We were there!! First off, we danced and groved to the Le Gym pro's warm-up exercises!!Shufflin' along... bringin' up the rear 
Walked 10,000 steps ;D Thus confessing that we didn't walk to the Finish.
But, if three (3) wacky-crazy bus stories count for penance... we're FREE!!
(wrong bus, referred to wrong place; bus broke down; CU driver piled us all in & went to dinner!!)
We said, "Howdoo" to the University President... I think Toon was probably the "Most Chipper 85-year old participant ;D
We DID--eventually--get to Loyola Campus, though... Where Toon Van de Venbopped away to the screamin' "music". And Rhonda thoroughly enjoyed her annual wee corn-on-the-cob ;D
AND, we were home after 4 PM!! 6 PM, in fact ;D
GOOO, RHOTO

Le Gym - We're BACK!!

 RHOTO is BACK!!  It's great fun--it's a GREAT DATE to lift and twist and pull and walk at Le Gym...
See ya there!! :D
RHOTO

Vieux Montreal - Old Montreal

'Just a little "silliness" to distract from seriousness of life... Want to share with you a wee bit of the charm that is "Vieux Montreal", or Old Montreal.

This photo is of a "caleche", or a horse-driven carriage. They are mostly enjoyed by tourists, but are ever-ready for that romantic moment for those of us who call Montreal home...

This is the interior of the Notre Dame Basilica (Our Lady Basilica). It was built in 1829. For those who are French-speaking Catholic and others who enjoy architectural beauty, it is a special place. RHOTO enjoyed Handel's "Messiah" and "Hallelujah Chorus" here at Christmastide.

There are many cafes inside and outside in Vieux Port. Old buildings, full of European flavour and savours. Oftentimes you will see artists outside selling their paintings, drawings of Montreal.

City Hall is quite magnificent. The building was constructed in 1872. Although these dates sound quite "young" in European standards, the Canadian Confederation was only formed in 1867.

Skating at Vieux Montreal. At the Port. Daytime and nightime. So very fresh and fun. Close to the water. A real sense that you are skating with old relations of the past...

View Montreal Port. Where the ships come in and out. Such an important site for the early settlers of Quebec. Still is. Also the docking marina for well-to-do boaters.


Well, there are MANY more scenes to share here at Vieux Montreal. But I hope I have shared a bit of what is special about this part of our City. Perhaps you can come and visit us some day. You are always welcome!!

RHOnda

August 1st "The Walking Site"

I know... I know... Same ole boring 1st of month hopes and dreams, eh. I'm not doing "perfect", but I'm trying. It's a charged "anniversary" time. The BEST time to exercise, I know... But, I end up in bed all day.

"This, too, shall pass!" Onward and forward hoe...

RHOnda

April 2011 Exercise Chart

Well, my pedometer's battery died... Dear Tony replaced it today; only have to "figure out" how to re-program it. I didn't wear my pedometer every day, either--only on days that I thought I'd be "making steps". So, I cheated myself, eh.
And, my weight is exactly the same as in March.
However, WONDERFUL other news: I lost 1" around my middle (waist)!! Tally ho!!

RHOnda

"It's Now or Never!!??" Take 3? Roll 'Em

Well, there's bad news and good news...
-First the BAD news... I am currently at a record high weight--AGAIN :(. Therefore, see above photo of the "hefty fish" I'm a-luggin' around every day...
-Now the GOOD news: I (finally) had a "rendez-vous" with my Personal Trainer at LeGym (Concordia University. Besides getting in fit shape :-O, my goal is to lose 25#s. My wish is to reach goal for my 55th 57th birthday, September 5th.
I WILL post a monthly update to keep myself accountable to you, my caring friends and family. (I KNOW, it'll be boring news...)
Wish me luck, perservence, patience and good humour as I work my flesh off!!

Concordia Shuffle 21

Spontaneous RHOnda ;)  "Hey, Rhonda!!  Wanny go with us??"  "SURE!!  Whatarewegonnado?"  Just a shufflin' 6 kilometers (3.75 miles) down Sherbrooke Street from Concordia University (Downtown) to Loyola Campus. ;)  FUN!!  Felt like 10 miles :(.  Raising $$ for Concordia scholarships.  This is the 21st year.  To date, $1,000,000 has been raised!!!  JUST by walking and sponsoring ;-D  COOL!!

ONE of the Shuffle 21 sponsors was Reebok.  "Just bring in your walk bag and get 40% off". So RHOnda got new "hiking sneakers"--the only women's shoes that were wide enough for my wee, square foot.  NOW I'll walk and not FEEL like it's 10 miles...  Bring on the causes ;)

RHOnda

Trans Canada Highway Walk

Hi!! Care to join us?? A wee gang at www.PatternReview.com, that is. We've just started a treck across Canada. You've got PLENTY of time to "catch up"!! Every day, we log in our steps (10,000 per day is always a goal) and see where we land ;). (http://maps.tctrail.ca/index.jsp )

I tell ya, we're a large, v-a-s-t country, Canada, the 2nd largest in the world, eh. It's FUN to research about landing spots through http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page.

ALL ya need is a good pair of walking/running shoes and a pedometer to track your progress...

'See ya on the Trail ;)

RHOnda

Medication Weight Gain :(

This REALLY ISN'T FUNNY!! I really HAVE regained 10 of my 13 pounds weight loss. "They" changed my meds and those pounds F-L-E-W back onto me. Those pounds that took me five (5) months to lose!! By faithfully eating the Canadian Food Guidelines and walking... up to 10,000 steps per day!!!

I'm SICK about this!! Depressed. Sad. Discouraged. WHY should I start again? I WANT THAT "Feel good/look good/feel proud/feel pretty/feel sexy" feeling back!!

SO, the "experts" advise me that I need to lose 20 pounds (including the 10 I re-gained, eh). To do so, I must eat LESS than the Food Guide portions (like a rabbit? squirrel??) and start RUNNING (one mile at first). OK, run with very little fuel, in other words...

Do I sound MAD?? I AM!! WHY does a medication to make me better have to make me WORSE??

Thanks for listening... I really don't know where to find the umpth, courage to start again... But I WANT the above-mentioned feelings back!!

RHOnda

Up 10#s? 10,000 Steps/Day!?

'Went to the Doctor today. Can you believe, HIS scales say that I gained 10 pounds last month!! After walking up to 10,000 steps every day and following the Canadian Food Guide "religiously"?!

Doc says the Guide is too much food for someone who takes my medicine. I say that I feel/look a bit heavier, but not a whopping 10#s!! My new, size 8 clothes are a snug, that's all...

'Know what!! THIS gal ain't a-quittin'. If Doc says lose 20#s, that's what I'm gonna (try to) do. Can't lie, though... I'm really, really surprised/sad/upset about this news... :(

H-E-L-P!!!

RHOnda, who just followed the others in Steps class, albeit on the floor ;)

"Step Up, Step Down"

Did I (RHOnda) ever tell you-all I flunked gym/phys-ed all through school? According to my teachers, I couldn't jump, step, crawl, climb, you get the picture...

WELL, I'm enrolled in a Workout class. It's every Tuesday evening, held across the street ;). The class consists of a warm-up, steps routine, and other stuff.

Yesterday was my second class. I FINALLY got the courage to step up/step down on those plasticy thingys. They really DON'T move & slide. Phewy!! Then, I TRIED to follow the "droit" and "gauche" (right and left in French) directions of the instructor. Well, for every 1-2-3-4 of the others, I got in a 1-maybe 2. BUT, I had F-U-N!!

When teacher mentioned mats, though, it was "time ta go"!! They use weights, too. She told me the steps are just a matter of "co-ordination". Now THAT, I know I was "born without"!! But, I DO have "enthusiasm"!!

Today at University, the escalators were not working on 1/2 of the flights up to the 9th floor. Did I ever FEEL that I had worked out last night!! PLUS, my gym clothes HAD to go into the wash, eh... They were damp!! Now where are all those mean phys-ed teachers who said I couldn't... ;)

RHOnda

Nine for Five!!??

RHOTO had great fun participating in the Montreal Marathon again. This time, we did the 5k Walk. Took us 9k--total, going to and fro, though. Pretty impressive, eh!!

Well, having arrived a bit late, we started our Event behind the others. And, we happened to enter-- victoriously--into the Olympic Stadium at the same time as the 1/2 Marathoners and the Marathon Winners from Kenya. As we were doing our victory lap, there were many middle-agers looking at TOny with such admiration--even tears. They thought we had finished 21k!! Cute, eh!! Who was I to correct 'em. After all, there wasn't time to stop and explain.

Goooo, RHOTO!!

RHOnda

Older, Fatter, Smaller!!

Well, I'm older today... Not a "funny" birthday, either :(. In spite of my sweet TOny bringing me Chanel No. 5 eau de toilette and bath gel plus a new sewing book and an Edith Piaf DVD and birthday cake, chocolate... I still feel "at the top of the hill and quite close to over the hill":(.

I also weighed for my August result. Up 2-3 pounds... After LOTS of watching and walking :(.

But, this month I altered skirts IN, bought slacks in a smaller size (8) and measured smaller all over;).

SOooo, what's with all the discouragement today, eh!!

RHOnda

Penguins WIN the Cup!!

RHOTO

Goooooo Penguins!!!

Goooooo!!

RHOnda

"I Adore Being a Girl!!"

"When I have a brand new hairdo

With my eyelashes all in curls,

I float as the clouds on air do,

I enjoy being a girl."

-South Pacific

I LOVE being a girl!! And, why not!!

Recently, I've not only counted my Canadian Food Guide servings and walked faithfully, daily... but,

-I've also had a 1-1/4 hour, luscious facial (with free product for the same $$ as I paid);

-I had a manicure & spa pedicure (my teenie tootsies are sparkling red!);

-I had my hair cut-to-grow (!), coloured darker ('had too much blonde & I don't have a blonde cell in my body);

-I had electrolysis on various, "interesting" small body parts (why didn't I do THAT decades ago?);

-I "shopped" for size 8 clothing (TOTALLY different than what I wear now!! More feminine and not "worried" about flabby arms, tummy, bummy).

-I walked SEVERAL miles/kilometres today!! LOVED it!! Also bought a "decent" pedometer that will keep track of my steps (10,000 Program) and mileage. WHeeeeeee!!!

This "taking care of myself" is really quite FUN!! (I'm really spoiled, eh!!)

RHOnda

Tony's idea to put my baby photo here!

It's Rhonda "In Between"!

THANKS for your input, ya-all!! My wee survey resulted in a three-way tie!! So, my wonderful stylist, Michael, decided the breakin' vote ;)
SOooo, to have an idea of "in-between", I just "lopped off" a longer section of my pic. ;)
It's day three (3) of the Canadian Food Guide and 40 minutes' walking!!! Going swell and strong!!
I've posted copies of this pic (at goal weight, eh) ALL over the house, including our "out" front door and my wallet!!
Wheeeee!! I feel younger, already!!

RHOnda

"It's Now or Never!!??"

Well, there's bad news and good news...

-First the BAD news... I am currently at a record high weight. Although the picture labeled "after" isn't me, RHOnda, we are identical twins.

-Now the GOOD news: Help is around the corner. I have a "rendez-vous" with both my Dietician and my treadmill on Monday, April 20th. My goal is to lose 25#s. My wish is to reach goal for my 55th birthday, September 5th.

-SO, consider the above, awful picture as me, today. I WILL post a monthly update photo to keep myself accountable to you, my caring friends and family.

Wish me luck, perservence, patience and good humour as I work my flesh off!!

Happy 47th birthday at goal weight

PS Is 54 yrs. old too old/late to grow my hair long again?? I'm very interested in your ideas. (There's a cute "vote here" on the right-hand side. Thanks, Mahler, for the idea ;) )

PPS As you may know, TOny is 90% recovered from his major surgery and is now able to resume his "frisky" ways. So, TOny says, with a hopeful smile, "Just add that I'll help you out by chasing you around the kitchen table or any other piece of furniture, for that matter!! ;)

RHOTO

TELL Me It's NOT Sweat/Shower, Sweat/Shower!!

Well, I'm working out 20 minutes, twice a day now. It makes a HUGE difference in my mood/coping skills. AND, I think my nose is a wee bit smaller (I have an x-small CPAP mask already!)...

BUT, how do you OTHER athletes handle this "how to"??

If you work out in the morning and then again in the evening, do you take TWO (2) showers a day, complete with "fixin'" your hair??

THIS seems like more of a "work-out" than the "work-out" itself, to me!!

RHOnda

First Chocolates... Then Treadmill?!?!

First, we started out with this wonderful nighttime treat of dark chocolate. (See article below.) Then TOny asked me (RHOnda), "Would you like a treadmill?"
WELL... That's a very nice offer, don't you think??!! Well, don't you??
I've decided, "I DO!!" So, "Trekkie" was installed today and is up and running... Actually I'M the one who's up and walking!! I'm going to do 20 minutes twice a day for awhile--to start out!!
Wish me luck!! Am I ever glad I have an iPOD!! Music makes the walking even fun!!
"Oh RHOnda, it's time for a chocolate!!" Mmmmmm!!

RHOnda