My journey began in 2007 after the birth of my second child. While I was pregnant I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted. I didn’t stop to consider how much work it would take to lose the weight I was gaining so I found myself the heaviest I had ever been and very unhappy with how I looked. I knew I had to completely change the way I was eating. I started tracking what I ate and learning how to cook healthier and the weight started to come off. It took a lot of organization and planning to stick with it. That wasn’t always easy considering I was working full time, going to school and raising a family.
As I continued to see results, that motivated me to keep going. It wasn’t always smooth sailing. I made mistakes along the way. I fell off the wagon more than once and gained weight back but I kept starting over and trying again. It took me about two years but I finally reached my goal and lost 120 pounds. This is not where my story ends though. I discovered that losing the weight did not fix the poor self-image I had after all the years of struggling with my weight. I realized if I was going to keep the weight off I had more work to do. Even though the gym intimidated me I decided to start working out. I figured out how to use the elliptical and I started going every day.
Eventually my friends convinced me to take some group exercise classes where I hid in the back of the room but I was there doing it. Then a coworker suggested we get a group together to train for a 5K race. I signed myself up and made the treadmill my new best friend. I can still remember the day I ran a full mile without stopping. I felt such a sense of accomplishment and I quickly got hooked on that feeling. One mile eventually turned into three miles and I ran my first race. I kept training until I could run 6 miles and I ran my first 10K.
Then I decided to train for a half marathon and eventually a full marathon. I found a drive I didn’t know I had. I developed confidence and realized my self-image was improving. Most importantly I learned I could do anything I put my mind to. I continued to run races and stumbled on a challenge to run two full marathons in the same weekend. The first day went great but the second race was another story. By the halfway point I wanted to quit. I cried. I was discouraged. But I kept going. I crossed the finish line that day feeling broken but not defeated. I rested and recovered and started running again. I ran a couple more marathons before finding a new challenge. An impossible challenge. 7 marathons in 7 days in 7 states. Who does that? How would a person even train for that? I had no idea but I started looking online for suggestions. The best I could come up with was an ultra-marathon training plan. So, I printed it off and signed up for a 50K race. I completed the race and decided to go for the impossible. In June of 2016 I ran my 7 marathons in 7 days. I walked away with the best reward imaginable. Over the course of 183.4 miles I learned to love my body for the amazing accomplishment it carried me through. I told myself I would never let anything hold me back again.
So, what could possibly come next? Doing the one thing that intimidated me. I signed up for my first triathlon. I was terrified of the swim. I knew the run and the bike would be easy but the swim was another story. So, I got in the pool and taught myself to swim. It wasn’t pretty but I completed that race and you know what? I was more proud of that little sprint triathlon than I was after running 7 marathons because I had faced my fear.
So why do I continue to choose a healthy lifestyle and make fitness a priority in my life? It’s a lot of reasons. The confidence it gives me. The example I set for my daughters. The positive self-image I have for the first time in my life. The fact that your health is one thing money can’t buy. I want to show others that anything is possible. My story started out like so many other women and I want them to realize they can reach their goals too. It doesn’t matter how many times you have tried before. What matters is that you don’t stop trying. It’s not about perfection. It’s about effort and believing in yourself. When you put aside your excuses you will find your results.
Be stubborn about your goals and flexible about your methods. For those just starting out it’s about building habits. Pick one thing you do every day and change it. Keep it simple. Move more today than you did yesterday. Track your food and be honest with yourself. It’s not always easy but it’s so worth it!
