Photo by Jenny Branson
By Angie Fenton
This is not a political column.
That needs to be said upfront.
I grew up in a household where
talking about politics was rarely, if
ever, a topic discussed out loud, and
I am still more comfortable listening
to political views as opposed to
divulging my own and engaging in
political talk. I often feel like that’s a
rarity – I mean, listening to someone
else’s opinion instead of exclaiming
my own – though if I said as much
on Facebook or Twitter, I’m sure
someone would attempt to shame
me for saying that, but whatever.
My husband, Jason Applegate,
spent e ight (long) months
researching a passion he’s held for
a very long time. Then, he officially
declared he is running for Floyd
County Commissioner. I fully
support him but am just that: his
support. Still, this is not a column
about him or politics (though I do
encourage you, wherever you’re
located and regardless of your
political affiliation, to exercise your
right to vote…and if I’m called to talk
politics, well, just know I’ve spent a
lifetime of listening and am ready to
stand up and speak if necessary).
But this is a column I wrote for
the now-tabled Extol Sports, Extol
Magazine’s sister publication, and
it is and will remain a column about
getting fit as it was in the other
publication. So…
What I didn’t realize until Jason’s
candidacy began was the role his
campaign would take in terms of
how we approach getting fit as a
family, which has been the focus of
this column since it first debuted in
Extol Sports, our (again) now-tabled
sister publication, in January 2017.
Suddenly , si n c e Jas on’s
announcement, work and life
responsibilities have included a
schedule requiring advanced
planning as well as a family
commitment to fitness and fun.
While social media and print, radio,
digital and television options to
spread the campaign word are vital,
nothing is more effective than inperson
interactions. And that means
hitting the streets on foot.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve
really benefited because family
walks – which include our 2-yearold
– have become a priority. So,
too, has meal planning. Stamina
and endurance are imperative on
this journey, and carving out time
together is important as well, now
more than ever.
Instead of flying into the start
of a new week without thinking
beyond Monday, we’ve made it a
point to plan out the week’s meals
and preparing what we can ahead of
time. We have to. That saves money,
of course, and also forces us to think
about what we’re putting into our
bodies. Garbage in, garbage out is a
cliche of the past, but when you make
it a point to ingest food intended to
fuel your body, you feel better. We
are proof of that.
While in the past it has been easy
to end the day by sitting on the couch
and watching yet another episode of
“Sesame Street” before our tot goes
to sleep and then staying up way too
late working on our computers, Jason
By Angie Fenton
and I have a newfound commitment
to getting outside before dinner
(weather permitting), walking our
four dogs with our young one and
talking about anything but work.
It’s funny how much happier that’s
made us. It’s wonderful how much
healthier it’s making us, physically,
spiritually and emotionally.
We still fail and falter. That’s just
life. We also refuse to give up.
This mama built a body who
has become an amazing little
person. And I’m still committed to
competing in another bodybuilder
competition one day soon like I did
years ago.
For now, though, I’m going to walk
and support those I love and have
fun with my family while focusing
not on politics but on this journey
we’re fortunate to call life.
