Steps

I have had more than a few pebbles on my journey. Some have felt like boulders. You just have to keep on moving on. Climbing the mountain, one step at a time. Tomorrow my work schedule starts again. I have to be intentional about getting my miles in as well as my strength training. I have enjoyed these last few weeks of being able to go to the gym in the morning and spend as much time as I want. The gym has truly turned into a refuge for me. A place where I feel confident and really good about myself. As I set new challenges for myself, I have a great time trying to accomplish them. I've been really successful this summer. I also realize that those of you who are not educators and don't have the luxury of a few weeks off in the summer, deal with this challenge year round. I am grateful for the luxury I have had. As I look at my schedule this first week back and realize I already have three nights when I am not home, it makes me cognizant of the fact that I have to be extremely intentional to stay on track. I can't allow myself to slip. I've come too far. I have had to lay the goal of a one minute plank aside for a while. Two words: shoulder pain. Even after pain pills and muscle relaxers last night, I didn't sleep. Today it is better. I have been seeing my chiropractor who now has a rehabilitation specialist in her office. The rehabilitation specialist has given me stretches to do and has also been doing some trigger point stuff. I've had MRI's, physical therapy, shots and it all works for a bit and then I'm back to the horrible pain. Yesterday, I couldn't turn my head to the left. I don't let the shoulder and neck pain stop me. When the rehabilitation specialist told me to stop planking for a while, he says I gave him a look. I'm sure I did. I don't like being told not to do something that I am working very hard to succeed at. EEERRRR!!! Anyway, I'm not stupid enough to continue when a specialist tells me that I'm aggravating an existing problem. It's a plank pause. I am over 50 miles to my goal of 125 for this month. WOOT HOOT!!! Clean eating is going better than expected. My cheat meal this week was an Oreo Earthquake from Dari Queen. YUMMO!!! I also had 2 chocolate chip cookies. This is a huge success for me. Tomorrow I'm going to add a water challenge. I'm hoping to drink at least 100 ounces of water a day. Remember Friends: NO EXCUSES! You are responsible for the choices you make each day. If you have a set back, get up and go at it again. Think of watching a toddler learn to walk. They walk, they toddle, they fall, they get back up and repeat it all over again..Baby steps...