DAY 40 - Six Days Till AUBURN FOOTBALL!!!!

In the face of what was once, Tropical Storm Erica - we were relieved that she lost her steam and did not come in on the East Coast - though we are very hopeful that the West Coast survives alright with the potential flooding - and are prayerful for those who were in her wake on the way to the US, where much loss occurred among so many who already suffer so greatly.

Up until today there has actually been minimal rain. In fact, even today it has been mild in our neck of the woods. Since cycling was out, we went to the movies to see: NO ESCAPE with Owen Wilson and OMG is was EXHAUSTING! Really really good - but wore me out staying on the edge of my seat the whole time! I just LOVE going to the movies with Larry Wayne! He is so dog gone cute he just makes my liver quiver! haha! Anyway, it was a very good time and we were able to also enjoy with friends which made it that much better!

Thankfully, over the last few days I was able to get in some REALLY great cycling! Larry had to have an epidural Friday, so I was on my own and decided to challenge myself a bit. Two days ago I decided to see what I could do as far as moving past my current time limits and was SOOoooooo excited to push through them! The first accomplishment was when I rode 8 miles in 36.41 min at an average speed of 13.1 mph - I was SO surprised! Even more incredible to me was the fact that I wasn't very out of breath, which has been an on-going challenge since I started riding. The next day I decided to change up my route and go "outside" of the park a bit. I began by going out of our neighborhood the back way along Jog and then Forest Hill, cut through the park then back out onto Forest Hill past the school and down a side road by Banyan Golf Club. I then returned back retracing my path and then went around the interior circle of the park covering 3 inclines - it was defiantly challenging, but also very rewarding!

I went 10.08 mi in 48.10 min, (which also broke a personal best - though that wasn't the goal, I will take it anyway!), at an average speed of 12.6 mph. for a whopping 644 calories -- which admittedly makes me feel pretty good!  Following that I rode an additional 2.11 miles to cool down on the way home. IT FELT GREAT!

There is another awesome, yet at the same time - challenging, thing coming up next weekend and that is AUBURN FOOTBALL! What do I mean? Well folks, we are a mere SIX DAYS away from a football season with the greatest team on the planet - the AUBURN TIGERS! We, (Larry Wayne and I), join with other fanatical fans at a local eatery in North Palm Beach every Saturday to cheer our team to victory. Now this is not the challenging part at all. THIS is the AU-some part! The challenge is the fact that we EAT! I tend to have a love for their fried onion rings AND their deserts. Well, THIS season, my intention is to leave it alone...but will take it "one game at a time"

In my last post I had mentioned in my CONFESSION - (which I've decided from now on to refer to as my FESS-UP) - that I had lacked in exercise while my parents were here and had several instances of not eating well - suspecting that I had gained weight as a result and would weigh the next day and post it here. Let me just say, "I did NOT want to get on that scale!", but I did and it WAS as bad as I had feared. I was at  175 lb again. I will say that initially all the old feelings of failure and self pity were right there ready to pounce, but I realized that it was MY CHOICE what line of thought to follow. I could listen to the garbage in my head and measure my progress by a number...OR I could look at all the positive changes that are happening, progress being made and determine to continue forward in the "journey without a finish line". My choice?? THE JOURNEY!

WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!  <- If you are not familiar...that is the battle cry of EVERY Auburn fan...of which I am a proud one! GO TIGERS!!! .

DAY 37 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

 
Today is a VERY special day and SO HARD to believe...our sweet Tatum turned SEVENTEEN!!! I have been so very blessed to be a step-mom to she and her sister. When I first met Tatum she was not yet 3 and was just beyond cute with an extremely strong personality! She is an incredibly smart and talented young woman and has so many wonderful things ahead of her! So I want to start by giving a big shout out to her: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Right now the biggest story going on is of course - Tropical storm Erica and where she is going to go. Earlier today, the predicted track of the storm had it moving out into the Atlantic from the east coast of South Florida...however at 5pm it appeared the track had changed to come into our backyard!

Now I'm the first to admit...I am a nervous Nelly when it comes to the idea of being in a possible hurricane! I've had people point out to me that it is "ONLY a Cat 1"...ummm....I'm sorry...but that is the same wind strength as an F1 tornado. Now that is a little tornado, but you know what? If it hit YOU...it won't seem so little! But a tornado only really affects you IF if hit where you are, unlike a Cat 1 that is like an F1 EVERYWHERE and for possible HOURS! haha! OMG! Sooooo....we shall see what happens!

We figured that today we better get in some cycling because beginning tomorrow and forward the likelihood of increasing rain and thunderstorms is there. When not riding I will be doing some indoor exercising instead!

OK...one last thing...CONFESSION TIME!...While my family was here, though I didn't do terrible, I didn't stick to my healthier snacks and meals and also didn't cycling as much. I'm CERTAIN it is going to show on the scale. I can't bring myself to weigh yet, but I will be in the morning and will then just get back on this horse again and keep on going until I reach the fit-n-fabulous place I'm shooting for!

DAY 35 - SHORT-N-SWEET

The last three days have been SO WONDERFUL with my parents here. We have laughed to the point of tears and that is my favorite thing in the world! I'm so very blessed to have them both! I can say that I've definitely wandered off my "healthy path", both in limited physical exercise and in diet (as compared to a week ago) but not so far that I feel terrible about it. I'm ready to get back and certainly to start posting that journey in more detail here. For today though, I would just like to share photos from this wonderful week!

This was when we arrived at Boynton Beach for a relaxing morning

...making sure they both had REALLY good sunscreen and limited sun exposure for my mom

I was so glad to see them having a good time - despite the sweltering heat!

The water was amazing so daddy and I headed in!

We got in some great snorkeling - which I think is a first for my dad and I to do together!

It was a lot of fun!

...my mom on the other hand had NO intention of getting in the ocean! (Shark phobia) haha! So she kept an eye out for us!

My sweet husband took so many lovely photos of me with my parents and I'm so very grateful for his thoughtfulness...

Next we rode out to look at homes along A1A and out on Palm Beach Island

We got home and then my mom and I went out to the store. Coming back the sky was amazing -- the pictures don't really show how beautiful it really was

Getting home I got a really beautiful picture of my mom in front of the house

...then we all just did this "Ahhhhh"

THEN...I get a text from my sister that my brother-in-law killed a TWENTY POUND Rattle Snake with 15 rattles outside their home!! OMG!! If you blow up the pic here you will see it!

So today was our last day together. We relaxed a lot and just enjoyed being together. We went ot to dinner at Flanagin's - which was REALLY good! 

Dad and mom...

Me and Larry Wayne (I'm in glasses because I ran out of contacts - Grrrr!!!)

I sure do love them!

Our last stop was at one of the BEST places on earth AND A PLACE I won't be returning to -- HOFFMAN'S CHOCOLATES for ice cream! Mmmm!! (I kept to one scoop)

FYI....Larry Wayne is totally photo bombing in the background. I sure will miss them!

DAY 32 - AWESOMENESS!!!

If someone would have suggested to me even a few weeks back that there would EVER come a time that my daily thoughts repeatedly would be focused on exercise and riding a bicycle, I would have laughed. It's the truth! My history is one of making lots of really good exercise "plans", buying workout DVD's and even having a fitness club membership for YEARS - while being able to count in the low double digits how many times I've ever really gone.


Needless to say, when I first started cycling, though really pumped, excited and putting my money where my mouth was...deep down I wrestled with skepticism of my own predictable likelihood of not following through. Now it has, (without further injuries), been just over a month of almost daily riding, and it just blows my mind that the more I ride the MORE I want to ride! Even when we have finished 10+ miles and I just want to stop...after a short time of rest, I find myself saying, "I wish I would have kept going!" It's just SUCH a crazy feeling!! haha! The people I've heard that would say, "I've GOT to get in the gym" or "Gosh I can't wait to work out again" - I just thought they were nuts...and now listen to me! Who knew healthy living could ever be full of such AWESOMENESS!!

I went to the Farmer's Market with my mom yesterday and bought so much wonderful produce. This would be another STRANGE change that has occurred. I enjoy SO MUCH getting it all home and washed clean - laying it out to dry. The way the tomatoes and cucumbers look and the fresh aroma...I've just fallen in love with the whole process. It has also been a joy to begin both discovering and creating healthy meals and snacks. 

One great treat I made using my Ninja - is DELICIOUS ice cream just using fresh frozen fruit and a couple of other ingredients. I've included an easy to follow recipe  below. (Did I mention how MUCH I love the Ninja? -- LOVE IT!) 

DAY 30 - ONE MONTH DOWN AND 13 TO GO!

Having SUCH an enjoyable time with my parents here. Larry and I had a good bike ride 2 days ago, but have not ridden since because of spending time together with my family while they are here.

The first day they arrived, my daddy had laid his bible on the end table by the sofa...not realizing what was FOR SURE going to happen. I mistakenly forgot to let him know that baby Pickles LOVES anything that is paper AND eats to destroy anything that is paper. Sooooooooo.....yup....you got it...Baby Pickles snatched his Bible...took it to her bed and tried to eat it! Sure, to look at her, she appears to be an innocent little baby - DON'T let that baby face fool you!

Last night we went to eat at: El Sabor and had Quesadillas. Let me just say now that the ...things have somewhat gone down hill in the "healthy foods" area. Not terribly bad...but I'm not going to have any new healthy recipes at the moment.

I took them over to Okeeheelee Park today to show where Larry Wayne and I ride and it was just a great time together. Looking forward to a good long bike ride tomorrow!