Joy

Oh My, I cannot even begin to tell you how utterly delighted I was to discover that my ramblings in Challenge 8 of the Path of Positivity has been voted as the Most Inspirational. I would never have thought in a million years I would gain an accolade such as that.

I am entering into the spirit again with Challenge 9 which has the theme of Joy. Obviously the above news is joyous in it's own right but I have some wonderfully exciting things to share.

I have had the results back from my 1st bloodwork since being diagnosed with Diabetes and I no longer have high cholesterol. My blood sugar has gone down from 11.9 to 9 and the Dr is very happy with my progress. I have also tipped the scales at 99.5 KG which is 8.5KG off my weight in 3 months. The Friday before Christmas I went to the gym and my instructor gave me a big weightlifting weight and announced that was how much I had lost, that was a Biggest Loser moment right there and great encouragement to carry on the workouts and walking.

My husband and I went to Lake Windermere on Boxing Day and came home on New Years Eve. The weather wasn't particularly good, lots of wind and rain that led to a tremendous amount of flooding but we did lots and lots of walking. The first day was 8 miles and in the space of 3 days I had done nearly 23 miles. That is something I would never have achieved before now. If you would have told me I would do 8 miles in one day I would have faltered at the thought of it.

We met up on Sunday with a friend who we used to work with. He moved to Lancaster so he would be closer to the Lake District as he is very fit and 'outdoorsy'. He is just about to move in with his girlfriend in Ulverston and we went for a walk up a massive hill to the Sir John Barrow Monument.

He had planned to take us on a less rigorous walk but as I had demonstrated I was a lot fitter than the last time we saw him we did the climb up the big hill. 

The picture below shows where we started off from, the row of houses at the back of the trees.

We walked through farmer's fields, through a wooded area up a great big hill that was very steep in places. We had a fabulous day weatherwise, it was sunny and quite mild with lovely blue skies.

I amazed everyone including myself as I realised that my body was able to walk up the steep hill without my legs cramping, my heart pounding and being totally out of breath. Seeing how high we had to climb in the past I would have stayed down the bottom and would not have even attempted it. This was a completely different experience and just as we got to the top the sun was just behind the monument and was a shining halo around it and that is when I took the photo at the top of this post. That is now the screen saver on my Iphone and symbolises the joyful moment I climbed my own personal mountain and felt the sun shining at the summit.

I know I have come a long way and as I start this New Year I am excited at how much further I can go. My New Year's resolution is to carry on the good work I have started and continue enjoying all the little personal triumphs along the way.

I would like to extend my grateful thanks to all the people who left such positive comments for me. You really helped me to know that you or your loved ones have been able to turn their health around and keep their Diabetes under control.