October 2020

 

I did a lot more "reading" this month than I have in a while. There has been some slight snoring from Hubs right at the start of the night, which keeps me awake. So I've been reading. Audio at any other time I can listen and multi-task. I rejoined KindleUnlimited this month. Last year I'd purchased a "gift subscription" (for myself *Ü*) when it was offered at $30 for 6 months (half price) and then I just hadn't felt the urge until recently. A couple of the AudiobookBoom books (where I'm given the audiobook in exchange for an honest review) had the Kindle copy on KU, and I often like to refer to that for reviews. All of these are rated and reviewed on my GoodReads page. 

I was a little more active this month with 512370 total steps/16528 average. Weight started at 198.8. High was 202, low was 191 which was also the end of the month weight. Average was 196.2. Mid-month, after hitting that high and going over 200, I refocused. I started up both IMF and counting calories again and have stuck with it pretty successfully so far. It has shown on the scale, but since there was a gain recently, it doesn't really feel like a "loss" but just getting back to where I had been for a while (180s, not even quite there yet).

I had some equipment issues this month. My Motiv ring ... is dead. It's done. I went ahead and got the Oura. It's very different and I'm still figuring it out. Of course it's just extra tracking for me, as I still rely on my Fitbit for most of my feedback. Also ... my elliptical. I was just getting back into using it more when CRACK. Something broke. It was the plate under the right pedal. I found the part and ordered it, and Hubs was able to fix my machine ... but we also went and looked at new ellipticals, and I really liked the Octane. Keeping that one in mind! I added some stationary bike back into my routine, and even did a couple weight workouts. Zumba three days a week, and treadmill almost daily.

Of course, October means Halloween. I love candy corn and my pumpkin sugar cookies. The weather turned cold and we had our first frost. I gathered everything from the garden and started fall cleanup. The dishwasher broke, so it was a week+ of handwashing until we got it repaired. Hubs had the garage door openers reworked. #3 had some skin issues, finally decided to call the doctor and a couple prescriptions did get him cleared up ... but then #4 started breaking out. My boys watched the NBA finals (belated due to Covid) and #5 had LOTS of basketball (he's on three teams). I made it to many of the games, making highlight reels from my videos. #4 is enjoying football and his fantasy league, and has also been working at the elementary school most afternoons.  The high school was doing online learning until the end of the month ~ #5 had been attending one class at the high school, and they had to cancel their basketball open gym times. Hubs had a Covid-contact and self-quarantined, working from home for several days until he got his negative-test result. He and I got some shows watched ... Silicon Valley season 6, and Cobra Kai, seasons 1&2. Down in the gym, I watched a bunch of Apple+ shows (our free year was scheduled to end in November, but I guess we got extended until Feb). Defending Jacob, See, Servant, Truth Be Told. Also Manifest (I'd recorded, watched off a portable hard drive). 

September 2020

I've been tracking my books. I haven't been tracking intake. I have still been wearing my Fitbit (habit) but I haven't been inputting data in excel to get totals/averages, etc. I despise what I see in the mirror but I just can't seem to improve the eating/exercise to combat it. Starting weight was 196.9. Ending weight 198.8. Low 194.6. High 200. Average 198.21. 

 

I've been getting some activity in. Zumba, Mon/Wed and we added in outdoor Fridays. Treadmill for two miles almost every day. I keep trying to get back into elliptical, but it feels so hard. Out of the habit, and I think my machine is a little off. I got a few 10min workouts in. Crazy to remember when I'd do five 20min sessions almost every day. #4 and I got out to play tennis once (we did it once a week last Fall). We have Apple+ for a few months, so Hubs and I watched "The Morning Show" upstairs, and downstairs (while working out) I watched "Home Before Dark." We liked the former, I was not impressed with the latter. I then watched "See" which I liked, but I was also glad it was done. I'd also added Disney+ back for a month, as #5 was in a Marvel mood. I watched a couple of movies ... "The One and Only Ivan" and "Solo". It would take a few days days, as I'm just not in the gym as much anymore. I used to be able to finish a movie in a day, in a few workouts throughout the day.

 

September started with continued home improvement ... painting the upstairs, which required a ton of prep and de-cluttering. It's helped with the organization overall though. We went through all the old electronics, the boys have a room for school and computer work/games and I now have my space to myself, with room for my sewing machine. New clock and some cute frames (placed to cover some old outlets). Another birthday (#1 - 25). More puppy time ... they went to their new homes at the end of the month. Basketball. Hubs had a couple weekend getaways with the RZR, #3 went with him to Moab. The boys hit a couple movies, but there just aren't new movies out there right now. #4 got a job! Cleaning at the elementary school, just an hour or so Mon-Fri, but it's really pretty perfect for him. Covid concerns at the schools, and the high school shifted to online learning here at the end of the month (#5 was taking one class at the high school). Fires in and out of state have made for smoky skies and beautiful sunsets.

August 2020

I love my library ... 12 of the books I read were digital checkouts. Some I'd had on hold, others were just available. I pulled one book from my Kindle cloud, and then requested three books from Audiobook Boom. I have to admit, I struggle sometimes with the reviews ... I didn't love two of the books, they were just okay. I feel guilty giving a bad or so/so review when I've been gifted the book. 

I'd really liked "The Girl of Fire and Thorns" trilogy. I read it a while ago, and saw that a 4th book "The Empire of Dreams" had come out. I hadn't really heard anything about it. Looking closer, I saw that it was a continuation, but more of spin-off. It featured Red, from "The Bitter Kingdom" ... and I must admit, I hadn't really remembered her that much. It wasn't essential to remember really, but I loved slipping back into this fantasy world. There were certain scenes that I thought had to be retold from the third book in the trilogy ... so as I finished up, I checked out "The Bitter Kingdom" (book 3) and re-read it. I'd listened to the audiobook the first go-round, and just read the Kindle copy this time. I really adore this series! I did go with audio for "Empire" and while it was a different narrator, that was expected and acceptable, as the POV was different. This narrator was great too, and I did appreciate that she matched the pronunciation of the various unique names.

... I continued on with the next two books in the Ranger's Apprentice series and liked them. I have the next couple books on hold. The Iron Flower was book 2, and I have the 3rd book in series on hold.  The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't was a prequel "bitty" book to "The Parasol Protectorate" series which I adored. This one ... not so much. It just didn't have the same feel. Born of Fire was the second book in the Elemental Origins series. It was fine, I didn't like it as much as I had the first book. I do plan on continuing on ... I have the 3rd book in my Kindle cloud. I think I got the first three books on some deal.

Savvy and The Adoration of Jenna Fox were re-reads - books I remember really liking. I'd read both of them the first time, and went with audio for this second shot. Well ... Savvy didn't work out. Now, the narrator was really good, she sounded sweet and young and I'm sure I'd like her ... on a different book. I'd read Savvy YEARS ago, and what had stuck in my head was the "voice" of the MC. She's a little 13-year old, not uneducated, but definitely had an "accent" at least in my head. Something Southern-ish. She just has the most unique way of talking, she HAS to have a unique voice. The narrator tried to characterize some of the others, and I didn't love those voices. I just ended up reverting to the kindle copy for my re-read. I haven't read the rest of the series, but it is on my list now. 

I reviewed all the books on GoodReads.

At home with the family ... we had a couple birthdays, several trips to the lake (Pineview x3 and Bear Lake), renovation (painting/carpet) in the basement, then room rearrange (#3 moved downstairs).  Tons of stuff given away (books, sb supplies, clothes, etc), trips to the thrift store and other stuff to family, friends and neighbors. There were PUPPIES! The dog next door had puppies and we have gone over to play quite a bit. Saw my side of the family a few times. Got a date with Hubs, and the whole family to Tepanyaki. #1 got a work truck. Games, and a bowling trip, haircuts at home. As far as Zumba ... my church building said no more gym use (stopping our Tues/Fri class), but the Monday building hasn't had any issue, and even let us add a Wednesday class. So ... still some exercise. I've been pretty regular on the treadmill still (watched season 3 of Dark, started Manifest), but the elliptical hasn't been happening. I did weights once. Haven't been tracking food. I didn't even calculate an average weight for the month ... it hasn't been good.

July 2020

I got a bit more reading (listening) in this month. There was some basketball (I listen while I watch, drive to games and go through video) and some work in the house (basement redo). I was doing more than my usual regular reading too. 

When I first discovered digital, and now have 1000s of books at my fingertips, I didn't plan on re-reading books. Not when there is SO much out there. But, there are many that I loved, that I've only read once. Ones I've read, and decided I wanted to experience again, this time in an audio edition. The top row is my re-reads (actually, the last one was an accidental re-read ... I hadn't remembered I had finished the book!). 

TrueL1F3 and Timeless were the final books in their series, ones I was so happy to get and loved! The Hate You Give was very good, and an interesting approach from the library ... always available, unlimited copies. Trying to spread a little awareness given the current racial unrest. Crenshaw was also uncomfortably contemporary, dealing with homelessness.

There were a couple of fantasy that I SHOULD have really liked, but they didn't click for me. Books are still a little hit and miss.

... what I was watching down in the gym ... we got Disney+ and I watched Hamilton. The music by itself hadn't grabbed me (Hubs and #1 had got caught up in it) but combined with the stage production, AND subtitles, so I could catch everything - I really liked it. I don't think Disney had added anything new since I canceled last. Just got it for the month for Hamilton. I shared my login with my Mom and she loved catching The Mandelorian. I still have Starz for a bit, and went ahead and watched some movies. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Jumanji, Little Women, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Equalizer2. Hubs and I even got out to a show, "Mary Poppins" at Hale Theater.

July was a "new" month ... new washer/dryer, new basement fridge, Hubs bought a new truck. We got a new wall in the basement. A growing garden, blooming flowers and an anniversary (28 years, 28 rosebuds). Some family game nights and dinners. Trips to the lake, and quite a bit of basketball for #5.  The 4th of July holiday, and the 24th ... LOTS of fireworks! I was quite productive with my blogging, working on a blog for extended family (28 posts) and for our own family (didn't count them up, but did quite a few from the backlog). 

Weight started at 197.5, ended at 196.1. High was 201.9 and low was 195.6. Average was 198.36 which was up from June's average of 197.18... which I don't think I even bothered to calculate last month. I did go ahead and enter the most basic details of the days (weight, steps, exercise summary). Tried to start counting calories again at the end of the month. Hard to get back into that habit after dropping it. Got Zumba in three days a week. Debbie joined us and that brought new energy! Generally getting in some treadmill, but haven't been able to get back to a good elliptical schedule. I did do weights once!

Covid continues ... mask mandates are now in effect. The school situation is being "discussed" and everyone has very different opinions. #4 will be doing online again (he made the switch last year, but I have to say it's a relief to not really have to think about it with him). #5 insists on going to school physically (although I've told him that may not be his choice at some point, like in Spring). I did talk him into taking two classes online ... although it's more for basketball purposes than Covid concerns.

Starz Subscription - $20 Deal

 

Starz offered a deal ... six months for $20. I figured I needed closure on Power. I'd watched the first five seasons, and now season six was out. So I got Starz to finish Power (and did a Power Post and review already).  I figured I'd check out some series.

• Black Sails: This one grabbed me and I watched all four seasons. This is a bit of a prequel to the story of Treasure Island, with several of the characters that will appear there. Honestly, I'm not very familiar with Treasure Island. This was definitely cable and had it all (violence, language, sexuality).
• Gravity: With a little more time on my Starz subscription, I checked out a couple more series offerings and Gravity grabbed me. I didn't LOVE it, but I liked it. Suicide was the central theme.

... I also watched a few movies, which was a bit harder, as I'm not getting as much gym time as I have previously. Most movies would take me more than one day to finish.

I canceled my Starz subscription ... I'd watched everything I wanted. 

I got my $20 worth!

June 2020

So as mentioned in my last post ... I've gotten a bit lost on my journey. As far as food and fitness goes anyway. I haven't even crunched my numbers for June, and am not sure I will. Not very motivated there. I was still reading, so instead of being at the bottom of my monthly recap like in previous months, books are taking center stage ... 

I got through 12 books ... well, 11, because one was a DNF. Life is too short to stick to a book you aren't enjoying. I have placed my books approximately in order of enjoyment (the first three are 2-4 in a series, so they must be in chronological order ... I would have continued on with that series immediately, but the next book has a wait at my library).  

• FORMAT: 10 of the books were experienced in audio. I only read one (Menagerie ... my library didn't have an audio copy, my DNF The Princess Trials was also not-audio) and struggled to find enough time to READ, even though I liked it a lot. In fact, it got zapped back to the library after three weeks. Oops! Happily I was able to check it out again immediately and finish up. I just have so much more time to listen and multi-task. I listen whenever I can!
• ACCESS: I was finishing up my KindleUnlimited membership at the start of the month. I wasn't offered any wonderful deals to continue, so I canceled. I do enjoy KU ... but not enough to pay $10 a month for it. Four of the books were KU while I still had it. Then I turned to my library, seven of the reads were borrowed from there. I received one from AudiobookBoom in exchange for a review.

I'm really enjoying the Cail Carriger books. I loved her YA series, and I'd actually read the first two books in this series some years ago. I repeated those, this time in audio, and went on to books 3 and 4 and am waiting for the 5th book, currently on hold.  Menagerie is the first in a series and while I really liked it, I don't know if I'll continue on, at least not immediately. I looked at synopsis of the next book and it depressed me.  I had a back-to-back novels with suicide as a central theme (not purposely, but then I also happened to watch "Gravity" on Starz, which, again ...) 

... as for the month?

We had a wedding (#2 son) and despite the pandemic, had a couple family gatherings (it was two weeks ago, and everyone is still healthy, so whew!) Hubs had some outdoor activities going, #5 is back to basketball (although I haven't been to see a game myself, as spectators are limited, and they've been a little further than I want to travel). We watched the neighbor's dog while they had a weekend away ... much to the chagrin of our kitty. 

Weight stayed about the same - high 190s. Didn't track calories. Zumba three days a week ... Mon, Tues and Friday. Started the month outdoors, then got permission to move back into the building (we are a small group, and can easily stay six-feet apart). Tried one last outdoor session when the weather was cool enough, but we got rained on and had to move inside.  I've been walking on the treadmill fairly regularly, but haven't hit the elliptical much. 

While working out, I was still watching Starz ... finished "Black Sails" and then watched "Gravity". Got a month of Hulu, and started watching "Nashville" (had to find where I was, I'd seen through season four). Totally taking advantage of Xfinity not tracking data usage per the pandemic ... recorded a bunch of shows (which I can now watch without wifi) and I've been doing a ton of computer work/family history/blogging and got a bunch of photos and videos backed up. Lots of sitting doing that though. 

So that was June ...

May ... Maybe

I'm getting these little notifications here and there ..."so&so is now following you on Bloglovin" and I think "Really? Why?" It's been a while since I've been anything inspirational. My weight is at an all time high. I haven't been motivated much. While I did get back to some Zumba (three days a week) I've been struggling with other exercise (usually just a two mile walk, instead of the hour elliptical and weights I'd done in the past) and eating? Not even tracking ...

... and not really blogging either!

At least not here. Ironically, through the years - I was really good at keeping up with my "JenB'sJourney" blog, and not so much the family blog. Now? I've gone back to the family blog with a passion, and started up an extended family blog (Mother's Day present for my mom) ... so just a head's up. In addition to my lapse in food/fitness, my blogging focus has shifted too.There likely won't be many updates from here on out. Maybe just some TV/Movies posts, or book blogging, something I would like to get down, but not necessarily on the family blog. Posts I've had on my brain but never got around to. We'll see.

As far as exercise and eating ... I have to admit to giving up. And I can't even blame it on Covid-19. I hit my (weight) high in January, before Coronavirus was anything but a background thing. My food and fitness struggles started long before (beyond just the regular life struggles all the time, has it ever NOT been a struggle?) I think it was last Fall when it broke down. It's usually my best time. Back on a school schedule, I'm often motivated out of the summer slump. This year (Fall2019) though ...

• Depression and Anxiety: Not so much me, but my son (although it IS me too). We've struggled for years, but the transition to high school didn't happen. After two-days, we switched to online schooling. Lots of hard days, doctor appointments, etc.
• School and Sitting: With #4 learning from home, I was much more involved, almost a personal tutor, learning some assignments myself before helping him with them. LOTS of time parked in front of a computer ... where I tend to find myself reaching for things to snack on.
• Another Broken Foot: #2 broke his foot ... again. He'd had back to back breaks several years ago. Now, not only was #4 home, but #2 was too (for a few weeks, then back to work in a boot). Doctor appointments, and it was a very depressing time for him. Then, he repeated the back-to-back break theme and broke it again in January!
• Grandma Gone: Hub's mother passed away, completely unexpected! The emotion, the funeral, dealing with the trust (granted the other siblings handled most of it). Hubs has had a hard time.
• Totaled Truck: #3 was in a car accident on Thanksgiving. Not hurt, but ... dealing with the insurance and everything dragged on and on and on. Seriously, just wrapped things up with the replacement vehicle last month.
• Fitbit Phases: If you look back at my "Monthly Collage" images with each post, up until the Fall, there was an "intake vs burn" graph from Fitbit. For 10+ years, there was that goal to keep the "burn" above the "intake" ... to keep those lines from touching. July2019 was the last month that graph was there. When I went to make my collage the next month, the graph - was gone. Granted, I could input the numbers and make my own (I'd done it before, and I did it for a couple months before just bagging it) ... but instead, my motivation for tracking my food (as I have to do it manually in MFP, it's a lot of work!) was gone. My calorie counting slipped without that graph to motivate me. I'm a numbers, data gal. There seems to be a correlation between counting calories and weight gain ... hmmmmmm. 

Then ... add in this Coronavirus situation! I'm already a homebody, so I'm affected less than many. But my Zumba ... it shut down.  My motivation with my tech and trackers went away ... Lifecycle didn't mean much, because I wasn't going anywhere. Whereas I'd use various apps to mark when I'd exercise and such, I started to let that slide too. Still inputting data on my records, but, we'll see if I keep that up. #4 is a homebody too, already doing online school but #5 (8th grade) had to transition (easy peasy for him though) and #3's college classes moved online. Hubs and all the boys were still able to continue to work, so we did not have the financial stress and strain impacting many. But the overall impact still hits, the worry, and the it's hard not to get down and give up with the state of the world and all the divisiveness about absolutely everything!

There are other things too (D) ... but isn't that enough? I know I should push though, that exercise and eating right should/would/could improve the situation, but it's hard to stay motivated.  So, not sure when the next post will be, or what topics might make it onto the blog from now on.

Meanwhile, keeping with consistency ... books from May

Been watching "Black Sails" while on the treadmill ...

April 2020

April ... an entire month of staying home. I mean, Hubs and the boys are still working. I went out grocery shopping a few times. The littles haven't left the house all month though. Masks are now a thing. As none are available for purchase, simple sewn ones are the next best thing. There were some home haircuts (by #3, himself and #5). More online schooling - it was made official that kids will NOT be going back to school this academic year. More games ... #3 brought chess out again. We had a simple Easter. Some bike rides, burgers and jet flyby. I hosted a backyard Zumba ... stayed socially distant, dancing six-feet apart (which is actually pretty standard unless it's a packed class). My motivation for exercise is down, and I haven't even been attempting to track my eating. And it shows.

NUMBERS: Starting weight 192.10. Ending weight 193.9. High 195.2. Low 190.3. Average 192.66.  Average burn was 2465. Average steps 14585. Cardio minutes 1747/2432. 122.3 logged miles.  EXERCISE: I didn't get in an hour of elliptical any day in April. I got 30min fourteen days this month. I did better on the treadmill, walking two miles 27 days, and 8 days I did double duty (another 1.5-2 miles). Only two Zumba classes ... but now that I've brought it back, it should be up a bit next month, although I don't know that I have the stamina/option/motivation for five days a week as I did previously. I did do weights this month! Four sessions, a total of 190 minutes. 

What I Watched While Working Out

I watched a Starz series ... getting in the first season of Black Sails. I liked it. Very cable. I plan on continuing, but I also wanted to get in some movies this month. Some were on Starz, others were Showtime (which I don't have, but it was being offered as a special access over cable) and then we got Disney+ for a month, as #4 wanted to watch Onward. So far, I've watched it, and he still hasn't! 

Parasite was one that Hubs and I watched together upstairs ... almost like a date.

I didn't get in quite as many books  ... lots of my listening was during drives, while watching basketball, shopping, etc. Those things aren't happening as much. It's been a little hard to keep concentration too. I finished up my Audible Escape trial, and then was a bit surprised when I was able to sign up for the 2-month free Kindle Unlimited offer (it wasn't only for new subscribers). I like that my library allows me to push back holds. They've also upped the number of holds a person can have (from five to ten). 

So that was April ... under quarantine!

TV Tuesday - Two Season Six, One Season Sixteen

TV Tuesday ... What have I been watching? Even before the whole pandemic started, I'd grabbed a Starz deal. Six months for $20. I'd watched the first five seasons of Power and figured I needed to see how it all ended. Then Hulu invited me back - a free month, so I said okay, and saw that Homeland was included (I hadn't noticed that it was also available through Showtime on Xfinity, even without a subscription). And of course ... I love my Grey's Anatomy. I recorded the episodes using PlayOn as I don't watch live.

• POWER: I'll admit ... I was a little tired of all the back-stabbing and craziness going on. I was pretty much ready for any/all of the characters to be killed off. This final season did have an interesting turn. Episode 10, was "the end" ... I do NOT love the theme song for this show (I always fast forward through it, annoyed that Starz doesn't offer a "skip intro" button like other services) but it was very effective the way it was brought in and used during that episode. Slowed down, minor key. I was a bit confused in the next episode ... I'd already seen this, did I press a wrong button? Then I figured out we were going back and seeing things from a different perspective. From Dre. Then the next episode, it's from the perspective of Paz. Then the next episode from Tommy ... we are seeing some things for the second (or third, or now fourth) time, and some things for the first time. A couple more characters are featured, and all is revealed. I thought it was a really interesting end, although I still have to say "huh?" to a couple things. 
• HOMELAND: I must admit ... I couldn't quite remember where I'd left off, or when. It had been a while. I tried looking here on my blog to see if I'd documented it. I went through some of the season recaps and finally figured out it had been season five I'd finished last. So I started on season 6. It was a little hard to get into. I struggled with poor Quin.  I finished the season but didn't feel like moving on to season seven/eight. I did record them so I'll have access if/when I want to return. 
• GREY'S ANATOMY:  I'd kept up with things until January ... when I got my temporary subscriptions, I put my Grey's on hold, and had to hide following them on Facebook so I didn't see spoilers. When I finished my other two programs, and the (shortened) season finale (pandemic problems) was about to air ... I binged my Grey's Anatomy. I had several episodes to catch up on, but I liked watching them all back-to-back rather than waiting a week or more in-between episodes.  It was hard to have two beloved characters (Deluca and Webber) seeming to lose their minds. I liked the resolution for Richard anyway ...  On a side note, Dr. Avery Jackson (the actor anyway) was in the season six of Power, NOT a very Avery roll! Just a small part, one episode, but he was more of a gang-banger, grungy and tatted, not a doctor. 

I don't really have any certain series calling out to me at the moment ... so I might go back to movies for a bit. I only managed a few in March. We'll see how I do in April. I'm better off than many with this pandemic going on, as I am already a homebody, spoiled with a home gym ... elliptical, treadmill, bike, weights. I really have no excuses!

March 2020

What a month ... it started off pretty normal. The coronavirus was in the news, but not something affecting us immediately. But that changed! Hubs had a trip to California at the start of the month; by the end of the month, travel had been almost completely shut down. All the concern from February about when/how that ONE snow day would be made up is a moot point, as schools have been shut down and learning moved online. All non-essential stores have shut down, leading to panic purchases and massive unemployment. Everyone encouraged to "stay home, stay safe".  And if that wasn't enough ... then there was an earthquake! 5.7 with hundreds of aftershocks. 

We are better off than most. Hubs and the older boys are still employed (the construction industry is still moving forward for now). #3's job at the Nike store was one of the first to close its doors, but with his college classes moved online, he was able to step right back as an apprentice electrician with #2. We were already doing online school with #4, so no changes there, and #5 is adapting well. He's an easy kid, and I think with #4 and I already learning online (even though the public schools are scrambling and using different programs) helped us transition pretty easily.

There was Daylight Savings ... so we had a week of adjusting to losing an hour, right before everything shut down (online school = sleeping in!) The turning point in my mind was Wednesday, March 11. My boys were waiting for the NBA/Jazz game to start, and there was a delay. Then it was announced that the game would not be played. Rudy Golbert had tested positive for the virus. Then all of NBA was suspended. In the next few days, all other sports shut down too. Restrictions were put in place - no more than 100 people could gather. Then that dropped to 50. Then to 10. Then to immediate family. 

Hubs and I made it out to my nephew's wedding ... right under the wire! A wedding dinner Friday (March 13) and reception (March 14). They had a second reception scheduled for down in St. George which they had to cancel, but they were lucky ... churches closed, temples closed, people who were still going forward with weddings had to have them in a backyard with just a few people, using video conferencing to include others. 

I'm pretty lucky ... I'm a homebody (me and #4) and this whole thing isn't as impacting as for many. My larger Zumba group shut down pretty quickly, but my smaller (under 10 people) kept up for another week or so. Then Zumba moved online ... instructors are great at still teaching online, although it's a little harder to stay motivated at home. I'm spoiled with a home gym (as the gyms and rec centers were shut down) but have struggled to keep my steps up. While not overly stressed, eating has been an issue as well.  I had gone back to counting calories at the start of the month ... but gave up again pretty quickly, a little overwhelmed with everything going on. 

NUMBERS: Weight ... not good. Started at 189.5 and ended at 192.4. High was 194.4 with a low of 187.9. Average was 190.91.  Average burn was 2521. Step average 15,267 with 458,012 total steps. Cardio minutes 2364/2701 and 160.22 tracked miles.  

EXERCISE: I've struggled with elliptical motivation, especially once the "school schedule" (not having to get up early to get kids off) was shifted. Just five days where I achieved my hour, and 14 days where I got 30min or more. Better with the treadmill ... on it 23 days, with one day of double duty.  Zumba suffered ... just 15 classes, and couple of those were on my own at home.  No bike. No weights ... I thought about doing weights, but never quite got up the motivation to do so. 

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Before everything shut down, #5 had a championship game and a couple practices. Tons of tournaments planned ... all canceled. The family time was the wedding. Got #5 in for a haircut (now all salons are closed) and I made it in to the doctor for my annual exam, to refill prescriptions. Hubs ran out of his blood pressure medication and first the doctor's office said he had to come in ... then with all the craziness, they went ahead and authorized a refill. Just for 30-days ... but I'm thinking this isn't going to be "over" in 30-days either.  My Lifecycle app will probably look even more different next home. HOME ... almost all the time. 

What I Watched While Working Out ...

I grabbed a couple DVDs from the library (now they are closed, not even accepting returns). Vertical Limit was an old mountain climbing movie (after I watched "Everest last month it "peak"ed my interest ... so punny!). The Way Back is based on a book "The Long Walk" I read back in college. I then signed up for a 6-months for $20 Starz deal. Mainly, to catch the 6th and final season of Power (and I watched all 15 episodes). I also used Starz to catch "Spiderman Far From Home".  Hulu offered me 30-free days, so I did that, catching the 6th season of Homeland there. Hubs and I rented and watched "Contagion" ....

What I Was Reading ...

Watching TV/Movies and Books are the new norm, as many are in isolation, stuck at home. I was already an expert at e-reading and audiobooks. Now, that's the main option for almost everyone!

I was finishing up my KindleUnlimited plan ... I didn't renew it (wasn't offered any awesome deal and just couldn't justify $10 a month when I have so many other options).  I've also been on an "AudibleEscape" plan, free for two months (I've come to the conclusion that 90% of AudibleEscape is literary porn). I got in a couple AudioBookBoom reviews (ehh, not great). I enjoyed a couple P&P re-tellings (those were nice and clean).

Much Ado About Nothing was required reading for #4's English class ... I read it too to help him with homework. Two "bitty books" and Dragonsong was a re-read (a listen actually). 

What will April be like?