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Day 100: 17,025

I did it! I did it! If this was 2001, I would have totally made it so there was confetti raining down all over the page and I would have turned your curser into a little pair of running shoes and then your computer would have crashed. FUN TIMES! But I did it! I've never achieved any sort of fitness goal at all in my entire life, so while this may feel like an old lady-ish form of exercise, I'm feeling chuffed and very proud of myself.

So what's changed for me in the last 100 days? Let's see...

• I exercise pretty much every single day. This is a statement I've never been able to make before and one I couldn't have imagined making this time last year. It doesn't matter if it's a holiday or a weekend or an incredibly long work day, I still get out there and move.
  
• My asthma has diminished greatly. This time last year, I was using Advair, twice a day, every day, and I was still having a lot of tightness in my chest and rattly breathing. Now, I may use my rescue inhalor once or twice a month. It's awesome.
• My back doesn't hurt anymore. I blamed the aches in my back on a bad chair, a bad mattress, too much time in the car, whatever. The truth is, I needed to exercise more and get stronger, especially in my core.
• My waist is smaller. I've always had a nice, slim waist but last year, I started to notice I wasn't so little in the middle anymore. While I'm not where I want to be, I'm on my way there. My clothes are fitting much better.
  
• My cheekbones are returning. Hi, cheeckbones! I missed you!
  
• I have tons of energy and great stamina. For the last few years, that time between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. have been my enemy. I was exhausted and wanted to nap or consume a heroic amount of caffiene just to get through the rest of the day. That just doesn't happen anymore. A lot of the things I dismissed as, "Eh, I'm just getting older" don't happen anymore. It's very freeing to get out and do things without being hit with exhaustion in the middle.
• Sitting still for long periods of time feels unnatural. I remember working at my computer and glancing at the clock to find several hours had passed without my notice. I can't do that anymore. I have to get up and move every 20-30 minutes or I start to feel trapped. Every few hours, I really feel like I need to go and walk for at least 20 minutes. This has helped me have a much healthier relationship with my work. I am less all-or-nothing and I'm actually getting more done because I'm taking breaks that keep my mind fresh.
  
• My house and yard is tidier. I knew that housework could be a real workout but until I started wearing my pedometor, I never really realized how tasks like taking the garbage from the kitchen to the can or sweeping can really add up.
  
• I've saved a ton of money on gas. For the most part, I only take my car to and from work. I do most of the rest of my errands on foot. When you have to carry you groceries home from the store, it makes you shop differently too. A big box of ice cream sandwiches doesn't seem like that big a deal when you've got the cart and the car, but when you have to carry it home (and get it home before they unthaw!) you start to look at your purchases differently.
• My dog is better behaved. When we first got Ginger, she was a wild little pup. She's still wild but not totally embarrassing to take out on a leash now. She used to lose her mind if she got within 100 yards of another animal. Now she's excited but looks to me for direction instead of becoming a crazy, barking monster that scared strangers and irritated her owners. Good girl!
  
• I'm paying more attention to how I treat myself. I haven't become some heath nut whose whole life revolves around being fit, but I am a lot nicer to myself and being nicer has meant making some better choices. Stupid little things, like taking my allergy medication every night or have more fruits and veggies or getting a good night's sleep, have become a lot more important to me. I like my body a whole lot more now and I want to be nice to it.
  

So, what now? Will I stop wearing my pedometer? I've got it on today and I'm planning to do my usual long walk with the dog after I get home from work. Next week, I'm going to start the Couch to 5k program. Will I go for another million steps? Maybe. I'm not quite sure yet. I think I'll take the rest of the week off of blogging here and let you know what I decide next week. I'm leaning toward yes.

Day 99: 10,827

I need to walk 16285 steps on my final day to make my goal. Can I do it?

Day 97 & 98: 13,034

My knee has been killing me and it's really affecting how much I've been able to move. It's a bummer. I have two days to make up 7112 steps! What a way to end! But I'll be ding danged if I'm going to miss my goal.

Day 96: 12,659

Only 146 steps behind!

Day 95: 10,359

My knee is still killing me but I've got to keep keeping on... such a shame to have this happen so close to my goal!

Day 90 - 94: 36,615

I took a hard fall on my knee on Friday night and I've been struggling since then. I am so clumsy and my knee is still killing me, almost a week later.

Day 90 - 7860
Day 91 - 11,812
Day 92 - 5738
Day 93 - 9260
Day 94 - 10,279

I made my goal most days but there were a few in there that just were not going to happen. I've felt bad for the puppy because she hasn't gotten her usual jaunts. I'm bummed out that my little experiment could come to a close on such a down note! My knee is starting to feel a bit better, so maybe I'll be in fighting form again soon. I'm 3164 steps behind.

Day 89: 11,125

Not a single aerobic step was earned! Instead, I ran errands and cleaned out our guestroom for the impending arrival of a friend. The room used to be full of boxes and other crap-- it was like we owned a 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1 storage unit. Now it's a cutesy and clean guestroom that I just want to take naps in.

Day 88: 12,685

This week has just been one thing on top of another. I took Ginger to get groomed in Montrose and thought, "Self, why don't you take yourself to lunch?" So I did. And when I came back, my car was dead. I tried calling Patrick and my phone died. I spent about an hour looking for a payphone and it's scary how hard it is to find a payphone now. While I was wandering, Superhero Patrick somehow found my dead car, jumped it, and headed back to work! At the end of it all, I was slightly sunburned, very irritable but very, very thankful for my magic Patrick man.

Day 87: 9958

One of the things I've been marveling at is my own body's efficiency. The more I walk a route, the more my body will work to make that route as efficient as possible, which means I earn fewer steps. I don't realize it while it's happening but those subconscious little changes-- cutting across a corner instead of crossing the street properly, using a longer stride when I know the path is level and smooth, walking a little closer to the inside of a well-known curve-- really add up. I need to start walking in new places!

Day 86: 10,208

It was rainy but cleared up in the afternoon. Only 1881 steps behind!

Day 85: 0

I couldn't find any spot on my body to hide my pedometer in my Easter outfit, so I had to leave it off. I don't think it matters much though-- as with most big holidays, exercise wasn't really at the front of my mind. I'd rather skip it and just make the steps up later.

Day 84: 10,371

I spent a ton of time working on the house this weekend, picking the oranges off our tree and delivering them to folks around the neighborhood. My leg is feeling a lot better. 7839 steps ahead!

Day 83: 10,009

Just over! My right leg is still feeling tight and a little painful. I think I need to work some stretching into my daily routine.

Day 82: 16,498

I did not intend to walk so much but when you walk to the store, walk to take something to one neighbor, walk to see a friend and then walk to and from dinner, it adds up!

Day 81: 10,214

I yoinked something in the back of my right leg and I'm limping...

Day 80: 12,274

All caught up! I've walked 800,747 steps in the last 80 days. Only 20 more days 'til I meet my goal!

Day 79: 11,855

Only 1527 step away from being caught up!

Day 78: 2427

Yikes! What a horrible day! But it was a good day-- I was working hard on my super-mega post for my other blog and spent most of Sunday with my butt in a seat. Now I'm 3382 steps behind. Time to MOVE.

Day 77: 10,372

Ginger is getting better and better on the leash. I've trained her almost completely to come to me for a treat when she sees another dog. Almost completely.

Day 76: 9878

Just missed it!

Day 75: 8903

I've hardly said anything about the No-S diet in a long time and perhaps you (whoever "you" are. I don't think I have a lot of readers over here and that's just fine) assumed I gave it up. No way, chief. I started, what? 15 days ago? It seems like a lot longer than that because the hard part is out of the way. (Grr, I'm trying to figure out the math on this a f.a.i.l.i.n.g.) I am finding I have a lot more time and energy since starting this and I'm working on about 5 creative projects right now-- I'm cooking, I'm sewing (wish I was doing more than that), I got a great idea for a BOOK and outlined it and wrote a couple pages. Feels great!

Day 74: 11,532

Back in the saddle again... though I was tired as heck and sore. Even when I don't feel well, I keep moving and it's not a forced thing at all. It's just how I'm living now. If an errand is walkable, it's done on foot and my definition of "walkable" gets bigger and bigger.

Sick Day

I've caught that head cold that's been going around, so I took the pedometer off and forced myself into bed. It's funny, in the past I would glom onto any excuse not to exercise and now I am reluctant to avoid it, even when I know it would do more hard than good.

Day 73: 13,857

I didn't feel great but I managed to move a lot. The sky was beautiful and the dog behaved. 3506 steps ahead!

Day 71 & 72: 8402

Patrick and I had an excellent weekend and I slept a lot. I think I needed a recharge. I'm 351 steps behind, which is just fine by me. I don't like being too far ahead, though I think I would be less sleepy today if I'd been a little more active this weekend!

Day 70: 12,034

I'm now a full day ahead!

Day 69: 10,011

Patrick laughed when he saw the total on my pedometer on my nightstand. Not nice, Patrick!

Day 68: 12,331

This was Ginger's golden day-- two walks! It's gotten hot, so I took her for two thirty minute jaunts. I'm nearly a full day ahead!

Day 67: 10,924

I felt so good yesterday and the gorgeous weather felts like a reflection of what was inside me. Now that the time has changed, maybe Patrick and I will be able to go for walks together after he gets home from work. It's too bad Ginger is such a buttface when she runs into other dogs. Currently 6882 steps ahead.

Day 66: 11,473

This was a great weekend for walking around. We had the orange deliveries on Saturday, and then on Sunday, I walked to and from the grocery store to get the ingredients to make dinner for my friend Nora and her family. She just had the most perfect little baby and we've brought them dinner on some Sunday nights. She was one of the people I brought oranges on Saturday and by Sunday, they needed a refill! I love being friends with people in the neighborhood and I love being able to feed people when they need it. Great weekend.

Day 65: 9345

Our orange tree is ready for harvest! I spent most of Saturday picking oranges, packing them into brown paper bag and then delivering them all over the neighborhood.

In the past, I have to admit that I probably would have driven from stop to stop, pointing to the black clouds overhead and then heavy bags of fruit. Now, those excuses seem to be just that-- excuses. Who cares if a little rain falls on my head or my arms have to actually bear some weight?

Day 64: 10,578

I didn't feel like walking but it really didn't take much for me to get out the door. Habits are so powerful. It was also my fifth successful day on No S. I have some anxiety surrounding this diet-- I realized I'm not used to eat full meals at all-- but this plan seems like sanity to me, so I'm going to keep following it, even if it scares me.

Day 63: 12,883

I was at work when Patrick called to say his car had been broken into. What's the deal? We both decided this will be the last bad thing that happens this year.

In other news, I've been on the No-S diet since Monday and it's awesome. I haven't stuck with a diet for this many days without feeling like I was about to lose my mind. It's so easy, I sometimes doubt if it works, but what do I have to lose by trying? I'll know in a few weeks. Even if I don't lose an ounce, at least I'm less obsessed with good foods and bad foods and eating this or that. We'll see!

Day 62: 10,001

I was so close to 10,000 steps right before bed. In the past, I probably would have just let it go but I've wanted to be more consistent about making it all the way to the 10k count. So, I matched around the bedroom while Patrick watched with amusement.

Day 61: 11,530

One of the things I really like about my pedometer is it keeps track of overall steps and aerobic steps. Aerobic steps, according to the pedometer, are 10 minutes of continuous walking with more than 60 steps a minute.

Why is this valuable? It lets me see when I'm working out versus when I am running around. There are times when I feel like I am doing more than I really am and times when I don't realize how much I'm exerting myself.

I earned most of my steps yesterday running around-- walking to and from class, hanging out with my mom, cleaning the house, and so on. I took Ginger for a little walk but the wind was really intense. Because I didn't get a ton of aerobic steps yesterday, I'll make it a point to get them today.

Day 60: 12,561

I'm finally caught up! And that's not all! I am 60 days into this experiment, 60% complete, and I've walked 600,147 steps!

Some people might say walking is old lady exercise. So what? Walking is useful. Walking feels great. You don't need special clothes to do it. You don't even really need fancy shoes, so long as you step carefully and aren't an idiot about it. You can do it with a friend or talk on the phone while you do it. Walking is meditative. You're out in nature, you're among your neighbors, there's sun on your skin and wind on your cheeks. Injuries are rare. Almost anyone can do it. If you have a pet or children, it's a wonderful way to spend healthy time together.

It also gets you away from the kitchen. It's clear I love to cook and love to eat and really feel like feeding someone is a beautifully primitive and direct way to love people. When food = love, it's logical to want to surround yourself with it, right? Still, I would like to eat more thoughtfully and so I've started the No-S diet.

I was actually scared to start this. I don't know why. I feel like I've been working to create good habits in my life and grow up and I'm sort of starting to feel like it's starting to click. It feels good. I would love to have a more balanced and thoughtful relationship with food.

I really want to give this a good go, so I weighed myself this morning. I never weigh myself because I lose weight so slowly. I gain it fairly slowly too, but it's really discouraging to be working so hard at dieting, only to see the scale freeze. It's interesting to note that the last time I weighed myself was just around New Years and my weight has stayed the same since I started this, though I look better and feel better than I have in a long time. I'm going to weigh myself in 30 days-- Day 90-- and see if I've lost even a pound. I would love to lose a pound! :-)

Day 59: 10,231

It rained off and on, so all of these were earned in little dribs and drabs between cloud bursts.

I've been sleeping so well lately! I don't know if it's the walking or the installation of f.lux, but I'm sleeping through the night for the first time in probably 6 years. It's wonderful and I hope it keeps up!

Day 58: 10,890

Little things add up! Patrick and I were given about 300 bricks, but we "paid" for the by hauling them away. So a good portion of these steps were earned loading and unloading bricks. It rained off and on, so I was only able to sneak Ginger out for a few blocks, but I made goal, so I'm happy.

Day 57: 8677

I was really surprised to have missed my goal! Ginger and I went out early to the Rosebowl to beat the rain and we had a nice run/walk but I guess I didn't move enough in the afternoon.

Day 56: 12,017

I feel like I'm in a good grove. I didn't even notice that I'd passed the half-way mark a few days ago! Only 2212 steps behind!

Day 55: 12,014

Ginger is getting to be better and better on her leash. When we first got her from the shelter, she would bark at anything and everything-- a passing car, leaves, whatever-- and she lost her fool mind if there was another dog around. Now, when we walk, she pays attention to me and runs to me if she sees another dog, as if asking for permission to bark. I ply her with treats until we pass and we're both happier moving forward.

I'm now 4229 off my goal and I'm hoping to be back on track by the end of the week.

Day 54: 11,658

I am nice and busy these days, hoping from teaching a class to completing a training to helping with a funeral at church to making dinner every night. The only thing I'm doing that feels like recreation or a break is taking Ginger for a walk and I am so glad. I'm feeling better all the time and the sun on my skin is delicious.

Day 53: 10,144

Life is getting much busier again but I'm glad I carved out time to take Ginger for her walk. She is so much better behaved and happier when she's taken out every day.

Day 52: 11,582

Patrick and I went for the most gorgeous walk after church with the dog. How lucky are we that we can walk to Eaton Canyon from our home in less than 20 minutes?

Day 51: 6193

So much for not falling behind any more than I already have! The rain is getting really tiresome and now I'm almost a full day behind. Poop.

Day 50: 10,504

Not quite 16,324 steps, but I'll take what I can get. The rain has rolled in, so the weekend won't be easy. I really don't want to fall behind too much.

Day 46 - 49

I am not loving my poor blogging habits right now. I'm also having a hard time getting back into a good rhythm with my workouts. The weather is hit and miss, as is my energy and attention. I think I've been a little depressed lately. Spring is almost here and I'm 6324 steps behind.

Day 46 - 7388 (I took Ginger for a walk and then went to take my car to the fabric store only to find it had been broken into. Nice.)
Day 47 - 11,792
Day 48 - 14,852
Day 49 - 9129

Day 50, I've got you in my sights! Is 16,324 an unreasonable one-day goal?

Day 41-45 - 34,459

It's been a little more than a week since Ginger's emergency. She came home on Monday night in very good spirits with a lot of medication. She was sluggish for a few days and the vet said to take it easy on her, which was tough. Every time I want for my tennis shoes or moved her leash, she was sure she was going out and I didn't feel good going out without her-- I was still worried she'd fall over dead if I wasn't in the same room with her. I forgot to put my pedometer on for a few days but I tried. All in all, I missed two days and I'm now 9485 steps behind. I think this is as honest as I can calculate it.

Day 41 - 3204 (Totally not back in the swing of things.)
Day 42 - 5829 (We walked two blocks and I could see Ginger starting to droop and pant too much, so home we went.)
Day 43 - 11,895 (This was the first day Ginger was able to go on a 30 minute walk.)
Day 44 - 3891 (Rain, rain, rain.)
Day 45 - 9640 (This was the first day we went walking for an hour and she really seemed back to normal.)

So, it's time to get back to it in earnest, with my little buddy at my heals.

Back in business tomorrow...

This weekend was awful and exercise was the absolute last thing on my mind. Ginger is now home (she's napping on her favorite pillow as I type) and I'm looking forward to life getting back to normal.

Day 40 - 0

The pedometer did not go on, Ginger got into some Advil (which was entirely my fault) and was whisked away to the emergency animal hospital, where the workers are extremely kind and happy to talk with us, even at 2 in the morning. Ginger is going well so far and seems to have charmed the staff completely. We are hopeful that she will pull through this just fine and the only long-term damage will be to our credit card.

I'm alternating between guilt and acceptance and anger with myself like some kind of crappy oscillating fan. My carelessness (I left my purse open on the couch with the medication inside) hurt a creature I promised to protect. I'm feeling the need to change who I am and how I behave so that things like this never happen again but how this feeling translates into practical life application is something I need to figure out and soon.

Day 39: 20,158

Holy moley. 12 hours of Disneyland and California Adventure. My dogs, they bark.

Day 38: 10,431

I am so ready to be working again! Most days feel the same-- get up, make coffee, make Patrick's lunch, do a little computer work, clean house, walk the dog, do the dishes, make dinner, watch TV, go to bed, get up, do it again. When you're not bringing in any money, you can't go out and amuse yourself with a long lunch in a restaurant or an afternoon movie.

Day 37: 14,664

Yesterday was tough. Ginger and I went for a long walk in the morning and on our way home, we found a small dog, off its leash with no tags and no owner. I went around to various homes and did not find the owner, though I did find out where the dog probably lived. I was at a loss of what to do, so after knocking on doors, I tucked the dog under my arm and carried it home. I put it in the backyard, then took a note back to the house where the dog lived, telling them to call me. An hour later, the dog escaped from our yard through some means even I can't figure out. I searched for the pup but to no avail. I was told my some men working on a nearby property that he ran off in the direction where I had found him. I walked back to the house where I'd left the note, changed it, and walked home, feeling depressed. People, put tags on your dogs!

Day 36: 6939

I took Ginger out early, hoping to beat the rain, but we were only one block from home when fat droplets started falling. I tried working out with the Wii but felt bored as bored could be. At this point, I am only 803 steps ahead, which is kind of nice. Too much of a surplus makes me feel like it's okay to slack off, which isn't good in the long term.

Day 35: 9492

I'm getting old. Three beers = hangover. So not fair.

Day 34: 13,043

GEAUX SAINTS! And go me, for having the good sense to walk Ginger early and long.

Day 33: 7126

I spent the day working at a funeral and then a baby shower. A strange combo. I wore a dress I haven't worn in about 3 months and my waist looked so much smaller in it than it had before. I was thrilled!

This is going to be the last day of my "slacking". I don't want to get behind! Still 1329 steps ahead.

Day 32: 5144

Another low-step day, though I was on my feet for most of it, doing to baking for a baby shower and the Super Bowl. My friend Cori and I made cheese biscuits, truffles, muffaletta bread and king cake. It was also raining like crazy. Still 4203 steps ahead!

Day 31: 6365

My feet hurt. My toes hurt. My back hurt. I was tired. I needed to take it easy.

Even taking it easy, I managed to move more than I used to on a regular day before starting this experiment. I'm still 9059 steps ahead!

Day 30: 13,679

Wowie, I am on a streak! Patrick had to start his day at 6 a.m., so that's when I started mine too. Getting up early is never fun but it makes the day seem so much longer and full of possibilities. I took Ginger for her walk early, then came home and (while working on other things here and there) gave the kitchen an insane deep cleaning. It's amazing how many steps you can earn while staying in pretty much one room.

I'm 30% to my goal and have walked 312,694 steps in the last 30 days. I am 12,694 steps ahead of my goal-- more than an entire day!

Day 29: 10,948

I thought for sure I would have a do-nothing day after my record-setting day but walking around the neighborhood and picking up dinner on foot took care of my steps for the day.

I think a lot about what I'm doing here and I feel pretty good and like things are changing for me. I've always been the girl who prefers a book and a basketball. I've never liked to exercise but this is something I can do and something I want to do. I know people think of walking as "old people exercise" but if it's something I enjoy and actually do, who cares?

Day 28: 15,710

My energy finally came back to me! I spent the morning cleaning the house and the afternoon taking the dog for a mega-walk. I felt fantastic and could have walked for another hour but the dog was starting to fade. After dropping her off at home, I walked to the grocery store and came back carrying what was probably 20 pounds of stuff. Great day. And I'm now 8067 ahead.

Day 27: 8441

It was gorgeous out and Ginger was very well behaved but I didn't have a ton of energy or drive. We still went for a little walk and there was a gorgeous tree, full of flowers, that I stood underneath and just felt the sun on my shoulders while listening to the buzz of the bees overhead. I'll try and get a picture of it.

I need to stop slacking before I find myself falling behind again! I'm still 2357 steps ahead.

Day 26: 9531

I was Not Feelin' It. I have no idea how I got to 9531.

Day 25: 13,330

I'm 25% of the way to my goal and I'm 4385 steps ahead. Not bad! Not bad at all!

Day 24: 10,375

I've been tired and listless the last few days. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's not having a job to go to every day, maybe it's this little cold Patrick and I are kicking around, but the point is it's been hard getting in my steps in lately. Even though it's hard, I haven't used that as an excuse to not keep up with it, which makes me feel really great. I don't think I've stuck with something like this this long before.

Last night, Patrick told me I was looking good and he thought it was because of my walking. I don't know of anything more motivating than that!

Day 23: 8445

I just didn't want to do anything yesterday. Didn't want to take Ginger for a walk, didn't want to hop on the Wii... I did want to go to Ikea with my friend, Cori, and we walked around there a bit, and I did some errands, but that was really it. We all need a bit of a day off some times.

I'm still 680 steps ahead, so I don't have to feel guilty about a thing. Pretty nice!

Day 22: 13.505

I was shocked by how much I managed to move today but very pleased. A long walk with the dog in the morning and a bunch of errands run in the afternoon makes for a lot of steps and tired feet the next day. I'm all caught up to my goal and am even over by 2235 steps.

Day 21: 10,738

I felt lousy all day but still took the pup out for a walk. In a way, she took me for a drag but sometimes, that's all that can be done. I'm only behind by 1270 steps at this point. Not too shabby.

Day 20: 6617

Easy come, easy go! Oh well, if I keep on track for the next few days, I'll make up those 2008 steps. I'm almost 25% through with this challenge! I'm really happy with my progress so far!

Oh, and GEAUX SAINTS!!!

Day 19: 13,452

Woohoo! I'm out of the hole! I'm now over my goal by 1375 steps! Nice!

Day 18: 10,555

I didn't want to see poor Ginger go without a walk for another day, so when there was a break in the rain at 9:30 a.m., I grabbed her and headed out. I don't like going for walks that early-- I'm usually still shaking off sleep and I'd taken a sleeping pill the night before, so I was double-groggy, but I just couldn't stand the guilt of watching that little dog drive herself crazy for another day. So we went, it was cold-- low forties, so it was really cold, not just California cold-- but no rain yet. We went about three long blocks before it started to sprinkle and another three and it started to rain, big fat drops plopping down on us. About a block from home, I stepped in a huge puddle, soaking my shoe completely. If this is what it takes, this is what it takes, right?

Day 17: 10,065

The rain just would not let up, so I spent about an hour on the Wii, which is starting to get just a little old after a week. My calves are really tight in the morning too. I can't wait until the neighborhood is walkable again! Ginger is pretty anxious for it too. Poor puppy.

Day 16: 11,632

The rain was awful but I was in a MOOD and I wasn't about to let the day pass without reaching my goal. After having lunch with a friend, I drove to the mall and walked it, end to end and side to side. That earned me about 8000 steps. Then I came home and hit the Wii. I really want to be back on track (ie, no deficit) by Day 20. As of now, I'm only 2697 behind. Doable? I think so.

Day 15: 10,209

The rain was wild but I was determined to get my steps. I worked out on the Wii for about an hour and then cleaned house with an eye on the weather. Around 3, there was a break in the rain and a patch of blue sky, so I grabbed the dog and my coat and flew out of the house. 30 minutes later, it was raining again, so we had to head home.

Today is supposed to be even worse. I'm thinking of going old lady style and hitting the mall this afternoon just to walk around.

Day 14: 11,015

The last two days have felt dangerous, like I might just give up and pretend this whole experiment never existed but I really, really didn't want to do that. Having this daily goal really motivates me to get up off my butt and reaching it makes me feel better in my body. Walking with Ginger is especially motivating-- the more we walk together, the better behaved she is, and the more I feel like we're taking proper care of her.

Even though the weather here in LA is nasty right now, I saw a break in the weather which Patrick and I pounced on. We grabbed the dog and took a quick walk during the brief window of afternoon sun and I'm so glad we did. I also hopped on the Wii for a while and goofed around with that. This week is going to be hard for those of us who work out outside for the most part but I think I'm up to the challenge!

Day 13: 4200

I fell off the wagon and I fell hard. I was really bummed out about missing my goal on Saturday and was determined to get caught up on Sunday but the rain arrived early and I had some work pile up. Now I'm behind by 5553 steps. Damn!

Day 12: 3396

Too much football, too many meet-ups, too much sitting on my rear end... there goes my overage!

Day 11: 10,391

Entertaining friends and walking the pup. It's supposed to rain all next week, so I'm a little nervous about how I'll stay on track. Maybe I have some mall walking in my future?

Day 10: 10,575

I'm 10% of the way to my goal and I'm 6276 steps ahead-- that's almost a whole day. Sweet!

Day 9: 8800

It was rainy and gross all day and I didn't take Ginger for a walk. I spent the time emptying tons of boxes we just got out of our storage unit instead. My arms are sore!

Still 5701 steps ahead!

Day 8: 10,319

I was tired for a lot of today and didn't really want to go for a walk. I told myself, okay, put on your shoes and get the dog and go outside. If you don't want to walk more than a block, you don't have to, come right home. It's a kind of silly trick but it gets me out the door and the dog is so happy, I forget I'm tired and end up walking a lot.

Day 7: 11,830

Ginger is the best piece of workout equipment I've ever owned. She's always ready to go for a walk and once we're out the door, she doesn't want to come home for a long time. Watching her trot happily into people's yards, her tongue lolling out and ears at attention, makes me want to go on and on, just to make her happy.

Day 6: 10,492

Ginger and I have found a new neighborhood to walk in with wide sidewalks and giant, old trees. I need to get a fanny pack so I can take all my walking gear with us-- bags and treats for Ginger, my iTouch, my phone, my keys and my camera are less optional and more required these days.

Day 5: 9669

I didn't quite get to 10,000 steps today, which was a little disappointing but I'm still 4260 steps ahead, so I'm not going to stress.

Day 4: 12,095

Long walks with the puppy!

Day 3 - 10,040

I took the dog for a walk and a trip to the mall but didn't quite get to 10,000, so I spent about 20 minutes trotting on one of these:Mini Trampolines are cool. You can't deny it.

Day 2: 10,264

Another good day!

Day 1: 12,192

It's always good to start with an overage!

Here we go again!

This time, we're playing for keeps.