I was banded in Houston, and stayed in a lovely cottage in GALVESTON where it was EASY to ride a bicycle every morning on the seawall eight miles DAILY. it was WARM and i loved life. i was on my feet and active each day. I loved it there.

Now im back in Northern Maine. Its very cold. Feet of snow on the ground. im NOT happy here, but its where i live for now. Ive promised myself id keep up regular daily excercise. Ive joined a gym. Its near where i work. I plan to go daily. I go back to houston for second fill april 24th. Im mentally jumping in my skin and cant wait to go back.

i need your support. I need to hear from someone else who is struggling to keep their activity levels healthy. Does anyone else live in a very cold climate? Please respond? Id like to keep track of the workouts somehow.

Hi!

I lived in Bangor for a year, so I know what you mean about trying to keep your activity level up. When I live there I would hit the drive -through coffee and head out to Acadia and hike with the kids. Even with piles of snow in Bangor the coast trails were passable because of being warmer by the Water.

Where do you live in Maine? If you are too far from the coast, how 'bout X-C skiing or snow shoeing? Take advantage of the outdoors before the black flies hit!

Another thing that I read in the new Martha Beck book was the value of fidgeting. If you just move more within the context of your current life, you will burn more calories. This is what i am doing now. I have a bad back and I am waiting to lose more before I stress it out with formal excersize. So, I do busy work in the house, dance around a bit, and generally catch up with housework that I didn't do when 40 lbs heavier.

Good luck! (gosh, I miss Maine so much!)

Hi Annie!

thanks for replying!

I live in Presque Isle Maine, way far north, way far inland.

the snows are lowering and crusting! (slow melting). I hate the cold and the snow altogether.

I DO know what you mean about Maine though, in June, July and August, its breathtaking, even up here.

I did join a formal gym day before yesterday, and i go back tomorrow. So far so good, but my activity around the house is much less than it was in galveston. MOST of my problem is that the house is VERY drafty and cold, and oil very expensive. I have a BUBBLe of bearable warmth provided by my trusty space heater. Its like that for MOST of the day.

i cant do skiing cause of ankle and wont do hiking because there is still multiple feet of snow out here.

I went to the mall and walked for quite a bit today.

I also picked up a book recommended to me, "you, on a diet" and its really interesting. Lots of things in there i didnt know, that i think is good to know!

anyway, hope you are doing well. Good to talk to another Mainiac.

How are the workouts going? You inspire me to go back to the gym too. Have you had a break in the weather yet?

Spring has sprung here and the amount of yard work i have to do is daunting. I was banded on Nov. 15th and that was prime time for fall clean-up (so it didn't get done) and during the winter, when the weather was not so bad, i wasn't feeling well. Now i'm feeling so much better with 40 lbs off that i have already pruned a ton off lowere branches. (No more getting wacked in the face while mowing, yea).

I've never been as far north as Presque Isle. It must be beautiful. I took the kids up to Baxter State Park once. I know you will laugh at this- They were all pre-schoolers! It took hours to go about 1/8th of a mile on those "natural" trails. Very much worth the trip though...

Hang in there with the Gym!

Hi Annie!

so far so good!

ive hit the gym every morning at 850am (after taking all boys to respective schools) then im on. I do thirty minutes (two rounds at 25 rep) on three strength training machines every OTHER day, and cardiovascular (treadmill and bikes) every day.

im usually in the shower by 10am straight up, covered in sweat, and feeling pretty good.

Im generally tired after a workout. i dunno why. i dont know if its my age this time around or what?

but i DO notice an overall improvement in my attitude. I stepped on the scale today and im ONE lb lighter than the day i started. I want to turn and tell someone and i dont know anyone there well enough, so i just smiled and thought, "hope this time!"

im not quite sure where baxter state park is. I do know what pre schoolers are and you deserve a medal for trying that one.

Hi,

Baxter State Park is west and a bit south from you. It is a famous park because they keep it totaly natural. They will even shut down a trail if an animal has a nest with babies nearby. Mainers can rent the cabins and camp there but the spaces booked months in advance. The Appalation (sp?) trail ends there at mount Kitadhan (sp?) which is the highest point in Maine. It is SO beautiful.

How did you end up in Maine? My DH is a Pathologist and that is why we ended up in Bangor. The group had some creepy members though, so we left when we heard of the job here (my sister lives here, so it was great to be by family). Here, by the way, is Beavercreek Ohio. It's a nice place to live. Suburbia. No grand senery, but the shopping is much better (i can't wait to buy small clothes!)

Hey Annie,

My husband coaxed me up here in 2003. Ive been 'around' mt katahdin but not actually to it yet. Theres a great book you can get on audiobook (i like to play them at work, while i work, its like having someone read to you) called "a walk in the woods" and its all about the author's hike along the apalachian trail, and quite funny!

I Love this place in spring and summer, but i cant get out of here fast enough in the winter. Today was a perfect example. Cold and even snow this morning while i was working out at the gym. GREY ALL DAY EVERY DAY. i find i have no energy and just sorta lay around.

Do you work out?

Hi!

We hae had the gray drizzles today too. In Dayton we get tons of days like that in Nov. to March. I hope April is better.

I read that book "a Walk in the Woods" it was great. I didn't get an urge to pack up and go, but it was very funny. I love the little british-ism he pops into what he writes.

I havn't started working outformally yet. My dad had a fall and since then he has needed to go to lots of appointments an i am the taxi. Meanwhile i have three teens and our house has been hit with vandalism. The turkeys cut down a 5" diameter tree in our front yard. Freak me out. We have had other instances, but that was the usual TP and egging.

When things settle down i will go back to the club to work out. By then the mess of redecoration will be over.

annie

if it makes you feel any better, shortly after that last post i got snowed in, then in the middle of that, allergies forced me down. I cant handle th emeds. they knock me out entirely. i think ive been asleep for the last few weeks. I gained EIGHT lbs back, then went on liquid diet again to get ahold of things, and ive dropped five of them so far.

Ill blow it tonight though, its my birthday and i have already seen the cake. We are planning to go to ruby tuesdays for dinner.

ive cleaned the house? does that count?