The journey to a healthier me

Greetings fellow bloggers.

After a couple weeks of gray and dreary weather (punctuated by ice storms, sleet, and very little snow) we finally lucked out on the weather.  Today is as lovely a day as Vermont has to offer.  Cool crisp air, a brilliantly blue cloudless sky, and sunshine galore.

We talked about going skiing, but note that the description above did NOT include snow, so we went for a hike.  Across fields, over hills and dales, to the side of the Winooski (Onion) River.  VT Dad, our younger two kids, Mookie the wonder dog and I all made our way out.  "B"  bailed early, saying his shoes were rubbing his ankles, but the rest of us went on to the river.

I’ve done very little hiking.  Mostly because of balance issues ( I had viral meningitis in my 20’s, and the high fevers affected my ears (both hearing and balance).  So, whats bumpy for most is practically treacherous  for me.  Enter VTDad’s solution.  Ski poles.  It gave me some stability, and the next thing you know I’m having fun and exercising to boot! Go figure.  He was very patient with me, despite my turtle like pace, and it was a wonderful outing.

I had seen some hikers poles at a local runners store.  They’re like ski poles, but adjustable, have a bouncy end for nice weather, and a spike end for off road hiking and for snow/ice.  Pretty pricey, but the difference was unbelievable.

Our youngest (who is quite an energetic and enthusiastic hiker) and I turned back for home at the river, while VTDad and Mookie took the longer, rougher and more scenic  route back.

I haven’t weighed in, but at least I’m getting some exercise.  Ciao!

Not feeling happy right now.  I gained a pound, my workouts are way to infrequent, I’m covered head to toe (literally) in bruises from skiing (actually, that would be falling when skiing), and if thats not enough, I’m wicked hormonal.  Poor VT Dad, how he puts up with me I’ll never know.

By necessity I’m now enjoying a fat free life, so perhaps it will help with the weight.  The weather is supposed to get snowy tomorrow, so if I’m lucky I’ll get to go skiing this weekend.  We’ll see.

I’m trying my darnedest to get a girl from work to workout with me.  We’re trying to figure out a time that works for both of us.  Regardless, I’m going to try and get to the gym a couple days a week before work (to start).  That too should help.

Hi all.  I’ve been a walkin’ woman lately.  I’m feeling pleased with myself because I was able to go shopping with my daughter.  For the first time in ages, we were able to walk all over the mall and I didn’t have to sit and rest once!  I wasn’t even breathless!  I haven’t been able to ski, since we still don’t have the snow, so I’ve been trying to walk more.  Stand when I can sit, move when I can be sedentary.  I suppose every little bit helps.  I haven’t been on the treadmill because I’ve managed to pull my Achilles tendon.  I’m not certain why I seem to be getting injured so easily.  My weight is coming down slowly though.  I need to tighten up my diet (smaller portions, more frequent meals), and find some way to increase my aerobic activity.

I had been intending on skiing as a major part of my exercise program, but there isn’t any snow to ski upon.  The last few days have been in the 40’s, and the snow is gone.  Rumor has it that it may snow tonight.  Soooo, I’ve had to hit the treadmill.  Not much fun, but at least I get my heart rate up, and sweat a bit.  I’ve been using a progressive hill.  It starts out flat and then increases every few minutes.  I also ramp up the speed until I’m walking briskly.  I managed about 1/2 an hour this time.  I intend to build up, then add some jogging.

If it stays warm, I think I’m gonna have to get the bike out.  I also looked at the gym schedule.  I could probably make it to a workout before work, since the gym and work are close.  The health clinic next door has a shower, so it could work out well.

I just have to plan my options.

Despite the fact that I managed to lose a little weight, I don’t consider this to have been a good week.  I knew I was sore after skiing last weekend, what I didn’t realize was that I managed to injure myself.  I managed to give my ankle a good twist when I fell (recall the agony of defeat from my last blog) and its been painful all week.  I’ve been walking on it, but little else.  I could have done better with managing my diet too.  I didn’t pig all throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday.  But my husband and I went to a bar to watch the ill-fated Seahawks-Redskins game yesterday and free buffalo wings were my undoing!

I just consider this a minor setback, and I’m committed to doing better this week!

Added:  I did manage to get a workout in toway.  Went and bought some new running shoes and had to try them out.  I walked and jogged a bit on the treadmill.  I’ll tell you, I feel it now… this body hasn’t jogged in years!!!  Yikes (thank G-d that there were no cameras around)

What a wonderful time last night.  My husband, daughter and I had a blast at the Burlington 1st night festivities.  No diet success tho, we had the traditional meal at Nectars (open face turkey sandwich and gravy fries).

I got up this morning to 2 inches of fresh powder.  I worked on the driveway, then took Mookie the wonder dog (my crazy boxer) for a nice long walk.  I came home feeling energized with a cold nose.  I know it doesn’t seem like much of a workout compared to most of you. For me, when you compare it to my previously sedentary lifestyle,  getting out and enjoying the fresh air and getting my heart rate up constitutes a success.  Perhaps we can go skiing later!

Happy New Year to all, and may it be a healthy, happy, goal reaching one for all of you and yours.

Leah.

Thats right, I’m the new poster girl for the ‘agony of defeat’ shot.  I went skiing today with my husband and daughter at a new location.  Sleepy Hollow in Huntington, VT.  I skied the trail marked easy, and was in for a BIG surprise.  There were several very steep hills, both up and down.  As difficult as up could be, the down side was my nemesis. If that was an easy trail, then I’m a monkeys uncle.  Two spectacular falls.  One because I lost control on a down hill, and one because my daughter fell and it was take a dive or collide with her.  (No brainer that one).  I DEFINITELY prefer the trails at catamount.
Excellent work out.  My muscles were burning by the time we made it back to the lodge.  I could especially feel it on the fronts of my thighs, across my shoulders and upper back, and in the muscles that start just below my butt.

I felt tired when I started, but now I feel a much higher energy level.  The diet part seems to be holding together.   I’m  eating much healthier.  Better foods in smaller portions, and I’ve stopped drinking soda, eating fried a/o processed foods.   I’m weening off white flour and sugar.  I need to be especially careful with glycemic control so I don’t get to low and crash.  Losing 5 lbs over the last week felt great.

I work a very long day, standing at a bench for up to 10 hours at a time.  I usually get a short lunch, and no breaks.  Can someone give me a suggestion on how I could burn calories and work at the same time?  I do calf stretches, keagles, and shift my weight around, but that doesn’t seem enough.  To be honest, I’m rather jealous of my husband who seems to have a ton of free time to work out.  He plays basketball, runs, skis, and tonight he’s playing baseball, while I stand at my bench and work.  There must be a way to slip in something.  Call me frustrated.

Today I got off the couch and started making good on my commitment to improve my health.  I think the psychological aspects of my life style change may be the greatest challenge.  NOT finding excuses for going outside, for not exercising,…  I’ve been doing that for so long it is almost instinctual.  I literally had to force myself to get ready.  Once I started moving, it wasn’t bad at all.

I went out cross country skiing with my husband and youngest child.  She’s a beginning skier too, and was going to show me how it was done.  I used to x-country ski when I was in my 20’s. I stopped once I left the military and exercise wasn’t compulsory.  That really began the down hill slide (no pun intended) with my weight.   Then, about 10 years ago I went skiing with my boyfriend (now husband).  I felt like the poster girl for "I’ve fallen and I can’t get up".  He went off ahead, I fell off the trail into 2.5 feet of powder, and I was reasonably certain I wasn’t going to be found till spring.  From then till today, I’ve been self benched.

The snow has receded with the warmth in the air, so we used maxi-glide on the skis.  The course wasn’t groomed per say, but enough people had used it that there was a reasonable track to follow.  I only fell once, but it was pretty spectacular.  Arms flailing, legs every which way.  It was embarrassing to realize that the reason I couldn’t get myself up without help was because I was so bulky.  After that, I began to get my stride.

I found using the 2 pole method was to unstable for me, and that I was much more comfortable with diagonal striding (even on the gentle hills).  The ‘pie wedge’ helped me survive the steeper hills.  I figure that we did a little less than 2 miles today.  My wind was good, my stride felt good, and at the end I felt a bizarre mix of tired and energized.  Go figure!

My husband bought me a great set of books, The Clean Eating Diet book and the workout book that goes with it.  I’ve committed to losing weight, getting fit, and creating some healthy habits.  My family is supportive, and I’m feeling optimistic.  I feel like this is horribly overdue.  I’ve gotten into some horrible habits.  I eat when I’m bored, when I’m depressed, when I’m nervous…  So far, I’ve escaped the triple threat of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, but I feel like I’m on borrowed time if I don’t make some serious changes.  Its a bit scary because I have DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease) and arthritis.  I’ve invested in cross country ski’s, and we own a tread mill.  So, the journey begins.  I’ve heard many times that a diary helps keep you honest, at least with yourself, so here goes.

Leah.