Stephanie's Update: April 2010

Well...it's time!

I have been making all kinds of excuses not to go to the gym...scrubbing the tub (twice), cleaning my car, doing laundry, feeding my cats, napping (all that tub scrubbing wore me out), but now it really is time to start training for Nepal.

Now, you don't have to be in stellar shape to trek through the Khumbu Valley and on to Mt. Everest base camp. But any extra weight you take with you, that is not working FOR you in the way of muscle or cardiovascular fitness, is really going to be a drag and make life on the trail fairly unpleasant if not life threatening if you push to hard.

One of my favorite methods that I really love (uh that's a lie, just so you know) is the StepMill. This is VERY different from the stairmasters of the past. Although the stairs rotate and this gives you some gravity relief, you are still climbing and it is hard work!

While preparing to trek in Nepal in 2006 I decided to give it a try after three weeks on the elliptical and thought this should be no problem!

WRONG! WRONG! TRIPLE WRONG!

Within 5 minutes I thought my right lung had decided to go on vacation to the North Pole and my stomach was sending signals of rebellion.

I backed up, slowed the machine down and started fresh a LITTLE at a time. That was June of 2006 and by the time my trip rolled around in October of that same year, the Stepmill had a NEW name!

The STEPHmill! 45-60 minutes 4-5 days a week. I had that thing humming! Oh those were the days in my 30's. Ah!

But alas, I have been a wonderfully "lazy cat" lately, enjoying long naps, many calorie laden trips to Starbucks and doing "other" things until it's finally time to get busy!

So off to the gym I go!

**I know from experience it can be so easy to put things off like your health and fitness care. Remember once a day or even three times a week can make all the difference in how you feel each day and what you are able to accomplish. So take good care of yourself out there and enjoy the trail!

©Stephanie Graham 2010