Just days after I last blogged... I went back into the classroom. This time for a 10-week nutrition course. I’m pretty sure I hadn’t taken notes in a spiral notebook on the subject since middle school, so I was definitely an eager student. The class - taught by a nurse & former fatty - taught me how to look at food as fuel and really pay attention to the ingredients and the value within, not just the pretty packaging or the nutritional label. Fad diets just aren’t for me (or anyone really), so this course really changed my outlook. It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change... and it works!
The proof is in the details:
- I’ve been keeping a food journal for 3+ months now & I’ve only “cheated” a handful of times! It’s tedious, but it holds me accountable to myself & to my mission.
- I have lost nearly 20lbs (19.6) and over a foot in inches and I’m not done yet.
- I am down a size (sometimes 2) & have brushed the dust off some old, smaller clothes.
- I haven’t had pop since early October (not even diet!) and I no longer crave it.
- I sleep better and have more energy.
- I have fallen into a regular workout routine... no more excuses!
The latest motivating force behind my workouts... is sheer dread. That’s right. On top of this F&F thing, I decided in a presumptuous moment, perhaps even a drunken haze, to register for a half-marathon. Yea, this girl, that had only ever “run” 4 miles ONCE, will now somehow run 13.1 miles. It’s not just ANY race either... it’s the famed Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World to be exact. I’m not sure what I was thinking, but there’s no looking back now. The registration is complete – and it was NOT cheap. The flight to Florida is booked – and cancellation fees are outrageous. The only end in sight now is the finish line – and failure is NOT an option. I will literally crawl the last mile (or 7) if it comes to that.
“Don't be freaked out. What's the worst that could happen? A patty wagon pick up? Not gonna happen. It'll be an adventure! It's Disney for goodness sake! NOTHING bad happens at DISNEY!!!”
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| December 2010 |
Yea, okay mom! :) I sure hope she's right! SHE is the seasoned runner in this equation and would easily complete the course in about 2 hours. I’m just hoping I can finish in the allotted 3.5 hours so I don’t get disqualified and head home without a medal (and my pride). I pushed myself to sign up for the race not because I love running (obviously), not even because my mom is doing it, but because I saw it as a huge personal challenge AND because it’s something we can accomplish together. An “adventure” we’d certainly never forget (and probably NEVER do again).
This week marks the beginning of week 7 in my 12 week training schedule. This past Friday, I conquered 8.36 miles on snow-covered roads... my longest run yet! I now have a rad blister to prove it... the kind that may actually lead to the loss of a toenail. I’m told that’s the sign of a true runner. I train with intervals though, so despite the physical signs of progress, the term “run” is a bit over-stated. I jog for 2 minutes, then walk for 1, and repeat. If you fired a gun at the starting line and told me to just flat out RUN, I’d probably only last a couple of miles before collapsing in a breathless heap. Regardless, this week - I will attempt 9.
A friend recently told me... Sometimes you have to push yourself through uncomfortable things with the sole purpose of making yourself better. That’s exactly what I’m doing.
