I love to work in the yard.  With changes in the seasons, it never gets boring.  I set small goals to keep me focused on accomplishing something.  At present, I am transplanting shrubs and trees to make way for an expansion of my screened patio.  I love being outdoors and when I cannot be, the patio is the next best thing.  I will be saving a lot of moolah by preparing the area myself.  Immediately after walking the dog for 1/2 hour, then having a bit of breakfast, I put on the work clothes and pick up where I left off.  There is seldom a day that passes when I do not at least pull a weed or two. I limit my time outdoors to no more the 3 hours at a stretch and I keep a bottle of water handy.  I put the radio on a good station with upbeat music and get down and dirty.  I think my love of working in the yard goes back to childhood.  My mom had quite a green thumb.  Her other thumb was white....from flour.  Grow it, then eat it!  I like to visit the "pitiful plant" section of the stores that have nursery areas.  I get a kick out of rescuing these great buys.  I actually have paid as little as ten cents for some very beutiful landscaping plants.  I am having great success with some seventy-five cent asparagus plants.  I'd like to try rhubarb, but I want to get the good stuff, like mom used to have in the backyard.  Patients in all things !!!  If it does not work for me, move on.  In 2002 I weighed 185 lbs.  I currently weigh 125.  I think the main thing that helps me to keep from gaining back the weight on the food consumption side is the near total elimination of BREAD.  Oh I still have a PB&J sandwich, crepes instead of pancakes, and a slice of toast or a bagle now and then, but I don't live for bread anymore.  Variety helps.  I keep yogurt on hand always, only drink non-fat milk, veggies are my absolute favorite food.  There are so many different ways to prepare them.  I buy olive oil by the half gallon.  Yes it does last me a long time, but it has a myriad of uses.  All this talk about food....I'm getting hungry.  I going out to the front porch right now to retrieve the SUN TEA that I started this morning, then I think something with carrots for lunch.  Yes, tuna salad with coarsley grated carrots, onion, celery....on a whole wheat english muffin. Yum!  Then I'll have some of that yogurt that I froze for desert.  Life is good......