Exhausted

Today was a good day for exercise. I went out this morning for an early 30 minute walk. I just walk around my neighborhood at a pace somewhere between leisurely & brisk... I break a sweat, but I don't really get my heart rate going too high.

This afternoon I decided I'd go letterboxing. Many of you may not know what this is... and to be honest, a year ago, I didn't either. It is a fantastic hobby, and you can find out more information at http://www.letterboxing.org The brief synopsis is that people plant small tupperware type boxes out in nature (usually in parks, but sometimes in other public places); in these boxes is a rubber stamp & a small notebook (called a logbook). As a letterboxer (someone who looks for boxes), you go to that website, search the map for your location, and there you will find clues for boxes in your area. Some clues are straightforward, and others are more difficult to interpret. So you set out with the clue in hand, a rubber stamp, stamp pad or markers, and a logbook of your own. Some boxes are easy to find & don't require much hiking... but others take you on long hikes through the woods, or on paths throughout parks. By following the clues, you should be led to the box (sometimes the boxes disappear though, which is a disappointment!). Once you find the box, you take your stamp, and stamp it in the box's logbook as "proof" you were there. You then sign it with your name (or "trail" name--something made up), date, and where you're from. Then you take the box's stamp & stamp it in your personal logbook, which documents that you found that box. I always write down the date, the name of the box, and the location. Then you box the letterbox back up the way you found it & replace it in the same spot so that the next person can find it. Boxes are often hidden in holes of trees, or underneath rocks, etc.

So anyway, now that you know a little more about letterboxing... I went on QUITE a hike today looking for a handful of them. All of the boxes I was looking for were at this huge park... and my friend and I probably hiked for almost 2 hours. We only ended up finding two of the many we were looking for, but we got such exercise while doing it! But now, I am absolutely beat! I was afraid that I'd gotten poison ivy or poison oak b/c my ankles were looking splotchy. We were off the beaten path a bit & wandering through some brush, so it was quite possible. I took a shower as soon as I got home, and I'm not itchy, so I think I'm in the clear!

Tomorrow is my WI. I'm not really sure what to expect. On one hand, I stayed within my points every day. But on the other hand, I feel like I didn't really eat like I wish I would have. So, we'll see how the scale looks tomorrow. I usually go to a 6:00pm meeting, then come home and watch the Biggest Loser... but I've got to work late tomorrow, so I'm gonna go to my meeting at 10am I think, cuz my same leader does that one, and I really like her. I'll miss the first half of BL too b/c of work... damn work! I'll still get to see the WI and elimination though, so that's good!

I hope everyone had a good Monday, and has a great rest of the week!