Weekly Weigh-In #316 (174.4)

 Well... School started this week. That SHOULD have gotten me back on schedule. Eating and exercise were excellent Mon/Tues. Then ... school stress took over. It was an emotionally trying week, for #4 and for me. Fitness went out the window (lots of time on the computer doing research), but eating was affected too, so things stayed steady. Even dropped.

 Stacked Steps ...

#3 pulled ahead, even beating two out of three of me ;) #2 was well over 100k, and #5 ... I bet he was over 100k too, but he forgets to wear his Fitbit some of the time. #4 ... well, just glad to have him on the board.

NUMBERS: Official weigh-in was down -(3.0 pounds). Average almost the same (-2.56).  Average intake was well under goal (at 1586) with burn average closer to the usual (2767). Ended up with a deficit for the week (-3856).  Step average was 20,188 with 40.16 logged miles.  Cardio minutes 641/796/791/1000.

EXERCISE: I got elliptical in four of the seven days, achieving my hour two days this week. Treadmill time four days, one day with double duty. Five Zumba classes, although overall numbers (time/burn) were a little down. Running late, low energy. No weights.

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Driving was up a little, with the return of running kids to school. Surprised grocery shopping was still there at three hours, as a few of my usual trips got postponed for other things. A neighborhood get-together ... and not showing on the graph was a family dinner out (on Sunday, LifeCycle doesn't let me customize the week run, ending it on Saturday, when I run Mon-Sun). School stuff and a doctor's appointment ...

Here's the Day by Day ...

• Monday (0819) First day of work for #3, first day of high school for #4. I dropped #4 at the bus stop. I thought it was a half day for sophomores only, but it was a regular day.  Got my full hour of elliptical, Zumba w/Kirsten, and two treadmill times in. Made dinner. Got #5 off to the first day of his basketball clinic over at the high school, then went with Hubs to a neighborhood ice cream party. 32348 steps. 3396 burn. 1200 intake. 
• Tuesday (0820) Got #4 off again, then first day for #5 at his new middle school. I had to run in as he had an error in his schedule, which switched him up last minute. I'd got some elliptical in early, finished up an hour for the day. Zumba at the church and two miles treadmill. Had to run from one school pickup to the next, then grabbed pizza. Also made "crack chicken" for dinner later.  30182 steps. 3244 burn. 1800 intake. 
• Wednesday (0821) ... and it begins. #4 broke down and didn't make it to school. We've struggled with this off and on for years, unfortunately it was not unexpected. I started researching options (district accommodations, online school) spending most of the day on the computer. Still made it to Zumba, although I was a little late and unfocused. #5 stayed after school for intramurals, and had basketball clinic in the evening.  Long, emotional day. 16728 steps. 2661 steps. 900 intake.
• Thursday (0822) I let #4 sleep in (first class wasn't an important one) but told him I wanted him to try the other three. No. Panic attack and emotionally exhausted. I went to Zumba, late again, and unfocused again. Quick stop at the store. Tried to get #4 to go to ONE class, panic attack again, leaving him retreating to bed. More research and setting up appointments (with the school on Monday, Dr. tomorrow).  Took a little family field trip in the evening to Chip cookies. 12624 steps. 2436 burn. 1200 intake. 
• Friday (0823) We've pretty much decided on online school. Got him registered at a local one (deadline was today, just squeezed him in). Had to run to the school to get records, get things submitted. Arranged for #5 to get a ride home from school while I took #4 to see the therapist, who was supportive of the online idea. Going to try a new medication and get him on the list for further testing (autism?). Another long day, but at least felt like some thing are now decided. Still made it to Zumba (MY therapy), and a little elliptical and treadmill. 24283 steps. 2945 burn. 1700 intake. 
• Saturday (0824) Started the day with elliptical, just a half hour for the day. National Waffle day. Made #4 come with me to the library (just to get him out of the house). There was a big Pet-Palooza going on, which I mentioned to #1 and wife ... they went and adopted a dog. I got the lawn mowed. The boys went to a movie in the evening. It was my 30year High School reunion, but I am anti-social in my old age. 13932 steps. 2458 burn. 1750 intake. 
• Sunday (0825) Hubs was off for some Razor riding early. I got in two miles treadmill. We had an early birthday dinner for #4, the whole family off to Tepanyaki. 11216 steps. 2332 burn. 3000 intake. 

 *** Five Featured Photos ***

 #3 off for his first day as an electrician's apprentice

 #4 won't pose for a first day of school picture ...

 snagged this at the bus stop

 #5 on his first day.

New middle school. 8th grade.

 Cookie run ... Yum

National Waffle Day - August 24

... and one final photo/video compilation from Sunday

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We celebrated early (last weekend) with the family at Tepanyaki. #Coopis16! #blackhambirthdays

A post shared by JenB (@jenblackham) on Aug 29, 2019 at 1:55pm PDT

CBS All Access - A Free Month Was Enough

  TV Tuesday

I'm happy with Netflix ... and I'd pay for Prime(Amazon) regardless of the video library. I wasn't looking to add another streaming service. But when I got an email offer for a free month of CBS All Access ... it was free, so why not? 30 days to see what I wanted to watch.

 I'd done a week trial of CBS All Access once before, and with that week I'd watched the first season of "The Good Fight" and enjoyed it (I've seen all of "The Good Wife"), but then my week was up and I was done. Now there was a second and third season, so that was first up on my viewing wishlist. Very political. I read some reviews hating on the cartoon/song clips (very "School House Rock") and while I didn't love them, and they did seem out of place, some were cute and catchy... and maybe I even learned a thing or two.

 Then I gave these three a try.

They were okay, but didn't really grab me. I gave each one a few episodes. While these do have a back-story that runs through the series, each episode was its own, some problem to be solved by the end of the 40 minutes. I'll admit, I had a crush on David Boreanaz, back from his "Angel" days (I never got around to peeking at "Bones"). Still, the show just didn't capture my interest enough. "Instinct" had  "Eli Gold" (from "The Good Wife") in a different character. "FBI" wasn't bad, but I wasn't compelled to keep watching.

I was really struggling to find SOMETHING else to watch ... my month wasn't over yet. Then I discovered "One Dollar". While this wasn't wonderful, something I would rave about, it did keep my interest and I kept watching.

I really liked the "one dollar" idea, even though that was just a gimmick. It was not essential to the storyline. Basically, a dollar bill gets passed from person to person in the town, and whoever gets the dollar is the focus of that single episode. 

This is basically a murder mystery. We (the audience) know a bit more than most of the characters, but are as much in the dark as the police, attempting to uncover the events and solve the crime. 

Everything was revealed in the end, and this limited series comes to a complete conclusion. I guess there could have been a second season, but any plans were cancelled, as is so often the case. I had never heard of this show at all (whereas I had heard of the other three I tried out). Not sure if CBS advertised it. 

I hadn't really seen these actors in other productions, which can be nice. Gives it a fresh feel, with no preconceived notions (why is Angel in the Navy?? and Eli Gold is gay?). I don't know that it was ever listed exactly which small town, which state, this setting took place in. There were some heavy accents, and "yous" was commonplace.

... I was able to wrap up my viewing, and cancel my membership before I was charged for anything.  There just didn't seem to be that much content (compared to Netflix/Amazon/Hulu) to have a solid base for its own streaming service. In my opinion anyway ...

Weekly Weigh-In #315 (177.4)

Oy. Again. Not a good week. Much school stress. I let it get to me (over eating, under exercising) and it showed up on the scale. School starts Monday. Normally, I'd totally plan on getting back on track, but ... well, here's hoping that happens (may depend on how #4 acclimates). 

My Versa and Charge(clipped, torso tracker) were pretty close this week, with my One (clipped on the pocket) coming in quite a bit higher. #2 beat me easily. #5 forgot to sync himself...

NUMBERS: Weight up 1.9 pounds, average up 1.85. Uber up. Bad weekend on top of a bad week. Overage for the week was just 1930. Two days under goal. Average intake 2157. Just one 3000+ burn day. Burn average 2767. No 30k days. Step average 18,911 with only 21.48 logged miles. 94/95 floors. Cardio minutes 378/791/639/935.

EXERCISE: Three days with elliptical, but didn't get a full hour in any day this week. Only one day with treadmill time. Still got all five Zumba classes in though. No Weights.  OTHER ACTIVITIES: Quite a bit of time on school stuff. Shopping was down (I was distracted by school stuff). There was a trip to the DMV, and a butterfly date with Hubby.  Here's the day by day ...

• Monday (0812) Bad night for sleep. Got in my Zumba w/Kirsten and one elliptical session. Some badminton in the evening.  Worked on the computer (blog, insurance, school stuff) and hit the grocery store. 22767 steps. 2963 burn. 1500 intake. 
• Tuesday (0813) Zumba at the church, 30min elliptical and two miles treadmill. Also mowed the lawn. Took #5 to Elkridge to map out his classes and took #4 and friends to a movie in the evening (just dropped/picked up). 25720 steps. 3060 burn. 1700 intake.
• Wednesday (0814) On the way to Zumba I got a call from the school saying #5's registration was a mistake and he had to switch middle schools. :( I stopped at the new school after class to get things started, had to re-register him ... and then tell him. There were tears :( #3 took the two littles out for some lunch. Plumbers came to work on the water pressure. Hubs had to borrow a work buddy's car to get home, as his was still in the shop. 16351 steps. 2654 burn. 2600 intake. 
• Thursday (0815) Zumba with MZL. I'd planned a store stop on the way home, but checked and saw #5's new schedule at the new school was up, and there were some errors (put him in couple classes he'd taken last year) so I went straight to the school to get that taken care of. They were great and then went home and got #5 ... back to the school to map out classes. Took longer than our Tuesday trip at the other school, as this is completely new. I think we're both feeling a bit better about the situation. Then it was off to the high school with #4, talking to the school psychologist and then finding all his classrooms. I think it went well. A couple errands on the way home ... drycleaning, Wendys, library. #3 took #5 in for a haircut while we were gone, then #1 took the two littles to a movie in the evening. 18046 steps. 2783 burn. 2100 intake.
• Friday (0816) Zumba w/MZL ... so hot! I thought the A/C worked last week, but not this week. Stopped at Smiths to grab groceries after class. Took #4 to the DMV ... he didn't pass (could have tried a second time but he wasn't up for that emotionally and it was crazy busy, we would have had to wait a while again). Hubs took a mental health day, leaving work to go sit at the lake. We are watching the neighbor's dog, so the boys and I went over a few times to give her exercise and potty breaks. I mowed the front lawn. 17126 steps. 2701 burn. 2300 intake. 
• Saturday (0817) Mowed the back lawn. Doggy duty. Hubs and I went to a Monarch Release at a local park ... it was cool. Little did double movies with #1. Hubs and I did a movie at home ... with popcorn.  13458 steps. 2442 burn. 2500 intake.  
• Sunday (0818) No big breakfast today, but Hubs made us a yummy steak dinner. Low-key day. School starts tomorrow for #4. Work for #3. 10759 steps. 2343 burn. 2400 intake. 

Four Featured Photos ...

 Baby bees on a sunflower ...

A little brotherly fast food ...

 Missionary social ... very punny drinks!

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A post shared by JenB (@jenblackham) on Aug 17, 2019 at 5:17pm PDT

Weekly Weigh-In #314 (175.5)

Oooomph. Uber up. I admit, I've been stressing. And eating. And not really exercising. It's still pretty easy for me to hit 20k Mon-Thursday though.  #2 was on finishes this week, so he didn't get as many steps. #5 made it on the board though (beating out Grandpa), and that was forgetting to wear his Fitbit entirely one day.  #4 registered over 26k, and that was not wearing the Fitbit full days, and skipping a few days all together.

Stacked Steps

 My steps and stats ...

NUMBERS: Official weight up three pounds. Ooomph! Average up 1.48. Overage for the week of 4046. Intake average was 2600. Burn average 2753. Just one day with burn 3000+. No 30k days. Step average 18824 with 28.51 logged miles. Cardio minutes 512/836/659/1009.

EXERCISE: Didn't get a full hour of elliptical in any day this week. Partial elliptical workouts three days. Three days with treadmill time too. Five Zumba classes. No ping pong, but added some badminton and bowling. No weight workout.  OTHER ACTIVITIES: Lots of lawn mowing and gardening. Some school stuff (registration and orientation), restocking the ranch (duck food) and a car show.  Here's the Day by Day ...

• Monday (0805) Zumba ... subbed for Kirsten again. Then it was off to Sophomore orientation with #4. It went fine, except with construction, we were only able to get to two of his eight classes.  Picked up #5 from his sleepover. Got him registered ... he is still at Elkridge (not what we had planned for, but okay). Got in two miles treadmill. Hubs was late with a work awards dinner. 22571 steps. 2929 burn. 1950 intake. 
• Tuesday (0806) Got in 30min elliptical early, then Zumba over at the church. Two miles treadmill for additional exercise, and I mowed the lawn. #3 took his brothers out for some fun (lunch, puppies and NickleMania) and got a haircut for himself. The repairman came and the microwave is back up and running.  22180 steps. 2795 burn. 2500 intake. 
• Wednesday (0807) Good day. Just elliptical and Zumba w/MZL for official exercise. Played some badminton with #4. Overcast day. Ran some errands (CalRanch, Reams). 21449 steps. 2906 burn. 2400 intake. 
• Thursday (0808) Prepped the house for cleaners. Brought zucchini to Zumba. Small class today. Grocery shopping after. Ducks and gardening and quite a bit of time trying to find tech for #3 to set up a projector ... then his activity got rained out anyway. 23365 steps. 2984 burn. 2700 intake. (Picked up some candy corn at the store ... early in the season, but I can't resist!)
• Friday (0809) Zumba w/MZL. Smiths stop afterward. Drop off at the drycleaners. Mowed the front lawn. #3 had his movie night in the backyard, with s'mores too.  17931 steps. 2716 burn. 2300 intake. 
• Saturday (0810) Got in a half hour of elliptical. Hubs installed a filter on the fridge ice-maker (I was getting disturbing floaties in my water as the ice melted). #2 installed a smart switch down in the gym, and I spent some time there getting it all set up. Took the two littles to a local car show and grabbed them hot dogs at the food cart. Made cookies. Mowed the back lawn.  15344 steps. 2678 burn. 3900 intake. (umm ... not sure what happened there!)
• Sunday (0811) The older boys did church (the two had friends/brothers homecoming/farewell) while Hubs and I took the two littles bowling with the Sunday special.  Strog for dinner. #1 and wife were over and got games going. Lots of laughter. 8929 steps. 2266 burn. 2450 intake. 

Featured Photos ... some weeks I struggle to get five photos, but this week I have too many!

 Awards night for Hub's company

 Three brothers ... love that #3 takes the other two out!

Sweet smelling rain after Zumba on Thursday

 ... and a pretty double rainbow that evening

 some smores

... and the big screen in the backyard

 Hot dogs from the food truck at the car show

 Three perfectly placed pins ... can he get the spare? 

(no, but he got two of them)

July 2019

JULY ... full on summer mode. A couple of holidays, our anniversary, days at the lake, backyard birds and garden. Ping pong made a comeback, and #5 had some summer balling. As far as fasting, I only hit goal about half the time. Still struggling with quantity/quality of food. Steps and exercise have been down, and weight has been up. 

NUMBERS: Starting weight was 168.8, ending weight 168.9. So although that looks about the same, there was plenty of scale sliding during the month. High was 172.5. Low was 167.3. Average 169.52.  Intake average was 2285, Burn average 2738 which ended up in an overage for the month of 3798.  Total Steps 617,915. Step average was 19933 w/170.78 logged miles. 2838/3872 cardio minutes, 80 w/Weights.

EXERCISE: Only achieved my hour of elliptical six days this month. Still was on the elliptical eleven additional days. 17 days with treadmill time. Jogged a 5k and did a mountain walk. Only one day with double duty. Went to 23 Zumba classes, and did a little extra on my own. Two weight workouts.   ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES: The usual driving and grocery shopping. Some non-grocery shopping.  Lots of lawn mowing. I didn't manually add ducky/garden time, but there was quite a bit of backyard work as well. Also didn't manually track ping pong, but it managed to register on my Fitbit quite a bit. There was some bowling. And basketball. A couple times eating out, and grabbing food to go (pizza, popeyes) and other family time.

Weekly Weigh- In #313 (172.5)

Another summer week. Wrapping up July and starting in on August ... up a little, although the average was down. A little. Triple Popeyes. Broken microwave. School stress. Ladies lunch and a trip to the Parade of Homes. Brother stuff on Saturday. Family lake day on Sunday. No actual basketball this week, but an invite to another team, which means it will be a full Fall season for #5. 

 ... if only I could get #5 to actually wear his Fitbit ...

Here's how the other steps stacked up. Position plays a part, with the pocket generally being the  winner, followed by the wrist, then the torso. Maybe I'll experiment more with that, and move my One to test it on the torso again (that is where I wore it originally). Son#2 broke 100k, with #3 and my dad solidly in the 60s. #4 and #5 tend to leave their Alta's around, rather than wearing them on their wrists.

NUMBERS: Official weight was up .8 while average was down just a little, -.58.  I actually did pretty good on the fasting, but only had two days with intake at/under goal. A couple really high days brought up the average (2521) and ended with an overage (2663). Average burn was 2801 with just two days 3000+ and no 30k days (although I came close). Step average was 20125 with 38.04 logged miles.  Cardio minutes 621/883/805/1138(783) with 35 minutes w/Weights this week.

EXERCISE: On the elliptical four days of the seven, only achieved my full hour one day this week. Treadmill time (two miles) four days. Five Zumba classes. One time w/Weights. OTHER ACTIVITIES: A little ping pong and the usual lawn mowing and gardening. Transport was up a little, but half of that was driving to the lake. Grocery shopping and a stop for some clothes shopping for #4. Some school stuff ... more will be coming! Out to lunch with my mom and SILs.  I never picked up Popeyes myself (although I did grab pizza), but it showed up at the house three times this week! Here's a look at the day by day activities and numbers ...

• Monday (0729) Awake in the night and up early. Got some stuff around the house and a couple elliptical sessions in before heading out to Zumba. Carma and I were subbing for Kirsten again. Stats: 5661/5620 steps. 423/385 burn. AvHR120. High151. In Zone 34 of the 61 minutes. Store stop on the way home. Some billing issues to work over (DirectTV, Insurance). Microwave not working. Down day for #4. Got in two miles treadmill. Hubs had some late work at the Parade home, grabbed Popeyes, then up late prepping a brisket. 28201 steps. 3264 burn. 1850 intake. 
• Tuesday (0730) Bad night. Hubs had to check the meat during the night, kept me awake. Got in some early elliptical, then Zumba at the church. Treadmill later, plus mowing the lawn and some ping pong. 25592 steps. 2993 burn. 1900 intake. 
• Wednesday (0801) Busy day. Got in my full hour of elliptical, Zumba w/MZL, two miles treadmill and did weights. I was able to get the latter in while the cleaners came. Repairman for the microwave came too, but needs to order a part ... still no working microwave.  #3 took the two littles for bowling and breakfast. Got some rain. #3 and #2 worked out in the gym ... it got a lot of use today. #3 picked up Popeyes. 26270 steps. 2959 burn. 2400 intake. 
• Thursday (0802)  Got some elliptical in, then Zumba w/MZL. Met my mom and SILs for a ladies lunch at Red Robin. Stopped at a store on the way home, got some clothes for #4. Got a couple miles on the treadmill. Hubs brought home a microwave (counter/temporary). I made cookies, and #2 made cookies, and #1 brought over ... Popeyes! Three times in one week! Hubs had to fix a frame in the model home and I went with him to check the place out. 24217 steps. 3033 burn. 3200 intake (oops). 
• Friday (0803) Just Zumba today ... and I forgot my hat. A store stop afterward. School stress, #5's location is up in the air, trying to do some prep work to make #4 more comfortable. #5 had practice in the evening. #4 came with as I dropped him off, and we stopped by the bank to get his account reset (he'd been locked out). Hubs had gone to the lake with work friends. 16633 steps. 2674 burn. 2400 intake. 
• Saturday (0804) Ended up not leaving the house today. No exercise, but I did mow the lawn. Made tinga. Hubs put the brisket on for later, and fixed a couple faucets. The boys (sans#3) went bowling and hit the arcade. #4 even played some basketball with #3 and hackysack with #1. He had a good day. Fun evening with the family (sans Hubs, gone to see a comedian with a work friend). Skookie and Jackbox games. 16633 steps. 2674 burn. 2400 intake. 
• Sunday (0805) Lake Day ...I'd planned this on a day #3 could make it. We had everyone, including Aunt Ana and her two boys. It was a nice day, except the drastic dropping water level had killed a bunch of fish. They were floating everyone and washed up all over the shore. Ewww. #4 was done after about an hour ... luckily I had a portable charger for his phone. A few of us got sunburned (those who used sunscreen were okay ... go figure!). Home again, for shower and nap. No exercise. 7149 steps. 2158 burn. 

***What I'm Watching While Working Out ***   Finished up "Big Little Lies" and now need to find something else to catch my interest and motivate me. Haven't really found it yet. Tried the new Netflix "Another Life" ... and barely could make the first episode. I didn't care for the characters or actors or story, so, I think that's a no for me.  Now trying "Northern Rescue" and it's okay ...

*** Five Featured Photos *** 

#3 and the two littles went bowling on Wednesday, then the two bigs, their girls, took the two littles on Saturday. They hit the arcade while they were there too. 

 Can you see through the camouflage? 

Huge moth on the tree trunk out back.

 Hubs had to replace the faucet in the kitchen ... it was leaking all over!

Sure is handy to have a handy man!

 Saturday night sweets ... Skookie!

Family fun at the lake ... even with a bunch of dead fish! Ewww!