When I started walking in the late fall, I couldn't have imagined walking through the winter. But because of our very mild winter weather this year and my walking partner's company and encouragement, here I am, in the middle of January, and I'm still hittin' the trail three times a week or more.
And it's paying off.
Today, I picked up two pairs of pants from the rack at our local thrift store that are two sizes smaller than what I was wearing just six months ago. I wasn't sure if they'd fit. To be honest, I was afraid to try them on. I just keep worrying that I only think I'm losing weight (I don't weigh or measure myself) and that I'm actually not changing at all.
But when I stepped into the dressing room and pulled on those size twelves? Yes! They fit! I can now say that I really am no longer a size 16!
My energy level is higher, my eating has been healthier (who wants to eat five brownies when you know you had to really, really work that morning to get your butt out of bed and get to the trail?), and I just feel better.
On Thanksgiving, after seeing a group of runners doing a Turkey Day Run, I got inspired. For the first time in my life, I thought, "I could do that." And the thought didn't exhaust me.
I started the Couch Potato to 5K program the Wednesday after I came home from visiting my inlaws for the turkey holiday. It was hard work, but I did it. The next day, Kim said she'd join me in running.
I had horrible running shoes, so I got blisters very badly and my feet were incredibly sore. The first day I ran with Kim, I could barely go 45 seconds. When it came time for the walking interval, I thought I would puke. We didn't do the whole program that day, I don't think. And after that, my muscles, blisters and feet hurt so badly, I didn't think I'd ever run again.
On the recommendation of a reader, I bought a pair of very good running shoes on eBay and we eased back into it.
I had kind of felt discouraged, thinking that I wouldn't be able to complete the Couch Potato program and dreading my sessions until another reader posted that she'd been inspired by my Couch Potato to 5K decision and was going to start the program herself. When I checked her blog, I found that she was on WEEK FOUR! WEEK FOUR!!! And I was still on week ONE! Something about that knowledge encouraged me, and I decided that it was time to kick butt.
This week, Kim and I started week 2. And we did it! What's more, I wasn't totally exhausted AND I didn't even feel like puking!
As we ease into these colder Ohio months, I'm hoping that Old Man Winter will continue to look down upon me with favor so that I can get through this program. My goal is to be ready for our local 5K in May.
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