Grateful for Lunches & Runs

Lynda, Wednesday April 14, 2021 in her backyard with a view of the Superstition Mountains East of Phoenix.

​Today, I’m Grateful 
Love this weather, the blue sky and my view.  I’m also grateful to be seeing friends. I've gone out to lunch—twice in one week!
And wow am I ever thankful for the runs---no, ahem, not those runs. I’m doing better now--not spending as much time on the toilet, Thank, God.  I’m talking about my actual runs—you know, running on the treadmill?
A Tad of Background:
I’ve been learning how to eat again. It’s true. Due to the fact that my body will not digest specific foods, I essentially have to learn what I can and cannot eat. this is a lot harder than it sounds. Just one wrong move, one wrong bite, the wrong morsel of the wrong food can send me running to the john. 
What?
Essentially what happens is this: When I eat something I’m not suppose to, my system detects it as a foreign invader and begins to attack it.  The food is then fermented in my small intestine and wants to escape fast--within about ten minutes! 
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Lynda at LA Fitness in Mesa, Arizona getting her "therapy" in. Running is my ZEN.

Fun Running
Now back to the topic of running. Up until about four months ago I was running about 25 miles a week and had been for about 20 years. I love to run—it’s a great way for me to get the creative juices flowing, it clears the cobwebs and it really helps to ease my chronic back pain, too. 
But my gut issue has been so bad I haven’t been able to run.  However, I'm working my way back. In the last two weeks, I’ve been walking, jogging, running, sprinting my way back to the fun!  
 
My routine
If you're really into fitness, the last thing you want to do is stop everything all together. So, I've still been getting my work-outs in but they're taking much, much longer. I’ve been walking 8 miles a day on the treadmill.  I went from running and sprinting to now just walking. Let’s just say I’ve been watching a lot of HGTV at the gym. Slowly, as my gut has allowed me, I’ve added short one-minute jaunts, then jogs, a little bit of running and now I'm even adding in my sprints, baby!!
So, S-L-O-W
But get this, my pace is really slow.  Typically, I’m getting my six miles done in about—eeks—I’m embarrassed to admit this— 90 minutes.  My average run time is about 55 minutes. So, as you can see we have quite the discrepancy here.
Don't Quit!
But hey, you know what? If you can't run, jog; can't jog, walk; can't walk; crawl. My point is do what you have to do, to something--anything! Just don't quit all together.
I know it's hard to not beat yourself up. I've done it. It happens. We get frustrated.  But we need to be kind to ourselves, especially when we’re faced with challenges that keep us from the things we want—we need—to do!
So, Share Below in Comments
What’s keeping you from being your best—lack of sleep? Too Busy? Waiting on the vaccine? Well, whatever it is remember this:  Give yourself a break. Be kind to yourself.  I mean really, we are all too hard on ourselves.
What would you tell your best friend if she were in the same situation?  You’d tell her something like this: You’ve got this. You'll be back even better soon. But in the meantime, give yourself time to heal and learn that new skill needed to survive—like in my case—knowing how to eat only nourishing foods.
Share your thoughts below.
By the way: Join "Lynda's Day" for just $9.95 a year to read more about my gut issues, my food choices and recipes and more!
 
Make it a great day!

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