I just began my last semester at Southwest today, and was reflecting on the path my life has taken, and the path to come. It seems to me that I have always had one foot in one world and one in another.
For example, I have one foot at Southwest, and one at the next school. I have one foot in my hometown, and one here in Memphis. I have one in friendships here and one in friendships of the past. It can be so confusing, and knowing that I have a new path to follow soon does not make it any easier. I have always been the kind of person who moves on easily from one place to another, so why am I now having trouble imagining life after Memphis?
Interesting. It's not like me at all. I am usually very committed to whatever direction I know to be right, but there are some people that I will miss when I leave here. It makes me wonder if I have been mired here too long to do anything else, but at the same time, there are others who are making the same choices that I am now faced with, and they seem to be doing fine. Am I being too cautious, or just trying not to make the same mistake twice? I know that in order to progress, I have to move away. I had to move away from Chicago in order to progress on my life's path, and soon it will be time to move again. I have so much on my mind, and I guess I just want to be sure I'm making the right decision.
Today I was reminded of northern winters when Memphis was hit with a cold front, and the windchill reminded me of the winters I grew up knowing. I miss the north, of that there is no doubt. I miss winters where you can count on having snow all winter long, and that nice period of rest that comes with it. Everything slows down there, and it must if people are going to be safe getting where they are going. People take their time, a lesson that Memphis still has to learn. With harsh winters comes the anticipation of spring and summer. I loved summers up north because of the hard winters we had to endure. I came here and found that I could sweat in places that I never knew existed. I will NOT miss that. I will also not miss those huge flying roaches that the locals call "palmetto bugs", or the jumping spiders. Those things are just nasty. I will not miss the fleas that the mild winters do not kill off. Nor will I miss the horrible work ethic that is so pervasive here. I want to live where work is appreciated. I have not seen that here.
I know that I was sent here to learn life lessons, and believe me, I have more than my share of A's for these lessons. I'm SO done with all of this. Patience is my last and most important lesson. Graduation for my AS is in May. Be patient, you'll get there. BSN is in 2 more years. Be patient, you'll get there. Moving is at least 2 more years. Be very patient, and you'll get there! Patience was never my strong suit. But then again, I'm moving from one world to another. Again.
Nazdrowie'
Paczki Puta
Showing posts with label changes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label changes. Show all posts
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Monday, October 26, 2009
Chasing the Iron Bunny
For those of you who are following my health and weight loss journey, I have encouraging news. First of all, I was completely cleared by my pulmonologist when my CT scan came up clear. He saw and heard no trace of the infection that has plagued me for so long. That said, I went on a fitness program that I designed from my training knowledge of days gone by.
I first started this journey on October 5 of last year. I had plugged all my numbers in (as ugly as they were) and then had a setback when I was told that my father had passed a couple of weeks later. So now that the setback is over, and after getting off the meds for the lung disease, I am back on track. So let me post what I've done so far.
Starting scale weight was 231 (Ugh) and starting bodyfat % was 44.75%. Lean weight was 127.32 and bodyfat was 103.68.
Today... scale weight was 219 (still ugh) with bodyfat % of 33.93%. Lean weight is 144.69 and bodyfat is 74.31.
The tale of the tape is also encouraging. Waist measurement is down 2 inches since starting last year, with most of that loss coming in the last 11 days since adding intense cardio and core workouts in with weight training. Waist to hip ratio is still not where it needs to be, so there is a lot more work to be done.
Things I've noticed: My energy is coming back. I sleep better most nights. I can breathe better. I can focus my mind better. I get more done around the house and in my life. I can walk better. I still feel like I'm dragging my left leg some days (the leg that had the clot in it), but I push through it and then rest it. I no longer JUST push through. I know that rest is an integral part of my well-being and don't intend to be without it ever again.
Changes I've made:
1. Detoxifying my environment. It's ongoing and it's hard. But I feel it is something worth doing. You have no idea how many foods are packaged using plastics, which are dreadful for the body and the environment.
2. Challenging everything that goes into my mouth. That is also difficult, especially when others in the household are having everything from tortilla chips and cheese dip to ice cream. It's okay. You keep eating that. I'm not.
3. Preparing foods from scratch. I do that a lot more now. I've stopped eating out for the most part, making that the exception instead of the rule.
4. I get active every day. I feel like I'm slacking off when I'm not active. I used to be able to climb a rope to the top of a gymnasium and back down. I used to be on the gymnastics team. I may not be able to do those things again, but I'm gonna get close. REAL close.
5. I take much better care of my grooming now. Sounds silly to most of you, but when you're not feeling well, it reflects in your grooming and when your grooming is bad, you feel worse. It's a vicious cycle and I've stopped it.
6. I take pictures of myself much more often. I want to see this journey in pictures. My body has a story to tell.
7. I don't let anything keep me from my workouts now... not even procrastinating like I'm doing right this minute. Don't worry... I'll be in the gym within the next half hour or so and spend 2 hours workin' it.
8. I open up to other people a little more. I'm still very introspective, but am trying to change that.
I know there are more, but for the sake of the workout I'm trying to ignore, I'll leave them for another time. I've got my music picked out for the gym today, and I've got to get out there. It's not gonna happen by itself.
Nazdrowie'
Paczki Puta
I first started this journey on October 5 of last year. I had plugged all my numbers in (as ugly as they were) and then had a setback when I was told that my father had passed a couple of weeks later. So now that the setback is over, and after getting off the meds for the lung disease, I am back on track. So let me post what I've done so far.
Starting scale weight was 231 (Ugh) and starting bodyfat % was 44.75%. Lean weight was 127.32 and bodyfat was 103.68.
Today... scale weight was 219 (still ugh) with bodyfat % of 33.93%. Lean weight is 144.69 and bodyfat is 74.31.
The tale of the tape is also encouraging. Waist measurement is down 2 inches since starting last year, with most of that loss coming in the last 11 days since adding intense cardio and core workouts in with weight training. Waist to hip ratio is still not where it needs to be, so there is a lot more work to be done.
Things I've noticed: My energy is coming back. I sleep better most nights. I can breathe better. I can focus my mind better. I get more done around the house and in my life. I can walk better. I still feel like I'm dragging my left leg some days (the leg that had the clot in it), but I push through it and then rest it. I no longer JUST push through. I know that rest is an integral part of my well-being and don't intend to be without it ever again.
Changes I've made:
1. Detoxifying my environment. It's ongoing and it's hard. But I feel it is something worth doing. You have no idea how many foods are packaged using plastics, which are dreadful for the body and the environment.
2. Challenging everything that goes into my mouth. That is also difficult, especially when others in the household are having everything from tortilla chips and cheese dip to ice cream. It's okay. You keep eating that. I'm not.
3. Preparing foods from scratch. I do that a lot more now. I've stopped eating out for the most part, making that the exception instead of the rule.
4. I get active every day. I feel like I'm slacking off when I'm not active. I used to be able to climb a rope to the top of a gymnasium and back down. I used to be on the gymnastics team. I may not be able to do those things again, but I'm gonna get close. REAL close.
5. I take much better care of my grooming now. Sounds silly to most of you, but when you're not feeling well, it reflects in your grooming and when your grooming is bad, you feel worse. It's a vicious cycle and I've stopped it.
6. I take pictures of myself much more often. I want to see this journey in pictures. My body has a story to tell.
7. I don't let anything keep me from my workouts now... not even procrastinating like I'm doing right this minute. Don't worry... I'll be in the gym within the next half hour or so and spend 2 hours workin' it.
8. I open up to other people a little more. I'm still very introspective, but am trying to change that.
I know there are more, but for the sake of the workout I'm trying to ignore, I'll leave them for another time. I've got my music picked out for the gym today, and I've got to get out there. It's not gonna happen by itself.
Nazdrowie'
Paczki Puta
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