Choose to Move: Journal #3
Aug. 13, 2002

Colleen Passalacqua Colleen is the Observer-Dispatch features editor. E-mail her at: cpassala@utica.gannett.com.

I am proud to report that I exercised every day last week!

I walked all through the week, then swam in my sister Denese’s new pool over the weekend. (There are benefits to having a big family!)

When I went to the Choose to Move meeting Wednesday, I met a walking partner. It’s been great because we both need to start out slowly, and we’ve been encouraging each other. We walked two days last week, but won’t be able to walk together again until the meeting Wednesday. That’s OK though, because we know we’ll be there for each other when we can.

My walks are getting easier, probably because I’m getting used to moving again.

Swimming was fun, too. Of course, I felt very comfortable because I was at my sister’s house.

When she first asked me to go swimming, I told her I was planning on wearing shorts and a T-shirt because I don’t own a bathing suit. (I also didn’t want to be seen in one.) But she wasn’t hearing that — she said she had a suit I could wear.

Then she told me her motto for the pool: “If you don’t like fat, you’re not allowed in my pool!”

I thought that was great.

Once I got into the pool I did some aqua jogging. It was such a great workout, I could feel the effects almost immediately. Then I swam and worked out my arms. It was a nice switch from walking.

Now I need to work on my eating habits. I made a significant improvement during the week, but the weekend killed me. I ate at my sister’s house Saturday and Sunday — I told you it’s great having a big family — but I ate more than I should have. I still ate better than before I started making an effort, but I was not strict enough. My sister’s great though, she had a nice lettuce salad at both meals.

Now my goal is to eat better during the ENTIRE week.