little by little.....little changes make up the big changes! I know this to be true in so many areas of my life and trying to focus on this in regards to being healthy!!!

i am still lovin my fitday.com account, keeps me honest.....and wow, journaling keeps me humble! especially when I see the emotional eating trend emerge on paper! :-)

As my favorite high school bible teacher use to say: "Yard by yard, life is hard....inch by inch, life's a cinch!"

I'll be honest...the last week or so has been really hard for me. I've fallen off the wagon more than once!! :( It didn't help that we had a later winter snow storm...what a downer! But i will push on...tomorrow I turn 30!!!! What better time than to start anew!! I will make 30 the year I make it right...

One thing i found that i love is the website www.mapmyrun.com

You can find and map out a workout anywhere in your town. What a great tool!

I was home sick today, just feeling generally achy and miserable. My head feels like it is going to explode!

I did get to go out later this afternoon and work in the yard with the entire family. We had a great time working in the woods, making a path...great fun! Raking and spreading straw over new grass seed is a pretty good arm and back workout...I am pretty sore. Thanks Laura and Karen for helping me stay so focused and aware all month!

I really like the way I smell like outside after I walk. Except in the spring time, then I sneeze all day. :)

oops! I posted on last week's thingy. I've been feeling a bit bad about all my glorious walking weather. I guess that's why we pay the big bucks to live in California! My body was not in the mood for walking today. So I put my shoes on and told myself I could walk as slow as I wanted. I was walking loops around the neighborhood. Loop by loop I went from grumpy, tired and stiff to enjoying myself.

I read today in Oprah magazine that Michelle Obama gets depressed if she doesn't exercise! I never thought I'd hear a first lady say that, but I'm so glad I did. She talked about how important it is to take care of ourselves, so we can take care of everyone else. Love it!

Rebekah...LOVE the quote!
Nicole...I was just wishing for a tool like mapmyrun!!! Thank you!
Mike...you get the award for perseverance...through work, weather and illness!
Karen...road rash on the leg, power outages, wind and snow!!! I give you so much credit for sticking with it!
Deb...I also like the smell of sunshine on my skin. :)
I love reading all the comments. Davina said we can go to Hawaii, let's pick a date! :)

i am rocking the working out thing... twice in the last few days! :)

I've had this sinus infection for over a week now, but I really needed to get some exercise. I can't do anything too heavy because I can't breathe half and my head feels like it's gonna fall off, so a brisk walk was the perfect thing for me! I felt better mentally and physically because I stopped making excuses and found a way to exercise while being sick! It was almost as good as doing cardio. I just felt so good about myself!

Walking really prevents osteoporosis? I've read such contradicting info ... I just don't know what to believe! I DO want to help prevent it, though. So to cover my butt, I've been doing a lot of weights.

Ok, yesterday I did weights and 25 min on the bike. :) I ended up going longer than I intended b/c I was reading an article from Ladies' Home Journal .... it was about a woman who ditched Weight Watchers to eat whatever she wanted for a day. Sick, I know to read that whilst working out, but it was a HOOT and I couldn't help myself. Hmm. I can't find it online but it's in the "life" section of the April 2009 issue.

Oh, and the other night, my husband was "thinking about what I'll eat for my late night snack" ... I said to him, "there are plenty of carrots in the fridge. We also have grapes and those yummie whole grain wheat thins." .... he gave me a look, b/c I think he was visualizing his chili. I can't tell you how much having GOOD options around helps my snacking. When I got home from the Y yesterday, it was almonds, almonds, almonds. :)

Karen, that is too funny about your husband. If we stay up later than 11pm or so, I am rumaging through the pantry, looking for something to eat! Popcorn is my nemesis, and although I eat it less frequently, I love Frito Lay Bean Dip with Nacho Cheese Doritos...terrible for me, but I can't get enough of it late at night. I have informed Davina that she can say to me, "what are you doing?" and remind me when I start to forage late at night. I guess I am going to have to work on having more healthy snacks in the house...

Today I worked all day, in fact I am still at work now at 11pm, but I was able to play basketball with my students for about an hour tonight. It was very fun, but playing in my suit pants, shirt and tie leaves something to be desired! It was a great workout, though. Well, I am off for home, how did everyone else do today?

ok, so I REALLY need some good ideas for exercising.....went to the dr today (finally) for my bum knees...they have been hurting soooo bad the last 4 weeks, really alot of pain. Apparently, I have arthritis of the knees....dr was shocked at my ripe young age of 33. Instructed me NOT to run, walk or do anything other than stationary bike (as pain decreases) or swim. feeling pretty low. already having a hard time getting scale to budge on restricted diet alone. now to restrict my activities?!

bummer day :-(

Rebekah, sorry to hear of your obstacle.

I had no good reason today but I was just tired. No workout.
I DID wear my workout clothes though. :)
Going out with a bang!

Laura

Rebekah, you might want to look into water aerobics at your local gym? I know at the local Y, it is mostly old ladies, but at my mom's, there's more of a mix. :)

And Mike ... yeah, my husband usually gets home at midnight and needs to eat before he goes to bed at 2-3 a.m. The late night foraging is KILLER.

I have been up since 3:30 with my sick little guy so right now it is a nap for me. But an evening walk is sounding nice! Great job everyone!

oh and Rebekah that is such a bummer BUT swimming is amazing, weather is is swimming laps or water aerobics it is so good for your body! Every time I get in the pool after not having been for a while it kicks my can! Last year my husband got me a waterproof case for my ipod shuffle so I am not missing out on anything by being in the water. Good Luck, you can do it!! :)

Rebekah...Another tip from my acupuncturist is to use homeopathic arnica cream, I use Traumeel brand. Or Tiger Balm. I was reading labels at Whole Foods thinking of your knees today.

Walked to school and back. I tried the mapmyrun.com and found out my route is 2.3 miles round trip. What a cool program!

thanks for the tips, everyone! i really appreciate it. i know i will have to embrace the whole swimming thing....i will...one day! i did water aerobices all last year with my pregnancy and while they were nice, i was missing my running and other classes! however, this is just another oppurtunity to find something new....dicover something new! it is all perspective!

And, thank you Laura....i will definitely try the cream! I am in whole foods often!thanks for thinking of me!

What a bummer Rebekah! I know the feeling of having the scale not budge...I had a goal to be under 200lbs. by my birthday, but it is today and I am still at about 205...dang it! For my health I need to be in the low 180s, but I need momentum!

Today I did not do a workout yet, but I will probably work my arms a bit before bed. It has been a crazy fun day and I only had half of my piece of cake and resisted seconds on homemade chicken noodle soup...I will take any little victory I can at this point! Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. :)

This is crazy. I post about walking and then I don't get to do it except one day so far this week!

Yesterday, I had all kinds of stuff going on...mr. E to the orthodontist and then the entire day got away from me. Tuesdays are my longest day of the week. Then today I managed to catch whatever it was that Mike had...tonight we had a super fun birthday party for Mike. With two b-days I am having a hard time keeping away from the cake that has been sitting around for about 4 days now.

Tomorrow isn't looking too promising either for walking. I've got to find a way!!!

Every one here is doing such a great job!! Way to go!

Rebekah, I know it's not much but can you do exercises just sitting down? Will your knee eventually get stronger or is it never going to feel better? Arthritis...ugh!

Laura, I'm imagining you sitting around in your workout clothes with all kinds of attitude thinking that wearing them is doing a lot of good. You're making me laugh! Hilarious.

All of you women are so cool. I love that you all post here...you, too, Mike! :)

Gwendolyn, I'm sorry to hear you have a sinus infection. Those things can totally incapacitate you because your head feels like it's the size of...hmmmm....what's REALLY big? The earth...

Shannon, way to work it girl!

Deb, is your son doing any better?

went walking yesterday :)

snowed 1/4 inch last night, and it's FREEZING outside. :(

Gotta work up the energy to go to the Y to do weights.