The Walk/Talk Test

I failed.

Dr. Oz says if you can talk ... while you walk; lengthen your stride; swing your arms; then you are in reasonably good shape.

Walking is no problem.  Lengthening my stride is no problem.  Swining my arms is no problem.  Talking whilst I perform all three of the above IS however a problem.  A test I failed this week while pushing my grandson in his stoller along a flat surfaced track in a local community centre.  Not pretty.  My lungs screamed at me; "you fool, what T.F. are you trying to do to us?"

I am so out of shape.  How did this happen?  No, I am not obsessed with my (lack of) fitness.  It is more like I am not obsessed enough.

So with a lot of motivation (thank you to my support network - you know who you are), I am back to looking after my(physical)self.  I would love to 'blame' it on someone or something, but I am ultimately accountable.

The last year I have been living the good life.  Good health.  Good family and friends gathering....over fabulous dinner parties and gatherings.  At those gatherings, those little devils I call 'appetizers' - you know the 'mini meals' that people love to serve these days (me included), coupled with the palate pleasing Malbecs, Merlots, or Shirezes...well you get the picture.  Calories in a glass!  Then after all that ... the main meal!  I have no will power.  That's it.
I'd love to blame it on the Election.  While I manned phones and sat on my duff working the media stuff, my better half was out (walking) the campaign trail with the pounds melting off before my eyes.  I should have been running behind him....but I am really, really afraid of all those dogs!

So Dr. Oz continues his fat buster rant...this will increase your metabolizm ....this will burn off that belly fat.  Well I am now sporting a 'booty belly'.  You know the silouette that shows your belly bigger than your butt!  Sheesh....how did I get here?  My 'bad hip' as I like to call it groans after a 45 minute walk...no wonder...it's trying to carry 20 extra pounds that it is not accustomed to.  20 lbs!!!  So begins another regime of trying to knock it off.  I really want to get back into my bikinis (Lord knows I spent enough money on them)...and I am still WAY too hot (temperature-wise) to succumb to one piece-ers. 

So this week I signed up for a Meditation Challenge.  Maybe if I start with my 'mind' I can train it to do anything.  I also walked 3 days out of 5...not bad for a start.  Next week I will up my days to 4 out of 5 and every day I walk I increase the length of time by 15 minutes.  By the summer I should be able to walk to Tignish (kidding)!

This week while house cleaning a spare bedroom I came across a scrapbook my daughter made for me when I turned 50.  It made me smile.  A lot of memories are crammed in there.  One picture leaped off the page and I had a moment of immense guilt.  It was a picture of me on my honeymoon...all 106 lbs of me...sporting a teeny bikini ...yikes...it was like looking at someone else.  NOT that I would ever want to be that skinny again...because at my age now I really do need to cushion my aging bones...but I would be happy losing those extra 20 pounds that have found a home around my waist.

Seriously though, even with this long rant about fitness or lack thereof, I am grateful.  I am grateful that I am able to partake in food and refreshments.  I am grateful that I CAN get out and walk a beautiful country trail on a sunny winter day.  I am grateful that I have weight on my bones and that I am not wanting or wondering where my next meal comes from.  I am cognizant of all of this and I do not relish the idea that too much weight is the be all and end all of my existence.  I am otherwise a very healthy individual. 

The mind is a very smart tool ...but I would be wise to not pay it too much attention.  See ya on the trails...and watch out Dr. Oz...here I come!!!