A dream come true

Once I reached 40, I began to notice that my waist was expanding. My clothes were getting tighter day by day, and I wasn't doing anything different. So I began to walk, and I worked up to 6 miles a day at Radnor Lake. It was hard, but I leveled off for a while. But a year and a half ago, I began to balloon up again, and the added weight was making my back hurt and wearing on my knee, so that it popped and became very sore. I began to try to eat less and less until I stopped expanding. Trouble was that it wasn't enough food! I had reduced my intake to 750 calories a day. I was frustrated, tired, had no energy, and moody! I had blood work run and was put on medications. I felt better, but the added weight would not come off. My back and knee still hurt, and I could not run or jog for any distance.
Flash to now and my participation in Healthquest. I am rising early to meet a group of women who are teaming with me to get a healthier life! The first week, I thought that I may not be able to do the competition after all. It's hard...very hard! I am moving in ways that I haven't in years and making demands of my body that do not feel natural. But when it's over, I feel good...very good!
I would love to visit Macchu Picchu in Peru and climb all around the sight. I want to climb mountain trails from the Appalachians to the Rockies to the Italian Alps to the mountains of Belize. I love looking over all God created from what seems like the top of the world! I want to run in the Music City Half-marathon. I don't know how much I will really get to do, but I want more adventure in my life and not be limited by an out-of-shape body. My participation in the Healthquest competition is making my body and mind more able to do these things. I am able to do more than I dreamed possible. On the Homestretch Healthquest is helping me to make a dream come true!

Week 2 and still sore!

So, this is week 2 for the On the Homestretch Healthquest competition, and I have adjusted to getting up at 4:15 in the morning for a quick breakfast of peanut butter and banana and heading out the door by 4:40 to get to my workout at D1. I am beginning to recognize the weaknesses of my body and how out of shape I really am. I am also beginning to see how I can push myself harder than I thought possible and do things I haven't done since I was a teenager!

It's funny to think back to several years ago, when I tried to do a cartwheel! Call it temporary insanity! In my mind, I still had the ability, and I didn't hesitate to try it. Well, I did it, and it was so jarring to my body, it sent pains from my feet to my teeth! I haven't tried to do one since, but I think I may try it again when this competition is over! I'll have to let you know how that goes! I DO feel younger already! Anyone want to join me in the celebratory cartwheel in December? The more the merrier!

Day One at D-1

I am sooo excited to have this AWESOME opportunity to turn back the clock on my body and my health by partnering with Eye Health Partners and participating in Healthquest! Over the last 7-8 years, I have been challenged with migraine headaches, depression, above normal cholesterol levels, lowering metabolism/weight gain, a slipping disc in my back and a sore knee. A couple of years ago, I started to exercise by walking every day. While I have a little more energy, the weight wasn't coming off, and the additional weight was causing increasing back and knee pain. I have been really frustrated at my inability to overcome these results of time and age!

I look forward to having more energy and less aches and pains. Of course, this week has been all about aches and pains! I am using pieces and parts that I haven't acknowledged in years, and they are making themselves well known this week! I carry most of my weight in my abdomen, and I have heard that fat storage in this area increases my risk of stroke, heart disease and cancer. With Ibuprophen and the encouragement of my family, friends and supporters, I will get through this first week and move closer to my goal of better health and fitness!