I was taking my walks in the evenings when I got home from work...but due to the recent home invasions & a return of a registered sex offender moving back in town I'm walking in the mornings with Ben.
I usually have such a hard time in the mornings but Ben has been so supportive to me in my training and gets up early with me to walk. He motivates me and encourages me to work for and reach my goals. I could do it on my own, but its like a dream to have someone on my side, rooting for me, and helping me achieve my goals.
Since deciding to train for the April 5K, there have been so many changes. My attitude, my activities, my discipline, my future! Even though I'm getting up earlier than usual, the exercise charges me for the day in an energy that does not need the supplement of caffeine. I have been getting better about going to bed when I need to, ensuring that I get between 7-8 hours of sleep every night. And when the alarm goes off in the morning I find myself getting out of bed instead of battling the snooze button and praying for just a few more moments. I get excited to get up, put shoes on my feet, the leash on Pheonix, and my husband by my side for some exercise and great quality time with the two men of my life!
My main motivation for this training and lifestyle change is for my health...I typically think of health as eating behaviors, body shape, and good habits but now I'm seeing such a broader aspect of that holistic health. That holistic health is not limited to my body, what I eat, and what I do but also includes a healthier state of mind, and psychological refreshment. I think I'll be getting more positive results from this experience than I originally anticipated.
Monday I had ambitions to become physically healthy, and today I also have ambitions to become emotionally healthy through this journey. Next time, hopefully even more...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Stepping Forward
There was a time in my life in which I decided to take care of myself. I stopped eating all processed foods and exercised daily. Circumstances & situations have led me to places I hope I'll never have to endure again.
A couple of months ago I experienced scary health issues that had me fearing for my life...or what would become of my life. After tests upon tests and a long list of negative results I became frustrated that no doctor could figure out what was wrong with me. I was beginning to think I was crazy when my chiropractor tested my adrenal levels. Apparently I had been in flight or flight mode for so long that my body would not 'snap out of it'. It makes sense now, considering the past 5 years of my life. There's no wonder my body could not keep up with the abnormal amounts of stress I had encountered.
After learning more about my condition I started to make changes in my diet to accomodate my weak adrenals. By cutting out all gluten from my diet I saw a drastic improvement in my moods, energy levels, and overall I felt better! Of course this meant giving up my beloved cheeseburgers, pizza, chinese, pastas, breads (even beer!)...everything yummy and everything I had leaned on emotionally. The first couple of weeks were hard without my comfort foods, but after 'checking' if I was ready for gluten and my body saying, "HELL NO!" I can now see the importance of my new diet.
Even though I've noticed an amazing improvement in my health, including weight loss, I'm still experiencing an incredibly low immune system. This past Tuesday I was feeling a little weak so I went to bed early and woke up with a horrible cold/flu bug that had me in bed the whole next day. Thursday I tried going back to work, and although I made it through the day I had overworked my body again and by Thursday night I was a 'goner'. I stayed home all day Friday and slept until about 10:30 at night...followed by spending time with friends dancing at a local pub. I knew that I needed to sweat my bug out and get some whiskey in my belly to warm myself up. Saturday I woke up feeling 80% better, minus the muscles in my legs from dancing! Today is Monday and I feel 100% better!
I made a decision today that I need to take this whole health-thing to the next level. Like I said earlier, I used to be health-conscious and would run at least 6 miles a day and I ate only what I needed and what I did eat was good choices. I remember feeling my age, I remember the thrill of a long, hard run and the satisfaction from the results. I figured, if I can change my entire thinking about food then I can most definitely take the next step...and that next step is exercise!
I've decided to begin my training for a 5K. It's a little over 3 miles, and only half of what I used to run daily. I can so do this! If I follow my detailed daily regime I believe I will be able to run my 5K in 30 minutes in 8 weeks. But this takes BABY STEPS!
Today were my first steps towards that finish line and it felt great to get out and get moving again. Only 20 minutes of brisk walking for the next three days, but by next week I'll be incorporating running. I can hardly wait to pound the pavement again. And this time, I have a goal. Goals are important because when I'm in the midst of side aches, muscle pains, & mind games I can think about the upcoming race in April of 2009. I know that I'm giving myself plenty of time to slowly get to that point.
Another thing that is important is motivation. I have so much to motivate me it's not even funny anymore.
First, and most imporant I think, is my health! God tells us that our bodies are His temple. I only get this one body and since I know that God has called me to future ministry, I need to know that I can count on my health to help others. My health can no longer stand in the way! I cannot miss anymore work for being sick all the time, and this will help immensely.
Second, and I think its equally important, is my family. Granted, its only Ben & me right now. But I envision a long life with my lover, my soulmate, my husband. I see us having children, and we're at that age that it could happen soon (not our plan, but God's funny like that). The time to get healthy for pregnancy & keeping up with our future kids is now, not when they're in diapers and I can hardly keep up.
Third, my maternal grandfather. He passed away years ago, but died from a mixture of emphysema and miscellaneous heart conditions. I miss him so much, and not a day goes by that I don't think about him. If I continue to follow in his health-steps I fear I'll be in the same boat...early 40's heart-attacks, surgeries, medications, breathing machines, etc. I look at both sides of my familty and I see blood-level deficiencies, cancer, heart conditions, obesity, depression, and more. And then I look at my choices: not exercising, smoking, alcohol, quality of sleep and the choice is clear: change or die.
I'm not dying and the doctors say I'm healthy, but life will happen again and I won't make the time to change. NOW is the time! Step one was a change in eating habits, and step two is exercise. I know that smoke should be high on the priority list, but I'm having such a hard time with it! I'm confident that the more I exercise and need my lungs I'll have less of a desire to smoke my cancer sticks. So for now, I'm focusing on step two. I'm stepping forward towards a health-ful life, baby steps, but just like our relationships with Christ if we're not moving forward, we're moving backward! Step, step, step...
A couple of months ago I experienced scary health issues that had me fearing for my life...or what would become of my life. After tests upon tests and a long list of negative results I became frustrated that no doctor could figure out what was wrong with me. I was beginning to think I was crazy when my chiropractor tested my adrenal levels. Apparently I had been in flight or flight mode for so long that my body would not 'snap out of it'. It makes sense now, considering the past 5 years of my life. There's no wonder my body could not keep up with the abnormal amounts of stress I had encountered.
After learning more about my condition I started to make changes in my diet to accomodate my weak adrenals. By cutting out all gluten from my diet I saw a drastic improvement in my moods, energy levels, and overall I felt better! Of course this meant giving up my beloved cheeseburgers, pizza, chinese, pastas, breads (even beer!)...everything yummy and everything I had leaned on emotionally. The first couple of weeks were hard without my comfort foods, but after 'checking' if I was ready for gluten and my body saying, "HELL NO!" I can now see the importance of my new diet.
Even though I've noticed an amazing improvement in my health, including weight loss, I'm still experiencing an incredibly low immune system. This past Tuesday I was feeling a little weak so I went to bed early and woke up with a horrible cold/flu bug that had me in bed the whole next day. Thursday I tried going back to work, and although I made it through the day I had overworked my body again and by Thursday night I was a 'goner'. I stayed home all day Friday and slept until about 10:30 at night...followed by spending time with friends dancing at a local pub. I knew that I needed to sweat my bug out and get some whiskey in my belly to warm myself up. Saturday I woke up feeling 80% better, minus the muscles in my legs from dancing! Today is Monday and I feel 100% better!
I made a decision today that I need to take this whole health-thing to the next level. Like I said earlier, I used to be health-conscious and would run at least 6 miles a day and I ate only what I needed and what I did eat was good choices. I remember feeling my age, I remember the thrill of a long, hard run and the satisfaction from the results. I figured, if I can change my entire thinking about food then I can most definitely take the next step...and that next step is exercise!
I've decided to begin my training for a 5K. It's a little over 3 miles, and only half of what I used to run daily. I can so do this! If I follow my detailed daily regime I believe I will be able to run my 5K in 30 minutes in 8 weeks. But this takes BABY STEPS!
Today were my first steps towards that finish line and it felt great to get out and get moving again. Only 20 minutes of brisk walking for the next three days, but by next week I'll be incorporating running. I can hardly wait to pound the pavement again. And this time, I have a goal. Goals are important because when I'm in the midst of side aches, muscle pains, & mind games I can think about the upcoming race in April of 2009. I know that I'm giving myself plenty of time to slowly get to that point.
Another thing that is important is motivation. I have so much to motivate me it's not even funny anymore.
First, and most imporant I think, is my health! God tells us that our bodies are His temple. I only get this one body and since I know that God has called me to future ministry, I need to know that I can count on my health to help others. My health can no longer stand in the way! I cannot miss anymore work for being sick all the time, and this will help immensely.
Second, and I think its equally important, is my family. Granted, its only Ben & me right now. But I envision a long life with my lover, my soulmate, my husband. I see us having children, and we're at that age that it could happen soon (not our plan, but God's funny like that). The time to get healthy for pregnancy & keeping up with our future kids is now, not when they're in diapers and I can hardly keep up.
Third, my maternal grandfather. He passed away years ago, but died from a mixture of emphysema and miscellaneous heart conditions. I miss him so much, and not a day goes by that I don't think about him. If I continue to follow in his health-steps I fear I'll be in the same boat...early 40's heart-attacks, surgeries, medications, breathing machines, etc. I look at both sides of my familty and I see blood-level deficiencies, cancer, heart conditions, obesity, depression, and more. And then I look at my choices: not exercising, smoking, alcohol, quality of sleep and the choice is clear: change or die.
I'm not dying and the doctors say I'm healthy, but life will happen again and I won't make the time to change. NOW is the time! Step one was a change in eating habits, and step two is exercise. I know that smoke should be high on the priority list, but I'm having such a hard time with it! I'm confident that the more I exercise and need my lungs I'll have less of a desire to smoke my cancer sticks. So for now, I'm focusing on step two. I'm stepping forward towards a health-ful life, baby steps, but just like our relationships with Christ if we're not moving forward, we're moving backward! Step, step, step...
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