Rainy Days and Mondays Always Make Me Smile!

Saturday was brutal (108 degrees!)…but Sunday brought cooler summer showers.  I know so often in my life, just as things seem unbearable, there is always refreshment and cooler breezes blowing around the corner.

For what seems like a billion different times, I am beginning yet again to attempt weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.  I always throw it to the bottom of the priority list when life gets busy.  But this time, I have entered the alien world!  Firm bodies, tiny waists, rippled chests…they all seem to be watching me from their long line of treadmills as I attempt to do squats.  Humbling…there has to be a stronger word, it just doesn’t seem to fit the feeling sticking your big behind out in front of all the gorgeous ones. The trainer, let’s call him BZ, is very patient and assures me that the beautiful bodies don’t care about what I am doing.  I am convinced I am a great source of entertainment and will end up on Vine, FB, or Instagram any day now.  The chances of a former or current student lurking in the shadows is always a possibility.

Nevertheless, I  have completed one week.  One week of barely being able to lift my arms or sit in a chair without extreme pain.  I have accomplished:

1. Daily calorie intake of 1200 per day charted on www.myfitnesspal.com.  This has brought home the obvious fact that my portion sizes have been WAY too big.
2. Daily cardio, 30-45 minutes per day
3. Twice a week weight training.

One week!  It’s a start.  We will see if I can go farther this time!

Today’s outfit, is something I might wear at home, shopping, running errands.  I will be working at home for the next five weeks and I like to get myself pulled together, because you just never know what the day will bring!!

 White Cardigan: EILEEN FISHER
Genius Fit Pants: LANE BRYANT
Black Travelers Tank: CHICOS
Silver Necklace: CHICOS JEWELRY
Rampage Silver Flats:  ROSS
There are some fun posts scheduled for this week…you will find a historic tour of Texas buried within; an amazing pair of shoes; Independence Day celebrations and so much more.  Hope you can come along!  Til then…please join in all of the bloggers from VISIBLE MONDAY!!  and MONDAY MINGLE!!
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41 Comments

  1. I applaud you for you efforts – I wish you good luck and tenacity!
    I think your ensamble is really cute – great pants and the cardigan is darling! Gotta love that Eileen Fisher!

  2. I agree it sure is hard. Be of strong mind (which you are) and hope to get through it! I began, yet again, also, so you are inspiring! Cute put together outfit. Even in sweltering Phoenix (can you say 119 yesterday)? Gah, more sweat! Love your 3rd piece, I try even here!

  3. Darling PAM! You have HOT HOT OUT THERE! Not us, we are in the high 70s today, but August will tell another story here in Minneapolis! I see you too have boxwood, a great favorite of ours!

    HEY….I am in the process of writing a poem, an assignment for a class I'm taking. It is TOUGH. But your post here reminds me of my topic, and the inevitable is just that: things change, and all we can do is our best to improve our well-being. Let the young thangs do what they must in order to LEARN what we have learned…that the effort and perseverance we demonstrate in life far outlives the body. It's all what we truly value. I bet you can run circles of wisdom around those young'ins….I know it.

    MARCH ON…or if you prefer, JOG ON and always, with that glorious smile of yours. THANKS FOR COMING TO VISIT and for your sweet words. Anita

  4. Go, Pam – you already look fabulous, and imagine yourself even healthier and stronger. No exercising in 108 degree heat, I hope! Thanks for sharing your fab look with Visible Monday.

  5. Congratulations Pam, and I wish we'd get some rain here to cool off the heat wave 🙂 Thank you for visting us at pret-a-vivre.com

  6. That sounds like a pretty good plan to me.
    Portions in America are out-of-control! You and the Mr. can be frugal and enjoy yourselves splitting entrees.

  7. Okay…you're inspiring me to do better with my healthy lifestyle plan now too. I'm a little lax with myself and am kind of at a standstill. I'm proud of myself for being more consistent though and realizing I have to live with better habits in mind and practice. It's not been that hard really because I don't totally deprive myself like I have done in past attempts. Portion control is a BIG part of what I'm learning. Exercise….I'm not very familiar with that. ha I am trying to walk a little. I'm going to seriously attempt to do more and be more consistent…even if it's just walking. Weights are in order too. Have a little set right here I never pick up and they'll be just fine to start with.
    Thank you, Pam, for sharing these fitness steps with us. You had an AMAZING week full of accomplishment!

  8. Sounds like a great start, Pam. A friend (who like me is also trying to drop some pounds) said she was going to really try to lose 2 pounds this week. I responded, "I'm trying to consume 1,000 calories today." She got it – I can only be expected to manage one day at a time. Keep cool!

  9. Go for it and week one sounds successful. yes, portion size is a big problem and an easy thing to fix once awareness and determination are present. I've lost weight and done great with strength training… going to join the Y again next week to take water aerobics and get back to better cardio. It's all about balance…It's a journey, be kind to yourself!

  10. I admire you so much. That heat would suck all the energy out of me, for anything. I wilt here at 90 degrees. I once heard the saying, "People don't care if you're fat, they care if they're fat". While this is a charged quote (forgive the verbiage) I think it highlights a basic truth. We are much harder on ourselves than anyone else is. So I hope you're taking care of your health for you, and know we think you are beautiful, right now. Also, I have to tell you that your thrifting skills put you in my Goodwill Hall-of-Fame!!

    XXOO

  11. Good for you Pam! You are a lovely just as you are but moving to healthy exercise is always a plus. Your white cardigan is beautiful. I hope it cools down soon. Have a great week!

    blue hue wonderland

  12. I love all the green in the pictures, Pam. I love myfitnesspal, though I have slacked off with it lately. One thing I have done that has made a huge difference in my weight/metabolism is to cut out white sugar from my coffee in the morning. I have switched to honey. Sounds strange, but I have lost 7 pounds. I am watching the calories too, but just cutting out white sugar seems to have made a difference. Anyway. Best wishes!

    xoxo
    Lynn

  13. Well done! Last September I too decided that enough was enough and set about on the weight loss journey. I had gained about 15 to 20 kg over the last 15 years, ever so slowly it crept up on me. Its had work to lose it the older you get. I too did the 1200 calories, with some exercise too much like you have embarked on. I can say proudly that after 3 months I had lost 9 kg and by continuing to eat healthy and exercise I have lost a further 3.5kg within sight of my goal that I set myself at thebeginning. You can do it!! Forget about all of those young bodies at the gym andbe proud of yourself that you are there doing it! You are fantastic and thanks for your lovely blog. I love getting my daily update from you all the way from Western Australia. Pearl

  14. Beautiful photos, Pam!
    Summer rain can be really nice and obviously well needed in your area. But if you have rain and cold temperatures like we had in Germany all spring and summer so far, you are desperate for some heat – at least I am. 7C/44F this morning… that's not summer 🙁

    Annette
    2 more days to enter my giveaway!
    Lady of Style

  15. Pam,
    Just hang in there, the first week is the hardest. I lost about 30 pounds a few years ago with a 1000 calorie a day diet and a treadmill. Some days I felt like the dieting would never end, but I was losing weight, which kept me motivated. I set a goal and decided to give myself a prize if I reached it. When I met my goal weight I took a trip to New York and bought some new clothes.
    Maintaining my weight is not too difficult. I just pay attention to what I eat and get on the scale every day. I'm not obsessive about the scale, I just use it as a tool. If my weight goes up, I just eat lighter for a day or two.
    Just stick with it…you'll love the way it makes you feel.
    Lisa

  16. I know you will eventually fall into the rhythm of incorporating this activity into your day. I began aerobic classes three times a week in January. I never thought I would come to love these classes and look forward to them. After all, I was a couch potato! Unfortunately, I've been sidelined due to a fall and I am so anxious to get back to what I love doing. I know you will get to this point, too. You've made so many changes in your life and this will be another accomplishment!

  17. Pam,
    You are inspiring me to greatness. I to am working on being the best me possible, by watching the food intake and getting more exercise. This is an uplifting post, your example is a inspiration for others—go for it, one day at a time.

  18. Pam,
    You are inspiring me to greatness. I to am working on being the best me possible, by watching the food intake and getting more exercise. This is an uplifting post, your example is a inspiration for others—go for it, one day at a time.

  19. Congratulations on your accomplishments this past week! You inspire those of us who need to make changes to get "lose weight" and "make healthier food choices" off the to-do list and into our daily lives. Thanks!!!

  20. Hey beautiful!

    Listen, I have been meaning to ask you something. I have a new PIN BOARD on Pinterest dedicated to life models at 50+. I want to celebrate all of us who are living the life we imagined and proud of WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE LOOK. May I pin one of your photos and say a little blurb about what makes you look so fabulous?

    Let me know. Anita

  21. Ugh. exercise. It's so hard to do now. I'm just sick of it AND now I have so many more aches and pains! But yes, I do it too; Zumba. And in my class there are a lot of ladies older than me. Some bouncier, some not so much.
    Kudos to you for getting a trainer; there is no escaping! xoxox

  22. Dearest Pam,
    Good to reconnect with you. Thank you so much for the kind comment you left on my store / blog.
    My apologies for having been so silent for such a long period time. You now know why. 8 crazy months and it's just the beginning of a huge venture.
    I am just back on your blog to read how strong minded you are. Wow. Congrats! One day or another I'll have to do the same. But my will is nothing compared to yours… Keep on, dear Pam. I think you are gorgeous no matter what. If your scale is not friendly, it's because your scale forgets how big your heart is.
    xoxo

  23. Good for you for going to the gym, Pam! You will eventually enjoy it – it feels so good to be STRONG! Don't worry about the other people. They are far more concerned about themselves than what you're doing.

  24. Pam, if I can do it you can do it!
    I don't have a gym or a trainer but I exercise every day and our calorie intake and tracker are identical. You'll hate life for the first three weeks but after that you'll start to feel good – and after two months your body will actually crave the exercise! If you need support or encouragement please feel free to reach out to me.

    Alicia

  25. Rainy days make me smile too. Working on the Mondays… So glad though that you got the rain!!! 108 degrees is brutal (we broke down on the freeway Saturday in an unconditioned old project truck–104 degrees. But we figured out the prob quick and got on the road. New perspective for sure).

    Hooray for your first workout week!!! Two more of those, and you'll officially be in the habit. And probably won't be feeling so sore. When I started running, I noticed I actually started liking it after about two weeks. You go, girl.

  26. Good luck with your new lifestyle
    Staying in shape and eating right just seems to get harder and harder as we age doesn't it????
    Great outfit
    Brett

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