Scale tale

Not mine, though. Jonathan wrote yesterday that determining someone else's goal weight is "a subject I am completely unable to speak intelligently about."

Jonathan, you may not be able to speak intelligently about that – it is, after all, a very personal subject, and probably best left to health care professionals. But you certainly can speak intelligently about the factors each individual needs to consider before determining the magic number.

The rest of his post yesterday says so much, so well. Rather than quote it all here, if you haven't already read it, I hope you will.

I can't even choose one or two lines to discuss here, because the entire post really sums up so much of how I feel about the scale. So go read it, already. What are you waiting for?

•••

Jeannie asked in yesterday's comments if I keep the treadmill flat when I run on it. I set the incline at 2.5 or 3, usually, which increases the calorie burn rather dramatically. I figure I get enough hill work when I'm able to be outside that I don't need to add it when I have to stay indoors. If it was my only option, though, I'd use a hill program on a regular basis. She says she's doing the half-marathon training, but doesn't mention whether she's doing a race or not. Jeannie? Which finish line should we line up at to cheer you on?

•••

I guess most home-use treadmills stop at 99 minutes … which makes sense. They'd have to include a more complicated digital monitor to make it three digits, wouldn't they?

•••

Lori, when and where is your marathon?

•••

Peyton, when and where is your next game? Oh ... Miami ... in two weeks. Now I remember! [And wasn't it funny that Tony Dungy thought they might as well play Chicago in Ft. Wayne? Heh.]

•••

I may have said this last year, because I say it every winter: There are some muscles one uses only for certain tasks, like, say, shoveling snow. Yesterday was a rest or cross-training day, according to the schedule. [I've settled on the Smart Coach plan, by the way.] So I shoveled snow in the morning, salted our 100-foot-long driveway and scraped ice in the afternoon. A couple of times.

I remember how very sore I was last year the first time I shoveled snow. I feel ever so much more fit for the task this year. Mr. Shrinking Knitter didn't even warn me that shoveling wet snow is dangerous, as he has done for the past several years.

It's a good kind of soreness I'm feeling this morning. Tangible proof that what I'm doing is good for me, no matter what the scale says.

Ninety-six days until race day.

The oddest referral I've gotten …

so far, anyway.

Friday night/Saturday morning, someone found this post by Googling for "pick your poison drinking game." Since it was 2 a.m., their time, I doubt they were looking for someone talking about recovery from alcohol addiction. Snort. When I was 'in my cups,' Al Gore hadn't yet invented the internet, so I can't say if I would have searched online for the rules of a drinking game.

I seriously doubt it.

That time I showed you my post-workout, red-faced, soaked t-shirt picture got a few hits from people looking for "wet t-shirt." [And this one will probably get some, too, now that I've put those words out there.] I'm the definition of bringin' sexyback, aren't I?

Okay, where's my trophy? Or at least a sling for the arm I broke patting myself on the back. You know how yesterday I said the Runner's World Smart Coach Plan looked too hard? [The way it works is you supply information about your current fitness level, the distance you want to run and the date of the race. Then Smart Coach spits out the perfect training plan for you.] With the data I plugged in, that silly coach told me I had to run seven miles yesterday at a 15:20 pace. Which is walking fast, not really running, unless your legs are short!

Since it was bitterly cold outside, I knew it would be a treadmill workout and I decided to see if I could do it. Seven. Miles. On a treadmill. Plus a warm-up lap and a cool-down one, so a total of 7.5.

My treadmill stops after 99 minutes. I did not know that. I had to go nine more minutes to complete the mileage, and it ended up being a 14:53333333 pace, a little faster than prescribed. I could easily have carried on a conversation the whole time, should anyone have shown up wanting to chat. All body parts are fine and dandy this morning. I took an Aleve before bed, more as a preventive measure, but I probably could have slept fine without it.

Now here's the thing that surprised me more than anything else. I was not hungry the rest of the day. I had cereal with fruit and milk at about 8 a.m., started running at 10 a.m., forced myself to eat some leftover turkey chili with rice at about 1 p.m. and had a vegetable-and-cheese omelette with toast for dinner at 6. I ended up eating far fewer calories than I'm "supposed" to have, but I felt like I ate very well.

The worst part about a long run like that is that you're pretty much done doing anything for the rest of the day. I finished reading Marathoning for Mortals and started in again on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which I put down when I bought Sugar Blues.

Now where's that sling again?

Ninety-seven days until race day.

Saturday, in the Garage

Instead of "Saturday, in the Park," doncha know. Apologies if I inadvertently plant a Chicago earworm in your pretty little head for the rest of the day.

It's too cold to work out outside today. It also was too cold yesterday. It will be too cold tomorrow.

Guess what? It's cold here in the Middle of Nowhere. My workouts are happening, just with a little less pleasure than if I were outside.

Yesterday was a rest day. Some of the training programs suggest "active rest," meaning you can cross-train. And since I'm trying to shed weight and train for a long-distance run, I don't mind cross-training on a rest day. [Also? I'm juggling three different training regimens at this point. The Runner's World Smart Coach plan looks too hard. {This tool, by the way, is pretty awesome.} The one from Marathoning for Mortals looks too easy [warning: no training plan on the site; it's an ad for the book, but it's a great book!]. The plan I've been using, from Hal Higdon, looks just right, except it's only 12 weeks, so I've been doubling up on the first few sessions. But the jury's still out.]

Jonathan, I've also heard and read not to expect to lose much – if any – weight during training. I'm all about being optimistic and persistent, though. I'll be the one you all point to when you talk about people who keep eating well and exercising even when they experience no weight loss. Or maybe when you talk about crazy people.

For my cross-training, I chose to row but forgot my Shuffle. I would have had to go all the way back to the house to get it. [Whine, whine.] Or I could just flip through the channels and find a good movie. Like The Natural. I tuned in during Roy's first batting practice with the team, switched to the treadmill when he started dating that tramp, Memo, and stopped when the lovely Iris gives him the first hint that he has a son. Fifty minutes, altogether. Not bad for a rest day!

Denise [who is, apparently, blogless], I watched that CBS exercise-brain report and the first thing I thought of is if exercise increases brain volume, maybe that's why I keep gaining instead of losing, in spite of the miles I've been racking up the past year.

Kidding!

Also, I'm not so sure exercise really does boost brain power because I've been meaning to address your knot-in-the-ball crisis the last couple days and keep forgetting to do so. If your fiber is wool, you can spit-splice it. If it's something other than wool, you can either use a Russian join or simply knit both strands together for a couple of stitches and then weave the ends in after you've finished knitting and blocking the piece. All these techniques – and more! – are illustrated at the very helpful KnittingHelp.com.

I'm using the third option on my secret knitting project, which has about one skein of yarn left to consume. [I also started a little woven cable headband – in pink! – to wear for outdoor roadwork if it gets even a teensy bit warmer. Of course, by the time it's finished it'll be spring and I won't need it.]

Also, I have another workout booster, one which has convinced both my children that I'm right on the edge of loony. I may never get to see the grandchildren again. I bought – are you ready? – the two-disk special edition of the first Rocky movie, as well as the five-disk set of the first five Rocky movies. [Yes, that means I have two copies of the first one. So, sue me.] The only ones in the series I've seen are the first and the current, in-theatre ones. So I have lots of treadmill and rowing machine entertainment lined up for the remainder of winter.

'Cause I think the weatherman is predicting cold.

Ninety-eight days until race day.

Friday Quote[s] Day

First, thanks to Kit for speaking up about recommending Marathoning for Mortals, which I mentioned a couple of days ago. I've read five chapters now, and am mostly confident I'll be able to finish the half-marathon. Can't wait to see what they have to say next, and I'm especially looking forward to reading their nutrition advice. [Naturally … it's all about the food, doncha know!]

An AI addition: Newsweek has an article this week about those who've auditioned repeatedly. As well as a good web-only critique by an AI virgin. [You did know you could read Newsweek, in its entirety, online, didn't you?]

On to the quotes! I've been collecting motivational and inspirational quotes for a year now, maybe longer. I'm just going to post some of the great ones without a lot of comment today. Food for thought, so to speak. Which is your favorite? How does it inspire you? Write about one on your blog.

Thus endeth the homework assignment. Heh.

"I never said it would be easy,
I only said it would be worth it."

This quote has been attributed to Anonymous, Jesus and Albus Dumbledore, all of whom probably said it at one time or another.

"If you would be rich, you will be rich;
if you would be good, you will be good;
if you would be learned, you will be learned.
But wish for one thing exclusively,
and don't at the same time wish
for a hundred other incompatible things
just as strongly."

William James

In other words, it's all about priorities, baby!

"You don't have to change that much
for it to make a great deal of difference.
A few simple disciplines
can have a major impact
on how your life works out
in the next 90 days,
let alone in the next 12 months
or the next 3 years."
Jim Rohn

Or what's left of the rest of your life.

Most people would succeed
in small things
if they were not troubled
with great ambitions.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Does this sound like "break a big goal down into manageable chunks" to you?

And finally [at least for this week],

For you to be successful,
sacrifices must be made.
It's better that they are made by others
but failing that,
you'll have to make them yourself.
Rita Mae Brown

'Nuff said!

Ninety-nine days until race day.

Are you Idol-ing?

I was one of the 37 million who couldn't look away from the trainwreck that was the two-night, four-hour American Idol premiere. Actually it was more background noise than anything else, as I worked on the latest knitting project. Said project needs to remain a secret; those who are to eventually receive it occasionally check up on me here.

But seriously, some of the people who audition on AI surely were set up to do so, don't you think? I can see it now: a dimly lit bar, too many beers, karaoke night and voila! Your friends have convinced you you're the next Chris Daughtry [who didn't win last year, but should have] and you must show up for the cattle call.

Do your friends and family offer you false encouragement regarding your weight loss effort? On the rare occasion when someone comments on my looks, I hear how well I'm doing and how great I look. I will admit to "doing well," if that means following a food plan and exercising consistently. But my mirror doesn't say I look great, and neither does the scale. They are as honest as the day is long. It's their job to be honest and they both tell me I still have 30 pounds to go, now go work out already!

These tools don't care how I feel. They're not concerned at all if I'm tired or discouraged or bored or fed up or, um, did I mention discouraged? They just provide data. It's up to me to do the work that will, eventually, pleaseGodplease, affect the data in a meaningful way.

It's up to me to accept their assessment realistically. The number on the scale, the number of steps at the end of the day, the calories burned and the miles run and the minutes logged – all those figures will, eventually, add up to improved performance, pounds lost and different data.

I'm not a robot, and my emotions sometimes get in the way of reality. But I'm mostly positive about the somewhat negative data I've been seeing lately. I've read countless times that you should have something other than an ideal weight for a goal. You know: pick a dress or pants size you'd like to get into or lose enough weight so you can wear your wedding ring again.

Or sign up for a half-marathon. Heh. No one encouraged me to do that; it was something I'd wondered about and wished I could do, but I didn't discuss it with anyone before I registered. None of my rowdy friends set me up, and my pep squad grows with each new person who learns of my goal.

One hundred days until race day.

A great big thank-you …

to the recent commenter who recommended Marathoning for Mortals to me. That link takes you to Amazon, where you can order it. This link takes you to a website for the book, with FAQs, the authors' backgrounds and non-Amazon ordering information.

[I looked through half a dozen old posts, searching for the person's name who recommended it to me, and still haven't found it. You deserve more credit than I'm able to give you here!]

It came in the mail yesterday, and I've only read the first chapter and am hooked. Bingham calls himself an "adult-onset athlete," and that's exactly how I feel. Well, today, anyway. Heh.

Of course this means yet another training decision. The MfM half-marathon training lasts 14 weeks and includes two rest days per week. I think to meet my weight-loss goals I need to do some kind of exercise every day. Perhaps they talk about that later in the book. Perhaps I'll just do something crazy like, oh, not rest on a rest day. Gasp. So I'm in the process of deciding whether to switch regimens yet again. The race is 101 days from today; 14 weeks is 98 days. Opinions?

I'm getting kind of a late start – for me – this morning because I actually slept all night. From 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. Gasp again. I've had such trouble sleeping lately and am more likely to be up at 4 or 5 a.m. than I am to be sleeping. I was surprised when I opened my eyes to find the dawn of a new day already breaking over the mountains to the east. Since what I tried last night seemed to work, I'm going to try it again.

The one thing I took away from the Oprah-and-Bob-fest Monday was their advice to stop eating two hours before bedtime. Well, that was Bob's advice. Oprah declared that her rule was to stop eating at 7:30 p.m. Debbi decided 7 p.m. was late enough which, essentially, means the kitchen closes after dinner.

I've been gradually sliding into snacking in the evening over the past couple of months. It started out just a couple times a week, but lately has become a regular habit, and one I want to stop. Since the first reward was a good night's sleep, you can bet I'll be trying it again.

I feel like a scientist. Heh.

One more party!

PastaQueen is celebrating what she's calling her two-year "fat-iversary!" Who will we add to the list next year at this time?

PQ has been a wonderful example for me of staying calm and level-headed amidst the ups and downs of weight loss. She writes well, is very clever and why don't you have her in your Bloglines or Google Reader already?

Speaking of up … that would be my weight this week. After a one-pound loss last week, I'm up two this morning. I can't blame it on anything. I've averaged about 1250 calories/day this week, and I worked out every day except Friday. Maybe it'll go back down again tomorrow.

Prior to starting the half-marathon training, my workouts lasted longer, and that certainly seems to have made a difference. Perhaps I should do the h-m schedule plus an extra mile or two? I just don't know at this point. I know I said yesterday that I'm more focused on the training than on the weight, but I certainly didn't expect to be up two pounds!

That's. Just. Not. Fair.

I lifted weights yesterday – aren't you proud of me? And did yoga, which, as always, is soooo relaxing. I feel some soreness in my shoulders and back, and so will assume I was doing something right.

I played around with my new camera in the afternoon; it is definitely smarter than I am! I was trying to get a close-up of our Bradford pear, which has buds on its branches. Poor thing – those flowers probably won't bloom this spring after the deep freeze we're supposed to get this week. The best of the shots I took was still too blurry to display here, although I did like how the background was completely blurred out. I always had to do that in Photoshop with pictures from my old camera.

Alicia mentioned yesterday's Oprah show on her blog yesterday, which highlighted Bob Greene's new diet book and plan. [Do you s'pose they scheduled that for a holiday Monday on purpose, so those who had the day off could watch?]

Anyway, it seemed to Alicia and to me that Oprah was kind of, um, pushy. I felt some underlying tension. Oprah made a big deal of the photo of Bob with her dogs on the cover of the book – the dogs that he won't allow in his house. Seems they're next-door neighbors, another fact she repeated several times. It was odd. The chemistry they've had in the past just wasn't there yesterday. Perhaps the honeymoon's over? Heh.

Two more things …

I've been meaning to offer one more piece of knitting advice to Denise. So, Denise, watch how you knit. Do you push the needle all the way through, so that the stitch is completely over the shaft of the needle? Or are you knitting with the needle tips only? If so, be sure to use the fat part of the needle to make your stitches. Other than that, I've nothing else to offer! You're right – one shouldn't have to fuss and fume over knitting. It's a very relaxing pastime, once you get into the groove.

And I really should read others' blogs before I post, because Shauna's having a blog birthday! Go wish her well, and thank her for all the encouragement and inspiration she's offered for the past six years. I found her sometime during this past year, and am so happy I did!

Weird weather

I'm not complaining, and am probably – from a glance at the weather maps for the rest of the country – pretty darned lucky. Our weather has been unbelievably warm the past week or so. If I'd had my camera [yes, the lens finally came!] on my outdoor run yesterday, I'd have been able to show you the robin I saw. Yes, I said robin! But Google Images came through with this little guy, so it'll have to do. And, wonder of wonders, Blogger allowed me to upload the image!

This is the earliest I've seen a robin since I moved to the Middle of Nowhere almost 10 years ago. And he's gonna be pissed tomorrow that he didn't hang out down south just a few weeks longer, when the temperature drops 20 degrees and the snow starts flying!

I've noticed a bit of a mental shift taking place lately, something I hadn't anticipated when I started training for the half-marathon. I'm not nearly as focused on losing weight as I had previously been. I'm following the meal plan from eDiets closely, being careful to eat lightly both prior to and after a workout. Usually that means splitting breakfast, having the fruit or toast first and the omelette or cereal after.

I'm also following the training regimen pretty well, except, as you know, for the strength-training, which is part of today's Stretch/Strength assignment. I did some pretty heavy lifting this weekend – something I couldn't have done a year ago, certainly. But I can't really count it as a workout.

The mental shift is that I seem to be perfectly okay with eating well and exercising with a finish-the-race goal, rather than a lose-the-weight goal. And I think this is a very good thing. I'm trusting that if I eat well and exercise, the weight will, eventually, drop.

I'm one month sugar-free at this point. Any sugar withdrawal I might have been experiencing is gone. There's been an opened package of cookie dough in the refrigerator for a week. No unbaked cookie dough has ever remained in this household for that length of time in the past.

It's a miracle!

Or maybe it's just me feeling very good without sugar. I finished re-reading Sugar Blues by William Dufty last night. His "recipes," which include lots of unavailable-to-me Japanese food items, aren't very appealing. I guess I just don't see the need to make a substitute for pie when I can eat an apple instead. Just think of all the time I've saved for knitting!

Who figured out the whole "fill a flour-and-lard mixture with a sugar-and-fruit mixture and bake it until it's delicious thing," anyway? [I know, I know, I should just f-ing Google it, shouldn't I?]

Yesterday was the weekly 'long' run – still just four miles. It was so beautiful outside that I couldn't stand the idea of running on the treadmill. And yet, I still can't run four miles on my normal full-of-hills route. So Mr. Shrinking Knitter and I drove to a spot where a sign points to a recreational boat access two miles down a fairly flat road.

It was a lovely run. I didn't have to stop and walk at all. Unfortunately when we went back to check it with the odometer, it was only 3.6 miles. Really, though, I felt fine with that, and I did it in 42 minutes! That's a better than 5mph pace! And I truly felt like I could have kept on running; I wasn't winded or exhausted at all. Sweaty? You betcha.

We did figure out where the two-mile point on that road is, and since the next two weeks are exactly the same as the last two [I'm doubling up the first two training weeks], I might try it outside again next Sunday.

If it's not snowing by then.

Weekend wrap-up

Here's some X-treme Knitting for you. Not something I'll be taking up anytime soon, either. Well, unless science and medicine figure out a way for middle-aged eyes to get stronger, not weaker.

Speaking of weaker … I'm so lame about lifting weights! What is up with that? I so admire those of you who love it and look forward to it and would rather work out on a weight bench than on a hilly road.

It's just a good darned thing I'm taking 16 weeks to complete my 12-week half-marathon training program. I guess I instinctively knew it would take an extra month to talk myself into following it To The Letter.

According to the plan, cross-training can be swimming, cycling, walking – just about any activity other than running. So I chose to walk, rather than use the rowing machine. I knew my workout would last longer and I would enjoy it more, since I could be outside. [It's sooo unseasonably and delightfully warm here in the Middle of Nowhere!] And then since I was outside and felt so good, I thought I might just run a little, even though cross-training sessions are supposed to be a "rest from running."

I ended up doing four miles in less than an hour, which means I jogged nearly three of them. It felt so good! I was wearing my new training tee, and told Mr. Shrinking Knitter I felt like an athlete. Heh.

He had some weight-lifting planned for me when I got back, in the form of a four-drawer metal filing cabinet which he wanted moved from a storage building to the upper level of the garage. It was far too heavy for him to manage on his own. I got dizzy and felt sick to my stomach trying to help without enough post-run rest, but later we were able to get it into the lower level of the garage. Today we tackle the stairs.

You can see why it was easy for me to forego the barbells and bench, can't you?

How 'bout those Colts? [I heart Peyton.] And those Saints? [The new America's team.] I only wish I could have stayed awake for the entire second game. Heh.

Commenting on the comments

Yesterday was a rest-from-training day, as well as a go-out-for-dinner-at-Outback evening. Not a great combination, but I was so proud of myself at dinner. The 7-oz. filet came with two sides, so I requested a double order of steamed vegetables. When the plate came, I immediately cut the meat in half. I left it on my plate, just in case I still wanted it, but decided that Mr. Shrinking Knitter could have it for dessert. Which he did. I gave myself a high-five for eating sensibly.

We used to go to Outback and share a Bloomin' Onion and a couple loaves of bread before dinner. You don't want to know how many calories are in a Bloomin' Onion.

Today I'm supposed to do 30 minutes of cross-training, which will be the rowing machine. I'm also going to do the strength-training I was supposed to do Thursday. Yes! I will!

Despite parking my ass in front of the computer for hours every day, I don't spend a lot of time here at the blog. I post in the morning and am now approving comments a couple times a day, but usually I'm reading other blogs, working on a graphic design project, e-mailing or playing Solitaire.

Unlike some bloggers, I haven't made a habit of responding to comments with yet more comments, but I really don't know what the ::correct:: procedure is. At any rate, I like responding to your thoughts here, especially when I don't have a prohetic post to publish. [Ahhhh, alliteration!] So that's what I'm doing today.

Denise, try going up a needle size or two to help correct your tension. Tension [or gauge, depending on where in the world you knit] is a combination of yarn, needle and knitter, and pattern writers only take into account the first two. If you're fighting with your work, change the needle size; it will probably help. If not, I've heard wine works well.

Vickie mentioned the Guidepost Knit for Kids outreach program, and I'm happy to repeat the link here. I've donated a sweater or two for them, and encourage you non-knitters to click the handy donation button on their website.

Vickie also pointed out that domesticated dogs differ in their need for food. My own dogs prove this as well. Our younger dog, Hershey, will eat what's in her bowl and move on. Our old girl, Molly, is quite fat and will quickly eat all her kibble and then move over to Hershey's bowl. Since Hershey isn't particularly territorial and eats more slowly than Molly does, Molly usually gets a meal and a little more.

It wasn't always this way. When Molly was the younger dog, she would eat and then go play. Or nap. At that time, Lindy was the voracious eater. But when Lindy was younger and you offered her a Frisbee or a bowl of food, she'd take the Frisbee every time.

So, at least in my pack, age has more to do with food consumption and weight problems than breed. Heh.

Perhaps the wild animals' secret is that they not only spend all their time, but also all their energy searching for and consuming food. I know I sure don't spend a lot of energy gathering and preparing my three squares per day. Jonathan wrote well and wisely about this last night.

I'm glad to hear it's getting cold in Wisconsin! I just can't imagine a mild winter there. When my daughter lived near Milwaukee she frequently said Wisconsin had two seasons: Winter and Fourth of July. I could never plan to visit during the winter months, because I couldn't count on

1. Getting out of my driveway and down my very steep road due to snow or ice, or
2. Being able to land at Mitchell Field due to snow or ice.

I shrank the beret yesterday, but the band is still too large. It's a double-thickness of fabric – not much room for shrinking when the gauge is so much tighter. The top looks great, though! I might be able to slip some elastic in there to make it fit, or I might toss it in a basket to donate to charity. Now to decide what to knit next.

This new free pattern from Berroco is on the short list. Isn't it lovely?

Friday Quote Day

"Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense."

~Thomas Arnold Bennett

How's that for a cool quote for the second week of a "certain task?" Heh.

I had to start moderating comments yesterday. I guess it means I've arrived in the world of blogging when I start getting random spam comments. These were weird, though. You'd probably never have found them, as they were on posts that were several months old. At any rate, I love comments from you ... just not from those nasty spammers.

And speaking of comments, Gaby called me 'scary' yesterday! HAH! She was all worried about her grammar.

I would never criticize how you write or speak [well, except for Mr. Shrinking Knitter]. I only pointed out the lapse in usage of more than/less than because our new Speaker of the House said it and the New York Times quoted it. I probably wouldn't have even noticed it if it hadn't been drilled into me by that editor. [If you're new here, this is what I'm talking about.] And Jonathan pointed out that usage has changed over the years, as language does, so feel free to call me an old fuddy-duddy.

But not scary.

Anyway, Gaby posed this question:

Aren't human beings designed to be preoccupied about food if the supply is uncertain?

I suppose we are, or at least the Neanderthals were. Which is why they went around hunting and gathering and such. If that's all there is to it, then we have a problem of perception. Even though the freezer is stocked and the pantry is full, we must think we're about to run out, and therefore must fill up at every opportunity.

Which, if you're sittin' 'round the shanty pretty much means all day.

You don't see fat wild animals, but you do see fat domesticated ones. Maybe that means we should all get wild, eh?

Gaby also asked for 'any advice you can offer,' but I'm unclear as to whether she wants advice on giving up alcohol or becoming less preoccupied with food. So Gaby, if you're still reading, e-mail me at shrinkingknitter AT citynet DOT net and we'll talk.

Training update: I've been following the prescribed half-marathon training regimen almost to the letter. I'm still not good about doing strength-training, but the continuous running is getting easier each time I hop on the treadmill. Yesterday's mail brought the registration confirmation for the Country Music Half-Marathon, along with a training t-shirt that I couldn't resist ordering when I signed up. And I uploaded my latest running mix to iTunes yesterday – these songs are the perfect beat to keep my short legs moving.

•••

Now's the time on Sprockets where we knit! [Raise your hand if you can see Mike Myers in a black turtleneck in your mind!]

First, I finished the Snakes and Ladders Gansey! I'm going to make a little care instruction card and send it off today, to welcome an adopted child who is coming from China to Wisconsin. From what I hear about the weather there, he might not need a wool gansey in Wisconsin this winter. I hope he'll get to wear it. Actually I hope it fits! It matches the schematic for a 12-month size, and he looks small from the photo I've seen. [Fingers crossed.]
Next, I've been sorting, organizing and culling the stash. I bought two more large – excuse me, LARGE – lidded plastic tubs which are now full. That makes six, and that's just the oddballs that won't fit in the yarn closet. One entire tub is full of sock yarn. So full I could barely get the lid clicked shut. At least the next time I'm in a get-rid-of-it mood it'll all be in one place. [And why can't the get-rid-of-it mood coincide with the organize mood?]
Finally [no photo for this one], I started a beret with the leftover Patons SWS I used for the Lucy Bag a couple months ago. I. Love. This. Yarn. I didn't have enough to do the whole hat, so am mixing in some similar colors of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride to stretch it.

I'm definitely having some fitting issues with my knitting lately, and the beret is going to be too big. Fortunately it's wool and, thus, shrinkable. A woman in the knitting guild I used to belong to slightly felted a beret once and I hope mine turns out as nicely as hers did.

Wouldn't it be great if we could just jump around in a hot shower, rinse off in a cold one and come out shrunken, just like wool?

My blogbirthday wish

Thanks so much for all your great comments yesterday. What a boost that was! I know I try to sound all upbeat and chirpy here [I've declared the Shrinking Knitter to be a mostly no-whine zone], but I will admit to feeling a bit, oh, what's the word? Hopeless? No, that's not right. It's been a year and I'm not at my goal and sometimes I think I should be and what's the word I'm looking for?

Anyway.

Reading all the nice things you said about looking forward to reading my drivel every morning really lifted my spirits. I'm going to print them all out and put them on my inspiration board, which I look at every time I park my ass in front of the computer.

Or maybe I'll put them beside the board. Heh.

Anyway, my most fervent wish has nothing to do with my weight, which probably will surprise most of you, since all-weight, all-the-time is pretty much what I think about these days. My wish is about my attitude, and my attitude toward food, specifically.

I wish I could just not care about food.

You've known people who can take it or leave it, haven't you? Once or twice in your lifetime you've run across someone who saved getting all jazzed and enthusiastic for music or skydiving or getting a good buzz. It's no problem for people like that to skip a meal, to forget it's lunchtime or – gasp! – snack time, to get so busy that hours literally slip away.

Their stomachs may growl, but they don't stop because what they're doing is more fun or absorbing or important than food.

What a concept.

I don't find many knitters who fit into this category. Knitters describe yarn as 'lucious,' 'yummy' and 'delicious.' Knitters include snacks as necessary tools in their knitting bags, and frequently their snacks are chocolate. M&Ms, specifically, because they melt in your mouth, not on your yarn. Some of the newer yarn shops that have sprung up over the last couple years have coffee shops or cafes attached, and what's a knitting get-together without snacks? Preferably homemade and sweet?

So maybe I should take up a different hobby? Not likely. I love to knit, and theoretically you can't knit and eat at the same time. But you can think about eating, and that's where my wish comes in. I want to just not think about it. I haven't yet learned to eat according to my stomach-hunger. My meals are not only prescribed by eDiets, they are prescribed [by me] at certain times of the day, and I rarely miss one.

What if I never learn that? What if I spend the rest of my life thinking about the next meal? This is how I think dieting creates eating disorders.

Yesterday Amy said:

"things are definitely different now that i've lost a bit of weight. like the urgency is gone. it seems it wasn't impossible after all and now the impossible part is to keep going."

I sometimes feel like that, too. That's why I signed up for the half-marathon. It's not just a physical challenge. It's a reason to keep going.

Okay, enough of this serious stuff. I use Google Reader to keep up with my favorite bloggers, and I usually save Laurie for last. I know that nine times out of 10 I'm going to walk away from the computer smiling after I read what Crazy Aunt Purl has to say. Here's what she posted yesterday. Get ready to smile!

Guess who's a year old today?

Yes, the Shrinking Knitter is growing up. But not out! No more getting bigger as we get older. Nosireeee.

It's not my birthday, it's the anniversary of my first blog post. Technically it wasn't my first, as I tried out a couple of other blogging services before I settled on easy-peasy Blogger.

I played around this week with new templates, thinking perhaps it was time for a fresh look. But in the end, I believe in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy. And besides, the pink Blogger template isn't my kind of pink. There are hundreds of blog skin sites out there, but I'd rather sort yarn and clean closets write than learn how to make them work. Heh.

A year ago I wrote:

Today, I feel unfit, weak and horrible. My weight is a constant – I am never not thinking about it. I don't like living like this and I intend to succeed this year.

Part of that remains true, and I doubt that any of you who are reading this and also trying to lose weight would disagree with me. My weight is a constant, and always on my mind. These days I'm not quite so negative about it, but I can still get pretty depressed over how I let my past success slip away over the years. [For those who are new, in 1997 – for about 10 minutes – I weighed 128 and comfortably fit into a size 8.]

But I honestly don't feel unfit, weak or horrible any more. Oh, when Mr. Shrinking Knitter wants to move a 200-pound chrome wire shelving unit from the lower to the upper level of the garage I feel pretty weak. But you would, too! It was heavy!

I couldn't have done that a year ago. No. Way. But we did it Sunday.

If I still felt unfit, I wouldn't have registered to run the half-marathon in April. And if I still felt horrible, I sure wouldn't have stuck with writing these posts, eating prescribed amounts of food and working out almost every day for a year, now, would I?

It's a fact that when I compare my life now to my life a year ago there's a world of difference. And I'm just slightly more than halfway to goal. I won't be able to stand myself! Heh.

Without getting too sappy, I just have to thank you for sticking with, linking to and commenting here on the blog, and for supporting me in my first of many more Years of Living Healthfully.

You're the best.

I guess they didn't see it coming

D'ya s'pose the Buckeyes bought into all the pre-game hype that they were so awesome and wonderful and talented, and then they just let their guard down? I know I bought into it, and was simply stunned at how poorly they played and how soundly they were defeated.

So college football is over for another year, and West Virginia's prospects look good for the coming season. The NFL is winding down, with playoffs in full swing this weekend. I like the Colts, and they're certainly due, but – as Ohio State clearly demonstrated last night – any team can have a bad game at any time.

Still … I got to watch lots of muscle-bound guys wearing tight pants for nearly four hours. I'm just sayin'.

And I got a lot of knitting done on the baby sweater. All that's left to do is one wee sleeve and the neck treatment, which is nearly finished as I type.

Speaking of yarn, I pulled a lot of it out of the yarn closet yesterday, after I vacuumed the confetti. I shuffled things around, made some room on the already stuffed-to-the-gills shelves and just shoved it all back in there. I've culled most of the acrylic already – only found two small batches suitable for the prison – and am just not ready to sell or swap what's left. Yet.

The problem is there's Just. Too. Much. The yarn closet is only part of it. Yarn has taken over a large corner of the guest room, a couple of wicker hampers/baskets in the living room, a couple of shelves of a linen closet and a large portion of the lower area of the garage. [The yarn closet is in the second-floor office/family room in the garage.] So I'm thinking maybe I don't have a yarn problem. It's more of a hoarding problem. It's not like there will never be yarn again, should I need it in the future. Which is unlikely, considering the amount of yarn I have and that I'm getting older, not younger. That damned age thing.

I'm going to try again today.

Yoga went well yesterday, as did the weight training, as did food. And I lost a pound this week.

Every time I do a yoga DVD I realize how much I like it. Practicing the poses allows me to see what parts of my body don't work very well, but also what parts do. I can usually coax myself to stretch farther, stand straighter, breathe more deeply, the result of which is I really want to take better care of myself. That little bit of yoga helped me eat better all day. Of course a football game isn't much fun without snacks, but I'd prepared a fresh vegetable tray and enjoyed having something to munch on without feeling overfull.

All in all, a very good day.

Well, except for the final score.

I almost forgot ...

GO,
OHIO
STATE
BUCKEYES!

[I'm a Buckeye,
born and raised …]

I promised film; will digital do?

This photo represents my own personal wet t-shirt contest. At my age! Scandalous! Even with that sweet little grandmotherly smile I'm sure I would scare little children if they saw me immediately after a running session.

But. I. Did. It!

While my time is nothing to brag about, I'm more interested in just not collapsing in a heap before I reach the distance goal. With my short stature, I'll never be a speed-demon. So it's endurance we're working on.

I did a quarter-mile warm-up at about 3.5 mph, four miles straight at 4.5 mph and then a gradual decline in speed for another quarter-mile. Sixty-one and a half boring treadmill minutes. And as you can clearly see, I was quite a puddle of sweat when I finished.

Today's schedule calls for strength training and stretching, and for once I'm looking forward to both. I'll do a yoga DVD for the stretching.

I also wanted to show you the detritus from the confetti machine shredder we just bought. I still haven't cleaned it up, but that's also on today's agenda. I'm not saying I could have been any neater than Mr. Shrinking Knitter, considering the amount of paper he shredded. But he sure didn't try very hard to hit the trash bag, did he?

He has my work cut out for me. Funny how when he gets on a cleaning, purging, straightening up, organizing kick, I'm the one who gets to clean up the mess. Harumph.

But he's inspired me to empty the yarn closet again. It's been quite a while since I've done it, and each year I find more "What was I thinking?" yarn that I will either sell on eBay or donate to the prison. [The acrylic goes to the prison; that's best for their purposes, as the items they make will all end up being machine-laundered.]

I ate reasonably yesterday and wasn't crawling through the pantry looking for something – anything! – to pig out on late in the day. For most of last year I rarely snacked in the evening, but in the last few months I've been very sloppy about that. I feel like I need to shake myself for picking up that poor habit again.

Last week I weighed myself on Tuesday instead of Monday; I'll keep doing that this year since that's how I started out. I've no idea what to expect, but I'm hopeful! Hope you all had a great weekend!

Oh, now I get it!

That's how you're supposed to use a scale!

So I mentioned the ODD story [that would be Obesity Drug for Dogs] to Mr. Shrinking Knitter, whose immediate comment was that humans control what dogs eat – dogs aren't tempted by commercials or ads or even tasty offerings in the buffet line at Ryan's. Oops! Where did that come from? Heh.

Dogs are tempted by smells; just open a can of tuna in my kitchen and you'll hear little doggy toenails clickety-clacking all over the house, hoping I'll dump the fishy water in their bowls. But they sure can't dump it themselves.

The very idea of developing a canine weight-loss drug means just one thing: Pharmaceutical makers have done their research. Pet owners will buy anything. Oh, and also? Their patents must be running out and they need to pump up their profit centers.

Grrrrr.

On today's training schedule is a four-mile run. I haven't run four straight miles in 10 years, folks. Film at eleven.

Oh, fercryinoutloud

The title of this post is about all the comment I can muster about this new development in anti-obesity pharmaceuticals.

A little knitting

When one takes a rest day from exercise, one doesn't have much to add to the fitness-related conversation.

Does one?

Mr. Shrinking Knitter and I went to the nearest large city with a Sam's Club yesterday and bought a shredder. Yes, we're finally taking responsibility for preventing identity theft. I just wonder if his sudden desire to get one – he's always thought it wasn't necessary – is related to the recent rash of home burglaries in the neighborhood. At any rate, he made a lovely mess last night and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Before I show you the new knitting project, I will say a few words about yesterday's food. We have a couple of gift cards for the Outback Steakhouse, but didn't realize they weren't open for lunch. I had checked for nutrition information online before we went and was prepared to spend the calories. Well, we went to Ryan's instead. Because Mr. SK likes Ryan's.

For those of you not familiar with Ryan's, it is an Evil Buffet. Oh, they try to provide healthful choices, with their sugar-free cherry pie and grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. But seriously. It's a buffet. They're not in the eat-this-because-it's-good-for-you business.

And you know what? I thought I did really well. I made what I thought were sensible choices and reasonable portions, but when I added everything up in CalorieKing, I had eaten 948 calories.

For lunch.

My Outback lunch would have been fewer than 600.

A thousand-calorie lunch on a rest day is not a good combination. On the plus side – that would be me! The plus side! – I wasn't hungry the rest of the day, and we decided unbuttered popcorn would be a good snack during the shredfest.

Okay, here's the knitting. I've started a red gansey for my daughter's friend's adopted Chinese son. I'm using the excellent instructions for the "Snakes and Ladders Gansey" in Beth Brown-Reinsel's Knitting Ganseys, a book I frequently recommend to new knitters. You can't see the "snake" cables yet, because I've only made one twist so far. I'm nearly ready to begin the underarm gussets.

The yarn – Toledo by Neveda – is something I probably picked up on eBay eons ago, and is a superwash wool. I'm enjoying working with it very much … too bad it's discontinued! It's a DK weight, so not too heavy. I don't much care for chunky sweaters on babies.

So that's today's photo. Heh.

Yesterday I was watching the birds fighting for food at the birdfeeder. I thought I was snapping a shot of a woodpecker. Really, there was a woodpecker at the feeder when I framed the picture. But by the time I snapped the picture it had turned into this sweet little guy! [I'm not very fond of woodpeckers, as they have done a lot of damage to the walls of our garage. But they are photogenic. Just not this time!]

Today is supposed to be a cross-training day, for only 20 minutes. That means the rowing machine, and from the looks of the sky that seems like a good plan. I'll also lift weights and do the crunches.

I'm so psyched that someone else who reads the blog will be in Nashville for the half-marathon! I hope we get to meet. Thanks for contacting me, and thanks to everyone else who took a minute to comment yesterday. I'm glad you're here.

Friday Quote Day – and a rant

A long one today, and so appropriate for the end of the first hard week of the year:

"Don't let the fear
of the time it will take
to accomplish something
stand in the way of your doing it.
The time will pass anyway;
we might just as well
put that passing time
to the best possible use."

– Earl Nightingale

This was how I felt last year at this time, although I can't find where I wrote about it. I've heard of, ahem, mature citizens adopting this philosophy when they decide to go back to college to finally get their degrees, as well.

And it works. At least it worked for me in 2006. I might break my arm patting myself on the back, but I never gave up for the whole year. My weight loss was slow from the get-go, and eventually stopped in the fall. I even gained back a few pounds. But I kept [mostly] doing what I was supposed to do, and I have confidence that continuing on this path will bring even more success in 2007.

Do I wish I was at goal? You bet. But I see now that I was a tad overoptimistic last January, considering the amount I wanted to lose, my age and the many times I've gone through the lose/gain cycle before. But at this point I'm more than halfway there – and I know I'll never be finished – and I'm learning that I need to take my rewards as they come. Those rewards right now include having more energy, breathing and moving more easily and wearing smaller sizes, among others.

Yesterday turned out to be a beautiful day. The rain didn't start until after midnight. But I ran on the treadmill anyway. After a five-minute warm-up at 3.5mph, I started jogging and increased the speed to 4.5mph, and stayed there for 3.25 miles, then gradually reduced the speed for five more minutes to cool down. Proving to myself that I really can run a 5K. Heh.

Pretty boring, though. Even with the Shuffle and SportsCenter visuals, I couldn't wait to be done. I also did my little weight-lifting routine. I almost forgot about the crunches, but I managed to work them in later in the afternoon.

I went to a drug program graduation ceremony at the prison yesterday afternoon, where I knew I would get my daily dose of feel-good. They never disappoint. The graduates have attended a nine-month residential treatment program during their incarceration, will soon be released to halfway houses and upon release will be working, raising their children and getting to know the world again. They're scared and apprehensive and brave.

Each class dedicates a song to the next group. I get a lot of my inspirational music from them. Yesterday's was called "I Need You to Survive," a gospel song by Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir. Not. A. Dry. Eye. Including mine, of course, and it's available on iTunes.

Project 365 has now morphed into 363 for me. Sigh. One of the suggestions at the P365 website [link fixed] is to take your camera with you everywhere. I guess that would help. I've not adopted that habit yet.

To Kit, a big thank-you for your suggestions in yesterday's comments. I especially appreciate the book recommendation, and will look for it soon.

Update on the grandson/son-in-law mittens: My grandson called to thank me and said, "I love having mittens that match my daddy's." So I think they were a hit. I've worn mine twice now and they really are great. What was I waiting for? What are you waiting for? Heh.

Today is a scheduled rest day, something I haven't had for a while. But Mr. Shrinking Knitter and I are going to be out and about, so at least I won't be sitting on my ass all day.

Now for the rant. Here's a Nancy Pelosi quote from today's NYTimes:

"It’s an historic moment for the women of America.
It is a moment for which we have waited for over 200 years."

Nancy, it's MORE THAN, not OVER!

That grammatical error bugs me as much as any other. Maybe more than. Heh. At one time – back in the Dark Ages – I was a typesetter for a monthly magazine, and I can't tell you how many times our editor sent copy back to correct that misuse of a word. Eventually I got confident enough to make the corrections as I was setting the type. I wonder if the editor thought all her writers and reporters suddenly took remedial English courses after I started doing that.

Okay, I'm done now.

This and that

The folks at Diet-Blog have published a round-up of sites which offer workouts for iPods and MP3 players. I subscribe to djsteveboy's podcast, which means once a week I get to leave the dial-up connected for, oh, about 10 hours while it downloads the newest mix. After I peruse D-B's list I may as well just turn "sleep" mode off and leave the computer running 24/7.

There are a couple likely prospects that focus on strength training. Since that's my weakest area – heh – I think that's where I should go first, don't you?

Thanks for all your support about the half-marathon. I got a call back from my doctor yesterday, who said go for it – no stress test, EKG, whatever necessary, and to call the office when I finish to let them know how I did.

Have I mentioned before how much I heart Dr. C? Oh, yeah – I think I have.

And I think it's so cool that some of you are looking for your own races and even thinking about entering the Nashville one. I've never done any kind of organized run before. I'm not worried about the running part – it's the registering, finding where to get the computerized timing chip, wondering if I'm wearing the right gear. That's the crap that immediately gripped me. That's also the crap that usually stops me from trying something new. I'm sure I'll figure it all out once I get there. I've looked for 10Ks within a reasonable distance from the Middle of Nowhere in February or early March, just to get the experience, but haven't found any. Yet.

Denise mentioned yesterday in the comments that she'll soon be learning to knit. I want to point to three great knitting sites for her and for anyone else who might have stumbled over here lately. [My blog traffic has doubled this week!]

• Knitting Help offers free videos on a huge variety of knitting techniques.
• Knitting Pattern Central has collected and categorized thousands of free knitting patterns.
• wiseNeedle provides a huge database of user-supplied yarn reviews and advice.

I did a four-mile walk yesterday. Although I tried to push it up to a jog, I made the mistake of wearing a heavy cotton hooded sweatshirt and ended up having to tie it around my waist – not a comfortable way to jog. But I walked purposefully and was back home in 62 minutes. That's the fastest I've ever walked four miles.

This is the mildest winter I can remember since I've moved to the Middle of Nowhere. Ten years ago this month we had a blizzard. Yesterday I was running in a long-sleeved tee. I'll take it!

Today will be another weight-training session, and a three-mile run. I'm thinking of doing it on the treadmill, since it's supposed to rain all day. That's subject to change, of course – I could end up doing four miles outside in the rain.

Two words

Half. Marathon.

Yes, kiddies, I did it. Yesterday I registered for the Country Music Half-Marathon. I have 115 days to train.

I routinely run/walk 5K distances and, before I hurt my heel, was doing 10K distances two or three times a week. The half will be a challenge, but I don't think I'll kill myself either training or running it. And if I do? What a way to go! Gasping for air, clutching my chest and being trampled by 18,000 runners as I crumple to the pavement.

Just to be safe, though, Mr. Shrinking Knitter asked me to call my doctor to see if I should get a stress test or an EKG or whatever fancy assessment tool they've developed these days to get more money see if one is fit enough to exercise. The nurse will get back to me if I need to schedule something. So far I haven't heard from her.

So who's going to join me? C'mon ... you know you want to!

I hope you're sitting down for this next bit of news, and I can only assume you are since most people don't read blogs while they're on the treadmill. Although I think it can be done. At any rate:

I lifted weights yesterday.

On the weight bench. Barbells and dumbbells and leg lifts, oh my! Two sets of 10 of half a dozen moves, plus forty-five freaking crunches!

Look out, Rocky.

Okay, I'm a little full of myself this morning, aren't I? Heh.

When I let the dogs out this morning, I was inspired to grab the camera to try to capture the image of the moon shining above the trees in our front yard. This is not at all what I saw. But it's pretty cool, and it qualifies as a photo, so I can say that my own personal Project 364 is underway. Pop-up Paws yesterday, moonset today.

Yes, it was early.

It's rather amazing what a mental boost it gave me to actually fill out that registration form and submit my electronic cashmoneybucks. Up until yesterday I'd been waffling – do I or don't I want to make that commitment? When I woke up, I just knew it was what I wanted.

One of you commented quite some time ago that there's a huge difference between a half and a full marathon. Thirteen miles, give or take a tenth or two. At that time, I shared your reassurance with Mr. Shrinking Knitter, who tends to be a little lot less impulsive than I am. [That's why we make such a good couple. He puts the brakes on while I hit the accelerator, and we get where we're going safely.] So now he's going around telling everyone he knows that I'm training for a half-marathon.

Cool.

Pop-ups still popping up

See?These are the ones I started New Year's Eve day, and finished last night. Paton's SWS [which stands for Soy Wool Stripes] is the yarn, and I still have enough left from two balls to make a pair of fingerless gloves. I think. Or I could combine it with some solid tan or pink for a coordinating hat. This yarn is soft as buttah; it would be a shame not to knit and wear it.

None of my winter outerwear, however, is burgundy, pink or tan, which is what those colors are supposed to be. Oh, well. A fashion plate I'm not. But you already knew that after you saw yesterday's photos, didn't you. Heh.

Thank you for your kind words and for not laughing so loud I could hear you all the way out here in the Middle of Nowhere. Once again your comments have spurred me on to be a better little weight-loss blogger. And the best way to do that is to be a better weight-loser. I forgot to mention it yesterday, but I lost a pound on my Monday-morning date with the bathroom scale. Weigh-ins have been haphazard and depressing around here lately, so that was a pleasant and welcome surprise.

I ran in the morning, then watched West Virginia win the Gator Bowl. We had guests and that always makes watching a game more fun. When you don't drink and you're trying to eat sensibly, the fun has to come from the football. A vegetable platter, low-fat cheese and diet soda just aren't too exciting. Our victory celebration dinner was all the good-luck New Year's foods I could manage: roastsed pork tenderloin, sauerkraut with apples, steamed carrot 'coins' and Hoppin' John, which I lighten up by using cooking spray and Canadian bacon. I also served roasted root vegetables, deviled eggs and a sugar-free apple pie. Sounds like a lot of food, but I was careful and didn't stuff myself.

I feel so damned lucky.

I fell asleep during the Fiesta Bowl, but Mr. Shrinking Knitter said it was the most exciting game he's ever seen. ESPN said the same thing.

I've already blown Project 365, as I didn't think to take a single picture yesterday. Good thing that wasn't a resolution! I think when the new camera lens gets here I won't have any trouble at all taking pictures every day.

Yesterday morning held a promise of spring; I ran in just a t-shirt and sweatpants. But the weather turned suddenly in the late afternoon, with lowering clouds, lots of wind and spitting rain. It's in the low 30s now, but maybe by this afternoon I can get outside for a long run. Haven't done one in quite a while and I think it's high time.

And now that all the holiday hoopla is over and we can get back to normal – whatever that is – I hope you have the best normal day you've ever had!

Hey … it could happen.

In with the new!

I'm so glad the new year is here. In spite of my continuous efforts to eat right and maintain some sort of intentional activity level throughout the holidays, January 1 feels like a new start. And how serendipitous is it that the first day of the new year happens to fall on a Monday? Don't we all like starting over on Monday?

Here's the progress photo – January 2006 to January 2007.

Note to self: Remember to choose a more flattering shirt for the February photo!

I love that grey shirt – it's a waffle-weave cotton with pouch pockets for whatever I need to carry when I walk, so I wear it a lot. When I look at myself in a mirror it doesn't look so … um … lumpy. But you know those cameras: They never lie!

[My husband gave me a digital SLR for Christmas, but the lens still isn't here. The fast-talking salesman told me it was a professional lens and "distortion-free." I think I'm the perfect subject to determine if that's true or not. Heh.]

I'm gearing up for the half-marathon training regimen I'll be following for the next four months. I think I calculated that the schedule begins January 7, and I have to be able to run three miles continuously before I take the plunge. I can do it on the treadmill, and I hope that counts. The only time I could run three or more miles straight outside [on our hills] is when I was at my lightest weight.

A loooooooooong time ago.

I didn't make it until midnight last night, but when I went to sleep at 10:30 p.m., I was thinking about what a wonderful year it's been. I got married! That was the best. I stuck to a sensible eating plan for a year! I've re-established regular exercise – or intentional activity, as I like to call it – and I've become more active in non-intentional activity. [Yesterday's steps? 11,970!]

I'm not making a list of formal resolutions or goals. One of my favorite quotes has always been:

If you keep on doing what you always did,
you'll keep on getting what you always got.

Or something like that. In the past, I've been motivated to stop doing things that have led to unpleasant results. Drinking too much immediately comes to mind. But this year, I'm looking at that saying in a new way. What I've done this past year has yielded pretty darned good results. Half the weight I want to lose is gone. I'm in good enough shape to train for a half-marathon. I'm well on my way to reaching my weight-loss goal and I'm learning – from many of you – how to keep it off.

So I need to keep doing what works. One of those things, as I mentioned yesterday, is blogging. I'm going to keep up with the progress photos, whether they show a difference from month to month or not. Knowing you're all out there snickering at today's photo – especially compared to August and September – is really motivating me to post a knockout picture in February.

I truly value the effort and courage, humor and heart, you share when you publish your blog posts. I'm grateful to you blogless readers who take the time to comment and offer your support. I'm humbled and inspired to do better when you tell me how I motivate you.

Believe me, it's the other way around. Happy new year to all of you.

Out with the old!

For some reason that title makes me want to scream: "Off with her head!"

Remember adorable little Ray in Jerry Maguire? "D'you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds?"

That'd be one way to lose a little weight, eh? Talk about your weight-loss surgery!

I'm not against WLS, by the way. I feel very fortunate that I've never had to consider it as an option. Alcoholics frequently choose the 'easier, softer way,' which is what I'm doing now, in my opinion. Working out and eating healthfully seems easier to me than submitting to a surgeon's knife. And I've seen enough WLS programs on Discovery Health to know that I'd be scared to death to take that route. Those who do are brave beyond measure.

So. Out with old habits, old behaviors and old attitudes.

Even though I'm not at my goal weight, which I'd hoped to be a year ago, I have to say this year has been a success. I've learned what it takes, what it will take and what I can comfortably do. More important, I've learned that I don't need to be comfortable. A little discomfort is a Good Thing – pushing myself to jog instead of walk, tacking an extra mile onto the walk, just being hungry and waiting out the hunger a little bit longer.

Although true hunger is something I've probably not experienced since I was an infant. And, knowing my mother, probably not then, either.

This year has been tremendously successful in discarding old attitudes. I wanted magical weight loss. I wanted a treatable disease. I wanted instant results.

I've learned there is no magic, I'm healthier than most 55-year-old women and patience is at least as Good a Thing as discomfort.

I've mentioned previously here that blogging is the secret to my success. If you've stumbled onto the Shrinking Knitter in your own quest for a new you in 2007, welcome! Blogging is just another word for journaling, which you'll often see suggested in the list of helpful weight-loss strategies. I use Blogger, which is easy as, ahem, pie to set up. So jump in! Start your own blog! You don't have to tell all.

If the idea of blogging makes you uncomfortable, then write in a book, or start a diary file using your word processing program.

However, keeping your thoughts to yourself can be dangerous. Those who regularly read my blog have been supportive, confrontive, helpful, and did I mention supportive? I live in the Middle of Nowhere, socialize very little, and pretty much keep to myself. I've found that I need the network which has developed among the bloggers I read. I'm sure I'm missing some good ones … one can only spend so much time on one's ass in front a computer, after all. Limits, people, limits!

I've replaced poor habits and unhealthy behaviors with healthy alternatives. No more sneaking snack-sized candy bars into the garage and hiding them in the freezer to have one-at-a-time for just 60 calories each, only to polish off the whole package before the day is done. No more whipping up a batch – albeit a small batch – of pseudo cookie dough when an overwhelming craving takes over. [This vice goes waaaaaay back. I can remember mixing sugar, flour, shortening, vanilla and a little bit of milk in a bowl and eating it with a spoon when I was in high school.] While a tray of crudites isn't quite as sexy as chocolate, it's handy, nearly calorie-free and I don't have a sugar hangover when I'm done plundering it.

No more sitting on my ass all day. No more driving the 1.6 miles to the post office [if it's not raining, I walk. And sometimes I walk when it is raining.]. No putting off until tomorrow what I don't want to do today. [This was hard, because – since I don't work – there's always tomorrow to get something done.]

One of my big lessons learned is to Do It Now. [Except for lifting weights. Heh.] If the floor needs cleaned, I get out the dust mop. Our laundry basket is never overfull. Dishes don't pile up in the sink and the coffeemaker is loaded and ready to go every night.

Now don't you go thinking I'm perfect. Just because the main part of the house looks nice doesn't mean I want you snooping around in the guest room, which is the clutter-catcher. But last year I didn't want you dropping by. I was uncomfortable with every part of my life – how my house looked and how I looked. And what's happened is that as I've improved, so have my surroundings.

Next year … the lawn!

Kidding. I kind of went off on a Flylady tangent there, didn't I? Sorry about that. But the underlying point remains the same: I've improved. Simple as that. Every one of us has room for improvement.

My strategy for 2007 is not much different than for 2006. I've switched my eDiet menu plan from Glycemic Impact to Low Sugar. I've sworn off sugar, once and for all, which seems to attack my body like poison. I've learned that daily exercise is as vital to weight loss as eating healthfully is, and that it's more vital to my emotional well-being. The better I feel, the more I want to keep doing what works.

It's taken a long time to figure this out. But, God willing, I'll have a long time left to keep on keepin' on.