Diet

Most people think of this word as a short term eating routine that will help them lose weight. Really diet is what we eat.

Instead of thinking short term its better to think of long term. Sure we all have our favorite things to eat. Some are better than others. What will make you feel good? If you have ever stop eating fast food and then go back to it, you will find that it makes you feel bad. Then you have to stop and think, was I feeling that way the whole time and didn't notice?

Believe me packing my own lunches for work and eating and resting feels good. Its so much better than running around and chasing fast food. It also saves a lot of money. I didn't think that way when I was younger. I ate at a local place so much all the staff knew me, all of the shifts. At that time I was just so happy to have money and not have to do all the cooking. I had been the family cook for years and I needed a break.

These days I am happy to eat at home and take my left overs to work. My mother would never do this, unless I packed it for her. These are lessons I learned from my grandmother. She used to work at a company not too far from where I live now. Year in and year out she packed her lunch and went to work. At that time there wasn't a lot of places to eat at anyway. It worked for her. When I go to the lunch room I hardly see the girls I work with. All of them eat at restaurants, they would have more money for shoes if they didn't. Oh well.

The other thing is that I can control my diet. I can put in unsweetened tea and yogurt. Things that will make me feel good when I get back out on to the sales floor. Let me tell you, a good apple tastes so much better than something with MSG.

Work Out

These days with the rain and sun coming and going, I haven't been to the beach. I might tomorrow.

The other thing is that I have been working at a job that is very taxing on my body. When I was younger it was easier. Now it is so hard to get through the week. I feel I need to rest more. I am no longer used to being on my feet for 8 hours a day.

It really takes a toll on my body. Its so difficult to admit and to deal with. The way I have been dealing with it, is taking my vitamins and sticking to the diet my Dr has me on. The rest is getting enough sleep and using my cooling lotions on my legs when they are tired. I have had to use quite a bit of pain pills, I don't like to, but there is no getting around that one.

On my days off I have been taking my dogs for their walks and getting a good stretch. The rest is making sure I have proper foot wear. The younger girls were flats with no arch support or high heels. Both of those would kill me. The good thing about being on my feet, I am not gaining any weight.

I am trying to work up to 40 hrs. So far working two 8 hr days kills me and I have to lay down. Today I have a short shift and I am grateful for it. I have a lot I am grateful for, and having a job, even an exhausting one, is one of them. It can be a bit of a work out on the job, at least I'm not wasting away on the sofa getting fatter.

Move

In my belly dance class I am still learning new moves and using my muscles in new ways. The dancing helps so much in keeping me moving and wanting to do more.

Others I know run, and I mean marathons. Sure it is a commitment and I never sign up for that, dancing and surfing are their own commitment. When I really practice other dancers can see my progress. The best is getting pats on the back from your fellow dancers.

I have been looking up music for my next dance, and it is so enjoyable. Not only listening to great music but thinking of how to dance to it. What moves will I use, can I incorporate new moves and improve on the old ones.

I think of this, as I walk the dogs or do my dishes,but I never move funny or spin out on the street as film makers would have you believe dancers behave. Instead I dance in my living room and put the dog outside for a bit so I don't run into her. She is old and sleeps a lot.

There is no date for my next dance, so I have time to work something up. Since I have been deep into my 80s music it will no doubt be used to help me figure out a new routine. In the mean time I will dance and move around the living room. Why not?

Keep Walking

In the last few year I have really been working on keeping up my exercise routine. I can not say that I do that all the time.

Last year when I was depressed I hardly walked my dogs or went for a walk. It can be really hard to find the motivation. For myself, it is not to get huge. I am not the size I want to be, but I don't want to get any bigger.

As it is I have lost weight and will continue to do so, especially now that I have some clear goals. These are, to cut down on my carbs and I have stopped drinking soda all together. While doing my recycling earlier this week,I realized I had been drinking way too much soda and had tons of plastic bottles to get rid of.

The next came from my DR, who wants me to spend one hour walking every day rather than two hours every few days. My dogs have not been happy with the shorter walk time. They do know the hour we will walk and they line up at the back porch around 4pm waiting for me. I love it, their interest helps so much.

This week I was in Down Town LA and had a chance to walk around. I have not walked there in years. I hiked up to MOCA, up Grand Ave, not and easy task. Yes, I was sweaty by the time I reached the top but it was good for me. Later I swam in the pool all before diner. My reward, some cute things at the gift store. All of this reward, and I still need to keep walking.

Winter LA Style

Yes, once again I am happy I live here. There are reports of heavy snow all over the country and we have sunshine and warm weather.

What do we do with it? In the last two weeks I have been walking my dogs one hour everyday. We have the spa running again and used it twice over the weekend. This last Sunday and Monday we went to Huntington and walked along the beach at sunset.

One of those evenings we took our dogs to the dog beach and had a great time. We stopped and had a picnic in the truck went it got too cold. The dogs had a great time and like little kids, were jumping around on the way there, and slept on the way home.

Last night I was in down town LA and there was a bit of chill in the air. I still took some time to swim in the pool. I made sure to make the most of my time and did laps and exercised in the water. It made it better since we had a big meal following that. The hotel is geared for the business man and there is a gym,but why stay indoors when it is 70 outside?

In the past few weeks I have really been focused on my health and my diet. I have lost a few pounds, but mostly added more veggies to my routine. That has been a big help in feeling better. The rest of the country may be knee deep in snow, and good for them. We have a chance to walk and exercise in the warm air. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Winter

Even though we have short and mild winters in So Cal, we still have them. This winter I need to get out on my board.

My friends are going to Costa Rica for a surfing holiday. I would love to join them, but not this time. Not to mention I wasn't invited. Haa HAa.

In the mean time I am still doing my belly dancing and my work has me on my feet all day. The result is that I am still losing weight. Even with all the turkey and biscuits around.

Its not that you can't enjoy things as long as you don't over do it. I can say that I have taken my own advice and I did walk the dogs after a big turkey diner. It helped me feel so much better, than if I had just laid around on the sofa.

I have to get ready for work and have to cut this short today. Make sure to drink plenty of water and rest in this busy time of the year.

Always be working

Not that there isn't time to vacation and relax in the evening. I have been trying to find a job for quite a while. Now I have one and would like to keep working.

The other thing I keep working on is keeping active. Last week I did take my own advice and walked the dogs after a big dinner. It wasn't easy but it worked and I felt better afterwards. This week with my new job I will be on my feet quite a bit. Something I have not done in years.

Even with all the big meals I have lost a few pounds. Which will make it easier to be on the sales floor. The less I weigh the less stress on my legs. Still a bit sore but not bad.

The other thing I need to work on is getting back in the ocean, the confines of my car and how far I can drive it has been in the way. Instead of complaining I went to find out how much it would be to fix it. The house needs more work and with being busy again it helps me do even more and get going.

The other thing I have to work on is making sure my man and I have good lunches to take to work. With only a half hour for work the need to warm something up and go is imperative. Since I haven't had to worry about that for a long time, so I forgot how nice it is to have a good home made meal to eat, rather than take out.

I also need to be more bold and smile more. I caught a look at myself in the mirror. What I thought was a smile was more like a half smile/frown. Great, some thing else to work on.