This blog is for and about the Webster family. Each of us want to make choices every day that will result in optimal health and fitness. We represent different generations and different places in life - from empty-nesters to young families to students. Our health goals are as varied as we are, but we want to have a common place to post our progress and our challenges. We will be accountable to each other - to provide support, design incentives, share information we come across, and in general cheer each other on and celebrate our steps toward fitness! If anyone happens upon this blog and is inspired to be more fit and healthy that is icing on the cake. So here we go!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Kathy - The Beast and I

The onward march of summer has brought changes to the hill - the bright, sunny yellow flowers covering the hillsides have given way to a cooler palette of purples and whites.  Some the grass is drying out and various seeds and burrs are developing.  This has brought changes to the tromp itself.  The seeds and burrs are a bad combination with dog fur, not to mention downright dangerous when they burrow into the beast's paws and ears.  The baby beasts have been banned from the hill because of this - their ears are right in target for the worst of it.  FL is off gallivanting with his brother  The Beast will soon also be banned from the hill, but for the time being the hill is a nice safe, remote place to exercise her.  She is currently in heat and tracking her scent down the road just doesn't seem like a happy option.  So that leaves a few more golden days of tromping for the Beast and I.  Bliss.  Warm sunshine, gently waving grass, colorful flowers, looking up to see the Beast watching me over the tops of the grasses to see what is taking me so long... while I am gathering an armful of flowers.  The Beast and I thoroughly enjoyed our tromp.

The baby beasts were marched around the next-door field and were better for it - at least Charger was, Chubs watched us for the most part.  When we started heading back he decided to join us and ambled over.  The Beast played in the ditch - dashing over from time to time to get us all wet.  So fun. We are all properly exercised and 'washed' now.

Will post an update on the results of my 10 days of Extreme Fat Loss and my new KB challenge soon. 

Friday, July 15, 2011

Kathy - Crash and Burn

You might perhaps have noticed that I did not post a blog yesterday - you also might not have.  At any rate I did not post yesterday - this is because I did not do my KB workout yesterday.  The main reason is that we had company.  The secondary reason is that Thursday (yesterday) morning - very early - say 2:00  a.m. or so, it felt like 4th of July sparklers were shooting off in my lower back. Didn't really get much sleep after that.  Spent the rest of the day bolstering my lumbar spine as much as possible and today it is feeling whole and hardy again. 

I did not do my KB workout today either, the main reason is that I am babying my back for a bit longer and the secondary reason is we have company. 

Didn't even get much of a tromp in this evening - the pups were worse than reluctant, they were bushed from swimming.  They found a luxurious patch of long, green, grass and settled down.  Period.  End of tromp. 

Hope you all have a great weekend full of fun and fitness.  

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Kathy - The Great Tromp Reluctance

I LOVE to tromp, FL LOVES to tromp, the Beast LOVES to tromp!  So what is the problem?  The Baby Beasts.  The nightly scenario goes something like this:  FL leader says, "Let's go for a tromp!"  The Beast runs and gets in the Rav.  I put my Merrills on and run and get in the Rav.  FL puts on his Merrills and runs and gets in the Rav.  Wait, something is wrong with this picture - we are missing the Baby Beasts.  So FL and I go to rally the rest of the troops.  The minute they see they see the masses heading to the Rav they stop in their tracks. When we call them they move cautiously and suspiciously if we are anywhere near the Rav.  Using treats we are able to coax them to the proximity of the Rav.  Then with a quick pounce we grab them and put them in the Rav.  This is getting more difficult daily as I do believe they are gaining at least 2 lbs a day.  Chubs must be pushing 40 lbs by now and he is only 3 months old!  Anyway they relax for a bit on the short drive to the tromp but once we get there the reluctance set in again. They press their bodies against the back of the front seats as far from the back door of the Rav as they can get.  FL usually ends up dragging them out, at which point they try desperately to get back in the Rav.  We head into the field where we tromp, the beast checking out all the new smells and just in general romping about with great joy.  FL and I and head down the path, noting the beauty around us, but wait, something is wrong with this picture - where are the Baby Beasts?  Sitting by the gate as if to say, "Not again!"  Eventually they take up the trail, but recently they have begun meandering - around the stock tank, over to this interesting smell...anything to prolong the inevitable tromp.  The strange thing about all this is that once they actually get going they seem to enjoy it. Their tails are wagging at least.  We take them up the hill, stop for a rest and general group love-in.  What beast can resist that?  It's all down hill from there - literally and they pick up the pace as they realize they are headed for the Rav and home.  So Sad.  Unfortunately I can relate.  I have always tended to be that way about exercise - I really never want to do it and certainly wouldn't choose to do it if left to make the choice myself, but once I got going I really enjoyed it.  (At least this has been my tendency in the past).  I have changed since tromping became a part of my life- I can hardly go without it.  If FL has a headache Beast and I will go without him.  I LOVE tromping!  Here's hoping that one day the Baby Beasts will come to love it too!

PS:  Day 2 of the KW-KB challenge completed - Hooray!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Kathy - I did it!

I finally broke the ice and actually did a KB workout.  Please pick yourself up off the floor before reading further.  I had gotten side-tracked by trips, company, etc. You name it, I made it into an excuse and  slid into not doing my KB workout at all.  What I am going to do is this.  Since I was successfully challenged by how I started KB in the first place - with Josh Hillis' 21 day KB swing challenge.  So now I am doing the KW 21-day KB 12 minute workout challenge - catchy title, right?!  Today was the first day, 20 to go.  At the end of the 21 days I will start a new personal challenge. To keep myself accountable I will (gulp) post every day for 21 days. 

Friday, July 8, 2011

Kathy - Excellent Website

Just a quick post to let you guys know about a great website:  Everyday Health.  It has tons of interesting articles, video clips, etc.  I found out about the Duke Diet System there - looks very good and balanced for long term weight loss.  Good for good health browsing all around. 

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Kathy - Summer Tromping

It's summer at last!  "Winter-spring" lasted way too long! So this marks the first summer of tromping.  We got the Beast last October and the regular tromps officially began then  Fall tromps were spectacular.  Winter tromps had their moments but for the most part were dark and cold.  Had maybe 2-3 days of nice spring tromps, which, by the way, were fabulous.  The rest of 'spring' was a rather weakened edition of winter tromps only with a bit more light. 

I have been dreaming of warm, sunny summer tromps through fields of flowers, with the bright blue sky overhead and the snow-covered peaks in the distance - and that is what we have.  Plus it is wonderful tromping with three beasts now - one large lovely beast and 2 smaller versions.  No need to bundle up or grab a headlamp.  Summer tromps are great.  There is just one thing I hadn't counted on - grass.  I don't have anything against grass, I am just surprised at how tall it gets!  We tromp through various heights of grass, sometimes knee high grass, sometimes thigh-high grass, sometimes chest-high grass.  Certainly an interesting challenge when the field is full of various rocks and holes.  Good thing the baby beasts are growing - they can actually see over some of the shorter grass now.  They are probably glad to see that tromping does not solely consist of trotting through green tunnels. 

I am looking forward to ever longer tromps as the baby beast get larger - not so much ever taller grass!

How are your summer fitness plan coming along?  I am doing the Extreme Fat Loss thing for 2 or 3 cycles - will see how it goes.  At this point I am just doing the diet part.  Have made it through the first 4 days.