Day 9 - Squeeze!

What a day! Ever have one of those days when your schedule gets rearranged at the last minute, and everything takes longer than you expect? That was my day today. Added on top of that, was a communication error that led to me driving 45 minutes across town for nothing. Ugh!
Believe it or not I actually did squeeze in a 20 minute workout. It was mostly stretching and a little strengthening, but I did manage to get a few aerobic moves in while I was getting ready to run off in some other direction. So I was thinking...sometimes we need to get creative with our exercise. If I stand on one leg while I'm doing the dishes, I'm working on strength and balance. If I jog with the dog, I get a little aerobic workout. If I sit on the floor to do paperwork I can stretch at the same time. A regular workout is great and my goal is to make time for that every day, but sometimes the circumstances are beyond my control and I have to take care of things. The problem is, for me, (and maybe you too) that one day of not focusing on my health can lead to two days, then three, and so on. The next thing I know it's been a month and I think now I have to start all over. So I put it off even more. I can't do that anymore. I have to accept that there will be days where it will be difficult to fit this kind of thing in, but I think if I at least make the effort to do something, I will continue on again when I am able.

Caren E. Salas

Day 8 - Every Little Bit

It's been a busy day. I had to take my son to the oral surgeon who had removed my son's wisdom teeth last week. Apparently he had a "dry socket". Ouch. I had a list of things to do around the house, as well as phone calls to make, and bills to pay. This is my life on a regular basis. This has also been the reason I always gave for not working out, or even trying to be healthy. I'm too busy. I'm too tired. Although these things are true, they are not an excuse. In fact, the not working out is probably contributing to my general fatigue. I'm not an expert, by any means, but I do know I used to feel a whole lot better back when I was more active. So, somewhere in the craziness, I grabbed my little rug-rat of a dog and took him for a walk. Fifteen minutes of brisk walking isn't much, but it's more than I was doing a couple of weeks ago. Tomorrow is another day. I plan to start off by scheduling a time to exercise: not when everything else gets done. Everything else is NEVER going to be "done". Running a house and raising kids is on-going and never-ending, but if I make myself and my health a priority, "everything else" will certainly run more smoothly.

Come back tomorrow and see how I did! :)

Caren E. Salas

Caren E. Salas

Day 7 - Incentive

It's Sunday, and my mother-in-law's birthday. Most of the day was spent getting ready to go, traveling there and spending time there.  She looked much better than the last few times I've seen her. She recently had been suffering with shingles, and it really took a toll. My father-in-law, having led a difficult life working as a longshoreman, and various other very physical occupations, has become weak, and seems to be in pain most of the time. Some people complain about their in-laws, but I have to say, I really do love them, and it's hard to see them struggling with so much now.
The reason I bring this up is that if ever there is an incentive for me to try and stay healthy as long as possible, this is it. Having the disadvantage of a chronic disease to begin with, I know I can't just take my health for granted. If I start, (or keep) making excuses why I can't exercise, the adverse effects of age will be I'm sure, increased and happen sooner than I'd like. Clearly, no one lives forever, so I want to feel as good as I can, for as long as I can.  No more excuses or procrastination for me.

It's time to, as they say on the Nike ads:   "Just do it."

Caren E. Salas

Day 6 - The Black Hole

Well, I did get in a little bit of a work out yesterday, and today, well, I guess I could call it weight-lifting. I've been trying to clean out our garage for years, and I'm becoming less and less attached to all the "stuff" and more ready to just get rid of it. If you've ever watched that show "Hoarders - Buried Alive" you'll understand. It's clearly a obsession for some people. For us, it's just lack of time. We don't know what to do with something so it gets tossed in the garage. Now it's what I call "The Black Hole"; things go in and never come out! So now along with my resolve to get healthy and to get more serious about my writing, I've also resolve to attack the Black Hole, and make it usable space.  So today I went through a specific grouping of boxes, and was able to get 2 large bags of hand-me-downs for my grand neice and nephew, 2 more to send to the Thrift store, and at least one bag of stuff I either threw away or recycled. Whew! I didn't get to my dancing, but hey, I was moving around boxes, bending over to sort things and definitely worked up a sweat. I'm hoping to at least stretch before I go to bed tonight also.
Tomorrow is my mother-in-law's birthday and we're going over to their house to celebrate. Maybe I can get in a walk or quick workout before I go.  Until later...

Caren E. Salas

Day 4 and 5 - Back on Track

Sorry I'm posting this a little late, but I'm happy to say that Thursday I had a great workout for 30 minutes, and took my dog for a brisk walk for about 15-20 minutes also. I usually just go around the block with him but I felt so good I took a longer route.  Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, my keys fell out of my pocket and since I was listening to my Zune, I didn't hear them. I got home and realized they were gone and thought, "of course, the day I go extra far, I have to do it all over again to - hopefully - find my keys."  Thankfully, they were just at the end of our block. So I did end up walking the length of our block and back on top of the other workout and the initial walk. So...cool. A little extra is okay. Today might be a little more difficult schedule-wise. because my son had his wisdom teeth taken out so I'll be taking care of him, but hopefully I'll at least have time to stretch. Well...here's hoping.

Day 3 - well...

Yesterday I never quite made it to working out. It was a busy day to say the least, and it just never happened. In the evening we went to the rosary of a close friend who recently passed away. It was standing room only, and I stood for about 1 1/2 hours in 4 inch heels, so maybe that counts for a little exercise. Today was the funeral.  If crying burns calories, I'm set. Seriously though, losing someone who is close to you, and close to your own age really makes you put things into perspective. I really need to be healthy, for myself and for those who love me. I want to be around for them for as long as I can, and that's hard enough when you have an existing disease. So I'm not just dancing around like a fool so I can look better, or feel better. I'm doing it for my family and friends too; for all the special people in my life right now, and those that I'll meet in the future. Time passes way to fast to procrastinate. I've got to get healthy, so I have the energy to spend quality time with others. If that's not enough incentive, I'm not sure what would be.

Caren E. Salas

(Rest in Peace, Steve. We will miss you.)

Day 2 - I did it!

Okay, so yesterday I took the dog for a walk as kind of a warm up, and then I had a 20 minute workout: stretching and dancing and jumping around my living room like a doofus. If I can just do at least that much everyday and increase it little by little, I think I'll see a difference. I did feel a little more energetic yesterday. Unfortunately last night I had a migraine that lasted all night long, so I didn't get a very good night's sleep, but I'm still hoping to have another workout today. At the moment, I have a few errands to run, but when I get back it's "dancin' time"!

Caren E. Salas