OK Here it goes my journey...

So this is a real, down to earth mission, by a real down to earth person. 

Who never exercised, who never really got fat, but who was never really healthy.

I turned 46 this year, that puts me closer to 50 now than 40, I know right?

A bit about me...
I am going to be brutally honest, I never had to care about my body, I was slim, everyone assumed I was fit, but really I was a mess.  I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2015, I have been on medication for it and to be honest it does help.  I have a weak heart, I have a titanium button closure to close a hole in my heart, which lead to the diagnosis of Lupus.  My husband has always known I was a little weak, and did not like to "work out" or "exercise", but he always tried to encourage me.  He is an avid elliptical trainer everyday for 45 - 60 mins kind of guy.  ( I love to hate him for that lol )

We recently moved to Jamaica, lucky break, after living my whole life in the lovely but freezing Canada.  I love Canada but hate the cold, so unfortunately I must admit I love living in Jamaica, but when we first arrived I was in pain and fatigued every day.  We were living in a hotel, which was paradise but often gave me the opportunity to sleep the day away... and then we moved into our home.

Our home is beautiful and I love it, but it has a lot of stairs and is quite spacious so moving around it can be exercise enough, I would wake up each morning in pain, my knees, my hips, my ankles and Achilles tendon caused me to limp and move slow for about the first 15 to 20 minutes of my day.  I was fearful that maybe the warm weather and sun were going to be my new enemy.

Our stuff arrived and that kept me busy with plenty of excuses to not need exercise, I was moving around enough already... then I unpacked my fitbit.  I strapped it on to see just how many steps I was actually taking in a day and truly I was shocked by how little it actually was.

Day by day I watched as I slowly tried to increase how many steps I took in a day, and then one day I did it! I broke 10,000 steps which seemed insurmountable when I first started, I felt that there was no way I would ever attend 10,000 steps, even today I am excited to make that milestone in my day.

Fitbit, seriously sent me in a new direction.  October 26th I stepped on the elliptical trainer... that was day something switched in me,  I hate the elliptical trainer by the way I have tried it on and off in my life trying to set out on a healthy lifestyle but it hurts my hips too badly, I much prefer the treadmill you see, I did start the gym last year the day after I turned 45 I started going to the gym with my good friend Christy and I liked it, but then illness from the cold Canadian winter set in and virus after virus kept me from getting back. ( I will admit I was full of excuses, sorry Christy)

So on October 26, 2017 I did it, I got on the elliptical and did a short work out, got my heart rate up, sweat a little and was proud.  BUT I hate the elliptical and then I found out that fitbit doesn't count elliptical so now I hated it even more lol.  You see we have a treadmill, but it arrived from Canada and would not work, so I was considering getting a new one, that night swearing that I would not use that elliptical ever again, I set out to fix the treadmill, I was determined... and I took the control panel all apart saw a couple wires were disconnected from the jumble of the move, reconnected it and voila! I had the treadmill working, but now I also removed my excuse... and I told myself, now your steps will count -- get on it. lol

So I am here, over a month later to tell you, I am still doing it!!!  |One day in November I was feeling so good after my workout I decided to go jump in the pool, so I did, with my fitbit on!!! 😲
This was one of the original fitbits and it was not waterproof I immediately through it in rice and did a little dance and prayer to the almighty fitbit gods - please don't be dead, I NEED you...  I thought it was dead.  I was chatting with my son, he was coming to visit and would bring me a new one, in a couple weeks, great, problem solved but how will I stay motivated without it... I did! I still did go on the treadmill didn't know how many steps anymore but I knew I felt great!  A few days later but some miracle it started to work again which was awesome - except my son had already got me a new ALTA which I now use and love.  

I also found fitbit coach and I am using that, it is AWESOME!!!  It gives me exercise plans for the treadmill and there are also workouts - I started with Get Moving which takes you from the couch to moving and doing push ups and sit ups at a gradual pace, slowly increasing with you, you rate each exercise and if you are struggling with one it will not increase until you are happy with it.  I highly recommend this ap - so far it is the BEST 50+ dollars I have spent this year... that is it, 50 bucks for the year!!!  It tracks your progress, lets you ad friends - it is what I have been looking for.

Here is the link in case you want it: 

Ready to get in shape?

Try Fitbit Coach!

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I gave my revived fitbit to a friend here in Jamaica and it is now inspiring her to increase her steps and of course we have a regular friendly competition going on.

I am determined to face my 50s more fit and fabulous than when I am in  my 40s, so my plan so far is, exercise daily, and eat as healthy as possible, and allow myself down days.

At this point I do not plan to take any supplements or any special diets, just good old exercise, and eating right, I always thought I ate healthy, but now I am not using any "fast track" food as I call it, I cook and use as many fresh ingredients as I can, and of course on days when I just don't feel like cooking I can cheat a little... that is my plan for now, I will update you if I find anything I am trying.

So follow this blog if:
1. if you are my friend it is required lol
2. have a fitbit or use fitbit coach
3. want to hear the crazy trial and tribulations of fitness over forty
4. have lupus
5. want to make a change but not sure you can do it.