Every step I take, every move I make ...

It's Monday morning and I'm feeling a little bleary-eyed, but I am already wearing my pedometer. (It clips just as easily to my jammies as my jeans. Go figure.)

One of the things I have learned in this journey is that it is very important for me to be aware. I've learned with things like the nachos and the pineapple upside-down cake: once I have the knowledge of just how bad something is for me and my program, it's much easier for me to not give in to the cravings. The more my brain is engaged, however sneakily it gets there, the easier of a time I have it.

I'm pretty inactive most of the time I'm not at work. I love my computer, and I love naps, and since those are both points-friendly, I've had no problems with either one. But I know, deep inside, that I really need to be getting more exercise. That's why I keep joining (and quitting) gyms. I know I should be doing more. But do I get there? No.

So I'm starting out slow. Back in the recesses of my mind, I know that someone somewhere said that a good guideline for walking each day involves 10,000 steps. Up until I started wearing the pedometer, that meant nothing to me. How far is 10,000 steps? How much walking is that? It's like trying to picture myself at goal -- I don't know what it looks like.

I started wearing the pedometer last week, just to start getting in the habit. This week I am writing down my pedometer total readings each night as a way of slowly becoming more aware. I'm finding now that, where I really didn't care before, if the number of steps is pitiful I have an urge to do something about it.

This is not exercise. I hate exercise and simply will not do it. It's like my body is programmed against exercise. This, however, is something else. This is getting my inner "teacher's pet" to try to get a higher score (ie number of steps). She's a data junkie. She looks at the numbers at the end of the day and not only wants to pass, but feels she must get an A. In other words, this is me sneakily involving my subconscious, and it seems to be working.

I will add pedometer totals to my goals for next week. For now, my goal is simply to wear it and write it down.

I'm also going to figure out what I'm doing with the website in the next few days. Once I know, I'll let you know.