And for most of us here it is a very personal journey. It is my belief that the reason we fail to maintain weight loss over and over again is that we think of it as a finite destination. Then when we get there we are lost with no rules and no place to go. As @WhatMeRunning mentioned yesterday we are a very supportive and inspiring group and personal accountability keeps us here on a daily basis. The "but" in this though is that we make our own personal rules also. UAC does not dictate what exercise you do or how many calories you eat. It only wants you to make a plan and stick to it. And of course LOG everything you eat to verify.

So tomorrow/today is Friday. Let's figure out one thing about our own journey which helps guide us.

For me personally the journey is about having the energy to do "all the things" with a twinkle in my eye and a bounce in my step every single day. It's not about dragging myself out the door for a run, but feeling the muscles in my thighs working and carrying me strongly up that hill.

@SummerSkier - wow - your post makes me itch to get out there and run/walk/bike…..I LOVE how moving makes me feel. Even though my journey is taking a long time, and most of that is due to my own poor decisions, I am not giving up. Overall, I feel so much better than I did 30 pounds ago. Awhile back I created my “why” and the primary reason is so I can continue to be active as I age. Some issues/illnesses I will not have control over, but I want to do what I can so that I can be that 90 year old woman still getting out there walking/hiking/biking/kayaking.

So…I’ve been pretty absent the last 10(?) days. We’ve been on vacation and just got home last night. We had an awesome time…..Black Hills, Badlands, Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Spearfish, Deadwood. For those not in the US, those are in South Dakota - national parks, national monuments, “Wild West” history. But my highlight was a half marathon at Mt Rushmore. That was my 24th and hands down my favorite so far. Really difficult, the first 7.5 miles were all uphill and at times very steep with one switchback after another. But I felt great, the scenery was gorgeous, and I’ve been on a high ever since. Here’s a photo of the medal.

Wow @biketheworld it sounds like you had a GREAT time! Congrats on the half marathon! That is freaking fantastic, running Mt. Rushmore!?!? Yes, please!

As to the topic, I like rediscovering the feeling of being truly alive in a world of wonder, something that happens some times to one degree or another when out for a run (or walk, something I am appreciating more and more). Like getting lost in the tracking of my breath counts against my cadence and noticing the change from the sounds of night out on the trails to those of the sounds of morning. Seeing the night sky I had been staring at change throughout the sun's rise. Fields full of countless shimmering points of dew on the tips of grass. Watching things slowly come to form and disappear in the fog. The serenity found by simply being out in the middle of nowhere in a snowfall, while the rest of the world is inside, leaving me alone in a strangely still world of white with that oh-so subtle sound of countless numbers of individual snowflakes falling onto the ground around me and broken only by my footsteps. The flashes of color amidst all the white and brown from the first flowers of spring still standing after a suprise late spring snowfall alongside the trail. Running in the rain and the smile that running through puddles still manages to bring. Just appreciating all that can be taken in because it's there and I still can, and looking forward to doing it again for as long as I can.

24 Sept
Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? yes
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? yes

I am waiting for @RangerRickL 's report because I think he got on a horse today for the first time in a while!!!

I haven't ridden in a few days because Bandit developed an abscess in one of his front feet so he has been on the injured reserve list. Not that he cares too much about missing our daily hay field rides as long as there is green grass and treats on the agenda.

PS - @biketheworld that is an incredible HM story!!!

24/09/2021
Exercise – yes, cycling, cardio
Tracked – yes
Calories – yes
It is so hard to catch up with all the posts here when I’m away. So much going on with everyone!
I’ll spend some time on it tomorrow.

@biketheworld “I want to do what I can so that I can be that 90 year old woman still getting out there walking/hiking/biking/kayaking.” YES!!
Congrats on the half marathon, the vacation sounds amazing!

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes

TWO quotes for this excellent topic today.🤔😉

"Success doesn't come to you, you go to it." ~ Marva Collins

"An excuse becomes an obstacle in your journey to success when it is made in place of your best effort or when it is used as the object of the blame." ~ Robert Foster Bennett

This was my life enhancing exercise for today!
I had a 3 yes day!
@SummerSkier Thanks for your post and always healthy attitude!
Your friend, Ranger Rick L

Did some spin this evening and strength work hoping to read and relax the rest of the evening. All three done

yes x 3

The last 2 nights I cooked at home and both nights my son said "its ok". I am on a roll!

@biketheworld Congrats. You are amazing!
@WhatMeRunning that was beautiful--are you a writer?
@Winner_in_Life You rock with that EPIC.! I looked through the 1st beginner video today and nope...not viable.
@lesdarts180 You are inspirational!

Exercise: 5k today.

Tracking:

Calories:

I think the biggest motivator on my journey right now is probably control. Just focusing on an aspect of my life I can control....

Thanks for today’s topic @SummerSkier - for me, the journey is about knowing I have done everything in my power to gain and keep my health and mobility. There is so much more that I want to see and do and my health was beginning to create risks to a hopeful and positive future. COVID and this situation create some of the things I can’t control, but being my healthiest self is something that I have the power to change.

@RangerRickL your horses are beautiful! Thank you for sharing photos today.

@SummerSkier I am sorry about Bandit’s abscessed foot and hope it heals up quickly.

@lesdarts180 - welcome back! I hope you are feeling 100% soon.

@WhatMeRunning - You are a beautiful lyrical prose writer! I could feel the snowflakes and sense the environment you were describing. You have a real talent!

@biketheworld You are amazing!!! That first section of the half marathon sounds like it was incredible. I am sure, though you have already done so many, Mount Rushmore would have been a highlight experience. So glad you had a good holiday too!

Thanks for the two quotes today @LeeH31 –
they hit a good chord with me today.

Night everyone - shutting everything down early here tonight (7:20 pm) as It has been a week and a half here. Will do my singing practice at the piano for choir next week (though I fully suspect that everything here HAS TO BE shut down the way our numbers are at again). I expect Philharmonic Chorus will be shut down again after only being started back up for two rehearsals. All non-emergency surgeries are cancelled indefinitely and all transplants (harvesting and transplant) programs are suspended. One third of new cases (545 new reported today) are children under 12; 7 more people died today; the ICU is completely overrun and adults are now being supported from the paediatric ICU. Our total population in the province is just over 1 million people. 🥺

Julie