With backstory

Twitter only allows 140 character. I find it's an easy place to register a quick observation or reaction. I decided I'd periodically collect my tweets that relate to the topic of this blog and share them here, together with any elaboration that seems pertinent. Last night I made the following tweet (which, by-the-by, did keep food out of my mouth.)

Tweet: Grandbabies wore me out. House is a mess. Tempted to eat. I'm going to bed, straight to bed. Do not stuff face. Do not collect 200 calories

Backstory: Daughter volunteered at a fund raiser and I got to watch my almost 3 year old grandson and just 1 year old granddaughter for several very long hours yesterday evening. Everyone was tired and had their best qualities stashed securly away. Hubby still recovering from surgery was of limited help. Grandson had his usual runny poop "accident." (so gross I have to shower after cleaning him up!) Granddaughter was her usual spirited self. How spirited? Suffice it to say, my husband has nick-named her Osama.

Tweet: Felt SO good to exercise I'm going to do it again - 2 days in a row! Maybe I can turn it into a healthy addiction! ? (2 days ago)

Backstory: I decided to clock milage to determine where to park that was at least 1/2 miles from Curves. Turns out it's a Safeway parking lot. I can park, walk to Curves and work-out, then walk back. This allows a full mile of walking AND I can pick up things I may need from the grocery store. Parking at a food store is not an issue. I have consciously decided not to worry about food yet. I'm just integrating exercise into my life. Happily, I'm finding it is effecting food choice. I just don't like how some foods and how too much food makes me feel. Also, while the addiction reference was a joke (not really), I appreciate I have issues with finding a sustainable balance.

About addiction, that is, being unbalanced, I got a lesson from Gil. Gil is my hyper Pathways to Health partner, the guy I had to call to check on progress. His plan was to exercise every day doing one of a myriad of classes he attends: thi chi, yoga, sufi dance . . . I don't remember what all he mentioned. He rather arrogantly said his confidence level on a scale of 1 to 10 was "10." "It's stuff I do all the time, it's what I do anyway, so I'll have no problem doing this." Ha! I called and he immediately started laying track, building a cross continental express line of excueses for why he would not do even 1 day of exercise this week. As a supportive partner I said, "I think there may be a lesson in this for you Gil." Perhaps cutting yourself some slack, aiming for more modest achievements and not holding yourself to such high standards will ultimately improved both your rate of success and the qualilty of your life. (Duh!)

I then proceeded to apply that very lesson to myself as I explained (reinforced) my success for the week. Taking to heart the Pathways to Health recommendation of being realistic in one's goal setting, my plan was to add one mile of walking to my exercise routine. In two days I had already walked three miles. I told him about the steep road that climbs the hill across from my house. It's a vigerous workout. I did not walk that hill. Walking to the top and back is about a mile and a half but I find I must stop at least twice, my heart really gets to beating and I gasp for air - something that never happens at Curves or on flatland walks. When I stopped going to Curves back when, it was because I was going to get fit by walking this steep hill - a real workout. I did do it a few times, but IT WAS HARD and I found I took every excuse to avoid it until I was doing nothing at all. This time I did not try to incorporate this challenge. I decided I'd look for something that I could actually (even easily) do. The flatland walks are pleasant and I can feel the difference they make. My plan is to keep this up. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give my chances of success at least a 7.