Exercise Success

Well, I had hoped writing that last blog entry might help me get to the gym and it did, but in the way I completely expected.

Basically, once I could see in writing what I was feeling, I could take ownership and realize that no one else is going to be working out for and I really do want to feel good. So, I picked up my (already almost packed) gym bag and put one foot in front of the other and went to the gym.

While on the treadmill, I think I realized what was keeping me from going. First of all, let me say that I usually think there is just one thing that is holding me back and if I could just figure it out, I would be okay. However, contrary to that belief, there are usually multiple things going on that combine to keep me stuck. Here is what I think was going on.

First, I was pushing myself too hard to run 5 miles and not allowing for the possibility of running only 2 or 3. Second, the last time I had meant to run 5 but ran only 3.5. In my mind I failed. Third, I don't like to fail. Fourth, when I fail, I quit. Fifth, I don't want to fail again. So, I just won't try. Sixth, besides I don't like to be bored and running so boring.

See how those paradigms or beliefs all work together to make it so difficult to go to the gym? The first step that allowed me to push myself to the gym was to allow myself to run only 3 miles instead of the seemingly insurmountable 5 miles. Once in the gym, the other thoughts fell into place. All of that realization would not have happened if I hadn't actually gone to the gym and started to run since I would have continued to work and kept my mind busy (a kind of numbing out).

Additionally, while on the treadmill, I thought I might write another page for my Feel Great After 50 site about paradigms and how they can keep us stuck. This is a prime example.

Exercise Difficulty

I'll be honest. I am having a lot of difficulty getting to the gym to exercise. I joined this gym last December. I did a lot of research on gyms in our area and found one that is relatively close (within about 10-12 minutes drive) and that had the classes I wanted when I wanted them (about 8.30 in the morning).

At first I was going about 4 or 5 times a week and enjoying it for the most part. Of course, I was enjoying it mostly because it was new.

Then about 2 weeks after I joined, I found out that I had bronchitis that I probably got as a result our trip overseas during Thanksgiving week. So I had an excuse not to go for several weeks. Then I started back up again mid-January. It was fun again. But then I started not liking several classes. I noticed the difference between instructors and how one was MUCH better than the others but she didn't have very many classes. But at least I went to hers on a regular basis and the others less regularly and ran on the treadmill the other days.

Now, it's been a week since I went. And last Monday was a class that I DID NOT enjoy at all. I decided that I was not going to go to a class that was led by that instructor again. Unfortunately, she leads most of the classes. So I decided that running on the treadmill was probably the best thing for me. Last night before bed I said to myself over and over that I was going to run 5 miles this morning first thing. I didn't do it. I am SO frustrated with myself that I can hardly stand it. I know the benefits of exercise. I know what I think affects what I do. I seem to be doing all the right things but I am not following through. I am allowing myself to NOT do what I KNOW I should do.

I know this is all in my head. There is nothing physically stopping me from going to the gym. There is some paradigm, some belief that is keeping me stuck. And I can't seem to track it down.

Anyway, I'm hoping that by posting this so that you can see my struggle, you will know that this journey we are on is not always direct or easy. But I keep telling myself that it IS worth it.

Lemon Cleanse --- Plans

Starting soon I plan to begin a lemon cleanse. I have tried it several times but haven't been able to make it past 4 days. And I was so toxic that I was miserable. The lemon cleanse calls for freshly squeezed lemons, maple syrup, water, cayenne pepper combination. I have a friend who likes the flavor, I don't. In fact I have trouble keeping it down. This is the only think I drink all day, no other food. In the morning there is a salt water flush that works great, but again, difficult to keep down.

I know this cleanse works really well, so I am adjusting it so that I can make it past the first detox period. If I can do that, I think I can stay on the cleanse.

I will succeed this time because I have been eating a lot better the last few months. So my detox time will likely be shorter. Additionally, I plan to add grapefruit juice to make the lemon drink taste better. I really like grapefruit juice. If I can drink something that I enjoy, perhaps that will keep me on the cleanse longer.

Here is the link to the website about the cleanse, called the Master Cleanse.

Okay, so those are the facts. As you can tell from my writing, I'm not really looking forward to the detox period. But I realized yesterday that there will never be a time that I WANT to do this. I just need to decide to do what is best for my health. I wish it was fun. I wish I was looking forward to it. But I am making the hard decision to just buckle down and do it. I need to learn how to do that kind of thing anyway.

Alkaline Water Update --- Wrong Test Strips

Sure enough, I had the wrong test strips. Who would have thought that you need different test strips for water than you use to test your saliva. The pH of the water I am drinking is about 9. I feel better just knowing that.

Alkaline Water Update --- 1 Week Test

Well, as I said in my last post, I went one week changing only the type of water I drink from straight ro water to ro water treated with drops to make it more alkaline. I believe it was a success. I felt a little better and my pH went up from about 6.5 to 6.75 (a very subtle change, but after only a week it seems significant).

I had a minor glitch. According to the directions, I was supposed to get the water to a pH of about 9 or so. I started with 4.5 ro water and added the suggested number of drops. That gave me water at about pH of 6.5. So I added more drops. In fact, I doubled the number of recommended drops and got up to about 7.5. Adding another 25% got me up to 8. By then the water was so 'heavy' to drink that I couldn't drink very much. So I backed off to about 150% of the recommended quantity just so I could drink it. The pH wasn't as high was recommended but at least I could drink it. I contacted the company to ask if I should keep adding drops but haven't heard back yet. However, later I read a similar question and answer on the website and it suggested that I may be using the wrong pH test strips. So I ordered some (free) water test strips. When those come I will give an update here.

I updated by website Feel Great After 50 and changed my recommendation from straight ro water to alkaline water.

Alkaline Water Adventure

I am off on new adventure and I wanted to tell you about it. I have been thinking about and researching (on and off) alkaline water.

As you may know from my website Feel Great After 50, I drink only ro (reverse osmosis) water. However, I ran across a filter that makes alkaline water and I started reading about it. The idea sounded interesting but the filter was like $1000. I wasn't about to spend that kind of money until I was absolutely sure it would work. That was about 6 months ago and I wasn't finding anything cheaper. So I was in waiting mode.

Then last week I ran across a website (I don't remember how) that was about cleanses and water quality. Well, they have a product (drops) that you add to water to make it alkaline. Then I thought back about the $1000 water filter and remembered it was a filter but also had some kind of additive that is put in the water after it was filtered. My thought was, hey, I already have a water filter to get ro water. What if I just buy the drops from this new company to see if they work. So, I ordered some.

I received it on my porch on Friday and started drinking alkaline water on Sunday (no straight ro water this week). I tested my saliva pH before I started to drink it and I will test it after a week and report the results back here. I am quite excited. I am deliberately not changing any part of my diet this week so that I can test the effect of the new water only (as best as I can). I really want to get away from my morning cappuccino but not this week.

As soon as I can determine the effect, if any, I will post new information on Feel Great After 50.