Trudy vs. James Street Hill - January

I made myself a goal to walk James Street Hill at least once a month this year. Here is it January 31st and can I just say it's been really cold this month? So today it hit the mid 40s and the sun was shining.

This afternoon I parked at the bottom of the hill behind the Chevron and walked up the hill and back down. My time today was 39 minutes. That includes the few minutes I spent dancing across the pedestrian walk way above the street near the grade school. I measured the walk to be just over 2 miles round trip. It was a beautiful day to be outdoors and a very invigorating walk.

Developing Good Habits

Yesterday when I went to work out at Curves, the computer told me I was on my 300th workout. Hurray! That's very exciting. I joined Curves two years ago. My goal was to go three times a week. The first two months I had to make an effort to keep that commitment. Once it became a part of my routine and I saw the benefits, I kept it up.

Sure there are weeks for various reasons I don't make the three times, but I try. I realize now that exercise is not just a passing hobby but a necessary part of my life. I love going to Curves, I love the work-out and the friends I have met there.

Sure there are less expensive clubs that offer more amenities, but I have found something that works for me. It's 1 1/2 miles from my house, and I can leave home and be back in under one hour. In the summertime I have ridden my bike there.

Other good habits I have developed are to eat more fruit. I eat an apple every morning before breakfast. And I snack on fruit during the day.

When the weather gets better I hope to do more walking outdoors.

If you have something you want to do consistently, you have to make it a priority and concentrate on it until it becomes ingrained in your life. Then it becomes second nature.

Nothing Much

It's just hard to believe I haven't written anything for two weeks. I guess life has been busy. Still waiting for the part to fix the stove top. In the meantime I've learned a lot about microwave cooking.

Seattle area has been very foggy for awhile and I'm getting kind of tired of it. Looking forward to the sunshine, even if it'll still only be in the 30's.

I've been having internet connection problems at home which have been interesting since I work from home. It drops sometimes in the late afternoon. They are promising me a new line but it hasn't happened yet.

Work is going good for me. I love being able to work from home. In the morning I use that extra time from not having to commute to sleep a little longer.

Wally spends his days in his shop where he is currently building a set of drawers for the bedroom. Some days it's too cold to be out there, but most days work out okay.

Wayne had a great trip to San Juan de Cabo on the Baja in Mexico where he got to go surfing. Still waiting to see the pictures.

The Biggest Loser

This season has me hooked in already. To use the nice words the TV show uses, this is the heaviest group of people they've ever had on a show together, including the largest woman and man and the oldest and youngest contestants. I'm already anticipating the finale to see all of them come back and how they look.

Unbelievable to see someone lose 30 pounds in one week! Just goes to show you how your body adjusts to physical activity and healthy eating. It's common knowledge that men generally lose weight quicker than women. And also that when you change your diet and lifestyle the weight drops off quicker the first few weeks because it includes excess water weight.

Can you imagine the emotions they go through when they see a loss on the scale after only one week, when for years they haven't been able to lose weight?

The concept of walking away from your normal life for a period of time and focusing on nothing but getting healthy is like receiving a huge gift. Even those that only stay on the ranch for a couple of weeks learn so much and usually go home and keep working hard at it.

Stay tuned, it's just the beginning. Should be interesting to see how many get to return after the 30 days are up.
Tuesday nights, NBC.
http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/

January 2009

2009 sounds so odd. What happened to the 90's? Yesterday I went with my friend Glenda to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It was a very good movie. It was a sweet love story as well as the story of his life. From the beginning, you kind of knew how it would end and the end was sad.

It is loosely based on a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1921. Reading about the original short story, I would have to say the artistic liberties they took in the movie greatly enhanced the story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Curious_Case_of_Benjamin_Button