Am I crazy? Am I a defeatist? Could this possibly be normal? This day has made me think that I make everything in life too difficult. For example:
Woke up at 7am. Felt tired (went to bed way after midnight waiting for teenagers to come home!). Decided to do my workout first thing. Think things through. If I hurry I can go and get back before my BYU student has to leave for his lab. Might have time to get ready before daughter has church basketball game. Maybe I should print off the exercise forms Traci sent so I can do those at the gym. Print lists off. Look at a few other things on the computer. Wonder if my son went to have TB shot looked at yesterday (so he can put in his mission papers). Go down to wake him up and check. Yes he did. Think I still can get a workout in if I just stay home and do the Healthrider. Maybe I should make breakfast for son before his lab. Start making french toast. He tells me he doesn't have time to eat it:(. Still thinking I can get that workout in. Daughter comes to see if I am going to her game. Of course I am I tell her. Throw on a hat and go. Watch daughter play ball. Visit with another mom. Boy, she must have it all together I think. She's working, looking cute, so accomplished, so smart. She probably even got her workout in! After game, go home. Tell my kids I am grounded until I get my workout in. Read the paper. Tell myself I have to workout. Watch my son finish the breakfast that I started to make first thing this morning. Enjoy visiting with our children especially our son home from BYU-Idaho. Tell myself I can't eat until I workout. Talk about going to check out some of the President's Day sales. Remind myself that I am grounded until I workout. Can't resist the french toast on the counter anymore. Eat it plain (and cold!). Talk with hubby. Tell myself I have got to go downstairs and workout!!!! Son tells me I should get my workout in.
Finally, go downstairs and get on the Healthrider. Check the clock 1:11pm. How am I going to do this for 30 minutes (because Traci said if it isn't 30 minutes it doesn't count!)? Plug in my headphones and rowdy music. I know I can do this!
Well, 40 minutes later (we love those favorite songs!) I am feeling great (except for the fact that I have wasted practically the whole day:(!). If I am crazy so be it! If for some unknown reason I am trying to sabotage myself in this 100 day challenge - STOP IT! Yes, I am off to a VERY slow start but I really, really, really want to do this! Optimism, here we come!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
What a Great Day!
Today was such a great day! I felt like for the first time since starting this challenge I was in balance. I ate a good breakfast, had a chance to help a friend early in the day, did my workout, stopped to talk to one of my friends in the store, did all the errands my sweet hubby asked me to do and spent time with my family - basically I did all of my favorite things:)!
Today was the first day that I didn't eat sugar! That doesn't really have much to do with my heart but for me, when I am eating healthy, I don't crave the sugar that I do every other day of my life when I eat badly. I felt like today was the first day that I really ate healthy and today was my first day of fitness training. I loved my workout! I know that I will be sore tomorrow but it felt so good to workout. I can almost say that I feel the old me out there in the shadows somewhere but at least within my reach if I try hard enough. If you would have asked me last month if I would ever be healthy again I might have said no:(.
Another thought that stuck me today was how grateful I am for this body of mine. It has carried me through thick and thin (mostly thick though!) and I feel like I have asked it to do more than it is capable of doing by carrying all of this weight for all of these years. But when I got my test results back from the blood work that we did on the first day I was very encouraged that my body hasn't given up on me! It is still working as hard as it can trying to keep me healthy. To show my appreciation, I need to do all that I can in the upcoming weeks to learn how to lighten the load for my poor old body in the years to come:).
One last thought, it feels so good to be trying to be healthy. I once remember the Weight Watchers group leader telling us that "Nothing ever tastes as good as being healthy feels." Why can't I remember that when I am in the kitchen?
Today was the first day that I didn't eat sugar! That doesn't really have much to do with my heart but for me, when I am eating healthy, I don't crave the sugar that I do every other day of my life when I eat badly. I felt like today was the first day that I really ate healthy and today was my first day of fitness training. I loved my workout! I know that I will be sore tomorrow but it felt so good to workout. I can almost say that I feel the old me out there in the shadows somewhere but at least within my reach if I try hard enough. If you would have asked me last month if I would ever be healthy again I might have said no:(.
Another thought that stuck me today was how grateful I am for this body of mine. It has carried me through thick and thin (mostly thick though!) and I feel like I have asked it to do more than it is capable of doing by carrying all of this weight for all of these years. But when I got my test results back from the blood work that we did on the first day I was very encouraged that my body hasn't given up on me! It is still working as hard as it can trying to keep me healthy. To show my appreciation, I need to do all that I can in the upcoming weeks to learn how to lighten the load for my poor old body in the years to come:).
One last thought, it feels so good to be trying to be healthy. I once remember the Weight Watchers group leader telling us that "Nothing ever tastes as good as being healthy feels." Why can't I remember that when I am in the kitchen?
Friday, February 11, 2011
A New Start!
Well, I've just left the hospital where I began the UVRMC 100 day heart challenge. That means I weighed in and they measured my cholesterol/blood sugar levels and did a body fat test. I don't know all of the results but I do know that my blood pressure was high and my blood pressure has never, ever been high before!!! That gives me all the more reason to want to start this challenge.
I've done other challenges before but this time I am serious about making lifelong changes. Dr. Carter, a cardiologist, began the motivational part of the meeting by showing us a clip of the Apollo 11 rocket taking off in 1969. Then he showed us a replica model that he had created as a youth. He told us that these next 100 days would be like the bottom part of the rocket that never leaves the ground but serves as a booster to propel the rocket far into space. Boy, did that change my paradigm! In the past when I have done a challenge I have had the mindset that if I can only stay focused for however long, then I will be successful. But I loved the idea that this challenge period is just to get our habits set for the long haul!
Dr. Mitchell, one of the cardiac surgeons at UVRMC, gave a presentation that greatly increased my knowledge of the consequences of continuing with my current risk factors. Several facts really served to "wake me up". He showed that when a person has the risk factors of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity then the risk of heart disease goes up exponentially. Although I didn't get my test results back today, I fear that I have more than two of those. Another fact that hit me hard was that heart patients who have diabetes have reduced success with open heart surgery. A normal individual who has a heart bypass can expect the repaired heart to last for 10 years, but if you have diabetes the veins only last for 3-7 years. If my facts are not accurate, just ask Dr. Mitchell to clarify!
I enjoyed meeting all of the participants today. All of you seem like great people facing the same obstacles that I am facing. I think of you as my support team not my competition (Unless I am trying to put something in my mouth that I shouldn't!) I think we will all look back on this and think of all the successes that occurred! So... I'm off to practice my healthy lifestyle! Good luck everyone!
I've done other challenges before but this time I am serious about making lifelong changes. Dr. Carter, a cardiologist, began the motivational part of the meeting by showing us a clip of the Apollo 11 rocket taking off in 1969. Then he showed us a replica model that he had created as a youth. He told us that these next 100 days would be like the bottom part of the rocket that never leaves the ground but serves as a booster to propel the rocket far into space. Boy, did that change my paradigm! In the past when I have done a challenge I have had the mindset that if I can only stay focused for however long, then I will be successful. But I loved the idea that this challenge period is just to get our habits set for the long haul!
Dr. Mitchell, one of the cardiac surgeons at UVRMC, gave a presentation that greatly increased my knowledge of the consequences of continuing with my current risk factors. Several facts really served to "wake me up". He showed that when a person has the risk factors of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity then the risk of heart disease goes up exponentially. Although I didn't get my test results back today, I fear that I have more than two of those. Another fact that hit me hard was that heart patients who have diabetes have reduced success with open heart surgery. A normal individual who has a heart bypass can expect the repaired heart to last for 10 years, but if you have diabetes the veins only last for 3-7 years. If my facts are not accurate, just ask Dr. Mitchell to clarify!
I enjoyed meeting all of the participants today. All of you seem like great people facing the same obstacles that I am facing. I think of you as my support team not my competition (Unless I am trying to put something in my mouth that I shouldn't!) I think we will all look back on this and think of all the successes that occurred! So... I'm off to practice my healthy lifestyle! Good luck everyone!
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