Monday, June 12, 2006 by Michelle
When I started working out a year ago, I decided there was no way I was going to allow the scale to dictate my progress, or my mood for that matter. It has had too much power in my past attempts at weight loss and I wanted this to be about fitness not weight. I already knew I was extremely overweight and I even knew approximately how much I weighed; I certainly didn’t need to be hit in the head with a clue-by-four to realize I was in need of exercise! Trying to dash down a couple of blocks last year proved that to me without a doubt; I thought I was going to die of a heart attack! And without the relentless feedback of the scale, I have done amazing things for my health and my body and have been able to feel good about it. The wretched beast called “I’m giving up because there’s no point if the scale isn’t going down fast enough” just didn’t exist, and I’m all the better for it.
Now that even my new clothing no longer fits me properly (this has been an expensive endeavour, let me tell you!), I had become curious as to what my weight was. Fitness books talk about BMI and how many calories a day you need, etc. and I just didn’t have a clue what I weighed. So I finally succumbed to stepping on the scale to find out what it had to say. This time, I knew I was in control and what it had to say wasn’t as important to me any longer. So without fanfare, I sneaked a peek last Friday. The result: even with the gain in muscle (much heavier than fat, that), there is 35 pounds of me that will not be a part of me again; it has been forever set free from the confines of my body. Holy shit is what I have to say about that! And I’ve gained a decent amount of muscle, so a whole lot more than 35 pounds of fat has disappeared.
So what have I learned this past year? Aside from escaping from 35 pounds of excess weight, I’ve learned to enjoy exercising and have embraced a healthier lifestyle. I’ve learned it’s true about what “they” say about exercise and nasty periods; it helps considerably to move my body when I’m feeling crampy and unwell. I’ve learned I’m capable and that it isn't too late to get fit. Believe it or not, I’ve even learned that running is quite enjoyable. I’ve learned that having muscle I can see and feel is absolutely delightful. And most of all, I’ve learned to honour my body.
Chris, on the other hand, is still wondering what the hell happened to his wife!
Posted in Uncategorized
Thursday, June 8, 2006 by Michelle
Today was quite the "red letter day" for me. I started jogging early in the morning before work on Tuesday and Thursdays a few months back; this is in addition to my Sunday jog and my near-death-experience workout on Fridays. For those of you who know me well, you know that my getting out of bed by 6:30 a.m. is nothing short of a miracle!
Anyway, it has been frustrating jogging around that track lately; I've only been able to occasionally jog three to three-and-a-half laps before needing a rest walk, sometimes only two laps on a bad day. I do a total of six laps (1.5 miles; 2.4 km I understand - correction: according to Google Earth the track is much longer than usual, so it's more like 3.6 km), but that's usually with jogging, walking and a bit of running if I can muster it. Today I started slow and in fact it wasn't even my best time... but I did six laps without stopping! I even felt like I could keep going for a while longer, but didn't want to be late for work so didn't continue. To say that I was in an annoyingly good mood today is using understatement.
What's next, you may or may not ask? I'm going to add two laps on Sundays because it takes me 25-30 minutes to do the track now and it's time to make that a bit longer. That being said, I'm decidedly not looking forward to Sunday now. Let the gasping for breath begin!
Posted in Uncategorized
Sunday, June 4, 2006 by Michelle
On Saturday, we (mom, husband, friend and I) went to the Surrey Arts Centre to check out the Quilt of Belonging (see their website here). It's phenomenal - very inspiring and amazing. Definitely worth the trek to 88th & the King George Highway, at least for those who live in the area and who appreciate textile art. The symbolism is fabulous and there are two books (one brief and one exhaustive) regarding the quilt.
Posted in Uncategorized
Monday, May 22, 2006 by Michelle
Recently, Commercial Drive was "fixed up" - roads were ripped up and repaved; sidewalks likewise; old trees were removed and new ones planted; etc. I was thrilled to see that a bit of money was being spent in my neighbourhood on fixing things up a bit. The sidewalks in particular were serious barriers to mobility for many people because they were so broken and uneven. I never saw enough into the future to understand that all this fixing up would also have a very negative impact on our wonderful, pedestrian-oriented neighbourhood though.
Looking North up The Drive from Broadway, the road looks like a major thoroughfare now and drivers are treating it as such. It no longer feels pedestrian-friendly (and, I assume, no longer bicycle-, skateboard-, rollerblade-, stroller-, wheelchair-or scooter-friendly either). It doesn't feel safe to cross the street with the kind of carefree ease and "to hell with vehicles" attitude we love so much about The Drive. Cars now whiz by at higher speeds and to hell with pedestrians. Having community road-hockey games and street festivals will only marginally help keep some drivers aware that pedestrians abound here, but the day-to-day reality is that Commercial Drive now feels like any other automobile-dominated area. That's sad.
Where are the rumble-strips and speed bumps when you need them?
Posted in Uncategorized