Bloggers for Health: The Stairs Nearly Ended Me

If my illness were a novel, I'd be in the falling action section, rolling gently into the denouement. The cold/flu medicine is doing its job; my throat and chest are no longer on fire; I ate real, non-grapes-and-ice-cream food yesterday and didn't expire. (In fact, the steak and veg were delicious. Thanks, V.'s mama!)

That being said, I did laundry yesterday and the stairs nearly ended me.

To do laundry, I must go down two flights of stairs. I did four loads. That's at least eight trips on the stairs. After every round trip, I wheezed a little and had to lean against my front door until I gathered the strength and the wind to put the laundry basket in its spot and sit down with a glass of water. My heart was fluttering like Blanche Devereaux in the presence of a man.

Apparently, doing laundry is an endurance sport for me when I'm sick.

I haven't exercised for a week because I've been alternating heartburn with a bad cold for the past seven days.

Once I get past this, I'm back on the ball, y'all.

Bloggers for Health's first question for the new iteration of the health challenge is...
What is your ultimate fitness goal? And what does it mean to you?  


My ultimate fitness goal is to be healthy and toned. I'm well on my way; I'm pretty muscular and, when I'm not straining for breath through a nose full of snot, I've got a high level of cardiovascular endurance. I just found out my cholesterol level, which is well in the healthy range, and I have always had normal blood pressure.


I want to keep all these things in the healthy range. So many of my family members have obesity-related illnesses. I want to prevent the illnesses and conditions that I can prevent through physical activity and healthy eating.


I accidentally set a weight loss goal with my insurance company's vitality/health program, so I've been working on achieving that. I don't think it's realistic for me to lose 13 pounds in 90 days--I've never lost a pound a week--so I've just been working on cutting back on the chocolate. I already eat small portions and balanced meals that are light on the meat and heavy on the fruit and vegetables, with a smattering of whole grains. I already work out five days a week (four if things get too hectic or I'm too tired, six if I'm feeling frisky or a friend wants to work out with me). 


The only things I think I can do is vary my workouts more and be more conscientious about the chocolate (and ice cream and all that stuff men like to take ladies to eat, even though so many of them like their ladies slender). I can also try to involve my friends more. V. has been awesome. She keeps up with all my ab exercises and squats! I mean, she does curse the entire time, but she keeps up and makes me work harder!


I'm going to try to do, like, five squats today. Cross your fingers I don't fall out from the effort.