I’m no hero

My friend is burying her father today.

That’s the thought that finally got me out of bed and on the treadmill this morning.

I had hit the snooze button from 4:55-5:20 a.m., thinking of every excuse in the world not to get up today.

And then I remembered: One of my closest friends since childhood is burying her dad today. He was 61.

Another friend from high school is waking up every morning to the fact that her 6-month-old daughter is battling cancer. That’s sweet baby Emmalee in the picture.

Though Emmalee’s mom and I were never extremely close in school, I’ve watched in amazement as she has faced this situation with a faith and strength that I’ve never personally known.

It’s thoughts like that that get me out of bed and on the treadmill in the morning.

Thoughts of true inspirations. Those who would give anything to have their biggest challenge be that they stayed up too late watching “American Idol” and really don’t want to get up and work out.

I’ve been called an inspiration because I’m sharing my weight loss battle publicly, but I try to keep it all in perspective.

I’ve felt your prayers, and I’ve heard your encouragement.

Today, please lift up in prayer those with far greater battles than mine.

I’ve got a lot to do

So, let’s talk about last night.

I rushed to pick up my son after work because the weather was so beautiful that – get this! – I actually wanted to take him for a walk outside.

I got him home, fed him and then strapped him into his stroller, and away we went.

I was amazed at how content he was, just looking around the neighborhood as we strolled past. Everything is so new to him.

It got me thinking about all the new things I still want to experience.

A few years ago, I started my “Bucket List.” I know it was a few years ago because it was in an old version of Word on my computer, and it is titled, “Things to Do Before I Die.”

“Bucket List” wasn’t a common term yet.

Basically, I wrote the list and put it away. Most of the things I can’t do at the size I am anyway. I knew that when I was writing it.

But how stupid is that? Do other people have some right to a wonderful life that I must bypass because I’m too lazy to change my circumstances?

I want that sense of wonder that I see in my son’s eyes. And I’m finally taking the steps necessary to strip away all the excuses I’ve given myself for not living this life to its full potential (got in 25 minutes on the treadmill this morning).

Life can be pretty dang good if we don’t spend all our time dreading it.

Here’s my bucket list. What’s on yours?

1. Skydive

2. Climb the sand dunes in northern Michigan

3. Walk in a cranberry bog

4. Visit California

5. Visit the White House

6. Visit Hawaii

7. Drive across the USA

8. Hang glide

9. Hike the Grand Canyon

10. Visit Europe

11. Hot-air balloon ride

12. Scuba dive

13. Go whitewater rafting again

14. Bungee jump

15. Run the Crim 10-mile race in Flint

16. Take helicopter ride

17. Do the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk

18. Go to Bonnaroo

19. Go to Kentucky Derby

20. Learn to speak Spanish

21. Golf lessons

22. Wear a bikini in public

23. Drive a race car

24. Take a cake decorating class

25. See a Broadway play

26. Try caviar

27. Do a tornado chasers outing

28. Visit the Statue of Liberty

29. Ride a mechanical bull

30. Kiss in the rain

I’ve got a lot to do

So, let’s talk about last night.

I rushed to pick up my son after work because the weather was so beautiful that – get this! – I actually wanted to take him for a walk outside.

I got him home, fed him and then strapped him into his stroller, and away we went.

I was amazed at how content he was, just looking around the neighborhood as we strolled past. Everything is so new to him.

It got me thinking about all the new things I still want to experience.

A few years ago, I started my “Bucket List.” I know it was a few years ago because it was in an old version of Word on my computer, and it is titled, “Things to Do Before I Die.”

“Bucket List” wasn’t a common term yet.

Basically, I wrote the list and put it away. Most of the things I can’t do at the size I am anyway. I knew that when I was writing it.

But how stupid is that? Do other people have some right to a wonderful life that I must bypass because I’m too lazy to change my circumstances?

I want that sense of wonder that I see in my son’s eyes. And I’m finally taking the steps necessary to strip away all the excuses I’ve given myself for not living this life to its full potential (got in 25 minutes on the treadmill this morning).

Life can be pretty dang good if we don’t spend all our time dreading it.

Here’s my bucket list. What’s on yours?

1. Skydive

2. Climb the sand dunes in northern Michigan

3. Walk in a cranberry bog

4. Visit California

5. Visit the White House

6. Visit Hawaii

7. Drive across the USA

8. Hang glide

9. Hike the Grand Canyon

10. Visit Europe

11. Hot-air balloon ride

12. Scuba dive

13. Go whitewater rafting again

14. Bungee jump

15. Run the Crim 10-mile race in Flint

16. Take helicopter ride

17. Do the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk

18. Go to Bonnaroo

19. Go to Kentucky Derby

20. Learn to speak Spanish

21. Golf lessons

22. Wear a bikini in public

23. Drive a race car

24. Take a cake decorating class

25. See a Broadway play

26. Try caviar

27. Do a tornado chasers outing

28. Visit the Statue of Liberty

29. Ride a mechanical bull

30. Kiss in the rain

Back to life, back to reality

I just got off the treadmill.

Despite the wheezing and the pounding pulse in my still-swollen ear canals, I eked out 1.3 miles in 24 minutes.

And there was the one point about halfway in that I almost died when the towel hanging on my handrail fell onto the treadmill and under my feet, causing me to have to jump off the side.

What doesn’t kill me will make me stronger, right?

Instead of writing about my routine further this morning, though, I need to actually get back to that routine. The trip and illness set me behind on preparing my vegetables, lemons for my water, etc., for work.

So I leave you today and hope your quest for good health is going well, too.

In the wise words of Chumbawamba:

“I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down …”

Back to life, back to reality

I just got off the treadmill.

Despite the wheezing and the pounding pulse in my still-swollen ear canals, I eked out 1.3 miles in 24 minutes.

And there was the one point about halfway in that I almost died when the towel hanging on my handrail fell onto the treadmill and under my feet, causing me to have to jump off the side.

What doesn’t kill me will make me stronger, right?

Instead of writing about my routine further this morning, though, I need to actually get back to that routine. The trip and illness set me behind on preparing my vegetables, lemons for my water, etc., for work.

So I leave you today and hope your quest for good health is going well, too.

In the wise words of Chumbawamba:

“I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down …”

From road trip to road block

I’ve got bad news and pretty good.

First, the sniffles I developed Friday have grown into full-blown nastiness.

The timing couldn’t have been worse.

Instead of taking the weekend to rest and let myself heal, I hit the road for Indy, a trip to see my best friend that had been in the works for three months.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a blast. But it was so whirlwind (drove there Saturday, drove back Sunday) that sleep and recuperation were impossible.

I’m paying for it. So is my husband, who alerted me to the fact several times last night that he’s certain I’ve made him sick, too.

Luckily he’s still well enough to go to work, so he took our son to daycare, and I’m glued to the couch for the day.

Again, horrible timing.

It interrupts my workout routine, I have to take my first sick day at work, and it just generally sucks.

But I feel like if I had pushed myself today, I’d do more harm than good.

So hopefully a day of rest will help me knock out this cold, flu, malaria or whatever I have, and I’ll get back to the New Me Routine.

That routine, by the way, helped me lose 3 pounds last week. It’s nothing compared to the double-digit losses the contestants pull down on “Biggest Loser,” but it’s a start.

And it’s right on track with my goal of 2.3 pounds per week.

OK, I need to lie back down. Send healing vibes my way …

From road trip to road block

I’ve got bad news and pretty good.

First, the sniffles I developed Friday have grown into full-blown nastiness.

The timing couldn’t have been worse.

Instead of taking the weekend to rest and let myself heal, I hit the road for Indy, a trip to see my best friend that had been in the works for three months.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a blast. But it was so whirlwind (drove there Saturday, drove back Sunday) that sleep and recuperation were impossible.

I’m paying for it. So is my husband, who alerted me to the fact several times last night that he’s certain I’ve made him sick, too.

Luckily he’s still well enough to go to work, so he took our son to daycare, and I’m glued to the couch for the day.

Again, horrible timing.

It interrupts my workout routine, I have to take my first sick day at work, and it just generally sucks.

But I feel like if I had pushed myself today, I’d do more harm than good.

So hopefully a day of rest will help me knock out this cold, flu, malaria or whatever I have, and I’ll get back to the New Me Routine.

That routine, by the way, helped me lose 3 pounds last week. It’s nothing compared to the double-digit losses the contestants pull down on “Biggest Loser,” but it’s a start.

And it’s right on track with my goal of 2.3 pounds per week.

OK, I need to lie back down. Send healing vibes my way …