Snaps ‘n’ Crackles #4 – Min’s Morning Walks

I haven’t quite got my blogging mojo back yet but I decided it was high time I wrote and published another post.  I couldn’t think what to blog about though so decided to just sit and start typing.

This is what my fingers tapped out on the keyboard ….

My focus lately has been on my health.  I’ve been taking steps to improve it and to avoid surgery that would put me out of action for 10-12 weeks (something that would drive me crazy).  I wanted to try a good strong dose of healthy living first and see if that might help my situation.

If I’m to refer to my health I guess I really need to provide a little background.  I’ll try not to ramble too much and be boring!   In addition to having Hypothyroidism (an under active thyroid), an Immunoglobulin A deficiency, and some other bits and bobs, I have a really debilitating version of a condition called Adenomyosis.  Here’s what Adenomyosis is and here are the symptoms (I have most of them but not all).   There are far worse things to have and I’m grateful it is not life threatening (at least I hope not) but gee whiz it is not fun folks!   Not fun at all.  I know that it’s highly likely that eventually I will probably need that hysterectomy but for now I’m being stubborn and doing things in my own way and time.

One of the symptoms of the condition that really caused me much distress was a very sudden and rapid weight gain.  I just didn’t feel comfortable or attractive any more and it was getting me down a lot and making me not want to go anywhere.  Not a good scenario at all.  So you might have noticed I’ve been walking very early most mornings.  The early morning timing of my walks happened because being hot and me don’t mix well (particularly in Brisbane summers!) and so walking in the early morning avoided the heat of the day and worked well for me. 

I started taking photo’s with my iPhone of the sunrise each morning (and various other scenes that take my fancy) on my walks and posting them to Instagram.  People seem to like them so I keep doing it.  I actually couldn’t stop snapping my sunrise pics even if I tried because I love doing it!  I’ve started my own hashtag #MinsMorningWalks   My sunrise walks have become a new habit.  They have changed my whole life.  Where once I was a night owl and struggled to get out of bed in the mornings, I am now in bed at granny o’clock at night (though not always!) because I rise at 5:00am each morning for my walks.  Early to bed, early to rise.  Who the hell am I?! lol 

Not only have my sleeping patterns changed but (combined with a healthy eating plan) I have lost some weight – nearly 10kg so far.  My backside, thighs and legs are getting so awesomely toned too (yay!) and I feel much, much happier within myself!  It feels good to get a little control back over my body!  If you look good, you feel good – you know?!  All the walking is also so, so good for my head and just such a positive and uplifting way to start the day!  See for yourself.  Here are just some of the photo’s I’ve taken on my walks and posted to Instagram.

I find walking before, during and just after sunrise so peaceful and magical. It truly blows my mind at how gorgeous everything is.  It’s the light and colours – stunningly gorgeous, and different each day!  It makes you feel grateful to be alive.  I have my 10,000 steps+ done before I’ve even had breakfast.  This new habit has set me up to start each and every day on a positive note (yay for that!).  I generally walk anywhere from 6-8 km’s each day.  I feel better in my head.  I feel better in my body.  I absolutely love doing this.  At last I have found something that is EXERCISE (a word I’m not fond of) that I love to do. 

Aside from the focus on improving my health, we have my daughter’s 21st birthday coming up on 3 May (also my mother’s birthday) and her 21st birthday party on 6 May.  My next job is to scan a heap of photos of her (must find some embarrassing ones) and create a Powerpoint slide show that will be on a big screen at her party and on repeat!  Look at this cute little girl in dress up clothes.  She is nearly 21 already.  How did that happen?

You know what else I’m loving at the moment?  It has cooled down!!  In Brisbane it takes a while.  We are having cool mornings and evenings.  Our days can still get quite hot.  April is nearly at an end and soon May arrives.  May is a month full of family birthdays here (including mine!) – a total of eight (8) birthdays to celebrate in May!   Oh and there’s Mother’s Day in there too!  I love the month of May – not only for all the birthdays but because it tells me that winter is not far away and I do love a bit of cooler weather very much.  I love winter clothes, doonas, fireplaces, and cottages hidden away in the mountains or in a rainforest.  Ok – I really need to get away some day soon!  How long I have I been saying that?!

That’s enough rambles for one post!  Till next time .  .  .

Ciao for now,

Linking up with With Some Grace for #FYBF