30/100 Mission Accomplished!

When I go out for my walk today I will have reached my goal and it will be the end of this challenge.  This past week the question most asked of me has been "what are you going to do on Day 101?"...and the answer is "I will keep walking".  It just won't feel like it's a have-to.  It will be a want-to!  Still not sure how to celebrate this milestone.  Because today it's all about walking off the extra calories I ate yesterday!!

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

22 more days to go!

78 days ago I embarked on this challenge.  It is so weird to even say that number.  I have reached the point where the total number of days I have gone out to walk far outnumber the days I have left to go!  And I am shocked that I made it this far.  And to be honest none of the people that I began the challenge with were able to keep going.

I could have dropped out too.  But, I kept thinking that I would hang in there for as many days as I could until something got in the way.  I thought the weather would do it...but so far I have only walked in the rain three times...and this is the rainy season.  I thought maybe having guests or conferences would interfere but I was still able to get out there.

Perhaps it's because of the heaviness of our work load.  The things we hear in the counseling office are oftentimes overwhelming.  When I go out to walk I can leave all the stress out there.  As I lace up my shoes and then walk out the door I feel a lightness come over me.  If I am in a bad mood I know that walking will lift it.  If it's been a great day then the walk feels like the icing on the cake.  If I don't feel well physically walking relieves the pain.

I cannot imagine giving up this habit.  It has changed the way I feel, think, and look.  It has given me an inner confidence, shown me that I can accomplish a goal if I set my mind to it, and filled me with peace.   And for all of that I am so grateful.  22 more days to go!

Half way there!!

This evening when I go out for my walk it will be the 50th day!  

It is so hard to believe that I am half-way to this goal.  It's not always easy to go out walking here.  Two days in a row the rain has come down so hard it didn't seem like it would ever stop.  My contingency plan is to walk around the house for a half hour but fortunately I have not had to do that yet.  It seems to clear up just in time for me to get out there,

I also have to confess that I learned a valuable lesson this week.  Just because I walk everyday now does NOT mean that I can eat ice cream everyday.  You probably knew that...but, for some reason I was delusional and thought a small bowl wouldn't hurt.  I guess my bowls are not that small because I gained a pound back.  Live and learn!

So how are you doing with your health and fitness goals?

On the road again!

The rocks on the road shift and groan as I walk along.  Being out in the fresh air early in the evening is priceless.  And lately it has become one of the highlights of my day.  I don't always realize how tense I am until I get on the road, my shoulders relax, and the stress for that day melts away.  When I get back home I am covered in sweat, breathing a little heavy, and am overwhelmingly calm.

Today is Day 36...and I am still putting one foot in front of the other!

whether I want to or not...

23 days ago I started walking for at least 30 minutes a day.  Yesterday I walked 2.2 miles in 36 minutes.  A personal best time for me.  Some days it takes every bit of mental discipline for me to get out the door.  I don't always want to keep going.  But I made a commitment to myself and the women who are in the challenge with me and I am determined to follow it through. 

I have had some friends go out with me a few times and that is always a treat.  I pray when I go out to walk alone and that is always rewarding.  Discipline has gotten me out of the door when it rains and when it's been hot all day.  I tried walking in the morning but that doesn't work for me.  It is easier to get out there as the sun is setting.  The air is cool and sky is gorgeous.  My goal for the next 77 days is to keep getting my butt out the door because it is worth it.

It is worth how good I feel when I am done.  It is worth how well I sleep each night.  And it is worth the strength I feel mentally and physically as the days turn into weeks.  Lord willing, I will remain healthy enough to make it through to the end of the 100 day challenge.

I would love to learn from you.  So, what are you doing that is making a difference in your health?

Which step have you reached today?

source

To quote my brother, Stephen, "if you're gonna talk about it...be about it!" 

 I have talked about getting healthy.  So obviously my next step was to be about it.  Since I wrote the post Determination today...better health tomorrow I've been walking consistently each week.  When we have an errand to run, if it is within walking distance, we choose to walk instead of taking the car.  I have finally made the shift in my head to telling myself I can do it instead of making an excuse as to why I can't do it.

And my reward for being about it?  

The weight gain has stopped!  At first nothing changed.  But this week I stepped on the scale and was down a pound.  But, the best part is how I feel.  Mentally and physically I feel so much better when I am able to get a walk in...even if it's a short one.  The week is not over yet and my goal is to get two more days of walking in this week. Can you guess what I am telling myself about that goal?  I can do it! 

Which step have you reached today?

Determination today...better health tomorrow!

On Monday, I got to work and realized that I had forgotten the power cord for my computer.  Our first client of the day was male so I knew that I had time to dash home to get it.  Tom suggested that I walk instead of using the car.  I was a bit put out...I mean it was only a five minute drive.  Then I thought about it.  The walk would be good for me.  And we were getting low on gas and pay day was not until the end of the month.  

So, I walked home.  

When I got to the house 15 minutes later I realized that the walk was not horrible.  It didn't kill me. I used the time to refocus and reflect.  I was able to throw a load of laundry into the washing machine, drink a cup of tea, and write in my journal for a bit.  I changed out of my cute shoes and put on my walking shoes and went back to work with the cord for my computer and a new attitude.

And I have been walking daily since then.  

Tuesday, I walked to the post office and stopped by the market to pick up some fruit.  Yesterday, we walked over to the counseling office to pick up some copies from the secretary.  Belmopan is a small city.  The first four months we got by without a car.  We got around the city either by foot or on the bikes graciously donated to us by a couple in Nebraska. It takes longer to walk or bike but it is doable...especially since we are now into the dry season.  

There are some health benefits to walking.  

I have been feeling better physically, my mind is clearer, my mood is lighter. 

I know it will take a while for me to make walking a habit but I know that if I put my mind to it I can do it.  Tom has been walking five days a week for several weeks now.  He is determined.  I respect that.  And his faithfulness is admirable and contagious. 

Determination today will lead to better health tomorrow.

What are you determined to do for better health?