FullaBella's Journal, 20 December 2012

Yes, you keep stepping my FS angel, & turn a deaf ear when needed. I'm sure he does mean well & given his physical limitations, may even be a bit jealous. I'm so happy for you & hope you'll get as much self-satisfaction from exercising as I do. If you're getting the urge to jog or trot, your body must be adjusting & you'll be there in no time. But take that time -- you are so smart to tread (no pun intended) slowly! One step at a time is plenty fast & each step gets you closer to your new wonderful habit! Sorry to have been MIA (but enjoying my time with my sons), but have been thinking & missing you! 

I admire your determination. I love reading how you're forming the habit of exercise. I should be doing the same. Sure, you COULD maybe work upper body too, but if your main goal for now is WEIGHT LOSS and not body building, it's all about burning calories. You're doing fine. The rest will come.  

Haha I'm with you there! Well intentioned but frustrating advice makes me want to grab some candy and eat it in front of my family/boyfriend's faces before defiantly collapsing into the couch and refusing to move for 3 days. Its so counterproductive to be told you need to do more, really brings out my rebellious (/pointlessly self sabotaging) side. It sounds like you've got a really well-thought through exercise plan at the moment, stay strong and good luck! 

Thanks FB, you can call me SM or Isabel, I don't mind, as long as you call me - LOL. Loved your quote - 'laughter thru tears is my fav emotion' - I'll try to remember that too. I love to laugh so hard that I cry, a good belly laugh. I generally have that with the group of girls I'm having lunch with today, sometimes I'm grateful I'm sitting down, if you know what I mean, being a woman of a certain age, laughing can be 'surprising' to say the least - LOL 

Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement. Angel Ruth, I really feel MH was trying to share with me all of the good advice he's been given by his physical therapists over the years. When I said 'hey, how about you getting that (thing he should be using himself) and you sit in there with me' it pretty much stopped the 'You oughta' conversation. Keld, I spared most of my journals the nearly two months of serious consideration of all of the excuses I'd make before venturing forward and buying a treadmill but do so appreciate yours and everyone elses patience and support as I continue to journal through this habit forming. However, for me, as hard as it may be to believe, this exercising totally independent of eating healthy to lose weight, it's about being more active as I continue to age. Phibs - I can so identify with the 'I'll show you' and am glad you recognize the self sabatoge. Been there, done that, hurts only YOU. And Isabel, yep... I know exactly what you mean. MH once asked 'why do women always go to the bathroom together?' and I answered 'so we can laugh without risk....' Thanks again everyone! 

You might try intervals at whatever speed you are comfortable at, say 1 minute at 4 mph, 2 minutes at 3 mph and then repeat over and over. When you body gets used to it after several days of this, then change it up to make longer intervals or higher speeds. Don't risk injury, of course. 

Thank you Seafood - I agree completely and am doing that .. push a little more each time but then slowing down in between. One step at a time, you know :-)