This is me on a hike here in my lovely neck of the woods. I rarely am the focus of a picture as I am usually the photographer

(and not gonna lie I like it that way)

I joined a friend of mine from book club on a hike with her meetup.com group yesterday.

It was a fun way to get some exercise AND meet some new peeps!!!

Consider this lil pic my latest update to my health...

I am happy with my progress so far, 22 pounds since I started late last spring. I had hit a plateau after losing the first 17 pounds...went 3 months last fall where I didn't lose anything.

Though to be positive I did not gain either!

I made myself a "plan" to follow for this year to hit my goal as my total goal of health & weight loss is to lose 108 pounds total from my start weight.

I have 86 pounds to go in 34 weeks.

That is a rate of about 2.5 pounds a week....we shall see if I hit it on time, but I will be happy with a continued loss and feeling healthier!

err on the side of caution

wow

Just got home from an all day baby shower for an old friend.

I drank a few glasses of wine between noon and 9pm, but since I had

eaten and stopped drinking in the last hour I felt good to drive.

Now let me preface this by saying I am the girl who doesn't drive after having one drink usually.

I feel that a DUI is just silly to receive as I value my life & others way too much to risk it, besides it being exceptionally expensive!

Well, I got on the freeway to drive home, played with my stereo and reached over for my water when the lights of a highway patrolman flashed behind me.

I was asked for my license and asked a number of questions in regards to where I had been and the amount of alcohol I had consumed.

I was honest about it all as I felt safe enough in my sobriety.

Then he gave me a series of tests at which point it appeared as if I was worse off than I was

(my balance sucks big time & following a black pen in the dark is not so easy)

so he asked me to blow into the breathalyzer.

Now at this point I started to think perhaps I was not as good as I thought I might be?

I asked if I had to take it and he informed me that if I did not it would go by his judgement and he erred on the side of caution.

I still felt as if I would be good and thus choose to take it.

I blew a .04 (which is below the legal limit)

that made it so I could get away with a warning, but it scared me to think it could have even been a factor. I was also told by this very nice (not bad looking CHP man) that if you are pulled over and blow over a .05 you can be arrested for drunk driving. *

I can only tell you that for me personally this was a wake up call to re-enforce my stance on not driving after consuming more than one drink.

In addition I intend to focus on my solely on driving, no drinking, eating, playing

with the stereo or phone while in the car!

*

•DUI — driving under the influence of alcohol — is a serious offense in California, with criminal penalties and drastic consequences. The blood alcohol limit is 0.08%, but you can also be charged regardless of blood alcohol amount if the police can prove you were affected by the alcohol. (And remember, regardless of DUI offences, in the US the legal drinking age is 21).

on it..

I have now worked out each day for 8 days in a row.

Got to say this whole getting healthy thing is starting to get a little bit easier.

trying to mix it up each day, but sticking with yoga each day as it is vastly helping my back.

So, far in my first week of actively being aggressive with exercise I only lost a pound...but hey that is a pound!

Got to focus on the positive stuff right?

goals..

I am slowly getting back on track with my diet and exercise after the holidays

(and being sick for over a week)

slowly though...

I bought a couple new pieces of furniture, which in turn meant doing some serious cleaning & furniture re-arranging yesterday. I felt that since I did 3 loads of laundry, which meant 6 trips up and down my stairs, and this cleaning that could serve as exercise for the day.

Thinking I am glad I didn't do more as I am sore from all that lifting today.

Tomorrow it is yoga & zumba once more.

I have a goal to hit by the end of the month & won't get there by sitting on my couch watching tv.

fun times

Had a fabulously fun weekend with some old friends, some of whom I haven't seen in years.

Got to catch up, take pics and share memories.

Back to the real world today with work & errands, though I did some fun shopping also.

Found a store recently that has adorable stuff and sadly it is closing.

however the closing means a SALE (woohoo) at which I splurged a bit.

Got a neat corner bookcase which will necessitate doing some serious furniture re-arranging on my day off tomorrow in between loads of laundry.

This is my idea of fun though, nesting and organizing my home.

goals

Watching "I Used to be fat" on MTV at the moment.

It is actually kind of motivating, lol.

I also put a calendar on the wall in my bedroom this am to stare at each day to remind me of my goals.

Each month I put my "goal" weight for the month and also a goal food or exercise wise.

This months is to work out 3 times a week in some manner for 30-60 minutes.

I'll be keeping the numbers to myself as I am not willing to admit that as of yet...maybe when I meet my first big goal I'll share just where I started at....maybe!

Thanks for the support and love

honesty...

OK, I am really putting myself out there with this one.

This is a picture I took back in the summertime (7-10)

When I started really pushing to lose weight and make serious changes to my health.

The past year have brought mental changes to how I look at myself and my struggle with weight. I needed to let go of the idea of a perfect body and look at this as a battle for my long term health.

I don't want to enter into my 40's overweight.

So, as part of my goal I am going to post a picture of my start even though

it scares me to really bare it all!

Each time I lose 25 pounds I will put on that same super flattering ensemble and share with you my lovely followers my accomplishments!

Going into this in a positive manner...I will succeed : )

however feel free to send me good vibes and love in my journey!

new year, new intentions

Starting off the new year with an intestinal bug of some sort that is kicking my butt in a big way. I am tired of the ever so bland diet I have been on this week...bananas, bread and lots of water. BORING

On the plus side I lost 5 pounds in the last couple of days, ha ha.

I had a mellow NYE in with a couple of girlfriends, a small amount of champers right at midnight to cheers. Other than that my night was alcohol free due to this tummy issue.

It appears that if I put in anything my angry lil tummy doesn't like it lets me now ASAP.

Thus I am being super careful about my choices...and as much as I wanted that champers & brie I was good and had none.

boo hiss

Here is a wish that you all have the best year

much love and blessings my friends