The Feel Good Effect of the Sun

The Feel Good Effect of the Sun.

I keep pondering the thoughts of why now; why this time does becoming physically fit feels so much better. Why do I know deep down this time it truly is going to work. This is the conclusion I have come up with.

Back during the winter I moved my computer and later I set up a new office in the sunroom of our home. I started using the sunroom back during the winter. I did notice that this past winter I was not plagued with SAD “Seasonal Affective Disorder” that I sometimes would get during the winter. Matter of fact I loved sitting in the sunroom and could not get enough of the sunlight coming in to the room. Hence I moved my whole office and took over the sunroom as my space.

I started looking up information on the benefits of natural sunlight and here is some of the information I have found.

Sunlight triggers an increase in the feel-good brain chemical serotonin.

Serotonin lifts your mood and wards off depression.

I know that now when I am out walking in the fresh air and sunlight I love how I feel. It is something I have not experienced since I was a young child running and playing out side. It is a great feeling and right now I am craving going out walking in the sun.

My Week In Review.

This past week has been a great one in review. I have been able to keep my eating habits under control and I have kept my walking routine up. I truly feel good about all the effort that I have been able to put forth.

On Wednesday the children and I were able to exercise three laps around the hiking trail. We were to go again after Wednesday night Bible class, but a storm came and it was not possible.

On Thursday my daughter and made four laps around the park and by the evening I had a blister. This is not good. I really think it is my socks rather than my shoes. So I am making sure the socks are fitting me well. The health of my feet are very important.

On Friday my husband wakes me up and he wants to go walking with us first thing in the morning before going to work. This is a pleasant and good surprise to me. It was the perfect morning to walk. Driving to the trails we see several of the men that he went to school with out walking and biking at 7:30am. He was surprised and I think it made him think that it is important to keep up with your health. We are not young anymore he is 50 and I am 47. We need to keep this routine up.

Then this morning 7:30am the whole family was out the door and we walked and jogged as a family. It feels good that as a family unit we are working together. I will lose this unwanted weight. I will become healthy.

So if I am counting miles I have logged about 27 miles this week. I feel great about this achievement.

Why Does This Time Feel Different?

I am trying to determine what exactly is the difference this time in trying to establish an exercise routine compared to all the other times I have started and stopped. I am guessing it has to do with an article that I read a while back. It was about habits. Basically it said that it takes three weeks of doing something consistently to establish a habit. I really thought about this concept, and I thought if you can establish a bad habit in three weeks why no establish a good habit in three weeks. I knew that I could try something with the idea of three weeks and try it. So I did and during the winter I started riding my bike every day, even if it was just for 10 min. and I did it faithfully for three weeks. By the end of the three weeks it was easy to take the time to do it. I increased my time from ten minutes to twenty minutes. Then when the weather got nice I kept thinking of walking out in the fresh air and the idea became appealing. So the idea of doing something appealing is a lot easier to grasp than doing something unappealing. I am trying real hard not to lose faith that I can become a healthy person. I do have a doctor’s appointment on the 31st of July. I know what I weighed back on July 1^st my last appointment. I am excited to see if I have lost any weight or not.

The Exercise Is Becoming Addictive.

The exercise is becoming addictive. My friend who I normally walk with called this morning and she had three friends that wanted to go walking with us at nine am. I do have to say that two of her friends are very fit and bike ten or more miles a day. I managed to go two rounds this morning. This is my personal best for that early in the day. YEAH

We have already gone again today so we have a total of three rounds on the trails so far. I feel invigorated and I like how I feel after I have completed the trail. If the weather holds out I would like to go again after the sun starts to set.

Work has not totally gone to the sidelines. I did have a customer today that I had to get a cruise quote for but have not heard from her since I left her a message on her phone.
I also have been applying for everything that I feel I am qualified for.

I have started trying to plan a head on my meals. I have always done this to some degree, but with the cost of gas I only want to have to go shopping once in a week. This will take some planning on my part but I feel it is a very do able task. I just have to be more focused and plan my shopping trips better.

Disappointing Weekend

The weekend was not the greatest for my exercise routine. On Saturday we only managed to get in one mile. We were not able to go to the park trails so we walked in the woods and along the sidewalk. The uneven ground gave me terrible knee pain. I will no be doing that again. Even with all the walking I have been doing on the paved trails I haven’t experienced knee pain.

So Sunday afternoon Dan, the children and myself went for a slow walk at the park to test my knee and it did not hurt. Then last night after evening worship services we went back to the park to take a little more vigorous walk.

The Exercise Continues.

Yesterday was really a great exercise day. Our morning started with the children and I walking the trail once. The weather was perfect. We were able to make our round before the midday heat.
I was also able to invite a friend who I have not see in at least a year. She was somewhat surprised in my weight loss. Made me smile when she notice.
Then in the after noon my normal walking buddy called and the kids and I went again. YEAH. I had done my twice a day and I was happy.
Well low and behold when my husband got home he wanted to go. So we went for are third trip around the trails. Sissy Lou and I did 6 miles yesterday. YEAH The is my personal best. I was feeling the muscle tightening by evening.

Today has not been as good. I had appointments first thing in the morning and they did not end till 4 pm. Well we tried to walk and the heat was to much. We made one mile and had to stop. We will go tonight when Dan gets home and the sun is down. It was nearly 98 today. Too hot to walk.

My schedule is working really well. Being able to know that I have a designated time to exercise has been life changing. Know that I have allotted time for me has been wonderful. I am worth the time. My health is worth the time. I need to take this time to be a healthy person.

Another Great Exercise Day

Already this morning the kids and I were up and out the door early to get in a morning walk. It is suppose to be a very hot day here today so I was glad to get my exercise in before the mid day heat sets in.

Yesterday I was out working in my yard when I hear a buzzing sound. It took me a little time to locate it and it was my Mountain Laural bush, it was covered with bees. It was a sight to see.
There were hundreds of these bees all over the bush. Very interesting.

Spontaneity

Spontaneity has never been part of my life.
I have always been the planner. Even as a child I would plan every thing out so I was never surprised and taken off guard.
Well as I have gotten older I have really tried to roll with the flow of the day and not panic if things do not go exactly as planned. It has gotten better since the kids are older too.
Last night supper was made the kids an I had eaten and we were waiting for Dan to get home from work when my friend called. I asked if she wanted to go for a walk, (me being spontaneous is huge). She of course was happy to go, so we went. I am so glad and I was able to take some really nice pictures too.
Yesterday ended up being a really great exercise
day. With the bike ride in the morning and
our evening walk last night I believe our mileage
for the day was around five or six miles.
I feel really good about that.

I Will MOVE My Body.

Today the kids and I loaded the bike rack on the car and we went biking. Actually I was very proud of my son. He helped me figure out how to attach the bike rack to the car, and he helped me load the bikes to the rack and we went biking.

No huge mileage but we went. We were able to make two and half rounds on the trail before we were tired. Actually Sissy Lou was the one to ask if we were finished or not. I forget that her little legs are not as long as mine so she is really peddling to keep up with us.

That actually is the longest bike ride I have taken in YEARS, and it felt good. The worst thing about the whole biking experience was loading the bikes. The rack is heavy and lifting the bikes is heavy. I could not have done it with out Son.

We had a good weekend. Dan took Son to work with him on Saturday and Sissy Lou and I had a girls day at home. On Sunday we went to Church and then spent the day at home preparing the kids room for the new school year that starts next month. We packed away last years curriculum and I now have to do inventory on what new books we need to buy and what classes we have recorded and what classes we need to record in the fall.

A good weekend and a good start to a new week. I will move my body, I want to be a healthy person, I will work on being a healthy person.

Summer Fun

Today was a beautiful day here and the kids could not wait to get out an play in the water. It was a lot of fun watching them play on their slip and slide. It gave me a lot of memories of when I was young playing on our homemade slip and slide. Lots of summer fun today.

Determination

I am determined that I am going to be in control of my health. I do not want to go into my old age already unhealthy.
Today I got up. I rallied the kids and off we went on our morning walk. We walked the whole trail once and then we walked the first half again. No huge feat, but we are increasing our miles. This is great and I feel better too.

I am determined to help with the money income. Losing my main source of income last month hurt. That was our play money. The money that paid for vacations and going out to eat. It also paid for those extra visits to the Dr. or unexpected visits to the er. I am determined to find another source of income.

I am determined to make healthy food choices. I pulled out the George Foreman grill and am trying to cook healthier. I am trying to cut the fat from the diet. Son is loving cooking on it.

I am determined to being a better person in general. I am trying to think before I speak. Trying not to speak in the heat of the moment. Trying to look at the bigger picture. Angry words can hurt for a long time.

I am determined to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

It Has Been A Good Day.

It really has been a good day. I received a lead for a cruise first thing this morning. So I spent the better part of the morning looking up prices and getting the customer their quote.
In the after noon my friend came over she too had gotten a lead and we worked on getting her quote out too.
Son went to work with his father and that gave Sissy and I a girls day to hang out and be together.
I feel pretty good after yesterdays colonoscopy. I was amazed how loopy the anesthesia made you feel even hours after it was over. I glad to crawl into bed last night.
I am planning to get back into my exercise routine tomorrow. It was interrupted with the prep and the colonoscopy yesterday. I can not believe I am even saying this but I have missed the daily walks, the past two days.
I spent so much time today looking up quotes for cruises I did not take the time to look for new opportunities posted on craigslist and monster.com
So once again I am looking at my schedule tomorrow and adjusting it accordingly to make up for what have missed today. Top of the list, exercise and job searching.

Reality TV

Several years ago I was speaking to a friend and she tells me that she was looking forward to the season finale of the Bachelor that night. I kind of snickered to myself, wondering how any one could get that wrapped up into a dating show.

Fast forward two years to yesterday and I am rushing around trying to get all of my work done so that I would not have anything interrupt me when the "Bachelorette season finale was on"
Oh how my opinion has changed in the last two years.

I can not explain how I became so emotionally invested in whether DeAnna picked Jason or Jesse. Oh how my heart sunk when Jason got down on one knee and DeAnna had to tell her she was "in love" with Jesse. Then on the after show when Jason said he was happy for DeAnna, my heart melted. Jason was just such a good guy through out the whole show. I hope he finds the right person to "complete his family."

As for DeAnna and Jesse I do hope they are very happy for a life time.

Now I am in Reality TV withdrawal. One of the things I do like about reality tv is that there is a conclusion and it does not drag on for years on end. But what I dislike about reality tv is it end quickly..

Nice Family Weekend.

We had a really nice holiday weekend. Nothing exciting but it was just nice being together as a family. Dan had to work on Saturday but was home early. I spent a good portion of the weekend mowing the apple orchard while J and Dan trimmed the apple trees. This was a much needed chore that we had been putting off. It looks so nice now that it is done.
The picture are two that I took this spring when our flowers were just blooming.

My View through a Lens

For Christmas this past year Dan and the kids got me a new digital camera. I have to say that I have loved this camera. I love the instant satisfaction of being able to see the item you are shooting. I have found myself looking at things differently. Even bugs look interesting through the camera lens.

Cherries From our Orchard

This has been an incredible year for our
cherries. They were so pretty I had to take pictures of them.
Dan and the kids spent one whole weekend picking them

I do have to say that the kids were eating them as fast as they could.

Now I have to find some good cherry recipes to make for my family.

My Close Encounter with a Turkey

Today is the fourth of July and when I went out side I found this feathered fellow
hanging around in my back yard. My cat found him interesting.
The turkey had no fear of me and came very close to me.

Happy 4th of July

Today is the 4th of July and picnics and fireworks are in our plans.
Well we hope they are in our plans.
So far today it has rained and the sun is not shining, yet.
Just because one makes plans does not mean that plans will go off with out a hitch.

Yesterday my plan was to take my 8 year old to see the movie Kit Kittredge. We arrive at the theater and the girls are giddy with excitement only to find out that Kit is not at this theater. "POP" that is the sound of the girls bubble being broke. Flexibility, that is what is running through my mind we have to be flexible. Ok, well what else is playing that has not ALREADY started. So our choices were Kungfu Panda or Hancock. Well lets see, I am NOT paying to see Kungfu Panda, so we went to see Hancock. Not exactly a great little girls movie, to much swearing but the story was really good. And I have to say I really like Will Smith as an actor. I had never been to one of his movies and he is a really good actor.

So it is now the 4th of July and it is raining and the sun is not shining. We have no idea if the picnic and fireworks will take place but we will be ok. We will be flexible and roll with the punches and enjoy this day off with our family.

Happy 4th of July.

A Big Day for Eight Year Old Little Girls

Well today is an exciting day in our house. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl is at the local theater and we are going to see it. Sissy Lou is thrilled and can hardly contain her excitement about getting to see the movie. We are taking her cousin with us. It will be a girls day. I asked Boo if he wanted to go but he couldn't say NO fast enough. LOL He was up at 6:30 a.m. and off to work with dad with a smile on his face. Not sure if the smile was because he was going to work or not going to see the girls movie.

It is raining this morning I hope it stops so I can keep up my daily walks. I have actually started looking forward to them. Never thought I would be saying that about exercise.

Sissy Lou saw a traumatic sight yesterday. While out on the deck petting her cat she saw a large wild cat of some kind. Our cat "Mirty" took off after the wild cat and then the wild cat turned and chased Mirty into the woods. Sissy Lou screamed in terror, I did not see the wild cat but the fear on Sissy's face was real and we need to be careful when out side.
It was less than a month ago that we had the fox hanging around the house.
The joys of living in the woods.

A New Month, a New Challenge

So since 2006 I have been working from home as an on-line digital proofreader. This was a great job. It allowed me to be home with the kids, work when needed and be a parent.
I truly loved the flexibility of this job. Sad to say all good thing must come to an end.
I was really sad to hear the project had been completed.

My search for another position has really been stepped up a notch. I still am taking calls for Cruises, but this really is the slow time of year and not much is happening on that front.
I have set a goal of searching and applying every day for jobs that I feel qualified for.

Exercise
I really have decided to make myself get up and move. I need to make my health a priority. This is day seven and I have walked 2 to 3 miles each day. For most that would be no big feat but for me that is a real effort. It is so much easier with the kids encouraging me and walking right along with me.

Doctors
Well today was my follow up the Dr. after my week stay in the hospital last month for a diverticulitis attack. Sad to say I am having another attack and the light has just now come on as to what has set me off.
For many years Dan has told me I need to eat more cereal so I have more fiber in my diet. Being lactose intolerant eating cereal is no joy. So I bought Oatmeal square. They tasted great and I loved snacking on them. But with in a week I was in the hospital with an attack. Silly me it never dawned on me that it was the cereal. Well last week I tried raisin bran. With in two days my pain was back and I knew I was starting to have a diverticulitis attack. I went today to see the Dr. and I am now again on medicine and I am set up for a colonoscopy next Wednesday. I am not looking forward to the procedure but I need to know what is going on.