Contest Progress

One of the requirements for the contest is to attend 2 of the 4 offered seminars.  We asked how many people had signed up for the contest, and were told it was about 60 people, which works out to about 12-15 in each age group. Not too bad. Only one of the people there looked like she might be in my age and fitness bracket and therefore be serious competition.

At any rate, I figured the 9 of us in attendance had a head start on the competition!

Onward! I am now walking about 2 miles a day, and I lost another pound, in spite of having to slow down for my stitches. I guess it was enough to keep my metabolism up.

Now I just need to hide the awesome chocolate cake I made today. And remind myself again of the important question: Which is more important--this piece of cake or my long-term health and fitness?

Cancer Survivor Running a Half-Marathon

I saw my brother-in-law recently. He has worked for the last year at overcoming cancer. From too sick to move, and recently finally being able to stop injections, he is working to get back into shape. He told me that he and two of his daughters are training to run a half-marathon. Both daughters have a baby under a year old.

I'm glad for him, very glad, that he is doing so well. And for them too. They are wonderful people.

At the same time, it is hard for me not to compare myself to them. My big accomplishment of working back up to 2 miles a day after getting moles removed pales in comparison. I have to remember that they are not me. I can only do as much as I am ready for. And I am doing a good, persistent job of it!

F & M & family: don't stop telling me how you are doing. It's actually very inspiring.

Utah Valley Marathon

Fitness Contest

I signed up for a contest at our local rec center. The goal is to lose the most body fat % in 2 months. I figure it's just one extra incentive to stick with the program! My body fat is 40.1%, really close to the line between overweight and obese. Yikes!

I exercise anyway, so why not try for this? They also have informational seminars you have to attend, so I figure I will learn something too. Or at least refresh my memory.

Loose Jeans

I thought my jeans were a teeny bit looser today, but they're always looser on the second day. I put on my favorite velour sweats, fresh from the laundry, and they are a tiny bit looser too. So maybe it's just me...not just the pants! Hurray!

75 Miles!

 In spite of the week of little exercise,
I have at last made it to 75 miles.  

It snowed here yesterday, a heavy wet snow, and Anthony went out to shovel it. I decided a heavy snow shovel is just too much like a baseball bat or a tennis racket. Might as well get some benefit out of having had stitches for 10 days!

Moving Forward

My Stitches are out at last!

My arm didn't heal as well as they hoped, so she covered it with steristrips. Aerobics are now approved, but not weights or tennis, baseball, or anything like that. No worries, April, I don't have the depth perception for those anyway!

In yoga today I did a full plank position for the first time ever! It was awesome!

And I lost another pound.

Recovering

I decided at nine days to go ahead and walk with the video. One easy mile. Oh my gosh, I was so tired I could hardly drag myself through it.  That was yesterday.

Today I did the same mile, all the way through with energy, but boy my muscles are feeling it!  It's amazing how quickly you can lose the progress it took weeks to achieve.  It makes me glad I didn't stop walking altogether, but I was able to walk outdoors, no matter how slowly.

I rearranged my videos, so all of the one-mile ones are in a row. Hopefully I can work up to two miles quicker than before.

Small Decisions

Here's something that I find help me. I keep a constant question on my mind. It is, "Which do I want more? This _______________ right now, or a healthy slim body? Which is more important to me?  Usually the answer is, "The healthy slim body" and I am no longer tempted by the food or by skipping exercise in favor of a book.

Sometimes, I admit, the answer is "this, right now." Except for my daily commitment to exercise, and get that little blue star every day, I don't know if I would make it. But it is such a high priority in my life, it makes all the other small decisions easier.

This is my sister. The picture below is me and my siblings.

You can pick me out:
I'm the heavy one. But I want to look like the others.
So, usually the decision is easy; take the long-term goal
over the instant gratification one.
As long as I stop and ask the question.

What is more important to me?

1 more pound

I lost one more pound, putting me right back where I was when I first started a over a year ago. Now I feel like I can begin to make progress, not just repairs.

The good news is that I went to yoga today and I felt strong. I can feel the health improving in my body and that is so good.

Setback

I went in to get two moles removed, a minor issue, I thought. I came home with 6-12 stitches, and instructions not to do any intensive exercise, or lift anything heavier than a milk jug, for 9-12 days! That's crazy! I can walk, but don't get my blood pressure up, so yesterday I walked one very slow mile outdoors. I guess I will do it again today. I think yoga should be okay. I don't dare quit entirely or I will hurt all over and be so tired I will have a hard time restarting again. So, I will do what I can, and no more,

but I won't quit!