Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Commitment

FOREWORD: This is an old blog post but still VERY relevant! I have had severe problems with the Blogger platform and am just now able to get this to post! So, my hyper links aren't there, but if you're interested in any of the places I mention, Google them! :)  I hope to have a new and improved post up soon! (for my three readers!)

com·mit·ment
kəˈmitmənt/Submit
noun
noun: commitment; plural noun: commitments
1. the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
"the company's commitment to quality"synonyms: dedication, devotion, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity "her commitment to her students"
a pledge or undertaking. "I cannot make such a commitment at the moment"
synonyms:  vow, promise, pledge, oath
2. an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.
 "business commitments" synonyms: responsibility, obligation, duty, tie, liability

Well, clearly "commitment" is a word I may have a little trouble with. I have trouble committing to this blog, exercising consistently, sticking to healthy eating - the list goes on and on! I always thought I was the type of person that was very committed to anything I put my mind to. I think I have little demons in my head telling me otherwise. Get out of there demons! Go to someone else's head and leave me alone.

A lot has been going on since my last entry. I competed in the 2014 Transplant Games of America  and I won three gold medals in bowling! Team Kentucky came home with over 20 medals in total! Wow!! It was an amazing experience for my first time and I can't wait until 2016 to attend the Games in Cleveland, OH! Maybe I'll try some other events, like cornhole or darts or softball throw. There are so many to chose from. While were in Houston, we had the chance to stay with family and visit Bill's Aunt/Uncle/Cousins. We visited the Space Center and had a blast! (pun intended) Seeing the historic Mission Control room had me speechless. This is where they heard "Houston, we have a problem". The room hasn't changed since the day it closed. You can just imagine everyone from the 60s sitting in that room doing their work. Amazing. We also had the chance to drive to Dallas on our way home and we visited the JFK Memorial Museum entitled the "Sixth Floor Museum". This is a very moving experience. You put on your headphones and walk through a room full of photos while listening to the events as they unfolded; all while on the same floor where everything took place. It was surreal and emotional at the same time. We were able to get some pictures on the street where President Kennedy was shot. I hope my children understood the enormity of the place they stood when they were there. I was happy they were able to "witness" what happened through the visit at the museum. And speaking of historical visits: We visited Memphis on the way down and back to Houston. We stayed on Beale Street and ate at the famous "Blues City Cafe" right across the street from B.B. King's! It was "Bike Night" and the scenery and people were soo cool! On our way out of town, we stopped by Graceland for some pictures of the exterior. We were pressed for time and couldn't do the tour. But maybe another day?

Since returning from Texas (I forgot to mention it's HOT in Texas!), life has not slowed down. We had the annual Michul Birthday Week to celebrate and then shortly after that school started. I officially have two children in high school. Make them stop growing now, please. I've continued to walk in some 5K's here and there and have become more active with a local running group that is a branch of a national group - "Lexington Mom's Run This Town" or "MRTT" for short. I'm still trying to learn to run and I jog a little here and there. It's really hard for me (there's that commitment thing again) but I will not give up. It's not something that comes easily to me. It's been seriously hot and let's face it, it's supposed to be hot. It's August in Ky. But I don't do well in hot weather where exercise is concerned. I heat up quickly (within about 10 minutes) and my face looks like it has a third degree sunburn. So, passing out is an issue for me when I walk in such hot weather. Walk in the morning you say? I value my sleep and getting up before 5am is just not going to cut it with me for now. When I become a serious runner, that may change. So enough excuses, right? Well, I tried to walk yesterday after a long time off (the last thing I did was hike with MRTT and a 5K right before that). It was a disaster after having horrible traffic issues leaving work and not arriving at my "10 minute away" destination until an hour and 15 minutes later. I walked a measly mile. It's a miracle I made it at all. Trust me. But cooler weather is coming! We are almost to Fall and my evening walks will be comfortable again. There are a few 5K's coming up and I cannot wait to get back out there. I am considering starting C25K again, if I can stand it. At this point I have to COMMIT. I do not want to be the size I am for long. I do not want to weigh this much. I want to be healthy and live a long life!!! It's important for someone like me; a living kidney donor. I only have one kidney and it's vital I keep it healthy!! So, who's with me? Will you COMMIT to a healthier lifestyle with me? I know it's hard. Trust me. And we'll fail here and there. But let's never give up!! 



Monday, June 2, 2014

It's been a long time...

Since I've been here to post! I've been in sort of a funk lately and to say that we've been busy as a family is an understatement! After this week I will have two kids in high school: a freshman and a junior! I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it all. Seems like yesterday they were attending their first day of kindergarten! Where the does the time go?

Well, the title of the this blog is "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" and that is something I have NOT been doing a lot of lately. It's true I walk in and out of work every day and I keep a good pace. Realistically, it's only about a 4 minute walk. And I walk around a lot within my work area (including a 30 min walk on my lunch) almost every day. But the excuses have started to roll with me: "It's really hot outside", "we have too much to do right after work", "the kids need this/that".....you get the point. These excuses MUST stop. I can slowly see some weight starting to come back and I DO NOT like it! I am still fitting in the newest clothes I've purchased, which are smaller in size, so there's the positive. But I am not going to fit in them for long if this negative behavior keeps up.

Soooo....what's next? WALKING!! Starting today, I am going to walk as much as possible again. This may mean getting up at 4:30am. I live in Kentucky and it's very humid here most afternoons. The goal has always been to go straight to the arboretum after work because I work right next to it. I can get my walk in and then head home and prepare dinner at a good time. But at 4:30pm, it can be close to 90 degrees, or warmer with humidity. It's Kentucky. It gets hot here and it does it early in the year. Today is June 2nd and it's already 70 degrees at 7:00am. I didn't get up early today, so I brought my stuff with me to go straight after work. I don't care how hot it is. And I don't care how fast I walk today. I just need to move!

You may remember I mentioned I loathe running. That feeling hasn't changed any, but I am trying it anyway. I have the proper gear now and I try to run as much as I can. It may not be for long, but Rome wasn't built in a day. I participated in a 5K recently and it was my slowest time. You know why? I ran! Running actually slows me down. I walk faster than I run. No, it's true. I do. I also injured myself. My shin on my left leg started burning near my ankle. Not the "I can work through this" kind of burn. The "oh shit, something is wrong" kind of burn. So, I've been sidelined for a couple of weeks since. It's the shins (not the musical group) that are killing me. I've researched exercises and therapies to help. I'm hoping my body will adjust eventually and I can run a full mile one day! (wishful thinking) I have another 5K this Saturday and I am going to stick to my "fast walking". :)

I think I've mentioned that I am attending the 2014 Transplant Games of America in Houston this July. There are only about 39 days left until the games and I couldn't be more excited!! Bowling will be my sport, but there is also a 5K! In Houston...in July. Thank goodness it's first thing in the morning! I'd love to have my best time at the games. Sitting around and making excuses isn't going to help!

So, it's been a while since I've blogged, but it's good to be back! Thank you to the one of two of you that reads my blog! I hope you'll get moving with me!!