Dear Blog Readers (or as Julie Powell of “Julie/Julia” fame called you “Bleaders”):
Alas, it has been awhile since I last posted to my blog. I have missed you. Let me bring you up to date on the latest news on the Carla-Carla journey. My last posting talked about the benefits of being sick. While the benefit is still true and I have maintained my breakthrough of 290 pounds, I have suffered a relapse or continuation of my plague in the meantime. I have been dealing with cough, post-nasal drip, etc. for about three weeks and, quite frankly, I’m sick of being sick!
I have been successful at persevering into my walking regime on both weekend days despite the plague; however, I have struggled during the week, mostly because I have been feeling so badly. About 2 weeks ago, I decided that I needed some additional motivation so I committed to a 5K walk on October 24th as an incentive for me to continue to build my distance of walking every week. To date, I have been walking about 1.75 miles in 35 minutes for each walk. I intend to build .25 miles every week until the walk, so that the 5K (3.1 miles) will be a much more do-able goal.
I am really enjoying my walks. They give me a chance to do something for myself, take advantage of the opportunity to listen to music that I love, and enjoy the sights and intricacies of my neighborhood in a way that cannot be achieved from the driver’s seat of my SUV. For example, there is a house about 1 ½ blocks from my house that has over 15 trees in the front yard. Fifteen! I have lived in my current house for just under six years and driven past the aforementioned house hundreds of times but missed that detail.
I adjust my music selection to match my state of mind. If I’m in need of inspiration, I might listen to high-energy “Women of Faith.” If I’m in need of energy and a bit nostalgic, I revert to my disco days. Sometimes a broadway show tune is in order. (You can probably tell that I am now finding that the additional bonus of music is motivation for me as well.)
During our last meeting, my nutritionist, Suzanne, got a little tough with me and basically said that the time had come for me to be like Nike, and “just do it” with my exercise. As I said earlier, I was only able to walk weekend days for the last three weeks because I have been sick but I now find that I want more. My body no longer gets up the day after a workout and feels like it has been hit by a Mack Truck. I am starting to feel muscle tone coming into my legs – this is something new for me. I’m no longer afraid to set fitness goals.
I am looking forward to my 5K Walk on October 24th. It is being held in the village where I grew up and spent my formative years. I think it appropriate that I have my first fitness goal achievement there as that is where the ill feelings about food issues began. I have already started to plan ahead to my next goal. Every year, the Epilepsy Foundation sponsors a walk on the Mall in Washington, DC. If we can swing it, my family and I hope to make the trip to Washington, DC next Spring during Cherry Blossom time, to walk for this cause that is closest to our hearts as my husband Mike has had epilepsy since he was 11 months old. The epilepsy walk’s goals are to raise awareness of epilepsy and to help to lift the stigma around this unknown illness. In addition, the money raised is used toward further research.
My plan begins with one 5K walk and will progress from there. I will post my progress in increasing my distance in the month of October. I can’t wait to achieve my first success!
As the Chinese proverb says, "A walk of a thousand miles begins with one step." One step at a time and you'll cover the distance--both the 5K walk, and ultimately achieving your permanent weight-loss goal!
ReplyDeleteAnd as that other famous proverb says, "You go, girl."