Sharon Denise Powell, news assistant Eastern Wake News and Clayton News-Star

My quest to be healthy continues. I just learned that registration opens for the 2013 MS Walk Oct. 1. I called the Raleigh chapter of the MS Society but there was no answer so I left a voicemail message. I need to know the date of the walk.  It’s time for me to put up or shut up. I’m going to do it – I’m going to walk for MS.

A 5k-walk is about 3.1 miles and it should take me about an hour to finish.  In the navy I ran a mile and a half in 20 minutes. I don’t care if I’m the last person across the finish line -- that happened once when I ran my navy physical fitness test  -- only once, and oh the humiliation. This is different.

Just like the little engine that could I’m going to take this walk repeating to myself the mantra, ‘I think I can, ‘ I think I can … I know I can, I know I can,’ and finally, ‘I can, I can, I can!’

I've talked about this walk for months but in the beginning I admit I wasn’t totally committed to training for this, but I am now. I’ve done my research and found tools to help me on this quest.

I normally cram long walks with my trusty hound into Saturday, Sunday and Mondays – my days off. Starting this week I’m going to get up at six and Sammy and I will walk for 30 minutes daily.

Also, I just signed up for the online “Walk of Life 10-Week Program” and I will receive a daily email with a walking assignment, walking lesson, nutrition tip, healthy recipe and motivational tip.

I’m excited about this journey. I said when I started writing on this blog I wanted to improve my health, reach a healthy weight, take the 5k-walk for multiple sclerosis and live to be a hundred.  So far I’ve gained five pounds, but I still don't always eat healthy and I might not live to be a hundred, but I can walk for MS.

Why is this walk important? I have MS.  In the past I’ve struggled with maintaining a healthy weight and was once diagnosed as malnourished. This is not good for someone with my disease.

I’ve been lucky, in spite of my diagnosis I can take my dog on longs walks. I can get in my 5-speed manual transmission mustang and drive 17 miles to work. Also, I can practice the craft that I love – writing. Not everyone with MS can do this -- this is why I have to take the walk.

Sammy can’t go with me on that walk, but thanks to him and this blog I’ll think I can, no, I know I can!

Sharon Denise Powell, news assistant, Eastern Wake News and Clayton News-Star, writes: My quest to reach a healthy weight, strengthen my muscles, control my blood pressure, fit into my jeans, walk in the MS Walk-a-thon next March and live to be 100 continues. Wow!

One of the many lessons I’ve had to learn in my life is that nothing happens overnight – not even lean muscles.  I know this lesson well, still I am human and like so many others my human frailties dictate that even I will look for a quick fix every now and then.

For months I watched a commercial about a beverage that was supposed to help rebuild muscles. It targeted those of us over 40 who, according to the advertisement, tend to lose muscles simply because we are over 40. I went out and got the drink and brought a bottle with me to work. This is a fortified chocolate milk shake – did I mention I am lactose intolerant? Needles to say, it was a very uncomfortable afternoon. I work in a small newsroom with three GUYS – if I could have crawled under a rock and hid I would have. This beverage may be the perfect solution, just not for me. Oh well, back to the drawing board or more precisely back to sticking to a workout regime.

What did I learn from this? It’s not going to happen overnight. I’m not going to drink chocolate milk and wake up the next morning and suddenly be svelte and well built.

I have to be patient and diligent. I have to focus on consistently doing the things I need to do to be healthy. This includes paying attention to what I eat and drink. When I was in the Navy I forced myself out of bed early in the morning at least three days or more a week for mandatory PT (physically training to you civilians). I am going back to my roots. Morning PT was a part of life. Now I just have to push myself to make the right choices, eat the right foods and get up and move when I’d rather sleep. I’m going to make that walk next year.

Why is the MS Walk so important to me? I am one of the hundreds of thousands of Americans dealing with that disease. It is a daily challenge to find the energy to make a meal and that is probably the main reason I am underweight. Exercise does help those of us who deal with MS. Still, I’m one of the lucky ones in that I can still drag myself out of bed and function. Thus, I focus on what is most important for me – doing what I need to do to stay healthy for as long I can.

Yes, there are no easy or quick fixes. I can’t simply pop a pill or drink a shake and wake up in the morning with a muscular body. I have to be patient. I am taking the “Healthy Lunch bag challenge." I know this is a good motivator for me. I hope others will do the same.

In the meantime, my faithful exercise partner awaits his evening walk.

Am I eating healthy? I’m not sure. My usual breakfast is either a blueberry bagel, without cream cheese because I’m lactose intolerant, or two croissants. And of course I have a strong, strong cup of coffee. Why strong coffee? No respectable sailor worth her weight in sea salt is ever seen outside her quarters without her trusty coffee mug.

Yesterday, for the first time in weeks I took time to have lunch. My life partner, David and I ate at a Mexican restaurant downtown. I ordered two chicken Quesadillas and rice. The chicken was healthy, but the rice, which I love probably wasn’t. As usual, I left something on my plate. I have never been able to clean a plate, much to my mother’s chagrin when I was a child and now to David’s chagrin.

One could define dinner for me as ‘Dinner impossible.’ If I could afford a cook I’d hire one. It is hard to find time to make a meal or maybe I just simply don’t want to set aside time to cook. It’s a chore almost as bad as doing laundry.

Last night David made chicken wings and collard greens. David is from Rhode Island and collard greens are new to him. I believe he thought he was cooking broccoli raab (a vegetable similar to turnip greens). Oh well, he tried. I ate one wing and some of the collards.

I am making better progress with my aerobic workout. Sammy, my faithful Beagle-hound-mix keeps me honest. He doesn’t complain and I’m sure he enjoys the long walks/runs. Though, I can imagine he has visions of squirrels in his head and would be happier if I let him chase a car every now and then.

I’m working on my muscles too. Sunday I picked up a set of 10-pound weights that have been sitting on my bathroom floor for longer than I’d like to say. I did two sets of reps and plan to use them again tonight when I get home.

What have I learned so far? First, there are many reasons why many of us have poor eating habits. This is why many of us are either under weight or overweight. It takes some discipline to change old habits and routines. And, we need support to turn the scales around. It’s hard to do this alone – not that everyone can or should hire a cook.

Can I see my reward in the distance? Walk MS in Raleigh is March 31. I’m not sure I can be ready by then, but I can try. Is there anyone else getting ready to walk for MS? I’d like to hear from you.

Sharon Powell

spowell@newsobserver.com