The First 100 Days
I walked every day of the first 100 days of the year–even on days when I had a migraine, was sick, or just didn’t feel like it. And if that sounds like I’m bragging, so be it. This is a huge achievement for me. I went from being completely sedentary to exercising daily, and for once in my life I’m not going to downplay an achievement.
Some brief facts. I’ve walked around 130 miles since January. I’ve lost zero pounds. I’m down almost one size in clothing. I wear the same Old Navy pants/shirts, Nike Frees, and ankle socks from Kohls in a rainbow of colors. I wear white socks only when I’m out of laundry. I listen to Pandora and stick to 70s rock stations (Van Morrison and Queen), Katy Perry radio (rare), and 80s alternative (very rare). Most of my music isn’t all that great for fast walking, but I’m not in it to break race times. My husband says he’s never seen such a straight-laced girl listen to so much loadie music. It’s true. To hear to my favorite songs, you would think I spent my youth with a six-pack of beer in an orange grove, staring up at the sky while laying on the hood of a Camaro. Really I just read a lot and occasionally hung out at the mall.
What has helped me the most has been Instagram. Taking my daily photos and publishing them there and on Facebook/Twitter has been a way to keep me intrinsically and extrinsically motivated. I have a task every day (take a picture!) and I can’t complete that task without taking my walk. It helps that I like taking pictures. Then, after I publish them, I get encouragement from everyone to keep going. That has been a tremendous help to me. Support is key. In fact, it was a woman on Instagram (@Momonhold) who reminded me my 100 days was coming up and said she expected to see balloons in the 100 day picture. I never thought to buy myself balloons or do anything celebratory, but she inspired me to do just that and I’m so glad she did. I was so busy that day, and it was nice for me to take time out of my schedule to do something just for me–and something frivolous, to boot!
The daily task and support/feedback is what I don’t really have with the reading and gratitude list of this project, and I think that’s why I’m not doing as well in these two areas.
Oh! One more thing I do that is key for me to keep walking: I walk by myself. I like the quiet, I like listening to my music at full blast, and I like disappearing into my head. I’ve used reading to disappear my entire life, and now I see that walking is just as good an escape—maybe even better. Actually, better.
I can’t believe I wrote that.
Song of the Week
Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
bravo!!!!
Congratulations!! Your dedication and commitment is inspiring. The balloons are very well deserved! I greatly enjoy reading your blog – it is one of my favourites. You are such a talented writer. Thank you for creating one of my favourite places on the internet.
Love the yellow!! That section of the book is going to look so good!
Way to stay with it!
that is so great!! love the yellow this week!
That’s just awesome, Jules. I especially appreciate your insights on what’s making it work for you. Helping me understand why my own efforts have dwindled to nearly nothing, even though I really do want to succeed.
Go Jules! I feel weird telling an adult (that I don’t know in real life) that I’m proud of them, but I’ll say it anyway: I’m proud of you!
Congrats on making it to the 100 day mark!
You should be incredibly proud of yourself. It is a huge accomplishment.
Awesome. Love the yellow. Keep walking.
Jules you are amazing. We’re so, so proud of/happy for you.
Congratulations! I love the Day 100 picture! :)
Ditto ditto ditto – awesome, amazing, so proud, and inspirational! Thank you! And what color could be better than yellow for balloons? Except yellow with POLKA DOTS! Didn’t even know those existed.
Woohoo! So exciting! I absolutely loved all the yellow . . . every picture made me smile (although, the one did make me hungry for McDonald’s breakfast, but that’s another matter entirely).
Not to mention, you’re such an inspriration. I’ve found myself wanting to get out and walk, myself–and that’s never happens, unless I’m on vacation. :)
Recently my gym closed. I am not an athlete, but I came to love going to the gym ALONE. I loved burning off all of my frustrations, and leaving them all behind in the gym. So, it closed, and I restlessly paced around the house for a couple of months. Finally, last week I decided to jog with my husband. He is thrilled. And it has been nice, until my hormones struck. Now, he wants to run with me, and i want to be able to get away!!!!! There is so much value in getting away from everyone and blowing off the steam ALONE!! Thank you for writing this post…. and all of the others.
Good for you, admire your stick-to-it-ability!!
Go Jules go!
Are you sure you weren’t driven to drinking that can of Coors and throwing it down in a spat of teenage-memory-induced angst, after listening to too much Joy Division?
This project, these 365, feel like such a positive turning point. Walking as an escape, who would’ve thought? So glad you are doing this. Well done, well freakin’ done, indeed.
I love the balloon picture. It made me smile :)
so much awesome stuff happening in your life! Congratulations on the 100 days. You must be so proud of yourself! Yay you!
I had a lovely time at the Craft Cabinet–thank you for hosting it again!
Day 100!! How time does fly. :) You’re seriously making me want to set a goal and just do it already. Seriously inspiring!
Congratulations! I’m impressed by your progress – it is inspiring!
~another straight-laced girl who plays that same song on my commute home from work at least once a week
Yippeeeee…..you go girl. That is some kind of wonderful. Keep moving (forward).
Thanks for sharing your posts and your life.
I found you in a much older post, but am inspired!
I am going to stop doing things that make me grumpy.