One of the recommendations while going through the process for weight loss surgery is to exercise. Now I’m not a natural athlete. Honestly, I’m quite lazy and do not like to work out. I don’t like to sweat, get red faced or out of breathe. Most importantly, I do not like to have sore aching muscles.
With that having been said, I have loved walking. When lock down first happened I was somewhat elated as the gym’s were closed. I did feel guilty because I had committed to doing some kind of exercise after surgery. In April I started walking through the parking garage of my apartment building. At first I walked from the 2nd floor to the roof and back. Slowly I added started adding floors and even going to the roof twice. But that wasn’t enough. You see, the more I walked, the more I wanted to walk.
I read a local article about some property in Memorial park that had recently opened with donations from many prominent families and foundations in the Houston area. It is called Clay Family Eastern Glades. I convinced a friend to go walking together and that slowly became a regular thing.
In summer sun rises super early so getting out there at 6 was great. On weekends we do 6:30am and typically walk an hour. July I did 11 walks (we started around mid July). August I doubled the number of walks and the time and distance. September I was doing great, but thanks to a little Hurricane I was sidelined for a week. 1 week turned into 3, which means I finally went back to exercising recently.
I decided I would do the elliptical and treadmill in the building gym and on weekends I would do the Eastern Glades route. Friday I did 25 mins elliptical and 30 mins treadmill. Saturday I did just at an hour in the park (2.88 miles) and Sunday about 1:10 (3.44 miles).
In September I signed up for a virtual walk. at first I was going to do the 5k, but they said one can split the 10k over various walks. So, I did my 10k Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday I was crazy proud of myself and decided I need to keep going. I ended up signing up for the Hadrians Wall Challenge. This is 90 miles over whatever period I decide. I chose 12 weeks, which means 7.5 miles a week. I’m hoping to complete this in 8 weeks if I do around 12 miles a week.
I’m quite excited to be doing this. I honestly never thought I would/could do challenges like this. I mean honestly, I don’t like to sweat, I don’t like to just walk and I absolutely don’t like my body to hurt. BUT, I have found out, I quite like feeling that I have accomplished something. Yes, I ache, yes I sweat and yes I walk aimlessly. But it is all OK. I’m feeling better. I feel that I have something I can do a few days a week and the results are great. I’m hoping that one day I’ll be able to wear short skirts and have nice toned legs. I’m hoping, but at least I have something I’m hoping for.
HeidiHTX 
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