Status Check

First of all, I nearly panicked this morning. I started my day as usual - by firing up the Wii.

Only nothing happened.

Now, I've been gone for 4 days and I knew it was working before I left. I hit every button, pulled the plug and replugged, you name it.

Then I asked Billy to look at it for me. In reality I thought he'd confess that he did something accidentally to it while I was gone - hit it with the vacuum or something - but he didn't. He even started working on it while I was at work. When I came home for lunch I tried the one last thing. I moved it to another plug.

Worked like a charm.

We didn't think of this before because the Wii, surround sound, television, satellite, and everything else is plugged into the same multi-outlet unit so it didn't seem reasonable that everything would work except that one thing.

But that was it. Apparently the middle two of the six outlets had gone bad.

So, with the crisis adverted, I went on about my afternoon and exercised tonight.

All of that to say nothing really.

The main point of all this was to check on my progress. I noted one day last week that I was on Day 490 of using the Wii. There were gaps, of course, but I'd had started using it 490 days ago.

On that day, I had logged 100 hours on the Wii itself and 223 and half hours of total activity. That averaged out to 27 minutes a day.

I think that's pretty cool. The guidelines are 30 minutes a day, about 3 days a week.

So, I'm on target.

When you think about all the days that I didn't get to exercise in the last 16ish months, I'm really rather proud of myself. It says to me that I am making the most of the opportunities when they present themselves.

All I have to do now is keep it up. Ramp it up a little. I know that I tend to slack off some in the heat of summer so today's cooler temperatures were very welcome. I even walked to a meeting today and started planning how many days next week I could walk to work and home again.

I'm still looking for something else to add to the mix. Apparently I need to stretch or something more before I jog because the last few times I've done it have resulted in a painful hip for a few days following.

I am still looking into the ballet but I want to wait until I can reasonably do all 6 weeks. I don't want to get started if I can't give it 100% attendance and effort.

Anyway. Things are looking good.

I'll keep you posted.

Thought for Today

From Denise Austin's newsletter this morning. Wish I had thought of it!


"The road to success has many tempting parking places and rest stops. Just keep going!"
- Denise

How Time Flies

I think this is the longest I've gone without an update. Or at least a note telling you why I haven't updated.

This has been a rough week in the Tanksley household. There was hip and back pain (mine) and a seizure week for Riley. I posted on my other blog under the influence of pain pills on Monday and just hoped for the best. On Wednesday night Riley was back home but was awake and pacing all night long. And I mean that literally. We were so exhausted by Thursday night that I went to bed at 8:30. All of the sudden it is Saturday.

With everything else going on I haven't monitored myself too well this week. That is not necessarily a bad thing since it indicates, at least to me, that I still have my priorities straight.

Family first.

But, I am trying to set a new goal. I think I need one. As I have said before, losing the weight was easy compared to maintaining it. My original goal was 53 pounds. I did hit that, once, and have continued to hover between 48 and 51. But just trying to lose a couple of pounds, while yes it has proved to be challenging, isn't really the goal I need.

On the flip side, I am no longer convinced that I need to hit my "ideal" weight either. My ideal weight is 64 pounds from where I started. Another 14 pounds away.

I honestly think that would be too small. I don't know why I say that except I really think it would be. I look at myself in the mirror and like what I see. Wouldn't mind seeing a little less but I am nothing if not reasonable.

I also know this would entail ramping up the exercise since I can see no way that I can eat less and still be relatively healthy. Your body does have certain needs that have to be met.

So, my first goal will be to determine my next goal. Then I can decide how to work towards it.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Stay tuned!

No Permanent Damage

OK, the verdict came in. I checked with the Wii on Monday - wanted to wait until after my mother-in-law had left the house and after enjoying a post-vacation weekend.

I did gain 2 pounds in the 9 days. Not bad. Especially considering all the factors working against me last week.

As of this morning I had lost 2.9 so I'm actually better off than when I left.

So, here is what I've learned: I can go enjoy myself. I was totally conscious of the choices I was making but I didn't obsess on it the whole time. I was able to have fun and still fall back on the new habits I've developed. I've also learned that I can get back on the program when needed.

I can allow myself the leeway I need, when I need it, and still maintain my healthier lifestyle while out of my regular environment. It may not sound like much but that really is a big deal for me. I tend to be a Type A personality and a feeling of control is a major component. We don't like when things get outside of our comfort zone and we don't feel like we can control the situation. Well, now I know I can.

That is worth almost as much as losing the 2.9 pounds!

I'll Take That To Go

Eating while traveling has to be my biggest challenge. I'm out of my routine. I don't perceive that I have as much control over my choices.

This vacation week has been a rough one. We've eaten dinner at 9:30 and 10 at night (normally doesn't happen past 6 PM) and I think I've eaten more french fries this week than in the last 6 months collectively.

On the plus side, I walked an awful lot. Especially the last two days. During tennis we sat for hours and hours at a time, but climbed a lot of stairs. Yesterday and today we walked miles and miles. Hopefully there will be some offset there.

I'm not looking forward to stepping on the scales this weekend and seeing the damage. But here's the thing. I can't beat myself up. If losing weight or maintaining a lifestyle seems to be a chore then it is work and work isn't fun. The occasional indulgence is needed and necessary.

I just can't make a habit of it.

Laugh If You Must

OK, I have never, EVER, pretended that coordination is one of my strengths. There is too much evidence to the contrary. Me and Dance, Dance Revolution resembles more the flailing of arms and legs than dancing, but I am trying. I tried gymnastics when I was growing up but that didn't last too long - I believe at the instructor's request, not mine.

But I am a dreamer. And I'm thinking about following a dream.

I always wanted to take dance when I was younger. All my friends seem to do it but I never did. I told my sister years ago that I wanted to find a ballet class - for adults. I think when she stopped laughing she realized I was serious.

I have found one. I think I will start the second week of September, after we get back from vacation.

I spoke to the instructor several years ago when we were both working on "Chicago" at the Natchez Little Theatre. She was the choreographer and ran the sound; I was the lighting technician. So we had some time to chat up in the booth. I told her about my dream and she let me know that I was not alone and she was actually surprised by how many adults had contacted her about holding a class.

I found out, second-hand via Facebook, that she is holding one right now and I am welcome to join it.

So I'm thinking about it. I keep saying that you have to surprise your body every now and then and try new things, work different muscle groups, stretch your limits. Maybe a ballet barre will be just what I need - for now.

And I can say I did it.

That is one of my favorite phrases.

Living Life, Learning Lessons

Sorry to the Random Thought readers but this one seemed to work for this blog as well.



When I was in the 6Th grade the President, Jimmy Carter I believe, started promoting a new fitness program for youth. Part of the program was a test at the end. You had to run a specified distance, throw a softball and hang from a chin bar (boys had to do pull ups).

I was fairly "sickly" (as the old folks would say) as a child. Sometimes going outside to play could very literally be a matter of life and death. I remember many times being rushed to the doctor after just a regular afternoon of being out.

So, the fitness test seemed to be pretty much out of the question for me.

Now, the rewards for all this "fitness" were patches. Not sure where you were supposed to put the patches but there was white for the third level, red for the second level and the Presidential medal for the top level. Your level was determined based on how fast you could run, how far you could throw and how long you could hang.

I really couldn't do any of the three.

And the prospects of achieving of these skills in a really short period of time were fairly nonexistent.

My 12 year old brain thought surely if my doctor explained to the teacher that I couldn't physically participate then I would be excused and there had to be patch for that.

Had to be.

That was 30 years ago. In today's society I probably would have been correct. Now everyone gets a reward just for participating. (Some of you may argue with me but you know deep down that I'm right.)

But my 12 year old brain didn't think it was fair to be "punished" for something that I couldn't do. It wasn't that I didn't want to or wasn't trying, I just couldn't.

To both my parents' credit, they agreed to let me "train". This had to be hard for them. I'm sure that every time Daddy and I went to the high school track for me to run 40 yards or we went out in the front yard to throw the softball they probably held their collective breaths. A parents' first instinct is to protect their child and those asthma attacks could sneak up almost without warning.

And inhalers for kids weren't invented yet.

Daddy and I worked for whatever time we had, maybe a month or so, and then the big day came.

And I did it.

I earned a white patch.

I doubt there were any extra seconds on the run or the hang and no extra inches on the softball throw, but I did meet the minimum requirements.

I had achieved what I didn't think I could.

This story occurred to me as I was jogging the other day.

Yes, I said it - jogging. She who couldn't run to the corner and back can almost run a mile and half now.

And I thought to myself, what if I'd been allowed to just get a patch for participating? What if Mom and Dad hadn't been willing to let me try? I'm sure one asthma attack would have put a stop that. What if I'd been willing to settle, to not push myself?

What are children learning today - those that don't get to keep score so no one loses, those who all get a reward no matter what they do or don't do? They may not ever learn to see what is on the other side, to see what all they are capable of, to know the real feeling of accomplishment.

And I think that's kind of sad. Everyone needs a goal. We need to be able to handle defeat and feel the pride of achievement. Because life is full of both. We all need to push ourselves a little and expand our boundaries and horizons. Not just always accept the situation on its face but work to do things better or differently. Challenge ourselves.

What is life without a challenge?

I hope I never find out.

Alphabet Soup

Some of the benefits of exercise

E Endorphins, which bring

X X-tra

E Energy for

R Reducing

C Calories and

I Increasing

S Self-

E Esteem


Robert Frost and Lord Byron I am not.

Have a great day!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I am the world's biggest pack rat. Huge! Billy has threatened, and actually tried, to get rid of some of my stuff when I'm not home. I came home one day and found a bunch of stuff out on the curb waiting for the trash pickup and went in the house and asked if we were moving.

That is what it looked like.

This time, it is by choice.

My closet has been the project of 2009. Its origin was the back porch of the house that was closed in. A single light bulb was added, shag carpet installed and paneling on the walls. Which is to say that it has not been updated, obviously, since the 70s.

So, demolition started in January. Billy likes to work on demolition projects during my busy season. Makes the time pass for him or something. The thought was that when I freed up I could help with the design and reconstruction. So I pulled all my clothes out of the closet and stacked them up around the guest bedroom (yes, my closet is in the guest bedroom. Houses built in 1893 did not come with closets) and there they have sat. This was an unusual year and my busy season didn't end in March but extended until July.

I have a lot of clothes. I'm a pack rat. I can give you the history behind just about every article of clothing and why I'm still holding on to it.

Until today.

My sister-in-law will need to sleep in that room when she comes to help out with the puppy-sitting when we go on vacation later this month (my mother-in-law sleeps in our room). There is MUCH to be done in the next two weeks.

So I bit the bullet. I took a long, hard look at the clothes.

Most of them are way too big now. Most of them are old - still in good condition, but dated.

Here is my second problem, and part of what leads into me being a pack rat. I hate to shop. Hate it. Have for most of my life.

Today I decided that the closet will be my incentive. I've worked very hard achieving a major accomplishment. I am going to have new, bright, clean closet and it is only fair that there are some new clothes in it. And if I get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit, and isn't worth having altered to fit (like my work suits are), then I have incentive to keep the weight off.

Because if I have to shop I only want to do it once.

Simple Steps to Live Stress Free

This was the Denise Austin newsletter this morning. I liked it and thought I would share. One of the tips is about rewarding yourself, but not with food.

I caught a little flak about my confession the other day. Emotional eating with a healthy snack like Cheerios rather than ice cream was viewed as not really being all that bad. Not much of a confession.

OK. The lesson there, I guess, is two-fold. One, try not to give into emotional eating at all. Use exercise or any one of the tips listed below to try and relieve the stress being caused by the situation. Two, keep relatively healthy snacks on hand so that if you do give in to the emotion and eat you can at least minimize the damage.

So, I was not proud of the act but I was proud that I have developed some better habits so that the snacks I have around are not just pure junk food.

Better?


Had a run-in with your boss or a fight with your sister - and can't stop thinking about it? Are you overloaded with projects at work and errands at home? Our lives are jam-packed with stress - and that can take a toll on our body and health. Long-term uncontrolled stress can cause chronic conditions like high blood pressure, headaches, and ulcers. Stress can also weaken your body's natural defenses so you're likely to get sick more often.

You don't have to live with stress! There are so many simple ways to cut stress and take back control of your life.

Say no!
If you don't have time for or can't realistically accomplish someone's request without straining yourself, do not agree to it. In most cases, people will understand that you need to put yourself first. If you can't say no to your boss, for example, try not to take on more than you know you can handle.

Set priorities.
We don't always have the luxury of saying no to daily tasks, so stay organized by making a list of everything you need to do. Prioritize your list so you can take care of the most vital items first.

Stay positive!
Stress is not inevitable; it's the way your body reacts to the situation you're in, so it's completely controllable. Keep yourself calm by maintaining a positive attitude. It helps to choose an inspiriting mantra that you can repeat to yourself or image that you can visualize.

Burn off your stress!
Go for a brisk walk or bike ride, or lift weights to let off some steam. Exercise causes the body to release endorphins - chemicals that help you feel better - which help reduce your stress level.

Practice deep breathing.
When we get stressed out, our breathing tends to speed up. So take a break and sit somewhere comfortable and quiet to focus on taking deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Playing soft music can enhance the calming effect.

Treat yourself!
If you had an unusually stressful day or just finished a big, stressful project, go ahead and reward yourself! Not with food, of course, but with something that will help you relax. How about a pedicure or massage, a long bubble bath, or a great book you can curl up with?

Reach out to others.
We can't do it all alone, so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. A co-worker or supervisor may be able to shed light on a work problem, while your spouse or kids can pitch in to help with household stresses. Even if you must take care of some task or problem yourself, it still helps to talk it over with a friend.

There's no reason to be bogged down by stress for another day. There are seven stress-busting strategies here - put one of them to work every day in the coming week!

No, go out and enjoy the weekend!