Jen-the-conqueror

"Your thoughts determine your actions; your actions determine your habits; your habits determine your character; and your character shall give birth to your destiny."- Jennism

 I knew today was going to be a tough go ... I know things like this instantly based upon how I feel when I first open my eyes in the morning.   This morning the inventory went like this:  I was more numb than usual (took me almost 20 minutes to start to have feeling in my extremities vs. a usual 5 minutes), my back pain was more intense than usual (I live at 8/ 10 on the pain scale , and this oaring I was at 20/ 10),  and my headache was intense (I have daily headaches due to the herniated discs in my back). And then, when I put both of my feet onto the floor, the pain in my heels was SO strong I gave in to limping ... and swearing.  Once out of bed, and done swallowing a fist full  of pills (some herbal and some prescription), the next hurdle was exercise - cardio to be exact.

For me, it is never a question of whether or not I exercise (due to the pain); but rather, HOW TO exercise in spite of the pain.  So off I went to face my nemesis 'the treadmill'. Once toe-to-toe with 'it',  I began negotiating time and intensity of the cardio routine as if the caller at Sotheby's auction. "OK, 10 minutes at a pace of  3.0?" ; "OK, how about 20 minutes at a pace of 2.5?"; "OK, how about 20 minutes, at a pace of 3.0, but no incline?" ... you get the idea.

I am happy to report that I did my 20 minutes at a safe incline (I have pain in my knees) and at a pace that was faster that on Wednesday's workout. As well, today's workout helped me accomplish my new behaviour of being regular with my cardio by getting in 3 cardio workouts a week.  ... I shall wait for the applause to die down before I continue.

It is an cruel and unfortunate reality that exercise for me is both therapeutic and a stimulus for further pain. I cannot escape my body or reduce my pain, and I am not the kind of gal who willingly sits on the sidelines of her life 'waiting' for things to change. Rather, I am always looking to find  acceptable means and manners of  negotiating my way through the pain so as to create the life I want - and a part of that picture is a desire  to be fit and active within my physical limitations.  

So, here's to me ... some days I am the 'bug'; and some days I am the 'windshield'.  My goal is to have more 'windshield' days (like today) than 'bug' days.

xo Jen

have a great day, and may it exceed your expectations