moonbeam65

I don’t know how to react to this in a good way. I mean, I did say good bye to running 3 miles every day about 4 years ago after I injured my knee. I did say good bye to tae kwon do at the same time because I couldn’t jump anymore. I said good bye to aerobic classes I loved. I’ve changed my identity from “runner” to “walker” and was kind of fine with it. Then, last year, too much pain and swelling in ankles made me stop walking. I thought that I could recover and continue walking again which I did, or I thought I did…

Yesterday I saw a very good orthopedist and he again diagnosed me with “severe tendonitis” and told me to stop walking altogether if I don’t want to wear a cast for a few months and become really immobile. I am to have physical therapy for two months, wear special ortho shoes, and switch to cycling and swimming. There might be surgery in my future and some other restrictions.

My body is betraying me. I am mad and miserable. I picture myself using a walker or something in the future. I have to rethink the way we travel and go hiking and camping and walking everywhere instead of driving a car. No walking challenges either.

Now I have to teach myself to fall in love with cycling and swimming. See, the trick is that I only exercise if I love doing something. And I can only ride a stationery bike! I am ashamed to admit but I can’t make turns on a real bike, I fall. And swimming… I only swim for fun, not for exercise.

And yes, I totally realize that I am having a pity party here.

Life sucks.

I haven’t blogged in awhile. Life is good and very, very busy. I apologized to everyone I haven’t responded to. Thanks for your boosters and messages. I am sorry I wasn’t consistently supporting the threads I started with challenges and the binge thread. I’ll have more time in September.

The weight is still coming off. However, I am with Jennifer on that, I stopped obsessing about counting calories and thinking about bad foods and good foods. Consequently, I stopped bingeing altogether. I really enjoy the food I eat. When I eat, I ask myself if this is the best food I can find at the moment to enjoy. Do I really like what I eat or do I eat it because it’s “lowfat, or low carb, or another fad.” LOL

What has truly changed for me this summer was exercise becoming a natural part of daily routine. I do walk 4-5 miles a day and sometimes 8-14 miles a day. I still work out with the trainer and exercise at a gym. I want to exercise and I think about finding time to exercise immediately when I wake up in the morning. So that 30-day walking challenge actually created some new neuronal pathways in my brain resulting in thinking and doing exercises almost automatically. I never even question if I SHOULD exercise. I want to, it’s that simple. Like breathing, laughing, reading a good book, enjoying a good company, or sharing great food with friends and family. Exercise is now in the same category of enjoyable activities.

Size 10 clothes are too big. I packed three huge plastic bags for Goodwill. My closets are barren. I need to do some major shopping! It’s a nice task to have.

This morning my husband and I walked 3 miles and he shared with me that he will start working out with a trainer and going to the gym next month. He NEVER thought about doing that before. Now, looking at the changes I have made, he wants to have a hot body as well. I am thrilled for him.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Calling all the dedicated walkers on the site and inviting everyone who wants to use walking as a great and gentle fat-burning exercise.

Let’s challenge ourselves by walking 4 miles a day or an hour a day (maybe using interval walking) until the Labor Day weekend.

There will be a new thread on the weight loss forum with the rules.

You may want to sign up and tell us what you use to count miles: a pedometer, treadmill, time, track in your neighborhood, etc).

There will be weekend challenges but no competition.

Who wants to shrink belly? Strengthen legs? Improve core?

Who has limitations that don’t allow running or other exercises that are hard on knees, ankles, and hips?

Then walking is for you. Simple yet so powerful in weight loss.

See you all on the walking challenge thread,

Tatiana