The Kofford Family relocates to Colorado after 40 years as Californians. In December of 2007, Grandma Lorraine is diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. Sadly, she passed away on Dec. 26th, 2008 after a year long courageous battle. Follow our journey as we keep Lorraine's memory alive, and as we learn to appreciate that each day we are given, is a gift to be enjoyed!

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
~Maria Robertson

Friday, April 24, 2009

Meet my $400 dust catcher...

About a year ago, I announced to Tom it was time we got in shape. We had the space for a treadmill, and my reasoning was that if we had it easily accessible, there would be no excuses. So, with this mentality, I convinced him we did indeed need to buy a treadmill. We searched Craigs List and found a nice quality treadmill for $400. It was a lot of money, but as I told Tom, "There is no price you can put on good health."

We brought the treadmill home and put it to good use for about 6 weeks. We were on a roll! Then, one day no one got on the treadmill. One day passed into a week, which morphed into months, until now it is one year later. There were a few sporadic jogs and walks here and there, but we quickly fell out of a good routine. I kept saying that I would get right back 'in the saddle again', or on the treadmill as the case would be.


As I tend to do though, I found more excuses not to get on the treadmill...it was too cold in the basement...the beds needed to be made... I think I need to go to the grocery store...I'll excercise as soon as I am done taking the kids to this or that...I better make that phone call first. You get the idea. After awhile I stopped with the excuses and just didn't exercise, period.

The shoes sat, and so did I.

Fast forward an entire year...the treadmill is collecting dust, no one is using it, and I have been regretting the $400 purchase. Here she sits...lonely, empty, and ready to run...
The other day, I realized that I could keep making excuses, or adopt Nike's slogan and "Just Do It!" Excuses surely aren't going to get me moving. So a few days ago I told myself that I would get up at 5 a.m. and exercise for an hour. There are no excuses at 5 a.m. No phones ringing, no activities to drive children to, no beds to make because everyone is still in them, no meals to prepare, etc...
So for the past 3 days, I have been on the treadmill at 5 a.m. and it wasn't pretty...I was slow, and tired, and broke a sweat with a fast walk. Today though, I felt good. I jogged more than I walked, and felt energized when I was done. Early in the morning, there is time for squats and lunges, sit ups, and push ups, and lots of stretching. There is no rushing that early, only a dark sky and lots of time.

Finally, the old dust collecting treadmill is coming back to life, and so am I.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm SO proud of you!!! I too have rekindled a love/hate relationship with my treadmill. Maybe we can motivate each other like we did when I lived in Walnut Creek. Keep up the GREAT work!

Lorri said...

OH! I LOVE this post!
You go Girl!
I'm inspired too!

Lucy Marie said...

You go girl! What a great accomplishment - keep going you will feel so good! Keep up the great work.

Unknown said...

Oh Denise! WTG I am proud of you! I started walking in March... then it got cold again..and started in April and am loving it...by walk I mean walking 1.4 miles to work and back again...it makes a huge difference in my productivity! Congrats!

ShutUpandRun said...

Yay! this is great news. It takes so much dedication and discipline to get up that early and to sweat. Keep it up. Try not to miss a day. Stay with it. You are strong, you can do this and you will be amazed at how quickly your body responds. Did you see I changed my blog name to "shut up and run!" Very appropriate!!

It's Always Something Around Here said...

Good for you!!!

I need to get back at it. I do so good for a good long stretch then just stop. You have inspired me to move it move it move it!!!!!

MiMi said...

Ok....you seriously may have motivated me to start back using MY $400 dust collector called an ellyptical.

I'm very proud of you! You go, girl!!!

Unknown said...

Denise, woohoo, you are my hero!!!
I wholly admit I'm not an exercise person, though that conversation between you and Tom has been heard at my house with Kevin and I.
5am is early......I'm very impressed. Keep up the good work.

Sue said...

YEAH Denise!!! I'm so proud of you! It's not easy, and I don't know many people who enjoy it... but I bet you feel better when you are done! WHOOHOO way to go girl!!!

xoxo

Lazy Mom Leslie said...

Go on with your bad self!!! I have tried to turn over a new leaf. All week long my alarm has been set at 6 a.m. I just reach over and turn it off and go back to sleep until 7. i've GOT to get up earlier! Thanks for the motivation!

Sofia Striffler said...

Good job Denise. I know 5 am is very very early for you. Make sure you get plenty of sleep too. Keep it up.

Taryn said...

Good for you! That takes a lot of hard work.