My shameless addiction to the Biggest Loser is being fed again – the new season began and last night I sat and watched the first episode. Good lord, everyone and their moms cried during that show. I admit that I got a little teary-eyed when the one contestant told the story of her ENTIRE FAMILY dying in a car accident two years ago. Seriously – how does she have the energy to get out of bed? That’s an inspirational story, right there.
Though, I do have to admit that I get tired of the intentionally inspirational talks from Bob and Jillian (especially Jillian). They’re just ridiculous. And I usually skip over the deliberation over who’s going home, because really? I don’t care. I just don’t. They all say the same thing – “I think I should stay because my family needs me, because I want to have children, because I want to live a fuller life, blah, blah, blah.”
I think they could shorten the show by a half hour at least and cut out half the talk. I want to see them screaming in the gym, I want to see the challenges, and I want to see their final weights. Really, I wish they’d do the weigh-in in quick succession. A quick-round weigh-in. None of this “suspense” crap, because I’m not really in suspense. I’m just annoyed, so I end up skipping that, too, and just find out who’s below the yellow line.
This will do me good, though. When The Biggest Loser is on, I am more motivated to get out and run, to be active and to drink more water. There’s nothing like looking at a 475-lb woman to remind myself that it happens in little slips here and there.
Favorite moment of the show? Said in sobs “I would just sit on my bathroom floor eating oreos and crying, with the door shut because I didn’t want no one to see me!” If it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny.
I can’t wait to see how their weight loss comes along!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
A good update
You would think that my absence for the last week means that I’ve lost sight of things, but the truth is that I’ve really been busy, and I haven’t lost sight of anything. In fact, on Saturday, I had a triumph: I ran my first timed 5K in 31:42. That’s 10:13 min per mile! I was, needless to say, THRILLED that I did it. And I’m already excited about my next chance to run a 5K. I’m not sure when that will be – maybe not until the spring – but I loved the energy and the excitement of running with a huge crowd of people. I was so nervous before the gun off, and then felt like I was going to accidentally overexert myself in the first five minutes. I forced myself to listen to my body and find my pace, without paying attention to the people passing me or the people I was passing. I took careful strides, listened to my music and concentrated on my breathing.
The biggest triumph? I didn’t take a single step at a walking pace – I jogged the entire way! I was so worried I would allow myself to slow down, but I didn’t. I kept my pace and felt good up until the very end of the race. Now that I know I can do it, I’m going to try again this week on one of the courses I have worked out around town, and see if I can run it without stopping. It helps when I have someone to run with, however, and Greg isn’t big on running.
I definitely felt like a rock star after that was done. Now, if I had only stopped acting like a rock star, it would have been all right. Unfortunately, I drank and ate for the rest of the day, and nothing that held a lot of nutritional value. That was a mistake. I could have done so much better.
I think I’m going to return to weekly goals now that I’ve gotten myself back in the swing (sort of), but continue updating throughout the week. So this week’s goals:
1. Bring my lunch and avoid the company cafeteria to reduce calorie intake as much as possible - no desserts at work other than fruit!
2. Drink coffee black if I drink it at all.
3. Try running 3.1 miles without stopping at least twice during the week. (Tuesday and Friday?)
4. Go to the gym twice during the week. (Thursday and Saturday?)
5. Start doing exercises while reading – bicep curls, squats, lunges, leg raises, etc.
That’s a hefty list, but it’s doable and by no means too much for a single week. I’ve only got a little over a month left to get my butt in gear for this wedding. I haven’t tried on the dress recently, but I have a feeling I’m on the right track.
The biggest triumph? I didn’t take a single step at a walking pace – I jogged the entire way! I was so worried I would allow myself to slow down, but I didn’t. I kept my pace and felt good up until the very end of the race. Now that I know I can do it, I’m going to try again this week on one of the courses I have worked out around town, and see if I can run it without stopping. It helps when I have someone to run with, however, and Greg isn’t big on running.
I definitely felt like a rock star after that was done. Now, if I had only stopped acting like a rock star, it would have been all right. Unfortunately, I drank and ate for the rest of the day, and nothing that held a lot of nutritional value. That was a mistake. I could have done so much better.
I think I’m going to return to weekly goals now that I’ve gotten myself back in the swing (sort of), but continue updating throughout the week. So this week’s goals:
1. Bring my lunch and avoid the company cafeteria to reduce calorie intake as much as possible - no desserts at work other than fruit!
2. Drink coffee black if I drink it at all.
3. Try running 3.1 miles without stopping at least twice during the week. (Tuesday and Friday?)
4. Go to the gym twice during the week. (Thursday and Saturday?)
5. Start doing exercises while reading – bicep curls, squats, lunges, leg raises, etc.
That’s a hefty list, but it’s doable and by no means too much for a single week. I’ve only got a little over a month left to get my butt in gear for this wedding. I haven’t tried on the dress recently, but I have a feeling I’m on the right track.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Day 8 – Making It
This weekend had its ups and downs. First, a goal recap:
1. Drink water all day long.
Um…oops? I need to work on this one. 2. Every trip to the bathroom will include 5-10 “countertop pushups” before I wash my hands. (With about 5-10 trips to the bathroom a day when I’m drinking water like crazy results in a hell of a lot of those.)
Since I didn’t drink water like crazy, I didn’t make trips to the bathroom, hence no pushups. L3. Lunch will be meager, and very calculated. No huge taco salads. No greasy sandwiches. Fresh foods, or vegetable soup ONLY.
Lunch was meager, and careful. A small bowl of soup and fruit. 4. Buy healthy snacks to have along journey – nuts, dried fruit, vegetable juice and other things.
My snacks were relatively healthy, but I could have done better. Much better. 5. Rise early in the morning and take a stroll around the hotel, or go for a swim in the pool to get the heart rate up ever so slightly.
We spent ALL day on Saturday walking, walking, walking. So much so that I was actually sore on Sunday.
The rest of the weekend, though? A bust for fitness. I had plans to run, to go try my 5k run again, to get outside and work. Instead, I tackled dishes and cleaning the bathroom, sweeping up the house, and doing the laundry. Nary a run or workout in sight. Tuesday night was much of the same. Although, I did complete a few sets of squats and side bends while reading for school, and took a 20-minute walk with my Mister and the puppy right after work. Not a superb workout, but I did get myself moving, at the very least.
A friend of mine at work recommended a new strategy, however. A few years ago, she was on a huge weight-loss streak. She lost around 50 pounds with diet and exercise, and one of her secrets was her lunch pattern. At our workplace, they offer high-protein shakes made with fuit, fruit sherbet and skim milk. They’re relatively low-calorie, but high in protein and thus fill you up. So, today I’m trying it out. I have at my right a 12-ounce strawberry/blueberry/raspberry shake made with skim milk and orange sherbet and whey protein. Today, I will see if this fills me up long enough to make it to dinner. I have a banana in my purse to supplement. And, well, if we’re going to be really honest, they’re also a giant container of Panera bagels someone brought in sitting very near my desk. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I’d snuck a half bagel with cream cheese already. But that was a few hours ago, and I don’t feel too guilty about it because, well, it was REALLY good.
So today’s goals:
1. Drink water.
2. After my shake for lunch, don’t eat again until dinner. (The banana is on standby if I get shaky or weak.)
3. Do something active with the kids I’m babysitting tonight – i.e. don’t just sit and watch them play.
4. When I get home, watch an episode of the Tudors or Mythbusters while doing situps, pushups, planks or other exercises. Spend the entire show active. As an alternative, go for a run.
5. Get up at 6:00 tomorrow morning. Sit up and get out of bed. Prove to myself that I CAN get up that early.
1. Drink water all day long.
Um…oops? I need to work on this one. 2. Every trip to the bathroom will include 5-10 “countertop pushups” before I wash my hands. (With about 5-10 trips to the bathroom a day when I’m drinking water like crazy results in a hell of a lot of those.)
Since I didn’t drink water like crazy, I didn’t make trips to the bathroom, hence no pushups. L3. Lunch will be meager, and very calculated. No huge taco salads. No greasy sandwiches. Fresh foods, or vegetable soup ONLY.
Lunch was meager, and careful. A small bowl of soup and fruit. 4. Buy healthy snacks to have along journey – nuts, dried fruit, vegetable juice and other things.
My snacks were relatively healthy, but I could have done better. Much better. 5. Rise early in the morning and take a stroll around the hotel, or go for a swim in the pool to get the heart rate up ever so slightly.
We spent ALL day on Saturday walking, walking, walking. So much so that I was actually sore on Sunday.
The rest of the weekend, though? A bust for fitness. I had plans to run, to go try my 5k run again, to get outside and work. Instead, I tackled dishes and cleaning the bathroom, sweeping up the house, and doing the laundry. Nary a run or workout in sight. Tuesday night was much of the same. Although, I did complete a few sets of squats and side bends while reading for school, and took a 20-minute walk with my Mister and the puppy right after work. Not a superb workout, but I did get myself moving, at the very least.
A friend of mine at work recommended a new strategy, however. A few years ago, she was on a huge weight-loss streak. She lost around 50 pounds with diet and exercise, and one of her secrets was her lunch pattern. At our workplace, they offer high-protein shakes made with fuit, fruit sherbet and skim milk. They’re relatively low-calorie, but high in protein and thus fill you up. So, today I’m trying it out. I have at my right a 12-ounce strawberry/blueberry/raspberry shake made with skim milk and orange sherbet and whey protein. Today, I will see if this fills me up long enough to make it to dinner. I have a banana in my purse to supplement. And, well, if we’re going to be really honest, they’re also a giant container of Panera bagels someone brought in sitting very near my desk. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I’d snuck a half bagel with cream cheese already. But that was a few hours ago, and I don’t feel too guilty about it because, well, it was REALLY good.
So today’s goals:
1. Drink water.
2. After my shake for lunch, don’t eat again until dinner. (The banana is on standby if I get shaky or weak.)
3. Do something active with the kids I’m babysitting tonight – i.e. don’t just sit and watch them play.
4. When I get home, watch an episode of the Tudors or Mythbusters while doing situps, pushups, planks or other exercises. Spend the entire show active. As an alternative, go for a run.
5. Get up at 6:00 tomorrow morning. Sit up and get out of bed. Prove to myself that I CAN get up that early.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Day 3 - Chugging Along... slowly
So, I didn’t do so well in the last 24 hours. This morning was a bust. I had forgotten that I had promised Greg we would go to breakfast. You see, at 3:00 today, I jet out of work early and hop into my car, which I will spend 6 hours in on my way to St. Louis to meet a friend. We’re having an impromptu weekend (okay, so we planned it a month ago – that’s still pretty impromptu for me) to see each other after 4 years. St. Louis is our halfway.
Last night, I did go to the gym and do Body Pump. I packed, and bustled around the house as much as I could, only sitting down for dinner and then laying down on the couch with Greg around 8:30 for a cuddle and some TV. I suppose that’s not too shabby, right? I drank water all afternoon and a glass after I got home, too (a rarity for me).
But I did not get up at 5:30, nor did I try. I did not get out for a walk this morning, nor did I try. I kept trying to psych myself up before bed, thinking “Hey, if I go do this tomorrow morning, Saturday I can be okay with the fact that I won’t get any formal exercise!” But, even that didn’t convince me. I wound up waking at 6:30, and rushing around to get myself ready to go to work and to grab all those last-minute things you remember the morning of your trip.
So, no official exercise today. But tomorrow, with any luck, I’ll be hiking around St. Louis, and running myself ragged. Maybe I’ll even use the stairs at the hotel. But I’ve got to think about today, and not tomorrow. So here are my goals:
1. Drink water all day long.
2. Every trip to the bathroom will include 5-10 “countertop pushups” before I wash my hands. (With about 5-10 trips to the bathroom a day when I’m drinking water like crazy results in a hell of a lot of those.)
3. Lunch will be meager, and very calculated. No huge taco salads. No greasy sandwiches. Fresh foods, or vegetable soup ONLY.
4. Buy healthy snacks to have along journey – nuts, dried fruit, vegetable juice and other things.
5. Rise early in the morning and take a stroll around the hotel, or go for a swim in the pool to get the heart rate up ever so slightly.
Last night, I did go to the gym and do Body Pump. I packed, and bustled around the house as much as I could, only sitting down for dinner and then laying down on the couch with Greg around 8:30 for a cuddle and some TV. I suppose that’s not too shabby, right? I drank water all afternoon and a glass after I got home, too (a rarity for me).
But I did not get up at 5:30, nor did I try. I did not get out for a walk this morning, nor did I try. I kept trying to psych myself up before bed, thinking “Hey, if I go do this tomorrow morning, Saturday I can be okay with the fact that I won’t get any formal exercise!” But, even that didn’t convince me. I wound up waking at 6:30, and rushing around to get myself ready to go to work and to grab all those last-minute things you remember the morning of your trip.
So, no official exercise today. But tomorrow, with any luck, I’ll be hiking around St. Louis, and running myself ragged. Maybe I’ll even use the stairs at the hotel. But I’ve got to think about today, and not tomorrow. So here are my goals:
1. Drink water all day long.
2. Every trip to the bathroom will include 5-10 “countertop pushups” before I wash my hands. (With about 5-10 trips to the bathroom a day when I’m drinking water like crazy results in a hell of a lot of those.)
3. Lunch will be meager, and very calculated. No huge taco salads. No greasy sandwiches. Fresh foods, or vegetable soup ONLY.
4. Buy healthy snacks to have along journey – nuts, dried fruit, vegetable juice and other things.
5. Rise early in the morning and take a stroll around the hotel, or go for a swim in the pool to get the heart rate up ever so slightly.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Day 2 - Good Beginnings
I got home yesterday, and followed my own advice. I put on my running shoes, and I got outside. My stomach growling, I started to run. I only lasted 12 minutes before I had to walk. Knowing that this was not going to be a good run, I instead decided to do my own version of intervals. I walked for a minute or two, then ran as far and as fast as I could run, walked again, ran again. I kept it up for almost 45 minutes, which was the only redeeming factor of the workout. I got home grumpy, and was grumpy with Greg because not only was I hot, tired and had a lousy run, but the kitchen was filthy, and I was going to have to start making dinner. (I had secretly hoped Greg would start it while I was on the run, but it was not to be…)
A quick look at my goals from yesterday:
1. No drinks other than water and Emergen-C for the rest of the day, and plenty of water at that.
I did have a cup of chamomile tea with a bit of honey when I was going to bed, but I’m not at all ashamed or bothered by that tiny slip. Tea is good for me, and the honey isn’t bad, either.
2. The first thing I do when arriving home is put on my workout clothes and go for a 30-40 minute jog. No wimping out.
Done.
3. Dinner will be chicken, rice and vegetables. No sauces. No seconds. Keep the portion small.
I had exactly that. No sauces, no seconds. Lots of protein, broccoli and cauliflower. Very small portion of rice.
4. No after-dinner treat. Chew gum or brush my teeth, and be done with it. No more “I’m craving something sweet” as an excuse to eat something stupid.
Again, I did it. I brushed my teeth shortly after dinner, making my mouth feel clean and sweet, and leaving me with no excuse to dirty it up again with something I didn’t need.
5. Don’t think about being hungry, because I’ll have given my body plenty of fuel, and there’s no reason to think otherwise.
I didn’t, and I wasn’t, and I went to bed satisfied and not craving anything.
So today, I’m hell bent on doing it again. I ate a modest breakfast, I’m currently eating a modest lunch. Greg is making chicken curry for dinner, which only has the downfall of using coconut milk, high in saturated fat, but combined with lots of spices and grated carrot, the sauce is delicious and certainly healthier than one I would get at a restaurant.
When I get off work, I’m going straight to the gym to do a Body Pump class – one solid hour of muscle toning. I’m on Day 2 of being good, and I’m going to do it up right. I’m not going to make weeklong or monthly goals, because I just disappoint myself, but rather take it day-by-day to ensure that I’m doing what I need to do to make sure each day counts. So here are my goals for the next 24 hours:
1. Give it my all at Body Pump – Use some higher weights, focus on form, and don’t wimp out and miss repetitions.
2. Drink enough water to kill a camel.
3. Spend the evening on my feet – pack for my trip this weekend, pace the floor while reading for class, and find reasons NOT to sit down.
4. Ask Greg to let me serve myself at dinner. He feeds me well – often too well – and I need to make sure I keep my portions down to a reasonable volume to lose weight.
5. Set my alarm for 5:30 tomorrow, and sit up in bed without thinking. Put on my running clothes without thinking. Go outside and run or walk for 20 minutes without thinking.
This weekend is going to be tough. I’m going on a trip to St. Louis with a friend, which means we’ll be eating out and being lazy. I’m going to have to set some boundaries and goals here, because if I don’t, it could become a weekend of gluttony. I can’t afford that. There are only 57 days until I have to fit into my bridesmaid’s dress, and I’m determined to NOT look like I’m a polish sausage in that skirt.
A quick look at my goals from yesterday:
1. No drinks other than water and Emergen-C for the rest of the day, and plenty of water at that.
I did have a cup of chamomile tea with a bit of honey when I was going to bed, but I’m not at all ashamed or bothered by that tiny slip. Tea is good for me, and the honey isn’t bad, either.
2. The first thing I do when arriving home is put on my workout clothes and go for a 30-40 minute jog. No wimping out.
Done.
3. Dinner will be chicken, rice and vegetables. No sauces. No seconds. Keep the portion small.
I had exactly that. No sauces, no seconds. Lots of protein, broccoli and cauliflower. Very small portion of rice.
4. No after-dinner treat. Chew gum or brush my teeth, and be done with it. No more “I’m craving something sweet” as an excuse to eat something stupid.
Again, I did it. I brushed my teeth shortly after dinner, making my mouth feel clean and sweet, and leaving me with no excuse to dirty it up again with something I didn’t need.
5. Don’t think about being hungry, because I’ll have given my body plenty of fuel, and there’s no reason to think otherwise.
I didn’t, and I wasn’t, and I went to bed satisfied and not craving anything.
So today, I’m hell bent on doing it again. I ate a modest breakfast, I’m currently eating a modest lunch. Greg is making chicken curry for dinner, which only has the downfall of using coconut milk, high in saturated fat, but combined with lots of spices and grated carrot, the sauce is delicious and certainly healthier than one I would get at a restaurant.
When I get off work, I’m going straight to the gym to do a Body Pump class – one solid hour of muscle toning. I’m on Day 2 of being good, and I’m going to do it up right. I’m not going to make weeklong or monthly goals, because I just disappoint myself, but rather take it day-by-day to ensure that I’m doing what I need to do to make sure each day counts. So here are my goals for the next 24 hours:
1. Give it my all at Body Pump – Use some higher weights, focus on form, and don’t wimp out and miss repetitions.
2. Drink enough water to kill a camel.
3. Spend the evening on my feet – pack for my trip this weekend, pace the floor while reading for class, and find reasons NOT to sit down.
4. Ask Greg to let me serve myself at dinner. He feeds me well – often too well – and I need to make sure I keep my portions down to a reasonable volume to lose weight.
5. Set my alarm for 5:30 tomorrow, and sit up in bed without thinking. Put on my running clothes without thinking. Go outside and run or walk for 20 minutes without thinking.
This weekend is going to be tough. I’m going on a trip to St. Louis with a friend, which means we’ll be eating out and being lazy. I’m going to have to set some boundaries and goals here, because if I don’t, it could become a weekend of gluttony. I can’t afford that. There are only 57 days until I have to fit into my bridesmaid’s dress, and I’m determined to NOT look like I’m a polish sausage in that skirt.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
What has happened to me?
I’ve looked at pictures of myself lately and I’ve seen it. The creeping of my weight. The arms that look much flabbier than they did a year ago. The stomach, which used to be almost flat before I got hydrated and fed for the day and it filled out in a gentle curve. The hips – always round, but now much more spherical than ever before. It’s a problem. And stepping on the scale shows a solid 150 lbs; the heaviest I’ve been in my life. Only five pounds more than my typical weight, but I suddenly feel much bigger than I ever have.
I’ve spent the summer in sun dresses and flowing skirts. Not only because I love being girly and feeling breezy during the long, hot summer days, but also because none of my shorts fit properly. The shorts that used to be too big are suddenly a tad too small. The shorts that used to fit now require a lot of maneuvering. And muffin top abounds.
I can’t do it anymore. I can’t watch my weight do this. I cannot let my body get away from me until I feel awful and ugly and unsexy. So it starts today. My daily journal. It starts today. I don’t care that it’ll be a rambling of stupidity or that no one will ever read it. I need to talk about this every day in order to make sure I’m doing something about it. Because if I don’t talk about it every day, I can ignore it, and if I can ignore it, I can let go of myself to a frightening degree. So here are my goals for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow I will be back to talk about how I’ve done.
1. No drinks other than water and Emergen-C for the rest of the day, and plenty of water at that.
2. The first thing I do when arriving home is put on my workout clothes and go for a 30-40 minute jog. No wimping out.
3. Dinner will be chicken, rice and vegetables. No sauces. No seconds. Keep the portion small.
4. No after-dinner treat. Chew gum or brush my teeth, and be done with it. No more “I’m craving something sweet” as an excuse to eat something stupid.
5. Don’t think about being hungry, because I’ll have given my body plenty of fuel, and there’s no reason to thing otherwise.
I can’t keep making excuses. I’m running a 5K in a little over two weeks. I’m in a wedding in two months, and the skirt I’m supposed to wear is looking frightfully small at the moment. None of my jeans fit, and I feel... jiggly. In the worst way.
I’ve said it before, but I’m going to MAKE myself mean it this time. It’s time to get serious.
I’ve spent the summer in sun dresses and flowing skirts. Not only because I love being girly and feeling breezy during the long, hot summer days, but also because none of my shorts fit properly. The shorts that used to be too big are suddenly a tad too small. The shorts that used to fit now require a lot of maneuvering. And muffin top abounds.
I can’t do it anymore. I can’t watch my weight do this. I cannot let my body get away from me until I feel awful and ugly and unsexy. So it starts today. My daily journal. It starts today. I don’t care that it’ll be a rambling of stupidity or that no one will ever read it. I need to talk about this every day in order to make sure I’m doing something about it. Because if I don’t talk about it every day, I can ignore it, and if I can ignore it, I can let go of myself to a frightening degree. So here are my goals for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow I will be back to talk about how I’ve done.
1. No drinks other than water and Emergen-C for the rest of the day, and plenty of water at that.
2. The first thing I do when arriving home is put on my workout clothes and go for a 30-40 minute jog. No wimping out.
3. Dinner will be chicken, rice and vegetables. No sauces. No seconds. Keep the portion small.
4. No after-dinner treat. Chew gum or brush my teeth, and be done with it. No more “I’m craving something sweet” as an excuse to eat something stupid.
5. Don’t think about being hungry, because I’ll have given my body plenty of fuel, and there’s no reason to thing otherwise.
I can’t keep making excuses. I’m running a 5K in a little over two weeks. I’m in a wedding in two months, and the skirt I’m supposed to wear is looking frightfully small at the moment. None of my jeans fit, and I feel... jiggly. In the worst way.
I’ve said it before, but I’m going to MAKE myself mean it this time. It’s time to get serious.
Monday, May 4, 2009
A Monday success. This is unheard of. Really.
I set my alarm last night, got my exercise clothes out. Arranged my tennis shoes with socks nearby. Agonized over not being able to find my iPod shuffle. Went to bed thinking, “There is NO way I’ll be able to get out of bed for this in the morning.”
The alarm went off at 6:05. My usual confusion over what that noise could be (BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP) was followed by a realization that my dream wasn’t all that great, and really wasn’t worth returning to. So, for the first time in what has probably been years, I got up early on a Monday morning to work out. I was dressed and out the door by 6:09. I was running by 6:12. And I kept at it for a solid 20 minutes – a new record for me. I probably went about a mile and a half, but that’s okay. The fact that I did it at all was what made me so happy. Especially after a weekend of no workouts whatsoever. (It was rainy, I was swamped with schoolwork, and not at all motivated to drive to the gym in a downpour.)
My knee survived all 20 minutes, which is also a first. I’ve learned a couple of new stretches to warm up my IT band before I work out. My goal is to become a runner. A real runner. Someone who can run 5 miles and like it. Someone who doesn’t like to miss a run because it calms me. Someone who hops out of the bed for a run.
I’m thinking I might have to get up just a bit earlier. Have part of a granola bar, a small glass of water and a few minutes for it to settle in my stomach. Because there was a lot of uncomfortable thirst and stomach gurgling as I ran today.
The alarm went off at 6:05. My usual confusion over what that noise could be (BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP) was followed by a realization that my dream wasn’t all that great, and really wasn’t worth returning to. So, for the first time in what has probably been years, I got up early on a Monday morning to work out. I was dressed and out the door by 6:09. I was running by 6:12. And I kept at it for a solid 20 minutes – a new record for me. I probably went about a mile and a half, but that’s okay. The fact that I did it at all was what made me so happy. Especially after a weekend of no workouts whatsoever. (It was rainy, I was swamped with schoolwork, and not at all motivated to drive to the gym in a downpour.)
My knee survived all 20 minutes, which is also a first. I’ve learned a couple of new stretches to warm up my IT band before I work out. My goal is to become a runner. A real runner. Someone who can run 5 miles and like it. Someone who doesn’t like to miss a run because it calms me. Someone who hops out of the bed for a run.
I’m thinking I might have to get up just a bit earlier. Have part of a granola bar, a small glass of water and a few minutes for it to settle in my stomach. Because there was a lot of uncomfortable thirst and stomach gurgling as I ran today.
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