results so far

I've been doing well on the new program.--for example, 
Friday bike ride,
Sat weights plus swimming,
Sunday 1 1/2 hour bike ride with Seymour-
took monday off,
Tuesday:  weights work out plus some leisurely swimming in a bathwater warm pool-(heaven)
Wed:  hours walk through the glorious Fall morning weather.
today: bike ride
and
Friday night contra Dancing!!!!! yeah baby!
I think I'm going to get some in line skates next to add another level of play to the activities list
the 2 guiding principles here are 1: this has to be for the rest of my days--and thus 2:  it better be fun--or I won't be able to keep it up!
The REALLY good news is the scale is down a bit--maybe 2 pounds over a couple of weeks--but my MEASUREMENTS are down as well. 2 whole inches off my hips already! according to the body fat calculators that means I have lost 8 pounds of fat and gained 6 pounds of muscle.  pretty cool.

I should probably also say that I have totally cut out grains and sugar--but I've done that before without seeing much happen--but the combination of that plus the exercise is making the difference I think.  also got a new thyroid prescription and added some herbal adrenal support--so..  the gestalt of it is working well--and I feel fantastic! yippee!!!

so far

I have been doing well --about a week and a half into new exercise program--I have taken Thursdays as my day off and have biked or walked  or lifted ( or DANCED) every day,  not up to time or speed yet but just trying to show up everyday I've promised myself to.   found a great weight room at one of the rec centers that is close by--and they have an super indoor pool as well so--I did my lifting routine and then hung out in the pool for awhile as a treat.  ( two pools actually --an one is a big family pool with a big twisting slide--what a hoot!)

I'm trying to make the routine as FUN as possible.  if I have to do this for the rest of my life, it CANNOT feel like work!  Luckily--I do love to lift--makes me feel like a bad-ass! 

now off to ride my bike in the beautiful fall weather.  and TOMORROW I'm going Dancing!

Exercise

I bought  a bike yesterday!!!!!

I just finished ready a wonderful ( though scary in a way) book called "younger next year, for women" about the need to exercise 6 days a week basically...to keep telling your cells that you are alive and want to stay that way!

 SIX DAYS A WEEK!!!... 4 days of doing something for 45min to an hour ( thats minimum you can go longer if you can and want to)  that makes you sweat ( Zumba would qualify wouldn't it Annie?  I may look for a class here!!!), and 2 days lifting weights.

the four days should mix it up and be something you like--so some days a walk or a hike, some days an aerobics class, or an evening square dancing or....whatever.   hence the bike!

I've always liked the IDEA of bike riding- zooming around in the beauty of nature etc etc but usually hated the real deal--because I was so uncomfortable the whole time.  WELL.. found out yesterday I have never ridden  a bike that FITS me!! (  plus--ridden what they call a "comfort" bike--with the handle bars much HIGHER than the seat so you just sit up straight and don't have to lean over and put pressure on your back and shoulders ( not to mention those oh-so-delicate lady parts)  I am  so not interested in acheiving aerodynamic posture of a racer to gain a half second on one's opponent!!!LOL  I just wanna have fu-un!

I also joined  the rec center...2 miles tops from my house ( so I can bike there!) with a nice weight room and an indoor pool.

of course--I was gonna take my first bike ride this morning and it's cold and threatening rain!  so should I go swim or lift instead? hmmm