New Route, new pix!

If you have been following my blog at ALL you know that I enjoy walking for exercise.  I find it relaxing and calming, plus it has helped me get rid of a lot of weight.  I am still holding at -48 pounds which drives me absolutely crazy that I can't get to 50- and believe it or not, all for a ridiculous, on-line, virtual 50 lb badge on Lose it.  (The weight loss website and app that I use).  I work well for shiny, sparkly things apparently!  And though I tend to not be real symmetrical, logical or organized, I want that BADGE and it's nice round number!!  My 2nd goal (of three) will be achieved right after that, when I get to 51.6 pounds and my kind of arbitrary chosen weight.  But that somehow to me is not as enticing as the 50.  I don't know about me sometimes.  

I have been lifting weights and walking and am experiencing some great results from each.  I am seeing muscles that have been hidden for years, and I will gladly flex for you if you want to see them too!  LOL!!  I LOVE the lifting, I leave all of my troubles on the gym floor when I am really into it.  It does the same sort of thing that walking has always done.  And it has made my walking improve as far as distance and pace.

Walking the loops

I use the app, "Runkeeper" to keep track of my distance cardio activities, mostly walking.  I have been running intervals once or twice a week- as often as my knee will allow me.  I want to run, but am not sure if my body will let me right now.  My fitness level is now to the point that I have to find ways to raise my heart rate to a training zone.  If I can't run intervals I need to do fast walking and hills, so I am always looking for routes to walk for a change and additional challenges.  The most recent one is an extra loop off a well worn route I use- I add in a turn on Trout Road, off of County B, which adds a bunch of hills and about a mile and a  half to my west loop.  With new roads to walk there comes new photos to take!!  It is a win/win!!!

 I recently increased my allotment of calories, as I was sliding down really close to having barely enough food to eat!  It seems counter intuitive to eat more to continue losing weight, but it sort of makes sense when people explain it.  Especially if you are working out HARD, you want to refeed yourself so you can recover and get out there for that next walk, or weight-lifting session.  I am going to give it a month and see if the numbers go down.  Let's hope!  In the meantime, I am adding in an aerobic dance class on Mondays along with my ballet class on Thursdays to balance out the rest of my activities.  I hope that some variety will keep the scale moving as well.

ON TO THE PICTURES!!!  These pix are from this weekend, the less than sunny ones are from the new route.  It was cloudy and windy and nasty this morning, but with proper attire, it was a good morning for a walk.  And a wonderful way to spend some of that glorious extra hour today.

Birch grove

Almost gone

Grown over

Inside decay

New route pix:

Mr. Personality

Butternut Creek

Land of Milk and Honey

Butternut Creek, v.2

Butternut creek. v. 3

Butternut creek v. 4

Signs to no where

Land of Milk and honey, v.2

Land of Milk and Honey,  v.3

Until next time, be a joy giver!!