My Journey from the Couch to a 5K

I know what you all are thinking.  At least those of you who know me.  You’re thinking, “Yeah, right.  There is no way she is ever going to complete a 5K!”  And I understand your disbelief.  Really, I do.   A month ago if you had asked me to go for a run I’d have said I’d rather go to the gynecologist, clean all the restrooms at Walmart and bathe the dog than to actually go out running.  Ugh.  Running.  In years past I’ve seen people running in the rain, in the torrid summer heat, and while on vacation.  And I’ve thought to myself, ‘they must be insane!’.  I mean, come on!  Who goes out running on vacation?  Certainly not me and my big behind. 

But something happened a month ago.  I found SparkPeople.  If you are not familiar with it, it is a weight loss site–well, a community rather.  Thousands and thousands of people who are trying, and are succeeding, at losing weight!  I was doubtful at first.  Skeptical that it would really work for me.  How many times have I been on a ‘diet’ before?  I’ve gained and lost an entire person by now.  I’ve tried Weight Watchers many times and then gained the weight back.   After joining Spark People, I realized that there were three reasons that I have never succeeded at weight loss. 

Number one–I have never had a good support system.  Even when I was going to WW meetings, I never really felt like I ‘fit in’.  I was usually much younger than the general population in those meeting rooms and I also just never clicked with the leader.  I even tried changing meetings and guess what?  It was the same leader.  Number two–I never made the commitment to make a lifetime/lifelong change in my habits.  I would lose the weight and then go right back to my old unhealthy ways.  And number three–I never made exercise a priority.  I would try video aerobics for awhile but I always hated it with a passion.  I’d force myself to do it, then get totally burned out after a couple of weeks.  I hate aerobics!  I convinced myself that I was too out of shape to do any other exercise and I was embarrassed that people might see me if I did any other activity outside of my home.  Heaven forbid if someone see me exercising!  (One reason I stopped going to the health club–I couldn’t stand people looking at me!)   

So anyway, back to the story.  I found SparkPeople, joined a ’team’ (the Done Being the Fat Girl team) and found the most amazing support there!  It is awesome!  Other people just like me who have struggled with their weight but are now losing it!  We are all so DONE.  I am DONE being a sedentary being.  DONE filling my body with junk food.  DONE depleting my bones of calcium by downing soda after soda.  DONE being fat! 

In my quest to change my life FOR GOOD this time I have begun exercising.  However, there will be NO aerobics for me this time.  Sorry Richard Simmons and Bob Harper (I love ya Bob, but I just can’t do it!).  I have to find cardio that I am going to enjoy and that I will be able to keep up for the rest of my life.  So one thing I have been doing is bike riding.  Our family of four all got new bikes (and a trailer for my 2 year old) and we have all started riding.  I love it.  Now I am not a speed racer, in fact my bike is just an old fashioned bike with regular old brakes.  But we are all getting exercise by riding several times a week.

Last week I decided to step it up another notch.  I had heard about Couch to 5K awhile back but I just never thought I could do it.  But I have decided to give it a try.  It is a program to help completely sedentary people, like yours truly, become 5K’ers in 9 weeks time.  So I am going to give it a shot.  It may take me longer than 9 weeks.  I expect there will be times when I will have to repeat some weeks.  But I have my eyes focused on a goal.  To complete a 5K by October.  There is even a 5K in Harrisonburg that month so I have a definitive goal to look forward to.  (My sis-in-law is a runner and will hopefully be able to come home to Virginia and run with me–I’m looking forward to that too!)   

I’m gonna do this.  I am a DONE GIRL and I can accomplish anything if I set my mind to it.  So join me on my journey.  I will be posting every day that I ‘train’.  Hopefully it will get easier and you will see progress as I go.  Heck, I may even post some photos once in awhile so you can see my progress for yourselves!  I will also be posting tips in case you are interested in starting the program as well.  A great site to start at for info is the Couch 2 5k site.

So here we go.  I’m gonna go post about Day Numero Uno!