Before I begin, I want to say thank you to all of our Veterans, past, present, and future. Thank you for all that you have done and the sacrifices you have made while protecting our country!
I hope that you all are enjoying your 3 day weekend. I know I am. Why can't every weekend by 3 days?
So, I haven't really been posting very much lately, but Monday marks my Three Year Runniversary and I wanted to get back on track. I started the C25k (Couch to 5k) running program on Memorial Day, 2011 and I've never looked back, but lately I've been feeling down and out. I've still been running regularly, 3 days/week, but my diet/nutrition have been seriously lacking. In the meantime, I've been gaining weight and have begun to become increasingly frustrated and stressed out. So, what have I been doing to combat these feelings? Eating, and more eating. Obviously this is completely counter productive and increases my stress level 10 fold. This is a slippery slope, my friends, and I don't want to slide back down to the bottom. It's even getting to the point where my clothes aren't fitting and I'm feeling stress about leaving the house because I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. There has been lots of crying, feeling defeated, feeling isolated, feeling unworthy and feeling like I just don't fit in. Sometimes, I feel like it's just no use, I'm always just going to be overweight; I'm never going to have the body that I want. I'm not sure what brought about all these feelings, but I need a change; and this weekend marks the beginning of change.
In the past week, I decided that I'm ready to control this and regain my focus. I had quit logging my food, but now I am back to logging every single thing I put in my mouth. I'm ready to train hard 5-6 days per week and not just phone it in. I need a new attitude, and I need a new perspective.
I read this article by Andrea at imperfectlife.net at work on Friday and it reduced my to tears. It was like everything she was saying, was exactly how I was feeling. Here is a short excerpt from the article. This is the part that really hit me. Just reading this over right now brings tears to my eyes.
"I try very hard to stay focused on fitness goals as my measure of success rather than my appearance or the number on the scale or the size of my jeans...but sometimes...just sometimes, I forget. A few weeks ago, I did just that...I forgot. I was faced with a "Look Good Naked Challenge" at my gym and I knew that I had no chance in hell of winning. I remembered that summer was just around the corner and realized that I would go a 25th year wearing shorts over my bathing to hide the legs I've hated since I was 11. I tried on a jean skirt that I wanted so bad only to see the misshapen knees that have kept me from wearing anything above them throughout all of my adult years and out of nowhere it hit me like a ton of bricks...I felt frustrated, discouraged and sad. like really, really sad. I even cried a little. I felt like all the hard work that I'd been doing wasn't paying off and it made me want to give up."
I read this and I thought, she'd hit the nail on the head. I've been feeling exactly the same.
BUT, this is not where she ends her blog post. In the second half of this post, she basically says that it doesn't matter what her body looks like, because she is more capable and more physically fit than she has ever been. At the end of the day, she is "Better, Faster, Stronger than ever before". I won't go into all the details here, but it's a great read and I hope you'll take the time to read it.
The same is true for me, and I needed that reminder. I couldn't run across the street 3 years ago. Since I began running, I have run countless 5ks, a Warrior Dash obstacle run, a 10 mile race, 5 half marathons, and a full marathon! Three years ago, I would never have thought any of this possible. The fact that I am able to do these things is way more important than what I look like. It's more important to continue making progress than to worry about what my legs look like when I wear shorts.
Since I was feeling extra motivated today, I downloaded a new fitness video from iTunes since I had a giftcard. I've always liked Jillian Michaels line of DVDs and for me, she is a good motivator.
So today I started the new One Week Shred. It's one week of two 30 minute workouts/day. Strength workout in the morning and cardio workout in the evening. Both workouts are super tough, but I hope to make it through the full week and continue to get my runs in. So we shall see.
The bottom line is that I am proud of my accomplishments, and I have come too far to give up. Three years ago, I was inactive and unhappy. Now, I'm active and happier than before.
Tomorrow, I will be celebrating my Runniversary, not with cake and sweets, but with a run. "Keep moving forward" is my running mantra, and it's so true when it comes to running and when it comes to life in general.
I hope you all have a good Memorial Day.
Keep Moving Forward!
Lindsay you are beautiful and such an inspiration to me as a little sister. Don't forget that! You are more dedicated and motivating than you ever giver yourself credit for or I ever will be. Just remember it's all in God's hands. Love you lots! If it were easy anyone could do it.
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