Resilience

My road to #IronGirlLynnell has been detoured.  The Orthopedic surgeon suspects I have some small tears or possible vein issues, the details will be forthcoming after the MRI scan and venous doppler ultrasound. The first word that comes to mind when I reflect on this opportunity to heal is resilience.
According to dictionary.com resilience has two definitions:

Resilience:

1. the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed or stretched; elasticity.
2. ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity or the like; buoyancy.

In fact, my resilience has been tested in multiple facets of my life in the last few weeks.  

I have been working to reach my second goal as a triathlete:  complete Iron Girl Columbia on August 20, 2017, while raising money for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.  I set out with 12-week training schedule and a fund raising page with a $3000 goal https://ulman.z2systems.com/IronGirlLynnell, only to find myself sidelined 5 weeks before the race.  I tried to negotiate with the doctor to see I could be back to 100% in time, he simple responded, "our first priority is your health".  So I asked for a note for the race coordinator and started on my road to recovery.  Family, friends and co-workers I have shared this news with, have responded with kind words of encouragement.

I honestly feel my ability to recover from adversity, i.e., resilience, has been challenged at a higher rate than usual lately. These test of my resilience extend beyond the #IronGirlLynnell detour,  but this like the other examples, where I've faced challenges, bumps in the road, a blip on the radar, I command the strength from within to maintain a resolve to recover.  It may take some mental time, in this case some physical time too, but I will recover and move forward to accomplish the goals I set.

In the meantime and in between time, though I'm tempted to eat ice cream and Bon Bons, I've committed to continue to eat healthier and work on getting "Angela Basset arms" via pushups, while I follow doctor's orders to get back to 100%

Sidelined

Down but not out,

Lynnell

"Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew." - Cicely Tyson

Resurgence

"There is Power in my silence but not because I have something to hide but because I have something to say."

A couple years back I started writing this blog post, but I didn't realize it would be years before I'd return to it.  I've often remained silent in very difficult situations, not allowing my feelings to be expressed.  It was and is a coping mechanism to maintain my composure in adversity against people who demonstrate that they don't respect or value my opinion.  Fortunately, I've been blessed to be surrounded by a circle of true friends that I can always rely on to share my most intimate thoughts without fear they would be dismissed or trampled upon. I've learned to work hard to chose my words carefully and as I've aged, I have been more selective about who and what I share with others, not because I want to keep things from people but because I've learned to be as selective with my circle as I am with the words I use.

Writing this post today is about being my authentic self, telling my story from my perspective and in a way that I value.  So why now, why today after nearly two years since my last entry?  It's simple, I was inspired by a friend.  I called him today, in my usual fashion when he answered I immediately said hello and "This is Lynnell".  We ended up reviewing this again, because as consistent as he has been at telling me he knows it's me, I've been equally consistent at explaining that this is a habit I've maintained even in the age of caller i.d. and saved cell phone contacts.  I even went as far as to identify it as my "personal brand tag line," and that it is in fact the name of my blog and my personal twitter handle.  I informed him that I started blogging as a means to share my weight loss journey and hadn't shared in some years.  Well that was enough to get the thoughts moving and well here I am posting this entry.

Driving home, I thought more about this blog and what do I really mean when I say, "This is Lynnell."  Of course I have joked with many about how if I call and you don't hear that as a part of my salutation, then be suspicious that it may not really be me on the other line.  But those who know me well and definitely those who know me best, know there is usually a much deeper meaning to my methods.  A true analogy to the idea, "a method to my madness."  I've had some set backs and some accomplishments on my weight loss journey.  Why start this post with sharing something from the past to move forward today? It's because I value authenticity. So I'm picking up where I left off to move on to this next stage of my journey.

So what about the weight loss journey?  My journey continues, and as we move into the second half of 2017, I can say the first half of 2017 was full of kudos and proud moments.  From learning how to swim to completing my first triathlon.  The rough patches from 2016 have been muted by the strong start to 2017.  How much and how often I will post remains to be seen.  But tonight a joking conversation with a friend about my "personal brand tag line" reminded me of why I started this blog several years ago and I continue to say "This is Lynnell."  It's important for me to share my journey for me and to be a positive presence for people that may be on a similar journey.  The best gifts are the ones you share, so I've been given this gift of words to share with you.

Authentically,
This is Lynnell
@ThisIsLynnell

"Don't be the same, be better." - Life Advice

KEEP CALM SEPTEMBER IS CELEBRATE LYNNELL MONTH

By now anyone that knows me or sees my facebook post knows I have a birthday this month.  Anyone who knows me well knows I celebrate me and my birthday the whole month.  So if you're reading this and haven't signed up to see me the month of September, "What are you waiting for?"

Each year my birthday seems to become more important to me and it's not because I want to receive gifts, or go out on the town, or be treated to a full body massage, or be surprised, or receive any other lavish gift that you are so moved to give.  Now please know that I'm very grateful to receive any and all of those things, so feel free to spoil me, LOL, but on a serious note, what I've realized is that each one of my birthdays becomes more important because of two important ladies in my life.

The first one is my mother, the reality is each year I get closer and closer to the age my mother was when she passed away, which was 54.  The closer I get to 54, the more I realize just how young she was when she died.  So now I celebrate my birthday for both of us.  My mother was also a Virgo, her birthday is August 29, and seven days later is my daughter's birthday, September 5, and then fourteen days later mine, September 19.  September is bittersweet though because my mother passed away on September 29,  and more often than not I celebrate her life with "I miss you" tears.  I'm thankful for each tear because to me it represents how much love my mother had for me and vice versa.

So who is next on the list?  The second young lady in my life that I celebrate my birthday for is Almazi, my daughter.  As I already mentioned, her birthday is between my mother's and mine on September 5. This year my Queen Bee In Training turns thirteen.  When we named her, I chose Almazi because it means Diamond in Swahili, and she is far more precious than any jewel could ever be.  She is so full of life and according to Almazi's philosophy on life, every day is a day to have fun and enjoy.

So how does this post relate to purpose of my blogging about my fitness goals?  Well sometimes you need to verbalize your compelling "Whys" to keep yourself motivated and uplifted to get to where you need to be.  Why do I need to get into better health?  The list is long but there are some very important ones at the top, which include to live a full life for my children, and to honor my parent's legacy by being here as long as I can.  Almazi is named for her grandmothers both of whom she never met.  I can't change that, but I can take steps to improve my health and be here as long as I can.

I'm on Day 4 of my 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse and I'm feeling fine, I've turned down good food and drinks the last few days, but I don't feel I've missed a thing.  Being healthy is as important as enjoying some of the indulgences of life.

Keep Calm and Celebrate Life,
Lynnell

"What you do today can improve all your tomorrows."  - Ralph Marston

"You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream."  -  C. S. Lewis

Back Pain

I have been in pain the last two days, so much so, that today I took a sick day from work.  As a result, I'm putting my back, knee, foot, shoulder, hip, fingers and toes pains  on notice, that their days are numbered.  With just two days of adjusting my eating habits to better choices I can tell I'm on the right track.  Though I can't get walking, jogging or ellipticalling (I know it's not a word, but it goes with my flow, LOL) right now with my back bothering me, I will be getting moving sooner than later.  In the meantime and in between time I'm still eating better to get myself back in balance.

So as I prepare to turn 47 next month, my plan is to wake up on my birthday morning (in Vegas) thankful another year and further on my path to better health.  My birthday is September 19 and I'm planning to do JJ Smith's 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse before it gets here.  My target date to begin is September 1.  I think it will be good for my body and great for my psyche to accomplish it.

An added benefit to recommitting to my health is cooking at home more.  I love to cook and when I'm making healthier choices, I have been the most creative in the kitchen with experimenting with new spices and food combinations.  I also end up trying new foods I wouldn't have necessarily discovered especially vegetables.

In the kitchen,
Lynnell

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It's Never Too Late

Today was an emotional day for me, yes that means tears and all. What got me there isn't important, what kept me from staying there is.  See I've got a good life and it can only get better.  I know it can and will, but just like a baby needing to crawl before you walk, the baby can get frustrated when they can't run while they are learning to stand.  I have my moments when I'm overwhelmed, and find the pin hole of light at the end of tunnel seems like it's gone, but realize it's just me needing to wipe the tears and look again.  Unclouded by the tears, I see it.  I always see it!  The importance of those moments for me is that I fight through them to make those tears stop as soon as I can AND immediately I am trying to figure out what I need to do next to not get there again.  Emotionally stripped down to build back up to move forward.  So where does that leave me now as I type the letters on this page?  Here, right here, sharing, strategizing and marching forward.

So why today after months, nearly a year since my last post, even then the previous post are far and few between, after my initial full steam ahead start?  Well it's pretty simple, it's never too late to finish what you've started.  As long as I have breath in my lungs, each day is an opportunity to get closer to the goal, no matter what set backs and stumbling blocks have hammered away at me and even backed me into a corner.  This blog was started to share the progress and adversity of my weight loss journey and that purpose still holds true.

As the pastor recently said, when things don't go as planned, sometimes you have to go back to the beginning and start again.  Currently, I'm back at a size and weight from several years ago.  Obviously, I'm back at the beginning and starting again.  This week my focus was on making changes in my eating first.  Inspired by that motivational statement, anyone can workout for an hour but strength is controlling what you eat the other 23 hours.  It's been a good start, taking steps even though they may be considered baby steps, they are steps moving forward.  Each step is a step away from the beginning and a step closer to the goal.

My best friend had to recently remind me, in the height of a stressful situation, that I am not satisfied with merely a positive outcome, it's about the journey and path to get there.  Reaching the destination isn't where I find my greatest satisfaction, it's the path to get there that I find reward, pleasure, joy and satisfaction.

I'm back on the journey and this is the part I enjoy so I will make the most of it as I begin again.  Join me or not, I'm on my way.
   
Solving the equation,
Lynnell
@ThisIsLynnell

“One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.” ~John Wanamaker

“Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” ~Chinese Proverb

"Post Thanksgiving" Post

A year ago today I posted a "post thanksgiving" post admitting how much I love Thanksgiving.  Well 365 days later, that sentiment is still the same.  I love Thanksgiving! I spent this year just like last, with my family at my grandparent's homestead.  This year I was more relaxed and more content, peace seemed to arrive at my door on Thanksgiving Day.  This year Thanksgiving was a much needed break from a non-stop schedule and demands on my time that often left me energy less at the end of each day.  Thank you Thanksgiving!

I've lived the last year without cable and recently purchased an antenna for my TV in order to watch local channels. I proudly watched Fox 5 morning news the last couple of days as if I was catching up on the latest episode in the top series.  So this Thanksgiving morning, a special guest, Counselor Cindy Crane,  talked about the benefits of gratitude, #TalkToCindy - Therapist Cindy Crane shares how to be thankful this holiday.  She suggested keeping a gratitude journal. It was an idea that resignated with me, but I plan to take it a bit further and challenge myself and my kids to do a Gratitude poster, something we create together and reflect upon daily.

So as the year comes to a close, I'm thankful for my health and am thankful for the ability to get healthier everyday.  So with just 33 days of the year remaining, each day is an opportunity to take a step towards a healthier lifestyle.  There are things that won't fit into my hectic travel schedule but there are things that do.  

Finishing the end of the year strong, 

Lynnell

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." - Melody Beattie

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation." - Brian Tracy

Day 17 of 30

17 days ago I started my journey on the Whole 30 eating program, www.whole30.com.  It was also the same day I stared my new job with Discovery Communications, Inc. Well I should really say my new career, it was the first time in TWENTY YEARS that I didn't start the fall off on a college campus teaching/learning/loving mathematics.  So now I'm 17 days into the Whole30 program as well as 17 days into a new career.  Both are going well, even with travelling every week since my new job started (and travel will continue through November if not further).

So how else are the two related?  Well as a result of accepting the the new job, I started researching curvy fashions, needing to update my wardrobe from jeans and t-shirts for work to more appropriate corporate attire.  Low and behold, I ended up on blogs about fashionsense for women with curves and one particular blogger, Alison posted not only about curvy fashion and capsule wardrobes but about her goal to improve her health.  In her post: http://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/2014/08/change-better-whole30.html, she talked about her success with the Whole30 program. So after continued searching and researching, I decided to do the same.

What keeps me focussed on doing the Whole30 program is simply one point made on their site:

"It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime." - See more at:http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/#sthash.qwDdBiao.dpuf

Now to get some sleep for work tomorrow,

Lynnell

"We are what we repeatedly so.  Excellence, then, is a not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments." - Jim Rohn