I just got back from walking to the park near our subdivision. I took Charis in the stroller after lunch, so we could enjoy the nice weather today (upper 40s and sunny). It takes 8-10 minutes to walk to this park. It’s a nice walk now because the county just recently extended the trail to the road that leads to our subdivision. Up until about 3 months ago, we really had to drive over there because there was no easy (or safe) access on foot.

The walk involves going up a couple of large inclines–to call them hills would be an insult to real hills. I have to confess that I really struggled to get to the top of these inclines. I had the incentive that if I didn’t make it to the park, Charis would be highly disappointed. Then on the way home, well, we had to get home.

Many who read my blog know that I have struggled with being overweight for most of my life. However, despite that, I have been able to handle most physical activity with little problem. As an adult, I lost a lot of weight (the year I snagged Mark and married him). Since then, I have for a variety of reasons gained that back plus some. The last year we were in Oklahoma, I was exercising at a gym very regularly–4-6 times a week. While I didn’t lose lots of weight, I felt pretty good and it took quite a lot of activity for me to get winded.

This past year in St Louis, I have allowed myself to get more undisciplined than I have ever been with regard to exercise. I have done very little. I have gained even more weight, which is quite disturbing. But it is even more disturbing that I am now struggling to walk up a slightly inclined street. In the last couple of months, I have noticed feeling winded after climbing stairs, too. This has bothered me, and now I am even more bothered by today’s occurrence.

So I have purposed in my heart and mind to exercise more. I have been walking with a friend two mornings a week for the last few months, but I have to up the anty if I am going to be around to see my children grow up. For now, my goal is to keep up with the 2 mornings a week of walking, to go on a walk with Charis to the park twice a week, and to walk on the tread mill for 30 minutes twice a week. After a month, I will evaluate my progress. and determine how to proceed.

You should know that I have also started a diet. I won’t mention now which one it is, but I am working that angle as well.

If you read my blog, and you think of it, please keep me in prayer that I can be disciplined in this effort. Yes, I would love to be thinner and look better–who doesn’t want that? But ultimately, I want to preserve the basically good health I have had all my life and improve upon it for my future and for my family’s future.