Sharon Denise Powell, news assistant, Eastern Wake News and Clayton News-Star, writes: My quest to reach a healthy weight, strengthen my muscles, get ready for the MS Walk-a-thon next March and live to be 100, continues.

Zumba is the new craze. Two of my cousins are Zumba fanatics. Even my daughter goes to Zumba Classes.  When I saw an email announcing four weeks of Zumba Classes by my employer I was happy to know that there was a class I could take. The first class is tonight (Wednesday). I’m stuck at work – is this a good thing maybe, I’m not sure?

Do I really want to do this? I’m not sure. I used to take aerobic classes so I think I can do this. After all I take long walks/runs with my dog.  Zumba shouldn’t be that difficult. Still, I hesitate. Why? I admit that of late I have had some difficulty sticking to commitments. I made a promise to myself that I would eat more vegetables and eat three healthy meals a day. I haven’t exactly stuck with that plan. Last night I skipped dinner and instead had lots and lots of peanuts and chocolate candy. Breakfast this morning was my trusty cup of coffee and a peanut butter and apple jelly sandwich. What can I say, I’m not in the navy anymore and my discipline is on a hanger in my closet with my navy uniforms.

I have to be willing to get in my car this afternoon and drive from my office in Zebulon to the N&O Building downtown. My car is on automatic pilot and, like me, would rather head to my house in Northeast Raleigh. 

Today, I read that adults who remember physical education as a bad experience don’t like to exercise.  I hated PE.  I was always the last one off the bleachers when we played basketball – I couldn’t hit the backboard, nor make a free throw.  Is this why I’m not thrilled about going to an exercise class even though I know it will help me?

I do have an excuse today. I have a deadline to meet and I may not have time to go. This is a legitimate excuse, but I think I’m just a bit too relieved that I can’t go.

I’m ashamed, I say I want to take the MS Walk next fall. I also say I want to be physically fit and yet I can’t push myself to go to an exercise class.

I wish I’d had a better experience in high school PE. I will try harder next week.

UPDATE – Thursday, I didn’t make it to class.

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.

As I said in my first post I am terribly underweight and struggling to reach the healthy weight for my height. My goals: 1) gain 10 pounds 2) build stronger muscles and 3) control my blood pressure.

I‘ve made some progress. Yesterday during a visit with my doctor I learned I have gained one pound (nine to go), my blood pressure is normal and I am very strong, though I have poor coordination (so much for becoming a ballerina).

I rushed home and hugged Sammy, that every faithful Beagle and thanked him for his role in helping ‘Mommy’ stay healthy. Sammy didn’t seem very interested in my health, as he pulled me out the door for our evening walk.

Today I received an email from Sue Harris who advised me to cut down on the carbs and eat lunch.  I did eat lunch today, albeit at my desk. I had half of a turkey sandwich and some fruit.  Funny thing about eating lunch is that I have more energy in the afternoon and I am more alert.

I am more consistent with the power walks/runs with Sammy now and I eat lots of fruit. But giving up carbs and eating more green leafy vegetables is still a challenge. I have some collard greens in my refrigerator and I plan to cook them tonight, I promise.  My reward for taking the time to make dinner will be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to satisfy my sweet tooth.

I’d like to hear from readers who like me who struggle to gain weight or like me have been told by a doctor that they need to put on some pounds. I am curious about how much support you get from friends and family.

The MS Walk looks more realistic with each week that passes. To bad I can’t take Sammy on the walk with me.

Sharon Powell

sharonpowell@newsobserver.com

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