Weekend went well. Went to a BBQ/Party Friday night........FOOD EVERYWHERE! I did really good, though. I drank four bottles of water while there, had a hamburger, no bun. I did end up taking a couple bites of cream cheese pie off Steve's plate. Did plenty of dancing to burn it off, though....lol. Saturday morning was our hike. We went to a new area to try some new trails. The map showed the trails, but didn't show the elevations. We headed out on a trail that kept going up and up. I don't just mean an incline, I mean a climb. We kept thinking it was going to crest at the top of what we could see, only to find just before the top it would go around behind it and take us up farther on the next "mountain". A couple times we debated about going back, but decided to move ahead. It was a real workout as it was a real climb. We finally did get as high as it was going to take us. With relief, we knew we then only had down to go. Well, we decided that we liked the "up" better. Going down was quite treacherous at times. I can't believe how steep parts of it were. The side we came up on had a maintained trail, this one was not. There were lots of loose rocks and soil. At one point I lost my footing and went down. Fortunately I fell backwards and landed on my butt. I had a water bottle in one hand, so that hand was okay, but the other hand got messed up somewhat. (And yesterday I could feel it in my ankle.) We blamed it partially on the shoes I had on, as they are a pair of warn out sneakers. (I am headed out to get a pair of true hiking shoes next weekend.) So we continue on, and eventually my friend takes a fall, also. So now comes the embarrassingly honest part. There were three different places on this trail that became so steep that I literally sat down and slid my way a foot or two until I could get better footing. So at moments I was a bit nervous. However, we made it down and felt so good that we had done it. I would love to do that same trail again in reverse. I would rather climb the unmaintained part and go down the better part. By time I got home, I was sore in my shoulders and back from catching myself with my arms. I ended up climbing under a blanket and taking a nap. Yesterday, I didn't do much, but did take my two mile walk. I am including a picture from the hike. This was taken before we got to the top. Those are actually houses you see out there.

Last night was weigh-in. Down another pound. That makes a total of 18.2. But even more, I crossed the 200 pound barrier! I weighed in at 199.2. How wonderful would it be to think of never seeing the 200s again in my life? I am afraid to get too excited, though, because it's just barely under. Never know, next week could end up being my first gain week with the BL and I could see it again. But you know that it gives me even more reason to behave this next week! Also, it means making a doctor appointment for a physical. I told my fiancee that I would make the appointment once I got under 200, because I didn't want to have that on my physical. Now.....what are the odds his scale will be as kind? I figure my BL weigh-ins are always in the evenings, so if I can get an early appt with the doctor, that should help, right? Isn't it funny the little games we play to beat the scale?

On a different note, I got to see my granddaughter get her first award in front of her school yesterday. Principal's award. I still can't believe she is finishing up kindergarten this year!

Just want to share a good feeling. Tonight I worked later than planned, so decided instead of stopping at the gym I would come home and do my two miles. Usually I walk it at a fast pace, and sometimes try to run a little here and there, but don't get much of that in. Well, tonight I can say I ran half of it. Not all at once, in intervals. But that means I ran a total of about a mile. I was actually concerned that because I have been doing other kinds of workouts the last couple weeks, that the walk would feel like I had lost progress. Evidently, those other workouts were of the right kind to keep me up to par and then some. I find that the running doesn't better my time because when I walk between the runs, the walk is a bit slower than my fast walk as I catch my breath and let my heart rate slow a bit. But that's okay. I'm not worried about the time, but rather the increase of the workout. The road that I take has several "hills", so I made sure that everytime I came to an incline, I ran it. The very last one on my way back home was a challenge, especially being right at the end, but I did it. The whole experience felt wonderful! Now, here's hoping it wasn't a fluke.

David.......A hula hoe is a contraption that you use to scrape the ground to get up weeds. A few moments into it, and it's not a fun chore. I had never heard of one till living here. You would not believe how fast desert weeds take hold in my yard....it's a nightmare.

Okay, so I did manage to get over to my place to do a little yard work tonight. Not a lot, but some. I used the hula hoe in my front yard and then raked it. My side yard needs lots of work, but I knew I didn't have the time to give to it tonight. So while I didn't get a real workout in tonight, I did at least do something to be in motion. While there I decided to grab a bite before the workshop. We have our big freezer there, so figured there would be something. I found chicken strips, but once I started microwaving them, it was apparent that they were not good. Not sure how long they have been in there. So, I ended up being bad and heating up a few toquitoes. They were so good, but so bad. I hate to think how many total carbs I ate. So one small victory....at least managed to do something before the workshop, but a defeat because I gave in to food I shouldn't have. Additionally, the workshop was just a waste of time. I would have been better off just skipping it and getting in a good workout. Oh well, water under the bridge now.

Well, I didn't do yardwork tonight. I called my friend to confirm we were doing the 5:30 class and she suggested we go to the 4:3o class as well. So I rushed out of work to get there. The first class was another class with the big balls. It was good. Then we had a little time to kill before the next class, so I got on a bike machine and rode 1.85 miles. Then did the 2nd class. So I worked out for one hour and 45 minutes straight. It definitely felt good. In one week I have come to feel so comfortable at that gym. But tonight was the last night of the free pass. And I just can't afford the commitment financially required to join. So, tomorrow I am back on my own. Depending on what time I get done at work as to what I do. I think I am going to a workshop at 6pm. I am hoping to get off work and either hit the track or go by my place and do some yard between work and the workshop. If I can get my butt to work a little earlier tomorrow, then I can leave a little earlier affording me the time to do something.

Well, here it is the end of another weekend. They always seem to go too fast. I pretty much behaved this weekend with food. Our Saturday hike was only four miles this week, and not extremely challenging terrain-wise. I was bad today and didn't go for a walk or anything else. Tomorrow night I am suppose to join my friend in an exercise class. I have time to kill between work and the class, so I will probably go do yard work at my house. Working the hula hoe on the weeds is definitely an upper body workout.

Only four weeks left in this round of Biggest Loser. I was thinking about it today and wondering if I stand anywhere near having a chance of winning. We say who the biggest loser is each week, but I have no idea where things stand with overall weight loss. Those that have been the biggest loser could have gained some back afterwards. In fact, I know several of them did. So maybe I do stand a chance. But with four more weeks left, anything could happen. I need to think about this as an additional motivation to keeping to my plans of food and exercise. If by some surprising chance I did win, it would give me the money to sign up again for the next round. But I can't count on that as I may not even be in the running. Guess we'll know in four weeks.

Well, I've done it again. I've let a whole week go by without blogging. It seems I get on here and start reading everyone else's blogs, and then I don't have time to write my own. So now I have to catch up again.

The weekend went well. The first afternoon we were out camping, I had such a huge urge for chips. More specifically, nacho flavored doritos. I mean, what is camping without chips, right? Steve agreed about wanting some and said he had thought about bringing some, but knew it would be tough for me. At that point, all I knew was I wanted some. The next day he asked about getting in the car and finding the nearest store so I could get some. And believe it or not, I told him no. Believe me, I did want them........I could almost taste them. But I stayed on track and behaved while we were out there.

This week, I have to confess, I did sin. Three words........Girl Scout Cookies. Oh man. Tagalongs. I bought a box of them from someone at work and had them in my office fridge. Well, I did eat a couple a day until they were gone. Well, a couple a couple days, more than a couple on a couple days. I know, I know. I should have taken one and then dropped the box off at the office next door and got rid of them. Each day this week on my way to work I would think how I needed to do that, but then I didn't. Well, they are all gone now. So no more temptation in the office. And it will be another year before that temptation is at my door again.

Otherwise, I have done well this week. Got my water in most days. Stayed good with my food. My friend got a week-long pass for me to go with her to her gym, Ms. Fit. So I went with her Tuesday and Wednesday night. First night we hit machines for cardio and some arm machines. Second night we took a class with the big balls, then hit the cardio machines again. Tonight we had our biggest loser class. I'm not sure yet if she is planning on going tomorrow night. But we have our hike this Saturday, and then I am going with her on the last day of my pass on Monday to a Zoomba class (that is an uncertified Zumba class). So I have definitely been moving this week.

Tonight was weigh-in. Down 1.7 pounds. Making small weekly strides, but hopefully they will stick. That is now a total of 17.2 pounds lost. I'll take it!