Treadmill Report

46 minutes, 08 seconds; 2.49 miles; 320 calories burned.

I also walked outside for probably an hour today.

Treadmill Report

91 minutes, 10 seconds; 4.74 miles; 609 calories burned.

What's up with me

Friday: I had to stay late at work. Someone wanted an explanation of our accounting system. She still doesn't understand it all so I'll have to meet with her again I think. I had wanted to go to the bank Friday after work, but since I got out late, I couldn't. I'll have to wait probably another week before I can go. I may run out of cash by then.

Saturday: Went shopping. Bought a sweater jacket, a shirt, some socks, a printer for my computer, and a bunch of other stuff. Came home and cleaned some around the house, moved some furniture so I could hook up the printer. A leaf came off some vine-like plant Polly gave me, so I planted the leaf in some dirt to see if it will grow. I don't really have luck doing that. I tried with a leaf from my African Violet and it died. But we'll see what happens. Last night I downloaded some updates for the Norton Internet Security program that came with my computer. Well, my computer is so secure now that the only way I can actually do anything on the internet or get my email is if I turn the Norton thing off. So, it's off. Good thing that was free. I watched the first Tomb Raider movie last night. Getting ready for the next Bond movie since the new Bond played Alex West.

Sunday: So far I have cleaned the carpet in the dining room, worked out on the treadmill, washed up a couple of dishes, taken the dogs for a walk. There are some other things I'd like to do before going back to work. But luckily I have Monday off too (I took that day off) so maybe I'll get more done tomorrow.

Observation: my right ankle has been bothering me this weekend. I can't stand on my toes without it hurting. This is the foot that suffered a broken bone a few years back. I think the height of the heels on my shoes is what's causing the problem. I'll have to switch to the flats for a while and see what happens.

Treadmill Report

46 minutes, 15 seconds; 2.48 miles; 319 calories burned.

So Much For Plans

I had planned to get on the treadmill tonight after work, but mom and dad were here when I got home. They were getting mom's computer and the computer desk and another storage cabinet to take to their new place. So I ended up helping dad load and unload the furniture instead of working out.

I did get Season 4 Alias on dvd today in the mail. I've already checked out the bonus features. This dvd rom thing is pretty handy.

And I got another telemarketer call tonight. I think I'll have to just let the answering machine get all the calls. I've named my answering machine Sergio after Sergio Garcia, the golfer. So, if I talk about Sergio taking messages for me, you'll know who it is.

Let's Talk About Computer Manners

It is very rude to send someone a huge attachment when they are on a dial up connection. It blocks the email program and you can't turn it off without having to deal with the huge attachment later on. People should be asked before someone sends them something that could inconvenience them this way.

Dish Saga Continues

Well, I called the 1-800 number and talked to a sales person named Tim. He sounded cute and really nice and friendly and helpful. Which is why he talked me into the 18 month lease/contract thing that I absolutely didn't want. But at least it's done. It is supposed to be installed on November 5th. I hope they can find my house. I will stay by my phone in case they call looking for better instructions.

Now I can get back to the week day workouts and come home after work every day instead of traipsing around town looking for a satellite. The dogs will like me being home sooner too.

Bless the Weatherman

He finally said something I like. He said he thought this winter we would have a snowier, but warmer winter than usual and that we would find it hard to keep snow on the ground for more than a day. Bless him. I hope he's right.

Dish Scam

So, I went to a local dealer in the Dish Network business today. They explained to me that I could buy the receiver and antenna instead of doing the free equipment with an 18 month commitment. But, I have to contract with them for one year's worth of programming and if I cancel during that year, then I have to not only pay the rest of the programming charges for that year, but I also have to forfeit the satellite dish I bought. I can understand paying the rest of the year's worth of programming fees, but giving back something I bought and that I have ownership of is ridiculous and just plain punitive. And I'm betting it's illegal. That's like buying a new GM vehicle and canceling the onstar service before your year's commitment is up. The local car dealership would not seize your $30,000 car because you canceled the onstar service. I'm gonna call the 1-800 number and see what scam the Dish Network people will try to con me into if I buy from them direct.

By the Way

Scarlett and Riambra need to send me email so I can get their addresses in my new email address book :)

Back on the Web

Well, I got my new phone number today. So, I'm back on the web. Going to all the websites I went to on mom's pc is a different experience. Everything looks so different on this new pc. But at least I'm here. Yay!! Unfortunately, I still don't have a satellite dish. I'm getting very frustrated about the dish issue. You would think dad would have told me about three weeks in advance that he was going to take it on a certain day so I would have the time to either find a store in town who would sell me a dish or to order it direct from the company. But no, just like the man he is, he just up and took it.

Yesterday, I downloaded the software for my digital camera on my new pc and got some pictures of deer that were grazing in the back yard.

Back on the Treadmill

Sunday, Oct. 23rd: 72 minutes, 10 seconds; 3.73 miles; 479 calories burned.

Today: 44 minutes, 21 seconds; 2.36 miles; 303 calories burned.

More on the PC

I had some time tonight to check out more about my computer. I found Microsoft Works on there so I don't have to install it. I don't know why they gave me a cd of it if it's already on the computer. Must be a tech geek thing. My computer plays dvds, which is exciting. I set up a workout spreadsheet on the new pc since I don't have corel software on there. And I saved a bunch of pictures from cd's onto my new computer. John at work asked me what my processor was and a bunch of other stuff and I just said "I don't know John. It's number, number, number, dot, number, number something". He likes it when I get all technical. LOL! I also asked John about the phone situation and he said I could either get a different modem (not likely) or find a phone accessory that would give me the extra plug in thing for the phone.

Mom and Dad went to a couple of places today to check into Dish Network for me. One place would only do the free equipment with an 18 month contract thing and the other place would sell equipment but the owner was so busy mom said I might have to actually make an appointment to see her. HAH! I found out that Sears and another place in town also do Dish Network, so I think I might stop by them tomorrow after work and find out more. I was tempted to just order it online, but I think I'd be better off talking to a live person.

I haven't called to get set up with internet service on my pc yet. I might do that this weekend. If I do that during the day, then I might get a different tech geek who won't be so slow.

ABC sitcoms are much funnier than NBC.

Well, I bought a computer today. It's a Compaq. I think I might have a bit of a problem however. With mom's computer there is a place to plug in the phone line and a place to plug in the phone so that you can use the phone and the computer from one phone cord and one jack. But I don't think my computer has the option of plugging in the phone. I will have to investigate further or set up the computer with easy access so I can plug and unplug the phone line constantly. Mayber there's a phone accessory I can get to make this easier. A jack with two plug-thingys or something. I did get a semi-good deal on the computer. It was originally $592 and I got it for $395. The box had been wet and some of the instructions were destroyed, but I managed to get it all hooked up.

The one thing I am missing is Wordperfect software. I think we got that from my brother in law. I don't know if he left the disk with us or if he kept it. I will have to ask mom if she has a copy. The new computer came with Works so I will have something as soon as I install it.

I tried to sign up for Citynet internet service tonight but the guy on the phone (His name is Chad) was just too confused about the idea of mom, the phone number and the computer moving to a new house. Then we got disconnected. So, I figured it was God's way of saying "Miranda, wait until you get your own phone number and then call them. They are tech geeks, don't expect too much from them." And you could tell he was bored with his job. He ran through the questions at lightning speed as if everyone could understand all the words when they are run together that way. Sure, he may have said the same thing hundreds of times before, but this was the first time I heard the speech so he should have spoken a bit clearer.

Dad took the satellite dish today. So, I'm stuck watching the Biggest Loser right now. At least I have the antenna for local channels and I have dvds. But Mom and Dad are supposed to get me a dish to replace the one they took and I'll probably have to help them hook it up tomorrow. This show is interesting. I applaud the weightloss aspect, but you can tell that it's true that if you lose weight too fast, then you have skin hanging on you that won't shrink back.

Treadmill Report

1.95 miles; 36 minutes, 37 seconds; 251 calories burned.

Today

Well, Mom and Dad have moved into their new house. We spent the last two days moving a bunch of stuff in there. In fact, today I was so busy I didn't get to work out on the treadmill. But I carried a bunch of stuff and was on the move most of the day so I did get exercise. Soon I will be without phone and internet and possibly even sooner, I will be without the satellite dish. So, reports may be few for the next couple of weeks.

I'm off to get some vital information. When Martha is on the local channels since I won't have the dish. Instructions for getting internet service for when I have to sign up for my own service. And Dish Network info that I might need if I have to get my own dish.

Treadmill Report (Belated)

Saturday's result:
80 minutes, 30 seconds; 4.18 miles; 537 calories burned.

Finally!

I have returned to the treadmill. 37 minutes, 57 seconds; 2.06 miles; 265 calories burned.

Well, I haven't worked out since Monday. Yesterday, I got home and there was a bull dozer in the yard, but no people. No parents and no septic tank people. So, I had no idea what was going on and figured I'd better not start working out only to have to stop when someone showed up pounding on the door. But no one did show up. Today, the septic tank people were here working so I figured I'd better not get all sweaty and dirty working out if they were going to have to do something about the water. But they left at 4:30 pm. I don't know what they did or didn't do but when I looked out the window, they were digging a hole. So, tomorrow I think I'm going to go shopping since Alias is on at 8pm and I won't want to work out anyway. I have to buy a bunch of stuff for the house since my parents are getting closer to moving into their new place. And Walmart has some new clothes in I might check out.

Treadmill Report

68 minutes, 43 seconds; 3.69 miles; 475 calories burned.

Treadmill Report

84 minutes, 58 seconds; 4.61 miles; 593 calories burned.

Back On the Treadmill

83 minutes, 7 seconds; 4.46 miles; 574 calories burned.

If It Weren't For Bad Luck........

Today was planned as a shopping day. I woke up to find it was raining. Strike #1. I got ready and got in my car and started down the driveway, only to encounter a tree across the driveway. Strike #2. Dad cleared that tree away and I started off again. Made the sharp turn in the driveway only to find another tree in my way. Strike #3. I got out of the car and cleared some of it away, but couldn't get the bigger stuff. And I got dirty to boot. So, I called Dad on the cell phone and made him come down to get this tree out of the way too. An hour after I first left the house, I finally made it out of the driveway. I was convinced that God did not want me to spend money today and was placing these obstacles in my way to prevent me from shopping. But wait, it gets better. I hit town and decided to stop at the gas station to fill up. It was packed. Consider that strike #4. So, I continued on to the bank, planning to stop at another gas station on the way. It was packed. We're now up to #5. From the bank on, the rain was the biggest challenge. And the old people driving around looking for farmers' markets to crash into. I think the last big disappointment of the day was when I didn't find many clothes to buy. I only bought one shirt. And, at Walmart, one of the silicone pot holders I wanted to buy got sucked under the conveyor belt and no one could find it. That was another little communique from God.

Four Days Off. Alias Tonight. Shopping Tomorrow. Golf This Weekend. Sounds Wonderful To Me :)

I just have a comment on this:

From the New York Post:

PREGNANT GOOF BY MARTHA FOR someone trying to improve her image, Martha Stewart just made a bad boo-boo. The domestic diva is having a baby shower-themed show for actress Jennifer Garner today complete with an audience of expectant mothers. The problem is, her staffers invited more mommies-to-be than they could accommodate. Loads of the infanticipating women were disappointed when they got calls yesterday afternoon telling them they were being dis-invited, due to "high turnout." While they were offered tickets to a future show, one future mom told PAGE SIX, "All ticket holders are pregnant and having babies soon, so another show is not practical." The urbanbaby.com message boards were buzzing with threats to boycott Stewart's products. "I turned down tickets to go to synagogue for Jewish high holidays for this taping," said one. "I've been subscribing to her magazine for more than 10 years, so this really stings," wrote another. After calls from The Post, Stewart's staff reinvited many of the women to watch the show from the green room. A rep for Stewart said, "This was an unfortunate incident. Thanks to PAGE SIX for bringing it to our attention."

Here are my comments: The woman who gave up tickets to the religious celebration: You've disappointed God and your child. I think you should spend more time at that synagogue learning the importance of religion. And the other pregnant woman: sounds like she just wanted the freebies and wasn't a fan of Martha's show, so Martha's better off without her.

Septic Tank Search

Well, they found what was used for the septic tank today. I won't go into details but suffice it to say, if Dad and I had dug just a little deeper on Sunday, we would have found it. So, it's good to know we were on the right track, but even better that I don't have to dig any more. My arms killed me for two days after all that digging. That only proves that even if you work out everyday, you are not in shape. You're just in shape for whatever exercise you're doing. Cross training is not such a bad idea. So, it looks like we will be getting a new septic tank sometime within the next week. Yay!
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Also, my uncle from Indiana will be in this weekend, and whether he knows it or not, he will be moving a lot of the heavy furniture from this house into Mom and Dad's new house. What a way to spend a vacation. So, I will be shopping on Friday for the things I will need when the parents move to their new house. It will be nice to finally buy some things off the list I keep writing. I think I've written that list 4 times now.

And I will probably buy some more clothes to wear to work, even though I'm not quite finished losing weight. My supervisor found out today that no matter how freezing cold we are, no one will change the thermostat. So, I need sweaters or jackets or something. Definitely no skirts.

For Janet :)

Janet, a new reader of my blog, has requested more information on my diet and exercise plan. So, I will post the whole shebang below. To answer some of her questions: I don't know how much weight I've lost because for years and years, I never weighed myself so I didn't have a starting point. I honestly didn't think I would lose weight this time when I started working out earlier this year. I mainly started working out because Polly and Scarlett, my friends from work, were partcipating in their office's health fair stuff, and I thought I would work out too. And then when my jeans started getting looser I just decided that this was not something to squander away so I really dedicated myself to following through with it. Chances to actually lose weight come so rarely to me that I was taking full advantage. I can say that I started out a size 14 and now I'm pretty much a size 4. I may have to go to a size 2 to be totally happy (aka to get rid of my fat belly, which I still have even though I am an unbelievable size 4). As of Monday, I weighed 131 pounds at 5ft. 2 inches. So, I've lost 5 dress sizes since early June.

Many other times I've tried to lose weight through exercise and diet and for some reason it just didn't work. I tried measuring my workouts on the treadmill by distance and time with no results. So, this time, after reading the statistic that there are 3500 calories in one pound, I decided to measure my treadmill workouts by calories burned, since my treadmill counts that. I aim for 300 calories a day on the treadmill. I also read on the internet that there is carryover calorie burn that occurs after you stop working out. That, if you burn 300 calories in your workout, then for the next hour, you'll burn 150 calories, and the hour after that 75 calories. It diminishes by half each hour after your workout ends. I really think measuring calories burned is what did it for me.

As for the diet - I'm a very picky eater. Which means, the only vegetable I eat is a potato. Unfortunately, I've banned potatoes and white bread from my diet. So, my diet is very restrictive and tailored mainly for me. But it's basically the Slimfast plan. I try to eat something every 2 or 3 hours to keep my metabolism up. And I think I added up the calories one day and it's about 1200 to 1400 calories per day. I think. I really believe that you could subsitute Healthy Choice dinners for the Slim Fast stuff and still do this diet. There's no magic in Slim Fast. It's my choice because it has chocolate and sugar in it.

I also keep a spreadsheet that logs my workout stats: distance, time, calories burned. As of today, I've walked a total of 233.66 miles, burned 30,051 calories and walked off 8.59 pounds based on just what the treadmill has calculated. I know I've lost more than 8.59 pounds thanks to the diet, the carryover calorie burn and the extra outside walking I do that isn't included in the stats. I find that when I reach 2 pounds or so with the treadmill stats, then I've lost a dress size.

I caution anyone reading this to check with your doctor before starting any diet and exercise plan. I know if I went to the doctor, he or she would have a heart attack to see this kind of diet. What, no vegetables? LOL!

So, here's the plan in a nutshell:

I mainly just do the treadmill 5 or 6 days a week. I aim to burn 300 calories a day on the treadmill. It takes me about 40 to 45 minutes. On my days off, I switch to weekend warrior mode and double the workouts. And of course there's the slimfast diet. Here's what a typical day looks like:

5:05 AM - 5:30 AM - Pilates workout and 4 pound weights. This is mainly just on work days. Days off I sleep in until about 7:30am and skip this workout.

6AM: Slimfast meal on the go bar, 8 ounces 2%milk, One lunchbox snack-size container of applesauce. Weightsmart Multi-vitamin and 1000 mg of Vitamin C (I take the vitamin C because I believe it might help prevent colds, not so much for diet purposes. Although studies have shown that it revves up the metabolism.)

10:30AM - 4 Reduced fat Triscuits, water

12:30PM - Slimfast meal on the go bar, water

3:45 PM - 5 Reduced Fat Triscuits or a Special K cereal bar, water (I eat right before leaving work because as soon as I get home, I get on the treadmill. I can't work out if I'm hungry so I eat a little something first.)

4:30PM - Treadmill, water

5:15PM - Lean Pocket or homemade dinner*, water

7:00PM - Small bowl of low fat ice cream (Krogers has FMW half gallons for $0.99 each)

8:00PM - 6 Reduced Fat triscuits w/low fat melted cheese, water

9:30PM - one lunchbox snack-size container of mandarin oranges

10:00PM - Bed.

Sometimes I change the evening snacking to low fat popcorn or an 8oz glass of chocolate milk. I try to stay away from the popcorn though because people say your body doesn't break it down well - I don't know if it's an old wives tale but it doesn't hurt to listen to it and vary my snacking options.

* right now dinner is shredded baked chicken and low fat shredded cheese melted between two corn tortillas, but it could be Barilla whole grain pasta (the kind with the omega 3 added in) with low fat italian dressing or spaghetti sauce, or healthy choice dinners. On the weekends, I sometimes switch and eat the dinner for lunch and the slimfast bar for supper. When I'm at home, I tend to munch more so if I put more calories (and more non-sugar calories) in the middle of the day, it might keep me from munching during the day.

Sprinkled throughout the day is the munching of Gobstoppers hard candy or Sweetarts. This doesn't mean a whole box full of candy in one day, however. I get by on one piece now and then.

On the weekends and days off, I try to do more than 300 calories on the treadmill.

And while I drink water with everything - I don't think I get the 8- 8oz glasses a day like they say you're supposed to have. I drink about a liter at work every day and a couple of 8 ounce glasses at home. I do drink caffeine free diet soda on the weekends, but I also try to get in some water if I'm working out.

So, that's what's helping me lose the weight. I hope Janet and anyone else who's interested also have success in their weight loss no matter what plan they decide to use :)

Jennifer on Martha

Jennifer Garner was adorable on Martha's daily show. She really is a big fan of Martha Stewart and apparently has the distinction of being the very first subscriber to the Martha Stewart Living magazine. What would the odds be of that happening? You guys should really check out Martha's show. I didn't think I'd be interested in the Baby Day theme of today's show, but there were some really good ideas and interesting guests. And Martha is doing a really good job of giving away goodies to the live audience.

The Septic Tank Saga (continued.....)

Update on the septic tank: The guy couldn't find one in our yard. So, he was going to check with the health department to see if there was ever one recorded for our property. But it looks like we may be spending about $4000.00 to put one in. Good thing I'll be paying half of that. Dad has about three different things his half could be used for other than this, but it needs to be done. And he is rather philosophical about it. He said that in all 26 years we've lived here, we've never had to do anything about it until now so we really can't complain about the cost.
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Change of subject: Mom and Dad once again harped on my size tonight. So, I broke down and told them how much I weigh. I weighed myself Monday morning because I know I'm nearing the end of the weightloss experience and I need to come up with a target weight to finish with. After I told Mom and Dad how much I weighed, they seemed satisfied that I was still sufficiently fat enough to work out, so hopefully I won't be getting harrassed anymore. Today at work everyone in the kitchen was commenting about my weightloss and they were asking April how I was accomplishing it. I don't take lunch in the kitchen so I missed it all. But poor April had to answer the questions and she doesn't really know what I do on my diet. But then, I always get asked where she is and how she's doing when she's off from work, so it's good that she gets to be my keeper once in a while. LOL! It's funny how the people at work think if you work well with someone that you're each other's best friends and spend all your time together or something. April and I never spend time together outside of work and during her whole broken leg experience, I never had her phone number, home email address or anything. But people would still ask me how she was doing and if I'd heard from her. Funny how offices work that way.

Treadmill Report

42 minutes, 17 seconds; 2.40 miles; 309 calories burned.

Well, yesterday Dad and I went hunting for the septic tank. We didn't find it, but boy are we suffering today - Dad with his shoulder and me with my arms from shoveling all that dirt. Dad tilled up the ground with the garden tiller and I shoveled. Anyway, last night he called some guy who does septic tank work and the guy's going to come out and locate the tank for us and probably dig it up and clean it out. Yay!!

Jennifer Garner is supposed to be on Martha Stewart's daily show tomorrow. I will definitely watch that. There will be plenty of new mommie and baby stuff on the show and it will be cute watching Jennifer learning and participating.

I plan to go shopping Friday for a bunch of stuff. Things I will need once Mom and Dad move out, regular grocery shopping and maybe clothes shopping. I also need to wash and wax my car and do my laundry and on top of that, this weekend is a big golf weekend.

Treadmill Report

43 minutes, 26 seconds; 2.36 miles; 304 calories burned.

Treadmill Report

27 minutes, 42 seconds; 1.45 miles; 187 calories burned.

Also 35 minutes outside walking and a ton of dirt shoveling. We are trying to find our septic tank and not having much luck.

Treadmill Report

35 minutes; 1.63 miles; 209 calories burned.

70 minutes outside walking.