First: we did not get the brake work done that was estimated at $1700. They said the brakes were OK, a bit glazed from being overheated, but if we wanted the squeak to go away they could redo the front brakes. They have done other work for us, and although it was good work, they have seemed over priced. The squeaking did seem less when the brakes were cooler as we drove her home. It doesn't sound much different from a lot of trucks I have heard.
If we felt the brakes were any danger were would not hesitate to have the work done right away.
We will get a second opinion from Alfateers and a Freightliner service center as part of our fall annual services.
Second, my weight loss: the dietary changes I started this spring were always meant to be permanent, not just to lose some weight. It always takes some effort and some time to make such changes to the norm. I was a bit concerned about sliding back into old habits because we were on "vacation," but I did pretty well. I did have one hamburger on the drive home, but after Hwy 1, I needed comfort! Craig also grilled burgers once on the Weber, but I tried to keep mine smaller.
Wine? Yes I did have some, but again, less often and less in amount.
Sandwiches? Only on healthy whole wheat bread, only one per lunch, and only on long hike days.
We have been home for more than a week now and my morning weigh-in has stabilized once again. I'm showing a four pound weight loss since the end of June. That is now a total of 34 pounds since January! I'm still ten over the top number in the charts for a woman my age and height, but I can live with that!
I'm not counting anything or keeping a food journal for now. I do weigh myself every morning, and if I see an increase I try to be a little bit careful with my choices. My primary goal is to keep it off and not fall back into old habits of overeating fats, sugar, and complex carbohydrates. There are so many good alternatives.
An additional benefit, be it from weight loss, increased exercise, or eliminating many foods, is that my joints are much better. I have cut back on my arthritis medication to every other day, and may try doing without it completely.
Have a good day everyone.
Craig and Merikay at Avenue of the Giants, California
Good for you for sticking with the healthy eating lifestyle. And hurrah for 34 pounds! That is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI've just had a bad few weeks where I fell off the wagon so to speak. I found with being at other peoples houses and eating on the go, not to mention the icecream with nieces, I didn't fare too well.
Now that our routine is back to normal we are finding it easy to slip back to our healthy eating... not so easy to get back to the treadmill though.
I admire you for sticking with it and am motivated to do better during our upcoming camping trip.
Congratulations on your healthy moves! You're ready for some fulltime hiking!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you've said when you brakes are being noisy. But, you should be aware of the "Freightliner Squeal". We learned about it when we attended Camp Freightliner, a 2-day owners class that's offered several times a year in Gaffney, SC and usually once a year on the West Coast. I don't remember what causes it, but it's the squeal you hear when you start out after being parked. It's harmless.
We hear it frequently as we leave a site. We look at each other and say, "There's the Freightliner Squeal!" It quiets down within a minute or two.
Hope that helps!
Good for you keeping up the weight loss. I have settled in to a 15# loss, and I still want to lose 25# more. I find that we do pretty well during the week, but it's the weekends where we are too tempted to go out. When we're full-timing in a few months, our budget doesn't allow for too much of that, and we'll be more active, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteI've been folowing your blogs about your weight loss and have enjoyed some of your healthy recipes. You are an inspiration to living healthy. I think you are doing it the right way, making healthy choices one at a time instead of "dieting".
ReplyDeleteGood for you. You'be done a great job changing you habits.
ReplyDeleteAl is hoping his arthritic knees will get better as we are changing our diet as well.
I sure hope the $1700 brake job it high....yikes!!
Congrats on your weight loss and your being realistic in making it a permanent part of your life, albeit with a few small infractions here and there...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the weight loss!! In addition to that- congrats on choosing a healthy lifestyle!! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteHi. You have done really well and it shows in your photos too. One thing I finally got the hang of is that it's a waste of time losing weight unless you make permanent changes. To just diet for a time to lose weight is to set yourself up for Yo-yo weight and diet.
ReplyDeleteI admire anyone who can lose weight just buy eating smaller amounts. I had no show until I determined to go wheat and mainly grain free for the rest of my life. Strangely I don't miss the wheat but I do like bread and bread made with flaxmeal, coconut and nut flours aren't quite the same. Tonight I am having a treat. Toasted gluten free bread. It's an occasional treat because it does have a lot of starchy grains but not quite so addictive.
Continue to enjoy your hiling.
Blessings
Thye say loosing slowly is the best way. Your doing a great job.
ReplyDeleteYou look great and the hiking helps plenty to get those curves in the right places.
You're an inspiration Merikay! I need to get serious about my food/exercise lifestyle changes.
ReplyDeletecongratulation buddy
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your success in losing weight.
ReplyDelete