Simple Joys

New Cuff

Okay, I know this post is titled, "New Cuff," but I have to quickly update a little of everything.  Exercise:  I just started back to walk/jogging today - again.  Yes, I went three times three weeks ago and then nada.  I went to the doctor last week and got the lecture - again.  So today is a new day!  I'm back to my routine.  Hopefully it is a routine and not so sporadic!  I'm such a slow transitioner.  Once one thing changes in my life (j-o-b this time)  I get all thrown off.  Okay, enough whining. 

Health - last check up last week - not good.  Gained 12 pounds back from the 35 I lost.  Yuck.  Cholesterol went up 30 points - however, not all of that is bad cholesterol.  My good cholesterol and triglycerides were much better this time.  Bad cholesterol is worse too though.  M.D. advice - get back on track!

Okay, now for the fun part of this post (for me anyway), my new cuff!  I took a class this weekend for the Hawaiian Bracelet at Bella Beads.  I had my own way of doing it, but I wanted to learn Emelie's way and I'm gladd I did.  It's much easier.  Sorry, no picture of the bracelet yet, it's not finished.  Emelie showed me a cuff after class and I bought everything to make it.  I finished it a 5am Sunday morning!  Here's some pics.  I used burgundy artistic wire, freshwater pearls (from Bella Beads), glass, bali silver, pewter, some kind of stone bead, rose quartz, base metal spacers (from Bella Beads), the coolest iridized pearls (from Bella Beads) and memory wire.  I like it.  I want to make another one in a different color.  Maybe with only 5 rows.  Hmmm . . . . we'll see.  Anyway, here's the pictures.

The first picture is the front, then the back.

Gotta get ready to go to work! Okie dokie - bye!

Another Step Toward My Goal

Just a short post to say, "Yay!"  I went to the doctor today and although he did not take me off my bp medication, he did lower the dose!  Yay!  He said if my blood pressure keeps dropping too low when I exercise back to back (I try to go twice a day a couple of times a week, but the morning after my evening workout, my blood pressure sometimes gets too low) to call him and he will probably take me off completely!!  Yay!!  What motivation!  I really needed that.  I haven't exercised for 9 days!  My left hip was hurting me so I decided to rest.  I was ready to go back yesterday, but J was home sick so I didn't go.  I may go this evening or just wait until tomorrow.  But I'm definitely going!

Back from MIA (Missing in action)

OMG!  I can't believe it's been4 months since I posted!  Actually, I can.  Since school started in August, I only went to breakfast with Tammy yesterday.  We used to go several times a week!  What have I been doing?  Well, mainly, trying to lose weight and get clean and fit.  Yup, I decided it was time to bite the fitness bullet.  I have had M-A-N-Y attempts, but this time I feel serious.  I had to put everything aside and FOCUS!  I been trying to walk/jog at 6 days a week, with a double workout at least twice a week.  I haven't always succeeded, but I've stayed pretty much on track.  I even started up again after a bout with the flu and a short trip to Disneyland!  Usually, once I stop it's over.  Val and Shelly have helped me tremendously by continuing to encourage me and motivate me.  To date I have lost 25 pounds!  Yay me!  I still have quite a ways to go (45-50 pounds more - ugh!)  I think I'm going to do it this time though.  I've met several little goals along the way.  When I first started I could barely walk the 2 mile route I started with.  Now I'm pretty much jogging 3 miles of slight hills and walking 1 mile for a total of 4 miles.  I wanted to lose 25 pounds by our Disnekyland trip and made that goal too!  My next goal is to lose another 11 pounds by January - yikes!  I've hit a few jogging goals too.  I keep setting little landmarks along my routes that I have to try to get to while jogging.  One of my goals right now is to be able to jog my whole 4 mile route in the morning.  I'm getting there.  My next goal is to be able to jog 2 miles uphill on my evening route and eventually, my ultimate goal is to jog the entire 4.5 miles on my evening route.  For my health, my goal is to be taken off the blood pressure medication I was put on in August.  I also want to bring my cholesterol down too.  I've had enough warning signs in the past few years that really compounded this past year to get me to be more serious.  Anyway, sorry for this boring post, but just wanted to touch bases and post what I've up to these past few months!

Owwiieee! My ankle!

Well, I decided to start once again with my exercising.  I was jogging (slowly) down the sidewalk and stepped on a rock which made my ankle buckle and twisted it!  Figures.  I stopped, rolled my ankle around a couple of times and started walking.  It felt okay so I started jogging again.  Wrong!  It started to hurt.  Well, I didn't want to give up on my first day back so I walked most of the 2 and half miles.  I did try to jog a little again.  Wrong again! Tonight my ankle is sore.  So dumb.  Hopefully I'll be able to at least walk tomorrow again. 

Just kidding . . .

My first post on this blog on November 4th was about walking.  I was going to keep track of my exercising on this blog so I would stay on track.  Well . . just kidding . . . it is 16 days later and I only just walked again.  OMG!  Okay, but I just got some numbers back from my doctor visit last week and it was not pretty.  We are also probably going skiing in March so I have added incentive.  I love to ski!  But I need to get in shape or die on the slopes.  So here I go again.  I am starting my walking and exercising and will occasionally post my progress here (notice the word "occasionally" - so non-committal).  Sorry - no photo again.

Just kidding!  Here's a photo of my dog Pal (I saw on another blog a photo of a pet in lieu of no photo.  What a great idea!)

Here he is sunbathing by the front door.

Friendly people on my walk

I did my two and a half mile walk today!  Yay!  One thing I like about walking outdoors vs. on a treadmill in the gym is the friendly people you pass who are also walking or jogging.  There is a commraderie felt and everyone either smiles, says, "Good morning," "hi," or gives a nod.  It's a simple joy!

1st day back to walking

Finished walking my two and a half miles this morning.  Yay!  I'm starting (again) my exercise routine in the morning.  I have to keep starting over because I just can't stick with it!  Maybe if I keep track of it on this blog I will feel accountable to keep it up.