Jennifer, April 22, 2017 Do I look like a certain stereotype? ___________ Today, I got an inkling of what it must be like being an African-American in the United States of America. It was cold and raw today, so I wore my hoodie and mittens. As I was checking my phone before finishing up my walk, I heard this angry voice behind me: “Hello? Hello? Can I help you with something?” At first, I ignored it – he couldn’t possibly be speaking to me. I didn’t know him, and he had no reason to speak to me like that. Again, he yelled, “I said, ‘Hello, can I help you with something?’” Confused, I turned around, and said, “No, I’m fine.” A young man – maybe mid-20’s – in shorts and a t-shirt, stopped short, obviously embarrassed. He slunk away. Why this happened didn’t hit me until I was about two blocks away; yes, this is what it’s like being white in America – on a visceral level, we just don’t get what African-Americans experience every day. It took m...

In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. – Eleanor Roosevelt _______________________ My life has taken a dramatic turn, and it all began with a hinky treadmill. No worries and definitely no treadmill accidents – this is a positive turn of events. Let me elaborate by beginning with how I handled my Sioux City vacation this year. For the first time ever while visiting family, I did not fall completely back into bad eating habits. Yes, I did step off program slightly (mostly planned, sometimes not so much), but never to the extent that my stomach hurt and felt bloated. And I did not need one stinkin’ Zantac – a first for a “back home” vacation. For the first time ever , I returned home from vacation with a significant weight loss, despite the fact that I wasn’t always on track with mindful eating. I can point to four possible reasons: I conti...

Funky, Cool Fish Statue, Skopje, Macedonia, Located near the center and along my walking path _________________________ All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking. --Friedrich Nietzsche Could YOU walk a 5k TODAY? Yes, you could! Just for today, decide to walk a 5k. Don't worry about tomorrow, for you should decide what you do tomorrow, tomorrow. No matter where you are right now or how old you are, if you have legs and are able to walk at all, you can walk a 5k (3.1 miles) today . HOW you do it does not matter; you can break up your 5k in small increments, even 10-15 minute sessions throughout the day: at work, at the grocery store, and at home. You don't need any special equipment, just a pair of comfortable shoes and a bottle of water (to keep yourself hydrated). You don't need to walk fast; you just need to move. In fact, for the long haul, slow as she goes is more sustainable. Our bodies were built for walking, and when we don't do it re...

Not every thought has to be diet-related. Life is so much more than just weight issues. Today was a beautiful winter day, so I went for a walk, a change from the day-to-day treadmill.