Exercise.

That might be a four-letter-word. I have a love/hate thing going on with exercise. I love how I feel when I get exercise...and I hate doing it. I especially hate walking. I don't know why. Maybe it's because my fingers always swell up when I walk. But that seems to be the preferred exercise of some of my friends.

"Pam, why don't we go for a walk tonight after work?"

No thanks.

So explain to me why, when I got up this morning, I dug out some summer clothes and hopped on our new treadmill?

My husband has been using the exercise equipment at work. He *was* lifting weights (and had some AWESOME muscles, I might add) when he switched to all cardio...AKA...the treadmill. I miss him. He works out for an hour each night after work. (Shh...I miss his muscles, too.) That hour didn't seem like much at first, but it has really cut our family time because we have Scout and Church activities nearly every night during the week.

So...we went shopping last night and brought home a treadmill. We've been researching them for weeks and last week we decided which one to buy. Last night we had time to go to the store and get it. (Remember? I live *miles* from any mall or big chain store--so it's a big deal to "go to town.") By the time it was assembled, it was too late to work out. So *I* am the first one to work out on the thing because dh (dear hubby) couldn't get woke up enough this morning. (I had the "luxury" of taking half an hour to wake up.)

So here I sit...all sweaty...typing out my morning's adventures while I cool down. I need to get a bath and go to work. I hope you'll make some time in your day to get some exercise. Your body with thank you for it.


P.S. In January I mentioned that I had joined a friend in a health challenge at her work. Our final weigh-in was last Friday. For the nine-week challenge, I had lost......drum roll please....eighteen pounds. Yeah for me! I'm hoping the treadmill will help me stay on the downhill-slide (so to speak).

Is it hot in here or is it just me?

I can remember my Mother telling me how HOT it was in the room. I didn't think it was hot, but she insisted. I never really understood that...until a few years ago.
But now it is all too clear. Sadly.
But I try not to insist that it is hot. I just look around the room and gather the clues before I open my mouth. I know--it's shocking to think I've learned to do that, isn't it? Usually I just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. But the thing about menopausal hormones is that they eat up brain cells faster than you can replace them--so now I've forgotten what I was going to say before I get a chance to say it. So, you see, it's not that I've learned to hold my tongue. It's that I'm forgetful. Severely forgetful.
But I digress.
As I was saying, I look around the room to see if anyone else is sweating buckets before I comment on how immensely hot it has gotten. Usually the answer is...no. But if I'm in a room with my closest friends, who are also going through this journey, then I can feel free to say what's on my mind and they will sympathize with me. Friends are that way. At least mine are. God has blessed me with some of the most wonderful girlfriends who encourage and uplift one another. I hope that He will do the same for you. And to my friends I say...THANKS for being there for me.
Excuse me now while I melt into a puddle. Are you sure it's not hot in here to you?