What's So Funny?

Reliving My Glory Days!!

Admittedly, I've fallen out of a lot of the reality television hype and it's all due to my decision to become more active and fit. I started out gradually with walking. I walked quite a bit in my late 20s, early 30s after my kids were born and I loved it. I walk fast anyway so adding distance was the challenge and finding time between running kids around and getting my chores done while working full-time added to the challenge. I took advantage of my commute into Chicago and started getting off the train further and further from my normal stop. I am now up to 3.7 miles five days a week and feeling good.

As my endurance started to build up, I started to feel restless when I was at home. I also noticed that the more fit I became the less "tired" I was. I started waking up on my own at 4:30/5:00 a.m. most mornings. I was trying to think of what I could do on the weekend in those early morning hours other than sit and drink coffee and read. I remembered in my early 20s I loved to bike. We would go on 200 mile bike runs two weekends a month. I borrowed my daughter's bike early one Saturday morning and set out. I have to confess that my rear end was pretty sore from the seat and I wondered if my still too big caboose was going to be able to hack it. I decided it was worth a try since I had such a great time the first day. Well it took a couple of blocks for me to warm up enough to get past the initial discomfort. I only went a few miles, but they were enjoyable miles. When I brought my iPod on there was no stopping me. I eventually joined a biking group who meet up on weekends to ride new trails.

This past winter I had a few months left to get bikini ready for our trip to Hawaii so I signed up for the new gym that opened by my train station. I couldn't walk outside anymore so I thought I would give the treadmill a chance as well as use some of the free weights. I met a lot of new people with the same goals, problems and interests as me who gave me some great tips. I went to Hawaii feeling more confident than I had in years. Don't get me wrong, I still need to lose about 50-60 pounds, but I have the energy and momentum.

My most recent fitness discovery came while watching the Olympic trials. I was a swimmer from the ages of 10 to 17 and I always look forward to the summer olympics because I love watching the sport. I've been trying to talk my younger daughter into trying out for the swim team because she's such a fish so I thought watching this with her might give her that little bit of a nudge she needed to try. She finally caved in and gave me the green light. When I was calling around our area for swim clubs for her, I ran across an old coaching assistant from my glory days in the pool. He told me they have a "seniors" swim team for ages 27-70 and asked if I would be interested. WOULD I?!! You bet I would. So now I'm officially signed up for a swim team. I'm so totally stoked because I love the water and I love to swim and I'm hoping this will be the catalyst that my 42 year old butt needs to knock down this pre-menopausal wall I've hit with respect to weight loss. The good news is I'm maintaining the weight I'm at even though I not only fell off the wagon, but was dragging behind it for quite a few miles over the 4th of July weekend.

So, if you're sitting out there reminiscing about your glory days or if you're worried that you missed the boat to your glory days, I am here to tell you it's not too late! If you want any further information about adult swim clubs, bike clubs, or walking/fitness clubs, don't hesitate to ask.

1. Comment by Irishtxgrl, Jul 16 2008, 08:50 PM

   You sound like you are on the right track! I am walking everywhere right now due to having my car repaired. I am feeling much better energy wise for sure.

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