A splendid idea

Grumpy has a great idea: If a workout video or DVD has outlived its usefulness for you, pass it on to someone else who might be able to use it. So, in that spirit, I'll offer "Walk and Kick" from Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds Power Series.

I think I started using this DVD about a year ago, shortly after I started my eDiets plan. I recall that it was quite challenging and also quite effective. Meaning I worked up a sweat, despite the apparent simplicity of the routine.

So don't be shy! If you want it, send an e-mail with your name and address to shrinkingknitter AT citynet DOT net. Like Grumpy, if more than one person e-mails, I'll have a drawing.

So here's my list from yesterday again:

• balance the checkbook
• pay bills
• make a shopping list
• run four miles at a 14:01 pace
• shower
• dress for a trip to town
• drive to that town – an hour away
• go to the dentist
• go to the grocery
• go to a sporting good store [for new running shoes]
• go to a bookstore
• go to a couple of craft stores [made it to one]
• go to Target

You can see that quite a few things got done. And I was exhausted when I got home at 5-ish. For once I was grateful for the freezing rain that had started falling on my way home. I called the prison at 5:30 to cancel – yet again – the drawing class and hunkered down for the night.

Of course, it turned out to be a non-weather event. I went to sleep early, about 7:30 I think, and fully expected to be iced in or have no power when I woke up. All it did was rain. More rain predicted for today. And tomorrow. No snow until later in the week, naturally, when I'd like to be, um, outside, running nine miles. I kind of dread doing that on the treadmill.

I have wonderful new New Balance shoes for the next run, recommended by a knowledgeable salesperson at a real sporting goods store. I think I would have to drive two hours to get to a runner's specialty store, but the young man who helped me seemed to have the same information and knowledge I did. For "ws" who commented yesterday, these shoes won't have to be broken in. They feel great right out of the box, and Mr. Helpful Salesperson said that's the way they're supposed to feel. Today's a rest day; no need to wear them on the rowing machine. Tomorrow is a speed drill, though, and I'm anxious to try them out.

If you're keeping track, you know that Tuesday is weigh-in day. I'm up two pounds. I think we can put the 1400- to 1500-calories-per-day experiment to rest. I was careful to make the additional calories count nutritionally – yogurt, couscous, low-fat cheese, that kind of thing. I'm still not eating sugar – two months today! – and I'm surprisingly not too discouraged. Sometimes experiments work out, most of the time they don't.

You: On a Diet came yesterday. I haven't had a chance to even crack the cover yet [although I've carefully gone through every page of both of the one-skein-project knitting books. Priorities, people, priorities!]. I do, however, have enough of the right type of food items in stock to start the YOAD program. Today.