New Year, New Life

     This year is going to be amazing, it really is. It started with the birth of my 5th grandchild on January 3rd!!! She is perfect. The mother is perfect, everything was beyond perfect. I am not going to use names, except that the baby shares her middle name with her grandmother. Those who know the back story know that my beautiful wife Elaine lost her fight with cancer last August 30th. So it is with bittersweet tears that I announce that Elaine watched from heaven the birth of this sweet one. Now, Elaine's daughters are not mine by birth, but I couldn't love them more. We are family and we do life together. If children are arrows of Gods love straight into our hearts, then grandchildren are guided missiles.
    So, back to my wellness adventure! I created another batch of detox soup on January 4th, and I have been combining it with roasted chicken and brown rice. I have a protein shake made with frozen pineapple and strawberries for breakfast most mornings. Lunch is usually soup, dinner is more soup, chicken and rice in a bowl. Snacks are whole fruit or low glycemic protein bars. I have taken up roasting my own chickens as they are healthier and taste much better. I use fresh oranges, jalapeno, onion and garlic. I start with healthy fresh chicken, rinse and stuff with quartered orange and other ingredients. I like to roast vegetables in the same pan, usually sweet potatoes, carrots, onion and jalapeno. The juice from a few fresh oranges makes a great marinade. I bake at 375 for approximately an hour and fifteen minutes.
    I am still hiking around 16 to 20 miles each week, I am trying to pick up the pace, sorry Olga. I have now committed to participate in the "world famous mud run" at camp Pendleton. This event is in June, so it gives me some time to prepare. Which I need! I had cut my left hand in a serious accident back in 2010, severing tendons and muscle bellies. I have never really strength trained after that, life just happened. I now find myself unconditioned, unbalanced and weaker in upper body strength than anytime in the recent past.
    So, what to do?  For me the first thing is to continue to watch my food intake. This helps me feel motivated to continue on this journey, I know if I keep momentum I won't stall out. Secondly, I will increase duration and intensity of my cardio workout. I take stairs when possible and I park further out. Thirdly, I have started using light weights at home. I also use the sink for modified push ups, adding one rep each day until I can do multiple sets. I have a date set when I will begin taking exercise classes.
    It seams one trick for overcoming obstacles that is working for me, I am building on any past success. If I was able to walk a few steps yesterday, I'll walk a few more today. If I could curl 20lbs today, I'll curl 21lbs tomorrow. I keep moving toward a large goal by recognizing each small success. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time... I know that if I keep the vision of me reaching the goal in sight, I am less apt to stray of the path.
    So now my blog has been published publicly, I have been outed! This really works in my favor as I recognize my need for community. I can't reach my peak physical condition alone, I really need help. Just as I know I won't recover emotionally or spiritually from the loss of my wife alone.
I need you.
    It is hard the first time for some of us to say we need help. Especially those of us who are "fixers". Give me enough time and tools and I can solve most mechanical problems. Yet, I find myself resorting to professional help with tech issues more frequently now. So, you are helping me by reading this blog. Many of you have encouraged me to continue writing, so I will. I find it cathartic, almost spiritually cleansing to journal my experience. I hope my openness helps others on their path toward wholeness. I am not offended if you comment on my journey, you are even welcome to share some of yours with me. Maybe we can help each other reach the goal. At the least we can have some fun and get to know each  other on the way.

Thank you for taking the time to share in my journey. I will blog soon. Treat yourself well and do unto others...

In health,
Richard Gjonovich