EDITOR’S NOTE: Susan McCreath has been selected to participate in the Year of You, a fitness challenge hosted by The Manteca Bulletin and CORE Athletic Performance. McCreath has kept a weekly journal, highlighting the strides and struggles of her fitness journey. These are her latest thoughts and feelings.
Day 340
Wearing my pedometer as we walk the malls finishing up our Christmas shopping and I easily surpass the 10,000-step mark. Definitely was not a fast-paced 10,000 steps, but definitely stressful steps! I do well though avoiding all of the yummy smells and scents as I walk through the madness.
Day 341
Nothing like driving to LA and back in one day. And nothing like being ill prepared for the trip food wise. I did have plenty of water with me, but made a few drive thru stops that definitely did not help with the eating plan. At least my husband and I have agreed to split all of our meals when we eat out so that is helping with calories.
Day 342
Christmas Eve. My family has always celebrated on this day and my mom makes the traditional spaghetti and meatballs, bread, vegetables, salad, and cookies, cookies, cookies. I actually start off pretty well having just the meatballs and salad, but eventually have some bread and a few cookies. I am not feeling too bad though because the pair of pants I am wearing today can easily be taken off and on without undoing the button or zipper. They are baggy all through the legs. This helps remind me that even though I have been far from perfect on this journey, progress has been made.
Day 343
Christmas Day and we are off to Wyoming. It is a long, boring drive. We have plenty of snacks in the car, but boy did that prime rib taste good at our stop tonight. I feel dehydrated though as I always hate to drink a ton of water when we are driving! Tomorrow is another day of driving and sitting for far too long!
Day 344
We make it to the cabin and it’s already dark with quite a bit of snow on the ground. My husband and I take a few laps around the property just to get some exercise and to burn off some energy. It is 2 degrees outside during this walk! A bit cold. It’s funny how your body tries to move faster to warm up, but it is really hard when you are just so cold and stiff and have on so many layers.
Day 345
A day of skiing/snowboarding for my girls and extended family and friends. It is flipping cold here. There are minus signs in front of the numbers and it is snowing! Cold! An interesting observation is that it is very difficult to find fruit or vegetables in Wyoming. It is wholesome, filling, warm food that is served everywhere; the kind of food that tastes good going down, but boy it has been messing with my stomach. It is really a weird feeling to be craving a salad!
Day 346
Nothing like hiking in a foot of fresh snow at 8,000 feet to get your blood pumping. Not to mention that it was 15 degrees and snowing. I admit that I had to take several breaks to catch my breath and even unzipped my jacket because I was getting hot, but the scenery was breathtaking and I felt great about getting some exercise in.
Connect with Susan McCreath and CORE Athletic Performance trainer Robert Iniguez on the Year of You Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/theyearofyouchallenge.
