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Day 57: Belly Walking, Antipasto Pasta Salad and 400 Consecutive Running Steps!


Antipasto Pasta Salad with Turkey Pepperoni


I woke up this morning feeling pretty darn good.  My neck was rather sore, so I did my hitting of the snooze alarm for awhile, why I let the cool air from the fan revive me.  It seems to have cooled down quite a bit last night. In fact, as I waited for the bus ride home last night after teaching, there was a gentle, refreshing breeze that I quite enjoyed.

Yesterday was a good day overall. I ate very healthy.  I had a moment between students where I felt the need for a small snack. I had not packed anything, so I stopped at a convenience store. I usually buy unsweetened iced tea to pick me up.  But I felt a little weak and was thinking some protein would do the trick. Usually I buy a small bag of nuts. But I took some time to read the calorie and sodium content on the back of the packages. Most of the small packages of various salted nuts were about 400 calories!  Luckily they had unsalted, raw almonds.  A 1.5 oz package had only 250 calories and 0 mg of sodium!  Success!

Cutting back on the salt has really helped my morning stiffness.  Today, it was only the neck and that could probably be attributed to watching an episode of Downton Abbey in bed last night. I don't think I fell asleep until after midnight. I really need to start going to bed earlier so I can get up early enough to get a good workout in now that the summer term has begun!

I talked with my daughter a bit about my workouts.  I told her I have been exercising everyday for nearly two months and working on eating healthier. My legs are getting quite buff!  But the belly, sigh. I told her I looked like Arnold Schwarzeneggar from the waist down and Buddha from the waist up!  Arrggg.

She asked about my workouts.  She suggested that I "walk with my belly".  She said it sounds like I need to strengthen my core. Such a smart girl I have!



Today I hit the trail. It was a bit cooler than usual. I did 1 mile. And I walked with my belly! Years ago, I studied belly dancing. It seemed to come quite natural for me. My teacher said I had a "natural Gypsy spirit" that came out when I danced.  So when I walked today, I didn't just move my feet and legs, while keeping my torso immobile, I moved from the hips - I visualized a sideways figure eight - I learned this move in belly dancing!  I could really feel it working those abs!  And I swung my arms gently while trying to keep my shoulders back and head up. What a difference! I shall do this all day as I walk from house to house!

Oh, and I ran 400 consecutive steps!  This was about 1/4 mile.

Pretty snazzy!

For breakfast I had my usual 1/2 grapefruit. And a bowl of whole grain porridge with coconut spread. Iced tea.

For lunch I made my antipasto pasta salad with whole grain pasta and turkey pepperoni. WOW!  This was so good!

Tomorrow, I will go to Salem. I will work out at the gym. It's chest/triceps day.

2 months is coming up. I can't believe I've stayed with my program this long!

Happy Tuesday! :)

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