Progress

Since my new healthy lifestyle changes implemented one week ago today, I have lost 2.4 lbs, and I feel so much better. It is amazing how good food and exercise can make you feel.

I'm glad I finally got out of this 9 month down cycle that the herniated disk in my neck caused. I've never been in so much pain where I had to take valium and vicodin on a regular basis. It has been really tough.

I feel like I am out of the woods and back on the upswing. I hope that by taking it slow and concentrating on the stretching and strengthening I will protect my neck injury and still be able to be active and have a good time walking 5ks and 10ks. If I can jog or run in the future, fine, but I am satisfied with walking. I can walk really fast and get a good aerobic response. Right now I can do 2 miles in 34 minutes. That includes a warmup walk for 5 minutes. I want to see if I can do 2 miles in 30 minutes.

I can't compare my old running self to my new walking self because my body is different now after the injury. However, I do like to have goals. It keeps me focused.

Doing well

I did well today. I feel like I am back in the swing of things, both fitness and eating wise. I did my 25 minute yoga this morning and walked a brisk 2 miles this evening. I also signed up for a yoga class at the community center - starts tomorrow. Hopefully this will help me with flexibility and staying injury free.

Food today was good. I had a GenSoy bar for breakfast, a salad with chicken breast for lunch, an apple as a snack, and some bowtie pasta with vodka sauce ffor dinner.

Restart # 54,546

So I'm back on the proverbial horse. I started again on Thursday with a 2 mile walk. It felt good. I also did yoga on Saturday and today and did another 2 mile brisk walk again today. I don't want to take valium for my stupid neck anymore. And I don't want to gain any more weight.

Goal: do yoga every morning (I use FitTV's Namaste Yoga. it's about 25 minutes) and walk every other day. Do ARR South Mountain Classic 5k on October 7 and New Times 10K on November 11. Brisk walking only. No running.

Kitten update: Sox and Hairy are being listed with an adoption agency pending their feline HIV and LV test outcome tomorrow. They will show at a PetsMart on Saturday and Sunday and hopefully be adopted! They were spayed 2 weeks ago and doing well. They are 4 months old now.