Peace Source

In one of Farty Girl's recent posts, she talked about a place that provides constant peace. My most peaceful place has been the pool whether it's indoors or out. Must admit, though, outdoors moves me more.

Yesterday, I chose the pool over yoga although I could have stretched myself and done both but I'm trying not to run myself ragged.

I headed out to Hazira's where the pool is at, asked her to put sunscreen on my back, stole a couple of bites of watermelon and stayed in the pool for about two hours.

I got in about 15 minutes of swimming before I got chatted up -- first by a woman who left her daughter in the shallow end while she talked to me and next by a man who was there with his wife and kids. Apparently, the wife and kids had other people to talk to.

I darted underwater whenever one of them got distracted as I tried to get in at least 30 minutes of swimming.

I missed yoga, though, because I'm finding that it's been a place of peace as well.

After swimming, I headed to Hazira's and ate more watermelon. I'm really digging the ritual of swimming then watermelon. Apparently, I like water inside and out.

Wednesday: more sunscreen, swimming and watermelon. ☺


What's been moving you lately?

Tiptoeing Through The Water

I was ravenous after swimming 21 laps so I had a light garlic and herb Laughing Cow wedge and some Deerfield oven crisp crackers. Still hungry after the cheese and crackers, I wondered what to eat since it wasn't quite time for dinner. I remembered that I hadn't had any fruit so I had some watermelon which was very good. As I sat down to eat my watermelon, I remembered a time when I would put salt on it. As James Brown would say, Good God! Who introduced adding salt to watermelon? And why mess with perfection?


Today, for the fifth time, I was able to swim the front crawl for 25 meters without stopping. It definitely wasn't pretty. For you veteran swimmers, the front crawl is no big deal but I struggle mightily with the breathing. I do feel like I'm making progress, though, as I continue to experiment with different ways of breathing.

And, by the way, the front crawl was not the only thing taking my breath away; the water was so freaking cold at the indoor pool that I felt like this poor creature tiptoeing through the water at 0:10.

Latest Strategy

One of my colleagues peeped into my office and asked if I had changed anything about my diet. Not really I told her. I recently dropped veggie chips but that was about it.

This colleague is the one who gave me Skinny Bitch to read and, although she looks quite petite to me, she still wants to drop more weight. Later, when I saw her by the shredder, I told her that I was trying to stay on top of the water and that I exercise like a maniac. In turn, she told me that she hardly drinks water or exercises.

Forty ounces of water is a good day for me. I know that most experts recommend more but I'm satisfied if I can get down that much. My latest strategy is to eat oatmeal with a banana before I leave for work. Once at work, I drink at least 16 ounces of water before I touch my morning snacks which usually consist of Dannon All Natural yogurt and fruit (watermelon or apple or kiwi et al.). It used to be a labor to get down two cups of water but, now, it's become easier.

My cousin just hooked up with a personal trainer and he recommends that she drink 96 ounces of water a day. I told her that I'm sure that she'll lose weight that way because there won't be room for anything else in her stomach drinking that much water.

I think that I should have also told my colleague that I'm still not eating fried foods, I seldom eat out and I keep track of what I eat. In addition, if I have Annie Chun's Peanut Sesame Chow Mein Noodles And Sauce for dinner, I don't go near the peanut or almond butter in the same day.

And, by maniacal, I mean that I exercise six out of seven days and usually for an hour and I don't use my exercise session as a reason to overindulge -- even if I participate in a half-marathon.

Proper Addiction

When I get addicted to something, I have a proper addiction which sometimes works in my favor.

I packed my gym bag but didn't feel like going to the gym. Instead, I gathered some stuff and got the ol' bicycle out.

First, I stopped by the library since I had an overdue Time magazine. I had already turned in two Time mags hoping that they were the NOT renewable one. Finally, I found the overdue one which had fallen behind my bed.

So far, I've managed to rack up $1.00 dollar in fines. As you can see, most of the books are cookbooks or fitness magazines.

07/30/2009 OVERDUE
$0.15 Time.

07/15/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 Basic swimming, by Robert Kiphuth and Harry M. Burke.

05/20/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 Health.

05/11/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 Painting for dummies / by Katharine Kaye McMillan and Patricia Hart McMillan.

05/05/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 The food you crave : luscious recipes for a healthy life / Ellie Krieger.

04/29/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 The ultimate weight solution cookbook : recipes for weight loss freedom / Phil McGraw.

04/29/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 Cooking light low-fat, low-calorie quick & easy cookbook / [editor: Deborah Garrison Lowery].

04/17/2009 OVERDUE
$0.15 Bon appetit.

04/07/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 The ultimate weight solution cookbook : recipes for weight loss freedom / Phil McGraw.

04/07/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 Cooking light low-fat, low-calorie quick & easy cookbook / [editor: Deborah Garrison Lowery].

04/07/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 Health.

04/07/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 Shape.

04/07/2009 OVERDUE
$0.05 Make it super simple / with G. Garvin.

03/11/2009 OVERDUE
$0.15 Fast food fix : 75+ amazing recipe makeovers of your fast food restaurant favorites / Devin Alexander

After I biked to the library, I deposited a small load of magazines in the recycle bin further up the street then I headed to the park where I saw a dog photography session, a rabbit, walkers, runners and these creatures.


I paused to watch the sun work its magic on my return trip.

Once I put away the bike and got settled in, I ate some cold watermelon that was very refreshing.

The Things My Grandmother Gave Me

In a record five minutes, my grandmother offered me Popeyes, greens, watermelon and V8 Diet Splash (10 calories per 8oz serving).

I didn't bother to reiterate that I'm not eating fried foods.

My grandmother insisted that I take a peach fruit cup that she scored from Aldi. Put it in your bag, she said. Then she went back for a plastic fork. Later on, g'ma wanted to give me a biscotti mix (with decorations still lingering) that
she got for Mother's Day. I didn't want to take it but she insisted. When I looked at the ingredients, the fat content was actually not that bad. I'll either try it or give it away. I also left with the hand fan (also from Mother's Day) that I had forgotten last Sunday.

When I was visiting my Aunt Al later on, she asked me if I wanted a soda. No, I say. I can't tell you the last time that I had a soda. What do you drink then?, my aunt wanted to know. Water or green tea, I report.

Actually, I do remember the last time that I had a soda. It was in October and I was fresh off disembarking from a cruise ship. I had half of a white soda which broke an almost two year streak of not having the stuff. I had already sinned greatly -- eating at midnight, ordering room service, one dessert, two desserts, lots of cheese etc. etc. Even though I exercised while the boat was rocking (kudos to me), climbed the stairs and walked laps around the deck, I had a five pound cruise setback. Never, ever go on a cruise (unless it's a fitness one) if you are trying to lose weight. Cruises appeal to your basic human desires and even though it seemed mathematically impossible (an extra 17,500 calories) for me to gain five pounds, somehow it happened and I did not feel good at all about the gluttony.

After Swimming

My fascination with the pool continues and, for awhile, I had the pool all to myself.

That's 21 laps in the old fitness log.

The weather was perfect. When it's sunny, the wall is like a movie screen for the waves of the water and sunlight.

I was so hungry and sleepy after swimming. I ate dinner, healthy veggie quiche, half of a sweet potato and Roma tomato, immediately followed by about 1.5 cups of watermelon.

The good thing about watermelon is that it’s water heavy and low in calories. I forget that about fruits and vegetables at times.

My mother says that if she is sleepy and hungry, the desire to sleep rules. Since it was only about 7:00 p.m. when hunger and sleepiness struck, going to sleep was not an option since I’ve had bouts with insomnia.

I managed to keep my head up and finish a few tasks before sleeping tight.