Walking…everybody’s doing it!

I woke up today a little later, around 8AM and was ready for my walk.  Hubs cheered me on as I got dressed, “Go Baby! Go!” and I replied, “I’m excited to go!”  And man was I.  I found a new joy.  The joy of having that 1hr, all alone, to myself, for myself.  It’s HUGE because I never get it otherwise.

I headed out and the morning was gorgeous.  Despite it being later, the fact that it was a weekend morning meant the neighborhood was also getting to a late start.  It was great.  

My new sneakers are awesome!  So comfy, so great.  I powered walked hard today.  I could feel my butt muscles (wow, I have some back there!) and my thigh muscles working overtime. Joggers and walkers surrounded me, and it was inspiring.  

I walked past tons of trees with these pink and white flowers blossoming on them.  I don’t know what they are called, but they are taking over the city and I love it!

As I walked into the park and around the Cloisters Museum, I started feeling stronger, and I could feel the runner in me wanting to come out.  But I know I’m not ready yet.  Too much weight, too soon.  But I conquered those hills with ferocity.  Then I came across this one hill.  It’s right before (or after, depending on where you are coming from) The New Leaf Cafe. I know the hill well.  For many years, as an avid runner, I conquered this hill.  It’s just one of those hills that looks unpresuming until you run it, you reach the top and if out of shape (such as myself) it tends to push you down a little.  I walked down the hill, but on my way back decided to go up it with a slow jog.

When I reached the top with a jog I couldn’t help but smile to myself.  It just felt so good to do that!  Of course, I was out of breath and the dang bad knee came to life, but I didn’t care.  I needed to do it.

As I excited the park I saw a group of women outside of the park and remembered that they have a walking group that gets together a few times a week.  I don’t think I would do well in a group like that, just cause I am not very chatty when working out, well, except in my own head to myself!

I got home and felt like a million bucks, a sweaty million bucks.  I had my shake, did my push ups and sit ups, had a small breakfast, showered and headed out.

I allowed myself to indulge in a gyro at our adventure, but nothing else…which was fine because it was enough.  Once I got home later this afternoon, I walked out with Hubs and drank the milk straight out of a coconut.  It is, like I mentioned in my previous post, one of the great things about living where I do.

I loved it.  It was cheap, filling, and so, so, so good.  Hubs doesn’t care for it, I guess it must be an acquired taste, but I LOVE it!

The boys wanted to order Chinese food for dinner.  I ordered chicken with broccoli and ate it without the rice. And here’s the skinny: the healthy snack an hour before, even though it was liquid, curved my hunger enough at dinner time that even with all the stuff in front of me (sushi rolls included) it wasn’t hard for me to avoid them at all because the broccoli and chicken were really enough.

I won’t lie: I am sore.  My arms, my waist, my back, my legs…I feel them!  But I stretch before I go to bed, when I wake up before my walks, after my walks, and a couple of times in between and I feel WONDERFUL.  Today was a bit hard at being out around so many delicious treats, but I kept thinking about that hill, and how I took it on, maybe not with as much strength as in the past, but still did it.  I wasn’t going to let anything stop me now!