~ by Kathryn
If you need some motivation to get moving this Monday, then you MUST read this recent letter from Kathryn. She’s currently taking part in the Green Smoothie Queen’s buttertart busting 24-Day Countdown to Christmas program. We challenged our participants to follow the advice in an interview between Tera Warner and Pete Cerqua that overcomes ANY “I just don’t have time to workout” excuse.
Find out why Kathryn had to pardon her language, what she had to say about our challenge, and where YOU can take our next green smoothie program!
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Hi GSQ!
This is my first ever reply or contribution.
Anyway, I wanted to tell you something….
I’ve started doing the 90 second wall exercise …. and …. it’s friggin’ incredible! (please excuse the language but how else do I say friggin’ when friggin’ best describes the way I feel about it? lol)
I walk each morning – 30 minutes and do so more for my mental health than anything. Walking regularly is a new concept for me. I cover 5-6 km each day (3+ miles) and I do so at a good pace. I have a LONG history of false starts, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, anxiety, broken hearts :-), and I am 5 years 3 months sober – yee ha!!
So, in short, my life has been quite complicated health wise, mostly self-inflicted, stemming from very low self esteem.
After reading your daily e-mails (and looking at the links re Pete’s plank & wall exercises) for the past two days I’ve added the wall exercise after my walk. That’s right, only two days and WOW what a difference!
I CANNOT BELIEVE THE IMPACT THIS SIMPLE EXERCISE HAS ON MY BODY.
At the end of just 90 seconds, my heart rate is up, I’m almost out of breath for about 20 seconds, and I feel like I’ve been running! It feels GOOD!
My stomach, legs, butt, thighs, inner thighs, even my genitalia are getting a workout!! And if that’s not enough reason to do it, then what is??? hahaha
I haven’t tried the plank yet. I am unable to straighten my right arm due to damage from the Rheumatoid Arthritis, but I’ll give it a go using my forearms to hold me up – not the same but better than nothing. I have practically zero core strength so my plank will probably resemble a heavily curved piece of soft plywood, but then that’s me now. Who knows how I’ll be in a few weeks time?
My critical mind says, “Don’t do it. Your can’t do it properly, you can’t do it perfectly, so why do it at all? Why bother? Don’t be an idiot and waste your time.”
My loving mind says, “Don’t listen to that moron! Do it! The critic has already wasted so much of your precious life, so just get on with it! Get on the floor! Now!!” (I need a bit of tough love, lol)
Eeek! Now?
Ok, hold on a minute, I mean 90 seconds ….. I’ll be right back …..
Phew! I’m back. Managed to do 60 seconds. I could have held on for longer. I know it. But guess what? That was my first ever plank!! Hooray for me!!! Hip-hip-hooray!
Imagine, sitting here typing about how I’m going to do the plank, a 90 second exercise, talking about doing it! It takes longer to talk about it than it does to do it!!
The irony was so blatantly obvious I felt embarrassed to be e-mailing it!
My mother was watching me as I got into plank position, that’s part of why I had to stop. My mother is a scream. She never misses an opportunity for a bit of fun, or more precisely, a lot of fun. So I’m in plank position, asking her whether my body is straight, and the “helpful” suggestions start.
I collapse into a giggling heap. As I’m walking back to the computer room to complete this e-mail I notice a sprouting potato in my dear little cat’s dinner bowl. Mother at it again. Millee, the cat, will be completely perplexed. And so it goes ……. I live with a 79 year old practical joker. And I am so richly blessed 🙂
Back to the wall exercise … I used to hold similar positions when I was in my 20’s – but became convinced that I had to “pump iron and lift weights” in order to be fit, slim and fabulous. That’s what everyone and every magazine said, so it must be true, mustn’t it?
I hate pumping iron. So I didn’t do it and ended up doing nothing at all. If I’m honest about it, when I look at the women pumping iron at the gym, well, that’s NOT how I want to look. I’m soft, curvy, squishy and I LOVE being like this.
BUT … I want to feel strong, fit and and 12 kilos or so lighter. At one stage I weighed 110 kilos, that’s around 240 pounds. That’s not curvy. That’s downright deadly. I was VERY sick, bedridden with agonising arthritis, angry, resentful, bitter, and so full of fear and hurt. Not a nice way to live. Not a nice place to be.
I now weigh 75 kilos, that’s 165 pounds, and still losing. I DO NOT diet. I just try to eat well one day at a time, move my body, heal from the inside out, and most of all, enjoy each day as a blessing for which I am eternally grateful. Easier said than done for this self-saboteur, but I’m getting there and thanks to YOU and your wonderful website, e-mails, and inspiring thoughts and tools, each day is getting easier.
Even on “bad” days I’m grateful to be alive. Grateful to be sober. Blessed with an abundance of affordable, healthy vibrant living foods, employed, able to further my education, and to live in Sydney, Australia. Well I’m just so darned lucky! My gratitude list is endless and so are my blessings. Internet access! How else would I have found the GSQ????? Blessed!
Guess what? I’m drinking a green smoothie as I type this e-mail.
Banana, Mango, Pear, Cos (romaine) lettuce, Bok Choy, Ground flax seeds, Chia seeds
mmmmmmm .. yum!
Everyday a different smoothie, whatever is in the fridge or from the garden, no rules, just blend!!
I also follow Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Eat to Live program, albeit imperfectly.
He is one of this world’s true physicians of health and his website is quite simply a pot of gold.
Well I’m signing off now, going to try another plank.
90 seconds of heart pumping exercise – now that’s something that I CAN do!
Thank you Tera, and thank you to the GSQ team, the Raw Divas, the Raw Moms, and all those who share their stories, insights, joys and tribulations.
Go Green
Get Green
Be Green
Live GREEN!
Regards,
Kathryn
When we asked Kathryn if we could share her story, she wrote back with even more to say. Stay tuned for our next blog when we share more of Kathryn’s inspiring attitude!
If you would like to take part in a green smoothie program and get access to the motivation, tips, and tools to help you feel your best, you can join our January Full Support 21-Day Green Smoothie Detox program. Not only will you get access to the interview with Pete and Tera, you’ll receive many more strategies, menu planners, and personalized support to help you start the year off at your BEST.
Take advantage of the special 2 for 1 holiday offer and share the health!