Do you ever have those days when you feel like you’re an involuntary participant in an ugly game of dodgeball and you’re the only one getting hit by the ball? Repeatedly?
This week has been a string of a couple of those days. I have a lot on my mind, some real concerns.
At the end of 2015, I discovered a bulge in my abdomen. Immediately I was worried, internally panicked. Having worked in the medical field for 20 years and being a chronic patient (thanks to Crohn’s disease), I know more than the average bear about medical things. And I’m a chronic worrier so my mind goes to the worst possibility.
You may have groaned when you read the word fitness in the title. Sometimes that word inspires me and draws me in and I want to learn more. Some days it’s in my face and I want to shun the word and the motion altogether. I’m turning over a new health leaf though and instead of grumbling about how I’m aging or how I wish this or that was more fit, I’m actually going to DO something about it. We’ve been gym members for a couple of years and it’s just hard to get there. We are busy people just as we live in a busy society. But I’m learning to put me first once in awhile, even though it flies in the face of what comes naturally. What feels natural is to put others (my family) first. But taking care of me is a good thing and it allows me to be strong, healthy and able for others.
I’ve sorely slacked at getting to the gym lately. I went great guns when we joined our new, closer-to-home gym a few months ago. I planned to squeeze benefits out of every last dollar of that monthly membership. And for awhile, I did just that. But, as it always does, life got busy. I got writing more, doing more, and spending more and more time taking care of everyone else. The excuses not to go to the gym get increasingly craftier the colder and snowier it gets. I’m here to inspire you, dear reader, to exercise–whatever that looks like to you personally–and to inspire myself in the process.
Going to the gym does not have to be a frightening prospect. It may look intimidating at first blush, but I assure you that there are folks of all sizes, shapes, ages, and abilities at every gym. I also assure you that you’re capable of far more than you think you are. I almost always crap out much sooner than I should. I’ve learned that when it feels like I’m spent, to push myself a little further. It feels amazing when I push and my body accommodates. That just encourages me to do more and to keep coming back.
January 1st is when most people resolve to get fit and that’s when most gym memberships and exercise equipment are purchased. And then a few short weeks later, fitness and those lofty resolutions lose their luster. Don’t let that be you. Start now…before all that holiday food is displayed on your dining room table, at cookie exchanges, and holiday parties. Change your way of eating and your fitness goals now so you don’t have that overindulging guilt from eating far more than you wanted and definitely more than you needed.
Don’t be mistaken, enjoy yourself this holiday season. Heck, enjoy yourself every holiday season. Please do! But when you’re excising at home or in a gym, you will be much more inclined not to overeat or eat the wrong things because you don’t want to just “zero out” that hard work. You want that sweat (and sometimes tears, let’s be real!) to really count for something. If you keep at it, even two or three days a week, you will see results and when you do…oh, baby, it feels amazing.
You don’t have to run out and buy expensive weights or even join a gym. Set up a fitness plan that will actually work for you. Run or walk. They’re both free! You can make a small investment in some dumbbells, a yoga mat ($5 at Five Below!), and get online and find some great videos that will work at your pace and fitness level. Getting started is a big deal, so do it! You will be glad you did. If you need an exercise partner, pick me! I’d love to partner up and encourage each other on. It’s much more inspiring when you have someone keeping you accountable and sharing in your triumphs! You’re already fabulous, now go get fit and do some good stuff for your mind and body.
Welcome to the maiden voyage of my first personal blog! I say “personal blog” because I blog on Blogher.com and have guest posted on other sites as well. However, I have been feeling a tug to begin my own personal blog, one where I can share pictures, thoughts, and articles I write more freely. I’ve always had a deep love for writing, ever since I was old enough to put a pencil to paper…literally at age five I was writing stories on that giant lined penmanship paper we used in school. I wrote stories about anything that affected or perplexed me. The divorce of a friend’s parents (the first I’d ever heard of such a thing) and my tonsillectomy were some big headliners for me in the early years. I never lost my passion for the written word but for awhile, my writing dream got put on a shelf for safekeeping. In the most recent couple of years I took my dream down from the shelf, dusted it off, and began blogging for the public and writing for personal growth and satisfaction.
My professional background includes working as a Medical Language Specialist for nearly two decades. Now, I spend most of my days (and some nights and some middle-of-the-nights) writing, reading, reading about writing, and researching. I also do some housework, grocery shopping, socializing and taking care of my family in there too. I’m a mom to two fabulous children, a tween boy I call Bub and a teenage girl I call My Girl. I’m married to a man who strangers think looks at least ten years younger than he is (no one makes this mistake about me). This is an incredible boost to my self-esteem, as one can imagine. He’s not younger than I am. He’s actually three years my senior, though apparently it’s not obvious by looking at him. We share our lives and our home with our Beabrador Lillie and her boss, Gracie the Pug (adorably pictured below).
I imagine you may have stumbled upon my blog because the name looked or sounded intriguing when you said “Flying Blonde” in your head. I’m a huge fan of plays on words and double entendre. I chose Flying Blonde as a play on the phrase “flying blind” because that’s pretty much how I live life… by the seat of my pants without a master plan (God’s in control of that) and more or less availing myself to what God has in store. And I’m blonde. I hope you will visit again and often. I believe I have some good things to say and share. My mission is to encourage others. I’ve been through some seriously painful stuff in life and maybe I can encourage you through something you’re struggling with. Or we can laugh, because sometimes we simply must laugh so as not to cry. I believe in laughing out loud (usually at myself) and sharing quirky, weird things that happen in life as well as some deep thoughts. I’d love to have some great conversations with you as we all navigate through this ridiculous, beautiful mess we call life. Maybe I’ll even tell you about the time I met Adam Levine…
