Labor Day and Remembering Times Gone By...

We started out the day going to the Balloon Classic since Bruce had decided he wasn't in the mood for driving anywhere. A little before 7 am, they started inflating a few balloons, but shortly thereafter they deflated them due to the winds. I think only about 8 actually were inflated, so we got a few pictures, but were back home shortly after 8 am. On the way home, we decided that we still wanted to do something instead of sitting at home, so even though we didn't want to drive much, Bruce decided we would make a day trip to Ft. Collins, and look around the town, and drive by our old homes, churches, schools, etc. and reflect on memories of days gone by. So I packed a quick lunch and off we went. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive from home. On the way, we could see what looked like a fire beginning near the mountains by Boulder. By the time we were on our way home that evening, the fire had spread to over 3000 acres. I understand now that some people have lost their homes. The wind was a real culprit this Labor Day.

This balloon only got partially inflated before the wind took over

Picture taken inside of one of the balloons 

A few balloons actually got upright

Looking at the top of a balloon from the inside

Lots of people, but few balloons

Top of one of the balloons that did not get up due to winds

Prospect Lake at Memorial Park(near Balloon Classic)

Canada goose at Prospect Lake

More geese...

Bruce at Prospect Lake

Ft. Collins...City Park...white geese

If you look carefully, you can see a crane...lake at City Park

Old neighborhood in Ft. Collins...Brent's old school

Horsetooth Reservoir above Ft. Collins...stretches the entire length of city

Forest fire west of Boulder

Sun turned "blood red"

Mathematics and the art of losing weight...

Math has never been one of my strong points. When I was in college, I somehow worked around my classes to take anything but an actual math class... I took classes like accounting and logic (first semester was fun; 2nd semester I bombed, along with everyone else in the class). So anyway, it doesn't take too much math background to figure out how to lose weight. Here is the basic formula:

About 3,500 calories adds up to about 1 pound. This applies whether they are food calories coming in, or calories (burned by exercise) going out.

If you eat 3,500 calories more than your body needs, you will put on about 1 pound. If you use up 3,500 calories more than you eat, you will lose about 1 pound in weight.

So, the other night while we were watching TV, Bruce gets out a large Hershey bar from the pantry...not one of the regular size, but a LARGE Hershey bar...the kind that I was saving to use at Christmas time to make fudge. Apparently, he was in the mood for chocolate, because he sat there and ate the entire thing in a matter of minutes. That didn't bother me too much, because knowing that he was eating probably about 2000 calories or more in one sitting was not something I would even remotely think of doing. But this is what doesn't add up...

The following morning, he announces to me that he has lost several pounds. OK, I gain weight by just smelling chocolate, and he loses after eating a giant Hershey bar. I'm no math genius, but the math here does not add up. He can do the same thing after eating an entire cheesecake.
So then I'm doing some research about menopause and metabolism, and this is what I discover...

It's Not Your Fault!
Many women are quite shocked and frustrated when they begin to notice those extra pounds graciously provided by menopause. You may be eating and exercising exactly the same as you always were but still can't seem to maintain your weight. As you enter the early stages of menopause, maintaining weight becomes more and more difficult, and losing weight becomes almost impossible. This is because of the fluctuation in your hormones.

Your body's hormones have a direct impact on your appetite, metabolism, and fat storage. This is why it is so difficult to control your weight during menopause ' no matter what you do, fluctuating estrogen, testosterone, and androgen levels will fight you all the way.

Wow, this is just what I wanted to know. So, my skinny husband can eat giant Hershey bars and cheesecakes and lose weight, and I eat salads and gain weight. Life isn't fair. I'm going to bed now because I'm starting to crave chocolate.

The Difference Between Me and My Husband

I love Bruce...I really do, but we have a few major differences...this is only one...

MY PLATE...notice the nice colors and the way the toppings are placed beautifully on the food...very appetizing!

Bruce's plate...no comment.