Contacts

Ok, well today was my eye exam. Not one doctor has ever even suggested contacts until today. I think I've worn glasses for about 10 years now, mainly for reading, but its easier to do the lineless bifocals and just wear them all the time.

The eye doctor today talked to me about contacts, he feels I am the perfect candidate so we are trying them. I left his office wearing them, after having to put them in and take them out once. Its kind of a pain. I took them out tnight at work, wanted to take them out while someone was around to help if I needed help. It took me a while but I did it.

Not to sure I like them or that I will be able to wear them, they were a bit blurry at times. Think my eyes need to adjust to them. I have to go back for a follow up next Thursday so we will see by then. Hope that I can get them in and out tomorrow without much of a problem.

Lean Protein and Strength Training

From everything I have been reading lately I have decided to spend a bit more time on the strength training and not so much on the cardio. Oh, believe me I am not giving up the cardio, I love it. However, my understanding is that strength helps to burn more calories faster and tones you up and helps you to lose the weight maybe even more than cardio. Also, less carbs and more protein has been shown to be significant while losing weight and belly fat, so this is my goal for this next month or so to see if it helps. I can easily do 10 minutes of strength in the morning before work, easier than cardio actually. Or at night while watching tv. I have weights,resistance band and a stability ball all upstairs in the spare room. Am going to give this a try for a bit and see what happens, also to ensure that I get the protein in I will make sure to have one protein shake a day. I am really good with carbs due to all the veggies and fruits I eat.

Feeling stupid

Ok, well I am feeling stupid right about now. Just went on line to take my Medical Terminology test and half the questions I didn't even remember reading about, went to the site to check and I am supposed to read the next book, Exercise Science Terminology also before that test.

In my defense this is the first time the test has been on two books, in the past it has been read a study unit take the test. Not always I see. I get to read more before testing. This one looks more interesting.

Plans

I slept in this morning and it felt wonderful. Its a day off and for about the past week or so I can't seem to catch up on sleep. Have just been tired, which is so unlike me. I have even gone to bed before the end of my favorite tv shows. I know that I have missed my exercise this week. So today that is my plan, both weights and cardio and hope it picks me back up.

Also, I think I have spent enough time on the Medical Terminology book and plan on doing the test for that one soon. I am sure that I will come back to that book time and again, the class says that one is the most read and hardest to learn, so it makes sense. It also says that it gets easier the more we learn because we will actually learn the use of those words as we go. At any rate I am ready to move on the next one which is Fitness Anatomy and Physiology 1. It should be interesting.

Sometime today I may get outside, the sun is shining and looks beautiful although its really not all that warm. Hopefully sometime soon it will be warm.

Walking

I have rejoined FitnessJournal.com I missed that site and missed the map on the bottom of the blog to show what I have walked. I have reset it to start on March 1, 2009 and it will show my walk across the United States and how long it takes me to get there.

A friend from FJ suggested I input from January 1st and I may take time to do that but not today.

I started spring cleaning on Wed this week while off, what a wonderful day that was. Got so much done and it just felt great.

We hooked up the outside speakers I got for Christmas too and going to really enjoy them this summer.

From Sparkpeople

I read this on a blog on Sparkpeople today and wanted to share it with you all, I loved this story.

"The carpenter i hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose a hour of work, his electic saw quit, and then his old pickup truck refuse to start. While i drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving , he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the braches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing trasformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward, he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I ask him about what i had seen him do earlier. Oh, that's my trouble tree," HE REPLIED, " I know i can't help having troubles on the job or in life, but one thing is for sure , troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and children . So i just hang them on the tree every night when i come home. Then in the morning i pick them up again," The funny thing is , " he smiled," when i come out in the morning to pick them up , there aren't nearly as many as i remember hanging up the night before."

I think we all need a trouble tree.

A gorgeous spring day

We had a beautiful day here. We got the pond filters in and the waterfall up and running again. The fish were fed today for the first time since fall, about 5 months. We did lose the three big ones, but the others are all doing well. My favorite three big ones up in the big pond survived the winter again, thank God. they have been there since our first year in the house. They are getting big.

I had time to get outside in the sun and cleaned the flower bed between the two drives. Took all the dead leaves and twigs out of there, it looks much better.

Now if it just stays nice. That would be wonderful.

Firsts and Lasts

The first and last things have always been important to me. First dates, first kisses, first day of the month, first day of the year. Last things too, but I have learned that usually you never know they are the last until its to late. You need to pay attention to things when they happen because it could be the last time. And how sad it is when some things happen for the very last time and you didn't really pay attention and give it the time it deserved because you didn't know that it was going to be gone for forever.

The bluebirds were here for the first time yesterday, the robins for the first time today. The first time we've seen them this year anyway.

Our neighbor informed me the elk were still here last night, usually they are gone by now and I assumed they were. I wish I would have seen them this one last time.

Last times are important and I think maybe we should learn to live each day as if it were our last and do and say those things that are so important if it is our last day.

Must be the medical terminology course and all the body cavities that I am studying about that is making me a bit melancholy tonight. The unit that I am studying right now is really tough, its going to take a while to get through this one.

Bluebirds

The bluebirds are back! A sure sign of spring, they arrived within minutes of John cleaning out their houses. A good possibility they had been here checking things out sooner, but yesterday was the first we saw them. Its about time too.

We did lose 3 of our big fish in the pond this winter. I really don't remember how many of the big ones we had in there but I am hoping that we still have at least 1 or 2 of those real big ones left. Its nice to see them swimming around out there. Spring is definately coming!

Check out this link for a slide show of suprising signs you'll live longer than you think and see what you are doing right and where you need help. I found it fascinating. http://health.msn.com/health-topics/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100216496&GT1=31036

I am really enjoying my class and right now am trying to learn Medical Terminology, its tough, but I am getting through it.

New Books

My next four study units arrived finally yesterday, wow, does this first one ever look tough. They are Medical Terminology, Excerise Science Terminology, Fitness Anatomy and physiology 1 and 2. Should keep me busy a while.

For Medical Terminology they recommend a lot of memorizing. There are 7 different sections just full of prefixes, suffixes, roots, and other things to memorize. They said this is the book we will keep coming back to. I am making flash cards for each of these 7 sections. This unit is going to take a while but looks fascinating, it starts getting into the body parts, systems, etc. Looks fascinating, but I sure didn't realise this class would include so much detail on some of this. I have been taking a test every few days but this one is going to take a bit longer I think. Even the book says this one you will probably go through 4 or 5 times before getting it all.

4 years ago today I was lifeflighted to Pittsburgh with my first heart attack, at that time though we didn't know what was wrong, didn't know until about 5 months later. That began my fascination with the health and fitness information that has carried over to this point.

Darn it all

Darn it all, I missed a question on my second test tonight. Received a grade of 95%, darn it all. They give the number of the question that I missed but doesn't say what the question was, they give a page to review which I did but I don't remember how I answered or what the correct answer was. I EMAILED them and hope they reply back. Would like to know what I replied and what is correct.
My next module isn't here yet, but I can start the next mod on line. It looks quite detailed. this one is going to be on Medical Terminology. Wish me luck! think I may need it.