Julie's words of wisdom!

Hi gang!

So, work has been crazy these past few weeks, so I've been pokey about adding anything new to the blog. Forgive me! But since this seems to be motivating people, I'm planning to transition this to a REAL website (rather than a blog) that will allow people to post easily to a forum, as Susie suggested.

If you missed Julie's words of wisdom in the posted reply below, I'm reprinting here. Go Julie go! Who's joining her on that bike ride??

"Hello Everyone!

Thanks for this John, I also recall an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in which a Green Bay family was trying to break the record for the most family members to complete a marathon together. I thought this was also very inspiring. I have appreciated all the email traffic and the 'collective support' has really made a difference for me. At a family Birthday party 2 weeks ago, Jen and I were talking about how this has motivated us to get back into AM exercise. Where Jen had already started a week or two earlier ... and had the sore muscles to show for it!...I was still 'thinking about it alot'! However, I then got my butt out of bed four times that week and this has been a huge motivator! Last week I managed it 2x however ... and I am on a downslide!!!

The old distractions are working there way in ... which goes to show you behavior change is multifaceted;
especially with kids! I've discovered several other 'changes' have to take place for me to be continually successful. 1) I have to go to bed earlier ...and I am a night person; 2) I have to get things organized for myself and the kids the night before (otherwise coming home at 7:40 when the kids need to be on the bus
at 8:25 gets CRAZY!!!); 3) I need to layout my clothes at night so I can put them on half asleep (thinking is really not an option for me at 5:30 a.m.!); 4) I need to be accountable to someone else for getting to the gym at 6:00 - I am joining a class and/or setting up a personal training session this week!

Regarding a GOAL: like Pete, certain genes have gone in my favor, so I decided to have my % Body Fat tested, which I did last Wednesday am (yes, I went out the morning of the Blizzard! ... it must have wasted me though, I haven't been there since!!!). More importantly though, I think a good goal for me is maintaining a consistency of exercise. So, MY GOAL is a minimum of 4 days of exercise a week for a month, I hope to make it more, but I am looking at being realistic. Honestly, I am at my LEAST FIT probably since about age 20 as I got into fitness after that. Regarding any "-athons", I will make my decision after March. Yes, I think it would be awesome to do one as a family. However, I am staying focused on practical change for myself right now, I want to succeed at this first. My past exercise love is distance biking and I would like to look at doing the Diabetes CURE bike fundraiser in May. I am putting that out as my first 'carrot'. If any other local Dickerts want to join me ... the more the merrier!

Carry on Kinfolk!

With love,

Julie"