I joined a weight loss FB group called SMART Weight Loss - there's a challenge every other month and I thought the accountability and guidance would be helpful. Wednesdays "exercise" is a 30 minute walk and reflection time. This weeks reflection question was: How will reaching your goal affect your life? Now these goals are to be SMART goals - specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. So my goal for January you ask: Walk 4 miles or 10,000 steps 4x a week. Seems simple. It meets the SMART guidelines. Yesterday I looked at the reflection question: How will reaching my goal of walking 4 miles or 10,000 steps 4x a week affect my life? Seems simple enough to answer, right? Maybe. When you think about it the first thing that comes to mind is with more exercise I'll lose weight. Yeah, probably. Yet when I go a little deeper and think about how completing one goal would make a big difference in my life I get a more specific answer. Reaching this goal every week, and continuing it, makes it a habit. This goal will help me feel stronger, more capable, and confident. I also realized that pushing through some perceived limitations due to chronic illness I would QUIT defining myself by what I have and instead define myself by what I can do and have done with the help of my God. Yes I have used the diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Polymyositis to limit myself in what I believe I can do. I have a constant fear of falling and breaking a hip and I avoid activities because of it.
Well, no more. I'm TAKING ACTION. I'm pushing through the tiredness and the aches - if I do, then my body will adjust to the extra walking. Why four days? Because I do listen to my body and realize that I do need an extra day of recovery than most. So its walk two days, rest, walk two days, take the weekend off. Besides the first thought is right, if I exercise a little more I can help take of the weight better and build endurance and muscle and strength and flexibility. All which help but the RA & myositis to the side. Walking makes me feel better and when you feel better that reflects in the rest of your life too.
Here's to more walking. To a stronger me. To a new identity. To a redefining of myself. I AM A CHILD OF GOD! I AM WORTHY! I AM LOVED! I AM BLESSED!
dana