Oh my, oh my......

....and who would have ever thunk it? i just assumed that since i was hiking 3 to 6 days a week no less than a 5 k hike, and since i seem to do so well, and recover rather quickly and do more hills....... i just ASSUMED that i was in shape to bike. yeah i know the guy at the bike shop said it will be like starting over again, it just won't take me as long for my muscles to get used to a different movement. I know my Chiropractor friend ,the one that takes week trips to bike hundred of miles told me the same. of course i did not believe them...... when will i learn? I was able to bike 5 miles in about 1/2 an hour. today it was all level, not easy and not hard.... my legs and butt muscle gave me an incredible burn. I wore my heart monitor and it was so easy to get my heart immediately into the fat burning range......... and it stayed there for some time..... by the time i got back to the car i didn't want to walk....... and I LOVED IT! I forgot how much i love to bike.......hiking i cannot go fast no matter how i try. i can go far, i can hike 8 miles without a problem....... my feet and legs won't go fast, maybe it is my weight......... however on a bike i can fly, my very strong legs pump the peddles with great ease. as much as i am dying to get back out there again, i will not bike tomorrow, if Chris wants to i'll hike before work. the next day i will bike i will keep it at 5 miles for now, but this time i will wear my backpack so i can get used to it, my joints are fine, my muscles are burning........ and i am being smart..... i will increase my level very slowly, and i figure in a month or so i'll be able to bike from home to work..........
Today i had a WONDERFUL day, Christina road with me to take a turtle up to a turtle sanctuary towards Erie PA... (*a whole other blog entry) it is her birthday today........and so i took her out for lunch to a really cool place called Elephant and Castle Pub....... we both had Yorkshire pudding. over very garlicky mashed potato's. i ate it without a problem. however i figured out if i eat a small cup of hot soup before i eat, i am able to tolerate my meal a little better, i do this for special occasions only.... don't want to get used to that, or the lapband won't be doing its job.
PS my husband just told me that i need to blog about my great husband........... hmmm, wonder who he is talking about??? joking joking........ i adore my husband......... most of the time. he is doing great by the way.........
God's blessings to you

Dear Patti, need you ask?

bike = helmet, helmet= bike....... couldn't buy one without the other, and i WILL wear it every time. yes i get flat hair, wild hair, the hair sticks out all over the place when i wear the helmet.... and i do not care :0). I have been so busy, and so warn out, and this last "cycle" has been such a bad heavy one.... i am just exhausted, tomorrow i do not want to leave my home except to go biking...... i'd like to get 5 miles in, but i will be happy with 4 miles . Bill will come with me, and he'll walk a ways while i bike....... hopefully the humidity will break!!!

Bill is doing well after surgery, but he is getting stir crazy, he starts rehab on weds... but doesn't even see the doctor until the end of July..... i was thinking, suicide, murder or divorce was gonna happen......... but suicide, i die, murder Bill dies....... and i just don't want to go through another divorce......so i have opted to increase my hours of work........ and i now know when Bill retires, i work full time........ gotta do what you gotta do to keep a happy marriage going...... LOL. i hope you know that i am joking, and Bill has been a trooper...... and the kids have been awesome. the kids got him a recliner for fathers day so he can sleep comfortable, Katie is his taxi, and takes him all over the place when he asks, all the kids ask if he is hungry or needs a drink, i am proud of them all. well i think i am going to go to bed early. good night

First time in eight years.........

ff

I've been saying for a while now, that one goal is to be able to ride my bike to work. Well the photo above, is my new bike. it is what they call a Hybrid bike, a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike. Bill has been "saving" up money behind my back for some time now, and yesterday he took me, or i should say i took him (he recently has shoulder surgery and does not drive) to the trails end bike shop in Indiana PA. i was so excited. funny i went in with plans to get a "mountain bike" green, and a Cannondale........ i was told by a few bike pros that you don't buy the bike the bike buys you!!! and so true. i tried several bikes, and answered a million questions. realistically i will be using mainly the "rails to trails" and some on the roads. The are making bikes better and better now, using doctors and such to build the aero dynamics to be the most comfortable for the body. me still being over weight, this is a good idea. So they make the
"comfort" bikes now. so i tried one with the wide tires..... ( which i was going to get without a doubt) first i tried several treks......... nice and then the guy said, just try one with the hybrid tires...... you won't have to work as hard to go as far........ LOVED LOVED LOVED it and boy it did make a difference. I finally tried the Cannondale both mountain and hybrid........ loved the hybrid...... so that is what i ended up with A Cannondale 5 Adventure. The guy at the shop told me that even though i am walking alot, usually a 5k a day......... minus last week. I will NOT be able to do the same thing on the bike, and i WILL feel muscles that i did not even know i had..... i was told to start slow........ maybe ten minutes, then twenty minutes and so on......... Today i went for my first bike ride......... i began going UP HILL....... a very minor grade that the naked eye can't see....... but peddling legs can feel...... not gonna lie to you........ it was miserable and i am thinking what the heck, this is so hard..........so i kept going for ten minutes........ turned around and headed back....... way too easy........ i didn't have to peddle if i didn't want to......... it took 5 minutes to get back. Bill of course did a short walk, while i biked, i was sweating, breathing so heavy and my leg muscles were burning....... even hours later at home........ still feel like i ran a marathon, but i love it :o).

my body can only do so much with walking... and i have heard from several people that said biking several days a week..... will certainly move me to the next level of fitness, and hopefully the next level of losing weight......

well i have been so busy, and i am just exhausted, i have to go to work this evening for a few hours and then i have to go back and clean tomorrow, then i get to enjoy my "bestest friend" and her family at her daughters baby shower....... and then i think other than exercise not gonna do a dang thing from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday morning........

Have a great day

So alot has been going on.....

lets see............ Andrew ended up with his third concussion had to come home early from the Ken Lantzy football camp, Bill had pretty extensive shoulder surgery, as part of my "testing" i stopped taking Krill oil over a week ago, and i feel the effects. Andrew IS okay. and was able to head for his trip last night to New Orleans to board a cruise ship for the next week. Bill's surgery was a success and he is being a relatively good patient. but i never realized how much Bill does do around the house, cause now that he can't, i sure miss him. All the kids have been great helping him too. And well today I am back on the Krill oil. They say that Krill oil really helps with PMS symptoms, and it was Patti that brought that to my attention. and when i started thinking....... it was true the two months that i was on Krill, i did not have a migraine during PMS time, and actually didn't feel any of the noticeable moodiness, irritability, bloating, and migraines. guess what, this past week, had a migraine, and today just a day before my cycle should be here, increase body aches and major fatigue going on right now...... yuk!!!
Oh and i can't forget the stupidity of the last time i went hiking, it has been a few days now..... but it was the absolute hottest most humid morning this summer, i was hiking about 2 miles when it hit me........ my insides got so hot, my muscles felt crampy, felt dizzy, nauseated, and even went through the motions of throwing up..... nothing in my tummy to come up, and since the lapband didn't even have the stomach acid contents. I always drink 20oz of water before my hike, take water with me, and usually i eat a handful of nuts or my protein shake........ DIDN'T do any of that... this has been the first time i ever even thought about somebody going and getting me a car to pick me up.......... i slowed my pace, and i did make it back to the car....... i am pretty sure i was suffering from a little heat exhaustion. i slowly drank water until i drank about 40 oz. i ate a banana, and ate a few potato chips, i even drank some Gatorade too..... rested for a while, took a tepid bath...... it took several hours before i started to feel back to normal. So i told Chris and Katie.......... " I WILL NOT HIKE IN SEVERELY HUMID WEATHER AGAIN " and i will not be so stupid to not drink water in the process.
Well i have a busy day today........ have to go to the office to clean, going to hang with a dear friend moving to Arizona on Monday........ and then my other dear friend, may be stopping by to see me this afternoon.........
Have a great weekend

Water aerobics vs Frozen Cherry Mocha Land

I could tell you that we went to water aerobics last night, and it was one hell of a work out, and i was sweating when i was done, even in the water. that however would be a lie. Oh we did go to water aerobics, yes we did wear our bathing suits, yes we were ready to get in the pool. Chris and i acted like we knew what we were doing........ there was one other lady there, Christina said she has been in her class before. well the therapist started to work with the one lady already in the water, I looked at Christina, things weren't right........ well it ended up they changed the water aerobics date from monday to tuesday, and actually we were right in the middle of a pt's therapy session. what are two girls to do? well i will tell you what two girls did. we went to the local Sheetz and had a frozen Cherry mocha land drink, all deliciousness. we did use skim milk, and there was the option of sugar free chocolate. I don't do sugar free though. it was so good, and well worth it. Thank goodness we did hike that morning, and the water aerobics was going to be our second exercise. We do a 5k every time we hike, and sometime we go to a 10k or further. and on this day we did just over a 5k (*3.1 miles) we did 3.3 miles. I need to figure out how to put two resistance training workouts to my schedule in a week. it is just as important as the cardio that i do. I think i am going to try the no added sugar challenge again, and hoping to get past 5 days. this time i will let my husband know in advance that i don't want sweets. so when to begin........ maybe today, maybe tomorrow...
have a great day

~~~> ANDREW <~~~

Andrew my middle child, my oldest son graduated from high school last week..... where does time go? He plans on going to IUP the same college as his "big" sister. So he'll still be coming and going from home. This is the boy that missed a year of school after the head injury his sophomore year. this is the boy that had his upper and lower jaw broken and rearranged before his senior year. He managed to stay on Distinguished honor roll, inducted to the National honor society and take both senior and college classes. Oh he is also the boy that hates his mom hovering over him, can be so mouthy, and thinks he knows WAY more than i do. he couldn't stand that i needed to know where he was, what he was doing, and who he was with at all times. He was chosen to play in the Ken Lanzy all star football game http://www.kenlantzy.com/index.html and that is where he is right now. i know that he doesn't hang out at the house much anymore.... (two jobs and many social events) however i was happy with him coming and going.... and being here at night. it's just a week, and then he goes with his best friend and his family on a Cruise for another week........... I just have to get used to this......... this new chapter of life that i am in. i mean gee even Sammy is growing up!!! I will cherish this moment, and this stage i am in........ dwelling on the past is such a waste of time, as is worrying about how I'll handle an empty nest in the future. I remember my mom saying that it was so hard when each child finally left the nest.........BUT it was so much harder when some of her children came back to the nest......... so i think i will just enjoy this moment........

think I'll try water aerobics tomorrow as well as a hike.....I've had a few days off, and i need to get back in the groove of things....

Blessings

And what has been going on in my life?

lets see, Andrew Graduated on Friday. i must admit, i was just plain old sad and depressed the entire day. couldn't help but remember him as a baby....... and the phases of childhood, knowing that on friday...... one chapter was closed and a new chapter opened. I was fine right after the ceremony....... it was just leading up to it that seemed to bother me. Nothing is really going to change yet, Andrew is going to school at IUP (20 minutes away) he is staying at home. Katie is also going to IUP she too is staying at home. so proud of both these kids..... they both work two jobs. Andrew was doing high school and college at the same time, and Katie was doing college full time. i love the work ethics that they show so early in age. Sammy is 15 and just going through life with a grin on his face.......... we shall see how he does.
I've been hiking faithfully, and actually i think i am addicted to it. After speaking with my brother, he encouraged me to take a day or two off a week. stating that hiking uneven trails, and steep hills (climbing both up and down) are stressful on the joints and they need time to recover. so i've been going 5 days and once in a while 6 days. yesterday Katie and i went early in the morning, and instead of avoiding the steep hills, i plan my route to include as many as i can. and my heart rate does go up, not nearly as high as it did 2 months ago. BUT it recovers almost instantly.
lets see what else, oh i have my work scheduled worked out now that i can get the same amount of hours in 3 days and not 4. so i work 3 days and am off 4 days. which works for me as i've increased more me time for hiking and upping my level of fitness. I think Christina and i are going to start hiking at some local state parks, to change it up a little.
my no added sugar challenge lasted 5 and 1/2 days, and then Bill not knowing i was trying this challenge got me a small piece of my yummy favorite dessert.. lemon pie. He is not a saboteur, because he knows that i do not deny myself of a taste of anything now. but he did not know the NO sugar challenge i was doing. and but of course, i was "forced" to eat the pie LOL. so i am now on my second day of no added sugar........ lets see if i can beat the 5 days.
maybe you are getting tired of hearing this , but i feel so damn good....... no joint aches, i have increased energy......... but come bedtime........ i am so ready to sleep, and sleep soundly until my internal alarm clock goes off at 5:45 am.
i may start water aerobics next week two days a week, still hike 5 days a week, but i'll make sure that i take at least one day off from everything. Loving the Krill oil............ Loving my B vitamins....... loving my flax oil and seeds........... looking forward to my next doctor appointment in July I will try to blog more often, i mean gee Chris blogged twice in a week, what is up with that.
sending Love to my chums Patti, Chris and Kelly .. miss you all :0)

I can't believe it

Day 3 no added sugar went very well,.... and there WAS temptation, and it was all my fault...... i brought extra creamy dark chocolate to put in the candy dish on my desk.......... and i truly did not have any!, at one point i was getting stressed dealing with Insurances and prescriptions for a patient and i reached over absentmindedly grabbed a chocolate, and then i put it right back down. and didn't think about the candy too much after that.
This morning i noticed i had a little headache, and was slightly dizzy. i told Christina during our hike that maybe it was with drawl from being on the third day without added sugar.... i still have my Raspberries which has 7 grams of sugar,
i know a lady that brags about eating O grams of sugar, and as she is telling this she is chomping on two banana's........... ummm, banana's ave about 35.5 grams of sugar per medium banana. Fruits have natural sugar...... hell sugar comes from a plant ........ Sugar Cane...... i am not diabetic, but as a nurse, my diabetic Pt's fruits were limited.
.......... well anyhow, so i should not say Sugar FREE days, but no added sugar days...

I continue to feel great, as i said briefly as noted above, i started out this morning feeling a little off balance, and a mild headache....... but twenty minutes into my walk, my headache sorta disappeared, and hasn't returned. I continue to add more hills to my routine, i can't seem to walk fast....... my feet and legs just won't do it... so i rely on hills to work my heart rate...... and i notice that my heart rate recovers almost immediately once i make it to the top of the hill. what i may do.. as do 10 second sprints, then take two minutes at regular pace........ and do this for 15 minutes or so. (*like Johnny showed me)

well i am tired, long day at work, came home and started doing a Chicken in Rotisserie, i should be in bed by midnight......... my first 'baby boy graduates tomorrow.......... I'll post later

No Added sugar DAY 2

well i must say my first day was easy, and actually the second day has been easy too. Today was a "drug representative bring lunch day" at work, They brought from Panara Bread (*which by the way, is hidden unhealthy) for instance the Veggie Sandwich, which people assume healthy is 610 calories, 13 grams of fat and 1450 grams of sodium. well regardless i brought my own lunch, grilled fish that i shared with the doctor, seasoned with herbs and spices without added salt. and Greek yogurt with fresh raspberries . There was also my absolute favorite Cookies, but i did not have one, and actually didn't even want one. (one short bread cookie 350 calories and 21 grams of fat) i could eat two or three of them before.
Christina and I also hit the trails before 7 am this morning....... home by 8:30 am, I've got 15 miles in since Saturday so if the weather works for me i can see getting 20 to 25 miles in for the week :0).
I would like to tell you what my weight is.......but i am doing so well not letting the scale control me, instead i have 3 outfits, that i am working on, I've reached out fit one, level one, outfit two is feeling like it is getting lose..... and i have my third out fit hanging where i can see it, and my goal is to get into that in September...... next month i'll start trying it on weekly to note my progress :o). As soon as i get to the size i am happy with, then i will start to weigh again daily, because i do believe that in order to keep track of my weight making sure it doesn't creep up, i need to know what it is doing, where it is going, and how it's behaving.......
well a storm is coming my way, think i'll go sit out on the porch......... and enjoy

i think i killed Bill

... this morning Bill and I went for a nice long hike, 7 and 1/2 miles almost 8 miles. I could have kept going, but i decided that i wanted to do the 10 miles some where else!!! My feet started hurting about 1/4 mile away from the car, I was dripping from sweat, but over all felt really good. Knowing i was going so far, i decided to pace myself, and i told Bill to go on ahead, that i didn't mind. No matter what i can't seem to speed walk without my feet starting to hurt me, that is why i rely on hills to get my heart rate up. well at first Bill was a few feet ahead of me, ( usually he goes out of sight). but surprisingly i was able to keep up with him, a few times i reminded him he can go on ahead, he said he wanted to hang with me....... ummm right! so we come home, and he immediately goes to the couch and falls asleep, i mean within 5 minutes of being home.... i do some house work, make the boys some Rice Crispy treats,....... do this and that. ............ well this evening, hours later i wake Bill Up, and he said " wow that hike kicked my ass.." he is having a tough time walking, so i go to him and start dancing and do toe touches and squats...... laughing, He just laughed at me...... at this moment, there is nothing tell me that i hiked for 3 hours, nothing. i don't know what is going on...... still thinking it is the Krill Oil, oh well whatever, i am happy!!! there is no doubt that i could have added two more miles today, oh the last two miles would have been slower...... but no doubt at all.
Well work tomorrow, hoping to get a hike in early in the morning....... i have been so busy since getting back from the beach, and then heading to Lydia's today was my first day home...... I think i am going to document 7 days of NO sugar........... i want to stay away from the stuff, they say the first week is the hardest........ we shall see
take care

Appalachian Trail.........

I went out East for a couple days....... it was a mother/daughter road trip. Katie and I Went to visit one of my friends, Lydia and her family. it was a wonderful couple days... Saturday she dropped us off at one of the trial heads for the Appalachian Trail......... ended up hiking about 3 and 1/2 miles. I was so excited to finally get on that trail, i would love to go again and plan on spending about 4 hours on the trail...... I told Bill today that over the next couple years, i'd like to hike at every state park in PA.... so i need to get a list, and figure it out..... hmmm, how many state parks are there?....... okay i just checked, there are 120 state parks...... , how many years and how many weekends will that take??? who cares? :0),

The photo's above, are those taken from the Appalachian Trail. well i have had a long couple weeks, and i think i just want to go and chill awhile....... have a great day

Didn't know Lydia snapped this picture of Us coming off the trail..... 3 and 1/2 miles later. Her son was with me, and he was VERY tired, but he did a great Job..... i truly believe i could have hiked 10 more miles....... i felt so good :0)......

Vampire Safe........

years ago i had a dear friend that got me hooked on Stuffed green olives, usually with feta or blue cheese...... well sadly my dear friend is no longer a friend, however....... the olives are here to stay!! well i started eating olives stuffed with cloves of garlic...... and i must say yummy! I've been eating them almost every evening........ Bill is very patient, and quite polite in telling me that i smell like a garlic factory! oh well
So this morning Chris and I head for a longer hike (about 2 hours), and i begin to sweat, my shirt was soaked, my head was soaked....... and let me tell you THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN THE COMBINATION OF SWEAT AND GARLIC!!! i am just saying. Sadly there would not have been a vampire within miles of me, no bugs either.. oh well :0), a nice long bath, lavender antibacterial soap, ........and i am as good as new.
it has been a while since Chris and I did this hike, and i remember coming back up the hillside with the steep steps, my heart rate fluttered between 185-195 and that was with many stops to catch my breath...... less than 6 weeks later....... and at the most my rate went to 165 I would take 20 steps up, stop for the count of 3, and then take 20 more steps, didn't have to take a break...... 6 miles later back to the car, feeling great, i could have easily repeated the hike........ easily....... think i will figure out when to do the 10 mile hike for Melody soon.
God Bless Christina~ she is such a good friend, and she puts up with me... i have a way of thinking half, and verbalizing half while telling a story, and she has to figure it out.... and when i get defensive cause she didn't understand, she doesn't get angry, she pretty much laughs in my face......... and that is all i am going to say....... ( i think i am gonna start mowing the lawn with the tractor and help bill out.. i mean if Christina can mow her lawn, i can do mine....... )
And she is so patient, when she hears me say for the tenth time....... " i am feeling so good"....... but i am amazed at how i feel......... i've been taking Krill oil for a month now, and i am not saying it is it....but i sure feel great (hi Patti, love ya), no joint issues, and today my feet didn't even bother me.........
.................... Christina said it today............. this is what the journey WAS/IS all about, the journey i started 3 years ago................. not that i am not in a size 10 yet.......... but that i feel so healthy.... that my heart is strong, and i haven't been sick enough to see a doc in 3 years, and besides a few colds that i recovered from rather quickly.... i am doing damn good.........

Melody, not sure how busy you are in heaven, but you want to go on a hike with me in the near future?

Vacation's are great, but there is no place like home.

The above picture was taking during a beautiful early morning, I never noticed how quickly the sun comes up over the horizon. Bill, Katie and I , met my brother Chris his wife, and Bill's sister Karen and her husband at a beach house in Myrtle Beach. I must say this was one of my favorite stress free vacations ever. and i decided to get off the "beaten path" and explore some not so tourist area's..... i'll explain more in detail with the next pictures. I love the ocean, hot weather... not so much! one evening while walking on the pier, we saw several sharks in the water just waiting for some newly caught fish to be cleaned, hoping for the gutted remains to be fed to them, needless to say, i remained on the water's edge from that day on :0). We didn't eat out that much either, my breakfast always consisted of my protein shake. lunch was usually turkey breast of 100 calorie whole grain flat rounds, with fresh fruit of the day ( oranges, pineapple, watermelon, apples). we did grill in several nights...... and i enjoyed some really good broiled seafood. MY lapband did do what it was supposed to do, and it did prevent me from over eating. and actually i had food stuck a couple of times, and needed to spit it back up twice. yes we enjoyed birthday cake, and i did have an ice cream here and there. i did my Wii fit a few times, had to find time when nobody was around so that i wouldn't get teased so badly. and i also power walked everyday but one. and one day i did 8 miles, although i averaged 4 miles a day. this wasn't leisure walking, i used my Polaris Heart Rate monitor, and made sure i pushed myself for one good hour. i FEEL SO GOOD.. and noticed that without hills, it took alot to get my heart rate up, one day i actually had to power walk in the surf, so the water resistance helped get the heart going. i didn't get winded, and could walk for hours, steps not a problem.... i am definitely in a good place health wise right now. I WILL be doing 10 miles for Melody, as soon as i figure out where i want to do it...

One of the things i decided to do was visit the State Parks of the area... the picture above is a State park that we visited that was a plantation http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1142.aspx The park remains untouched, and even the road to get there is just sand and ruts. there are mature tree's more than 200 years old, and some neat trails and alot of history...

the other local state park that we visited is the http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1020.aspx Huntington beach state park. this park is located just a few miles from the busy tourist section. many trails, private beaches, alligators and Birds (wetlands) there. this Park also has a Camping section. the beaches had a few people, but there were parts that had nobody..... the wild grasses were more abundant than the sand. the alligators weren't behind any barriers, or glass, and they had the freedom if they wanted to walk were i walked... i must say with the beauty of it all, being the wetlands....... the insects too were abundant, and insect repellent is a must!!!

and like my title states.......... i really had a great time, but driving in Pennsylvania reminded me how beautiful it is right where i live, and the view from my own porch is just as spectacular...

YES Dorothy......... there is no place like home!!!!

just a fly by

Don't have time to blog right now, heading to family party at my brothers, just thought i'd post this one photo, this photo was taken from an isolated, beach at a South Carolina State Park. i went off the beaten trail this vacation, and it was one of my favorite vacations ever. did ton's of hiking, one day did 8 miles, (6 and 2) this was scheduled exercise using my heart monitor... not counting tourist walking.... will also post more photos, of alligators in the wild, marsh lands, and historical plantations untouched by the "tourist bug". ....

did my wii fit, at least 4 miles of hiking every day and had my shake for breakfast, ...... ate very well.......... i give myself an A+

Addicted!!!

I think i am addicted to Hiking!!! Christina and I have been going every morning around 7, 7:30 am, we do 4 to 4 and 1/2 miles. we are mixing up the path, sometimes we do a few steep up hills, sometimes we take a path that has more down hills..... once i return from vacation , I'd like to Hike a longer distance on a weekend. Chris laughs at me, i put the heart monitor on, that transmits to a watch, i put my pedometer on....... set it, take my fanny pack or back pack make sure i have my first aid kit, my mace spray, my knife, my phone, my blister kit, my water....... AND THEN I AM READY TO GO!!!

I am feeling "FREAKING" awesome, i notice it is taking more and more exercise to get my heart rate up, my recovery after doing even the bitch hill, is just seconds, next hill, my heart rate jumps up again, but recovers almost instantly. my legs are getting so strong........ my blood pressure is getting low..... *in a healthy way. I wasn't planning on going for the hike tomorrow, as i have to be at work early, so i can come home to pack, and get ready to leave. BUT i just have to get out there on my little mountain. This morning as we were getting ready to hike up Bitch Hill. The Bald Eagle flew directly above us, did a loop and swooped past us one more time...... beautiful........ "i love my Eagles", a little over a mile into the hike we were talking and we both heard a very short, fierce grunt growl......... we both stopped, started walking, and heard it a second time. I gave Christina the phone, i pulled out my mace, and "THE KNIFE". and we proceeded with caution, we were looping around the river, and i originally planned to swing around and take the trail on to the top of the hill. I did not feel comfortable.... i can't say I was scared, but it truly sounded like something was warning Us to stay away.... so that is what i did.... i figured, I'd take the brunt of the "bear" while Christina called 911, and in the mean time i'd try and use my mace and my knife LOL....... it was all good!, and along the River, we came across a Red Tail Hawk, a Falcon, and I think Christina almost stepped on a goose she came so close to it before it took flight........... and all of this happened in an hour's hike :-).
The picture above, is a small field surrounded by forest.......it is at the top of this hill, Christina insists it is the meadow from Twilight, and she keeps waiting for Edward to appear.... keep waiting Chris.
Well i have a long day tomorrow, and Katie and I have alot planned to get ready for our Beach Trip. already figured out a few hiking trails in the South Carolina State parks
Have a good day, and i hope to blog while i am at the beach....
Many Blessings to All,

Me :)

Gettysburg fieldtrip

This is One of the photo's i took while at Gettysburg yesterday.... i loved this tree, underneath the tree you can see the cannons, the original ones used several decades ago!!! I could only imagine well over 100 years earlier, a soldier sitting and leaning against that tree, humanity's blood soaked deep into the roots below. Bill and I have to go there, so many places to walk, so many steep hills to climb, so much history!!! They have done a wonderful job keeping things as they used to be, you do not see skyscraper hotels, and actually there are very few hotels in Gettysburg, the farmlands have stayed just that, you don't see Subdivisions, Housing plans, or Condos. they kept the rocks in the same place, they keep the wild grasses the same.
I have been to Gettysburg several years as the school nurse, and i must say this was the best year by far, our tour guide, which is the luck of the draw, was marvelous. and she asked the teacher if we wanted walking? or riding the bus? well we chose walking.....

And walking we did, She actually had the bus drop Us off in one location, at the "bottom". and she had the bus go park at the highest peak in Gettysburg ( little round top). Per my pedometer, it was about two miles. we ended going off the beaten path, I definitely could have used my hiking boots, as there was a lot of climbing over rocks and boulders. and the majority of the walk was up hill, the further we walked, the stronger i got..... and i was quite proud, if you didn't know me, and know that i've recently lost alot of weight, i still look like this over weight, middle age lady, the last quarter of a mile, when others were starting to really feel the walk..... me the only one with a 25lb back pack on...... * all the nursing stuff, bottles of water etc., started to pass people, my legs felt so powerful, and i noticed my leg muscles with every step. OH i was hot, and sweating, and breathing deep. but i noticed several VERY thin moms, not weighing more than 120lbs, having a VERY difficult time. and then i realized you can have a normal BMI and be very unhealthy, or you can have a BMI that puts you in the "obese" category and be physically fit. Don't tell me different. the BMI chart does not take into account you Muscle mass. a square inch of muscle is heavier than a square inch of fat :-).

I did very well eating, well sorta, i didn't have time to do my shake in the AM, but i packed my food for the day...... my lunch......... salad made with mixed greens,tomato's, grilled chicken hard boiled egg, and 1.5 TBS. of Italian dressing made with olive oil, and red wine vinegar, a individually wrapped low fat cheese and Greek yogurt with fresh berries. Dinner for me, i got a grilled chicken wrap, took 50% of the wrap away, had another yogurt, and another low fat cheese. i drank just there alone, 7 glasses of water. So all in all, i think i did okay......oh yeah and i had some chocolate :0).

well i better get going, gotta get my shake made, go grocery shopping and go to work...... looking forward to the weekend ........... it's gonna be a busy summer.

One week and Vacation here i come

busy........

it has been a busy week, our company left last night, and they were wonderful people to have around... they were wonderful guest. They have a two year old son, whom is absolutely adorable, and i am missing him already. they expected nothing, and actually the "mom" spent most of the day at her homestead sight sifting through the burnt remains of what was once called home. I just seem to find myself feeling tired, and not sure why..... but on Sunday morning i slept in until 8:45 am, i NEVER sleep in that late. don't know why but i am up before 7 am, but usually get up at 5:45 am, even on the weekends. I know i missed my breakfast shake a few days....... but that shouldn't do it.
I know that my friend's parents are lucky to get away from the fire with their lives. HOWEVER, they need to be given the time to grieve the loss of their home. they lost everything, and aren't getting much to rebuild. it must be hard to be 70 and starting over again.
... i can't even begin to know how they feel.........
I have a very busy week this week........ don't think i get a day off until next weekend. and Thursday is a 16 hour field trip as the school nurse. i'll get alot of walking in, and i gotta plan on packing my lunch for the entire day.... including my breakfast shake Patti and Christina :).
Well i gotta get my butt moving........ blessings to all.

Not the day i expected

At 8:30 in the Morning, i was here, taking a second to snap a picture of the beautiful River. went to work, was busy, stayed two hours longer than i was supposed to...... come home after 6 pm, and i was ready to chill, get a phone call, one of my dear friends was crying........ her mom and dads home burnt to the ground.... they are also my neighbor...... ( country neighbor, not city neighbors) My friend lives in Eastern Pennsylvania, and she was on her way home, but she wanted me to take coffee, cause her dad was cold, and he needed coffee...... Bill, Katie, and I loaded up with hot coffee, pizza, and blankets and coats........ and drove over to the house.... it was burnt to the ground....... there was nothing left standing..... her parents are in their 70's, and now they are homeless........ came back home, and i got a nice hot bath and crawled into bed, put in a movie, "Under the Tuscan Sun".... and my phone rings....... there is an issue with my friend and one of her family members, and they had no place to stay....... come here no problem........ i get up get the guest room ready...... they get here about 11:30 pm, her sister, and her family ended up not being able to stay with family either, so i quickly put up the air mattress, gathered blankets, pillows, towels and toiletries......... and they came here too :0). I do not mind, but it has been a long night and day, and i am tired, I changed my work schedule from today, and will add the hours tomorrow. i've cat napped, but i am tired, and about ready to hit the bed for the night..... i have one family staying tonight...... but they will be on their own, as i am spent.......
actually i am not even sure i know what i am saying....... so i think i'll say good night....
Thank you God for keeping this elderly couple safe......... and help the to find peace that material goods may have been destroyed, but fire can not touch memories, and life has been spared. Amen.

Awesome........ feeling awesome

Yesterday morning, heading out to the trails, now remember, to get to the many trails I must walk up Btch hill, and I think I have hated that trail forever!!! well yesterday, i zoomed right up the trail, i could literally feel how strong my legs were. Didn't need to stop for a brief break, didn't hurt to breath *( felt some minor exercise induced Asthma, however i felt that during the night... allergies really acting up). ... still able to talk to Christina the entire time i was moving upward....yesterday i didn't even think about the Hill, i mean i usually complain, or say the entire time, i hate this hill, i hate this hill. Actually it hit me when i got home from the hike and I realized that my body is really getting into shape.... and i just felt good. already looking forward to getting out there this morning..... at 7am i'll text Christina and see if she wants to go before 8, giving me time to get home and get ready for work, if she doesn't want to go, i'll either go this evening with Bill, or i will go by myself with Izzy. but i will go.
My eating has much improved, and i do notice now that i am NOT taking 800 calories... i have more energy. today i plan on having my shake, lunch i plan on making the Spinach Strawberry and Grilled Chicken Salad with the homemade poppy seed dressing. Dinner will be Flounder with Lemon and seasonings placed in a foil pouch and cooked on the outdoor grill, along with grilled tomato's.
This weekend i am planning on getting a longer hike in at Marine State Park! and i think Bill and I are going to start doing that and checking out more PA STATE Parks.
i finished up with the "study" for the Lapband Prep program......Answered the million and three questions, wore the computer gadget on my arm for one consecutive week (minus sleeping and bathing) and now i just wait for them to randomly call me and ask me what i've eaten for the day. which should be easy since i write it down most of the time. Oh when i signed up for the study, i was aware that it will last 3 to 5 years..... i got two years in now.... the year before the surgery, the year after the surgery...... and i think it goes to the 5 year mark... as that is when Lapband results = the Gastric bypass Results!
Have a great day today, it is supposed to be beautiful in Pennsylvania

ps. just my opinion, and i know a dear friend who loves her, Hi Patti, love you. Jillian Michael's, in my own opinion is messed up.... i never really liked her, and when she endorsed "magic pills to lose weight, and magic pills to detox, ...after all the talk that there wasn't a fat loss pill out there, weight comes off by eating less/ moving more. and when she cry's about when she was "fat" for heaven sakes, she hadn't hit puberty yet, and i think she had 20 lbs to lose, if that. It pissed me off when she'd tell Obese people, people that have 100 lbs to lose, that she "KNEW" how they felt cause she was like that once. The fat loss pill is about 40 dollars for two weeks, as you must take 4 capsules a day. the promotion say's "see results quickly". and i am pasting the warning ~WARNING: This product contains a significantly potent xanthine (ie, caffeine and caffeine-like stimulants) mixture of about 100 mg per regular 2-MetaCap serving. Consult your physicain before use if you are sensitive to stimulants. Do not exceed suggested daily serving. Not for use by individuals under the age of 18 years. Do not use if pregnant or nursing. And now she told a popular magazine, that she will not have a baby, because she doesn't want to deal with what it will do to her body. she has free will to have her own opinion, but to me that sounds a little scary. she said she has body image issues, going back to when she was so fat as a child. I think there is such a thing as having Exercise induced Anorexia, where you have to exercise so much because in your mind you body is still fat and the image is distorted............ This Lady is teaching millions, and that is all i am gonna say..... look at the supplements for yourself.

and So What......

Last week one of my friend's and co worker was going through something really bad. his 15 month old son got very ill VERY quick. Sunday evening a few cold symptom, Monday morning a trip to the doctor, Monday afternoon a trip to the local hospital, Monday night, an ambulance trip to Pittsburgh Children's Hospital, and by Tuesday morning.. he was in the ICU at Children's. fighting to get oxygen to his little body. He went from a cold to double pneumonia! i was actually at one of my appointments in Pittsburgh, when i was able to receive a text saying he was sent to ICU...... and my minimal weight loss the past couple months.... didn't matter.. "so what!", that evening our tractor broke............. "so what!", in the mail that evening our annual car insurance bill came in the mail... "so what!"... my car went in for a simple oil change, where they found out a tie rod needed to be fixed........... "so what!"..... At this point, there was nothing of material value that even remotely mattered...... my friend and his wife were going through watching their baby struggle to breath, fighting for his life. my thoughts and prayers were for baby Owen and his family. I am happy to say that Owen is doing okay and is now home with his mom, dad and older brother. And God has seen fit to work out my other minor issues. When Bill took the Jeep to get fixed, because we bought the Jeep there, we received a discount so instead of 200 dollars, it was 100 dollars. Bill drove the tractor over a hidden stump, the deck fell down, the key would not work.... couldn't even move the tractor!! Bill went out yesterday, and it started up, no problem... he lifted the deck back in place and it stayed........ last weekend Bill was called out on storm duty, so his over time pays for the Car Insurance due... ALL is Good.
Friday I had my annual appointment for the Lapband........ and it is all good. my weight loss although slowing down, is where it should be. and i actually dropped 3 pounds since last month. again i am reminded the difference between the gastric bypass, and lapband. bypass the weight drops of quickly and you lose the weight you are going to in about a year. the lap band takes about 3 years to lose the weight you are going to........ And by the 5 year mark......... lapband and gastric bypass even out..... I did not need an adjustment. the doc felt it would be counter productive, being that i can't eat food in Am, can eat more soft foods at lunch time, and by dinner i can even eat a few carbs... another adjustment now might have stopped me from having my breakfast shake, prevented me from eating the lunches that i eat now...... and dinner would have been soft food!!! The doctor did agree that the weeks i was taking in less than 800 calories, did cause the weight loss to stall, and now that i am back up to 1300 calories that seems doable!!!
today is the one day i do not work, However, i am babysitting today...... so i need to get my butt in gear....... and i have to prepare my breakfast shake before i head out the door, cause heaven knows i don't want Christina to start btching that i am not eating breakfast again :0)
Make it a great week!