Where to begin!!!!

So much to say......

Part 1

My weekly official weigh in was this morning.   I am happy to announce that I lost 2.4 pounds!  Weeeeee!!!!!   

My week wasn't perfect.   I was far from perfect with my eating!

 I was however pretty active!!!   So when I  added in my activity calories I did pretty good!!!

It wasn't a spot on week but it was pretty good!!

I ran a few times.  I walked a lot. 

I'm not looking for perfection.  I'm looking for a sustainable lifestyle!!! 

So this past week.... I am going to call it a success!!!   

Part 2

Hair hair everywhere

About 6-9 months ago I started noticing some mad hair loss.....at first I wasn't concerned.  It happens. I went out and got my hair cut/trimmed because that typically helps.   It didn't help.   I've been concerned because at the rate of hair I feel I'm losing I fear that I will be bald in another 6 months!

I have tried vitamins.  (A woman's one a day)...and still take the vitamins!

Was it the hair coloring I use to cover my gray??  (Yeah yeah...I'm going gray!!!).  I color as infrequently as possible!   (Last time was right around April 1)

I have never been high maintenance so blow dryers and whatnot rarely come near my head anyway so it's not that!!!

I switched to sulfate free shampoo and conditioner

I have tried medicated shampoos.  (Pee euuuu my head smelled like a hospital)

Was it because I wore my hair up in a twist and/or a pony tail 90% of the time??  I switched to wearing my hair down as much as possible for a while (and still do...besides Jason likes it down!)

I've wondered if it was the stress (delayed a while) of my marriage breaking up.

Whatever the reason, It has been concerning.

Maybe it's the simplest solution of all! I have long written that eating healthy in my current living conditions is difficult.  Before my separation it was typical for me to eat well over my 5 servings of fruits and veggies each day.  I realized the other day/week that I'm lucky to get one or two servings a day...and that's being generous...I probably average less than 1 serving a day.   

That's bad on a whole bunch of levels!  But that said....I'm going to try to up the intake....maybe that is affecting the hair falling out. (Not breaking...falling out!)

It makes sense though....proper nutrition is important!!!!!!

Part 3

Stupid weather yesterday kept me from walking on my lunch break!   It turned black....then rained for 5 minutes.  It started to look clear again so I started to think about going back out.   Before I could enact upon it it turned black and threatening again...and eventually rained again for 5 minutes or so.  It repeated this over and over throughout the day!!   No lunch break walk for me!!!     Jason and I walked at the city park though!!!!   Better luck today!!!!  (Although we just had a wee little rain and storm blow through.)

Maybe...

Mighty I actually see a bit of success tomorrow on my official weigh in????  This morning's sneak peak looked good!!!!   That would be fantastic and go a LONG way to keeping me motivated to get this weight off!  (As if being able to shop for cool clothes and gear isn't motivation enough!!).  

Moving, activity and exercise is the key for me at this juncture in my life.   I know it!!  The first time I lost weight I was so focused on food.  I was regimented and totally like a drill sergeant with what went into my mouth!  And I often talked about how I missed the innocence of being able to order a milkshake. Or eat a French fry or whatever!  So consequentially when I reached my goal (and yes maintained long enough to be a lifetime member at weight watchers) I tasted the fries...the cakes...the milkshakes.   And I gained.   And gained.   And gained.

This time around I am trying to not be so regimented!   I eat the greasy pizza when Jason and I order it. And yes I eat 2-3 slices!!!   Sometimes I get a milkshake!  In fact, I ate a slice of cake for breakfast today after my run (I had a banana earlier so it wasn't a total unhealthy breakfast!) . The difference?  Well there are a few things that have shifted in my thinking...

1.  I'm more active.  I am trying to make being active my new lifestyle!   We walk, we hike, I run (and we have our challenge thing). and I hope to get out my bikes soon!!!!   The activity counter balances those special indulgences!

2.  It's not an all or nothing deal.  For me to say I'll never eat a greasy  pizza...or never have a milkshake..or never have a slice of cake is asinine and just setting myself up for failure!   I know myself and eating 100% on target for the rest of my life is not a viable long term solution.   Maybe 80% though!  

3.  It's not about the number on the scale any longer it's about my overall health!  I want to be healthy as I start to get older.  I want to be an old person that is hiking and running marathons.  I want to live my life to the fullest and not be sitting as an invalid in a nursing home!  

Eating is important.....very important...but exercise is the key!!!!  :-)

So my last 24 hours...

Let me backtrack to yesterday and start where I left off.    I decided to walk on my lunch break at work.   The reasoning is twofold.   There are some things happening that are stressing me out big time at my work.  (Enough that I have on a few occasions arrived to spend the evening with Jason after work...he greets me with a hug and I just start to bawl!  Poor guy, what a greeting!!). So with that stress it's a good thing to get out of the building for my allotted 30 minutes!   Plus, it may only be a mile to a mile and a half but it's movement in an otherwise sedentary 8 hours!!!  

It was a gorgeous day to walk!   

The one alley I was walking...

And an ivy covered historic house mixed in with some patriotism....

It really helped to break up the day!

After work I met up with Jason and we went to Tayamentasachta (I think the spelling is correct).  The Greencastle, PA school farm.   We walked about 2 miles there.   It was the first time Jason had been back in years and it was interesting to have him verbalize his memories and compare them with the current place...how much trees had grown and whatnot!  

A nice huge old tree.  According to the monument it is over 350 years old and the second largest/oldest in the state of PA. 

And some fungus that caught our eye!!

We also found the geocache that I couldn't find to save my soul last summer!!  Jason found it in seconds! 

I got home at about 7 and spent a bit of time with my family.

This morning I got up and ran 2.55 miles.  Slooooow miles but I ran!!   I'm planning on walking again on my lunch break even though it will be warm....I liked how it broke up my day!!   And Jason and I are supposed to meet when I get off work tonight so we will probably find another park somewhere to walk (or the canal).   

Mental shifting in my thoughts?  Maybe....but I think I'm in a better place with where I am.   My eating still isn't spot on but I'm on a positive path!!!