This and That and the Other Thing

The last 48 hours have been a blur.

Work has been crazy, but we put the next edition of Intuition Magazine to bed this afternoon, so that was huge.  Really like this issue, it's fun, very holiday.  The cover is beautiful, which has everything to do with our model Lindsey, great photography by Paige and design by Jolene.

One of my bosses and dear friends is leaving, we had her going away breakfast this morning.  I ate too many eggs AND had hash-browns - I know, I let my emotions eat for me.

Yesterday, I had a strenuous workout with Gwyn at the YMCA Healthy Living Center.  Tomorrow I am going to find a video of the torture exercise she likes to have me do, um, it's hard.  Whine. But I also know my abs greatly benefit, so I am torn. ;)  The day before that it was a water workout.  Those are really hard, but I love them.  I have even taken to doing an almost identical one at least once over every weekend.  I am seeing nice results.

Today, no workout, but then Thursday has become my day off.  Tomorrow it's back in the pool or maybe upstairs with weights because I missed Monday.  (No voice.)

I just finished writing a press release for a special concert that will be announced tomorrow morning.  That's all I can tease, but I promise details over the weekend.

Okay, that was enough rambling for three people, so I am going to wrap up and finally go home.  Good night.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Do you pay her to do that?

When I train in the pools at the YMCA Healthy Living Center with my personal trainer Gwyn, we are quite the draw for those with a natural curiosity - today was no exception.

I had put in 25 minutes doing laps and then Gwyn came to join me in the lap pool.  We took over the lane as she had me run up and down the length of the pool.  I did tons of jumping jacks, ab work and swam with water weights as my arms made their windmill through the water.  Between my laps and her workout, I am sore and tired, but invigorated.  I have come so far and it feels great.  The little ladies at the pool have a different view....

Most of the ladies are older, especially since I workout during the day, and they aren't rockin' the killer attitude I am.  They are there to stay fit or if they are trying to get fit, throwing a punch under water never passed through their mind.

I fully admit, we draw attention to ourselves, we splash around like a herd of horses drowning.  But I love their reactions, it really makes my day.  They sometimes stare, sometimes laugh and often comment.  The most popular question is "Do you pay her to do that to you?"  I always smile and says, "Yes, I want to work this hard."  That's met with head shakes, further quizzing or people wanting to ask Gwyn about training.

I actually love it.  I love telling people about how hard work pays off.  About how great Gwyn is.  And when I hear the words that make me go to the gym 5 or 6 days a week, not "you are looking good", instead - "you are inspiring."  If I can help one person feel the urge to go to the gym or eat healthier and therefore they live longer, I have done my job and yes, I would pay for that.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Day 2 in the Water

Ankle is better, just not best yet.  Gwyn let me do water again today.  I will be going back on dry land tomorrow.

This is going to be short, running out the door to "9 to 5: The Musical" at the Civic Center.  Hoping to score some girl power.

Tomorrow:  Gwyn's list of what you need for a home gym.

Yours in Health,
Kate

This is Definitely a Monday

My ankle is being iced as we speak.  I twisted it, in bed, early Saturday morning.  And no, I wasn't doing anything fun.  I had fixed the blanket, laid on my side and very groggily pushed up to my pillow with my feet and twisted my ankle.  Now that's ridiculous.  So, it's day three of ice and Aleve or Advil.

Yesterday I did a water workout and trainer Gwyn at the YMCA Healthy Living Center has agreed to do one today as well - lessoning the impact on my ankle.

There have been a few other rocky moment this morning, but the biggest bummer is that a friend/boss of mine is leaving.  She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders, a real innovator and great teacher, nothing will be quite the same without her.

All of that said, rather than dive into a box of chocolate, I will keep busy today and sleep early tonight.  That will give Tuesday a fighting chance.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Looong Week and Lots of Rain

Yes, it has been one of those weeks.  Lots of stress at work, lots of silly people in the world outside of work (and that's being kind) and the rain simply won't abate.  I am sitting here, listening to the water pour onto the roof at work as I finish my duties before heading for a workout.  That's the one area in my life that has been o.k. this week.

I had three great workouts with trainer Gwyn at the YMCA Healthy Living Center.  She even put me on a cardio machine I wouldn't have tried on my own - and it worked.  I wouldn't have tried it because I was afraid the pushing down and swiveling around would leave my knees aching horribly.  As luck would have it, it left me sore, but otherwise alright.  In fact, I am still feeling my glutes throb, which is good, because my glutes need plenty of work.

Now I am going to go work things out in the water of the exercise pool - I know, I could just stand outside and get soaked to.  Here's hoping tomorrow's sunny forecast holds or we will have fall floods to match the spring and summer ones. ;)

Tomorrow:  Introducing Dr. Sheldon Cooper

Yours in Health,
Kate

The Latest on Workouts

Trainer Gwyn loves to kick my butt.  And I love it too.

We warm up every session with 15 minutes of cardio.  Then lately we've been doing a lot of heavier weights.  Tons of different moves to tweak every possible location in my body.  It's a great way to bulk up my muscle, which helps me burn more calories and slowly change my shape.  I'm not going out for Ms. Olympia, but I know that the more muscle I pack on the better my bones are protected and the better I feel.

At least one day a week she and I are also in the pool.  If you think this is for wimps - wrong.  She often has me start with laps, which is hilarious because I am a total crap swimmer.  LOL.  In fact, I probably burn more calories trying to do it than a professional swimmer because I am flailing around.  Doesn't matter though, I try and that's all that counts.

She also has me do weights in the water, running and the ab work she had me do the other day I felt more than I have been on land, nice.  Water is also where I am on my days without Gwyn.  I switch between the lap pool and the exercise pool.  Even on the days I think, "I can't workout today, I'm not feeling great", I know the pool will make it better.

Today was a lot of biceps and triceps.  I suspect picking up a tissue will be a toughie tomorrow, but it's totally worth it. :)

Yours in Health,
Kate

The Weekend is Over - Darn it

I woke up this morning just exhausted.  Basically one of those days that an IV of coffee wouldn't have been out of the question.  Now, I just ate a ton of broccoli for lunch (Lori would approve) and I am swelling like it's Thanksgiving - you can have too much of a good thing.  ;)

Anyway, the breakdown of the weekend:

I worked Saturday morning and then headed to the YMCA Healthy Living Center.  My muscles were beginning to ache from mowing the lawn on Thursday night and I knew I needed to stretch them out.  So I did a water workout.  This is when I realized that my right foot was hurting on the outside because I made the mistake of putting the mower at an awkward angle in an attempt to make the lawn look nicer on the hill.  That's a big joke because really the 'lawn' is just clover, creeping charlie and a hand full of grass blades that valiantly sprouted from spring seeding.  Which, of course, explains why, by yesterday morning it looked like it needed to be mowed AGAIN.  Ah, spring in Iowa.

Then on Saturday I went to my grandmother's to help her move pictures from her desktop computer to her new lap top.  Grandma is 81 and one of my biggest inspirations.  She is forever on the go with my grandfather.  When I call, I never know where she will be - Arizona, Missouri, South Dakota - she has places to go, hence the new lap top.  I am going to be just as go-go at her age!

On Saturday night it was Wine Fest.  I ate way too much cheese, but took it easier on the wine because you can easily dump what you don't like and I liked very little of what I tried.  But it was a good experiment to find out what I do like so that I don't waste calories. (That's what I told myself.  :)   )  I did find a new favorite, I like sweet and white and it's called Risque, it's sparkly too!  Also I was reminded that red wine is bad for Kate. 

I took four drinks of a glass of red, it was really good and then promptly broke out in flop sweat.  I was like, "Man, it's really humid in here." And then I looked at Lori and she was fine.  She said, "Remember, red wine makes you sweat."  I had totally forgotten the 'sweat through my clothes' incident at the Naturally 7 show.  Ugh.  Thank goodness we were able to go outside in the breeze so I could dry out!

Yesterday, no drinking, just lots of work and one chocolate chip cookie.  I was working an event at a church and the little ladies really wanted me to eat.  I said no thank you, which didn't go over that well.  So, then they came with the second round offer and they got one past me - homemade chocolate chip cookies - now that's a weakness.  But I split it with Shelley from Sales, so it wasn't as bad.

Then for dinner last night it was veggie burgers, potatoes from the farmers market and the first corn of the season from Indiana.  I know, that's wrong (not being from Iowa), but Lori bought it and I couldn't help it.  Sweet corn on the cob is one of the things that makes it okay that I have to sweat my butt off every summer.  :)

Well, I better go, enjoy your day!

Yours in Health,
Kate

Mid-Week Wrap

It has been a long week (yes, I know it's only Wednesday) with little in the way of useful blogging, so I thought I would cover the week thus far and end with a funny story.

Monday - It was a lower body workout with trainer Gwyn at the YMCA Healthy Living Center.  This was when I found out I use my left leg to push back as I pull the mower up the mini-hill time and again in our slightly sloped yard.  My left calf felt like it had been ripped apart and when I commented to Gwyn, she made the very common sense query, "So which leg did you use pulling the mower up?"  This is why I love her! 

Then Monday night it was on to Intuitive Eating class at the Mercy Weight Loss and Nutrition Center.  Two weeks away had left some people feeling they had lost momentum.  I personally felt about the same, though disgusted with my lack of ability to push away the 'food police'.  (Cue Cheap Trick's "Dream Police" because this is what I hear in my head every time dietitian Katie uses the phrase.)

Anyway, the 'food police' can be anyone including YOU.  It's the rules that are put into place around food and most of them can be damaging or at the minimum, useless.  We tend to pick these up from every diet we have ever tried, our parents and in magazines.  In your mind, as you debate food they can sound like - "You can never eat brownies because you never stop at one." or "The fat in that will go right to your thighs."  The first one assumes failure and the second is just plain biologically incorrect.

The food police can be outside of you as well.  It sound like, "You aren't going to eat THAT are you?" or "What do you mean you don't want ice cream?"  The latter is food police/ food pusher all rolled into one and it's that one that I struggle with most.  I am bad at saying 'no', in fact, I suck at it.

I am a people pleaser, even if it makes me plumper.  I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by turning away that homemade cake or not joining in the social communing of ice cream sundaes.  But really, for the temporary hurt it may cause (or probably won't and I am just being hyper-sensitive), I am only hurting myself.  I hurt myself by eating the things that aren't good for me, but also by giving up my control and my choice.  No one else should have that power but me.  I have to work on this.

One of the big things that we work on on IE class is that no food is 'bad'.  There are better choices, but if you REALLY want that chocolate cake it's better to have a small piece now than deprive yourself and binge on the cake itself later.  Or worse yet, eat what you think you should eat, it doesn't satisfy you and you keep eating everything in sight because you are hungry.  Truth be told, you are not hungry for just anything, you are hungry for the thing you have denied yourself and your body won't really be satisfied until you follow through on its original craving.  It all makes sense when you look at it, but we have spent so long dieting and denying that we have lost all ability to tell what is real and imagined in with our hunger and food cues.

Tuesday:  It was all about upper-body with Gwyn.  I love working my arms and shoulders, even when it's hard and my arms end up jelly.  I love that my collar bones have made a slight appearance and that I am getting muscle definition back in my biceps - both of these were goals from the beginning.  However, I had another 'lawn mower' moment when I whined that my right bicep really hurt and Gwyn and her common sense spoke up again, "Would that be the arm you used to pull the mower up those hills?"  LOL.  Duh, yep.

Wednesday (um, today):  I worked out with Gwyn, today was core.  In the middle of the workout something slipped in my back and balled up my muscles.  Now every time I bend too far to the left or breathe too deep my back hurts.  But that didn't stop me from finishing the planned workout.  I did skip the third set of planks though, because that made it hurt the most.  When I was trying to figure out why my back hurt out of nowhere, Gwyn commented that it might be the mower again, because that would be the motion of pulling the cord to start it.  Again, she may be on to something as the elderly thing required about 30 pulls to get it started, even with priming.

I sat in the steam room and then took a long shower, it feels a little better.  But I'm sure after sleeping on it tonight, it will be very stiff in the morning.  That's why I am planning a water workout.  It always helps to get in the water and get the extra stretch that buoyancy allows.

And as for the funny story...

I go to the gynecologist today and am sitting waiting for the doctor.  And waiting and waiting.  I went to ask how much longer it would be and they apologized - he was called away to deliver a baby!  LOL.  You can't argue with that.  He came back as quickly as he could and then they rushed me through with further apologies.  I asked if the baby was happy and healthy, the doctor said, "Yes" and I told him, "Then there's no need to apologize."  :)

Yours in Health,
Kate

Spinning Just Within My Control

I am having the kind of week where, if I don't have a note telling me where to be next, I will forget everything.  So, sorry I forgot to blog yesterday, it's getting crazy.

Quick workout updates with Gwyn at YMCA Healthy Living Center:  Monday was lots of upper body, tough but good.  Tuesday was a morning water workout when I confused my times for physical therapy and refused to waste a trip to Clive.  Then with Gwyn in the afternoon it was kickboxing and core, still loving boxing - even used my new gloves.  Today it was lower body and some core and to be honest, compared to the other two days this week, it was easy.  However, the first two were really hard, so it's all relative. 

My dad is doing well post operation for his hip.  Thank you for the kind words via e-mail and post.  He is doing two PT sessions today, so he will be exhausted tonight.  I am so busy I am probably not going to get to Mercy West Lakes to see him.  The good news is he is on track to check out tomorrow.  BTW - I wanted to share my opinion of Mercy WL really quickly.  Now, no one has asked me too, but I have to gush. 

What a beautiful facility!  It's actually visitor friendly, you can find that cafe and the patient rooms are the nicest I have seen.  I am really impressed.  Plus, the staff are a great bunch of pros and really on top of things.  I have felt completely comfortable with my dad being there.  I even rested my eyes for a few minutes in the lobby on his floor when he needed some privacy and it was so serene I nearly fell asleep - not what I think of when it comes to a hospital.

As for me, my PT went well this morning.  I was noting to Kara that after a weekend that went like mine, my knee would normally be screaming, if I could walk at all.  Now, after just a few weeks of therapy, it is a bit sore, but that's it.  I'm not finished yet, but I feel like I can see the sign to find the end of the tunnel.

Well, I have to go, I have two interviews I need to do this afternoon for LITE 104.1's Outstanding Women You Should Know.  I will tell you more about that as soon as I get chance.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Busy Sunday

Busy seems to be the only adjective in my life.  I worked this morning, worked out at the YMCA Healthy Living Center - kick board and water weights - then off to dinner at my mom's, watch my nephew's soccer game and on to make the most of a sale at Lane Bryant.  Whew.  Then I actually did a load of laundry, of course there are like five more that need done - but hey.

Right now I am tired.  But tomorrow I will crow about my fabulous nephew and his superstar soccer skills.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Pushing the Knee

I met with Kristi at the YMCA Healthy Living Center for physical therapy today.  She took me upstairs to try my knee on the bike.  I was surprised it was relatively pain free.  Then we tried some other exercises.  One of the ones that really pushed my luck was standing on one leg on a balance disc.  My hips are so twisted that to have the least amount of pain in my knee, I had to stand sort of sideways. 

Kristi believes my hips are a big part of the problem.  The way they align, when I lay down my feet go out to the side instead of staying straight up and down, like normal people.  She did a lot of stretches and realigning to work on that.  One area that stretched as well was my left calf, which has also become a problem.  She said that is because it's trying to make up for the weakness in my knee.  It's a busy place in my left leg. LOL.

After I was done with PT it was on to the pool for a workout.  You wouldn't believe the amount of effort it takes to move weights through water or do crunches in the water.  It's pretty cool and by the time I am done I know I have worked out. 

Yours in Health,
Kate

What a Week!

I apologize for not posting since Monday, but I have had my worst week in a while.

Tuesday I was feeling better, so I worked, worked out with Gwyn, did physical therapy with Kristi and then went to the dentist.  I had my teeth cleaned and then headed to the mall to return some shoes.  I was just sitting down to try on a different pair when - WHAM!  My heart started racing.

I tried to breathe my way through it.  I tried to write it off as an asthma attack (which happens maybe one every couple of years).  Then it was anxiety, I tried for deeper breaths.  Finally, 10 minutes in to this I realized - there was no 'getting over' this, I needed assistance.

I asked the clerk to just return the shoes.  She asked if I was o.k., I said I just wasn't feeling well and staggered from the store.  I knew I was a 4 minute drive from Mercy West Lakes Hospital and in my mind it was much faster to drive there than wait for an ambulance, especially because I had no idea what was happening to me.  So yes, I did something I am now advising you not to do - I drove myself to the hospital.

By the time I arrived I was ready to pass out.  My breathing was shallow and my heart was going so fast, I thought it would explode.  It was more hard flutters than actual beats as my hands and feet started to feel numb and I began slurring my words.

The nurse rushed me into the treatment room and soon there was a whir of activity surrounding me.  Megan the RN and Dr. Smith had a brief discussion after reviewing my symptoms and tests.  Dr. Smith then told me he believed it was supraventricular tachycardia.  It's a heart rhythm disorder that can strike out of nowhere.  It had driven my heart rate over 200 beats per minute.  (Example - Average resting heart rate 80-90.)

Dr. Smith told me he was going to give me a medication that would slow my heart down, but it would feel kind of like a truck going through me.  He pushed the drug into my IV and guess what?  Very right.  But the first dose didn't work and he had to double it for the next round.  That really smarted and my left side felt like it ceased to exist.  But my heart rate slowly lowered to about 100 over the next ten to fifteen minutes. 

They kept me for observation for a few hours and then sent me home with instructions.  They told me this was probably brought on by stress and lack of sleep.  It can affect anyone from birth to 99.  It can also happen with too much caffeine, but oddly, I don't drink enough for that to be the issue. :)  So, instead they told me to rest and then resume my regular schedule as I felt o.k.

To say it scared the crap out of me is an understatement.  I stayed home Wednesday and did my best to sleep.  To be honest, it was a bit daunting to lay down and close my eyes after my heart was so out of control.  Then yesterday, I slowly worked my way back in.  I worked and took two naps in between.  I did go to physical therapy and did a water workout as well, and here is why...

I have been down this road too many times.  I just get things moving in the right direction and something stupid happens.  I have, in the past, been rear ended in my car, injured my knee, had cancer scares, etc.  I refuse to let this be an excuse.  I refuse to stop, I have to keep going. 

Dr. Smith said I could do just that.  I don't have to give anything up.  This could happen again or it could never happen again.  If it becomes an ongoing thing, then I will have to be treated in another way.  When I look back I can name small incidences of this, but they only lasted a few minutes and I wrote them off.  SVT is not life-threatening, but it has to be treated.  O.k., so now that I know what it was, I know how to deal with it.

Honestly, I am a little skittish.  Every time I have an ache or something 'moves' oddly, I get nervous.  I will work on that.  But I will do it while I am working on the rest of me.  So, this afternoon I am going to run the other errand I was going to on Tuesday when this all happened - getting my own pair of boxing gloves, look out heavy bag!

Yours in Health,
Kate

Charity Can Feed the Soul

I spend a lot of time obsessing about food.  What should I eat?  How much should I eat?  Ooh, is that a brownie?  But I know in my heart there are many more important things that sustain a person than just crunchy snacks and creamy dishes.  That's why I volunteer on a regular basis.  Today was a day of volunteering for events that our radio group was sponsoring.

This morning I got an emergency call at 6:20, one of our talents was passing a kidney stone and could I fill in for her at the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  Of course.  It meant rearranging my day, but it was important to make sure LITE 104.1 followed through on our commitment.  Besides, I had never had a chance to go to the event, so it was a perfect excuse.

It was sunny, windy and pink.  Everyone was in fine spirits despite being blown around.  As I emceed I was able to hear women tell about their fight against breast cancer.  I met people in remission and those still on the battle field.  I met family members who were walking for those that had lost.  And one woman that was walking simply because it could be her someday.  It warmed me to see all of the passion and love.

Then I was on the the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center.  It was their Grand Opening to promote the fact that they are now under the same roof.  I worked the registration table and it was a great opportunity to feel unity.  Many people walked in that were just as overweight as I am, many who were even more so.  It made me very happy - believe me, just walking in that door for a tour is a big step.  I hope that they all decide to try their version of what I am doing, getting healthy.

Then I snuck in a 45 minute workout. :)  Showered and it was off to event three...

The Youth Emergency Services and Shelter Derby Duck Race.  This event is always so much fun.  YESS is all about trying to keep family's together, so they have a family festival as they sell the final ducks and then dump them into the lake.  Thousands of kids ran under the watchful eye of their unique family.  Some with their biological parents.  Some in single parent families.  Some adopted or in foster care.  Some with aunts or uncles, others with grandparents.  And some with all of the above.  It was a wonderful reminder that family is who you love, not just the people you were born to.

I emceed with Dan Winters from TV-13, he's great.  Like me, he is able to roll through the punches, which is important with an event this size.  In the end, everything went off without a hitch.  The biggest highlight?  The guy whose duck crossed the finish line first and won $10,000, donated the money back to YESS - another heartwarming, goose bump inducing moment for my day.

It was a great day and I was so busy, that after I quickly ate a small omelet while the walkers were on the path for Making Strides, I wasn't hungry again until late afternoon.  Which proves, charity can feed the soul.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Stress + Workout = Return of humor

It was a rough day.  From the moment I walked in the door I was on the go - put out a fire here, cover for somebody there.  I realized just a half hour before my physical therapy appointment, there was no way I could make it.  I called, apologized profusely and they were able to fit me in early tomorrow morning.  No complaints here though, I appreciate that they even found a slot.

At lunch time I wanted total junk and I said aloud, "What I really want is to call Sarpino's and land face first in a calzone."  My friend Mary responded, "But you won't."  My response, "No, I won't, I just had to say it.  I will sit here and crunch my carrots instead."  And it's true, sometimes you just have to say it, to be able to wipe it from your mind.

By the time 3 p.m. rolled around, I was crisp.  I wasn't being pleasant or easy-going, I needed a break.  So, despite being tired and cranky, I drove to the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center and worked out.  In fact, I hit it hard in the water for an hour.  Afterward I was even more tired - but the stress was nearly washed away and that was the point.

I came back, prepped a shift, ran a meeting, did a bunch of other work and now am headed home with no need to squish a bug just to feel some kind of control.  Workouts make Kate much friendlier. ;)  We all know it works this way, but today was a good reminder.

Yours in Health,
Kate

I Love the Pool

At the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center there are three pools.  One is for laps, like any other gym.  One is warm water for aerobics, therapy and exercise.  The other is for physical therapy.  I have yet to use the lap pool, but the other two are real gifts.

The therapy one I have mentioned.  Physical Therapists Kristi and Kara put me through my therapy in there on a regular basis.  It not only has a tread mill, but a wave action.  The soft waves help build stability and that is one of the areas where I suffer because my quads are weak, especially the one on the left with my bad knee.

But the one I enjoy more than I would have thought is the exercise pool.  It's warmer than a regular pool, but just a couple of degrees cooler than the therapy pool.  There is no shock when I get in and it helps to keep my knee from aching.  I can do almost anything I used to do on land in the pool - even run.  As I have mentioned, I miss running.

So, I run as fast as the water will allow in the pool.  I also do hand weights and jumping jacks and all kinds of other things that gravity would cause pain with.  At least one of the days I don't meet with Gwyn I do a water workout.  I think it is really saving my joints in this early part of getting healthy.

Well, I have to go.  I am doing the stage announce for Trans Siberian Orchestra tonight.  I have never seen them live before, so I am looking forward to it.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Quick Update

I have been here too long again today, so I am keeping this brief.

Water therapy with YMCA Physical Therapist Kristi - big yea!

Trained on my own in warm pool because Gwyn was gone and I was already dripping wet - yea!

Going to have my weight and before pictures done tomorrow at Mercy Weight Loss and Nutrition Center - um, yea?  No, no, it's a yea.  Because I will want to be able to look back and go, "Ha, see me now?  YEA!" 

Haven't had an 'official' weigh-in yet.  I just used the scale in the ladies locker room at the Healthy Living Center.  So, I know where I started about 2 weeks ago.  That way I will know total loss when all is said and done.  Okay, now the weigh-in is feeling like an even bigger YEA!

Good night.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Feeling So-So

This blog will be short as I am unexpectedly going to the Elton John concert.  That said, I woke up achy this morning.  I have been pushing through all day though.

I realized as I was about to walk into the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center that walking and weights were not in my future.  I needed something to help workout the aches.  So, I grabbed my swim suit and hit the pool.  There is a separate warm water pool for aerobic classes and water fitness.  I put in an hour of swim running/walking, jumping jacks and used water weights to work my upper body.  Afterward I could tell I worked out, but I wasn't sore like I think I would have been on land.

I have been making sure to drink extra water today in hopes that that will help relieve some of the pain.  Proper hydration can actually help alleviate some every day aches and pains.  But late this afternoon I finally gave in to my ick feeling and scooted home for a half hour of rest.  Hopefully between that, the water and the green beans I had for dinner, I will make it through the evening.

I keep playing Elton's "I'm Still Standing" in my head, a little pep talk to myself.  I am sure once he starts playing my day will wash away.  Seeing him in concert has been on my life-long 'to do' list.  Check!

Yours in Health,
Kate