Report From Ladder Company 40 -Day 14

Hi Team!

Today was not a great day for climbing the ladder (but God is able)

I have been sick since saturday but I am feeling better. Today I went to work and my right knee decided to go out on me. I did not walk today. I iced it instead. Wednesday I will return to my usual walking.

Another reason it wasn't such a good day is that I kept bumping the button on the pedometer that resets it. I have no idea how much incidental walking I did today. Oh well, there is always tomorrow.

Coach Alex let her silence speak louder than words ever could and did not respond at all to my message of not being able to walk today. We have since spoken and she still loves me. YAY ME!

Need to get more sleep and drink more fluids. Nothing new! LOL

Until tomorrow- Stay Safe!!

Hotflash out

Report From Ladder Company 40 -Day 13

Hi Team!

Remember yesterday that I said Sunday is a day of rest? Well, I meant it!

I woke up feeling like CRAP and decided to stay home instead of going to church today. I slept in and then spent most of my day reading. I did not make the effort to drink extra water, which I should have, especially feeling sick. I did not go out of my way to walk or exercise. In fact I only walked 1,801 steps today. Tomorrow, weather I feel well or not, it is back to work and not just the job I do for pay. I have a date with Coach Alex at 9:00 for our 3 mile walk and 10 flights of stairs. YAY ME!!

For those of you who have been trying ot post comments for me, THANK YOU! I need all the encouragement I can get. I am still investigating why I am not getting those messages, but please don't give up!!

Until next time, Stay Safe!

Hotflash out.

Report From Ladder Company 40 -Day 12

Hi Gang,

Today has been an up and down day.

I started my morning with the 3k walk to benefit crisis pregnancy centers. That was a nice time and a challening walk with lots of up and down to it. A far cry from the mostly flat terrain I've been walking.

My total step count for the day was 10,387 which was 3.77 miles and 510 calories. I did some other walking but did not have the pedometer on while at home.

I spent a lot of time lying down today, feeling more tired than usual. My stomach is bothering me and I have pretty much confirmed my supspicion that I am allergic to pineapple. yay me!! :(

I drank about 40 ounces of water today which is better than many days, but could use improvement.

Sunday is a day of rest and tomorrow I intend to do just that.

All in all today was not a bad day, but it also wasn't my best.

Thanks for all the support, team.

Stay Safe

Hotflash out

Report From Ladder Company 40 -Day 11

Hi Team!

Oh boy! I've done it now. Remember how I said one of my goals was to get more sleep? Well there is a very good reason for that. (Besides that that it is much healthier for my to do so than not). Last night, I fell asleep at the computer. When I woke up, slumped over the keyboard, I didn't remember that I hadn 't blogged yet. I remembered that much later after waking up from my "bed" because of a more urgent matter. So, here I am now, upon waking for the next day, writing my blog, sheepishly.

Yesterday, (Day 11) was a really good day:

Right after my morning shift, Coach Alex and I went for our usual walk. We made our three miles in a little less than an hour and did 10 sets of stairs.

My total step count for yesterday was 18,525 steps!! That translates into 6.72 miles!

I drank at least 60 ounces of water yesterday! YAY ME!

Somebody told me, "Wow, you're losing weight, I can see it in your face!"

The PE teacher at the school I work in told me I was doing a great job and to keep up the good work.

All in all it was a day of great successes and encouragement.

Today, (which is actually day 12) is my 4USTacoma walk, benefitting Crisis Pregnancy Centers with Ultrasound machines and training for technicians. It is a three mile walk through Point Defiance Park. It is not looking too promising out there weather wise, but I am going!

Thanks for all the support, well wishes, prayers, encouragement, etc.

Until tonight, Stay Safe!

Hotflash out.

Report From Ladder Company 40 -Day 10

Hi Team!

Today was a great day for me. Just a regular day in the scheme of climbing the ladder but all in all I had a really good day.

I did not get enough sleep last night. I just had a hard time sleeping and then had bad dreams. That is okay because God is able!

I drank lots of fluids today (at least lots for me). At least a quart and a half of water, iced tea and juice.

I am not at all sore from my work out yesterday, which surprises me because I was SO tired last night. But I did push the fluids in the evening so maybe that helped.

Today was not a walking day but I still put in 6980 steps, some of them deliberately! I am looking forward to my walk with Coach Alex tomorrow morning, and to my benefit walk through Point Defiance Park on Saturday, rain or shine!

Well, not much more to report. Thanks for reading, praying and encouraging.

Oh, I discovered that I mis-recalled (Is that a word? You get my drift!) the name of the book that inspired my blog heading. It was actually called "Report From Engine Company 82" still by Dennis Smith. Just a correction in case any one was interested. Not really important to the blog except for the sake of being accurate.

Stay Safe!

Hotflash out.

Report From Ladder Company 40 -Day 9

Hi Team!

Are you there? It is me, Hotflash!

Today has been a pretty good day for me and I am TIRED!! I was a good girl and went for my walk today with Coach Alex. Her pedometer was working and we determined that our walk route is just barely over 3 miles. And we've been completing it in 50-55 minutes! Not bad at all! Monday we started throwing in some stair climbing along with the walk. We use the outside steps to the former Nordstrom's Entrance at the Tacoma Mall. Today my goal was five times up and down them, but I pushed hard and completed 10! YAY ME! Oops, I did that in front of, er, along side of Coach Alex. She'll never let me slack to less than that now! What have I done??!! LOL

I replaced my defective replacement pedometer today. I have not had time to program it to my stride, weight, etc. (that's what teenagers are for, anyway) but I did program in the time and it does count steps for me. From the time I got dressed this morning until now, 8:26 pm, I walked 14,238
steps! Awesome!

I got about 6 hours of sleep last night so I can still make improvements there. (God is Able!)

I haven't had enough water today, but Coach Alex has reminded me that I won't be so sore or have the calf cramps I have had when walking if I DO drink my water. I have had about 20-24 oz of juice at work and I have a 20 ounce glass of water that I am working on right now.

I met briefly with the PE teacher at school today and he and I are going to schedule a meeting soon to discuss ideas for building upper body strength at home.

I finally started my list of things I want to change in my life! So far it has on it:

Changes:

I want to lose 51 pounds
I want to sleep more
I want to drink more water
I want to pray more
I want to be in The Word, daily
I want to build lean flexible muscles
I want to go to school and get EMT certified
I want to procrastinate less
I want to exercise daily
I want to change my self talk from "I can't" to God is Able!
I want to remember and state that "God Is Able" everytime I think of an excuse not to succeed and everytime I experience and recognize a failure.

I will continue to add to this list as the ideas come to me. I know I had other ideas already that are not on this list yet, and I don't remember what they are at the moment. I also have a few things that I could put on the list but prefer to leave private! (but only a few!)

Coach ALex and I originally planned to walk twice this week (Tue and Thur) but THur didn't work for her so we switched to Mon and Wed. Since we did that, we have decided to go ahead and walk Fri as well. Then Saturday is my walk to raise funds for ultrasound machines and technical training for crisis pregnancy centers. I am pleased to be getting lots of exercise this week.

ANother bit of good news is this: I met a female firefighter on a fanfiction web site (where amature writers post their stories) and told her about my goals. She has not joined this blog but she is encouraging me through Facebook. That makes her our newest team member! Thanks Angy!

Well, that is all folks. I am feeling encouraged by today's successes.

Until next time, Stay safe!

Hotflash out

Report From Ladder Company 40 -Day 8

Hi Team!

Here I am again. I am still determined but it has been a challenging last several days. Lots going on to keep me busy. I still have not gotten my list made. Aaaarrrgggghhhhhh!!! Please keep nagging!

I didn't get time to exchange my pedometer today but the part that does seem to be working is the actual step counter. IF it was accurate, I walked 5,545 steps today, plus at least another 500 that I didn't have the pedometer attached to me for. But for all practical purposes I will count just the 5,545.

I ate reasonably but did not drink my water. Grrrrrrr.

Tomorrow is a day of running. I have my regular shifts to work, my hour walk, plus I have to go in two hours early for the afternoon shift. I think I should have plenty of stepping in for the day. WIth any luck I will be able to exchange the pedometer on Friday. It seems to count steps but the heart rate monitor fluctuates both up and down without my finger on the sensor! (anywhere from 54-98 beats per minute. Hmmmmmmmmm!) Also the alarm on the clock part doesn't seem to work.

Oh, I hate to admit it, but I haven't even attempted the push ups yet. I forgot last night. OOps! 100% honesty is my policy so as embarrassing as it sometimes is, I am telling all. I'll try to do better.

Until next time,

STAY SAFE!

Hotflash out.