Keep Breathing

I don’t really like getting up early, but I DO like my walk and early is the only time to do it when it’s hot in Arizona. It’s best to get up and get going before I’m fully awake. I walk through a park and then along canal in a shady greenbelt past a couple lakes; there are lots of water birds and friendly folks exercising or walking their dogs. It’s calming, the scenery is beautiful and I have lots of great ideas for blogging and little chats in my head with all of you, that, until now, I have not followed through to fruition. So here goes!

Last January I had my annual physical and told the doctor that I had been walking and eating right and wanted to lose weight, but nothing was happening. She wasn’t concerned about my weight, but said that if I kept walking and eating right it would come off. My blood tests showed everything was normal for thyroid, so it was all up to me. I decided to use the “Think System” as made famous in The Music Man. We had a cruise planned for April so I set a goal to lose 15 pounds and put a weight tracker widget on my blog. I GAINED 5 pounds – fie on you, Professor Harry Hill!

A friend told me that she and her husband were going to Weight Watchers, so on May 6^th I went along for my first meeting. I have to say it’s been great! The first week I had a big loss, but after that it’s been slow and mostly steady – 1 to 2 pounds a week just like we’ve always been told is best (and even a couple weeks UP a pound, but I recovered…). Since Scott is studying exercise science and nutrition for his degree he said I didn’t need to join; he could tell me all I needed to do. I told him that I needed the personal commitment, the accountability of weekly weigh-ins and the support of others in the same boat. So he and I talk exercise and nutrition, and Dale walks with me whenever he can – they both give me great encouragement. I will NEVER fad diet or yo-yo with weight again. No more pills, powders or potions. I can eat whatever I want, but I know what foods are best. I just measure portions, track points for everything I eat, and walk, walk, walk. Recently I’ve even been running a little, too.

Scott pointed out the calorie differences of walking and running the same distance, and I was convinced that I needed to add some running to my exercise. Because, as unfair as it is, the simple physics are that as you loose weight it takes less energy to move your body and you don’t burn as many calories as you previously did for the same exercise. Bummer! I never really did like running. One day I was walking with Connie and she said, “I like to run up this little hill,” so we started running. Halfway up she said, “Shelly, keep breathing.” Well, no wonder I didn’t like running – I wasn’t breathing! So now I concentrate on form: breathe in a rhythm with my feet, try to make my navel touch my spine as I exhale, pump my arms in a straight line from hip to shoulder (no side to side motion), keep my shoulders back, chin up, and eyes to the skies. And keep breathing!

On October 7^th I made my weight goal – I lost 25 pounds! Today during my walk I even ran for two miles without stopping! FYI – that’s a huge accomplishment for a woman of my level of maturity. Run, Forrest, run! Now my goal becomes maintain. Keep measuring, keep tracking, keep exercising, chin up, eyes on the prize, and keep breathing!

I’ve decided that “Keep Breathing” is a good motto for a variety of situations. About a month ago I had a mammogram. I’ve been getting them annually since 1991 when I had a lump removed, so they’re really no big deal for me. They position you, lower the vice, squeeeeze and say, “Hold your breath” three or four times on each side. On the last x-ray I started feeling a little light headed, but the x-ray machine was already buzzing and I was almost done. The next thing I knew I felt like I was waking up from a long nap. They were giving me smelling salts and three technicians and a doctor were in the room. I’d passed out! I had a goose egg on my head and ended up spending the day with Caroline so I wouldn’t be home alone if I had signs of concussion. So, no matter what the technician says, Keep Breathing!

Sometimes other things happen that take your breath away. Because he’s had skin cancer (both basal cell and squamous cell removed), Dale goes to the dermatologist every six months for a check-up. At last week’s appointment they did another biopsy. The doctor called Thursday – he has a melanoma. He has to go in for more surgery, further testing and perhaps a chest x-ray. He had a blessing last night and we’re praying that it’s just “skin deep”. Meanwhile, chin up, eyes to the skies, and Keep Breathing.