Step by step, flight by flight

I am so excited!!! I met with Matt, my personal trainer, tonight and had a great surprise. To get to the workout area at Bradley's Markin Center, you need to go up a flight of stairs. Those stairs have been my challenge from the start. I've told Matt for a long time that my goal is to be able to take those stairs like it's no big deal, and we've spent lots of time going up and down those stairs during workouts.

I arrived tonight a few minutes before he was done with the client ahead of me, so I decided to go ahead and climb those stairs.

Wow!!! I zipped (for me) right up the first half to the landing, and I even climbed the second half with ease. I went back down and climbed them again with Matt. I did great again! I know this may not sound like a big deal, but it is to me. I've hated how I trudge up stairs, and to be able to take them easily and not get winded--I can't tell you how happy that made me. Matt may be the only other person who can fully appreciate the progress--he was certainly pleased. He also noticed that during the walking portion of the workout, I wasn't getting winded. I know this may be "shocking," but I talk a lot during workouts, and he said he could tell in my voice that I wasn't having to breathe as hard. Way cool!!!!

I have to tell you about an unlikely workout I had one day this week. I volunteered to participate in this psychology test they were doing at Forest Park Nature Center, mostly because I think it may make an interesting story on down the road and I wanted the firsthand experience. Anyway, the nature center has some very hilly trails, and I swear, I took the longest and most challenging way out there! A friend of mine who had also done the test said she had been on some pretty challenging trails and said I might want to tell the guy conducting the study that I needed to stay on some of the easier trails. I decided I wasn't going to do that, though. I was going to do this!!! I didn't intentionally choose the most difficult trails, but as it turned out, I ended up on them. Even the student who went with me confirmed that. I told him during the course of us being out there that I've challenged myself to live a healthy lifestyle and that when I feel like I'm in better shape, I'm going to come out there and gauge my progress. I guess it made those steps at the Markin Center seem like a breeze!

Otherwise, I've enjoyed walking in our beautiful weather. It makes this challenge for myself that much easier. As for eating, I have been eating out a lot, but I've been trying to either order smaller portions or get a take-out box. I haven't had to cook, because I've always had leftovers! I do wonder how sushi stacks up as a healthy option. I've had it twice in the past week, so I'm hoping it's OK.

Finally, thanks for all your support. I am blessed with absolutely the BEST friends in the world. I'm happy to see I'm inspiring a few of you to get serious about your own eating and exercise habits. Together, we can do this!