I took the photo just to prove to myself that it is possible to roll out of bed at 5:00 in the morning and get walking. I need to keep doing that, and blogging about it will keep my focused.
Just now, my phone rang. My younger brother back east told me that he's getting out of the house at 5:00 and in the gym by 5:30, and he's working on losing 20 pounds.
Hmm! Sibling rivalry. I could stand to drop more than that! I'm on it.
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Hi Mike, I have a treadmill in my tiny place so I can use it when it's very early in the am as I like to do my time before the sun comes up. I still run out of time for everything, no matter how little I sleep! You have a beautiful place to walk, but watch out for those diamondbacks!
You're really making me feel guilty here. I don't have the dedication to get up that early to exercise.
Mike,
A little sibling rivalry can be good some times. I can picture a face on the cactus in your photo (the black mark at the bottom of the cactus looks like a mouth and there is a couple of spots at the top that look like eyes). I can also picture the side view of the face of a black buffalo on the left hand side of the cactus (the crescent moon makes up his eye) and he does not look happy as hot breath can be seen coming out of his right nostril (same black mark at the bottom of the cactus). You just have to imagine his big and pointy horns who were not captured in the photo. OK, perhaps I have been too long in front of the computer today and I am imagining things. Time to turn it off and head home.
Hi Mike...Good luck to both of you. Please lose some for me too.
The photo was worth getting up for even if you jumped back into bed after taking it.
Kate
Hi Mike,
Good for you and your brother and I wish you luck in seeing it through. I'm at the gym most every morning for about 1 hour--it's a habit now.
Good for you! I have started exercising also.
I forgot to say 5:00 AM; NO WAY!!
Mike - Love the photo. Now I hardly get to bed before 2am so waking up at 5am is tough right now :) ~Rita
That's motivation!!! I love to work out but I'm not a morning person. 7am is the earliest I can do and still have a good day. I'm working to move it up a little earlier to 6am so I can get the work day started earlier. I suppose anything is possible when you put your mind to it!
Good luck losing the weight. I just hope I don't find it. I found too much last year!
Mike - I am a lot like you, very little sleep and when I sleep I become more tired. Some times I will be up to we hours blogging, surfing the net, etc. You sure have some very interesting photographs and I really like this one with the moon!
Mike - The sibling rivalry is good. Stay motivated and you will find after losing some pounds you will feel better.
Robert,
I'm already feeling better! Thanks for commenting.
Robert,
Thanks. That's high praise, coming from you.
Doreen,
Thanks for the encouragement.
Michele,
I believe you're right. Anything is possible when you put your mind to it.
Rita,
It's time to go to bed!
Marchel,
I guess it doesn't matter when, so long as we do it.
Cynthia,
That's what little brother is doing. The gym.
Kate,
I'm glad you like the photo. I didn't go back to bed.
Gerry,
I didn't see the face until you mentioned it. There it is!
Erica,
You're a subscriber, so you don't have to feel guilty. I absolve you!
Susie,
I carry a flashlight. Thanks for being the first to comment.
Mike in Tucson
I just joined the gym - the next phase is getting to it. Everything in baby steps, I suppose!
I think the pounds come off easier at 8:00 am. Good luck
Terry,
If I wait until 8:00, the day will be half gone! :)
Kent,
Good for you! Thanks for commenting.
Mike in Tucson
Best of luck with the early morning walks. And as always a great photo.
Carolin,
It's raining this morning, so I didn't go. Thanks for the encouragement!
Mike in Tucson
So how can I lose weight by not waking so early and not too much strenuous excercise. I want the easy button. My life is already too difficult!
How's that, Erica? LOL. I am totally with you on this one!
I'll take it!
Good for you, Mike! I wish you the best on reaching your goal. Me? No way, Jose, uh uh! am I getting up at 5 a.m. :-> My treadmill might see me once the first cuppa Joe is done and the family is launched somewhere around 7:30, and the poor doggy may get a morning walk again once the sun is up and temps are above 50 degrees somewhere around 7:30.
Karen,
It's one of the benefits of living in Tucson. No daylight savings time, and it's usually on the temperate side of the mercury.
Erica & Doreen,
I think the two of you may have started a cottage industry. I want one, too.
Mike in Tucson
I hope I don't get in trouble for doing this. I bet it's against the rules.
Doreen,
It didn't work this morning. Off I go...
Mike in Tucson
Hi Mike - Temperate begins to sound really good to me about this time of year. Getting up to temps in the 20's and the gorgeous crisp morning air begins to wear a little thin for me come February time. Then, it seems every year we are blessed with this week in February when daytime temps shoot up to 75-80 and I want to plant the garden and get the boat out of storage!
That is one fabulous shot. Good luck with your walking... it's tough to get to the point where it is a habit, but well worth it.
Hi Mike,
Keep up the good work! I think 5:30 is the best time of the day to go for a walk, I bet you will notice a difference in your energy throughout the day. :)
Suzanne,
I walked this morning, and you're right!
John,
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm on it!
Karen,
It was in the high 40's this morning, and I thought that was chilly!
Mike in Tucson
TGIF Mike! I headed out this morning at 7:45 in to a balmy 28 degrees, engine breaking down the hill so I wouldn't have to do the slip and slide on the brakes. We've graduated from wearing parkas when the temps drop below 60 degrees to long sleeves until we hit freezing, and have to chase our youngest to put a coat on even then. Glad to hear you are keeping at it. I think I need to contact my brother to get inspired...
Mike
God Bless you for being able to have nice weather to walk a 5 am Here in the East you have to bundle up so much that a guy like me looks like a big bear and attracts more cops than anything. So, now that the weather is nudging at 40 degrees in the am I am getting motivated once again to start that wee morning walks and hopefully by late spring will be jogging.
Gary,
The door's not locked; we still have room in Tucson for one more transplant from the northeast. :)
Mike in Tucson
Mike,
Great photo and I agree walking outside is much more fun than inside on the treadmill.
Dan,
Thanks for coming by to comment! I hiked on Saturday, and the old quadriceps aren't used to it yet. LOL
Mike in Tucson
Mike
Thanks for the invite, I had considered Az because my brother lives there, he retirers in about 2 years and is thinking of moving to New Mexico. You never know it could still happen for me, these old bones don't like the cold anymore.
Wer are expecting 4 " of snow or more by tomorrow. Walking in snow is great for the leg muscles but I can't make my 5 mile route in it.
Kathleen,
Don't you want to move to AZ? Check out my 2/25 blog post.
Gary,
Your old bones will love it here. :)
Mike in Tucson
As the others said, great picture. When I get up at that time, there doesn't seem to be a lot to see, but thanks for the motivation, I'll keep walking.
Ken,
Me, too! Thanks for taking the time to comment; I'll see you soon on your blog.
Mike in Tucson
Good for you Mike. I was a one time fitness trainer and still big time health nut so I love to see people do whatever they can to exercise. I admire you getting up at 5AM to exercise. I myself can't get out of bed that early, but I like working out in the AM best. Keep up the good work.
dan
Dan,
I appreciate the encouragement; thanks for stopping by to comment.
Mike in Tucson
Hi Mike,
Now that it looks like spring is finally here in Casper I actually thought to myself last night that I need to start doing a daily walk. Then this morning I found your post. I think its a sign that I need to get my big butt out there and do it!!!
Dan,
LOL!
Mike in Tucson
I make a goal everyday of getting up that early and every day I fail. I finally reckoned that it's gonna hafta wait until my kids let me sleep regular hours. :-)
Lindsey,
You're in for a long wait, then... LOL
Mike in Tucson
Mike, now I'm feeling lazy. I lay in bed until 5:30 and then get up and walk in the dark. I love it. I walk about 3.5 miles. About half of that is on the beach. On bright nights, the moon and stars shining on the water is breathtaking. I know that if I didn't keep walking most days, I'd get really chubby. Keep walking.