Fifteen Minutes on the Treadmill!!!

Yesterday, I started a new exercise plan, and this time I'm determined to make it stick! The last time I followed this plan, I got down to a health weight. However, the weight has crept on. Well, it hasn't exactly "crept" back on...my lack of consistent exercise and excessive consumption of sweets may have had something to do with it.

But instead of having a goal of weight loss, I have a goal of increasing my physical activity level in VERY gradual steps. My goal for Week 1 (which started yesterday) is to use the treadmill 15 minutes at least five days during the week. Now you may wonder what good 15 minute exercise sessions will do. In terms of weight loss, it probably won't do much, but I will begin to get into the habit of using the treadmill (or alternate cardio if one is not available). Then in Week 2, I will exercise 20 minutes per session; then 25 minutes per session, and so on. If I can actually get to the point that I can use the treadmill of an hour (at a certain speed), then I will be in pretty good condition. At 40, my condition and my health status is more important than the size of clothes I wear.

Yesterday, when I started the treadmill, my ankles began to hurt. This is because I am used to pointing my toes and not flexing my ankles. Since walking on the treadmill involves a lot of flexion, it really hurt! However, I figure I can tolerate 15 minutes of it. I will write my activity in a journal (or blog) so that I can be accountable for my progress. I also will not weight myself for a while so that I can focus on increasing my activity rather than losing weight. This method was effective before, so I hope it will work again :)

It Hasn't QUITE Been a Year

I had a feeling this would happen. I was really excited about my new blog last year, but I got a bit distracted with other things (although the word overwhelmed is a more accurate term). I have been trying to simplify and centralize my life. I have started different things then get I distracted with something else. But, a woman can always change :)

Many changes have occurred this past year. But the biggest change is that I have rarely missed going to church. That has made a tremendous difference. I have also been adjusting to my new life as a Latter-Day Saint. I'm not going to lie...not being able to shop on Sundays is not an easy adjustment. But, Sunday is the Sabbath Day. Besides, our Heavenly Father gives us so much...the least I can do is refrain from shopping.

Here's a quick update. We had commencement at ISU last Saturday, and I got my grades turned in on Monday. I turned in a paper for a class I'm taking online through UCSD Extension.The class is called Biostatistics in Clinical Trials, and the instructor is excellent. This is the last class for my certificate in Biostatistics.

On Monday, I'm having an upper endoscopy. I'm not exactly looking forward to it, but a surgeon who used to be the President of my Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS is doing the endoscopy...so a extra blessing never hurts!

On Friday, May 18th, Mark and I will be leaving with his parents, brother, and grandmother for Tampa. Mark's grandmother will be staying with one of her daughters in Tampa, and the rest of us will be going on a Carribean Cruise. That should be awesome. We're going on the Carnival Legend. We have an Ocean Suite, so I'm looking forward to that :)

Return from Nauvoo

This is my "once-a-month" blog entry :) I'll work on that (really!). I just got back from Nauvoo, IL. I'm telling you, there's no place I would rather go. As a new member of the LDS Church, I really wanted to see the Nauvoo Pageant. It was soooo moving...a truly spiritual experience! Regardless of your faith, I think everyone will be moved by this pageant. There is also a pioneer festival, and that is really cool. I got to push a handcart, which is what many of the early Latter-Day Saints had to do to escape religious persecution (after Joseph Smith was martyred). Of course, the early Saints had to walk thousands of miles in the worst weather conditions pulling their families and any belongings they could take on those handcarts. Even before I started investigating the Church, I had a tremendous admiration for the sacrifices made by the early Latter-Day Saints. More and more, I appreciate what they have done so that people like myself can worship my Heavenly Father freely without persecution.

Well, back to the pageant. The pageant is held from early July to the end of July each year. Of course, I stayed at the Willard Richards Inn, which is an incredible bed-and-breakfast (of course, the inn keeper Karen Haering is an exceptional hostess). I met so many wonderful people there. Many times, I am shy around people I don't know and sometimes around people I do know. However, I was able to talk easily with people who were either participating in the Nauvoo Pageant or enjoying it as visitors.

As I was driving home from Nauvoo today, I realized I couldn't ask for a better summer vacation.I didn't spend a lot of money and time preparing for this trip, but sometimes I wonder what our intention is when we plan vacations: is it to create memories for ourselves and others, or is it primarily intended to impress others? I just feel that when we focus so much on the photos we take on vacation, we really miss out on the actual experience of being on vacation. Of course, if I might think a little differently if I didn't stop leaving my camera in my hotel room :)

Been Away

Hi! Unfortunately I've been away from my blog for a long time. It's too easy to get distracted, but it's something I need to work on. We finished up the spring semester, and I've just started my summer semester classes. I've also finished the first class I needed to take for my Biostatistics Certificate at UCSD Extension.

This summer, we're staying here in Robinson. But that's probably a good plan. For the past three summers, too many changes have taken place and there has been a little too much excitement. But as I become spiritually more aware, I have been given the message by the Holy Spirit that the best thing for me to do is to appreciate things around me rather than always looking for something else to do. I think it is definitely worth changing some of my habits so I can live the way my Heavenly Father wants me to live. Some of my habits I am gradually changing are financial habits and my physical lifestyle. Today, I just registered for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA). I am someone who is somewhat erractic about exercise, and I think the PALA may be what I need to stay motivated and consistent. To be eligible for the PALA as an adult, you need to exercise at least 30 minutes a day for five days. This must last for a duration of at least six weeks, which is good because hopefully it will become a lifestyle change by that point. I danced a total of 40 minutes and swam lightly for five (we went to the community pool). Then, I had to log in my activity, the intensity, and the duration of each session. It is very cool to receive points for exercising. You are on the honor system, but I feel that an award is only worth receiving if you actually earned it. I will also try to keep up with my blog a bit better and will relate my exercise for the day. Have a wonderful weekend!

Tornado Warning

We're currently under a tornado watch, and several counties near us are under a tornado warning. Since we're under a watch, our weather conditions may be favorable for producing tornadoes. However, if you're under a tornado warning, then a tornado has actually been spotted in your area. The sky has been kind of eerie all day, but I am hoping the storm will die down a bit. They just announced the storm has weakened, so hopefully we're good.

Distraction

Hi! Sticking with the blog at this time is a real test for me. When I first begin something, I go full force, but once I skip more than a couple of days doing it, it's a challenge to go back. But I figure that even if no one is reading this, it is a personal victory for me to stick with it. It's so easy to get distracted with things, and I am usually the Queen of Distraction. Historically, once I have gotten distracted, I got discouraged and would give up. I tended to beat myself up over it, which decreased the likelihood I would ever do it again. To combat this, I would vow to never be distracted again, and I would obsess about it instead (until I got tired of it). But that's definitely a self-defeating cycle. I can "pause" from something every now and then and still have the  motivation to come back to it (even when no one is paying attention to it). This blog is a test of my resolve, and I plan to pass it.

Back to the Midwest

I was away at our National Convention last week in San Diego. It was really nice, especially since I got to stay with my brother, sis-in-law, and two nieces. The weather was beautiful, and it was great seeing colleagues I haven't seen in a while. But now it's time to get back into the groove, and I have plenty to catch up on. Well, just wanted to check in. Have a great night!