Day One! The FULL Report

[susandennis]

Jerome rocks.

I was early and he was ready.  10 points. 

He's 50 years old, hates vegetables and fruit and fish and love meat and chocolate.  We sat in a little office and talked plenty about what I wanted and why I was there and what I expected.  I told him I was open to everything right now but if he made a suggestion I didn't like, I'd tell him and I would look to him to tell me to shut up and do it anyway.  I think we're cool.

He told me he wanted me to come in 5 days a week and I told him that I wanted to come in 7 days a week.  I don't want to get into a habit of skipping days.  He was fine with that.  He said it would take 3 weeks to make it a habit and probably I'd see results in 6 weeks and more in 6 months and then I'd likely plateau and it would get harder.  I was glad to get that kind of info.

Then he took me to the treadmill and showed me how to work it.  He told me to do 10 minutes or until my back started hurting whichever comes first.  Tomorrow and Sunday and then Monday he and I get together again to add in some exercises and maybe other stuff. 

And then he told me that before anything else, I need get shoes.  He sent me to a shop not even that far from here.  So I came home and checked the address.  It's 10 blocks from here but there's a way to get there bypassing hills so I decided to walk.  And I did.

It's a serious running shoe shop.  They do not see the likes of me too often.  I went up to the counter and showed 'em my Crocs and told them that is all I have worn for 5 years and I need shoes to work out in and I haven't worked out in ... well never. 

They were great!!  They sat me down and looked at my feet and asked me questions and then brought out a pair of shoes and made me put them on and walk in them and then the guy (they are husband and wife  shop owners) took me outside and made me walk to the end of the block and back while he watched.  And then he declared victory.  They talked to me at length about getting used to wearing them and what to expect, etc.  I explained where I was going and asked if I could walk home.  They talked amongst themselves and decided that, yes, I could... if I go slowly AND stop if they got to be too much and put my crocs back on to finish the trip. 

The I asked about socks and they sold me a pair of wicking socks that are WONDERFUL.  He wanted me to buy one pair and come back and get more if I liked them.  I loved them and demanded two pair.

They were so fun.  The wife could not really get her arms around someone who never left the house on purpose and by choice.  I think she'll be scratching her head for days.

And then I walked home. The shoes are really heavy and that was strange but the socks are so great.  I did make it nearly all the way home.  About three blocks short, I stopped to get a sub sandwich to take home and I switched back to crocs then. 

I'm proud of day one.  Tomorrow will be.  Day Two.

Comments

[pisceandreamer.livejournal.com]

Awesome!! I can't wait to hear how tomorrow goes.

A good sports shoe shop is a fantastic thing to have - the local one I go to is just fantastic. More expensive than Lady Foot Locker or something like that, but I know I'll get shoes that work for me.

I have just had a hell of a time getting back into my workouts since Christmas. The dog & I had gotten out 3 days in a row for some good walks and then the weather turned to shit today and needless to say, I've not ventured out.

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

Go you! (We're proud too.)

[vasilatos]

Oh YAY!!!!!

[treebreeze.livejournal.com]

Your enthusiasm is great...continued best of luck with this adventure!

[seattlejo.livejournal.com]

You know you are my hero! You are so fantastic in figuring out what you need to do and just doing it. If it doesnt work fo you you just kick it to the side. No whining no angsting just decisive control over your personal destiny.

[susandennis]

Wow. I'm really flattered. It's the upside of old age. It really is. I've made all the mistakes. I've whined and wallowed and angsted with the best of them. I spent years and years hoping no one would find out what a fraud I was. My 50th birthday was a huge watershed for me. I woke up and all of a sudden, I no longer gave a shit.

On the health history form today was a question about weight gain - how much over how many years. That was a piece of cake (ha! there's an inappropriate phrase...). I was on a diet from the age of 14 until the age of 50. The day I turned 50, I quit. I was about 130 lbs that day. I'm probably 250 now.

I just no longer have the patience for stressing about most stuff and the stuff that does worry me now? I write about it in LJ and, honestly? that pretty much takes care of it.

I am excited about this new project. I like that I have such a tangible goal and that so many people who know seem to think it's doable. I'm a very lucky and very grateful.

[teasdale.livejournal.com]

I love how you always seem to meet the nicest people on your adventures. You may say you are mostly an old cranky broad, but I'll bet your humor, honesty and personality brings out the nice. :)

I'm impressed that you've begun this program. I'm looking forward to hearing about your progress. I've even been thinking about doing a daily walk thing once the weather warms up. I know I'm spending way too much time sitting or sleeping!!!

[nanne.livejournal.com]

Yay!

Which is also an incentive for me to get back to some kind of exercise. If I want to fit back into my suit. Which I'll need to for interviews.