Friday, February 12, 2010

Did I Really Say I Was in Decent Shape?

The plan was to step up my training this week. Normally, I walk 2 miles at a pace of a 3.7 - 4.0 miles per hour. Then I do some strength training and maybe a few laps in the pool. But, I need to start increasing the walking distance and aim for a pace of about 3 miles per hour. Times I've been to the gym this week? Big. Fat. Zero.

Instead of going to the gym, I have been researching fundraising ideas. Since, I'm already booked for a Pampered Chef party, I called my consultant, and we are going to make my party a fundraiser. If you are interested in some great cookware or gadgets (I love the crinkle cutter!), click Here
for my Pampered Chef party page. Or stop by on Feb. 28th. My proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

I actually have a pretty good excuse for not working out. It's not that I'm too busy with fundraising - it's snow. Last Saturday, we got pummeled with 28 and 1/2 inches. Then on Wednesday, another 18 inches. Now, I'm no math genius, but that's almost 4 feet of snow! It's been kind of hard to get around the city. And that's not mentioning the injuries.

Right, the injuries. Somehow, I managed to throw my back out. Not from shoveling snow, of course. I threw my back out just getting out of bed Thursday morning. Now, I know it probably is from all the shoveling. That snow is heavy. I really have a long way to go in the upper body strength department.

As long as there's no snow, it's back to the gym I go.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

My Amazing 3 Day for the Cure Journey

I’m calling my first blog post for my 3-day web page, ‘The Amazing Journey Begins’. Honestly, I’m not crazy about the title. It kind of sounds a little like reality TV to me. Now, I am not dissing anybody who likes these shows. If you are an American Idol or Survivor or The Bachelor or Amazing Race or even Jersey Shore fan, I completely get it. As much as I loathe admitting it, reality TV is a hoot. Where I personally draw the line, though, is the lack of creative vocabulary from the contestants. They all say the same thing… “It’s been such an “amazing journey.” Really? These are the words used to describe acting and dressing like a skank and throwing yourself at some random bachelor or even worse, Bret Michaels?

That being said, I’m sticking with the title, because this does feel like the start of an amazing journey. I’ve never done anything like this before. So, how did I come to the decision to walk 60 miles? I knew I wanted to take on a challenge. First off, I’m in decent shape for the first time in a long time. I’m at the gym several times a week, and once spring comes, I plan to start training specifically for the event. Secondly, losing over a hundred pounds has boosted my self-confidence big time. I’m a little nervous about trying to raise $2300. But in years past, I would have never even attempted to fundraise, not to mention that I couldn’t physically walk 2 miles, much less 60. Thirdly, I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. As corny as this may sound, I wanted to give something back. I requested a brochure on the 3 Day for the Cure, and after dragging my friend, Helen to the getting started meeting, I signed on.

Since then, I’ve sent out a ton of e-mail, snail mail, and Facebook messages. I’m so grateful for the support of my family and friends. I’ve even reconnected with a few friends from my old writing group (I’ll be rejoining the group this Saturday), and some friends who I haven’t seen since high school. Thanks so much for your pledges, donations and encouragement! So far – it’s been amazing, and my journey is just beginning!

And Bret Michaels? Nowhere in sight.