For those readers who either know me or have read any of my other blogs, it doesn't need mentioning that I am the farthest thing away from a fitness fanatic. In fact, at the beginning of my journey in January of this year, my main goal was to lose weight. That's it, that's all. Fitness and excercise really didn't enter into it then.
Things have changed.
Imagine yourself getting up from the couch in the rec room to go upstairs for a strategically planned bathroom, drink and snack break (got to make sure you limit those trips up those stairs) and getting to the top completely winded and spent after a slow, methodical climb.
Now, fast forward and imagine yourself 50 lbs lighter and feeling total oneness, fluidity and strength in your own body. It didn't happen overnight, but here's part of the story if you're so inclined to keep reading.
Around the beginning of June, after slowly increasing bursts of activity into my life such as walking and cycling, I began to swim and bike regularly. It occurred to me that, like so many Spark People, I could start setting some ambitious fitness goals for myself. Why not? But me? I was just starting to see myself as capable of truly getting fit, so at the suggestion of DH, I started to investigate triathlons since they provide the biking and swimming that I do enjoy (among the few rare forms of excercise that can boast this status). I found that there is a sampler triathlon for beginners called "Try a Tri" which sounded quite intriguing, but there was one major problem. I've never run in my life. I mean, sure maybe I've run to catch a bus or maybe I ran when I played dodgeball when I was really little, but I've spent most of my life as a conservationist: "conserving my enerygy"! LOL
So, the next logical step, it would seem, was to learn to run. Me? run? Really? Are you serious? Not something I've EVER wanted to do and certainly not something I've ever thought I could do, but it would be a necessary thing to learn in order to "get through" the running portion of the "Try a Tri". Echh, thought I, must I?
Step One:
Learn about the Couch to 5K Program.
It only took a tiny bit of researching and much wonderful advice from Sparkpeople folks (you know who you are), of course, to find myself a description of the C25K program and the next step was then to start it.
Luckily for me, the Try a Tri that was scheduled locally was going to be in enough time to allow me plenty of weeks to complete the C25K training so that I could learn to run a 5K. Now, it was about this point that I seriously started to second guess, question my decision to embark on such an endeavor. After all, who did I think I was? This person who has struggled with 20-70lbs of extra weight seemingly my whole life. Me, afraid of fitness, out of shape since I could drop gym in grade 9. Me the person with weak ankles, bad knees and a previously snapped achiles tendon. How could I possibly think I could become a runner? I mean really, truly, get over yourself girl and be realistic. But, I didn't let my self doubts, negative thoughts and trepidation get in my way and ploughed through to begin.
Was I afraid? Yes. Did I think I could do it? No. All I could do was start and see if I could do Day one, week one and go from there. All I wanted to do was get my first step done without injury. Sooo, as you can guess, if I'm writing this, I got through the first day, but not without feeling as though either I was going to die or throw up, whichever came first.
Gradually, though it became a bit easier as I completed weeks one and two twice each in order to comfortably move on to the next level.
Week three coincided with vacation time at my cottage which is usually associated with excess and sloth in all forms. Most years, I will buy and consume all manner of sugary, fatty snacks and meals along with copious amounts of alcohol and other high calorie beverages while I sit and read, watch the kids play or hubby putter. This year, I vowed would be different. And it was.
I can't even describe the victorious feeling that came with running three minutes straight for the first time. I really was amazing and I started to believe that, maybe, just maybe, I could do this THANG!!
As I enter into week 4, I've discovered that the Try a Tri is unfortunately a scheduling conflict with a previous committment and it doesn't matter. By this point, I'm hooked and regardless of goal or no goal, I want to keep running. I managed week 4, day one last night and surprized myself beyond belief that I could run 5 minutes straight and then do it again! In the pouring rain no less. Is that dedication? I don't know what it is, but I have to say, I just don't recognize myself any more. My body is changing, but more importantly, so is my mind.
I no longer look forward to the next time I am alone with food (compulsive eater). I no longer look forward to couch time or TV time. I really and truly look forward to each and every moment I get to hurl my new body through space. I've read this in other peoples' blogs, but never could imagine I would be writing (and meaning) it myself. Now, I swim three days per week, run three days per week and bike as often as I get the chance. I'm a total convert and this reluctant runner may have found a whole new passion.
It seems still so unbelievable, but I hope you keep reading my blogs as I do hope that I can continue to burn through the program and if I am eventually able to run 5K, there WILL be celebrations. Let me tell you!!
Stay tuned.....
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Mini Milestones Update
I guess I'd better get some picture updates on here soon, but I'm happy to say that I'm starting to feel the effects of my progress. I'm so excited to be only "overweight" now. I've made it into the 180's and out of the BMI "obese" section, so it feels pretty awesome to join the many who are just carrying an extra 30 lbs or so. I'm half way to goal and am still on target to get there by early October.
I must say, though, that I'm a little nervous as I enter this stretch; since summer is always a more challenging time for me. Looking at my journal from my last major weight loss in 2008, I got to just this point at just this time, and lost steam. I stopped losing and gained back 15 lbs between June and September. Yikes!! I just can't let that happen this time. I'm hoping that my new habits (as opposed to a diet) still feel good, right and comfortable and will stick even through party season. I guess awareness and my new attitude can be my fuel to keep me on this path that I've been enjoying; despite any obsticles along the way.
Conversely, I'll feel that much more of a sense of accomplishment to make it through this last half and stay there. THAT alone should provide the motivation I'll need to stay the course! Sounds good anyway.
I must say, though, that I'm a little nervous as I enter this stretch; since summer is always a more challenging time for me. Looking at my journal from my last major weight loss in 2008, I got to just this point at just this time, and lost steam. I stopped losing and gained back 15 lbs between June and September. Yikes!! I just can't let that happen this time. I'm hoping that my new habits (as opposed to a diet) still feel good, right and comfortable and will stick even through party season. I guess awareness and my new attitude can be my fuel to keep me on this path that I've been enjoying; despite any obsticles along the way.
Conversely, I'll feel that much more of a sense of accomplishment to make it through this last half and stay there. THAT alone should provide the motivation I'll need to stay the course! Sounds good anyway.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Dare I believe this could really be IT?!
Monday, April 26, 2010
In looking over my fitness/weight journal from the last 5 years or so, an unmistakable pattern became very clear. Although I would start each new year with renewed hope and commitment to a healthy way of life, it would seem that as soon as the social season (anything but winter) crept upon me, I would see a dramatic dip in my progress.
Each attempt that I made seemed to result in a slow decline in losses after about April and more specifically after a very indulgent annual week end get-away in Mont Tremblent with the girls from work. It would almost always be a certain catalyst for an upward trend in my weight.
Heading up this past week end, I was feeling a strange combination of excitement and trepidation as I've never really been able to survive without eating all the wonderful cornucopia of foods, snacks and bevvies. All in all, though, I think I did very well this year and I have this strange sense of peace that feels very foreign to me. It feels like this could actually be the time that I'm able to keep my commitment to myself even through the difficult seasons.
When I returned from the week end get away feeling confident in my strength, I was immediately thrust into another possibly compromising situation: The Buffet Dinner. A friend was turning 50 and I was pretty nervous about the all you can eat factor. But, you know what? Again, I followed my hunger rather than cravings and enjoyed the healthy greens and fish with no guilt and felt I was missing nothing.
I know I probably should have waited until my WI on Friday, but I was curious and the scale was more cooperative than I'd expected. I was only up half a pound, so I'm pretty confident that I can turn that around this week.
So, all in all, it turns out that this vulnerable time has worked out well for me and I think that it will just help to contribute to more feelings of victory and control over the very food that once controlled me
In looking over my fitness/weight journal from the last 5 years or so, an unmistakable pattern became very clear. Although I would start each new year with renewed hope and commitment to a healthy way of life, it would seem that as soon as the social season (anything but winter) crept upon me, I would see a dramatic dip in my progress.
Each attempt that I made seemed to result in a slow decline in losses after about April and more specifically after a very indulgent annual week end get-away in Mont Tremblent with the girls from work. It would almost always be a certain catalyst for an upward trend in my weight.
Heading up this past week end, I was feeling a strange combination of excitement and trepidation as I've never really been able to survive without eating all the wonderful cornucopia of foods, snacks and bevvies. All in all, though, I think I did very well this year and I have this strange sense of peace that feels very foreign to me. It feels like this could actually be the time that I'm able to keep my commitment to myself even through the difficult seasons.
When I returned from the week end get away feeling confident in my strength, I was immediately thrust into another possibly compromising situation: The Buffet Dinner. A friend was turning 50 and I was pretty nervous about the all you can eat factor. But, you know what? Again, I followed my hunger rather than cravings and enjoyed the healthy greens and fish with no guilt and felt I was missing nothing.
I know I probably should have waited until my WI on Friday, but I was curious and the scale was more cooperative than I'd expected. I was only up half a pound, so I'm pretty confident that I can turn that around this week.
So, all in all, it turns out that this vulnerable time has worked out well for me and I think that it will just help to contribute to more feelings of victory and control over the very food that once controlled me
Fitness Goals? Me? Really?
Ok, yes, I had decided to get off the couch and get my body moving. Yes, I started walking and doing a few strength training exercises with the dumbbells every few days or so. Yes, I even managed to get through a couple Wii Active workouts, but I'd be the first to emphatically tell you that I don't really have any fitness goals, per say. Fitness actually scares me. The words, the actions, the culture. Even fit people intimidate me a bit.
I know that I vowed that 2010 would be the first year of the rest of my healthy living life, but the thought of getting regular exercise for anything other than a calorie burn or muscle building to speed up my metabolism was completely foreign to me. I've never been any good at, or enjoyed, any form of exercise other than dancing in the clubs in college, swimming and maybe some biking when I was in high school before I could get around by car.
Now, I'll be 42 years old this summer and I actually just inadvertently set some fitness goals for myself. Just for the fun of it!!!
I realized this tonight when I found myself going for a bike ride. Not because I had calories to burn since I had already done an intense half hour interval workout today, but because I WANTED to. I just had some extra energy, it was nice out and I realized I wanted to "condition" myself to do longer bike rides with DH this summer. (Never thought I would use the word "condition". Isn't that a fitness term??)
So, I started thinking about all the things DH and I have been excitedly talking about doing together this summer and fall and I realized that I really need to purposefully work at increasing my strength and endurance to enjoy all these activities together. DH is 49 years old and puts me to shame. He's quite fit and strong and I'm done with slowing him down. He's so wonderful and encouraging, patient and tolerant of my uncoordinated and lummox-like floundering but I want to become a fun fitness partner for him.
I've been joining him and the kids playing street hockey games lately and find myself getting into it. Having fun! Playing!
I love the outdoors. I love to swim, I love boating, I love dancing, biking and hiking and walking. I want to do all these things and do them well without feeling like my red, sweaty head is going to pop off from the pressure, my heart pounding out of my chest or my lungs about to explode. I want to keep up. I want to go canoeing on the river from our town's new revitalized river front. I want to go biking along the St. Lawrence River trails. I want to go hiking in the mountains at the cottage. I want to swim across the lake and back any time I want at any speed I want. I want to bike into town and play tennis and bike home again. I want to play street hockey and soccer with my kids without feeling like I'm being "humoured". I want to dance with my BFF's without looking like I should be in the back of an ambulance.
So, I guess that's my epiphany for today. I'm pretty pumped to have come to this realization. I feel like I'm getting closer to becoming truly healthy; not just a few pounds lighter. So I guess I'd better get serious about my "training" if I'm going to meet these new goals!
I know that I vowed that 2010 would be the first year of the rest of my healthy living life, but the thought of getting regular exercise for anything other than a calorie burn or muscle building to speed up my metabolism was completely foreign to me. I've never been any good at, or enjoyed, any form of exercise other than dancing in the clubs in college, swimming and maybe some biking when I was in high school before I could get around by car.
Now, I'll be 42 years old this summer and I actually just inadvertently set some fitness goals for myself. Just for the fun of it!!!
I realized this tonight when I found myself going for a bike ride. Not because I had calories to burn since I had already done an intense half hour interval workout today, but because I WANTED to. I just had some extra energy, it was nice out and I realized I wanted to "condition" myself to do longer bike rides with DH this summer. (Never thought I would use the word "condition". Isn't that a fitness term??)
So, I started thinking about all the things DH and I have been excitedly talking about doing together this summer and fall and I realized that I really need to purposefully work at increasing my strength and endurance to enjoy all these activities together. DH is 49 years old and puts me to shame. He's quite fit and strong and I'm done with slowing him down. He's so wonderful and encouraging, patient and tolerant of my uncoordinated and lummox-like floundering but I want to become a fun fitness partner for him.
I've been joining him and the kids playing street hockey games lately and find myself getting into it. Having fun! Playing!
I love the outdoors. I love to swim, I love boating, I love dancing, biking and hiking and walking. I want to do all these things and do them well without feeling like my red, sweaty head is going to pop off from the pressure, my heart pounding out of my chest or my lungs about to explode. I want to keep up. I want to go canoeing on the river from our town's new revitalized river front. I want to go biking along the St. Lawrence River trails. I want to go hiking in the mountains at the cottage. I want to swim across the lake and back any time I want at any speed I want. I want to bike into town and play tennis and bike home again. I want to play street hockey and soccer with my kids without feeling like I'm being "humoured". I want to dance with my BFF's without looking like I should be in the back of an ambulance.
So, I guess that's my epiphany for today. I'm pretty pumped to have come to this realization. I feel like I'm getting closer to becoming truly healthy; not just a few pounds lighter. So I guess I'd better get serious about my "training" if I'm going to meet these new goals!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
More Resources And Support = Success!
I've found just what I've been looking for all along.
Sparkpeople.com has everything I need to keep motivated and organized. It has meal plans, goal planning, on line support community and teams, nutrition and fitness trackers, home page and profile and even a little place to blog. Add this to my already awesome support groups on WW online and I'm ready to rock and roll.
I think if I put all the tools, resources and support to work along with my own strength and resolve, there is no chance of/room for failure.
I've never felt so determined to make this work for good.
Sparkpeople.com has everything I need to keep motivated and organized. It has meal plans, goal planning, on line support community and teams, nutrition and fitness trackers, home page and profile and even a little place to blog. Add this to my already awesome support groups on WW online and I'm ready to rock and roll.
I think if I put all the tools, resources and support to work along with my own strength and resolve, there is no chance of/room for failure.
I've never felt so determined to make this work for good.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Yes, Yes, YES!!!
(pumps arm fervently)
Two milestones met in one week and dangerously close to the next! Woo hoo!
Under 200 - CHECK
Lose total of 25lbs - CHECK
Next mini-milestone to meet - Total loss of 30lbs (only three lbs away)
Right on. Now, that's progress!
Cheers, Vic
Two milestones met in one week and dangerously close to the next! Woo hoo!
Under 200 - CHECK
Lose total of 25lbs - CHECK
Next mini-milestone to meet - Total loss of 30lbs (only three lbs away)
Right on. Now, that's progress!
Cheers, Vic
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Milestones/Mini-Goals
I'm a firm believer in chunking down a long term goal into smaller, more achievable ones.
I find that each mini-goal I set for myself works miracles in keeping me focused and on track, giving each weigh-in it's own importance and urgency.
So far, I've been celebrating each mini-victory and milestone as they've happened and here are the next few to work towards and look forward to:
Stage One: moving from the 200's into the 190's
Stage Two: 25 lbs lost
Stage Three: 30 lbs lost
Stage Four: moving from the 190's to the 180's, at which point, moving from "obese" to "overweight" on the BMI chart (this'll be a big one)
That's about as far ahead as I can think right now, but I'm still also on target to lose 50lbs by July 1st which was the first challenge I joined on the WW boards this year and am determined to get there.
The BIG ONE is to be at goal by our anniversary at the end of September. I'm keeping my eyes on the prize and still believe it can be done. I just have to plan, think ahead and have strategies for some of the challenges that are ahead of me.
With Easter dinner coming up, it will be the first big gathering involving a delicious feast since my start date. I'll have to be prepared for it. Summer's coming and bb-que, camping and cottaging season are always a very challenging time for me to eat well and control my calories from the beer and wine. I think this will just take more sheer determination, sense of responsibility to myself and strong will.
;-) Vic
I find that each mini-goal I set for myself works miracles in keeping me focused and on track, giving each weigh-in it's own importance and urgency.
So far, I've been celebrating each mini-victory and milestone as they've happened and here are the next few to work towards and look forward to:
Stage One: moving from the 200's into the 190's
Stage Two: 25 lbs lost
Stage Three: 30 lbs lost
Stage Four: moving from the 190's to the 180's, at which point, moving from "obese" to "overweight" on the BMI chart (this'll be a big one)
That's about as far ahead as I can think right now, but I'm still also on target to lose 50lbs by July 1st which was the first challenge I joined on the WW boards this year and am determined to get there.
The BIG ONE is to be at goal by our anniversary at the end of September. I'm keeping my eyes on the prize and still believe it can be done. I just have to plan, think ahead and have strategies for some of the challenges that are ahead of me.
With Easter dinner coming up, it will be the first big gathering involving a delicious feast since my start date. I'll have to be prepared for it. Summer's coming and bb-que, camping and cottaging season are always a very challenging time for me to eat well and control my calories from the beer and wine. I think this will just take more sheer determination, sense of responsibility to myself and strong will.
;-) Vic
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