30

The first tomato has been picked and eaten, in this case a cherry tomato shared with hubby.  It was very tasty and I am looking forward to many more to come.  The plants are loaded with green tomatoes so I now don't have to buy any tomatoes until Fall.  With 3 full size and 2 cherry tomato plants we will have plenty and I will share with Mom and the neighbors if I end up with too many.  I am not certain it will be a bumper crop year but it already looks like I will have more than last year.


In other news today officially marks the 30th day.  Of what?  Of hitting 10,000 steps per day without fail.  Yes, I have stepped it up a notch and instead of being okay with an average of 70,000 steps a week I decided that in order to be fit and to make it a habit it has to be every single day or I will let things slide.  Each day usually starts with 10-20 minutes on the treadmill.  The rest of the steps are natural which include things like weeding the flowerbeds, running to the store and walking the dog. I have also started standing more while working (put my laptop on a high dresser to type).  If by 7pm I have not gotten enough steps back on the treadmill.  This requires commitment and planning depending on what we are doing in the evening.  On Friday I will be spending five hours in a boat so that does not bode well for 10,000 steps so I will likely do at least 5,000 steps in the morning.  How long does each thousand steps take on a treadmill?  About 10 minutes.  Natural steps are much easier and more fun but it is good to have a backup plan.

You would think with averaging 10,000 steps a day the weight would be melting off but it has evened out, I weigh 136-137 lbs depending on the day, down from 147 lbs in January.  I do not weigh myself every single day, usually only a couple of times per week.  It turns out this exercise journey is more about getting fit than losing weight now.  And I am ok with that.  I am at the time in my life where your body and health goes downhill fast if you don't take care of it.  My wiggly bits have repositioned and become firmer bits.  My pants don't fit because my stomach, legs and butt have shrunk.  If I wanted to lose more weight I would have to eat less and I am hungrier now so that is difficult.  I still eat a ton of fruit and almost no bread,only with the occasional burger usually.  I do feel I am much healthier.  The weight loss will be much much slower now, maybe a pound or two a month if even that.

Is it easy?  No way.  This week I had a fibro flareup and feel like I have the energy of a slug.  Plus my skin hurts and I've not been sleeping (all fibro caused) so that makes it difficult to want to do 10,000 steps.  Frankly if we didn't have a treadmill that hubby bought used 4 years ago it wouldn't be happening.  The thing is, after making your target 30 days in a row it would almost take me going into hospital to break the pattern.  It is now officially a habit!