Friday, June 25, 2010

It's a Good Kind of Tired

I am tired, tonight. But, it is a good tired.

Tonight, we went to the lake and did our two miles for the fourth night in a row. They say if you do something every day for thirty days, it becomes a habit. This is a habit I can definitely enjoy having. Yes, I am still a little sore. But less and less, every day. My feet hurt. My walking shoes are ancient, the lovely spring and support has gone out of them and my socks are cheap and not the best for walking distances. But you know what... I am not willing to allow such small things to hold me back. No nonsense. Just go out and do it.

You might think I am crazy like a looney-bird but I could swear I am getting a little better and a little healthier, already. Yes, I am still slow... Two miles takes me about fifty minutes. But I know that my time will improve as I get lighter and my conditioning improves, so I am not sweating being The Turtle of the Trail System. One day, I will be flying. :D

What was I talking about? Oh, yeah... I must be doing a little better. I am having less difficulty with inclines. There is one steep, hard, tho not all that long uphill on our trail. The first time I walked it, I had to stop three times. Today, rather than stopping, I just put my head down a little more, shortened my stride, dug in and powered slowly and steadily right up that hill. I did need to stop briefly for my breath at the top, but I got up without stopping, dammit! I still drag ass the last half mile. But a little less drag, then my first out and back.

I a getting up and down the stairs in my condo better, too. I used to have to lean heavily on the handrail and slowly, one step at a time, planting both feet on each step inch my way down and up those stairs. And I felt as if my lungs were ripping out of my body, just climbing those stairs. Now, I fly down, hand lightly grazing the railing, step by step, one foot on each. Just as I used to, years ago. Coming up, I am faster, taking one step over the other and, yes, I still do puff, but I am not gasping, in pain, head pounding and roaring and having the sure and certain knowledge that I am going to drop, right there.

I still have so much weight to lose. But just what I have lost, so far has made such a difference in my health. My quality of life is improving steadily, with every pound lost. Walking, even for four days further enhances how much better I feel. I want to continue feeling better and better. I have had a taste of what is to come. Now, I want the whole damned carton.

And this is a carton that I can greedily consume, totally guilt free! :D

7 comments:

  1. Absolutely inspiring and uplifting post, Erika. I am so very proud of you and wish I was close by so you could share some of that strength and willpower and gogetter attitude with me. It sounds like your husband is super supportive and is doing these walks with you. How cool is that?

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  2. Way to go, Erika, on the 4 days in a row. It really doesn't matter how fast you walk, just that you walk. And I didn't know you had stairs inside your house. On a rainy day you could walk/run up and down those babies several times and there's your workout! I love stairs, and use the outside back deck stairs at my house as a backup.

    You're doing great!

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  3. Awesome girlie!!! Way to take the bull by the horns!!! :). Slow and steady wins the race!

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  4. I have been consistently exercising for about a month now and I make myself do it! The first 20 minutes are tough for me because it is so damn hot here, but I walk every evening at 8 pm. I do 45 minutes but want to up it to 1 hour. I do feel so much better after losing almost 18 pounds but I have so much more to lose and some days I get discouraged.

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  5. HUGE NSV's - you have to celebrate ALL the milestones - be they little or big. You are doing so great - I can't even put it into words.

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  6. That's so awesome! I, too, can tell the difference that just "moving with purpose" every day has made in my fitness. I may not have lost a lot of weight, but my stamina is definitely improving. I can walk to the mailbox and back without napping afterwards, for instance.

    Just think how great it's going to be after we are 20% lighter, or more!

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  7. Thank you all for your wonderful, supportive and kind comments. Reading them uplifts me. <3<3

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