"Live your best today, for it is your only preparation for tomorrow."
Once you have set your mind to make the first step nothing can stop you. Remember, no matter what intensity, miles, feet, time…just do it! A little - a day. Think about yourself! What a hard lesson that is. Perhaps is comes easy to some women, for me it’s really tough to overcome the mindset of everyone else before me. We owe it no only to ourselves but to our families and loved ones to take care of ourselves and be healthy.
Re-establish goals, mine have changed some…
I promise to do something for my mind, body and spirit everyday!
I promise to stop comparing my body with everyone else’s and focus on eating well and moving more!
I promise to squeeze in three different- colored veggies at lunch and dinner for maximum nutrition!
I promise to look for the positive in every situation and swap negative language for winning words!
A few helpful hints I have run across over the past several weeks…..when you are outside exercising, walking, jogging, running.
1) For sunny climates, take care of your skin; grab some SPF protection before you leave, face, ears, arms, neck.
2) Wear a hat, not only will it let protect your hair, from sun damage, and if you color your hair (like me) it will help sustain the color longer. It will also help keep sun off your face. (There are light weight hats you can get now, that are made of a breathable material, use a light color, remember light colors pulls in less heat from the sun) dark colored clothing will definitely make you hotter.
3) Carry water, it’s amazing what water can do for your sustaining movement, muscles need it! Get a water carrier. I have a waist carry, it snaps around my waste I can carry a water bottle in the back, and it allows me to hook my cell phone on, my ipod and I can hook my dog’s leach on it as well- that’s a good thing because it allows my arms to be loose so they can move with my walking and/or running freely without constriction. This helps when going up hills, whether walking or running- remember: when going up a hill, hold body straight don’t lean forward- pretend you are being pulled from the center of you body by a cable up the hill. The dog leach attached to the waist band gives you that sensation.
4) Lower back aches- I have this often, however, I have found a good warm-up before I start my workout helps. When I have intense discomfort, I use a moist heating pad before I start, it loosens my back up, makes it much more comfortable for me. ( there are many heating pad out there today that you can heat in your microwave, and it ends up being moist heat, very reasonable in price too.)
Keep up the great work ladies, everyday is a new day! Anything you can do, a little a day is better than nothing, we owe it to ourselves, our families, and our quality of life.
Have a great day, and a wonderfully healthy, positive week!
Posts
At the end of any journey, it’s always nice to reflect on the experience and enjoy the exhilaration that comes with accomplishment. During the past 12 weeks, seven real women have opened their hearts and minds to women across the country. They’ve revealed struggles, shared empowering messages, offered valuable tips and served as genuine advocates for this program.
During the Choose To Move challenge, these women not only engaged in physical activity, they discovered a community of women who share a common goal – increase physical activity in order to develop a healthier lifestyle. Their success is a direct result of determination, commitment and the support they received from those in the Choose To Move community.
From a mom with three kids to a full-time college student to women in the workplace, our real women take on many important roles. And as women juggling multiple responsibilities, we want to be the best we can be - a common thread among women in America. However, in order to be the best for our families, we must do what’s best for ourselves. Our seven real women did exactly that! Each woman, in her own way, learned how to make time for physical activity and develop better eating habits!
For Ruann, Kara, Lisa, Melanie, Vernita, Kathleen and Zulema, the 12-week challenge has come to an end. However, the ultimate reality is that their life-long journey to maintain a healthy lifestyle has only begun. No matter where you are in this journey, I encourage you to rely on women in the Choose To Move community, as well as those around you. Take advantage of the Choose To Move program and turn this challenge into a way of life.
My total chol. is 184
HDL is 46
LDL is 106
Trig. is 184
I have been on a low fat, low carb diet since Sept (NutriSystem). Should I be concerm about my Trig?
Comment by on February 12, 2008 2:54 PMDr. Mieres,
I'm very much an internet girl. As soon as I found out I had high blood pressure, I found this site. After going through all the 'choose to move' selectees, I chose Vervita, for the reason that she update often and replied to those that posted comments.
Well here we are, 6 months later, most of those chosen have yet to update.
Considering these are all busy and accomplished women, perhaps some slack should be cut. Ok.
The forums are worse. I have had to hunt and peck to find true posts, some of which should be answered by a professional, not a jr. high social studies teacher.
I'm sorry to be so negative. In truth, AHA diet and recipes have made it possible that I may be coming off meds next week. My diet plan has been based on your cookbooks.
When I called in my numbers today, to get a refill, the office called me back and said the doctor said when I want, to stop meds for 4 days and make an appointment for the 5th. If bp is in the 100-120 range, we'll stop the meds. Woo hoo! Diet and exercise may pay off!
Comment by on June 12, 2008 8:17 PMDr. Mieres,
I'm very much an internet girl. As soon as I found out I had high blood pressure, I found this site. After going through all the 'choose to move' selectees, I chose Vervita, for the reason that she update often and replied to those that posted comments.
Well here we are, 6 months later, most of those chosen have yet to update.
Considering these are all busy and accomplished women, perhaps some slack should be cut. Ok.
The forums are worse. I have had to hunt and peck to find true posts, some of which should be answered by a professional, not a jr. high social studies teacher.
I'm sorry to be so negative. In truth, AHA diet and recipes have made it possible that I may be coming off meds next week. My diet plan has been based on your cookbooks.
When I called in my numbers today, to get a refill, the office called me back and said the doctor said when I want, to stop meds for 4 days and make an appointment for the 5th. If bp is in the 100-120 range, we'll stop the meds. Woo hoo! Diet and exercise may pay off!
Comment by on June 12, 2008 8:17 PM
Comments
May 21 | Melanie said …
Hey Ru,
Great to hear from you! Thanks for all of the good suggestions. I just discovered last Friday that the sun fades my hair color - just didn't know that - boy I'm getting a hat on! Also, I am having the low back ache - it was so bad this morning that I walked instead of jogging. I'll try the warm heat :D
Melanie
May 21 | Vernita said …
Hello Ru,
Just what the doctor ordered, that belt sounds great...where did you get it from and how much does it cost?
~Vernita
May 21 | lisa said …
Carry water.....trying...its my hurdle... thanks for the reminder!
May 21 | Ru said …
Hey Vernita! Yes it works great! You should be able to find this type pack at places like, REI, Sports Authority, Dick's Spoting Goods and any specialty shops for runners. I will take a digital picture of it and post it, so ya'll can see it. It has been so nice to have.
May 21 | Kathleen said …
I like that statement "Live your best today".
I really find I have to take it one day at a time and try each day to make it the best.
Aug 06 | Liz said …
This is my first night of signing on! I will faithfully look at the postings to derive encouragement from this group of inspired ladies. I too like the comment about living today... I feel like I have a long way to go!
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