Workshops & Conferences | The Wildberry Patch

I wrote Welcome 2014 almonst a month ago.
Since that time, I have made a choice to move at least 15 minutes a day, for 100 days – heading to 30, based on the Penguin’s Challenge.

The first few days were rough…5-10 minutes 3 times.
It is only three weeks to the Tenacious Texas Test of Toughness meet up…and I feel like I am a non-athlete. I do not want to go, because I will not fit in…everyone on this NerdFitness forum is DOING SOMETHING. I am trying to just WALK!!!

side note – I had to get back involved with Nerd Fitness because my daughter, my new coach, insisted that I get into a group for accountability. I have avoided this group since my epic failure almost 2 years ago.

By orders of my coach, I am using My Fitness Pal app to track my calories.

I pulled out Map My Walk app, and started to time myself on:
1/8/2014. .26 mile in 7:38 min. I didn’t even bother to calculate the speed. That wasn’t the only dog walk…but, it was a walk.
(computations done at unit juggler)
I pulled out my heart rate monitor, and decided to try a new thing…fasting lower intensity cardio…keeping my HR down to fat burning levels for a fasting period of time.
A.M. Fat burn discusses the pros and cons…and I am doing this to help mobilize the fat out of my liver….and other places. Your mileage may vary

1/9/2014 – I walked a mile for the first time in several years. 1.18 in 26:11. 2.3 mph. Not 5k race material…but a start. I got the 30 minutes in one stretch. I paused the app when the dog had to stop!

1/10/2014 – 1.16 in 25:39. 2.4 mph
1/11/2014 – .83 in 26.57. for some reason that comes up as 2.3mph.
1/12/2014 – I spent hours and hours walking sideways spackling and painting the apartment walls. didn’t take a ‘walk’ – but I got my “30 minutes” in!
1/13/2014 – I CAN’T MOVE! my legs and back are in so much pain that I can barely move myself. Freaking out that I hurt myself AGAIN, but then, dear husband remembered what I did the day before…. that spackling and painting…to the right, to the right, next room, to the right…I just hurt because I worked!

For Monday and Tuesday, 1/13 and 1/14, dog walks added up to 30 minutes, plus stretches…and attempts at squats.

Now we are up to:
1/15/2014 1.15 in 29:30. THAT’S 2.06 MPH!!! I’M WORSE!!! Oh wait – this was recovery from all that pain from Monday! Ok, so I don’t freak out. much.
1/16/2014 – Clean the apartment. My friend, DEAR friend, Mitzi came with me to clean the apartment. 2 hours in the AM, 2 hours in the PM…I got my workout in. No walk, specifically, other than walking the dog!
1/17/2014 – 1.08 in 34:06. 1.71 mph – but I knew that I had forgotten to pause the time when someone stopped to talk to me. I’m ok with this timing.
1/18 and 1/19 were spent at Florida’s RV show…walking around the State Fairgrounds.
Again – I got my walking in…just not documented.
1/20 No idea, I guess I rested…but got the 30 minutes in stretches and strength, and dog walks combined.
1/21/2014 – .52 and .4 – a mile split in two – I got my 30 minutes in…and almost a mile (and definitely if you count the other short dog walks!)

So now I am up to the day we are to fly out to Dallas – and I am still nervous.

I have not done any lifting.
I have not done any squats.
I have not walked a 5k(which was my goal, set to hit on May 31st…or do some Memorial Day 5k).
I am fat.
I am old.
I am certain I will not fit in.
I was falling into a deep dive of depression…and trying to figure out how to get out of going. If it wasn’t for our friends hosting this gig, I may have bowed out!

On the upside…

I have completed 20 days of Paleo in preparation.
I have done movement for 21 days…and
I have added some other goals to this plan.

I am improving myself, by God’s grace, Jim’s support, Rachel’s guidance, and some help from some new friends at Nerd Fitness.

Next – What happened in Texas?

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.

We have email subscription! And you can manage your subscription from the dashboard!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Naomi’s Heart Mission

Sponsor a Child

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

My dog, Gabriel and I left Kay Tee, Tech Sass and headed towards a meeting place for the 2010 Workshop and Retreat at Camp Allen. As we left the bright lights of Whose Ton, things began to change. We turned down FM362, and we felt as if we were entering another world. It became so dark along our path that the only lights were the moon and our headlights. As the darkness surrounded us, we were embraced with the scent of a pine woods. The aroma permeated even our air conditioner, and filled my heart with the joy and anticipation one feels for Christmas morning. We continued further up the road and further in to the piney wood, in hopes that we would find that place called Camp Allen.

We turned at the sign, and saw the lamp posts! We had arrived. We were given the keys to our room and a plan for the weekend. The room was quaint, with a homespun, rustic feel. A chair, a table, a bed and lamps. Everything that was needful for a quiet weekend basking in the presence of the KING of KINGS. We rested that night, before meeting other travelers on this journey.

The morning broke with crisp clear air that filled my lungs with wonder and excitement. I walked about the grounds with my faithful companion, Gabriel my service dog. I felt as if he would speak to me at any moment. The peacefulness of this place was palpable, and our hearts were content. At the appointed time, I went to the main building to register for the events, and I met the Mrs. Beaver that was arranging all of this, Nan Rinella. I saw the professor, Mr. Stan Mattson, as he quietly endued his joyous presence, and calm assurance. I had the sense that he knew something special about what was going to happen. While he looked “professorial”, his eyes contained something lovely that only those that have been to Narnia can see, and his laugh was warm, like a soft blanket on a cold and rainy day.

Then, the magic happened! The meals with people of like mind, sharing their hearts and minds about Aslan/Christ, was food for the soul! The speakers, such as High Kings Randy Alcorn, Louis Markos and Andrew Lazo shared their knowledge of Aslan in Narnia and Christ in our world. They gave me glimpses of heaven, and the great kindness of Christ as well as the benefit of reading to remind me. A creative force of life stirred deep within me.

Frank Ball and Lael reminded me that truth and creativity could co-exist. As she walked around, I could see the bodily pain, and yet it was as if she was transcended above it, like a star waiting to return to the sky. I was so sorry to have to leave before hearing her session on GodSight.
My time was cut short, but God had another place for me to be. I spent a weekend in Narnia. Once you have been to Narnia, Narnia will always live in your heart. God willing, I will never miss a meeting of the Narnians here on earth.