Thank you!!!!!

On this, the eve of the end of the 100-Day Heart Challenge, I want to express tremendous gratitude to all who have been involved with this journey. Thank you Traci for your weekly encouragement and guidance; Jalaine for our wonderful nutrition classes and tools to keep us on track; Kelly, my trainer, for pushing me to do more than I really wanted to do; All you wonderful participant ladies for being supportive and wonderful examples; My husband and children who have supported me 100%, even when I made them eat brussel sprouts; and all those behind the scenes who have made this opportunity possible. THANK YOU!!!!

This has been a turning point and has blessed my life more than I could have imagined. I began the challenge hoping I would come to enjoy exercise, and I do! I've learned how to be an intuitive eater, which is a huge change from my former emotional addiction to food. I don't eat food I don't enjoy and I eat slowly and savor every wonderful bite of what I like. My husband and daughter have begun exercising and are motivated to continue. I see a future of health and strength as I continue to exercise and eat healthy. Just as several other participants have said, this is not the end, but the beginning. I'm not where I want to be, physically, yet. It took years to get into this condition - it won't all go away in 100 days - but I've progressed so much further than I thought was possible in such a short time and am on the right road going the right direction!

THANK YOU, again, and again, and again...

New workout routine

I can't believe we only have a week until we have our final weigh-in and testing. For me, it definitely is not the end of the challenge. I'm so thankful for the life changes I've made and will continue to make even after May 22nd.

I had hoped to run the Run for the Red 5K the end of May, but it looks like I'll be walking it due to shin-splints. When I first tried to run, my shins were hurting a little. I thought it was the way I was running, so tried to adjust. I was able to run on the treadmill without any pain after trying to land lighter on my feet. Unfortunately, it was more difficult on a regular trail. Traci suggested I have my shoes checked out to be sure they were giving my feet proper support. That's when I remembered that I hadn't been using my prescription orthotics. I'd tried to use them when my shoes were brand new, but they made the shoes slide up and down on my heels. I should have taken the inserts with me when I went shopping. It's a hard lesson to learn! I guess my high arches caused my feet to pronate which created a strain on the muscles and tendons along my shin-bone. Once I started using the orthotics, it was too late. The damage was done. The doctor says to stay away from high-impact exercising (or anything that hurts) for several weeks. Just doing work around the house hurts, so I've needed to take it easy.

I really want to "sprint to the finish" and up my exercising, not "take it easy", so today I went to the Fitness Center and swam laps for the first time in probably 30 years. It took awhile, but I completed just over half a mile. It was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time! -Quite a workout! I plan to continue with swimming at least until my shins have healed then keep it in my routine as I add back other activities. My grandfather was a competitive swimmer. He swam a mile a day and continued to compete well into his late 80's. He was back in the water just 6 weeks after hip-replacement surgery. His arms were strong enough that he could swim without kicking. He passed away about 13 years ago from a stroke he suffered while swimming. We all thought it was the best way for him to go. He continues to be an inspiration for me. Thoughts of his example kept me going during those laps!

I'm not going back!

The past month has flown by, filled with challenges and successes. I'm not quite where I thought I'd be at this point in the challenge, but I have progressed and need to remember that even slow progress is progress.

The middle of April our family went to the East Coast for my father's memorial service and for a little vacation. It was wonderful showing my family the areas where I lived while growing up and seeing extended family we haven't seen in several years. We walked around the Mall area in Washington, DC and I raced my 8-year-old daughter up the steps to the Lincoln Memorial. She beat me by a step, but a few months ago I would have elected to use the elevator! While my family was struggling with leg fatigue due to all the walking, I felt great. It was a beautiful day and I just loved all the walking and site-seeing. I'm so thankful for the changes happening with my body. I'm thankful to be strong and able to endure more than I could before this challenge. I don't want to go back to the way I was - and I won't!