The sun was high and my mouth was dry. It was 92 degrees, and fortunately, the humidity had dropped a bit, so it only felt like 95. But I was bound and determined to get that walk in. Step by step, against the black asphalt. Why was I doing this to myself, much less at the hottest part of the day? Two reasons.
Reason One. I savored every single bite of a Coney dog for lunch. And so it didn’t feel lonely on the plate, I ordered a side of fries – extra crispy, of course. In case you’re not familiar with Coneys, they are hot dogs, topped with a meaty, chili sauce, which is topped with onions and usually mustard. Many people also add cheese. I hold the mustard and the cheese. I have to draw the line someplace. Coneys are in no one’s diet plan, but after running some errands today, I found myself right there at lunchtime, next to Sparty’s Coney Island restaurant. The urge was too strong to resist. Oh sure, I could’ve had a plate of grass and leaves with a side of fat free, sugar free, flavor free dressing, or even something in between, but every now and then, an indulgence is in order, right? So my penance? A brutally hot walk.
Reason Two. I have joined the Fitbit Revolution. Apparently, the snug waistband on my pants and the button being held by a single thread that strains every time I fasten it, isn’t enough to tell me I need to be more active. Maybe shelling out $130 for a nine inch piece of black rubber that flashes pretty green lights will do the trick. (I am really hopeful, but frankly, that’s not a bet I’d take if I were you.) So with my fist clenched and my arm raised, I am revolting against the fact that going to bed each night knowing I’ve had a fairly active day will no longer be tolerated. Instead, this personal fact checking device requires me to accept the truth. So mid-afternoon as I pushed the button to read my progress so far today, I heard Jack Nicholson screaming at me. “YOU WANT THE TRUTH? YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” I was a few thousand (okay, like seven thousand) steps away from my goal of 10,000 and I only had a level of activity that provided any kind of health benefit in three hours so far. Damn. That was not the plan. And so I walked.
Pitiful, isn’t it. How lazy am I that I need this “wearable tech” as it’s called to motivate me? But as of August, 2015, there were 19 million registered users. 19 million. Suddenly, I don’t feel so alone. My doctor told me it helps her throughout the day maintain a higher level of activity. “Every hour, it buzzes and I run in place for 250 steps between patients. As a result, I’ve lost ten pounds.” I bet she doesn’t have Coney dogs for lunch, I thought.
Tomorrow, the weather will be worse than today, but I’ll get out there first thing in the morning and give it a longer go. I’ll plan on healthier eating, and staying away from Coney dogs. I didn’t hit 10,000 today, but tomorrow? Yep, now that’s a safe bet. Let the revolution continue.
You go girl!
Too rainy today, and that’s just fine with me, but does that mean I have to do 20,000 steps tomorrow? Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Keep up as much stepping as you can!! Everyone has good days and those in which we can do better.
Thanks for the encouragement. I love to walk. It’s when I write in my head. And thank’s for visiting my site and taking the time to comment.
You are too funny. I wear my fit bit faithfully and check to see hiw restless I wad during my sleep last night! My exercise pattern is not good. I love Coney dogs
Can you believe your sleep patterns? That’s what I find the most interesting. No wonder I’m always tired! Glad you liked it. Thank you so much for commenting.
Just keep walking, and writing. Good for you for getting out there on these difficult days. Better walking days are on their way
Thanks. I reached my walking goal today so that felt good.
Pam, I lowered my goal from 10,000 to 7,000 and I have many more successful days 🙂 Of course my justification for it is that my feet are arthritic and I’m 75 years old. But, I try to get a total of at least 49,000 steps in a week. So I look for the average. However, it has nothing to do with my weight! It helps to have 2 dogs who look at you with those “aren’t we going for a walk today” eyes. Good luck and keep trying.
Great idea, but I’m bound and determined to stay focused on the 10,000 step goal. But I do like the weekly idea, too. Yes, when I had a dog, it was required walking every day and it was a huge benefit for me. Thanks for the comment.
Those Sparty’s Coney Dogs are well worth the “steps”. That is a treat anytime. We are glad you went there to have a meal!
They are the best (and yes, well worth the steps as well.) Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
Great to hear you are out there stepping them off. Every step counts
Thanks for stopping by my site. It’s a process, I can tell you that!