Slowing Down Time

 It takes a long time to become young. - Pablo Picasso

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. - Mark Twain

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm. - Henry David Thoreau


I've never been one to avoid things in life but something I have always dreaded is getting old.  Crazy as this may sound, when I was younger (like 15 or so), I was already examining my face for signs of aging and always insisted that I had wrinkles around my eyes.  My mom always told me that I had nothing to worry about and that I should enjoy my youth because in a few years, things will change and I will wish I hadn't focused so much on it.  Boy was she right!

For the most part, I have always believed that age is a state of mind.  The anniversary of our birth doesn't necessarily reflect our "age".  Now that I'm at the chronological age that I am, I realize exactly how important it is to maintain an active lifestyle.  Moving and doing helps to maintain flexibility, strength and energy - all of which are associated with youth. 

Being sedentary not only leads to weight gain but it also causes our bodies to age before they should.  You know the expression "use it or lose it"?  It's true.  For me, the idea of walking around the grocery store in pain because my joints are stiff or not being able lift my leg easily to step off a curb, is unappealing and not an option. 

There is someone very near and dear to me that is going through this and it upsets me.  It bothers me because I don't like to think about this person getting older but also because it is 80% avoidable (I'm chalking up the other 20% to genetics).  So, if you are reading this (and you know who you are), please, pretty please, start doing some moderate, gentle exercise.  I want you to have the best possible quality of life that you can and that won't be possible if you aren't active.  It may hurt a little to move and get going but the alternative is far worse.  We still have a lot of things we need to do together not to mention all the energy you will need for your soon-to-arrive grandson.  Do it for him.  

I may not be the most athletic person in the world but I am far from inactive. I'm always in motion. Sometimes it is fast and hurried and at others it is relaxed and fluid but I always find something to do.  I move my ass every chance I get even if it's just a short burst of activity.  Something is always better than nothing and if it's going to keep me from getting old before my time, I'm gonna do it.

And you should too.

Happy Trails!
Valeka

Weather Or Not

Never trust a skinny ice cream man. - Ben Cohen

Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos. - Don Kardong

I must admit, this hot weather has made me a little lax in the exercise department.  In my post, Hotness, I talked about how I've been using the swimming pool to help me get in some exercise without worrying about the overwhelming heat.  So far, it's worked well but I'm a wee bit bored with it already.

I've done some yoga and Pilates but for me, nothing can replace being on the trail. That's where I belong but no matter how much I've attempted to acclimate this year, the heat has been unbearable and my body hasn't responded well to it.  As much as I love getting hot and sweaty during workouts, sunburn, headaches and frequent dehydration (no matter HOW much electrolyte replacement drinks I chug) isn't all that appealing.  This summer, the weather has not been my friend.

But...whether the weather cooperates or not, I still need to keep my butt moving.  If I give myself the chance to sit on the sofa and devour ice cream, I'll do it and do it BIG.  We are talking a double or triple scoop dish with whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry on top!  Not using the inferno-like weather as an excuse is hard to do but it has helped me to explore other options and it does make me feel less guilty if I do indulge in a small scoop of ice cream.

This week, I'll be swimming at Barton Springs Pool, doing some canoeing (which I have discovered that I LOVE), and going to a water park.  In between all of that, I hope to get in some walks...and maybe a little ice cream.

Happy Trails!
Valeka

Jeans

Blue jeans are the most beautiful things since the gondola. - Diana Vreeland

 I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes. - Yves Saint Laurent

I have a favorite pair of jeans that I have a love/hate relationship with.  I hadn't tried on those jeans in a while.  The first time I tried them on this year was January.  The weather was chilly and I needed to wear jeans so I decided I would attempt to wear my favorites.  Much to my chagrin, they didn't button or zip.  They weren't gaping open but still, point is, they weren't wearable.   I got annoyed and threw the jeans into a dark corner of my closet where I couldn't see them.  The hate part of the relationship was in full swing.

February rolled around and as I was organizing my closet, I found them.  I pulled the balled up denim out of the corner, shook them out and tried them on.  They zipped and buttoned but they were tight. I had more than a muffin top. It was like a giant wad of bread dough had been wrapped around my midsection. It was puffed out over the waistband and there was no disguising it even with a big sweater over the top.  I tried to look at the positive - at least they closed this time - but again, unwearable.  I hung up the jeans and forgot about them...until this past Wednesday.

I was going to a co-working luncheon and wanted to wear jeans.  I opened my closet door and rifled through to see what I had.  Nothing seemed right for my outing.  That's when I saw THEM peeking out from behind some dresses.

Reluctantly, I pulled the jeans off of the hanger and held them out in front of me. I pursed my lips and thought "what the hell".  Expecting a repeat of the January or February fittings, I slipped my legs in, slowly zipped and buttoned.  I was surprised and had to double check to make sure I got THE pair from the closet.  No sucking in of the gut; no laying on the bed to zip 'em.  They fit.  Not only did they fit, they were loose.  And better still, I wore them with a tank top...and had no roll over . Major progress! It was pretty exciting.  I strutted my jean covered butt into that restaurant and felt pretty damn good.  I was in love again.  

The coolest part is that I haven't starved myself to make it happen.  There has been no deprivation, insane workouts or long miles.  It's getting done with consistent, moderate activity combined with eating clean and healthy.  I believe the biggest factor has been that I am eating unprocessed foods.  Very few prepackaged, prepared foods make it into my house.  Cooking at home helps me to know what is in the meal I'm eating.  No surprises or weird things I can't pronounce and it's making a difference.  It's all in the jeans!

Happy Trails!

Valeka

Doin' It

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's the little details that are vital.  Little things make big things happen.  -  John Wooden

What a great month March was!! I became more consistent with my workouts, continued being mindful of how much I eat (psyllium husk in water before each meal is my new best friend. The fiber fills me up and keeps me from over eating), AND I've eliminated a lot of stress from my life.   

I must say - it's all coming together nicely. As a result, I'm officially down five pounds for the month!  I don't quite SEE a change in my body yet but I'll take the weight loss.  Five pounds may not seem like a lot but it's better than a GAIN any day!  I lost the equivalent of this sack of potatoes.  It's five pounds gone which will help my joints when I walk, wog or run.  Besides, I never liked potatoes very much anyway :-) 

I'm very pleased with my progress and know that April will be just as great if not better!  I must admit, hearing about friends that ran races this past month further fueled the fire in me.  It is something that I miss doing and the only person keeping me from it is me.  For the last two weeks, I have been walking (with a few "sprints" thrown in) twice a day.  Splitting my work outs throughout the day makes it feel less overwhelming and I get more done.  The added bonus is that Big Baby is loving it!  I know that she and I will be in running shape soon!  

Happy Trails!

Valeka  

Reality Therapy

Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead.  We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces.  ~Sigmund Freud

I didn't buy my running shoes as planned this week but after seeing this picture, I set aside the idea of my old shoes being haunted (although I still think they are).  I decided to exorcise the demons attached to them by looking at this picture every single day.  It motivated me to get off of my ass and MOVE.  

This is an image that I rediscovered online this week.  My dear friend "E" that has been helping me on my weight loss journey posted this to his Facebook page a month ago and it left an impression on me.  I just happened to come across it again this week and it has kept me on the straight and narrow.  The image on the left is of a 250 pound woman.  The image on the right is that of a healthy 120 pound woman.  Clearly there are major differences between the two.  The joints have been distorted by the weight they are bearing.  There is fat around all of the organs and the heart is enlarged.  And that's just what we can see from this picture.  There are likely to be other things going on that aren't outwardly visible.  All very scary stuff.  

I am working hard to look like the image on the right.  I'm eating healthy and getting out for exercise daily.  Looking at the "bad" picture made me wonder how long a body can sustain that level of pressure on the joints and heart.  But the truth is, I don't want to find out.  

It really doesn't take more than some daily walks and healthy eating to get back on track.  You don't have to run marathons.  You don't have to get a personal trainer or join a gym.  The changes are simple.  Don't overcomplicate things by thinking that you need fancy gadgets and work out gear to start making yourself healthy.  It's so NOT the case at all.  But you can't do NOTHING and expect to be healthy.  Now, I will say that I have some "smaller" friends that I can easily run circles around even at my weight because they smoke, don't eat healthy, drink alcohol in excess.  I'm sure a picture of their innards wouldn't look like the picture on the left BUT they are mistreating their bodies just as much as someone who eats a Big Mac every day.  

So, boys and girls, the moral of the story is.....take care of yourself.  Do what you have to do to keep yourself healthy and fit.  And if you aren't healthy and fit right now, get there.  No excuses.  No complaining.  No living in denial.  Facing that reality is the biggest gift you can give yourself and those you love.

Happy Trails,

Valeka

The Anti-Resolution

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. - Benjamin Franklin

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.  ~Author Unknown

I have never been very much into the idea of forming resolutions on New Year's Eve.  I guess it's because I view resolutions as broken promises to ones self.  We've all done it - things get hard or too tempting so we give up on the resolution.  I especially don't like resolutions about weight loss or fitness and that is probably because in the very distant past, I did make that type of resolution and every time, I failed.  Being healthy shouldn't be something that we have to resolve to do - we should just do it. 

Ending the year six pounds lighter is certainly a motivator for me.  The fact that I didn't gain weight during the holiday season is a HUGE deal for me and I'm pretty happy about it but I know that I can do more.  I am going to make that commitment to myself this year.  A commitment.  A vow.  A promise to take better care of myself and to focus more on my well-being.  Sounds simple enough but most of the time, if you are like me, you find yourself taking care of others more than you take care of yourself.  Nothing wrong with caring for those we love but how about giving ourselves the same attention and love that we give others?  It's not okay to skimp on our own wellness or to cut corners when it comes to our health.  Being healthy gives us more energy, stamina and, ultimately, longevity.  Wouldn't you want those things for those you care about?  Then why not want that for ourselves?

Start small.  Make one small change, then another and another.  Give up a bad habit (or excuse).  My BFF gave up sodas almost a year ago.  It sounds like an itty bitty change but when you consider that a regular soda is 160 calories per can and lots of folks drink more than one per day (or sometimes more than one per MEAL), the savings in calories and sugar intake becomes significant.  Simply choosing water or unsweetened iced tea instead of a soda has helped her to keep her weight somewhat under control during what has been an extremely stressful year for her (and we all know that stress makes us gain weight and does crazy things to our bodies).  Before you know it, those small changes will add up to some major improvements in lifestyle and health.  Now....if only I can get my other bestie to quit drinking evil Red Bulls (or stop smoking)!!

With the holiday season behind me, I plan on cooking more at home.  It's something I started doing more often at the beginning of November and tried to maintain over the holidays.  Cooking at home allows me to control what is going into my body and, to be super honest, I don't completely trust myself at restaurants.  I always intend to eat healthier fare and wind up with my favorite cheesy nachos.  I am also going to add more steps to my walking.  I ended the year walking approximately 2-3 miles just about every day.  That's something that I can easily increase by walking during my lunch hour.  The extra time spent walking will help me from a fitness perspective but it will also help me clear my head in the middle of my work day.  Throughout the year, I plan to incorporate other forms of exercise into my fitness routine such as Zumba, yoga and perhaps a little martial arts (for those days when I need to get out my aggression!). 

There are limitless possibilities for us all in the upcoming year!  A new year is a chance for us to start with a clean slate and get things right for ourselves.  So let's make it happen!  Best wishes to you all for a wonderful year filled with health, happiness and prosperity!

Happy Trails!

Valeka

Twiddling My Thumbs

I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end. - Margaret Thatcher

This is torture.  I have no patience when it comes to getting over an illness or injury.  That's probably why it takes me LONGER to get over cooties and heal - I get impatient when I can't work out and start going full force even though my body isn't ready for it.  I know I said I was going to do some "gentle exercise" in the interim but I'm not feeling it.  My brain keeps saying "RUN NOW!" but my body is asking me to take it easy and do some yoga.  I have been out for a couple of walks but it's not nearly as satisfying for me especially when I see others out running.  And runners are EVERYWHERE - on my drive to work, when I head out for lunch, when I leave work, when I run errands.  I almost feel like I am being mocked ("hee-hee, we can run and you can't, hee-hee").  Hopefully this cough and congestion will go away so I can return to my routine.  I keep trying to banish it by raising my fist and saying "I cast thee out" but it's not working.  In the meantime, I will have to force myself to be patient.  But if this isn't gone by Monday, I am running.