I ran! Three times even. It’s a start.
I had more Dr’s appointments in the last few months than I have had in the last 30 years. It is perhaps a little ironic that my first race after taking up running was the Livestrong Challenge. I can remember the excitement of the race blended with admiration for all the cancer survivors. No, I don’t have cancer… and I would like that fact to remain the same throughout my life… but I can say that I am lucky I had some tests done. Very.
I remember one visit at OHSU when I walked through the lobby and there were cancer patients waiting for appointments. Some had no hair and I remember thinking to myself… me? Here? Why? I am healthy… I run marathons… I am not even middle aged yet! I have a great deal of respect for those who have battled or are battling cancer. I can only imagine what a personal strength it must take. But I kept thinking to myself that I was the square that didn’t belong on Sesame Street... and there was no way no how I would ever be in that picture. Hell… I was pretty sure I was going to live forever.
And now I know that isn’t the case… and even in perfect health, the end is most likely closer than the beginning for me. Heck… since life seems to speed up the older you get, I am probably at least ¾ of the way down the track.
And yet I have a 1 year old I desperately want to see grow up. Now, I can’t help it if I have bad genes… or if nature flips a bit on one of my cells when dividing. Those things… are out of my control. But what I can control is trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle to give me the best shot I have to watch my baby girl grow up.
And thus… is born… my health manifesto. What am I going to do? As Oogie Boogie would say, “I’m gonna do the best I can!”
My Health Manifesto
More water
Less fried foods
Less greasy foods
Eat variety
Less sugar
More variety of exercise
Less (white flour, refined sugar, and white rice)
More(whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables)
Less salt
No coffee
Less beer
Goals
Weight goal: 175
Running goal: Boston
Pushup goal: 100
Situp goal: TBD
