Another Way to Track Water Intake

You know, I'm always looking for the thing that works best for me.

I always lose my water bottle around the house. Using a piece of yarn has been the best method for me so far. I've been trading off two bottles for some time and I've wanted to do this very thing with five bottles for awhile. I love the counting backwards and have applied it to this method. I like being able to see all the day's water in one spot. So here we go!

I Keep Bouncing!

I know I'm getting benefit from this! Rebounding boosts the lymphatic system. Very invigorating, I'm loving this!

Rebounding This Morning

I won't give up. I'm going to figure this out. This morning was a breakthrough for me!

We only did the Walk at Home walking a handful of times because it hurt our hips. I was doing some other intense stretching, and tweaked my foot/arch/ankle area. I've been having trouble walking-anywhere. I haven't done any exercise in about two weeks...I feel awful! It is surprising how even my little walks were helping sustain me! I've been feeling lots of real guilt because I haven't been obeying "walk everyday". The Lord has grace for injuries, but I'm able to walk again (though still a spot that is a little sore).

About ten years ago, we purchased a Needak rebounder trampoline. I've never been able to get serious about rebounding because of my rebounding chest (breasts)! Recently, I found a solution to this problem!

This morning, I was asking the Lord what I should do since I haven't been walking (nor dancing, nor Walking at Home). He gave me the idea to wear my "sports bra solution" and get on the rebounder.

IT WORKED!

I put on the dance music and a virtual walk YouTube video and bounced for almost 40 minutes! What a great workout, I feel GREAT! Apparently, I bounced 2.2 miles (3.5km)!!!

I timed myself at 120 "steps" (bounces) per minute, which is a much faster pace than I'd be walking outside. I had total control over what muscles I wanted to use and simply gently bounced and moved my arms as was comfortable (no set routine or movements). When my shins and feet started to hurt a little, I got on my knees to give them a rest! I can't believe I can bounce on my knees! This is AWESOME! I had to put shoes on for arch support. My lymphatic system is happy!

I started not watching the virtual walk...my mind needed something to focus on and it was just the ticket. Can't believe I did 40 minutes.

And I can't wait to do it again.

So I got thinking...is this something John could do with me if we got another trampoline?

I'm thinking I can get up at the same time everyday and do my rebounding exercise AND do it while the kids get ready for lights out. THAT would be some decent exercise!

Along that thought was combining some T-Tapp muscle scrunches, T-Tapp skin brushing system and THM eating plan. I'm not sure about all that, but I KNOW I can do this system of rebounding in the morning, at a minimum. Ah, I feel like I have my exercise back!

Search "walking virtual" for other videos.

Update: While the kids got ready for bed, I did another 30 minutes! I feel fantastic! I can't wait to get up early and do some more! YAY!

My Sports Bra Solution for Obese Woman

I have always had big boobs. Some would call me "a large breasted woman". Having large breasts has always made some exercises (movement!) difficult. Here's a little about my journey to figuring out how to take care of my boobs!

Before I had children, my only bras were underwires, but when I had children and started nursing, the underwires got shoved into the back of the drawer. I think this was the time I ordered my first custom non-underwire bra from Decent Exposures. Though they tell you how to measure yourself properly, I wanted some professional attention. Since I happened to live only a half hour away from their studio, I went in for a fitting.

I finished nursing my children and never went back to the underwire because no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the right fit (even with professional help). The center wires always stick out and poked my little infants/toddlers when I carried them. It was just more comfortable to wear the Decent Exposures bras.

As I gained weight, wearing an underwire became even more uncomfortable. So for years, I lived with the "droopy boob syndrome"...being comfortable but looking really frumpy.

I just didn't want to spend a lot of money on a Wacoal bra, so I bought less expensive bras which often would fall apart. My father-in-law told my mother-in-law to buy me a new Wacoal bra for my birthday one year(!)

She and I went to the department store in search of Wacoals and with her support (hee hee), we sifted through all the offerings and I finally found something that fit me. I did have to buy a back strap extender so it would go around my rib cage. I was relieved to find SOMETHING that worked...it covered me, gave me great support and didn't poke me. Of course, being short, the front wires still showed through my shirt, but I was still happy.

I've taken very good care of these bras. I wear my non-underwire on a daily basis at this time (for the comfort factor), but when I go out anywhere, I put on a good bra.

In preparation for an "outing" recently, I wanted to wear a white shirt and was wanting to smooth the appearance of the wires poking through, so I put my Decent Exposures bra OVER my Wacoal bra.

(jaw drops)

My boobs were in a straitjacket! I could still breath and move and my boobs were fixed! I couldn't believe the support I was getting from wearing these two bras together! Why hadn't I considered this before!?!?

Over the years, I've considered rebounding, but every time I started bouncing, I remembered why I couldn't do it as exercise...my boobs rebounded, too! The past week, I've been thinking about rebounding again...and with my sports bra solution, it is possible! Hooray!

Three Miles Today

Oh, here's a doozy! Here we are in front of my desk, watching Leslie Sansone do the easy one mile beginner walk on YouTube.  The past couple nights we've been walking a mile together. We even held hands a little! Love being able to exercise with my honey...we are doing something we've NEVER done before, this is exciting! And totally sustainable!

Oh my word, I did a brisk two mile walk video earlier today-it killed me! It was really hard! But I'm feeling kinda challenged to see what it will take to get me to a point where it's easy peasy...I walked THREE miles today! I feel so energized!

This is the tough two mile:
http://youtu.be/0cE1jxDS3HY

Two Miles This Morning

This morning, I got out of bed, put on my shoes and walked two miles right in front of my desk!

This one mile video link has better sound than the one listed below:
http://youtu.be/ykPr0t2KutY

For my second mile I did the brisk/fast walk:
http://youtu.be/A-i-3Isbk4A

I found a great deal on three DVDs on eBay for only $10...includes the mini-walks, 3 mile and 5 mile walks. I wonder if I'll be bored on the longer walks...I'm a little bored with the short one...we'll see.

I also did one set of T-Tapp's Primary Back Stretch and did it much better than yesterday.

What a great start to my day! I'm already looking forward to the one mile walk with John tonight...making three miles for the day! Whooohoooo!

UPDATE: We did not do our evening walk, I only did two miles today. :)

October 2013 Begin Again

I feel like I'm starting over. The past month or so, I've been floating along and have neglected drinking water, walking and generally doing what I need to do for my health.

In wanting to start some exercise, I decided to take some good before pictures with measurements. I think these photos look pretty good, I was hoping to take some photos that REALLY showed off my curves (ha ha) but for around 220lbs, this could be worse.

It doesn't really matter that I'm starting over or beginning again, what matters is that I KEEP GOING and I'm doing just that!

Thank you to my daughter for taking the photos!

My Walk at HOME and T-Tapp

As the days have gotten darker, colder and wetter, I haven't been walking. When school started, the roads got busy again. Somehow in the spring it wasn't as much of an issue, it seemed different. But this fall weather is really discouraging me in my walk. At the old house, I simply walked out the front door rain or shine. At the new house, I have to drive to my walk and I don't like it one bit.

I had a revelation the other day...I can walk INSIDE!

Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home is my answer! Why didn't I think of this before!?

I walked a mile today...all in 20 minutes and without leaving home-yay! This is the free one mile YouTube video I did today:
http://youtu.be/df2gn6-w0dE

I like that I did one mile and did it a lot faster with more impact than my walks outside. Each step stimulates the lymphatic system and this was way better than my half mile meandering stroll I've been taking recently. I find it difficult to find a brisk pace, so I think I don't push myself as hard as I should on my outdoor walks. I also like that it will be easy to "track" my improvement by changing up to longer distances. And if it turns out I only have a half hour, I can choose the right walk to fit my time constraints. I'm excited about doing this WITH my husband, too! No mental prep. No special clothes. Any time of day (or night)! Easy!

I also started the T-Tapp video Instructional #1. I did one Primary Back Stretch (yeeps, get those elbows back!) and I have a long way to go, but that's what I could manage today. I really think the T-Tapp is my answer to "Get Strong"!