Thursday, May 31, 2012

Tracking My 90 Day Journey With P90X!

Day 2 of my 90 Day P90X and I decided to blog about it to keep up with my progress.  Day 1 I went all in and did the jump training (plyometrics) because it is my favorite workout.  It's also tough!  I also got in 4 miles in 1 hour...got a lot of work to do on that! 

Day 2 I did the arms and shoulders, and also got in a 3 1/2 mile walk.  That was a little tougher today, did it outside and the temps were already rising.  Got it done though!  Already feeling a burst of energy, so much so that I got alot of home organizing done, mowed my yard until it started raining. 

Feeling some soreness in my legs, don't remember having before when I drank the recovery drink, so in the a.m. I am going to order another tub of that!  I actually love the taste, and it helps with the soreness you feel in the first days of your workouts.  I cannot wait until I begin to see the progress of my hard work!

If you would like to order any P90X products, go to my website at:  http://myshakeology.com/tbturner
http://beachbodycoach.com/tbturner 

To keep myself accountable and to be able to buy my fitness products at a discount, I have become a coach for Team Beachbody!  It is giving me the support of other people who are also on this journey to a healthier lifestyle and I can track my progress through my website as well, and share it with others. 





XOXO,

Tina

Friday, May 18, 2012

~Making Changes~

"Everything changed the day I understood that if I was to become a runner, I would have to run with the body I had. " - John Bingham, The Courage to Start





This just may be my new Mantra.  Isn't that just such a simple statement, yet powerful?  In the past 5 years, since becoming a full time stay at home Mom, I have made many changes in my life, trying to become more fit, trying to live healthier, but with my Dad's cancer diagnosis, I realized I haven't done enough.  I want to do everything possible to be able to be healthy and take care of my aging parents and be available for my own children and someday, grandchildren. 

It's not about "skinny" for me anymore.  It's about healthy.  While doing online research on my Dad's disease, I ran across the Pancreatica Walks And Runs Foundation.  You can sign up for different walks/runs locally and at the same time raise awareness and funds for Pancreatic Cancer Research.  Currently, cancer research of the Pancreas is the least funded.  That struck me.  The cancer that my Dad is battling is the least funded in research...I am only ONE person, but it only takes one person to make a difference! 




During the process of finding a walk/run to participate in with the Foundation, I stumbled onto a training program.  The "Couch To 5K Program".  I had seen this online, but this program is with a group of people who are also wanting to begin running, but don't know where to start.  Doing this online, I have been able to get to a certain stage, and then develop shin splints, which then caused me a set back, and I would have to start over.  I can do 10,000 steps a day on my treadmill, but I just haven't been able to become a full fledged runner! 

This program seems to be just what I am looking for to succeed!  You train with a group of people who are on your level, so the intimidation factor isn't there.  Well, I hope not...LOL  Training is about 8 to 10 weeks, you set yourself a goal race and work towards that.  I plan to be a runner by the time September rolls around, and I intend to sign up and run every chance I can to raise awareness and funds for the Pancreatica Foundation.





My first stop in a couple of weeks is getting fitted for the right shoes. (This will give me an excuse to go shopping, LOL)  My Dad has just begun his journey to recovery from Pancreatic Cancer. If he can fight this fight, I can muster up the courage to start to become a runner! It may take many walks/runs and months, but I will get there! 

Take the negative things that happen in your life and turn them into positives!  Make a difference!  Inspire! 

XOXO,

Tina

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

~Learning That Your Parent Is Sick~

I haven't blogged in nearly a month now.  That's because on April 26th, the world as I know it changed.  My Dad ended up in the ER after being up all night in pain.  What came next was the most unexpected shock of my parents lives.  My Dad was told it was possible he had pancreatic cancer.  I will NEVER forget the moment, the exact thing I was doing, when the phone rang and it was my sister on the other end.  She asked me what I was doing...I started a full fledged conversation before she interrupted me with "they think Deddy has pancreatic cancer..." 

And life as I knew it changed.  Things that seemed overwhelming and important weren't anymore.  I had never heard much about cancer of the pancreas, other than about the two very famous men who brought attention to it recently.  Patrick Swayze and Steve Jobs.  Powerful, famous men who ultimately succumbed to the disease.  I began to do my research.  I didn't like what I was finding.  Early symptoms, (of which my Dad was having, but were going undiagnosed), were major weight loss (40 lbs), fatigue, pain in his abdomen that sometimes went into his back, and loss of appetite.  The disease of pancreatic cancer is called the "silent killer", because early symptoms are sometimes so vague, the disease can remain undiagnosed until it has reached advanced stages. 

My "Deddy", Cody, and Mama at Cody's high school graduation 2011

My Dad's cancer is in the "body" of the pancreas.  It is a tumor, or "mass" that is enlarged to a point that it is possibly touching vessels, which explains his severe back pain.  The Whipple Surgery Procedure isn't an option until they shrink the tumor.  Shrinking the tumor means an aggressive chemo regimen with new drugs, and my Dad had his first treatment today.  My Mom dropped him off for chemo that started around 11 a.m. and finished up between 4:30 and 5 p.m.  He will do this every 2 weeks until the Doctor feels it's time to do another scan to see if tumor size is changing.  My Dad is in pain, but has a positive attitude!  He is doing a lot of scripture reading on Faith, healing, and trusting God. 

My Christmas gift to my Deddy, his retirement has turned him into a great "house husband".  :)

I've been reading that Pancreatic Cancer can be cured, if it is caught before it has spread and the tumor can be removed by surgery.  My hope is that chemo begins to shrink that nasty tumor and it can be removed, and my Dad can go on and enjoy his retirement years with my Mom.  He retired in December 2011, and became sick shortley after.  We have said this sickness is just a detour, because my Mom wasn't set to retire until December 2012, but God had plans for her to retire now.  My Dad becoming sick has given me a whole new outlook on life.  You realize what the important things are, and they aren't things.  They are people.  Relationships.  Being available for my parents during this time has been the most important thing I have done with my life lately.  The only thing I can give them is my time.  And I realize THAT is what we all need to do in every relationship we have, give our time.  Once it is gone, you cannot get it back. 

I will definately be blogging as my Dad's cancer treatment goes on.  It's therapy for me.  And I am learning and reading and maybe something I come across will help someone else.  On the other side of this is the story of a survivor.  My "Deddy" as I have called him since childhood...he will be a cancer survivor. 


XOXO,

Tina

The parentals and I at graduation 2011 THS