Good weekend for the Towpath

It seems like lately all I've wanted to do is update you guys on my medical issues, and while I have had quite the string of weird events lately, I will spare you. Instead I wanted to share with you some beautiful pics from a trip husband and I took the other day on the towpath.

It was so nice to finally get out and walk.  We headed over to the Ira Trailhead and followed it to Everett.  We ended up doing 3.5 miles (well just a bit over that) and swung unto the farmer's market that's there as well when we finished up. Picked up some delicious watermelon! Yum!

I've never been on this leg of the towpath, and because of the issues I've been having lately, we decided to take it slow and really just enjoy the scenery.  It's amazing what you see when you stop and slow down!

I'll let the pictures walk you along with us!

Berries.  I know, not super exciting, or unique.  But they were so ripe and red -
again, not somethingI would normally notice! 

This little guy was just hanging out, enjoying the sun.

Lily Pads, sans frogs :(

Cardinal, playing hide-and-seek with us. We won. 

This blue herring was beautiful!

What did you do this weekend to enjoy the weather?

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We finally got on the same page

A while ago I mentioned that husband and I had completely different workout styles and they were not compatible. This was pretty intrusive on our workout and fitness efforts. I think we've figured out a way to remedy this

I go running once a week and he comes to the park to support me, while taking random pictures of the park, or doing work.  Knowing he's there as support is great, but yet he doesn't have to run, which he doesn't enjoy - at all.


Then when I'm at yoga, which I like to do once or twice a week - he goes for bike rides, which he loves.  He's been riding lately in preparation for the American Diabetes Tour de Cure that he's riding here in a few weeks.


And then - to make sure we get time together - on the weekends we go hiking.  It's outside and naturey - which he likes.  And it's getting in miles, which I enjoy (I don't really care how I get them in). I've slowly started taking to the trails and accepting that bugs are touching me.  It's been a slow process, but I'm getting there.


How do you and your significant other work out together?

April Goals

I like to start every month with fresh goals.  I need solid goals to aim to.

I felt short on my March goals.

Just a little. I did not workout 5x a week.  I started off on a good track and somewhere in the middle fell short. So now I'm going to do a weekly schedule of when I can get in at least a mile (bare minimum), 30 minute (good enough) or 60 minutes (ideal).

And I did join WW so I got food under control. I have a bit of a delay because I did horrid Wednesday and Thursday, so between that and not working out - we all know what the scale tells us.

And finally - my goal to workout with hubs on Sunday has changed to just 1-2x a week, regardless of WHEN it is.  I talked before about how we have totally different workout personalities, so this will be a challenge, for sure!

So April goals in full (Old and New included)

1. Workout 5x a week with three options: A mile (minimum), 30 minutes (good enough) or 60 minutes (ideal)
2. Stay on plan, all month
3. Include a workout with hubs 1-2x a week
4. Practice wogging (walk/jog) outside more once the weather breaks, need to adjust to outside versus treadmill
5. Water, Water, Water.  This month I am focusing on getting in at least 6-8 glasses of water a day, no less! 
6. I am continuing along with my 100 mile goal, I have 66 left to go. It looks like I won't meet that 100 by the end of April, I'd at least like to see about getting in 30 more towards it. :) 

What are your goals for April? 

Workout Personalities Clashing it Out

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I love hubby - don't get me wrong, but dang-it if I don't want to work out with the guy. I hate talking during a workout. If it's a casual walk - yes, bring on the chatter. But for all other times, I don't want to talk. I like to sort things out in my head, crank up the music and go! I want to get out and get moving. Enter: the dilemma. 

He needs to exercise, and he was on a great routine for a while. Now that I have been kicking it up a notch, I realize he's taken his down a notch. We are two totally different workout personalities. I like to take fitness classes and work out at home. He hates classes, and can't work out at home because he doesn't focus, so he needs to go to the gym.

I like to walk and am trying to run, he hates running - give him a bike and let him be. I like biking casually, but I have no interest in trekking miles on my bike, nor does my butt!  He likes to talk about his day and talk out things, where as I want to turn the ipod on and tune the world out.  He likes scenery and being outside. I hate the elements. I don't want to see the trail, the sun, the animals or feel the dirt.  I like my treadmill, in my basement, staring at a wall, because I look down when I'm on it anyways.

So how have I been making it work? I work out after work (I get home about an hour or so before him), and then, when he gets home, if he didn't go to the gym, I go out - again, for a casual walk. I know *any* exercise is better than none, but 30 minutes around the neighborhood isn't going to cut it. I mean that would be nice occasionally, but he really needs to get going to the gym and get an hour in more than he is. I keep bringing it up, and he keeps getting further annoyed. So I stopped. And I will keep dragging him out (hey an extra 30 minute certainly won't kill me!) but I'm just so frustrated. We are complete opposite for exercise and it's getting really hard to find a nice balance!

Getting that Honey-Do List ... DONE

It's early Sunday morning and I have a long list of things I want to get done before my parents come over to help with a project (because while my husband is convinced he can do it on his own, I'd like it completed in a day if possible..)

So while we're sitting here and I've gotten laundry started, had breakfast and started tidying the bedroom - I keep waiting for him to get up and do something.  So I googled (with not really sure what I would get as a result) 'How to motivate your husband' and wouldn't you know - someone on eHow decided that it was a great topic.

So basically I thought I'd give it a read over to see if there's something I'm missing.

Step #1 - Throw away your cookie cutter
I can safely say thanks to therapy, I'm good here. I've learned to accept the quirks about him that I used to find fun and interesting (which for a while turned into a major annoyance) and have moved on from them. I accept that they are part of the reason I initially fell for him, but what has this got to do with getting him to empty the dishwasher? So I kept reading.  

Step #2 - Recognize your husbands needs
Ok - caught here. Maybe I don't always give him the praise he needs. And I know he's an affectionate person and I'm not always feeling it.  So sure, maybe giving him an extra kiss and hug will get the job done... Tried that, went on doing what I needed to do and nope - he's still sitting there reading the news.  Is the news a need? Nah, I can't imagine he's that concerned about what is going on that would want to take his precious time away from doing the dishwasher.  There's got to be more to it than that.

Step #3 - Allow him the freedom to make mistakes
I do this, I do this! I also learned this in therapy. He's not perfect, and I'm certainly not perfect (though - if you ask him he better say that I am!) so we are both pretty patient with each others flaws and mistakes.  Yay! We both get one step right!  I would congratulate him, but those dishes are still sitting there...

Step #4 - Affirm your husbands attempts
Hmmm... I give affirmations often, but really, is this necessary all the time? Why should I say thank you for doing things that you would expect me to do otherwise, and I don't get no Thank You.... So this is one I will certainly be putting to the test.   I will make it a point today to thank him for something he does, whether it's something I asked for or that he did on his own.  But that's not going to help me get the dishes done right now - and this article is running out of suggestions.

Step #5 - Step back and enjoy your husband
Ok, ok. I can get this.  We put a lot of pressure on our spouses sometimes to live up to some pretty high expectations.  I'm sure I could say I love you more, or Thank you, or I appreciate a bit more often than I do... I get what they're saying... I suppose if I really want the dishes done I have two choices - do them myself or flat out ask him to do them (because step 1 reminds me to accept my husband as he is, and frankly that means I need to accept the fact that he isn't a mind-reader though I'd like him to be when I want things done).

So I decided to get up and go do them myself.  3 Minutes in the kitchen, water running and reaching for the soap and who comes in to help? Hubby.  Actually (and his words, not mine) 'I'll get that, why don't you go ahead and shower so you're not rushed when your parents call'...  I figured I'd leave it at that, a smile, kiss and thank you and off I go to shower.

I can finally sleep with my husband!

If only I meant that in a more exciting manner.. ;) My husband snores.  And I keep asking him to go to the  doctor because he sounds like he's dying or in pain half the time. But he won't.  So for the past 6 months or so, I would be rudely woken up in the middle of the night, due to his outrageous snoring, and go down o nthe couch to sleep. Don't get me wrong, I could send him, but frankly I LOVE the couch. It's the most amazing place to sleep... But we didn't pay $1400 for a bed that only one of us gets to use. That's just not fair. And frankly I'm not the type of person who can quickly fall back asleep. So when I have to get up, go down stairs, and reposition myself, it really cuts into my sleep time.

A few weeks ago I bought him a box of breath right strips. At first - they sucked. I was ready to throw the box away. It's like his nose was revolting against the strips and would not give in.  Finally, after about a week and finding the perfect spot, his nose has waived it's white flag and we're finally on the same page. It's been 5 solid nights of blissful sleep, and  I'm so thankful that maybe if he plays his cards right I can hold true to my title in a more exciting fashion! ;)

Missing my birthday

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Lima, you might be missing my birthday,  but don't worry - daddy has you covered.  He knows how much birthdays mean to me (even though yours will  trump everyone elses soon!) - so he made sure you got credit this year ;-)


This morning I got to work and found this little note waiting for me!


Mom,
I know I am not old enough for you to hug me and to kiss me or for me to kiss and hug you either. But everyday you are holding me and hugging me nice and tight and keeping me safe and making me feel the love you have for me. Soon enough you and I will be able to see each other. Till then your being the best mommy you can be as you keep me safe. I just wanted to say love you mommy and I will see you soon.
Love Lima