Thursday, March 4, 2010

What is Happening to Me???

I am turning into someone I don't know. I have been on a quest to find the deep meaning of my obesity and my food addiction. I couldn't help but wonder why I was overweight and other people weren't (I know they didn't eat as much or exercised more, but why). And so I began to dig into my childhood, which was a normal, well-adjusted childhood by most standards. I didn't have any hidden tragedies that would drive me to food and but I wanted to understand why I turned to food. I worked backwards and I think I have, for the most part, figured out my addiction to food (that's for another post, for another day). But with that illumination came a breaking in my mental barriers and a self-esteem breakthrough.

As you have read, I am starting to run (something I NEVER thought I would consider) and yesterday I decided that this summer I want to get a bicycle so that I can ride with my family. Those may not sound like a big things to anyone, but to me they are huge. My husband loves to ride his bike. He rides all over the place and he is always wanting me to get a bike and ride, my answer was always the same--NO. See in my mind, I couldn't. I wasn't able. (Some of that thinking comes from a bad bike accident and I never rode again, I was 12) Most of the thinking that "I can't" was just because I didn't believe in myself enough to try. Same with the running, I didn't think I could, so why try.

The weight isn't coming off as quickly as I had hoped (February was a hard weight loss month), but I am making breakthroughs in my thinking that will carry me to the end of this weight loss journey. I am finally believing that the things I secretly really, really wanted to do, I can do. I would see people running in the park and I was envious, biking was the same, deep down I really wanted to do those things. I have let my weight hold me back too, too long and now I am ready to step out and try things I didn't think I could do.

I have told a lot of people that losing weight is a mental process as well as physical because if you don't have a change in mindset, your weight will just come back. My head is in the game and I am playing to win. Setbacks aren't failures, they are just setbacks. I am turning into a new person. I don't know her very well yet, but so far~~I like her. The new me is more confident and excited and wants to try new things.

I can't wait to post pics of my running and biking and I will, just you wait and see.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Of Podcasts and Running

I don't know how vocal I've been on this blog about starting the C25K program (I was supposed to start in Feb but the illness kept me from beginning) and so this week I get to start!! Actually today. I will be on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday schedule for now. I may change that a little later but for now that's fine. I am really excited about running. I haven't really figured out why. See I was always the one that would say, "why run unless someone is chasing me", but now I really see myself going for this. Maybe its the challenge of it, because I KNOW it will challenge me. I usually walk in the Start Heart Walk in St. Louis and I only do the mile. But his year I was to do the 5K portion and I want to run it!! That's my goal. I have a group of friends walking with me, so I may have to walk the one mile portion with them and then run the rest. Either way, I will run!!

I really love listening to podcasts. I listen while I clean, while I fold and put away laundry, while I do dishes. I also listen to music, but a good podcast is great! So I was thrilled to come across Two Fit Chicks and a Microphone podcast. It's MizFit and DietGirl teamed up for a podcast. Its a pretty recent thing, only about 10 episodes, but I thoroughly love it!! Go visit Two Fit Chicks and listen to a podcast or all of them!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Lace Up Those Shoes and GO!

I am not a runner. I can honestly say that I am not sure that I was ever a runner. I mean I made do in P.E. but it wasn't something I enjoyed. Volleyball and tennis, yes. Running, no. I have been known to say such things as, "why run when you can walk" or "the only reason to run is if someone is chasing me". Yeah, you could definitely say that running isn't my thing. But in the last few weeks I have decided that I want to run. Maybe it's temporary insanity, probably is, and maybe it will last, no one knows, but for now I have decided to run. Maybe I should say that I want to run. Yes, that's better. It's more of a desire or goal right now than an actual thing I do.

Some of you or maybe all of you have probably heard of the Couch to 5K program. It's a training program for beginners {you could definitely call me a beginner} put out by Cool Running. Have you ever heard of a running festival? I hadn't. For some reason putting running and festival together as an event just seems, well not very festivalish in my opinion. Festivals usually involve bad for you but it tastes good food, jugglers and other such frivolity. It's amazing the things you learn reading a running website. Anyway, I am looking for some crazy, uh, I mean, brave people to join me in this endeavor. You all know that misery loves company. I'm just kidding. Lets just say that I am challenging others around me to get fit and be more active. It's a nine week program and you can print it off from the link above. Once a week I'll post about how I'm coping, hum I mean doing. I would love for some of my bloggity friends to join with me in getting off that couch and get moving. If any of you are interested I will add a Mr. Linky to my update posts and we will all groan, I meant, blog together.

My goal is of course to run a 5K and for me that 5K is in May, on the 15th. It's the annual Start! Heart Walk. It will be a momentous occasion. I will be celebrating my own healthy journey success, honoring my son by doing something for awareness and getting his mama healthy and raising funds for research and education. So for those of you who read this blog and will be participating in the Heart Walk with me, I suggest you get you running shoes out too. ~Smile~

In three short months, I will lace up my tennis shoes and run. {Insert Rocky Theme Song here}