A wee glitch in the plans

After waking up in pain one more day, I have decided I want off this roller coaster ride, of walking one day with slight pain to not walking the next day with more pain.   I need to let the muscles in my knees heal a bit more, before I hit the pavement again.  Which means more than one day, because what I am doing now...just ain't working for me. 

So until I resume walking I will still be lifting the weights for my arms and nourishing my body with amazing healthy choices.  I did  just say, that this was  a wee glitch in my plans...and not that this journey has come to a end. 

This morning I had a lovely bowl of steel cut oats with a bit on non fat milk.  I say lovely, as I am quite enjoying this oatmeal.  I do add a bit of salt to the cooked oats, which for me brings out the flavor.  Plain and simple I have never been one to salt what I eat.  In fact the only two cooked foods that I have ever added salt to is corn on the cob and oatmeal.  Love pepper though.

The only way of finding the limits of the possible
is by going beyond them into the impossible.
- Arthur C. Clarke

 

My spirits were lifted by the end of todays walk

As soon as I woke up, I sprayed the pain relief spray on both knees, even  though I was just a bit sore. I was hoping for some preventative relief, but once I walked out the door and the shoes hit the pavement is when I felt the pain in my knees once again.  I came back in, sprayed other spots on my knees that I had missed the first time and left for my walk...one more time.  For the first 1 3/4 miles the pain did not subside.  I walked slow, making sure my feet hit the ground as soft as possible,(if as though my knees were worn shocks on a car) to avoid hard impact when each foot hit the ground.  Around the 1 3/4 mile point the soreness in my knees became just a dull soreness.  Movement became easier.   At around another 1/2 mile the soreness got worse again but not intolerable.  My goal  today was 3 1/2 miles and that is what I did.   Although a bit sore when I came home, I felt better than before I left.  The double layered socks were a success, as no new blisters appeared and I did  not wrap my feet  at all today.  I did notice along my walk, that my leggings felt lose around the stomach area...which put a smile on my face.  Today was the every other day and that means, the weight training for my arms.  I hope to soon retire the 3 lb. weights, in exchange for some 5 lb. ones.

For lunch yesterday I had 2 slices of sprouted grain toast with mustard and turkey.  I also had peach greek yogurt.  For dinner wild rice with raw red maui onions and low fat cottage cheese with sunburst tomatoes and a few pieces of  Tuscan flat bread. 

I have never been a emotional eater, but late last night I was.  I have felt extremely frustrated due to the fact that my knees are hindering my ability to walk as far and as often as I want to.  I ate one protein bar, which would not have been bad in its self...if it would not have been for the four chocolate chip cookies that followed.   It is what it is and today is another day.  This morning again I forgot to eat a banana before I left and so when I came home from my walk I ate one, followed by a bowl of steel cut oats with just a bit of non fat milk and a hour later I ate
20 almonds.

Keeping my fingers crossed

Nope...I didn't walk today.  Knee joints  very stiff and sore.  I am sure this is what arthritis feels like.  Hard to bend the knees.  I ordered some runners double layered socks, like my friend suggested and they arrived yesterday.   Today I picked up at my moms a pain relief spray that has in it...  eucalyptus leaf oil, wintergreen leaf oil, peppermint oil and coconut oil.  Sprayed it on and immediate relief to where I can bend my joints easily.  It sprays on cool and then warms up quite a bit.  The plan is tomorrow, I spray my knees as soon as I wake up and cross my fingers that my joints will cooperate...so that I can get at least  3 1/2 miles in.


Yesterday I had turkey breast meat and a protein bar for a snack, 2 slices sprouted grain toast with peanut butter for lunch and for dinner  wild rice with raw red onions, tilapia and a year of corn with a pat of butter.  Later last nite  I  had two chocolate chip cookies...but I am okay with that.  Breakfast this  morning was a banana and Cheerios.

Frustrating and disappointing walking day

When I awoke at 4:15 a.m. to go to the bathroom, my knees were stiff and painful.  There was no way I would be able to walk today.  So I took 800 mg. Motrin, hoping that would help. I got out of bed maybe 15 minutes later and there was quite a improvement, to where I could move around quite easy, so I decided to walk.  I was full of frustration as I wanted to walk so bad but my knees were so sore as I started to walk.  I had to stop in the middle of my walk to loosen my shoe laces on my left foot.  The gel insole I put in the night before seems to be hindering me more, than  comfort for my feet.  I walked around 2 miles, knees sore and decided that if I want to walk tomorrow I better not push it.  When I got home I took a nap and when I awoke I was so stiff once again, that it was hard to bend my knees.  


Yesterday I had a greek yogurt for a snack.  For lunch I had two slices of toasted sprouted grain bread with mustard, turkey breast, avocado and alfalfa sprouts.  For dinner 1/2 english cucumber, wild rice with raw red onions and tilapia.  This morning before my walk I totally forgot to eat a piece of fruit so I had the banana, Cheerios and non fat milk when I got home.

Discipline is the bridge
between goals and accomplishment.
- Jim Rohn

What a difference a day makes

Awoke at 4:30 a.m. and was able to move with much better ease than the day before.  I was loaned a scale yesterday and with much anticipation, weighed myself.  I have lost 5 lbs. down to 230 lbs.  As I started to walk I found that my knees were not cooperating, as they were so very sore on the sides.  I never really picked up the pace today; but was just so very grateful to walk once again.  As I got to the 3 1/2 mile point, which happens to be at one of the entrances to my apt. complex, I decided to end the walk.  As much as I wanted to walk the 5 miles, I was even more determined to walk tomorrow. Skipping  another day of walking because I cant move, is something I want to avoid if at all possible.


Yesterday I had 2 slices of sprouted grain toast with peanut butter for lunch.  For a snack I had 1/2 of a Balance bar and a peach greek yogurt.  Dinner was 1/2 of a english cucumber, tilapia and wild rice with a bit of red onions.  Later that evening I was hungry so I had a bowl of Cheerios and non fat milk.  I notice I get hungry more on the days I don't run.  This morning before I walked I had a banana and when I came back from walking, I had a bowl of Cheerios and non fat milk.

It's easier to go down a hill than up it

but the view is much better at the top.

                               -Henry Ward Beecher

Disappointing walk day

Yesterday...all day my lower legs were incredibly sore all day, which made it difficult to walk around after my walk.  When I got up this morning, my legs were less sore than yesterday, but still sore enough to restrict my movement. Regardless I got dressed and  out the door I went; only to realize I needed to listen to my body again, as it was not  cooperating with me.  I went back to the front door, changed my  mind and thought I would  just walk it...but slow today.  Nevertheless I would still be walking.  Went a few steps and decided to listen to what my body was telling me.  I came inside and did my morning weight training on my arms.


For dinner last night I had wild rice, a chicken breast and 1/4 of a english cucumber.  Shannan and I made chocolate chip cookies last night.  I was going to have one.  Ate a half of one and put the rest down.  That was all that was needed.  Breakfast this morning was a banana and a bowl or organic Cheerios.

Week 2

Yesterday I had decided  not to walk as my right  foot was still so sore from of the blisters on it. I know that was the right decision as my foot today felt 100% better. Today  I had planned on just walking 3 1/2 miles instead of 5 miles, so that I would not over due it.  I wrapped my right foot to cushion it a bit more and prevent anymore irritation.  I wish I had known before I bought these shoes that you buy them 1/2 size bigger, as your foot swells when you run or walk distance.


I seem to always start off a little slow as my body is stiff  first thing in the morning. It does get better after I get going.  I know I need to warm up before I walk, but first I need to research on what exercises I need to do for warming up.  I had no problems with my left foot today.  The right foot was good for the first 2 miles, the I started to have pain in my little toe for a bit.  Then it was fine.  I think the gauze I wrapped it in just moved,  but it soon moved back.


I find I am having a problem with the will power to not push myself.  I planned to only walk the  3 1/2 miles but it was a rather good walking day so I went for the 5 miles and completed it.  It has been quite a bit discouraging to not see a any results as of yet.  I am 54 and I am well aware of the fact that it is a lot harder to lose weight as you get older.  I think this discouragement is the reason I am pushing myself so hard.  Today all this hard work finally started to pay off...I have 1 less inch on my waist.  Tomorrow my sister is loaning me her scale.


I had 3/4 of a orange before I walked.  I am out of milk so after I finished walking, I had 2 pieces of sprouted grain toast with peanut butter and the rest of the orange.  For lunch I just had  2 pieces of sprouted grain toast (open faced) with a little mustard, 1/4 of a avocado, 1/2 chicken breast and alfalfa sprouts on each slice.  Dinner I am thinking maybe wild rice, some cucumber and a greek yogurt.  Though this may change.

What was born from of two photos

As I got older I became very comfortable in my own skin...excess weight and all.  I was self accepting...as it was what it was and I was okay with that.  I was neither a binge eater or a emotional eater nor did I eat a excessive amount of food.  I just ate very unhealthy.  As far as exercising, that was as non-existent as my healthy eating habits were.

In early May I had to renew my drivers license.  This time I needed to go down the DMV office and take a new picture.  The picture on my current license was around 12 years old. The new CA drivers licenses have  very close up pictures compared to the old ones.  When the license arrived in the mail, I was mortified at the picture on it.  I did not recognize the me I saw...for I saw a woman at least 10 years older than myself. 


Fast forward to a couple weeks later.  My daughters college graduation.  Pictures were taken and once again I saw a woman I did not want to see.  I did not look 10 years older in these pictures but I looked much heavier than what I perceived myself to be.  I am over weight at 235 lbs....there is no denial there.  Once again I saw a woman who looked  30 pounds heavier than what I saw, yet everyone else in the pictures looked exactly how they looked.


The drivers license and graduation pictures brought such a state of  frantic uncomfortableness, with my physical appearance; and at the same time it also brought with it such a powerful ah ha moment...drastic lifestyle changes needed to happen immediately.  I was at that point, that I was willing to do whatever it took.


I made immediate, powerful life changing choices.  Firstly I over hauled my diet.  Not a specific diet, but what I choose to nourish my body with.  A mainly organic whole foods diet that is  void of processed foods,  GMO, HFCS, antibiotic and hormone free. I joined a CSA (community supported agriculture). Locally and organically grown produce.   I started listening to what my body was telling me.  When I am hungry I eat and when I am full I stop eating.   Will power is no longer a struggle.  I never think about what I can't eat.   I am now thinking about the plethora of healthy possibilities. 


Next I bought a pair of walking shoes.  I was no longer complacent.  The first three times I walked  every other day...that turned into walking everyday. I wake up at 5 a.m. and I am out the door 15 minutes later. Some days I wake up earlier with out the alarm and I just get going.  It has been two weeks since I started walking, over one week of walking every day.   Each time I walked, I walked a little bit longer than the day before.  I am now walking 5 miles a day in around 1 1/2 hours.  A week after I started walking, I added weight training for my arms with  3 lb. weights, every other day.


I am embracing this journey and the plethora of possibilities...of what more can I accomplish.  This will be a journal for tracking this process...for I am forever, a work in progress