Beginning 2015

How odd to think it's already 2015!  And even more curious, to see that it's been almost 5 years since I've posted on my blog!
This is going to be an exciting year.  For the past four months, I've been busy getting a battery of tests to see if I qualify for bariatric surgery.  Apparently I do.  Even at the ripe old age of 66, I have been scheduled for Bariatric Sleeve surgery this March. 
I really have a wide range of emotions.  Scared, excited, concerned, hopeful and ready.  Sigh
I must admit that I really don't know where to begin.  So....I'll just start...
Like more than half of Americans, I've been overweight most of my adult life.  Over the years I've lost and gained at least three major amounts of weight.  Not counting my six pregnancies.  I did not grow up fat.  I gained weight in my late teens, and then for the next 50 years roller coasted gaining and losing, and at last, just gaining and finally staying heavy.
I was almost ready to just stay heavy, until a couple of years ago when my weight really started affecting my health.  I developed Type II diabetes, and found even short walks left me out of breath.  About that same time, my daughter decided to have bariatric surgery for her weight problem.  I watched with admiration as she slowly but surely lost the extra pounds.  My thought was, wish I would have done the surgery years ago!  But I wasn't in my 30's anymore.
What finally changed?  Stay tuned...

Interesting...

...I found that walking...actually makes my hips feel better! Dan and I were out shopping yesterday and did a fair amount of walking in the stores and to and from the parking lot. I realized on the way home my hips actually felt no pain. I mentioned this to Dan, who promptly said " well, that makes sense." Because he had training as a massage therapist, he said by walking and stretching the muscles, that would relieve the pain. Now why didn't he tell me this sooner? I was using the pain as an excuse not to walk!
We learn something everyday.
Now I've got to go dig out my Easy Yoga video!

Sunset a few nights ago...

....hi folks, sorry it's been so long since I've posted.

I've got some new exercises to try and will be reporting on my progress.

The holidays are always a struggle with eating the wrong things...but I am trying to avoid cookies etc.

We have had some beautiful weather the past week. Be well everyone!

First snow...

Didn't get out soon enough to get a photo of the snow...it was very light...only about an inch on the valley floor. Much more in the mountains...a foot or more.

My daughter posted seeing a guy trying to snow blow the inch of snow off his sidewalk! Ha! Guess he must have had a new snow blower he was wanting to break in.

Dan and I ventured over to the Scheels store...really, really big sporting goods place...they have a Ferris wheel in the middle...and animatronic Presidents...and so much more. Anyway...it was a good place to walk on a cold, windy day.

Can't believe Thanksgiving is only a few days away. Hope to post more pics soon.

Dog Bliss

It was one of the last days of 60 degree weather, so we took Baby and Buster to the doggie park. All the little doggies there were running and playing and having so much fun...as if they knew this might be the last time they came before winter sets in.

It's suppose to snow this weekend...here on the valley floor...and a lot in the Sierras.

We've been enjoying my homemade veggie soup all week...and I think we'll graduate to chili this weekend.

Hello!

Neat photo...that I didn't take...but the trees look a lot like they did last week. This week...most of the beautiful colors have turned brown and rest in piles on the grass.

I've been remiss about posting...mostly because I haven't done a lot of walking the past couple of weeks. I have done a few short bursts several times a day, and have continued to be a little more active than I had been.

The cooler weather has prompted me to start cooking again! That's a big improvement over take out...and so much tastier.

Maybe if I just post more often, I'll challenge myself again. Let's hope...

Here are a couple of more good photos showing autumn in Reno.


Andrew Lane, Nov 1















Autumn in the Sierra


Rancho San Rafael, Nov 1

Tuesday's walk

Pah Rah again. Need to take the camera again as the trees are really turning and the park is so pretty! Last night we didn't get over there till around 5, and the sun was back lighting the turning trees. Would have made some great photos. I'll take the camera today.

We walked 25 minutes at a nice pace and I'm sure it was a little over a mile. Now we need to start pushing ourselves...we can do more!

Hope you're having a wonderful day!