the HEAT~!

Oh, the heat. We would never believe that today is only May 27th. High temperature today - a whopping predicted 93 degrees. Broke down and put in the A/C. But I'm not letting it stop me completely. Every half hour or so, I head back out to be physical. I weeded my small herb garden. Hung two loads of laundry out, and even did light weeding on the white rock. I am determined to keep being physical as much as possible, ALL summer long! Baby steps!

frustration

Had a heart to heart with the DH last night. About how frustrated I am with my health. Not being able to be my normal self has been so humbling for me. I get absolutely worn out - and cannot stay ahead of yard work, gardens, house, and family. I'm trying, but it's SO hard.

But I'm doing my mini walks. And the miles are adding up. Today I'm gardening, so my walk will have to wait. But it will happen! Staying as active as possible, without forcing a bad cough. I'm trying. Frustrated, but trying to stay grounded and focused!

cough cough

I am SO tired of being sick. Two days short of TWO MONTHS of this. Just when I think I've gotten to a point where I can start driving again, I have another synchope episode and realize it's too dangerous.

I'm tired of not being myself. I can't go 100 miles an hour all the time. I can't do three things at once. I'm behind on housework, gardening, work, everything. And it drives me crazy when my body just starts to shut down. I hate how much I have to sleep.

I know this is all healing, and hidden in here somewhere is a lesson from God.

I still get to be frustrated, right?

Progress

I love that I've found a positive in the horrible negative that was my car accident. I'm walking ALL over the place, logging miles every day. I run all of my errands on foot- - walking to baseball games, the grocery store, the bank, the library, you name it.

So lucky to live in a town where this is possible, I know. And finally taking advantage of it!

I walk every single day. Many days, more than once, each time over a mile, some as much as three.

So while I'm not running a marathon, what an amazing change of lifestyle. And so much better for the earth. Watching that carbon footprint shrink people!

God's gift

Took a morning walk today - just a mile and a half - no record time, but feels so good just to get my heart pumping first thing.

I realized today - that I have been given a gift - the gift of time - and that I've not been taking advantage of it at all. Shame on me.

So I am devoting a couple of hours each day - in broken up walks - to start getting healthy. It's been 20 years since I've been healthy (HOW SAD), and I'm ready.

God gave me the one thing I didn't have before - TIME. And I've been laughing in his face, not taking advantage of it at all. Oh for six weeks I was great, but that wasn't until January - having had all of Nov and Dec! And then I got sick, and that was the end.

So while I'm nursing my broken rib, and still coughing, I will not be making any time speed records. BUT. I WILL be using up calories on several walks a day. I will have 10 miles in this week. Shooting for 20 next week. I don't have to run yet. I have time. Walking will be just as good.

Once the calories are burned, muscle built, and the weight starts coming off, I'll try to run. I'd love to run a 5k yet this summer. And I totally think I can do it. I have a 1.58 mi route from my house to the highway and back. I'd love to be running that by July 4th. After I can run that entire thing, I will find another route that gets me to the 3.2 miles, and I'll start working on that.

The goal: 25 miles a week average from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Running 1.58 miles steady by July 4th. Running a 5K (3.2 miles) by Labor Day.

Day One of The Gift Challenge: 1.58 miles (some jogged). I can do this!

a sign?

I have been sick for six weeks.

A little history - I don't get sick very often - sometimes a cold/flu, but very seldom. And while I am obese, I have no chronic health issues. Blood pressure and cholesterol good, etc.

Six weeks ago I started to cough. It progressed, but being a microbiologist, I knew my body could fight whatever was attacking me if I gave it rest, fluid, and nourishment. But it kept getting worse to the point where I would pass out. Literally. Out of bed, at the couch, didn't matter. And I had two black eyes, two bumps on my head, and a gash on my nose to prove it.

So I went to the doctor - to the diagnosis of pertussis. Whooping cough. Seriously? Who gets that? Aren't we vaccinated? So I was in isolation for 5 days, and on meds for those 5 days. Day 6 showed no improvement, and I was due to take a trip, so I went back. The girl who only goes to the doctor for check ups was on visit number 2. Doctor number 2 told me that this would take a while to heal. Did xrays, blood work, all perfect. Bronchitis. Due to thet stress of the coughing. Here, take these steroids for 9 days, here are some pills to help you sleep. See ya.

The steroids while I took them did make me feel better, able to breathe. But I continued to cough, pass out. UGH.

So here I am in week SIX of this horrific cough. This week I've had several days of coughing to the point of vomitting. And this morning, sitting on the couch watching the morning news, I started coughing, reached for a glass of water, and next thing I knew, there was water all over the computer, my lap, the couch, and floor.

When I pass out, it's like I'm having a siezure they say. (Those who have witnessed it.) I start shaking, mumbling, and then just pass out. As I start to come to, I feel confused, and am typically speaking, although not always making sense. This, to say it honestly, scares the crap out of me.

My mother died of complications from COPD and congenital heart failure at the age of 76. For much of my adult life, I listened to her cough, and watched her struggle for breath. The cough I have sounds JUST like that. And that scares me like no one understands. I am trying to focus on the fact that all the tests have come back great. That I wasn't a smoker. But when I hear myself sounding just like she did for all those years, how can I not be scared?

Last night I dreamt of my mom. She came to me and healed me. I pray nightly, but have only in the last week started asking for my own healing. So last night when mom came to me in my dreams, and took away my sickness, it brought me peace. But I woke up sick. I know it won't go away over night. What did that dream mean? Do I have what mom had? Or was she coming to me to assure me I don't?

Either way - I have vowed to change what is going on. I sit on the couch, coughing, etc. I have not done anything to give my body the tools it needs to heal. I'm not eating well. I'm not exercising. I'm using the cough as my excuse. No more. I am going to do all that I can naturally to help my body heal. Eating well, doing small amounts of exercise. I'm not going to overdue it. I know that I am sick. But I also know I've not given my body a fighting chance, and it's time I do that.

The beginning of another year

I have now started my 42nd year. Yesterday was my birthday. What better day to start fresh?

I had been doing so well on my health - and then was derailed by back to back sicknesses. In February, the flu took me out for 9 days, and I'm in week 4 of fighting bronchitis on the heels of pertussis. So needless to say, my spring has sucked.

I'm at about 70 percent right now. Still have some pretty nasty coughing bouts, etc., but have decided that I just can't wait any longer. My goal is to run the annual 2 mile run on the 3rd of July, and I've lost ALL progress. So it's time to buckle down. I know I can't run right now - after walking I usually cough forever. But I have to start some training. So I'm putting together a spreadsheet, printing it out, and sticking to it. I WILL run the 2mi. I ran/walked it last year - but would LOVE to run the entire thing this year. And in 2013 - the 5 mile?