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

April 22, 2016
woman, jogging, walking,

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.

sunrise photos sunrise photos sunrise photos

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?

daughter, girl, child

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,

Min Signature - Dec13

Linking up with With Some Grace for #FYBF

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12 Comments

  • Reply Alicia April 22, 2016 at 9:35 am

    Have a great May, so much to celebrate! Gee your condition does not sound like fun at all, good for you for hitting the pavement to get through it. Well done on the weight loss, it really does feel better doesn’t it. This time last year I did the same thing, lost a heap and feel so much better for it. I love your early morning instagram shots. I am kinda jealous of the grand sunrises you are witnessing.

    • Reply Min April 22, 2016 at 12:23 pm

      Thanks Alicia – sure does feel great (weight loss). Good on you for doing the same thing – commitment and perseverance brings results eventually! I’m glad you enjoy my sunrise pics over on Instagram. I love starting my days that way. 🙂

  • Reply Vanessa April 22, 2016 at 11:13 am

    I love sunrise for all those reasons and for being outside alone.

    • Reply Min April 22, 2016 at 12:24 pm

      Me too! 🙂

  • Reply Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid April 22, 2016 at 12:52 pm

    I’ve been loving your photos from your morning walks – and you’re feeling better and looking good too! Win, win! I think with exercise, it doesn’t really matter what you do, it’s that you love doing it that counts! May sounds like it’s going to be marvellous! x

    • Reply Min April 22, 2016 at 9:58 pm

      Thanks Sammie – it’s been great how many people have enjoyed my sunrise pics. I do love my morning walks very much. I’ve joined a gym also and go on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday’s. I’m determined to look and feel better and already starting to which is awesome. May is going to be a great month. I can feel it in my bones! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Natalie @ Our Parallel Connection April 22, 2016 at 4:34 pm

    I love all the pictures you post Min. I can feel the energy in each and every one of them. Congrats on losing 10kgs – that is an amazing effort. Truly amazing. May is my favourite month as it is my birthday, my daughters, my sister-in-law and my nephew.

    • Reply Min April 22, 2016 at 9:59 pm

      Thanks so much Natalie – so glad you like the piccies and really pleased you can feel the uplifting energy in them too. Thanks for the congrats on the weight loss – more to go but I am feeling so much better for the loss already. Glad you like May too – it’s a great month and plenty of birthdays for you and your family too I see! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life April 22, 2016 at 10:33 pm

    Good on you for all the healthy changes you’ve made…it’s great for the mind too, isn’t it? I am in love with your sunrise photos every day. And a little envious! 😛 Even though I’m up at 5, it’s to go to the gym so I tend to miss the sunrise.

    • Reply Min April 26, 2016 at 4:53 pm

      Thanks Sanch! Yes – it’s incredible for the mind and for the energy! I’m glad you’re enjoying the sunrise pics. Good on you for getting up each day for gym. It soons becomes habit doesn’t it. I wake, I roll out of bed, I get dressed and I go. I just do it … and I love it! 🙂

  • Reply Nikki@Wonderfully Women April 23, 2016 at 10:06 am

    I love seeing your pics from your morning walks, if I lived near the water I would do exactly the same…….ahhhh one day!

    • Reply Min April 26, 2016 at 4:54 pm

      Thanks Nikki! Yes it’d be pretty crazy to not take advantage of living near to something so beautiful wouldn’t it?! 🙂 xo

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