Eight Pounds and Counting!

I am in my 5th week of the Curves Complete program. I have lost 8 pounds so far! And half an inch to an inch off of various parts of my body!

Thankfully I am not having a problem with the diet -- the food is good and with 3 meals and 2 snacks per day and lots of veggies "free", I am not hungry.

The exercise and the walking, on the other hand, are more challenging for me! Some days, I am fine on the machines at the Curves gym. Other days my hip just does not want to cooperate. And the walking! This week I am aiming for 6500 steps per day. Next week I will be aiming for 7000 with the eventual goal of 10,000 steps per day. Some days I have no trouble getting even 8000 steps in. Other days, I barely get 3000! Trying to get my work done for HAFF AND get my steps in for the day is a challenge I am still working on. I am also working on finding places that I enjoy walking. One of my favorites is the Arboretum at Penn State.

Rainbow caught in the spray from the fountain at the Arboretum at PSU.

One of the woodland areas of the Arborteum -- on a muggy, buggy day!

I am still trying to work out if the diet and exercise are giving me more energy. I don't seem to need so many naps, but I still want lots of sleep at night. And the number of hours per day which I can concentrate on work don't seem to have increased, as far as I can tell. And the exercise and meal planning eat somewhat significantly into those hours! I am still trying to find the balance!

In the mean time, I am enjoying the great outdoors of central Pennsylvania and the cultural offerings that expand to the outdoor venues during the spring and summer. All while continuing to write, edit and lay out the HAFF newsletters, send out the donor receipts and write and edit articles to post to the HAFF blog.

Heritage Brass at a Sunday evening concert at South Hills School of Business.

Nittany Valley Symphony concert at Tussey Mountain Ski area.

Spring Update

I made my decision what to do about diet and exercise. I joined Curves for Women doing the Curves Complete program. It combines diet and exercise and provides coaching for both. I joined two weeks ago and, as of today, have lost 4 pounds already. I am hoping that the program will help me regain my energy and concentration.



My Neighborhood with local flora and fauna!

 Part of the Curves Complete program is walking. Ultimately my goal will be to walk 10,000 steps a day. Right now they have me building up to that – this week my goal is 5,500 steps per day. So I have been walking around the neighborhood – enjoying the Spring flora and fauna.

I have also walked around at the Penn State Arboretum and at Millbrook Marsh a regional park which also contains some Clearwater Conservancy protected land. The park encompasses 3 different types of wetlands including some of the region's last remaining calcareous fen. Calcareous fen is one of the rarest type of ecological communities in Centre County and there are many rare species in this fen.

The park is well provided with board walks and some grass walks. It is a great place for birding and just a wonderful, green space in the midst of highways and built up areas. It is also conveniently located for a stop for a walk on the way home!

I am also still knitting. There has been a bit of a change in the knitting. We are now meeting with other ladies for Wednesday Women in the Word. A group of women get together for lunch, fellowship and to spend time in Scripture. About 10 of us met last week for the first gathering.

So, I am now trying to find the balance of time, energy and concentration to keep up with the walking, exercising at Curves for half an hour four times a week, learning the new diet and doing the administrative work for HAFF. I'll keep you posted on my progress. If this program does what I hope, I may be able to, finally, get back to Haiti in the fall. We'll see what the Lord has in store!