Hello, Spring!

Hallelujah!!!

Calories in:  1504

Calories burned:  571
Net:              933
Exercise: 60 minute walk (with dogs!) outside... IN THE SUN!!! In blistering 62-degree heat. :-)
Just when I despaired of ever absorbing Vitamin D again, it happened. AT LAST. Shirtsleeve weather. Capri weather. That breeze, those sounds; that smell to the air.
I took my gym bag to work, planning to stop and work out after. But when I stepped into the balmy Spring weather, I headed straight for home and took to the streets with my 'kids', Simon and Dolly. They were so happy and excited! They are toy breeds and don't get out much all winter, and they love to walk. We all enjoyed our excursion tremendously, covered a lot of territory and climbed two big hills. As I posted the other day, no machine can replicate a good hill.
Meals today: Bkfst., oatmeal from Tim Horton's. Lunch, left-over spaghetti (w/ whole-wheat pasta & ground turkey) from last night. Supper, two reuben wraps made w/ whole wheat tortillas, thin-sliced corned beef, low-fat lorraine swiss cheese, and fresh coleslaw. And one beer. It was St. Patrick's Day after all. Snack, 1 cup lowfat cottage cheese w/ 1/4 cup frozen blueberries.
One year ago today, we moved my Mom into the Rehab. Unit where I work. She was recovering from cancer surgery, and wasn't ready to come home yet. She stayed ten days, then went home and died two months later. I fell into a prevailing depression, essentially quit moving, and gained weight. As happy as I am to see this time of year roll around again, the color and cast of the sunlight, the warmth, and the dirty melting snow on the sides of the road take me back to that difficult time. It makes me sad, but I push myself to appreciate the gift of another year, another season, and to honor my mother by loving this life she gave me. Some days I have to push pretty hard, as we all do. Everyone has their struggles.
We conquer them the same way we lose weight; one hour, one day, one week at a time.