Barb - I love magnolias. What type of magnolia tree grows so far North? I ask because I can't recall ever seeing a magnolia when I lived in New York.

The weather is starting to warm/dry up. Today's high was at most 60. But Make hay while the sun shines is my new motto. Walked 5.25 miles today. Then drove to walmart and walked another 1/2 mile just shopping.

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Well, I've got a pedometer! It only let's you set stride to the nearest inch, but that's fine with me, for three reasons. 1. I did it four times and my stride seems to be an even 16 inch one and 2. I don't care precisely how far I go, I just want to know how many steps I take and 3. It's made by Oregon Scientific and they've impressed me with various other electronic gizmos. I've got a temp/humidity system set up that lets me monitor temperature indoors, outdoors and in the basement which I have found to be really well designed and accurate.

This one does have a sensitivity adjustment which after a few tries I got just right (I think). It only seems to be counting steps and not other movements.

I've already gone almost 1,300 steps just since I came home from work and found the sucker on my doorstep. LOL!

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Maggie - 16 inches sounds a bit low. My stride is 30 inches. I measure mine by walking a measured mile several times, adjusting my stride up and down as needed. Usually I can get it pretty accurate (never exact) in 3 miles. But I guess if steps is all you are interested in then the heck with the stride.

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Ok. I just did it again a couple of times. Laying my trusty stanley tape measure on the floor, I can report that 30 inches has me on my way to a split.

I did a 20 foot test again a couple of times. My stride comes out between 16 and 17 inches each time. Maybe this explains why I often feel like I'm running when I try to walk with certain longer legged individuals?

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Hehe, Maggie, that's probably what MY stride would be too. I feel like I'm running to keep up with DH when we are walking fast (for me). I always have to remind him that I have short, stubby legs............LOL. When I'm walking fast and he's staying at my pace, he looks like he's just sauntering along. Vertically challenged people have that problem. (If you've ever seen Dr. Phil and Robin walking off stage, she looks like she's running to get off stage too........just trying to stay up with Phil's stride. )

Rob, the magnolias around here are just plain ole' regular magnolias as far as I can tell. They have the magnificant white with pink blushed flowers covering the entire tree. We also have people here growing star magnolias too. I love them both, but don't have any growing in my yard. Some of my neighbors have them...............gorgeous. The first time I saw one in full bloom around here, I was amazed they would grow in this zone (5).

I'm going to have to get over to Curves today, since we are going out tonight for DH's b-day and I probably won't make it on Sat. am.

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Hey, all. When I fell off with my eating I fell off with the WATP and walking as well. So I am slowly getting back on track as far as eating is concerned and hope to soon dig up the roots that have grown from my butt into the couch.

If I can't get out and walk when it's in the 70's every day I'm hopeless! (we had the big snowstorm Sunday that dumped two feet but today it's all gone. ahh, Colorado, what great weather patterns we have)

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

NOEL!!!!!! I was wondering where the heck you were. Glad to see you back here!!!! Get back on that horsey girlie, you were doing so well!!!!!!

I didn't make it to Curves today and doubt I will make it tomorrow morning. They are only open from some ungodly hour in the morning until 10:30am. I'll prolly be sleeping in tomorrow, at least I hope I do. I woke up at 3:30 this morning and didn't get back to sleep until 5 and then was back up at 6:30 to get ready for work.............bummer. My sleeping is getting all whacked out. Must be a symptom of the BIG M.

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Hey, Noel! Glad to have you back "in the fold." You're not the only one to be excavating roots from the sofa!

My new pedometer says 5,771 of my hobbit steps today, which comes to just short of 1 1/2 miles. That includes only a VERY short walk. The weekend is supposed to be milder, so I'm hoping to take a walk along my road each day and see if I can get near the 10,000 mark.

I met my curves owner today on the street and she encouraged me to come back to curves and try something other than walking in place and skipping some stations that aggravate my knee. I may see if I can work something out starting Monday. I admit I'm hesitant. Since I left, my knee has been just another pain in the me and not an outstanding problem. We'll see.

Barb, I don't know if the early waking business is from the big M or the big A (as in aging). It sure has been part of my life (intermittently, thank goodness) for a number of years now.

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MAggie - Well 16 or 17" it is! I would still test it against a measured mile as in drive 1/2 a mile from your door (home or work) then walk to that point and see what your pedometer says. My stride isn't really 30" but that's what I need to set it at to get an accurate reading.

Barb - I'd go with the Big A since I wake early all the time. And the Big M isn't a part of my life.

Noel - glad to see you back around these parts!

The day was a lot nicer (wind only 15 mph) than yesterday (25 mph plus gusts) so I walked 6 miles at Tanglwood park. But I didn't push too hard and it took an hour and 45 minutes.

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OK, so in spite of all my noble plans, I got a book in the mail and thought I'd look it over. It was pretty good. Consequently, I did next to nothing today.

However, since I was completely ashamed of myself, just before the sun went down I went out of my house and walked down to the end of my road. ... and back, of course, bringing my (previously even more embarassing) daily total up to 4767 steps.

** sigh **

I'll go back to my book now.

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Must be some good book!

I didn't want to blow off walking entirely but I was pressed for time so I only did a fast 2 miles at a local park. Better'n nuttin!

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Nothing in the way of WATP this weekend but I got a lot of housecleaning that I have let go done. When I fell off I really fell off and didn't do much of anything for a month. Tonight I am going to try the one mile WATP to get me back in the swing of things. I'll let you know how that goes. I should be able to get through 16 mintues. It's just getting motivated to put that thing in the player.

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

well, I skipped Sunday - but back to my 2m this morning.
miserable headache Sunday morning - musta been the 6.5 hr motorcycle ride saturday!

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Mary Kay
2009 WW - 228 / 199

I want a Christmas Onederland!!

Nah, Rob. It was a mixed review (see reading thread). It was more a testament to my lack of desire to do anything than the quality of the book.

Oh, Noel. I know just what you mean. Getting off the horse is easy. Getting back on is a longer business.

Mary Kay, you are doing fabulous this month. Next to Rob, I do believe you've been most attentive to your activity.

For today, it was beautiful weather. So I walked a bit longer at lunchtime. As I write, my pedometer says 9,287 steps. Still short of 10,000, but better than I've done since I started logging my steps. Tomorrow should be nice, as well, and my calendar is not terribly overwhelming, so I'll try for a longer walk.

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I'll lay witness to that. Has taken me 6 months to pick up the exercise gauntlet again.
but still feeling good about it. Really, really thinking about Ballys wednesday.

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Mary Kay
2009 WW - 228 / 199

I want a Christmas Onederland!!