Brave New Life

Day Six

Today was the closest I've ever come in my life to throwing up from exertion. On Fridays, I like to hike. As a chubby, unhealthy girl these usually only go up to four or four and a half miles on the easier trails. Well I recently started becoming friends with a health-nut (I mean that in a good way, I will never again judge healthy people out of jealousy) at work in an effort to do what all those motivational speakers say to do—surround yourself with inspiring people. I mentioned my hiking and it just so happened that he also hikes on Fridays, what are the chances? I went on a smaller hike with him a few weeks ago and it was fine, so when he asked me to join again today I happily agreed. 

Well it was not easy. It was in fact, hard. Very hard. Overall I believe the hike itself only went about six miles. The first three of which were almost entirely uphill. There was a large portion in completely open, steep mountainside with lots of loose gravel (I learned it's called scree) and dead trees that was reminiscent of Frodo making the trek to Mount doom. That's exactly how I felt at that point too, like I was hiking to my death. 

Well spoiler alert, I didn't die. I did feel a bit like I was going through some sort of 'stages of grief' though. It went like this: Happy to be out in nature, energized, ready, full of excitement. Then I'm sweaty and a bit scared for my life on the steep mountain side. Then I'm resting and recharging and feeling good about my effort. Now I'm sweaty again and I can't breathe and I'm light headed. I'm resting again and thinking about how good of a work out his will be if I make it back. Then it's more uphill and doom. Then it's flat and I can breathe again and enjoy the world. I think I'm silly for being so despaired on the ascent. Then the decent reminded me that downhill also hurts and is much more terrifying on loose gravel than uphill is. Did I mention that I'm absolutely horrified of heights? This was the point where I realized that I felt physically ill and spent half the time back fighting the urge to vomit. Then I make it back to my car and think I was being silly again, I'm feeling great and proud of myself for pushing so hard. Finally, I make it back home and can barely go up my stairs.  

My new friend was shockingly patient with me and even shared his snacks and water because I came woefully unprepared for such an undertaking. Even though I'm beyond sore and really did a number on my feet in inadequate hiking shoes/socks, I am incredibly glad that I went on this hike. I feel like I learned so much about myself and my limits and what really pushing myself is. I can use this new understanding to more accurately judge myself with my efforts. I am also incredibly glad I went out of my way to start a friendship with someone I consider so different from myself. Without him—or someone like him— there I would never have pushed myself so hard. I also learned a lot about preparing for hikes properly, something I have not been doing well. 

I have gone on so long about this because it took up most of my day and is almost all I have to say about what I did for myself today. I got in my daily serving of fruits, but didn't consume a single vegetable today. When I got back from the hike I knew this was an instance where my body absolutely needed carbs to recover. So I ate two full bowls of chicken alfredo. The very dish I had been craving all week. I made it a couple of days ago and have only been eating it in small increments with my veggies up to this point. I don't in any way feel bad about it, not today. Carbs are not always bad, and this was my only actual meal today. So to wrap up here's what I did today to better my tomorrow: Got up early on my weekend day and made my bed, went on quite the physical and mental journey up a mountain side, got my daily serving of fruit in. 

By itself, the list seems weak today; but, it was far from it and I know for a fact that my experience today will better my future. 

Til tomorrow my brave comrades,

-C.