Happy New Year! I know now that the New Year is upon us many
of you are looking to get fit. It’s a common resolution, and a very great one
as well. The problem is most people won’t stick with their resolution. Many
will work out in January, not see results in February and quit by March. I really hope this isn’t you! I want to share
a little story with you, to show you that it’s not instant. It’s not overnight.
You may struggle for MONTHS, but if you keep at it, keep pushing, you’ll see
results. Whether you are trying to lose weight, build endurance, or gain
muscle.
I
started my fitness journey around December of 2013. I had no idea what I was
getting myself into. I was about 315 lbs at the time… I started with a light 30
minute routine, some weights and cardio. Nothing too difficult, but it worked
for me. I also made adjustments to my eating habits. This is HUGE. If you are working
out every day but still eating Taco Bell every day, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE
RESULTS…. I continued this routine for about 6 months. At this point I was seeing results. I was
trimming down, and my clothes were too big.
I added in 30 minutes of an Arc Trainer (this is a cardio machine with
low impact) I really liked it, and loved that it was LIKE running, but wasn’t
running. I hated running.
Last
January I started training with my boyfriend. He informed me one day, “We’re
going to start running.” Uhhhhhggggg… Even though I’d been working out
every day for a year I had yet to take my hand at running. Running is dumb. I
never understood it. I thought it was boring. I didn’t enjoy it as a kid, I
sure didn’t enjoy it as an adult. I felt like a failure, because I wheezed and
couldn’t catch my breath. Why would I purposely do something I wasn’t good
at??? I made all sorts of excuses. “My
knees won’t take it.” (I’d had knee
surgery that summer). “My ankles.” You name it. I tried. But he held strong and
forced me to run 20 minutes each day. I HATED IT…. In 20 minutes I struggled to
run for more than 2-3 minutes straight. My lungs hurt. My legs hurt. My ego
hurt. 20 minutes, barely ever hitting a mile.
What a punch to the pride. I wanted to quit so many times, but he wouldn’t
let me. I’m so glad he didn’t.
After
about a month it started to get easier. I would make little competitions for
myself. I’d have to run for an entire song straight. Then 2 songs. I’d see how
fast I could go. Suddenly a day came where I didn’t get to run for a few
days. I felt the weirdest feeling ever.
I was sad. I WANTED to run. I’d realized it cleared my head. The ONLY thing I
thought about when I ran was either how much I hated my life at that second, OR
what little competition I could make for myself next. Either way I wasn’t thinking
about life or anything going on outside of me in that moment. It was
refreshing.
In the
last year I’ve started almost every single workout with a run. It’s become one
of my FAVORITE things. If I know I can’t get a big workout in, but I can get a
run in then I’ll do that. I worked every day to improve and get better. I’m not
a marathon runner in a year, and I probably never will be. However; I am good
enough for me, and I plan to continue to work at it and improve my distance and
my time.. Remember when I was running for 20 minutes and not even making it a
mile? Well here we are, 12 months and hundreds of runs later, I run a mile with
ease and no stopping in about 12 minutes.
It’s not the fastest, and I don’t care, but it’s MY progress. Not only
that but I can run 2 miles with ease! Yeah that’s right, 2 of em! I still take
a few 30 seconds brisk walk rests, but I’m still doing it. My next goal is to
master 3, and then do them all without stopping.
What I’m
trying to show you here is that you may hate it at first, but don’t quit. The
only person you are cheating is yourself. It takes time and patience to get
good at anything, but once you do it totally pays off. I feel so strong after I
run. And there really is no better feeling than feeling strong.
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