TRAINING TO BE FIT AT 99: I've heard it's never to late to get back in shape.....Now I'm a believer!

Hi everyone....

I know, I know you thought I had abandoned this blog. But I didn't. I just got way way way off the beaten path and forgot to leave a bread crumb trail. But I clawed my way back through the jungle, learned to eat berries and fresh food off the land and found my way back.

I am pumped up as much, if not more, than I was in 2012 when I was down to my fighting weight....you know before I lost my dad, before I had Achilles Tendon surgery and went through that long long long (did I say long) recovery and before I was diagnosed the second time with breast cancer.....remember me back then...well if not (if you're just meeting me) or just returning after a long time (because you thought I wasn't writing this blog anymore)...this is what I looked liked then

I was just about 7-10 pounds away from what I weighed in my early 30s. I guess you might say I was on top of the world and then I started "celebrating" right back to where I was when started.

Please tell me you can relate to that! How many times have you lost and regained that 40-50-60 pounds. It's a vicious cycle until you GET IT ! What does that mean....well it means you have to engage your mind. YOU CAN ACHIEVE WHAT YOUR MIND BELIEVES. So before you can get the 3 parts of losing weight and getting fit (Determination, Dedication, Discipline), you have to get your mind on board. You have to convince yourself that you're not too old, that you're not too overweight, that it is possible no matter what your age, no matter what you weigh, no matter what shape your belly, muscles, joints are in, to turn that all around....and yes it will take time....and yes it will not always be easy....and yes you will have to eat healthy. But you can get back in shape. You can get healthier and feel better physically and mentally. You can extend your life. You can see your children give you grandchildren. You can see your grandchildren grow up . I want to tell the whole world you can do this. Just put one foot in front of the other and start with baby steps. Remember when you go outside and walk for 5 minutes, you are walking circles around the person sitting on the couch.

I live in an "active senior" community and I thank God everyday that I decided to move here. Yes there are pretty much 'all' seniors here (and I do miss the laughter of children), but I will tell you that the people who go to our gym inspire me beyond words. We have a gentleman that I believe is 93 years old who walks from his home to the gym (luckily he lives close by) with his walker twice a day. Once a day he does a few exercise machines and once a day he gets in the pool and walks. We have people with bad backs, hurting shoulders, aching knees and just the aches and pains of aging. But the ones that get out and walk, the ones that make it to the gym, the ones that take chair yoga, the ones the make an effort to keep moving..............keep moving.

And for a lot of them,and yes even for me....it's not always easy..... but as the saying goes:

I didn't say it would be easy... I said it would be worth it.

Right now while you're reading this (or get up and go look in the mirror) .... say to yourself.... I deserve to be fit and happy. I'm not too old to start. I'm not to overweight to set a goal and reach it. I'm not too tired to take that first step. I can do this. And tell yourself that everyday if you have to until you believe it....