loser

I lost 60 pounds last year. It would be even more impressive if I hadn't gained 30 pounds last year. 

I lost about ten pounds during the first few months. I was walking almost every day. But I could only walk so much because of the arthritis in my ankle.

I said that when I lost 40 pounds, I would get back on my bike. I had 30 pounds to lose then I hurt my foot and could either sit and gain the weight back or try my bike. I tried the bike and felt so much better. Yes, there is hand pain but only when I am on my bike. The ankle pain would sometimes continue all day and even keep me from sleeping.

I lost more weight. Enough that my clothes fit again. Then they started getting loose. Once I lost 40 pounds, I found many of my clothes too big. I did not need to unbutton my bottoms to take them off. I had some shirts that were a smaller size and I started wearing them. I even found a stash of brand new clothes I could now wear. Most of the new clothes are sleeveless workout shirts but there are a few I can wear now. There are a couple of knit short and knit pants that are OK to wear around the house.

I would love to buy a new wardrobe but don't have the money and hope to lose more weight. I did buy some clothes for work and then had to buy more once those grew too loose. I got some shorts on clearance and a couple pairs of jeans to wear on my days off.

One of the big problems is finding a bra. I don't have the boobs that come with being fat. I found some bras I wore years ago and they worked. They were stretched out some but looked better than sport bras. With machine washing, the underwires twist and poke and break. Now I really new new ones.

I was a little disappointed that no one has noticed or said anything. I saw Bridget in the beginning of December and she noticed. (It probably helped that I was wearing work clothes that fit.) I shouldn't need a pat on the back, but I do. I do not have any "before" photos of me in a full body pose. But I can see it in my face.

mountain hut, day 2

mountain hut, day 1

I love this mountain so much, I bought it!

december cycling recap

December biking is the saddest looking month since I began riding in April. I rode 151 miles.

Week 1
Work is taking a toll on my biking. I just don't have the motivation or time to ride more than one loop. I rode 61 miles. 

Week 2
The cold killed my riding this week. I don't have the gear to ride when the temperatures are below 50°. I did reach 2000 miles for the year but only rode 20 miles this week. 

Week 3
The cold eased off and I managed 4 short rides before work. Work leaves me achy and tired. Cycling relieves many of the aches. I rode 40 miles.

Week 4
My work hours changed and I couldn't ride before work. I should have ridden on Christmas but I got lazy. I only managed 2 days of riding, 20 miles.

Week 5
Another short week of riding because of work. Though I did get out and ride on New Year's Day, it doesn't count for my December goals.

Work is really active. I work on my feet and walk a lot. I expected to lose weight with this new activity. I didn't. I tried to eat well at work. I did until the support breakfast. I made the mistake of eating a chocolate chip muffin and couldn't stop the carbs. I only lost 3.8 pounds. I lost 60 pounds this year. 

Year to date: 2080 miles

happy new year!

After seven years of photo of the day, I have decided to call it quits. Besides having to go back work, I found myself dreading coming up with new ideas. I have wanted to stop for weeks, even months, but felt the need to finish the year.

Funny enough, I have finally found popularity on Flickr with my POTD posts. I don't want to lose my followers, so I will still post Lego photos. I hope to posts once or twice a week with more elaborate vignettes.  I will still post my Lego calendars of Doyle.

november cycling recap

The MUP is still closed. The pipeline work is done but now there is a new development going in and they have it blocked about halfway down the road.

November has 5 Saturdays. I biked to Flatwoods. It was cold and windy. I had planned on doing 2 laps and 30 miles. But then the wind got very strong. At one point, I felt like I was just pedaling to stay upright. I decided not to push it and only did one loop and rode home. The way home was against the wind.

Week 1. I rode my bike everyday. Some days felt like a struggle until I realized I was biking harder than I needed to. Saturday was cold and windy again. I decided to skip Flatwoods and ride north, into the wind. I rode towards Zephyrhills. State Road 54 does not have a dedicated bike lane but the shoulder is wide enough. I only managed 26 miles. Perhaps next week I will go farther and maybe explore some of the developments. I rode 93 miles.

Week 2. Andy decided he wanted to ride bikes after school but before dinner. We went out Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday I rode my 820 so I could ride slower. On Thursday, I got my first flat since I started biking again. A long wood screw embedded itself into the rear tire. I was 2 miles from home. I decided to try to replace the tube instead of walk home. It took a while but I finally got it replaced. I couldn't pump enough air into the tire but I hobbled home. I took the wheel to Oliver's. The man said it was still rideable but I could feel it and didn't trust it. It cost me $50 for a tire, 2 tubes (one as a spare) and their labor. They had a heck of a time getting the new tire on my rim. The weather was crappy on Friday but I rode because I wanted the miles. I couldn't ride Saturday because ANdy had Special Olympics Fall Classic bowling in Orlando.I finished with 91 miles.

It's been years since I changed a flat and had to read the directions. Getting the tire off the wheel is the hardest part.

Week 3. I began working this week. I had to reduce my biking on the days I worked. Cycling is important to keep riding even though I  am walking a lot more for work. Cycling doesn't hurt and it gets the blood flowing to help heal the aches and pains of walking all day. I rode 87 miles this week.

There is another construction block along my usual route so I switched my route. The road is busier but it doesn't bother me. More cars = less pedestrians.

Week 4. I only rode 3 days this week. It rained twice and I had to work at 6am on Black Friday. Riding helps me forget about the pain of working. I finished the week with 42 miles.

I rode 340 miles this month. I lost 10 pounds.

back to work

I have to wear all black. Am I a ninja?

I finished my first week of work in 15 years. It was better than I expected and a lot tougher, too.

I got a seasonal job at Macy's working on the recovery team. We put clothes back from the fitting rooms, we straighten up the racks and refold the clothes. I never realized what slobs people can be until last week.

I signed up to work 5 days. Then I found they increased my hours. My first day was 7 hours. My back and feet hurt after 2 hours. I made it through and was glad to have Monday off. It took until Tuesday for my legs to stop hurting. I worked Tuesday and Wednesday and was sore all over again. The work is not difficult but I am not used to being active and on my feet. It is good for me and hopefully the pain will stop soon. 

I worked in juniors and men's and women's. I felt most comfortable in men's clothing. Finding where clothes belong is not too difficult and it is quieter. The male employees work in the men's so I moved back to juniors. I do not know nor understand fashion. I do not recognized the brands. 

The people I work with seem pretty nice. Most are younger, in their early twenties. One older woman has another job and one is returning after a long time at home like me. It is difficult to really talk to anyone when we are meant to keep moving. 

My step count has really jumped. I walk over 5 miles on the days I work. I am grateful that I can wear sneakers. I didn't know that the first day and wore some new Børn shoes that weren't as comfortable. 

I had signed up to work Saturday but then decided to advertise the shift. This means anyone else can pick it up. Someone did and I was glad not to have to work three days in a row. I did end up with just under 30 hours for the week. We are supposed to work twenty hours or more. 

I pack my own meals and snacks. For the 7 hours shifts, we get two fifteen minute paid breaks and one 45 minute (unpaid) meal. We have to clock out for the meal. It is weird to eat at odd hours. (I like my routine.) I try to eat some at each break. I find that I adjusted well enough and am not as hungry at certain times like I was before. 

I had hoped to ride my bike to work but when they extended my hours, I decided not to ride home in the dark. I am still riding in the morning before work. I don't go in until 11 which leaves time. I find I am more productive on the morning before work. Even when I am achy, I find riding makes me feel better. It gets the blood pumping to heal the tired legs, feet and back. I have lost 4 pounds this week.

I cannot keep up with Twitter. I tried the first couple of days. It is just too much work. I stopped trying to visit Bike Forums on the day I work as well. It is a good thing to step back from social networks but I miss it. I really miss being home for the boys. Andy came home on Friday and was upset. Andy told me about it. I asked dad about but he didn't know much. He isn't as perceptive about their moods as I am.

october cycling recap

This guy stopped his truck on the path to do something on his phone. He was oblivious that I was waiting for him to move.

I really like riding my road bike despite the hand pain. I had thought I would ride my 820 in wet weather. But I just didn't want to go slower. 

I am not skilled enough to hop over this hose.

I am still trying to find the ride spot for my saddle to lessen the hand pain. I wish I had the money for a professional fit. Though it would have to be redone as I lose weight. 

I got a mirror for my bike. It's OK.

I did my first organized ride on Sunday, October 5. I was supposed to meet Ron from BikeFourms there. I got impatient and cold and he was late. I rode alone. I rode just over 14 miles and went back. Organized rides do not excite me like they used to do. Riding alone is OK, no one is expecting more than a few words. I feel awkward standing alone at rest stops. I usually don't stay long. And when the ride is over, I just go home. I can do all this with the added driving if I ride around my neighborhood.

I moved my saddle forward a bit. I found I felt a bit better. I also tipped it up to level it out. I am still looking for the best riding position to stop the hand and shoulder pains.

Withlacoochee Trail

I only rode 60 miles during week 2. I took off Monday as a rest day after the Withlacoochee Rails to Trails ride. I missed my Saturday ride to go on the World Wide Photo Walk with Bridget. I wish my dad understood that cycling is so much better than church. I wish I didn't feel like an 8 year old.

The cows are usually not so close to the fence. I stopped to take some photos. They moo'd at me.

I rode 100 miles during the third week. I rode two loops each week day and 25 miles on Saturday. The weather was good. 

I rode 106 miles during the fourth week. The weather got cooler and I got. My SheBeest tights. They were longer than I expected, I was expecting knickers and these are capris. They keep my knees warm and the chamois is wonderful. I was still having some issues but riding with the SheBeest tights made it go away. I realize now that the Terry chamois is too narrow and the seams were chafing. I wish I could afford to but some new shorts or a skort from SheBeest. That will have to wait and maybe the weather will stay cool so I can keep wearing the tights. I rode 30 miles on Saturday at Flatwoods. I felt pretty good afterwards. I realized I need to start increasing my mileage if I plan on my age on my birthday. I have about 2 1/2 months to be able to ride 50 miles.

I saw some deer one Saturday morning.

The last week ended on Friday so I didn't have my long Saturday ride included. I missed Thursday because I went on Andy's field trip. The tights continue to feel good. I have noticed less knee pain. Is it because of the compression of the tights?

I finished the month with 675km which is 419miles. I was hoping for 360 miles so I am pretty happy with this. 

Construction is mostly done but the path is still not suitable for riding.

I lost 7.2 pounds. 

september cycling recap

With the boys back in school, I could ride longer each day. I should have been looking for a job but I found riding to be more relaxing. 

I had a goal of riding 300 miles this month. I accomplished in just over 3 weeks. 

The weather got at touch cooler which was nice. But it also windy which was awful. Wind is such a struggle for me.

Mostly I rode just around Meadow Pointe. I found a route and stuck with it. It didn't get too boring because I have to keep alert for cars and people on the MUP who don't think anything of walking in the middle of the path.

cat eye safety light

planet bike super flash turbo mini

The sun was coming up later so I had to get some safety lights. The ones I had were ruined from battery corrosion. I would have gotten the same lights but things have changed and they are no longer made.

1995 trek 1220

My road bike was finally ready near the end of the month. Riding it was terrifying and great at the same time. I felt like I did in April. I knew how to ride but I was anxious. The road bike is such a different animal. The new gears took some getting used to. My hands don't tingle as much but there is more pain as I learn to ride in this new position. I wish I could afford a proper bike fitting. Riding in the wind is much easier with the road bike.

Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration is easy to mix with water. They are lightly flavored.

I started using Skratch Labs electrolyte drink mix on Saturdays. I still overdid it a couple of times. Luckily I was at home when I started feeling dizzy.

serfas Rx women's saddle

I got a new saddle for my 1220. It is a split design. It felt good right away. I had Sarah move it back a bit. I was happy that my shoulders and elbows no longer ached. That is, until I rode longer than an hour and the familiar pains came back. I lowered it a touch and found that my knees stopped aching. I wish I could find an adjustment to make my hands stop hurting. 

I ended the month with 408 miles and lost 6.4 pounds. 

orange you glad you aren't a bully?

The boys are wearing orange in support of Unity Day. Unite Against Bullying.

I saw it in a tweet last night and asked Andy if he had any orange shirts. "I'll have to find out." I knew he had a long sleeved shirt in orange and mentioned it. "What shoes will I be wearing?" Whatever shoes you want to wear? "I will wear socks and tennis shoes." Did someone tell you to wear those? "I don't know."

Both boys have some odd "rules" they have placed on themselves. It is a coping mechanism to live with things they cannot control. Andy prefers to wear short sleeved shirts, shorts and sandals. If he wears a long sleeved shirt then he "must" wear sneakers and socks. OK.

I went to tell Ryan about Unity Day but he already had an orange shirt pulled out to wear. I looked in his closet and saw he had several orange shirts though he doesn't wear them. The long sleeved shirts in his closet had a layer of dust on them. Ryan doesn't wear long sleeved shirts unless it is very cold. He will only wear them outside the house and change when he comes home. 

This morning, Andy got dressed and came to me, "I found this one." It was an orange short sleeved shirt. He hasn't worn it much and it looked new. Andy wears mostly grey t-shirts from Cotton Bureau. I think it is because they are so darn soft. Andy was happy that he didn't have to wear sneakers and socks.

It was 66 this morning. Both boys were in orange t-shirts, shorts, and sweatshirts.