COOKIES! discussion

I baked cookies for the YMCA staff last week to mark my first month of my GoFit! membership. (For those of you who don't know, I am blogging about this on 2 other groups I moderate, Runs with Scissors and Perspective Plus, and in Book Addicts, of which I am a member.) I took them Comfort Cookies to much delight. I have been going 3 days per week, and I have been managing 10-15 minutes on the tread mill for 1 of those days. The other 2, I do open lap swim and take an Aquatic Tai Chi class.

For the last 2 weeks, I have managed to swim 1/4 mile both days (this means I have to swim up and down the pool 22 lengths(11 laps.
On Thursday of this week (5/6/10) I swam 1/2 mile, or 44 lengths(22 laps). Needless to say, I am proud of myself.

I have also just gotten my hands on Cherry Extract. I had to order it from McCormick directly since it is not sold in my area, but I am currently writing recipes and looking at some old ones to see if I can improve them with it. I'll keep you all posted on both fronts.

Kim wrote: "I baked cookies for the YMCA staff last week to mark my first month of my GoFit! membership. (For those of you who don't know, I am blogging about this on 2 other groups I moderate, Runs with Sciss..."

Kim wrote: "I baked cookies for the YMCA staff last week to mark my first month of my GoFit! membership. (For those of you who don't know, I am blogging about this on 2 other groups I moderate, Runs with Sciss..."

Kim that is fantastic! I am very proud of you too! :)
I just started using a trainer recently - I feel so much better when I exercise, do you notice how you mentally feel better after your work outs? It increases the feel good hormones in the brain. Keep us posted on the Cherry Extract.....

Sorry, I haven't posted anything in awhile. I'm trying to lose a few and cookies won't help - ha! Take care.

How is your cooking coming along Joy? I didn't know you can bake?

I actually like to bake and really enjoy it. But my husband doesn't have a sweet tooth so I don't bake very often. We have a fairly new stove that has a convection bake option and I like to use that.

I just wanted to update any and all of you who may be curious as to how my exercise program is going. I swam a 1/2 mile last Friday and again yesterday. I have been swimming 1/4 miles for several weeks and this Wed. I ran out of time before my Tai Chi class started, so I did 2 extra laps yesterday to make up for it. My free program will end on June 30. I have applied for a scholarship for assistance. I will let you all know how it goes.

I GOT MY SCHOLARSHIP! I can now stay at the Y and continue my progress. All along, I have shied away from having any goals, lest I not reach them and then with my nature, would beat myself up about it. I have a goal now. I want to swim 1 mile before the end of the year. I did a 1/4 mile in under 25 minutes on Wednesday, and I can do a 1/2 mile in under 45 minutes, so I belive this is attainable. (A full mile is 44 laps or 88 lengths of the pool.)

I will be working hard on this, so please forgive me if my posts fall behind.

Go for it, Kim! Those are great goals for a great reason! Good luck!

Thank you. I will try my best to keep you all informed.

I just came from my doctors appointment and I couldn't wait to go to the library tomorrow and post then, so I stopped by on my way home.




THE SCALE WORKED! IT WORKED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE 7 YEARS I HAVE BEEN GOING THERE! I NOW WEIGH: DRUMROLL PLEASE...........

334!

I don't know my starting weight,but the scale only goes up to 350, so even with room for error, I have still lost weight!

(I also have tennis elbow (!) and I don't play tennis, but I have a wrap brace and it will go away on it's own.)

WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):)

You go girl!!! Down is the right direction! Be proud of yourself and the hard work! :)

Congratulations!

OMG! That is SSOOOOOOOOOO awesome! I am so proud of you, and happy to! The fairy godfathers and the cross-dressing spawnlette all cheer you and send HUGGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats Kim - sorry I have been out of touch, just checking in and saw your good news, I am very happy for you! - that is a great accomplishment - and I am looking forward to more good news from you! Go Kim Go!

So, a recent set of events has turned my week upside down. Long story short, I either pulled a groin muscle and/or had a cyst burst. I have been in a lot of pain and even went to an Urgent Care center Sunday morning. The doctor made an educated guess, told me if it got worse to the ER, and said they would "tear up the bill", which since I don't have insurance, is a nice idea.

[Side note, I am not a pain pill taker unless I have to, so going to an Urgent Care or ER for me is HUGE. (The only ER visit I have ever had for myself was when I sprained my ankle in 7th grade.) Anyone who knows me, knows that if I take an Advil or the like, it must be really bad.:]

I am much better today and am closer to normal than I was a few days ago. Last week, I was proud of myself, because I swam 2 1/2 miles, for the first time grand total of 1 mile for the week.

This week, classes and swimming are on hold until I am sure I am better. I will be taking it slowly next week with 1/4 miles to be sure.


From 8/23-9/6 2010, the pool at my Y will close for draining and repairs, so no swimming. My Tai Chi instructor does hold classes 2 other days/week at another nearby Y, so I may try to go to those during this time.

Kim wrote: "So, a recent set of events has turned my week upside down. Long story short, I either pulled a groin muscle and/or had a cyst burst. I have been in a lot of pain and even went to an Urgent Care ce..."

Sorry to hear this! Hang in there. We're rooting for you!

Thanks. I am doing much beter now and I even had a tenanus shot (I am VERY needle phobic) without tears or a freak out today. I am very proud of myself.

O.K., so I recovered from the injury in time to swim for one week before they shut down the pool for 2 weeks to drain, clean and repair it. So, I did 2 days of strength training on my usual pool days. I managed to do quite well, including doing 100 ab crunches, pushing 112.5 lbs. and on the same day did 100 leg presses for the first time as well.

Yesterday was my first chance to swim. After not being in the pool for 2 weeks I did....*drum roll please*.....



a 1/2 mile! The kid's still got it!

Last week, for the second time, I did a whole mile, spread out with a 1/2 mile on Wed. and a 1/2 mile on Fri.


So you know how I keep saying that I want to reach a mile by Christmas? And that I wanted to reach 3/4 of a mile before the end of October?

Well.......

I DID A 3/4 MILE YESTERDAY! I am so proud of myself, I could explode (which would be pretty gross)!

I started swimming at 1:10 p.m. and finished by 2:00! Not bad for my first time!

1 mile, here I come!

I had so much happening last week that I forgot to post.


I DID A MILE! Yes, last Wednesday, 10/13/10, I did my first mile. It took me about an 1 hour and 20 minutes, with rest breaks for breathing and stretching. (A mile is 88 lengths or 44 laps for those of you who don't know.)

Now my new goal is to work on making a 3/4 mile my normal set instead of a 1/2 mile.

Yay!

Well, have I been lax in not updating! A week after I did my mile, we found out that our Aqua Tai Chi class was ending due to new class requirements set down by the Y. As of Halloween, classes must have at least 8 participants to be a class.

We were told that we could meet as a volunteer group if we wished, so I became the volunteer instructor. After the first week, I lost 1 member because she and another member who drove her, had a fight that was a long time in coming. They decided on not being friends. As of this week, the class is officially canceled as the Y is closing the pool for 2 hours a day (1 hour in the morning and 1 in the afternoon on the days when we normally would have had class.)

I can still take the same class with the same instructor at another nearby Y, but with gas prices going up, I have to decide where and when I am going. Do I give up 1 day of swimming for 1 day of Tai Chi, or do I give up Tai Chi and keep swimming?


I don't know what I am going to do just yet. I am leaning to trying the class at the other Y just to see how it goes, and then making up my mind. I mean I know the class, it is time and distance management that I am concerned with.

Hello, and Happy New Year. Well, this year is off with a bang. My mom will be losing her job by years end due to her boss "retiring" and a restructuring of her company. All fancy talk for getting rid of the older workers in favor of younger ones. I am still swimming and am trying to get past a 1/2 mile at a time. I hope to have the 3/4 mile in hand by Summer.

Last week, I was only able go on Friday as I had a one-day job on Wednesday. I not only manged to do a 3/4 mile (66 lengths) I was able to go 4 more for a total of 70! I am very proud. Yesterday on the other hand....well read on.

O.K. I have a "no sh*t there I was story . I went swimming on Thursday this week since Wednesday's weather made it difficult to get out of my driveway (snow plow junk at the foot of it from the side street that is catty-corner to mine). So, no big deal. I did my 1/2 mile and went again yesterday. Here in lies the story. I do 50 lengths. Cool.

I go back to back to the shower room bathroom stall to pee and get ready to go to the shower to rinse off. Upon coming out of the stall, I see that my underwear is missing! I put it on the drying room bench like I have for months and it is gone. I went to my locker to see if I had accidentally put it in there, but I hadn't. I even went back to the pool area to see if it had stuck to my towel or something. Nope. Somebody took my panties.

I checked with lost and found but no one turned them in as of yesterday. I know I have found things like lotion and brushes and that that I have turned in, but not clothing in the drying room. Now, for those of you who don't know, I have to go through the drying room, then the showers to get to the pool. The stated policy is to dry off in this area before going into the carpeted locker room. Well, from now on, I am going to keep my things locked up and take them back into the room to change.

Sheesh! If somebody needed my size 14's that badly, all they had to do was ask!

I have some pretty neat news. I have been interviewed by the YMCA for a testimonial regarding my experiences there. I will be in the newsletter and on the website. It will also appear in the new literature for the Strong Kids program.

Cool, huh?

Kim wrote: "I have some pretty neat news. I have been interviewed by the YMCA for a testimonial regarding my experiences there. I will be in the newsletter and on the website. It will also appear in the new li..."

Very cool indeed!

I even let them take my picture yesterday, and I HATE that! See, I am improving....

I did not swim last week due a mysterious rash that does not hurt or itch.

Well, yesterday was my normal visit to the doctor (meaning I have to go around every 3-4 months for them to monitor my thyroid). Some the whoo has been taken out of my hoo. Remember back in July when I was so excited that the scale moved? Well, I found out yesterday that that was a fluke. The scale I was on, has been replaced by a digital scale that goes up to 500lbs. instead of the slide scales that only go up to 350lbs. I now have a accurate base line on my weight, and yes, I know since we didn't have one to begin with, that this is not necessarily the end all or be all, but I came in at 358 lbs. which is a lot more that what I thought I was back in July. I am very disappointed right now and in tears. I thought I was further along than I was and yes, as it was pointed out just now by the boyfriend, now I have a base line, and I have been improving.

So, I guess I just need to forget about the numbers and just concentrate on what I am doing in the pool and focus on those numbers. That way, I will be able to measure my progress much better.

As for the rash, it is contact dermatitis most likely from the soap at the Y that they provide in the dispenser in the shower room. So, I just have to not use that when I rinse off and it will go away on it's own.

Today, I swim.

Last Wed. I swam a 1/2 mile, but could not get out of my house due to a 6 1/2 foot snow drift on Fri.

Yesterday, I did a 1/2 mile + 6 more lengths for a total of 50. I am trying to get my body used to that so the 3/4 mile becomes natural.

Tip: Do not sneak up on people in a pool while they are on their back. This happened to me yesterday as one of the regulars I swim with came over to give me a compliment. After scaring the bajoopies out of me, she wanted to tell me that I am no longer making "waves" when I swim.

That is cool to know. It means that 1) I have lost weight so my displacement is less and 2) I am getting stronger as a swimmer, therefore more efficient.

Cool!

I have had a whirl-wind week this week. Sunday, 3/6, my best friend Kelley's dad lost his fight with liver cancer. Tuesday, 3/8 I turned 37, on 3/9 I threw my left shoulder out (old injury I suffered as a kid when I fell off a high balance beam when I was 8), 3/10 celebrated my other best friend Connie's b-day, and made 6 dozen comfort cookies (the same day, in 1 hour mind), went to the showing,and then went to the funeral yesterday during a snow storm.

I also swam 3/4 mile on Wed.,which may have led to the shoulder getting worse after it started making "noise" on Monday.

I finished my day yesterday by having a nice glass of dark chocolate milk instead of the Baileys I really wanted. (Out of the later.)

Well, this week marked 1 year since I started this journey. I began on March 24, 2010 with 8 1/2 minutes on an elliptical that got away from me. Sunday will mark my first time taking the water class that lead me to the pool and swimming.

It is hard to believe that I have gotten this far. When I started, I figured that I would barely last 1 month, let alone the 3 the program was offered. I never thought that I would want to stay when it was all over. I have learned so much about myself in this last year and I keep learning even more.

This week, I did a respectable 3/4 mile in total, which I feel was truly well done on my part since I am still recovering from the shoulder injury and I do use that quite a lot in the pool.

Next week, I go back to working on 3/4 mile at a time.

Last week, I only did a 3/4 mile is total again. On Friday, I took Narzain to work due his car having to go to he shop. I only swam a 1/4 mile, because,and I do not know why, I became exhausted at length 23. I just couldn't work past it.

Yesterday, I took a spill. I fell in the street while walking to Narzain's car (all fixed. It was a cheap and quick fix of a brake line clip). It was very windy and rainy yesterday and I was busy looking at a branch that was in my path and did not see a ping-pong ball sized piece of same branch also in my way. Down I went. My right leg is sore and bruised. I am generally fine today. I fell on my leg so no hitting of the head or anything like that, no blood either.

I do not know what this will do to my swimming tomorrow.

For the second time in my life, I swam a continuous mile yesterday (4/20/11).

At the time, I was not proud of myself because my motivation was stress, but now I am proud. Who cares why I did it? I DID IT! WHEEEEE!

Kim wrote: "For the second time in my life, I swam a continuous mile yesterday (4/20/11).

At the time, I was not proud of myself because my motivation was stress, but now I am proud. Who cares why I did it? I..."

Hooray for you! Very good!

Thank you. I just hope that with all the up coming stress I will be encountering in the next 2 weeks or so, I don't set the pool on fire with how fast I swim!

So, yesterday I get in the pool with only one other person. No prob, we share the pool often. Suddenly, there is another swimmer and an older Asian couple who share a lane since she exercises (which she is NOT supposed to do during lap swim) and he sort of swims/exercises at the other end. Normally, this does not bother me too much, mildly annoys me that rules are not being enforced, but not usually a problem.

Here comes the problem. Some older guy, a Jack LaLaine type, gets in the pool between me and the woman on my left in the space BETWEEN (not the lane, the space) and starts swimming! And the lifeguard just sits there. After trying to do a lap, I asked the guard "How is this safe?" So, he spoke to the new guy and he got out, and stared down the pool, just like he was daring somebody to get out so he could swim. I almost did, and then I thought "The *bleep* with that! I was here first and I'm swimming!"

And I did. I did a 1/2 mile in 35 minutes. The first guy got out, the new guy got in,and just as I was leaving, a new swimmer took over my lane. I did complain to the desk and to the new aquatics director. My complaint was that it's only a 4 lane pool, and if you have people not following the posted rules, and the pool get busy, they should be asked to leave before a patron has too complain. (According to the lifeguards I have asked, the branch manager does not want to make the patrons mad, so it is only handled when someone complains or is bothered)so the lifeguards have laughable authority. Yesterday, I was told that this may change.


On the other hand, I got a phone call last night from my library to tell me that I had won a prize in the summer reading program. I won 2 tickets to the August 13 Browns vs. Packers pre-season game! :) Not only that, but I get to be an honorary Summer Reading American Flag holder during the National Anthem. I will get to be on the field! I am huge Browns/Indians fan, so this is really cool!

I am so excited, I have been jumping up and down all morning.

Since my last post, much as happened. The Brown's game was a blast and I walked the entire field twice. Once for practice and once for the event.

In January of this year, I twisted my left knee while trying to help my grandma up off of the floor (She is fine and was fine during the entire incident). I have been helping one of my best friends with her wedding which will be this June. I am making her bridal party gifts,making her and the party's bouquets, and the lapel flowers for the men out of silk. I decided that I would like a new dress for the wedding and found a lovely clearance item in a catalog. It was one size smaller than I normally wear, 5x as opposed to 6x. I too a gamble and ordered it anyway. Not only does it fit, it was too big and is being taken in as we speak. I am very happy.

I had a doctors appointment on Monday. All of my numbers are good. My weight did not change, but I am extremely fine with that. I figure I am a plateau right now and that is fine. I may go in the inches department for a while and gain more muscle. With the knee still healing, I am not as fast or doing as much as I would like, but I am still doing something. I will faster and I will get to my 3/4 mile goal when I get there. I am fine with that. I figure as long as I am not gaining weight, it's good.

Well, so much has happened since my last post! Jeesh! I am really terrible at this,so again, apologies. I am 3 lbs. away from losing 30 lbs. in 2 years. My last appointment with the doctor, I came in at 351, which is about 7 lbs. less than I was in February. Whoo to the hoo!

I am working on 3 new recipes and hope to bake and post them soon. If it would just stop being so bloody hot!

Hoo-boy! do I need to keep up this thread! I have had a lot happen since this post. (BAD moderator!) I have not lost the 3 lbs. I wanted, but after the holidays I had not gained any weight either and at my last dr. visit,I had lost a pound. I have set a goal of 3 lbs. by August 12 as that is my next appointment, but I feel failure is most likely.

On the exercise front, I am doing much better.

For the last 3 weeks, I have been managing 50 lengths at a time, which means that I have been swimming 1 1/8 miles in the pool per week instead of my typical 1 mile per week.

Wednesday, the pool was 82, which is cold for an indoor pool, especially one that is normally 86 or so. It was a bit nippy for me, but I did my 1/2 mile anyway. I was too cold to do 50 lengths instead of 44, but I will make up of that today provided the pool is warmer and not too crowded.

I am still doing a 1 1/8 mile per week so I am very happy with myself. There were sudden changes in the pool as of Friday following a drowning on the East Side (far away from me) but the changes are Y wide and will allow my aquatic director to finally do what she has been wanting to do as far as safety measures are concerned. She has been told that the budget doesn't allow for _____ and to make do. Unfortunately a tragedy had to occur to "allow her to do her job" as she put it.

Yesterday, I did my 1/2 mile in 33.50 minutes. I did a total of 52 lengths in the time it takes me to 44 (the 1/2 mile) so in 40 minutes I added 8 lengths. Not too shabby.

Kim wrote: "Yesterday, I did my 1/2 mile in 33.50 minutes. I did a total of 52 lengths in the time it takes me to 44 (the 1/2 mile) so in 40 minutes I added 8 lengths. Not too shabby."

Very Good!

Thank you. I am proud of myself,which is still a new thing for me.

I am in the midst of a big project but I am still swimming. I am now going to a different Y location that has a bigger pool, (I am fed UP! with my original location. A story for another time.)so it is only 36 lengths to a 1/2 mile. Last week I did 50 lengths in 40 minutes (I was TICKED OFF!). This week I did 42 both days which in the new pool is equal to my 50 lengths in the old pool.

I had a big problem with the Y I have been going to and it has led me to another location. This one has designated areas for aqua exercise and for swimming. This pool is competition length, so it is 25 yards long, vs. the 20 yards I have been swimming. This means a half mile is 36 lengths and a mile is 72. I have been averaging 42 lengths (because I can't do add or subtract correctly) thinking I was doing a mile and and 1/8 (I need to do 46 at a time) but still not bad for my first 2 weeks.

The pool has been closed since last week to replace the heater, so I will not be able to swim until this Friday,but that is fine.


So, with the project done, I am going to focus on swimming and getting to the 3/4 mile by the end of December. I think I can do it, and I am over due for a continuous mile, but I am not going to push that idea too far since I have to get used to a new pool length.

I now have to find a new pool yet again! The new one needs a new heater and the new estimate on repairs is now 2-3 weeks. ARRRRRGH! I will be trying yet another new location tomorrow and the pool is the same size as the old one, and is only open for 1 hour during the time I'm available so his will be tight, but I think I can do it.


It's enough to give one a complex.

I have been able to achieve a 3/4 mile in the new pool and did so shortly after the repairs were finished. I almost did a mile on Dec. 27, 2013, and was 8 lengths shy of it before they closed the pool down for safety reasons. I was interviewed yesterday for local radio when I got to the pool and then proceeded to do a mile (36 laps, 72 lengths) for a grand total of 1 3/4 miles on the week! Then I went home a wrote a new recipe, so all in all a good day.

I went to the doctor yesterday for my usual 3 month check in. I now weigh 348lbss., which means I lost 2 lbs. since December. It also means that for the first time in years I am now below 350lbs. It is not a lot, but I it a big deal to me.

So yesterday, I forgot my towel, I had to turn around half way to the Y and go home to get it. So, I am now late, and I am meeting a friend at 2(ish) so I am not happy with myself.


I did my 3/4 mile and made it to the place before 2.


I got into the pool about 20 minutes later than normal. I was out of the pool at my normal time.

I did a 3/4 mile in just over a half hour.

That is the fastest I have gone yet.

Yesterday, April 16, 2014, I did 1 1/2 miles in one go. I only stopped once and that was to sneeze. I was trying to make up for not being able to swim tomorrow since I have plans. Proud and tired.