The weather here is very hot at the moment, in the high 90sF every day this week. Despite these uncongenial conditions, I continue to womanfully take the doggy for a walk at least two times a day. Yesterday and today I was out with Ruby for 45 minutes, setting out for the breezy baylands at 8:00am. On Sunday evening, I took her for a night walk, doing half an hour after the kids had gone to bed. It was lovely and cool then, but I don't think Ruby liked the dark very much. In fact we saw no one, not even a car passed us.
Perhaps if I ate less I might even lose some weight with all this walking. I probably do an hour and a half every day.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Getting the Lungs Going Again
I am still battling the stupid cough, which feels like it will never go away. I'm now able to sleep on one pillow, which is a step forward, and I no longer have a permanent crick in my neck, but it would be hard to say that I wake each morning refreshed and ready to meet the day.
On the positive side, Ruby is taking me for a walk two or three times each day. We usually go out for about 45 minutes, which is her maximum. I have been taking her to walk at the local nature reserve parks, Arasteradero or the Bay Lands, but we're currently keeping away from those while Ruby recovers from a wound in her behind caused by a nasty grass seed called a foxtail. So our daily regime of walking is around the streets, to the local neighborhood park, and back again. Ruby is now at her target weight, 20 lbs, so our goal is not to let her get any fatter. Do you think that feeding her bits of my chocolate croissant (not the chocolate part, which is bad for dogs) will have a negative impact on that goal?
I think that feeding myself chocolate croissants may be having a negative impact on my goal... I do try to tell myself that I don't need a little something at 10am, but my insides tell me otherwise. I guess I am trained to eat in the middle of the morning - something I blame on my childhood, naturally, when our family ate every two hours to accommodate the needs of my diabetic brother - and so it's a hard habit to shake. I also eat when I'm bored and sometimes I simply defiantly eat because I know I shouldn't. Maybe I should see a shrink. You'll note that I never get tempted to snack on fruit or veggies. I have a bad relationship with them.
Another positive note: I attended my Scottish Dance class for the first time this year. I did the sign-ins (I'm the class manager) in the first week, but didn't dance; then wasn't able to go last week. This week I stuck with the beginners' class, not because I am a beginner (after six years, I am most definitely not!) but because in these early weeks of the year the class involves a lot more walking than dancing, as the newbies learn the formations. That worked out fine until we did the social dance at the end with the experienced class - Kendall's Hornpipe - and I almost died at the end...cough...cough...cough. Some of my classmates were quite alarmed. "Don't...worry..." I gasped, as I waved them away.
What's for dinner? Oh yes, lovely calorific quiche.
On the positive side, Ruby is taking me for a walk two or three times each day. We usually go out for about 45 minutes, which is her maximum. I have been taking her to walk at the local nature reserve parks, Arasteradero or the Bay Lands, but we're currently keeping away from those while Ruby recovers from a wound in her behind caused by a nasty grass seed called a foxtail. So our daily regime of walking is around the streets, to the local neighborhood park, and back again. Ruby is now at her target weight, 20 lbs, so our goal is not to let her get any fatter. Do you think that feeding her bits of my chocolate croissant (not the chocolate part, which is bad for dogs) will have a negative impact on that goal?
I think that feeding myself chocolate croissants may be having a negative impact on my goal... I do try to tell myself that I don't need a little something at 10am, but my insides tell me otherwise. I guess I am trained to eat in the middle of the morning - something I blame on my childhood, naturally, when our family ate every two hours to accommodate the needs of my diabetic brother - and so it's a hard habit to shake. I also eat when I'm bored and sometimes I simply defiantly eat because I know I shouldn't. Maybe I should see a shrink. You'll note that I never get tempted to snack on fruit or veggies. I have a bad relationship with them.
Another positive note: I attended my Scottish Dance class for the first time this year. I did the sign-ins (I'm the class manager) in the first week, but didn't dance; then wasn't able to go last week. This week I stuck with the beginners' class, not because I am a beginner (after six years, I am most definitely not!) but because in these early weeks of the year the class involves a lot more walking than dancing, as the newbies learn the formations. That worked out fine until we did the social dance at the end with the experienced class - Kendall's Hornpipe - and I almost died at the end...cough...cough...cough. Some of my classmates were quite alarmed. "Don't...worry..." I gasped, as I waved them away.
What's for dinner? Oh yes, lovely calorific quiche.
Where are you Dr Mom?
I'm still here waiting for moral support.
Today at the pool was less painful than on Monday - 26 lengths in 30 minutes. All is not lost.
Thing I am most pleased with today: After 23 years I have found a replacement for the Green Cardigan, which I now ceremoniously declare to be a cat bed. The new one (from an online merchant called Asos, who have a fat people department called 'Curves') is broadly similar to the green one, except it is navy blue. And it has a bit of cable pattern on it. And brown 'football' buttons. (Notsosmall looked at them and asked why I had swastikas on my buttons. Now it is hard to see them as anything else, but they really aren't.) More to the point, it is long and very cosy which, as summer is now officially over but putting the heating on season has not yet arrived, is a Good Thing.
I realise this hasn't got much to do with the quest to lose pounds. But I've been looking for a replacement for years. My mother would have thrown it out in about 1993 if I hadn't kept a careful eye on her.
Also on the plus side: the Asos trousers I purchased in a size 26 (which according to their size guide should have been a snug fit) were much too big. The down side is I shall have to return them, and I STILL don't have any warm trousers that fit - the three pairs I have worn for the last four winters have all worn through to nothingness, with holes in the knees. I really can't get away with 'trendy' holes in clothes. So I'm still in the linen ones I've worn for the last two summers (which are also wearing out) and which are jolly chilly. The long cardigan is going to have to keep my bottom warm as well!
Today at the pool was less painful than on Monday - 26 lengths in 30 minutes. All is not lost.
Thing I am most pleased with today: After 23 years I have found a replacement for the Green Cardigan, which I now ceremoniously declare to be a cat bed. The new one (from an online merchant called Asos, who have a fat people department called 'Curves') is broadly similar to the green one, except it is navy blue. And it has a bit of cable pattern on it. And brown 'football' buttons. (Notsosmall looked at them and asked why I had swastikas on my buttons. Now it is hard to see them as anything else, but they really aren't.) More to the point, it is long and very cosy which, as summer is now officially over but putting the heating on season has not yet arrived, is a Good Thing.
I realise this hasn't got much to do with the quest to lose pounds. But I've been looking for a replacement for years. My mother would have thrown it out in about 1993 if I hadn't kept a careful eye on her.
Also on the plus side: the Asos trousers I purchased in a size 26 (which according to their size guide should have been a snug fit) were much too big. The down side is I shall have to return them, and I STILL don't have any warm trousers that fit - the three pairs I have worn for the last four winters have all worn through to nothingness, with holes in the knees. I really can't get away with 'trendy' holes in clothes. So I'm still in the linen ones I've worn for the last two summers (which are also wearing out) and which are jolly chilly. The long cardigan is going to have to keep my bottom warm as well!
Monday, September 20, 2010
And she's back...
...a little later than originally planned, owing to tedious skin condition which prevented the resumption of dolphin-like activity.
So, the score on the door is 17.10. Oddly enough, that is, I think, exactly the same as it was in January. On the plus side, at least it is not more than it was in January, which, after the large quantities of chocolate and cheese and crisps that sustained me through the endless summer vacation, is quite surprising. And the discovery of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Brownie ice cream, which is possibly the most exciting thing to have been in my mouth this decade.
The return to the pond was painful. It took me nearly 40 minutes to swim 18 lengths and all my muscles hurt all day and I had to eat some cake to make it feel better.
In the absence of a cute dog, it will have to do!
(I tried to post last week and wrote witty words about sushi, but the technology ate it.)
So, the score on the door is 17.10. Oddly enough, that is, I think, exactly the same as it was in January. On the plus side, at least it is not more than it was in January, which, after the large quantities of chocolate and cheese and crisps that sustained me through the endless summer vacation, is quite surprising. And the discovery of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Brownie ice cream, which is possibly the most exciting thing to have been in my mouth this decade.
The return to the pond was painful. It took me nearly 40 minutes to swim 18 lengths and all my muscles hurt all day and I had to eat some cake to make it feel better.
In the absence of a cute dog, it will have to do!
(I tried to post last week and wrote witty words about sushi, but the technology ate it.)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Walking the Dog
Those of you who read American newspapers might be aware that there is a whooping cough epidemic in California. According to the Bay Area Daily News, as of August 31, the state had reported 3,600 cases of whooping cough, the most since 1958 and a sevenfold increase over last year.
My girls and I have been part of the whooping cough epidemic. Deep Thought is in week seven, I am in week 5 and Little Starlet is in week 4. It's lovely - not.
Anyway, without going into the gory details, the result from my perspective is that I am rather breathless all the time. My doctor has prescribed an asthma inhaler, which doesn't do much though helps a little at night time. This has somewhat limited my ability to do exercise. For example, our Scottish Dance class started last night but I didn't even attempt to join in.
Ruby and I go for a walk two or three times a day. She is as pooped out by our walks as I am. Quite often she will flop down into a bit of shade while we are walking along, as if to say "That's it, I'm done, carry me home." We mostly walk for 20-40 minutes, though this morning we spent 50 minutes walking at the Palo Alto Baylands, finishing before 10am when it starts to get hot.
The thing that is really starting to annoy me is the unleashed dogs everywhere. At Hoover Park, behind Little Starlet's school, there is a bunch of dog owners every morning who have their dogs off the leash. At Pardee Park, our local destination park, there is usually at least one dog off the leash every time we go. Today there were two dogs off the leash on our street. The issue is that Ruby doesn't much care for dogs. She doesn't like being bounced or crowded, and she objects to being sniffed. So she tends to growl when other dogs get too close. This isn't a problem when the other dogs are on the leash too, but can be tricky if they aren't. We've not had any significant issues yet, but I suspect it may be a matter of time. For now I'm using the command "leave it" to try to discourage her from growling (and also from chasing squirrels).
I weighed Ruby on the scales today and it said she was 18.4 lbs. I'm not telling you how heavy I am.
My girls and I have been part of the whooping cough epidemic. Deep Thought is in week seven, I am in week 5 and Little Starlet is in week 4. It's lovely - not.
Anyway, without going into the gory details, the result from my perspective is that I am rather breathless all the time. My doctor has prescribed an asthma inhaler, which doesn't do much though helps a little at night time. This has somewhat limited my ability to do exercise. For example, our Scottish Dance class started last night but I didn't even attempt to join in.
Ruby and I go for a walk two or three times a day. She is as pooped out by our walks as I am. Quite often she will flop down into a bit of shade while we are walking along, as if to say "That's it, I'm done, carry me home." We mostly walk for 20-40 minutes, though this morning we spent 50 minutes walking at the Palo Alto Baylands, finishing before 10am when it starts to get hot.
The thing that is really starting to annoy me is the unleashed dogs everywhere. At Hoover Park, behind Little Starlet's school, there is a bunch of dog owners every morning who have their dogs off the leash. At Pardee Park, our local destination park, there is usually at least one dog off the leash every time we go. Today there were two dogs off the leash on our street. The issue is that Ruby doesn't much care for dogs. She doesn't like being bounced or crowded, and she objects to being sniffed. So she tends to growl when other dogs get too close. This isn't a problem when the other dogs are on the leash too, but can be tricky if they aren't. We've not had any significant issues yet, but I suspect it may be a matter of time. For now I'm using the command "leave it" to try to discourage her from growling (and also from chasing squirrels).
I weighed Ruby on the scales today and it said she was 18.4 lbs. I'm not telling you how heavy I am.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
And Doggy Makes Five
Little Starlet returned to school today. Deep Thought started her new school last Thursday. My house has returned to child-free blissfulness. Of course, since last blog entry we have acquired a new dog, so there is really another child to deal with. Dog is called Ruby. She is a rather petite English Cocker Spaniel, currently wearing a very un-spanielly short hair cut, courtesy of Doggy Protective Services (the nonprofit from which we adopted her). See photo to assess general cuteness.
The good thing is that I am now walking Ruby a couple of times a day. She does have quite little legs, and it is rather hot just now in the Bay Area, so our walks are of limited duration - about 45 minutes is the most she can manage, though at a fairly brisk trot. I guess that counts as exercise, though not as much exercise as I was managing pre-dog!
The bad thing is that I feel the need to hang out at home more to keep her company, so I'm nibbling. Mind you, the evenings are the worst and I can hardly blame that on Ruby. Last night it was some chocolate, a yoghurt and a few crisps.
The good thing is that her presence is preventing me taking in quite so many coffee shops - I'm not quite ready yet to tie her up outside while I go in to make my order, though there are many coffee shops with patio areas so, when I have overcome said reticence, I am sure that we shall be contributing to the local eatery economy in the usual way.
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