Time to re-group and re-focus!  Last week was busy with yard work:  mowing, weeding, edging, mulching, trimming trees & bushes, planting - you name it, we overdid it!  But the yard looks great and you can bet that I did indeed have an ice cream sandwich last Friday afternoon when it was 90+ degrees!  We spent some time with my sister down in the Cincinnati area for the holiday and had a great time visiting.

I did go to exercise class on Saturday morning since there was no class on Monday because of the holiday and I have to miss tonight because of Book Club.  I'm finally happy with the number that was posted after the last weigh-in but I'm even happier with how I'm feeling.  It feels better to be more on track with diet and exercise and I'm definitely taking steps in the right direction to reach my goals.  The knees and feet will feel better with less weight to carry, and that's what I keep telling myself to keep myself going sometimes.  (because, honestly, sometimes my legs just ACHE and even though I think it will feel better to sit and relax, it actually feels better to keep moving.)

I have to give credit where credit is due and the Boot Camp exercise classes that are now offered at Slim & Fit have been just what I needed to kick-start me in the right direction.  Slim & Fit is not an open gym and it's by appointment only, one-on-one exercise & nutrition sessions with a personal trainer which is really  the absolute best way to get in shape but in April they started something new by offering these exercise classes.  Class size is limited to eight and it's a good over-all workout (cardio, strength training, flexibility) -- bottom line, it's like a semi-private workout with a personal trainer!  And when you pay for the classes, if you have to miss one, you can make it up at another time so that you don't lose out.  The classes are priced a little higher than some exercise classes I've taken but even paying for 18 classes in a six week session is still cheaper than one day in the hospital for an obesity-related issue!  And frankly, the boost it's given me has been worth every penny.  During the summer there is a morning class offered Mon-Sat, and an evening class Mon-Thurs.  If you're interested in more information, call Slim & Fit at 352-4300 or email them at www.slimandfit.com. 

That's my plug for the Slim & Fit exercise classes but I also have to plug the local Senior Centers and the fitness equipment that they have to use for those that are 55 years old and older.  If you're reading this and fit into this category and haven't checked out the fitness rooms at your local senior center - plan on making a trip to visit and sign up!  There are about a dozen senior centers in Lake County and paying for an annual membership ($15.00 or less for the year) gives you access to their fitness rooms.  And some of them have quite the exercise equipment!  Even if you don't want to participate in any of the other senior center activities (but you may want to look into them also!), it's worth the price of the annual membership fee to have an indoor place to exercise.  I'm not old enough quite yet but you can be sure that when I am, I won't hesitate to take advantage of what's offered!

The goal for July is to beat the time I walked last year in the Johnnycake Jog Walk which means I'd better start picking up the pace --

Keep plugging away!

Barb