Goals are funny things. I often start out with one goal in mind only to have it change half way through the journey.
So it was with the 2013 Times Colonist Health Challenge, which is coming to a close on Apr. 14. Unlike the other participants, I had a few months' notice that I would be involved in the twice-weekly personal training sessions, nutritional counselling and mental training.
It gave me time to think about what I wanted to get out of the experience. Obviously, I wanted to lose weight and get in better shape. I wanted to handle stress better and have exercise a part of my life again. I wanted to feel the accomplishment of setting a goal and then reaching it, arms outstretched, Rocky-style.
Of course, life has a way of messing with the best-laid plans. A week before the challenge began I got bucked off a horse and pulverized my shoulder. Five weeks after that, I rolled over on my ankle and fractured it.
OK, that second fracture kind of pissed me off. It's one thing to overlook a broken arm but when you can't walk...well, that becomes a problem.
At that point, I had to accept that my fitness program was going to have to adapt to my injuries. Goals around weight loss and workout performance were hard to predict. Finally, I just wanted to do the best that I could with the time I had left.
While the challenge officially ends next week, I still have two more weeks of personal training sessions to go — these were the ones right after I broke my ankle. And after that, I'll take my fitness regime into my own hands: I've found that I really need a personal trainer to keep me on track, so I'm going to pay for it myself.
I haven't lost much weight, but my blood glucose numbers are really good for someone with type 2 diabetes. I get comments from people every day saying I look smaller, and that's good.
Three months isn't enough to completely remake your body. In fact, most trainers say you only begin to notice small changes once three months of workouts are over.
All I know is right now I feel better (happier, optimistic) than I have in ages. I am killing it at every workout. The weights are heavier, the reps are increasing and I can crank up the treadmill to speeds and inclines that are truly surprising. I look forward to my workouts and lose all track of time when I'm there.
And now my kitchen renovations are complete, I have a brand new kitchen to play in. Now I can focus on jamming more fruits and veggies into my diet, cooking up all sorts of healthy stuff....all while enjoying my view of Satellite Channel and Saltspring Island.
Life is good, and it's going to get better.
