Today is a very significant day for me.
Three years ago, I weighed 253 pounds. I was disgusted with the way I was living my life, and I felt like I wasn't being a very good mom to my boys because of it. I woke up on this day three years ago, and began what was the start of a 16 month journey to lose 125 pounds.
Today, I woke up with a task that was challenging as well--running 16 miles as a training run for my marathon. I've run 16 miles before, so it wasn't "new" to me, but that was with Jessica, and today was my longest solo run yet. On this anniversary today, since I had to run 16 miles, and it took me 16 months to lose the weight, I figured it couldn't be a coincidence--and I decided to use those miles to reflect on my weight loss journey.
Before starting (both the weight loss and the run today), I thought about how daunting the task seemed. I felt very overwhelmed with what was in front of me. However, I knew that I had what it took to get 'er done, so I started--with a single step in the right direction.
Mile 1/Month 1: At the very beginning of my weight loss, I felt like it was going to take FOREVER to get to my goal. Each small loss that I had on the scale seemed like nothing in the grand scheme of things. Just like on my run today, each step was so small when I was looking at 16 miles in front of me.
Mile 2/Month 2: I found my rhythm, although I was still overwhelmed with the huge task in front of me.
Mile 3/Month 3: Starting to see some progress, but still tempted to take short cuts to "finish early" and worry about the consequences of the short cuts later.
Mile 4/Month 4: Feeling strong and confident that I can keep going.
Mile 5/Month 5: Starting to think of excuses to stop now, but knowing that they will be poor excuses and I'll kick myself later if I stop.
Mile 6/Month 6: Feeling like I'm doing something "special", something most people don't do (both in the weight loss and running 16 miles).
Mile 7/Month 7: Definitely in the groove, and feeling strong--moving faster (this is when I started running during my weight loss journey).
Mile 8/Month 8: Halfway done. Feeling like I've come SO far, but still seeing how far I have to go.
Mile 9/Month 9: Getting tired of this, and just wishing I could see the finish line already.
Mile 10/Month 10: Double digits in the run today, and my first double digit miles walk in 2010.
Mile 11/Month 11: Starting to have the confidence that I might actually do this!!
Mile 12/Month 12: Feeling like my body is starting to slow down (fatigue during the run, and the weight loss slowed on my journey).
Mile 13/Month 13: Having a very hard time keeping on. Tired of it, and just wanting it to be over already!
Mile 14/Month 14: The last little bit ahead seems like it's taking forever, but knowing that if I stop now, I will be very disappointed in myself for quitting when I'm so close to the end.
Mile 15/Month 15: The hardest on my body--during the run, I was starting to feel very achy and fatigued; during the weight loss, I fell and broke my jaw.
Mile 16/Month 16: The home stretch. Pushing my limits, and feeling on top of the world. SO happy to have accomplished the task that seemed so impossible in the beginning.
Today I realized that the whole weight loss journey is a lot like running (a long run, in particular). I started off feeling so overwhelmed with what lay ahead of me, and trying to come up with every excuse in the book not to start. Even as the miles/months passed, I felt strong in the beginning, then I got tired of it and just wanted it to be over. There were times I wanted to quit early, for various reasons, or look for shortcuts, but I persevered. And toward the end, I felt amazing and realized that all those tough moments made the end result that much sweeter.
And even now, having run the 16 miles, I know it's not over--I have to run 18 next week, and in October, I'll be running 26.2. It will never be over! Just like the weight loss--sometimes I do really well at maintenance, and sometimes I struggle through every single day (or step, in a run). But I am ALWAYS happy that I'm working so hard at it, and my body thanks me for that.
I realize that this whole post isa little corny, but the comparison between running and weight loss was so evident that I had to write about it. So whether you're just starting, or midway through your own journey, just keep in mind that there are good days and bad days, but it is WORTH IT!
Three years ago, I weighed 253 pounds. I was disgusted with the way I was living my life, and I felt like I wasn't being a very good mom to my boys because of it. I woke up on this day three years ago, and began what was the start of a 16 month journey to lose 125 pounds.
Today, I woke up with a task that was challenging as well--running 16 miles as a training run for my marathon. I've run 16 miles before, so it wasn't "new" to me, but that was with Jessica, and today was my longest solo run yet. On this anniversary today, since I had to run 16 miles, and it took me 16 months to lose the weight, I figured it couldn't be a coincidence--and I decided to use those miles to reflect on my weight loss journey.
Before starting (both the weight loss and the run today), I thought about how daunting the task seemed. I felt very overwhelmed with what was in front of me. However, I knew that I had what it took to get 'er done, so I started--with a single step in the right direction.
Mile 1/Month 1: At the very beginning of my weight loss, I felt like it was going to take FOREVER to get to my goal. Each small loss that I had on the scale seemed like nothing in the grand scheme of things. Just like on my run today, each step was so small when I was looking at 16 miles in front of me.
Mile 9/Month 9: Getting tired of this, and just wishing I could see the finish line already.
Mile 16/Month 16: The home stretch. Pushing my limits, and feeling on top of the world. SO happy to have accomplished the task that seemed so impossible in the beginning.
Today I realized that the whole weight loss journey is a lot like running (a long run, in particular). I started off feeling so overwhelmed with what lay ahead of me, and trying to come up with every excuse in the book not to start. Even as the miles/months passed, I felt strong in the beginning, then I got tired of it and just wanted it to be over. There were times I wanted to quit early, for various reasons, or look for shortcuts, but I persevered. And toward the end, I felt amazing and realized that all those tough moments made the end result that much sweeter.
And even now, having run the 16 miles, I know it's not over--I have to run 18 next week, and in October, I'll be running 26.2. It will never be over! Just like the weight loss--sometimes I do really well at maintenance, and sometimes I struggle through every single day (or step, in a run). But I am ALWAYS happy that I'm working so hard at it, and my body thanks me for that.
I realize that this whole post is
