I may not be there yet, but

I'm closer than I was yesterday. 

 -Author Unknown

Fabulous walk it was

How I long for a walk that will be pain free.  Just a tad of pain today...never the less, it was a good walking day.  First time in a while, that I was able to pick up the pace, at various times during the walk. Also my heart rate must have increased, as there was a bit of sweating here and there...during the 2.3 miles.


Today I had 1/2 banana before my walk and the other half when I came back...which was soon followed by a bowl of organic corn flakes and non fat milk.  Just finished lunch and that was the usual...two pieces of toasted sprouted grain bread with mustard, alfalfa sprouts and grilled chicken.

Today was a no go

I woke up this morning achy, to the point where it was limiting my movement.   I decided to listen to my body, so...no walk. I did do the weight training for my arms and that seemed to go a bit easier than the last time.


Yesterday I did not eat lunch until 2:30 and was quite hungry at lunch...too hungry.  I can not wait that long until I eat lunch.  Yesterdays lunch, two pieces of toasted sprouted grain bread with mustard, grilled chicken and alfalfa sprouts.  Also had some watermelon.  Dinner was wild rice with raw red onions, raw carrots and some more watermelon.  After dinner I did have a piece of cinnamon coffee cake that I got at Trader Joes. It is yummy even frozen.


This morning I had just a banana for breakfast.  I was going to run a errand around 1 p.m. and decided I had better eat before I leave as I didn't want to end up starving like yesterday.  So I  had two pieces of toasted sprouted grain bread with mustard, grilled chicken and alfalfa sprouts.  I am just eating dinner as I type.  Wild rice with raw red onions and carrots.  Most likely a bit of watermelon later.


I went out this afternoon in search of a digital scale and a fitness ball.  I found both and came home with a bit more.  The scale I was loaned is not that accurate and rather bulky. Every time I want to weigh myself I need to move it to a flat surface and it is never on zero, after it is moved. I also bought a yoga mat, a yoga video for beginners, a portable Pilates studio and a ab gym.  Both small pieces of equipment.  The one thing I was looking for and did not get, was a 5 lb. hand weights.  They only had one. 

Patience and perseverance

have a magical effect before

which difficulties disappear

and obstacles vanish.
- John Quincy Adams

Perseverance is my drug of choice

I had a rather good walk today, not totally pain free in my foot...though tolerable.  I do think a shoe size bigger is going to make the world of difference and then I will be able to fly.  Today was a 2.30 mile walk day.  Yesterday I only did weight training in the morning.

This morning I ate 1/2 of a banana before my walk.  The other half when I got back and when I got out of the shower, a bowl of organic cornflakes with non fat milk.  Yesterday morning a little while after I ate a banana, I had a bowl of organic corn flakes with non fat milk.  For lunch some grilled chicken and for a noon snack a frozen strawberry fruit bar.  Dinner was a grass fed ny steak and watermelon.  After dinner I had three dark chocolate powerberries. They are the size of a cranberry and they are amazing.  I picked them up at Trader Joes and this was the first time I have tried them.  They are made with the centers of real fruit juice pieces made from the juices of acai, pomegranate, cranberry and blueberry and covered in dark chocolate.  One serving is 1/4 cup, which is 180 calories of which there is 7 gm. fat, 29 gm. carbs and 25 gm. sugar.  There is also 20% vitamin C in each serving.  They are some what rich so I did not need to indulge in 1/4 cup.  Three of them was all that was needed.

Every worthwhile accomplishment has a price tag attached to it. The question is always whether you are willing to pay the price to attain it - in hard work, sacrifice, patience, faith, and endurance.

- John C. Maxwell

Finding a way to fix the foot comfort issue

It was a good walking day.  My knees are not giving me any problems so far.  The only issue is still the pads of my feets, irritated with blisters once again...even with the double layered socks.  Yesterday I ordered  a pair of shoes 1/2 size bigger.  Today I ordered the same shoe, one size bigger.  That way I will have them both at the same time to compare, which one fits the best. Then I will just ship back the other.   For the next two weeks I am going to alternate walking 2.30 mile days and one mile days.  Then the two weeks after that I will ease into 3.5 miles, by alternating that with 2.30 miles.  Slowly easing my way up to 5 miles.

Yesterday I  did not do the weight training, but did after my walk this morning.  Two weeks with no lifting weights,  threw all the weight training I did out the window...cause I was a sweating more than usual and I had to pause between repetitions, this morning.

This morning I ate a banana after my walk.  Not really hungry and not sure why.  Yesterday I was running errands and really not hungry, so lunch did not happen.  For dinner I had a bowl of wild rice blend with raw red onions, raw carrots and grilled chicken strips.  Later I had a banana and a frozen strawberry fruit bar.

Storms make oaks take roots.
Proverb

I am back in the saddle again

Awoke this morning late...no alarm went off (which felt like a oh no moment, for just a moment) as it was just before 6 a.m.  Got up, hurried to get out the door...as I wasn't going to let getting up late throw me off, my first day walking again. 

Pure exhilaration, when my feet hit the pavement.  Cranked up the sound on the iPod and off I went.  Knees  well rested, though my thighs started to get a little achy after a mile or so...which is to be expected after not walking for two weeks.  Also the pads on the bottoms my feet were getting irritated once again.  After I had bought these walking shoes...a friend who is a runner, told me that I should have bought them 1/2 size bigger, as the feet swell when walking or running.  Even though my shoes are new; I have ordered another pair 1/2 size bigger, as I want optimum comfort for my feet...as I am in this for the long haul. 

These past two weeks, the choices I made when it came to nourishing my body, were a bit healthy, a bit not.   Money was a bit tight and some of the foods that I was routinely eating, I ran out of.  That in combination of frustration and disappointment over not being able to walk...kept my eyes off the prize at times.  No binging, just a bit of unhealthy choice making. 

The path I am on has now come full circle...one more time, to where I was a few weeks ago when I first started this amazing journey.  My body is healed, I am financially blessed (to be able to buy  nourishing food) and once again I am passionately determined...to get back on track.

I have just weighed myself for the first time in two weeks and I did not gain but lost three pounds.  Breakfast today was a bowl of steel cut oats.

I am off to do a bit of weight training for my arms...another thing that was neglected these past two weeks.

You're on the road to success when
you realize that failure is only a detour.
- Anonymous

Feeling a bit like my old self

Two days ago was the first time, that I could actually walk and my knees were not in a incredible amount of pain.  Today I feel like my old self.  I am going to give my knees one more week to heal. Next Saturday I shall resume walking, with in moderation at first...just until my body gets acclimated to walking distance.