"You can't drown in your own sweat" and other T-shirt quotes

 "You can't drown in your own sweat!"  

and 

"You are only as strong as your last excuse."

Two T-shirt quotes I have seen lately, that stick out.

For the past month I have been working with a personal trainer.  More of a life coach than trainer as he looks at all aspects of my fitness. (physical, nutrition and at times mental). For a month, I have sweated, grunted and survived through his workouts.  Two days a week I am a little petrified and sort of excited to see what is in store for me at his gym. Bring it on, I say.

Today marks the start of week 5 with him.  Last week was the first week of  radical nutrition switches.   Talk about a huge challenge!  I have lived thinking if I just worked out hard enough I could eat what I wanted.  The calories would take care of themselves.  This is why I need a personal trainer,  a life coach.  He has done the research. He is the certified nutritionist.  And though very nice, he is the strongest, slightly scariest person I know.  His imaginary face on my shoulder keeps me on track through food tough times.  Trust me there are plenty. Week 2 of Nutrition plan shall be a challenge as the newness of eating healthy will become daily life.  (The pizza delivery car just pulled up next door.  Satan, be gone!)

Though I am not super woman by any means, I have started noticing a few changes.  I survived a  five day backpack trip with no serious leg issues.  I am taking stairs with alternating steps.  This is big, as I used to do this left legged shuffle up steps.  I did not know I was until  my eyes were opened to this.  I can sweat for 45 minutes on the Nordic Track.  When I am not sore from a workout, daily life is so much easier.  I have this weird urge to go for a run.  I have not run for pleasure in years.  So, yes, I am making progress.

These T-shirts I have seen lately, they stick out to me. 

I can't drown in my own sweat.   I can leave puddles on the gym floor.  I do leave puddles on the gym floor.  I can be proud of those puddles.  They are products of hard work, of fat melting off and turning into muscle.

I am only as strong as my last excuse.  So no more.  I will not be swayed by sick dogs, backed up sewers into the basement,  busy life or cracked ribs. I will give my best towards a workout every time. I deserve no less.

My goal when I started this journey was to get in shape, to survive ski season. I gave my  personal trainer a bunch of excuses why I am needing him now. (Remember no more excuses.)  I need to throw them away and work on what is in front of me.   It is time to readjust, I want the fit, healthy me.  One, where not only surviving ski season is the goal but,  also being able to bless others while doing it.  I have the West Yellowstone Rendezvous Nordic Ski Race, 25k, in my sights.  I don't want to survive it.  I want to ski it. As Toni, my daughter, says, "I want to be fierce!"

I am finding the current in my chaotic life, in the routine of training, of  workout diaries, and meal diaries.  Though not my entire life focus... It is a good focus.

Who knows I may make the before and after section of the gyms web page yet.

Off The Beaten Path

"I thought it would be easier to come home if I picked a trail in my backyard," says sister of mine.

"Go figure, I survived 5 days in the back country only to fall and crack ribs in my back yard," I counter back.

The Beaten Path as it is called, or as the push is gaining momentum to rename it to the Blaze Trail, starts at Highway 212 close to Cooke City, MT and 26 miles later ends at Alpine, MT.  I grew up in this drainage, hiking running, picking berries, backpacking.  My parents built a cabin just down the road from the Alpine trail head.  I have wanted my children to see  more than just the first few miles for so long.  This year, 30 years waiting with baited breath, I had the honor to travel the entire trail with a group of 4 other ladies.  One being my youngest daughter.

30 years of memory loss, forgetting how steep the trail is, how beautiful the flowers are, how cold the creek crossings are.  In 30 years the rocks got bigger, the cliff at Impass Falls was higher and steeper.   The ground was still hard to sleep on, nights still chilly. Dehydrated food still causes gastric issues.

Me, Neville, Carla,Marci, Toni and Anna

We five women traveled this trail taking care of ourselves. Problem solving, supporting each other, acknowledging we all had different expectations of this trip.  We all came into the trip with our

Anna helping Toni at one of the many crossings

unique set of skills and abilities.  Two mothers, two daughters and one great friend.  (and Neville the token guy though he was a dog). We exited at Alpine as a cohesive family.

My daughter, Toni.  How do I explain her?  High energy, up for and adventure, goofy strong as the next hiker and has Down Syndrome.  Yep, that is right she has a disability.  One that should define what she can and cannot do.  She has never played by the rules.  I was not worried that she would not be able to make the trip.   When it was explained to her that we would see the cabin and her treasured Ipad in five days she exclaimed, "Five days! Oh, No!" Then never looked back.

Hiking like a pro.

I would hope others with Down Syndrome have had the opportunity to hike this trail.  I don't know of any. This makes me beam just a bit.  Toni hiked as one of us, carrying her pack, falling in to the stream, picking flowers, doing the dishes.  A true team member.  Her vision is such that she cannot see the rocks in the trail well.  I would be terrified, not Toni, she kept on going.

So many flowers so little time.

The beauty of this trip.  The quiet, the solitude.  There was no chaos of daily life, just the current of feet hitting the trail.   It was a different trip for me.  I am a river woman.  This was 30 years worth the wait.

Beaten Path you have reclaimed my heart.  I will not wait another thirty years to get back to you.

At the top of the trail.