could come in his future. Drs are pleased with all this, impressed with his charts.

But in a visit the other day, kidney specialist says physical damage already existing to kidneys (such as from HRH's "L" shaped stone a few years back) does not reverse with diet, even if it does help overall. So now HRH is on a mild, specialized blood pressure med at bedtime. I didn't know lowering blood pressure was that big a deal for kidneys. Dr says as a matter of fact, you can look at shape of blood cells in urine under a microscope and see whether they were pressured into kidneys too quickly, and use that as another diagnosis tool for blood pressure. So interesting that the physical, structural aspects of health intertwine with things that seem mysterious.

[Twins' Mom]

Got in my 10K steps by doing two twenty-minute rounds on the treadmill upstairs. Pouring rain here tonight.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'll likely make my 10K today. I'm on the treadmill now but should stop because I try not to be on it after 9.

Twins: I'm not using the poles to walk now because I'm so much stronger. Of course, when it is snowy or icy outside, I do have them to prevent falls. I refuse to have a fall and set myself back.

I'm not done eating for the day and have missed a few foods that I've absentmindedly put in my mouth (I have tossed most of the Christmas snacks and baking but did eat some of them today.) MyFitnessPal shows me over 1000 calories over my goal for the day. And I've eaten more carefully today!

[Harriet]

Today with Basic workout again
I ate
a small banana
one beef corn taco, lots of tomato
potatoes and spinach dish, beans
mushroom/pepper omelet of our eggs

Tomorrow starts first full week of 2015. What do you want each week to hold for you? Since I'll be using an ordinary monthly calendar format for recording exercise, I'd like to see every row/week show 2.5 formal hours exercise across it. That would make me smile.

[Ramblinrose]

Well I'm up 4 lbs, but I'm not surprised. I gave myself permission to eat off of my plan and didn't do much on my gazelle over the past three weeks. However I'm not even worried about any of it...

Tomorrow I start a new diet bet and today is the first really serious training with 3 mile runs and 15 obstacles to learn for my event...It should be very interesting and I am excited to see what I can accomplish during this next month. That's why I'm not really worried about the weight.

I know I am much stronger than I was 6 weeks ago before I started with my fitness group. Yesterday I carried two cases of water...each with a weight of 33 lbs..with ease. I practiaclly pranced into the house while carrying them. And on New Years day I did my unplanned 4 mile hike up the mountain and never became a bit winded. All those miles on my gazelle seem to have really paid off.

I've begun to start pushing down the water again. I'm like everyone else I know who find it very difficult to get water down in the colder months. I've been drinking mine warm from the microwave and that helps.

Now I need to go eat something before I leave. I have a very intense four hours coming up and I need to make sure I am fueled properly.

Oh, and I am down 28 lbs from this time last year...and that makes me really happy

[Nancy]

I have shoveled snow, raked out the chicken run and did a snow walk for ex today.