Stepping Out

Background: I have been itching (probably not the best word to use there, ha!) to get outdoors. I do not/have not ever considered myself an outdoorsy person. I guess, too, I have just never realized how easy it is to find a trail and go with it. After much consideration and a bit of convincing Hotty Scotty that I am serious about it (not to mention, picking a few well-versed-outdoorsy brains), we decided on the Bicentennial Greenway to begin. We wanted to take B and her stroller, so this paved trail was a great place to start.

This post is a (picture heavy) account of our first outdoor adventure! Enjoy.

When: April 14, 2013
Where: Bicentennial Greenway
     Starting at the Piedmont Environmental Center on Penny Rd., High Point, NC to East Fork Rd and back.
Miles Traveled: 2.83
Temperature: 77-80`F

Just follow me... and the signs...

Here is the Piedmont Environmental Center building:

The first two things you see on this trail are a great teepee and a small greenhouse. This is before you even get 25 yards into it.

      

As we  followed the path on into the green and away from Penny Road which runs along the first part of this section, we looked up...and we were under beautiful canopies of dogwoods and other flowering trees.   

Stunning. I always say, "No matter where you are, do not forget to look up."

We got to the half mile marker and came across what we dubbed the *love* tree. (real original, I know) Lots of folks have carved their initials into the trunk of this tree.

  

Looking to the left, we saw an unpaved section of trail. "No Bikes" was clearly marked. We stayed on the pavement, and on our feet. :)

More pretties along the way. The sides of the trail were sprinkled in tiny violets. These always remind me of my Mimi.

We came along the first couple of benches as we approached the 3/4 and 1 mile markers. One bench had a shelter that was a boy scout project.

We were greeted by a great set of steps... (the shot on down below, coming back is a good one...) The steps are even equipped with a bike groove.

As we got to the bottom of the steps and over a small bridge, we were seeing bits and pieces of High Point City Lake. How beautiful to look out to our right and see the sparkling water.

                                                   

Three logs a' laying. :)

This shot is at the bottom of the steps and over the bridge. I was a few yards ahead and looking back at Scott and B.

With the lake still on our right, we continued our quiet walk down the path and we started hearing small splashes of water. We looked over and the turtles that were sunning on the logs were plopping back into the water. *plop*...*splash*...*plop*...B was thrilled to see and hear this! A little further down the path was another "foot path" that led right to the lake shore. A fallen log made for a perfect place to sit a spell.

    

                 

One of several bridges along the Bicentennial Greenway...

Up ahead, a sign warned cyclists to dismount their bikes. This peaked my curiosity  especially when I saw a stop sign and a fence that you had to navigate through. Why?

It was a HUGE hill! Straight down! When we came back through, we saw one brave guy, on a bike, slip right through the offset fence and zoom down the hill - and it looked sooooo fun! I almost wished he had hollered "wheeeeeee!".

See how the fence is offset? Meant to be a deterrent, I am sure, but obviously not for everyone. :)

 

Have mercy. Pollen anyone? At the bottom of the steep hill was another bridge and the pollen was just swirling in the shallow water below.

Shortly after the hill and bridge, we hit the 1 1/4 mile marker.

Around the next bend, the road was very bumpy and rough. This is proof that if we (the human race) were to cease to exist, Mother Earth would heal herself. The tree roots are trying to take over this section of the trail.

Finally, we have reached our turn around point. East Fork Road is the first major intersection of the Greenway after leaving the Piedmont Environmental Center. If you continue on the trail, you will eventually end up on Wendover Avenue in Greensboro! This was definitely not the best shot of me...no makeup, frumpy-but-oh-so-comfy clothes and no tan, but...we were excited to snap a shot of this accomplishment.

Alright, so by now, we have turned around and started back. The lake is now on our left. Here is another good shot of the tree roots taking over the pavement.

Honestly, since I am a total beginner, I have no idea what these types of trail markers mean. I intend to find out though!

This beauty fluttered by us before landing on a tree in full bloom.

Back to the bridge and just before the steep hill! B was enjoying getting a lift from the stroller at this point. She walked a big part of the trail. The birds, geese, butterflies, turtles and flowers kept her interested.

More pollen. Achoooooo!

Here it is! The steep hill. We knew going back up would not be fun. It was a workout! Scott jogged up and pushed the stroller. I took a different approach, I leaned into it and kept a steady, albeit slow pace. You can see the offset fence at the upper left of the picture.

Along the way, you will see chain link fence at various points. I am not sure how long it has been here, but I would imagine it has been quite a while. You can see how this tree grew through the fence. The bark has consumed bits of the metal fence.

A great shot of the lake and the Greenway trail.

This tree has been eaten up by something. Termites? Shotgun? No clue here, but the texture was pretty neat.

Coming back, we came upon a sign warning us of the steps ahead. B decided it was time to get back on her feet.

Super cool tree.

 Here is that great shot of the bridge, and then the steps that I promised you.
(it was harder now than it was coming down...)

(beautiful though, right?!)

Back at the top of the stairs, AND after carrying the stroller to the top...Hotty Scotty.

The love tree. <3

Another trail marker.

My well-worked feet :)      

Almost back where we started and still all smiles. It was starting to feel hot though and our legs were heavy.

We took up the offer from one of the benches...took a 10 minute break, drank some water, and then finished our walk.

                            B was still enjoying herself. And a fruit cup.

There's a fungus among us...

One of a handful of lightposts at the beginning of the trail.

Back where we started, there is the teepee.

A view of the parking lot as we finish our trek.

By the end, I was pretty red in the face and very hot and actually a bit sweaty, but ready to plan another adventure.

 

I will leave you with a couple of beautiful dogwood shots. These are two of my favorites from our walk. I hope you enjoyed following us on our first outdoor adventure.

Bloodwork.

I lowered my cholesterol by 20 points these past 3 months!

I lowered my glucose A1C level from 6.0 to a 5.7!

No meds.

That is all.

:)

more reasons...

I have thought of a few more reasons to keep on trucking. Nothing spectacular, but reason enough for me...

I want...

...a scarf to fit nicely and have plenty of length left over to hang down.

...to feel more confident when I walk into a room.

...to wear a bathing suit and not be completely mortified.

...to inspire friends and family to be more healthy and fit.

...to choose to go do things instead of sometimes hide from the world.

...to hear something other than "you have such a pretty face."

That's all I have for now.

Reflection.

I was out shopping with a dear friend last week. While waiting for her to try on a shirt, I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye.

Bad news.

It was me.

I was even rocking my fav new striped shirt. Feeling good. Feeling stylish. I even had a couple of ladies tell me I was looking very stylish with my orange stripes paired with a pop of bright teal and pink on a chunky necklace.

Little did I know how frumpy I looked.

Until I saw my reflection.

Motivation.

simplify?

I do not usually pray about my weight, or weight loss, or much of anything related.
        Maybe I should, but I usually do not.

This morning was different. I included a little prayer for God to just help me stick to something and to help me with my weight. I left a lot of things unsaid. He knows what I mean when I do ask that. If you read my blog, so do you.

I had the weirdest feeling as I was praying that simple prayer.


In my head, this is what I "heard"...

"All I have to do is just do it. God will handle the rest. He will make things happen. I just have to do it."


There's a lot of things in the "it" part of that statement. Count my calories, make healthy food choices, exercise...to name a few. But something about that thought made it suddenly seem so simple.

I just have to do it. HE will make things happen.

What a neat feeling as I was driving to work this morning. Granted, it is a lot. I have to do a lot. Sometimes, though, I get caught up in "I have to lose weight." that I forget that the focus should not be on losing weight, but on the *other* things...calories, food choices, treadmill swagger... :) In reality, I cannot just lose weight. I can count the calories, make better choices, get up and move, etc. The weight loss will happen.

I just wanted to share. Even if you do not share my beliefs, I am sure you can understand how sometimes we tend to majorly over-complicate things, and what a profound relief it is when we step back, regroup, and simplify.

I want...

...to wear tall socks that fit my calves.

...to be able to sit my cup of water between my legs while driving.

...my feet and ankles to not hurt first thing in the morning when I stand up.

...to feel hott.

...to be light enough for my husband to pick me up.

...to wear the cute, stylish clothes I see on some folks.

...to shop in the regular sizes.

...to order less clothing online.

...to not be or feel like the biggest person in the room.

...to be a lasting success story.

...to be able to walk into Old Navy and wear anything I want.

...my child to see a slimmer, healthier me.

...to wear something from Victoria's Secret.

...to comfortably wear high heels or cute wedges.

...to wear an anklet.

...to see only one chin in my impromptu pictures.

...to get to ride amusement park and fair rides again.

...to fit comfortably in all restaurant booths.

...to sit in any chair and know it will hold me.

...to be able to lay on one of those tri-folding lawn chairs. (like beach chairs)

...my head to be filled with positives and hope.

...my back to not ache all the time.

...to come off of my BP medicine.

...to get my PCOS symptoms under control.

...to feel good when I step on the scale at the doc's office.

...to practice what I preach.

...to be able to jog a mile.

...to look as awesome on the outside as I AM on the inside.

...to fit in a kayak.

...to be able to wear my husband's t-shirts.

...to wear cute bangle bracelets.

...to run.

...to go zip-lining.

...to not always be wondering if everyone is noticing the fat girl.

...to lessen the burden on my legs so I will slow the developing spider veins.

...to wear a pair of boots.

...to have to get my rings resized.

...to set a good example for my child.

...my husband to get to see a smaller me.

...to stop wearing the thighs out of my pants.

...to wrap up in a regular-sized towel.

...my boobs to stick out farther than my stomach.

...my heart to not have to work so hard.

...to feel my collarbones/hipbones/etc.

...to breeze through a turnstyle without turning sideways and hopping.

candy

Candy is not a food.

At least, I do not think it is a food. Well, let me back up and say that I used to think of it as a food.

but it is not.

Candy is a treat.

You do not have to have candy.

In fact, some people do not eat candy.

I like candy.

I overeat candy.

Until now.

I am still tracking my calories at MyFittnessPal.com and it is fantabulous!

Somehow, seeing the empty nutritional value of candy laid out before my very eyes has started to change the way I look at it.

Take Wonka's Bottle Caps Soda Pop candy for instance. A "serving" is 13 little tiny pieces. In just those 13 pieces, there are 60 calories. Calories and sugar. No protein, no nothing. Just calories and sugar. Consider that, and the fact that very few of us actually only eat 13 pieces in a sitting. It. adds. up.

It eats (pun, ha!) away at your caloric recommendation for the day. It adds nothing to your diet.

Yet, we still want it.

Can we have a little? YES, we can.

...but back to what I said earlier, it is a T-R-E-A-T.

Not a meal, not even a snack. Just a small treat.

Today I wanted a few of said Bottle Caps. I opened the box, took out 3 little pieces, and put the box away. I savored the 3 pieces, individually. I ate them slowly, enjoying their sweet, bubbly taste.

I entered my 3 Bottle Caps into myfitnesspal. 14 calories. I can totally handle 14 calories. It is the 180 or 240, or even 300 calories worth that could have sabotaged my entire day. I am happy.

I had a treat, not a binge.

14 calories for the Win!

Over and Over and Over

Yep.