The Journey in 10,000 Steps

The recommended number of steps to take a day is 10,000.  Have you ever wondered where this number came from?  Well here's the answer, "Walking 10,000 steps per day for health and weight loss was popularized originally in Japan. Pedometer researcher Dr. Catrine Tudor-Locke says the original figure was not based on medical research. Several researchers have been playing catch-up on this, including Tudor-Locke. Research studies show it isn't a magic number, but it is a good indicator of how much activity a person is achieving in a day." (http://walking.about.com/od/measure/f/10000steps.htm)

What happens when some of those steps are backwards?  Have you ever had a bad day or a bad week?  Sure we all have.  You know that saying 1 step forward, 2 steps back?  That's kind of how I've felt lately.  I've had a couple of really good days in the gym, however I've not been as disciplined with my nutrition.  I'm not going to let that stop me from continuing to take steps, or even leaps for that matter.

Now obviously I was not being literal in the previous statement of "what happens when some of those steps are backward?".  My point is simply, that you will have bad days, and weeks.  Sometimes, you'll even have a bad month.  But you don't give up and stop moving forward just because of that.  In fact, when I realize that I am taking steps backwards, I try to look at what's going on in my life.  Whether that means that I look internally or externally, I look.  Sometimes this can be a hard thing to do.  However, once I am able to sit back and take inventory of what is going on and how I am dealing with said situation, I can change my reaction to it.  By doing this, I'm able to get myself focused and back on track.

Once back on track, you will find, as I have, that the reward is (usually) great.  My reward, for example, is that just this morning I was able to put on, zip, button, and still be comfortable in, SIZE 12 jeans!  I haven't seen this size in 10+ years.  Talk about your rewards!

So even if you find yourself stepping backwards, while working towards your 10,000, remember you're still working, and you're still on a journey.  It never ends.

Celebrate the Milestones

We all have goals that we'd like to reach.  Whether it's getting to a certain weight, fitting into a piece of clothing, dropping to a certain size, or maybe it's much more then that.  Maybe your goal is a lower cholesterol, blood pressure, or blood sugar.  Or it's simply (or not so simply) being able to play with a child or grandchild without getting winded, or taking a stroll without being in pain.  Whatever the goal, it is important to have it.  And once you've reached said goal(s) celebrate them and celebrate the milestones you have along the way to reaching your goal(s).

Milestones, no matter how big or small, are what keep us going, that and the encouragement we get from our loved ones.  However, if you don't celebrate that milestone, you won't get the "way to go" or "awesome job", and believe me, you need those.

I weigh and measure myself every Monday morning.  This week, I hit a  milestone on the path to reaching my weight goal.  And I even teared up when I did.  In the previous post, I stated that I was 208 pounds at the first of the year, yesterday was March 17, and I weighed in at 188.  Not only is this a 20 pound milestone, but I have reached another milestone of saying goodbye to the 190's, hoping to never see them again!

In a couple of weeks I will be celebrating another milestone.  On April 11th I will be (hopefully) running a 5k.  While this will not be my first one, this will be the first one where I feel like I might be able to run the whole thing.  I "ran", sort of, a 5k last June but I thought I was going to die.  I was overweight and not at all healthy.  And truth be told, I ended up walking way more than half of it.  My goal is to someday run a marathon.  

There is a difference between a milestone and a goal.  We must have a goal to strive towards, but we have step back and be able to appreciate the milestones that we accomplish in order to reach that goal.  Milestones are what give us confidence, and make us feel like the goal is not so out of reach.  So celebrate the milestones and encourage each other.  It's okay to brag, you've earned it!

The why...

For each person the "why" will be different and it will change for each individual as his or her journey continues.  Finding the why is really the first step to deciding to change and sticking with that change.  If you don't have a why then what is the reason you have for changing?

For me personally my journey initially began towards the end of June in 2009.  We were waiting for my mom, and I was faced with the fact that cardiac issues seemed to run in my mothers side of the family

You see, my grandfather (mom's dad) suffered cardiac issues while on vacation in Hawaii, and passed  away.  My uncle (mom's brother) has cardiac issues.  This is my destiny, but it doesn't have to be.

That is my original why, and is always in my "why" thinking.  However, my why has changed over the past few years.  I've graduated from college, and had a child, these along with some other changes in my life have caused me to take my journey more seriously.

I decided that in January I was making this change permanent.  And I started (this time) at 208 pounds, as of today, I am 190.2 pounds.

I have become inspired by people who are inspired by me, and this is now also my why.  So I started this blog.  I hope that you enjoy it, and I hope that you participate.  I love to learn, so if you have questions please ask, and if I don't know, I will find out.