This is just a quick side note to the use of the stationary bike in the gym.

It takes me just over 20 minutes to walk a mile on the treadmill at a reasonable pace. I can walk two miles now in over 40 minutes.

Today I was on the bike for about 10 minutes and I biked two miles in that time. So, if it take five minutes per mile, then in the same 40 minutes I could bike 8 miles – YIKES!!!

I think I will start at two miles in 10 minutes.

I will climb the mountain, one mile at a time!

One thing I can say about being a plus size person over the years, was that I had a lof of clothes. When I found something that I like and it looked good on me, I would buy it in every colour that they made the item in.

Until now…..

Back at the start of the year, I tried on everything in my closet and finally decided to get rid of everything that no longer fit me. That was practically everything. Old mother Hubbard, went to her cupboard, and her cupboard was bare – that is now my cupboard, and my drawers.

I am not complaining about becoming a smaller, better me, but at the same time, it is a struggle emotionally. To try on clothes, and see the person you were at one time and now the person that you are (are becoming) it very emotional.

This past weekend I had Edna take a picture of me wearing a jacket that used to fit me. I haven’t worn it in a LONG time, but yes, I used to wear this jacket.

I am looking forward to shopping, but with trepidation. I tried to buy a new pair of jeans about a month ago and it was a very stressful experience. After trying on 12 pairs of jeans, two meltdowns (one with tears) in the dressing room, I left the store, unsuccessful. So, I decided not to buy anything new until spring…..

So, with this new season, comes new clothes to hang in my empty closet!

Over the winter break my brother rented ice at the York U arena, and arranged for a family skate after a hockey game with his friends. My niece Zoe called and asked if I would come and watch her, which of course I did. Little did I know that day that I would have an Oprah “ah ha” moment that would really change my life.

We went for dinner upstairs at the Ice rink and of course it was pub food – wings, pizza, chicken fingers etc…all of the things I was starting to avoid in my quest for healthier food options. While I was eating my salad option, everyone around me was eating the chicken wings, pizza, chicken fingers. I survived, and as I am finding out through this journey, it is a huge mountain to climb.

Sitting across from me that day was my brothers two friends, both of whom are personal trainers and very physically fit. It wasn’t until I got home that night and was thinking about the time we spent together that it hit me – like a “V-8” moment – THEY CAN HELP ME!!!

So, I sent Adam a message and he told me that it he would have Shoshana call me the next day. And she did. And on January 4th we met, to discuss my needs, my objectives, what I need/want/have to have in my life. On January 11th we started in the gym at my condo.

And what has transpired in the process has been amazing. I expressed my fears about personal trainers pushing my friends so hard that they cried, and I told her that wouldn’t work for me. And she has pushed, but has not made my cry!

It has been 10 weeks now since I started, and it is really amazing. Being active has become a part of my life. I have accomplished so much already, and even though there is so much more to do, I can say that I am building success each time I try something new or reach a new milestone.

– I can now walk over 2 miles on the treadmill.
– I have tried the elipitcal machine, which looked so scary and daunting when I would see people on it, but now I have tried it and it is not so scary and daunting.
– today I tried the bicycle. Not the one that you sit in the ‘chair’ and peddle, but the banana seat kind, the one that looks like a bike, but not. I was apprehensive and a nervous, but again, not so scary and not so daunting. And when Shoshana told me, “now…peddle as hard as you can for 30 seconds”, my first thought was, “is she crazy, I am going to have a heart attack”, but no, I didn’t and it felt great. I will be doing that again.

When Shoshana comes to meet me, I have already been on the treadmill for about 20 minutes. Today she came in with punching gloves, and I said to her, “are you going all Gillian Michaels on me today” and YEP, she did. I actually did target boxing today. It was GREAT. Once I got used to it, she told me “punch has hard and as fast as you can” and I did that for 1 minute. It felt so good.

Social networking is a very public environment. You can choose to share and let people in as much or as little as you want. I am happy to share my accomplishments on facebook and on here. Many people have told me that I inspire them. That is such a compliment, and that is HUGE for someone like me, who in 10 short weeks has discovered how much I can do, and how much more I have in me!

Thanks to all of you who comment, and cheer me on, you have no idea how much that helps me keep doing what I am doing. What I need to be doing.