Bring Wealth to Your Health

Along my journey, I've met some pretty amazing people online. We are all traveling along different paths, but heading in the same direction. Some of us move faster along the path than others--yet, the most important, and amazing, part is that we are encouraging each other along the way.

A lot of my focus, so far, on this journey to health has been about weight loss. It is important, of course, and I want to continue to lose weight. However, I always need to remind myself that there are a lot of other factors that are just as important when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. It is important to find ways to relieve stress (I'm starting a yoga class this week). A good night's sleep, every night, is great for your health (and weight loss goals). Exercise (cardio and strength training) brings so much wealth to your health: it's good for your heart, good for your lungs, good for your muscles, I could go on and on. Don't be a smoker. Choose fresh foods over fast foods. The list can go on and on.

But, back to the amazing people I've met so far along this journey. One of them is someone we call Julie Rabbit. I've copied something she wrote on a bulletin board on www.sparkpeople.com and pasted it here.

Warm up was great. Starting line, I stood way in the back, behind the 4:30 pace bunny. The race started and went really well for the first half, about 2:10. At about 27km my hips really started to hurt and I started a walk/run. As it went I began to do my walking then running LOL.

At about 35km I just wanted to get it done so I started running more. I managed to finish in 4:45.

I had friends and family all along the course and the volunteers were amazing. Even with pain and missing my goal I had a great time.

It was also really great to know that my body is capable of this again and that my hip pain and missed time were from lack of training not from my cancer.

I am proud to say that I am a 1 year remission, 1 lunged, 4:45 marathoner

Looking forward to a little break and concentrating on my diet.

She has inspired me to move forward. Lately, I've been floundering in the healthy choices department. I'm still doing so much better at making the healthier choice, but I am slacking a lot.

I'm ready to keep moving forward. I don't like how I feel right now, staying in one place, it's like treading water, than floating, than treading water. I'm not getting anywhere this way.