Have you ever been asked to recall your favorite Christmas or Birthday gift? Mine was my gold bicycle. I have no idea what brand it was or what store Santa got it from. It was the first bike that was mine and not handed down from my sister. I loved that bike and rode it like any happy girl would.
Then I grew up, started driving and gave up the bike. Until 1987 when my husband and I decided to "stay in shape". He had a road bike and wanted to get one for me. I was way too intimidated to buy such a complicated bike. I actually wanted one without gears or handbrakes. My loving and amused husband assured me I could handle a bike with hand brakes and a few gears.
With our bikes ready to roll, we started out from our tiny apartment in San Diego, not really knowing where we were going. After about 2 hours, I asked if we were in Mexico. It was a good thing Lou had an excellent sense of direction. We had biked for about 3 1/2 hrs on roads, up some really BIG hills and down some a bit.
That was the very last time either one of us got on a bike. Lou was in the Navy, so moves are inevitable. With each move the bikes were moved to our new house, our new garage. Standing proudly, taking up minimal space. They went to Washington D.C., Norfolk, VA. and Davenport, IA. They did get some use in Norfolk when I used to ride with my younger son on the back in his baby bike seat. After dinner was a great time to bike with a baby in our quiet neighborhood. He loved it and I enjoyed the nice flat layout.
So, what happened after that? Well, another move, this time to Iowa. We were only there a little more than a year when Lou suddenly died and I think I died a little too. With 2 young boys I moved back to Pennsylvania, my home. I found a house close to my sister and family and started over.
Over the years I have been way too tired to think about the fundamentals like diet and exercise. but here's the kicker, I'm a registered nurse. I worked in Critical Care, Radiology and Surgery. I saw lots of clogged arteries, overweight and obese patients enduring procedures and dealing with preventable chronic illnesses. My sadness, resentment and sometimes anger held me back.
I tried hard while raising my boys to never let that show. My success rate on that is questionable depending if you ask me or the boys--and even which son. They would agree that we are close and happy now and we all survived with a great sense of humor.
Now, at 57 I am starting over------again.
Earlier this year, my older son was posed with a bet that he could not last one week without eating meat. No ONE should ever bet Matt. He is a stubborn, but loveable mule. He not only won the bet but is now officially Vegetarian. I hope he doesn't go Vegan on me!
Matt told me to watch a documentary film called "Forks Over Knives". Yep, that did it-I was converted overnight, really. Although this pushes the Vegan diet, I can't go that far. I am now Vegetarian-well, 98% of the time.
That started me to re-evaluate my lifestyle. My very sedentary and depressing lifestyle. I have dealt with chronic neck and back pain since my 20's. I have no idea how it started but it sucks.
PT, anti inflammatory meds, MRIs, CT scans, more PT, Aqua PT, Chiro, 2 surgeries....well you see how that goes. The pain never left and I learned to accept it.
But after the extraordinary revelation that a Vegetarian diet was not only doable, but I felt great, I thought to myself, what other stupid decisions have I been making??
I have tried over the years to run. Bad decision. I tried aerobics. Bad idea. I tried tennis. Bad idea and lastly I tried Pilates on a Reformer--Good idea. Pilates on a Reformer is fantastic for your whole body without trying to twist like a pretzel as in yoga or jump until you are a couple of inches shorter.
My last try at PT, on the last day he put me on a stationery bike.
OH, this was actually fun. I think I liked it.
Sure, but I really hate Gyms. I hate the workers, who claim that they know exactly what program you need and what equipment makes you look more ridiculous. I also hate the "gym rats" who want everyone to admire their perfect form and hear their grunts.
What to do. Should I buy another bike? Bikes are not cheap and they continue to get complicated. From no gears to 3 gears, 10 gears, 21 and now 26. That's crazy. I just wanted a simple bike. Yea, right.
I bought a Trek Hybrid from my local bike shop. Then a hitch for my Honda and a bike carrier. Here we go.
There are many wonderful bike trails with great access very close by. I took my bike to the closest one and hopped on. My first ride was about 5 miles. I thought, sure, that was easy but I will probably spend the next week on hyper doses of NSAIDS and sleep on a heating pad.
Two days later, no pain. Next ride, no pain. What the.....?!
No comments:
Post a Comment