I Burned How Many Calories?

Reality, my friends!  There's a really cool site that I've been using - www.dailymile.com to monitor my workouts.  It's free.  I love it!  It's also a big ole reality check.  Now, I've been doing pretty well with my diet.  I'm not completely "carb free".  I mean, come on, my body needs them if I'm working out, right?  But, I have drastically changed the amount that I allow. I've pretty much cut out sweets completely.  I had my first roll and mashed potatoes today simply because I went to a luncheon and there was NO other choice!  (But, I did walk 3 miles before I went.)  Anyhoo... I'm making much better choices.  I've also been working out 4 times a week.  Now, I know that there are different ways to measure how many calories you burn, but I'm not sure exactly which way is correct.  For example, the Greenway has signs posted that basically says for every mile you walk, you burn 100 calories.  Yay!  However, when I factor in the time it takes to do those 3 miles (thanks to the above link), it may only say 230 because of the time it took me.  Bummer.  Which brings me to my next thought:  It DOES matter what you eat!  I looked at my stats from last week.  I worked out 4 days, a total of 4 hours and burned 1650.  Not too shabby, huh?  The week before, I worked out 3 days and only burned 504 calories.  When I think about the amount of time I put into the exercise I do, I do NOT want to waste my calories (or carbs) on junk.  Really makes you think about what you eat!  At least, I do.

Here's to consistency - my greatest problem, EVER.  But, I'm finishing up week #3.  I'm down 6 pounds.  I'll take it!

Healthy Walkin'

Checking in, friends.  It's officially Spring Break in our county.  Audrey is not happy that I said we were having school anyway.  (She'll thank me later when she's vacationing while the others are still in school.  lol)  Hubby has to work, so we're going to take a few days and visit family in TN.  We'll still be able to do school while we're gone.  (She's REALLY gonna love me when we're doing "work" over the summer, but we'll save that conversation for another day.)

OK, I'm on Day 11 of very few carbs.  I'm doing fine.  It has to be a God thing.  Normally, on my own, I think I'd have been super cranky and "woe is me" and D-O-N-E by now.  But, I'm doing just fine.  I haven't given into anything... except a big gulp of orange juice this morning.  I have had NOTHING sweet.  And, for those of you that know me, that's huge!  Honestly, I don't think I'm eating enough.  Today I had brunch and dinner.  Brunch was 2 scrambled eggs and turkey sausage.  For dinner, Derek made a chicken sausage (with pasta), creamed spinach, and broccoli.  I had a few bites of the pasta since I worked out today, but that was it.  I just have to STOP getting on the scale every day.  It has only been 11 days and the scales move between a 3 and 5 pounds loss.  Sooo... I'm saying it right here, right now.  I will only weigh one day a week!  There!

I've walked twice this week.  Baby steps!  I walked 2 miles one day and 3 the other.  Gonna get up and go again tomorrow.  I can't tell you how much I have missed the Greenway.  Seriously, as I was walking this morning, I just kept thinking about how beautiful it is and how comfortable I am there.  Silly?  Maybe.  But, it is one of my most favorite places to be (is that grammatically correct?).  My body has missed the consistent exercise.  My entire attitude has changed.  I'm looking forward to getting fit... for real, for good!

Retreat and Health Stuff

Checking in, my friends.  It's been a busy couple of weeks over here.  What's new, right?  The weather has been so beautiful the last few days.  I've gotten little housework done because we've been enjoying the sunshine and time with friends.  I've also been enjoying the Kindle a little much.  I'm on my fifth Lynette Eason book.

I went on a retreat with Chosen over the weekend in this beautiful cabin in the hills of Ellijay.  It was an amazing weekend with my dear friends.  We spent so much time in the Word.  We did a fantastic 3 day Beth Moore study called Fulfilling Your Ministry.  It was a great study and just what we needed to hear.  Our leader took us out of our comfort zone.  It allowed us to open up a bit and I felt like I started breaking down some walls.  I feel God working in my life and in our group.  I am so incredibly grateful!  I don't know why He chose me to be part of this amazing group, but I'm going to give it my all.  What a ministry!

Alright, ladies!  All of you need to make sure that you're keeping up with your physicals and such.  I've had several friends that have been diagnosed with uterine and breast cancer lately.  They encouraged me to go have my mammogram and full physical work up.  I had my first mammogram a couple of weeks ago and a physical today.  They found some lumps in each breast and some abnormalities, so I go back Thursday for more tests.  No one seems to be worried and feel that the lumps are probably benign.  I'll find out soon, but I know it's all in God's hands.  I'll keep you posted on that.  Anyway, I have a few more things going on that I need to work out.  I'm extremely high risk for Diabetes and have had some tests run.  As a preventive measure, my doctor said I have to cut out simple carbohydrates.  Shew.  I obviously have issues with food and exercise, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life with this disease.  So, please send some prayers my way.  It's a total life change that needs to be made.  It will take some serious discipline on my part.  I'm also going to have to have another sleep study.  I had Sleep Apnea both times I was pregnant.  Looks like it may be back.  If I can get this extra weight off, I'm sure that would help.

So, that was a pretty heavy post.  =)  More later....