Why “The Reclaimed Life” as a blog name?……..reclaiming my life
I have made this my first post but it is a new thing for me to “blog” (strange word, blog) and it didn’t get posted. I lost the original post as I just didn’t know for sure how to post it. Perhaps this is good, it lets me know my sentiments ARE somehow from my heart, soul and mind and it is the content that may actually improve as I write……
I don’t expect to share this blog though I may.
I am writing this because I need to express myself and my journey which seems so very human, to record a journey.
My weight loss surgery is on April 12, 2013. I am having the gastric sleeve done. I have no/zero problems losing weight but continuing and to lose is a different matter as is changing all the behaviors that led me here.
I am not fat for any other reason that I love to eat. The foods I chose however, are not the best for my nourishment, for my life or my health – fats, sweets and junk (even if disguised as “baked chips”).
I am now reclaiming my life. I have almost lost it many times through natural disasters such a Katrina, serious health issues, car accidents (many) and even cancer but I have survived. Now I truly wish to live!
I am reclaiming my life!
What have I lost by this weight I carry? My bucket list is long and detailed and I physically can’t do it.
I can’t walk through Rome, through Paris, through Europe in general. I can climb stairs to just about anywhere.
I had long longed to walk the Appalachian Trail from Canada to Georgia as a lifelong goal and though I suspect my goals now are more realistic I can’t help but with I could. For now I am setting my sights on the park nearby with the 2 miles walking/running track. It is gorgeous and a huge reason why I moved here this January (it has been a big year) to be able to walk. So far I can do only about 350 steps. I bring a scooter to walk/ride/walk/ride. I will change this. It is just a matter of time and discipline and the will to do so. I want not to walk that long arduous trail but this little one with beautiful paths, walkways, bridges, birds, lagoons and so much nature ….and walk one mile. It is now my goal.
I had a poignant moment not even a year ago when I was on my honeymoon (yes, I am a newlywed and am over 50!) when I could not join my husband to jet ski as I was too overweight and under conditioned to pull myself up on the jet ski. It was a pivotal point for me. I had had one other one a few years earlier and it was during Hurricane Katrina when I stayed with a couple in the city of New Orleans and was trapped by the flood waters and the heat. It was no fun (an understatement)but what truly bothered me is I couldn’t even attempt to save myself as I wasn’t strong enough or conditioned enough to walk through even ankle deep waters. Where I was stuck it was up to the chest in some places. It hit me strong that the one mile or less it would have taken me to walk to get to higher ground was not possible for me.
I should be able to save myself shouldn’t I?
I know my answer.
I am about to reclaim my life and this is my journey now. I thought for several hours about the title of this blog and here it is.
My journey…….
“a journey of three thousand miles is begun with a single step..”
My gastric sleeve surgery is on April 12th, ……
thereclaimedlife 