Fitness Friday: Encouragement

Its that time again! I'm linking up to Jen at A Daily Dose of Davis for Fitness Friday! 

If you would have told me 6 months ago that I would be participating in something called "Fitness Friday" I would have laughed at you.  Fitness has never been real important on my priority list.  I just figured, I've always been fat and probably always will be so I just need to accept it and embrace it.  Well, I'm here to tell you that's crap!  That is one of the worst excuses anyone can make and it was one that I used almost daily!  Yes I have always been overweight.  Yes I have tried to accept it and be comfortable in my own skin, but there comes a time when enough is enough.  I have been fortunate that even though I am obese I have managed to stay pretty healthy. All of my tests always come back great and I even had a Dr. tell me that my cholesterol level was shockingly good!  But, I can't keep telling myself that my body is ok.  I can't keep making excuses.  

So, I started changing my life.  I started slowly walking around the high school track in the evenings.  Then one day I pushed myself to run as fast as I could as far as I could.  I probably lasted about 10 seconds and went like 5 feet.....I don't know the exacts but I know it was sad.  I could barely breath, I thought I was going to die right there on that track.  But I was damn proud of myself for at least trying!  So from there I kept going.  I pushed myself more everyday. And soon I could feel myself getting stronger.  I knew that sooner or later I would get stronger and start to loose some weight and begin my journey to a healthier me BUT what I never really thought about was all of the encouragement that comes along with sharing the journey.  I have never felt so special and included and encouraged and that is what keeps me going!  My Operation LGN group is amazing!  They accepted me with open arms, they are there to let me know that I can do it when I feel ready to throw in the towel and they are just awesome!  I can honestly say that I love these ladies and they inspire me everyday! 

Speaking of inspiring people, I have never really thought of myself as being someones inspiration.  I have always just been me, never anything spectacular, never anything bad, just me.  Last night, I did my nightly check in with our group.  It went something like this: Tried Zumba Wii tonight...Ive got NO rhythm!  Here is one of the comments I recieved: Steph, I have fallen so far off the exercise wagon I can't even see it on the horizon anymore. YOU have been the only reason I haven't left the group all together (not that the rest of you aren't equally as wonderful!) I started walking again this week hoping to catch that wagon & hop back on. Your humble attitude and your amazing perseverance are truly an inspiration. Good for you!! and thanks for putting yourself out there!! 

I sat there speechless not knowing how to respond....  WOW!  To think that my story, that I almost didn't share by the way, can inspire someone is amazing!  

2 months ago I was the fat girl who made excuses and just dealt with the fact that I probably would always be the same.  Today I am overweight girl who is taking control of her life, changing herself inside and out and I guess inspiring others to do the same!  

When I took my "Before" picture I fully intended it to just be seen by myself and the ladies in Operation LGN.  I wasn't quite ready to put myself out there for the world to see just quite yet.  Well, because I'm a dork, instead of uploading it onto the fitness group wall I uploaded it onto my personal Facebook page wall!  My first instinct was "CRAP CRAP CRAP!!" Delete! Delete! Delete! Then my worst nightmare (at that time) came through....Notification....Someone commented on my picture... You got this, buddy!!, And then the next: You can do it!!!!  

Instead of people calling me fat, laughing at me, judging me, they were encouraging me!  They were all routing for me!  So I left it.  I figured, what the hell, people have already seen it so the damage is done.  That was on August 4th.  Since then I hadn't really thought about showing my progress on my wall.  I showed it on my blog and in our group so it didn't really occur to me that my friends on Facebook would want to see it.  So, yesterday I decided to post my recent progress picture.  39 "LIKES" and 24 "Comments"!!  WHAT!?! 

So I guess what I have been trying to say in this 30 page research paper is that Encouragement is key to keeping yourself on track!  To know that people are routing for me and waiting for my updates is what keeps me from eating that raw cookie dough and sitting on my butt all day and all night.  

 Thank You from the bottom of my heart to anyone who has ever shared an encouraging word with me.  I Love you all and I appreciate it more than you know! 

Until Next Time.....

Fat Girl Problems: My journey from fat girl to Runner Vol. 3

It's been a while since I have updated so I thought I would keep everyone in the loop!  As many of you know at the beginning of this month I started a 30 day challenge (Operation: LGN) with some online friends and we are nearing the end of our challenge!  Its a little bittersweet but we have decided to keep the group going so we will still be able to check in with each other and hold ourselves accountable!  With that being said, I wanted to share my "Before" picture that I took the day we started our challenge and a picture that I took tonight.  I was feeling some doubts that I was actually making progress but this picture just proves to me that my hard work is at least doing something!

I know its not much, but its MUCH more than I have ever been able to do before I started on this journey!  If you remember, I also started the C25K program about a week before we started our challenge.  I got to Week 4 of the 9 week program and then decided to start over at the beginning so that my sister could join me.  I have to say it was by far one of the best decisions I have made regarding my workouts!  When I first started I could barely jog 30 seconds let alone complete the entire day, we just finished our Week 1 and not only was I able to keep up with her (shes a skinny mini!) But I was able to complete it all!  I can't wait to see how far I get the farther we go in the program!  And it is just confirmation that I am actually making some progress towards my goal to become a runner!

Well, Ill end this since it is about 2am and I really should be sleeping but I was just too excited with my results to wait until tomorrow to share them with you!

I wish everyone a WONDERFUL Labor Day Weekend!  I personally plan to relax and spend time with my family, work out and eat healthier!

Until Next Time.....

What I've learned since I started dealing with my Fat Girl Problems.

It's been almost a month since I have started working out consistently!  

Can I get a WHOOO HOOO!!!

And I am proud to say that I am still going strong!  

One of my fav Bloggers Jen started a 30 day workout challenge last week and of course we all know they needed a token "Fat Girl" to join the group! lol 

(just kidding....kinda....)

Well, I jumped at the chance to join the group, Operation LGN even though I was a little nervous to totally "put myself out there".  I did it....I uploaded my "Before" picture that night. Introduced myself and told a bit of my "Fat Girl Problems" story and left it at that.  I never in a million years thought that I would feel so loved, accepted and encouraged by a group of ladies (and one Tom) that I had never met!  In the past week we have checked in with pictures, workout plans, healthy recipes and funny or encouraging quotes! 

I have worked out 10 days in a row for at least 30 minutes each time!  And I feel like I am on fire!  I look forward to the evening when everyone goes to bed so I can take my C25K run/walk or ride my bike or work out on the Wii and I can honestly say I have NEVER felt excited to work out!  It truly is an awesome feeling and I am so thankful for all of the support I have gotten thus far! 

I wanted to end this blog post with a short list of things that I have learned since starting to work out, this seems to be a trial and error journey and although some things have been failures I have also found some things to be pretty comical after I think about it! So, here goes:

*I have learned that no matter what people say, when you are super fat, running down hill is not easier than running up hill.....It's all hard when you are carrying an extra 100lbs! 

*I have learned that you should never wear silk underwear and yoga pants if you want to keep you pants around your waist instead of your ankles while jogging. 

*I have learned that just because I couldn't do it a year ago doesn't mean that I can't do it now!

*I have learned that I need to buy a couple of sports bras before I start to run faster. 

*I have learned that when your stomach tells you that you really have to go to the bathroom.....don't keep jogging farther away from home....

*I have learned that sweat bands look really dumb on my head.

*And last but certainly not least, I have learned I CAN and I WILL do it.  

It may take me a while but it will happen! 

Until Next Time.....