Get ON Board

Banged up and bruised, some days are like that at the end of the day. It seems like a continual series of taking it on the chin. Each time we fall down, just get up and keep going.

Your efforts may not be perfect today, but you kept on trying and learning. Each day, you picked yourself up and tried again. I’m proud of the continual effort.

When you fall, pick yourself up and try again. Don’t quit! Just keep growing and be proud of the growth. Then, over time, you will look back and not know how you got to where you are now. That is something to be proud of, you are something to be proud of.

Each of us suffers the same concern, can I get back up? I’m here to tell you, that you can. Keep doing it day after day, and one day your world will be changed for the better in unimaginable ways.

As we get older, our bodies ache a little bit more, every day. It is certainly an unpleasant inflammation. There are a couple of things that have worked for me, to get the achiness to go away:

1. Drink more water, so much so that going to the bathroom is hourly
   1. In general, our joints are not lubricated enough. When in doubt, drink water.
   1. 16 OZ of water first thing is a good rule to live by, before coffee
2. Exercise those areas that are achy. (In my case it is old injuries in my shoulders today)
   1. Gentle exercise is likely best
   1. Slowly building up those muscle groups that don’t get attention can do wonders
3. Stretching
   1. I cannot hurt to stretch after exercise
   1. Nightly stretching can help you relax, and stretch out muscles
4. And, ice.
5. OK – a hot shower helps too. (that is contradictory to the above)
   1. This pretty much is related to the first item. Water and heat help the joints and muscles relax
   1. At this point, I’m really trying to feel how my body is, is it changing?

What do you do when you are feeling achy?

4 months ago in mid-December of 2018, I went to the doctor for an annual checkup. That was the heaviest I have ever weighed at 197 lbs. I was not happy in my skin and decided something had to change.

I had turned to eat amounts of excessive food to satisfy myself, or lack of self. I suppose this was common but is that what was to happen to me? Honestly, my energy level had been dropping more and more, sometimes I wondered how I had the energy to do the physical activity I committed myself to do from week to week. To add to that, I was drinking more alcohol than comfort in my day-to-day period.

A promise was made to change, both to myself and my family. So, the work began:

• Intermittent fasting was introduced
• Ate less sugar and breads
• Increased the amount of vegetables – significantly to 2-3 servings per meal
• Decreased the amount of meat
• Increased the amount of water

Believe it or not, it was not until over a month later, on January 24th 2019 that I stopped drinking alcohol. So far, I’ve abstained while at numerous work events (and of course at home too). Not only does my body feel better in the morning without that achy feeling, but I’m also getting better nights of sleep.

So far, with these changes, I’ve been consistently at 181 lbs for the past couple of weeks. This is not my target number, my plan is to target 175 lbs in two months time. But, taking a moment to soak it all in, that the journey is what it is all about. You too should take a moment as you continue on your journey to take it all in, that will give you extra motivation to continue!

In the future, I’ll continue my plans to keep on the path and hit the target number.

Achievement is a journey, and often success is not celebrated. Upon climbing to the pinnacle, it is critical to take a few moments to let it all sink in. Pause for a while and breath.

Then, document where you are. What have you done, and where have you been. This is part of the path to growth that is often left out. You have to reflect on both where you have been and where you are going.