Winter Watching 5x

 

I get a lot of watching in during winter. I'm not an outdoor exerciser anyway, so the change in weather doesn't affect my routine much. But ... if I'm feeling cold, or know I have to go out into the cold (mommy uber) it's a little extra incentive to hit the gym for a quick warmup workout. Here's a few of the series that kept me entertained while in the gym as 2019 wrapped up.

• Dark: I loved this, and watched all three seasons. I can't do dubbing, so I left the audio in the original German and put on subtitles. Timetravel is always mindbending, and this was crazy! I was very impressed with the casting of the individuals at different ages, some were SO spot on! It was confusing and complex, and I appreciated when they'd do little portions where they showed the people side-by-side. This was deserving of it's (M/mature) rating with language and sexuality.
• Reign: This one has been going on for a while with me. I watched the first season and then finished the second one ... but I don't know that I'll continue. It's a little over the top. I struggled a bit with Megan Follows as an evil character! She'll always be Anne to me. This ended up being my "weight workout" show ... something I didn't really need to pay close attention to or keep my eyes on it all the time (as with weights, I can't always keep my eyes on the TV). 
• The Widow: This was an Amazon original (all the others are Netflix) and I thought it was pretty good. Lots of action. It kept my interest enough.
• Unbelievable: I'd heard a bit of buzz and figured I'd give this show a try. It was challenging, not knowing who or what to believe. 
• Raising Dion: I generally love supernatural shows ... this one did NOT work for me. The acting and the story were eye-rolling. I really like to at least finish a season for closure, but I gave up on this one. On my DNF list.

October 2019

October 2019 ... no intake again. I didn't even bother to grab the graph. The month started off with some anticipated travel and fun, and ended unimaginably. Maga (Hub's mom) passed away. Completely unexpected, in her sleep. She laid down for an afternoon nap and didn't wake up. She and the cousins, and our #3 had done Disneyland at the start of the month. Hubs and #4 took a trip to Seattle to visit family there. We brought dinner in to my folks, as my mom had fallen and broken her wrist. Then #2 broke his foot and sprained his ankle badly during basketball. I got #4 in for some psychological testing ... and then Maga. Hub's and his siblings have a lot to deal with dealing with the estate (Hub's father passed away years ago) and it's been a rough time for everyone emotionally.  

I was already off schedule, with the sickness and such in September. #2 is now home all day (can't work or drive with his foot) and #1 stops by in the morning and for lunch. #3 has been working but will be changing jobs and shifting schedules to where he will be around in the day. It's very different from the past few years when all the kids were in school and I had a strict schedule and some hours alone to accomplish whatever I wanted. One day I looked around  (NOT during Fall Break, but that happened this month too) and had three of the five boys home in the middle of the day. Just an excuse ... I could still fit in the exercise if I tried and made it a priority. I am still getting some, just not my usual "back to school"  shift into gear. It's literally been back to school, as I've been helping a lot with #4's online schooling. Often doing the reading and watching the lectures, taking notes, so I can tutor him and nudge him step-by-step along the way. 

It's the eating anyway ... but that's gone completely downhill. There has definitely been some emotional eating. I tend to snack as I sit at the computer, which I've been doing a lot more of late. Add in Halloween and tons of little snack size candies (calories don't count in those small sizes, right), candy corn and some seasonal baking.   I gave up counting calories and tracking. I never got to updating the blog on my weekly reports. I've given up on lots of things.

NUMBERS: Weight started at 173.2. Ended at 179.8. Those with the high and low too. Average was 176.62.  Average burn 2487. Step average 15228, total steps 472,071 with 117.94 logged miles. Cardio minutes 2136/2569 with 15min weights. 

EXERCISE: Only three days with a full hour of elliptical. Five days had partial elliptical workouts. Better with treadmill time, 14 days this month. Still got my Zumba in, even with skipping a couple classes. 19 total. #4 and I have been playing tennis (pickleball one week), had four sessions there. One weight workout.

OTHER ACTIVITY: Tons of family time, obviously. Still have to grab groceries to keep everyone fed. Basketball, finishing up the Fall season (a few playoff games next month). Doctor and dentist, more than the usual. No lawn mowing ... the weather has definitely turned.