Fun Times with Family

Consider this post the "prequel" to the one I did on April 6. This is the backstory to how I ended up walking every day on the ASUMH campus.

In March, I met my youngest and his wife in Bentonville to spend a few days together. I hadn't seen them in person in almost 2 years, so it was time. We had a lovely time! We stayed in a vacation rental which was walking distance from downtown in one direction and Crystal Bridges in another. Coming out of a rather sedentary wintertime, I was not prepared for so much walking. This is what led to the discussions about smartwatches during some of our conversations. 

It also led to some text-messaging among my three children, who went together to buy me the watch I had settled upon after I got back home. I do have the best kids. They want me to be healthy and happy, and I love them for it.

In my previous post I talked about how I was having back spasms and tiring easily, causing me to have to sit down periodically during our little vacay in Bentonville. This was very distressing to me, and as I said before, I knew changes would have to be made.

Well, changes have been made. I have walked every day but 2 since March 22. The reason I didn't walk on those 2 days was that it was raining and we were under a tornado watch. (Have I mentioned I hate spring because of tornados?) Thankfully, we were spared here in my town, but I wasn't going to go out during a thunderstorm anyway.

I started out walking a 1/2 mile, and it was all I could do. Sedentary lifestyle, remember? That has changed. Within 3 weeks I was up to a mile, minimum. As of this week, my 5th week of daily walks, I can walk 1 1/3 mile easily. No back spasms or pain. I'm adding a little bit each week, with the ability to do at least 2 miles my beginning goal. 

The fact that I'm not out of breath after 1.3 miles is astonishing to me, the former couch potato. LOL!

I'm rejoicing that I have found joy in a daily walk. I hate to admit it, but the sunshine may be doing some good, in addition to the exercise. I'm not as sad as I have been.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of our trip to Bentonville. I loved seeing Jeff & Alli and going to Crystal Bridges again; I've lost count how many times we've been there together. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 NASB

 

My Journey to a Healthy Mindset

Here it is April, and I'm writing my first blog post for 2025. This is a new low, even for me. Hopefully, that is changing.

I had made an "attempt" in March to start walking again as my main form of exercise, mostly due to the fact that I was driving to Bentonville to spend a few days with my youngest son and his wife, who were driving up from Houston for their Spring Break. I knew we would do a lot of walking, and I knew I was definitely NOT ready for it.

I will write about that trip in my next post. Today, I am inspired to share about my struggle to becoming healthier. 

So, did my three days of walking 15 minutes each time make a difference so I could keep up with my family as we explored Crystal Bridges? Not in the slightest. I was often having to catch my breath, and quite a few times I experienced painful back spasms that forced me to sit down for a bit.

This caused me to start thinking about my walking for exercise before. I really hadn't done it consistently for years. I may not have done it consistently ever before. When I first moved 3 1/2 years ago to where I live today, I bought a cheap smart watch, that was only slightly smart. It didn't track my steps very well at all. I basically had to be swinging my arm at my side for it to even think about counting steps, and it didn't bother if I walked in Walmart pushing a shopping cart, which I did in cold or rainy weather. It didn't show the distance I walked at all, so I never knew what kind of progress I was making.

Naturally, I gave up. At my best I never walked more than 3 times a week, and the slightest chill in the air or any amount of moisture falling from the sky was enough for me to excuse myself from even trying.

I began to realize that I would have to get better at being active if I wanted to keep my mobility and my independence as I get older. So, when I was with my family members during their Spring Break, I started shopping online for a better smart watch. They both had good smart watches that I really liked. They weren't as expensive as Apple watches but were a good brand, and much higher quality than the one I had before. 

Long story short: I found out when I got home that conversations were held among all my children, some texting was going on in front of my face while I was in the same room with my son while we were in Bentonville and I never knew it. (Texting is sneaky like that!) They went together and bought me a new smart watch for an early Mothers' Day present. I have the best kids!

Since March 22, when my daughter brought my new watch to me, I have walked every day but one. I had an 11-day streak until the first tornado warned day earlier this week. Something is different in me; I am excited about going for a walk every day. I'm no longer content doing just enough to get by or walking 3 times a week to say I've done it and can check it off. I can't explain it, but I have a new determination to improve my mobility and retain it for as long as I can.

This new watch tells me how far I have walked, what my heart rate is, and much more. I have walked about a mile at day most days. One day, I went 1.5 miles because I went on a path that was that long with no other path veering off toward my car as an escape route! I will walk that path again when my endurance is a little better.

Here are some pictures I took on some of my walks. I have grown to love the ASUMH campus walking trails. The scenery is beautiful and varied enough to provide many different paths.

I'm on a journey to a healthy mindset.