Back on track...again

Earlier this week, I opened my facebook page and saw one of those memory alerts they send out from time to time. This one highlighted the fact that one year ago was when I ran in the Tokyo Marathon...my first marathon.

My first thought was, wow...I actually ran in a marathon.

The next thought was, man...what a difference a year makes.

I have mixed emotions about that day, February 28, 2016. I was so excited to run my first ever full-length marathon, even though prior to it I said I would never do such a thing!
 For details about that fateful day, see here .

 So what have I been up to since then? Well just to name a few things: I injured my foot, got diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, and moved across the pacific ocean.

I can count on my ten fingers, the number of times I went for a run or even exercised at all since then.

Things have certainly gone down hill. I easily slipped back into old bad habits. I made everyone and everything a priority, and put my own health at the bottom of the list. I used my foot pain as an excuse to not do any type of exercise. I almost had the attitude that, well if I can't do something I love, then I won't do anything at all. A lot of good that attitude did me.

And I didn't spend a lot of time beating myself up about going down hill. No, I happily went headlong down and off track.

Well, now I have finally come to the place where I've had enough.

The foot pain is still there, but my tolerance for my lack of fitness is not.

So once again, I need a plan of action to get back on track. I don't know exactly what that plan will be yet, but I'm determined to once and for all get on track and stay there!

To be continued...

Step Three: Eat to Live

I love to eat. Unapologetically.

And I don't believe in dieting.

I know dieting exists...but I don't believe it works for me, or for many people.

Now I'm sure there are those of you out there that have done a 3-day cleanse, or 21-day diet reboot, or 40-day fast, or 7-day jump-start. I'm sure it's helped get things going in the right direction, or gave you the motivation you need to improve your eating habits. I have certainly tried my share of reboots and cleanses. Some of them worked...I lost pounds, felt energized and excited about the positive changes; felt like I was really going to stick with it...then a week after coming off the allotted time limit, ended up going right back to the way I ate before and gaining back the pounds, plus a few more.

So what DO I believe in?

I believe in a lifestyle change.

I believe in gradual changes, over time.
 I don't believe in drastic changes. For me personally, I find it easier to make lasting changes when I focus on one habit at a time. Whether it's always having a fruit with breakfast, or always having a salad or other vegetables at lunchtime, small changes over time can really add up to eating well.
 
I believe in choosing to eat mostly plant based, whole foods.
A few years ago, I read the China Study, by Dr. Colin T. Campbell. Based on over 20 years of research and experience, he makes a convincing argument for eating a plant-based, whole food diet. He has the science to prove his point, and although it's still a work in progress for me, I wholeheartedly believe in this way of eating! If you've never heard of this book, you may have heard of the documentary, "Forks over Knives", which talks about Dr. Campbell's research among other things. Both of these made quite an impact on my thinking about food choices.

I believe in eliminating as much processed food from your life as possible.
The closer to natural it is, the better. If something has way too many ingredients on the label, things that I cannot pronounce or recognize, then I do my best to avoid it.

I believe in  planning healthy eating.
If you fail to plan...you plan to fail. This is also a work in progress. I try to plan healthy meals and then shop accordingly. I also try to plan healthy snacks, and carry some with me for whenever I'm away from home. There have been too many times I made poor food choices because I waited too long between meals, until I was ravenous and chose the nearest, fastest thing.

I believe in enjoying an occasional treat, enjoying my meal, and in finding and choosing healthy foods that I actually like. If it takes too much work to follow a meal plan and it doesn't even taste that good or is something I don't necessarily like, what is the point? It is much easier to make it simple and delicious!

I believe we obsess about food too much. We focus on the emotional connection to food. We give into cravings, no matter how harmful they might be.We do not naturally think about food in a logical way. We obsess about how many calories are in each item of food and how many calories we need per day and week. Now, again...I'm sure there are those of you who have had success with counting calories to help lose weight and maintain. It is difficult for me to see how that can be continued throughout life. It seems like calorie counting would be time consuming and put too much focus on food.

Sometimes the way we view food has a lot to do with our culture and upbringing. In some cultures, gathering around a table loaded down with decadent, rich, foods is just a way of life. Every gathering, whether for family events or business meetings, calls for cake and ice cream! I've been in settings where, no matter if I was hungry or not, it was a matter of eating or offending.

And no matter how much we exercise (run!), it is impossible to be healthy without good nutrition. You might be considered "skinny", but are you healthy?

When it comes to aging, it is even more important that we consume foods that will fight disease and fuel our energy. There are plenty of studies that promote certain foods as anti-aging fighters!

I'm not trying to fight getting older. I just want to live a vibrant, healthy, energized life, especially as I get older!

Now, you may not want to give up your daily ice cream sundae or big mac, but if your goal is to be healthy and strong and live well as you age...those choices might not be the way to go.

MARATHON UPDATE - The Big Day

This was supposed to be my first and last, one and only, marathon...

It's Thursday here. I went for a short run this morning, for the first time since Sunday's race. It was nice to get back out there, after trying to allow my body enough recovery time. I honestly felt like I could have returned to running a day earlier, but no need to push myself more than necessary.

I wasn't afraid things might be different following my race experience, but it was good to realize that nothing much had change. I restrained myself from running faster and longer than I had planned, keeping in mind the plan to ease back into a routine.

I'm no longer devastated, sad, or disappointed...but I am a little annoyed and very determined.

Because I had fully intended for the 2016 Tokyo Marathon to be my one and only full marathon race.

 ...and now I have to do another one!


PRE-RACE
 The week before race day, I spent a lot of time planning my final runs and workouts, my carbohydrate-rich meals, my water intake, race-day outfits, my plan for how I was going to tackle 26.2 miles/42 kilometers, and everything else that went along with it.

Since Tokyo is a little under two hours away from where we live, we decided to spend the night before the race in the city, and also the following day to give me time to recover and to just enjoy a little family time. So I packed our suitcase, my race bag and items that we needed for the kids. We reserved one room at the hotel, but in hind-sight it might have been better to have a suite or two rooms. That extra room might have helped me get more than a couple hours of sleep the night before. Then again, with all the jittery excitement I was feeling, maybe not.

I was excited and ready to get it done!

RACE DAY
The morning of the race, I "woke up" around 5:00 a.m. and started getting myself ready to go. I packed the bag they provided us with the clothes I would change into after the race. I prepared myself a breakfast meal of whole wheat bagel and peanut butter, along with a banana and some water. The girls were still sleeping, and I woke my husband so we could pray together before I headed out. He would come along with the kids a little later, closer to the start time.

I headed out the door and made my way to the train station. I saw a few fellow racers along the way, some trying to catch a short nap on the early morning commute. A couple short train rides later, we arrived at the stop that would take us to our starting gate. Volunteers held up signs in Japanese and English, helping us head in the right direction. My gate was #5 (there were 6 entry gates total, to keep any one entrance from getting too congested). Once we went through security, everyone went to do whatever they needed to before the race.

I had just finished eating my breakfast as I was walking towards the entry gate, and went to find the designated truck that would take my belongings to the finish area. After a trip to the potty, I went to find my starting block "J". I had arrived early along with thousands of runners, and ended up being at the very front of my starting block. Still, I was somewhere in the middle of the 36,000 runners...but closer to the back than to the front. Across the street from where I stood I could see late comers rushing to find the entry gate. I could already see that some runners had chosen colorful, full-on costumes to run in. Spectators were lining up all along the roadside.

A few people had told me to have fun, when they were wishing me well on my marathon debut. At the time, in my mind, I thought I would be mostly trying to focus on my race and not really trying to have fun. But it was hard not to have fun, with all the excitement of everyone around me. An elderly Japanese gentleman who had been standing to my left for some time, had finally worked up the nerve to converse in English with me. He politely asked where I was from and how many races I had run. This was his 5th marathon! After a few more questions, we both turned away to do some stretching and a little movement to keep us warm. Though we were all a little cold in the 50-60 degree weather, the sun was out and there was not a cloud in the sky. One might have wished for a little overcast skies, but at least the famously fierce Japanese wind was fairly calm.

After waiting for over and hour, we could finally hear the announcements over the loud speaker, indicating that we needed to be on our mark. We were so far back, that we could not see the starting line at all. As helicopters circled overhead, we clearly heard the starting gun, and could also hear the bang of fireworks and what turned out to be confetti hearts. It took us about 15-20 minutes to get to the official starting line, during which time we walked fairly slowly. I was already feeling the urge to visit the potty, after two hours since my last visit. But I was determined that I was going to get a few kilometers under my belt before I made my one and only stop during the race.

Finally, around the 2nd or 3rd kilometer mark, the congestion had dispersed enough where we could start running. My GPS watch didn't work for the first 40 minutes of the race. Maybe it was because so many thousands of people were setting their watches and phones at the same time? I didn't worry about it. I figured it would eventually start working. Meanwhile, I looked around at the crowd gathered to cheer us on. Their excitement for us was infectious. If they saw that you might possibly be an English-speaker they would say, "You can do it!" and "Don't give up!" They would get even more excited when a runner would come over and give a high-five to their outstretched hands. Over and over they would say "Ganbatte!", which means "good luck".  There was one group holding a sign with a bull's-eye that said "Touch here for power". So of course I had to go over and touch that one!

There were so many awesome spectators along the way, it's hard to remember them all. But one that sticks out in my mind is this elderly Japanese lady. She was yelling a phrase over and over, and though I didn't understand what she was saying, she caught my attention. I tried to stay mostly over to one side and avoid the middle of the pack. Since I was close enough to reach her, I went over and gave her a high-five. She got even more excited and started yelling even louder. That really put a smile on my face.

Along with the energy of the crowd, the sights of the city definitely provided a welcome distraction. Tokyo is a wonderful mixture of modern technology, and centuries-old architecture and land marks. All along the way, there were different entertainers performing songs and dances; Taiko drum players, hula dancers, choirs, and a very official looking band near the imperial palace.

And then there were the racers who came in costume. I saw some really amazing things out there! Some of the costumes...I have no idea what they were supposed to be. But they were all thoroughly entertaining. I saw a Jedi with Yoda on his back, princesses, brides, superheroes, and so much more. There were even  a few people who were barefoot or running in sandals and traditional clothing.

In my mind, I was running a pretty good race. I was focused on not going much faster than I had in my training. I was determined to save my energy for the last few miles. I was determined that I was not going to burn out before the end. At every 5k, there were checkpoints and time clocks to warn you of cut-off times. My GPS was finally working, and I was within my target pace. The time starts when the gun goes off, and not when you actually cross the start line. Those of us who were already at the back of the pack, were at a bit of a disadvantage with that.  I never stopped once, after my potty break at the first couple miles. I slowed down for planned walk breaks and fluid stations. I was feeling good and felt great about my ability to finish the race. I was ahead of the time cut-off at every checkpoint I passed. It was awesome to see my family and friends at the first major turn, and again at the halfway point.

All smiles and waving at the 10k turn

Still smiling at the halfway point

Before the race, when friends would ask if I was ready, I would say "as ready as I can be". I also kept saying that the only way I wouldn't finish the race, is if the officials took me out.

And then, like a self-fulfilling prophesy...that is just what happened. Between the 23-27 kilometer points, there was no water or electrolyte fluid to be had. The sun was sapping runners' energy left and right. Finally we came upon a water station, and were able to replenish. Feeling a little more energized, as I got closer to the 29k station, the crowd of runners was thinning out even more. I was focused on getting to the 30k mark. I started to plan how I was going to increase my speed a little bit more, to really starting eating through the last 12k/8 miles. I could see the big 30k sign right around the corner. I looked down, to keep the sun out of my face and to push through the next few meters.

Just as I was looking up again, I can remember seeing the bottom of the shoes of the racers in front of me. In the very next moment, a line of officials ran out in front of me, separating me from the runners right in front of me, and blocking my way from continuing. I was in shock. I remember saying "no" with an incredulous feeling. As I fully realized what had just happened, I burst into tears. The officials were trying to say something to those of us who they had stopped, but I was too focused on the sadness and devastation I felt in that moment. I felt a tug on my bib, as an official ripped of the side of the bib, indicating that I was not a finisher. After a few moments of crying into my hands, I called my husband on my cell phone. I knew he would already be waiting for me at the finish line, along with our friends. It took a few minutes for him to understand what I was trying to say through my tears. I just kept saying "they made me stop".

We waited for the big yellow tour bus that would take us to the finish area. We sat silently on the bus, watching other runners file onto other waiting buses, mirroring the dejection I was feeling. I just kept thinking, "There's so much time left!!" and "I could still be out there running". It seemed to take an eternity for us to get to the finish area. To add insult to injury, a monitor in the bus continued to broadcast the ongoing race.

As we were dropped off to the baggage area, we were handed packages containing fruit, a sandwich, water, and some other stuff. Making my way to the spot where I would pick up my clothes, I could hear cheering for the finishers as they were coming through an entrance at the other end of the huge holding area. Runners passed by, with their medals draped around their necks and "finisher" towels around their shoulders. Each one I saw just increased my sadness.

After changing into my post-race outfit, compression socks, and comfy sandals, I made the long trek to the family meeting area. All along the way I communicated with my husband, where I was and where we were going to meet. When I finally got through the crowd and saw him, I walked into his comforting hug, and once again allowed myself to cry. He hugged me tight and comforted me as only he can. After I dried my tears, we made our way over to where our girls and our friends were waiting for us. It was very healing to hear their words of encouragement and receive their hugs.

Later on, we said goodbye to our friends, and then went to find a good spot for my post-race meal. After all, I had just run over 18 miles, and was beginning to feel ravenous. After a belly full of food, it was easier not to cry over what had happened. The ice cream I ate later that evening also helped to sooth my wounded spirit. I had given up ice cream 6 months ago, at the beginning of my training.

Over the next couple days, my husband listened patiently as I went over and over the experience. Speaking words of wisdom and helping me analyze the experience, he helped me to get to a place where I could actually laugh about things. No longer feeling sad and dejected, I was now experiencing a little anger and feeling indignant. I just knew in my heart and mind that I was going to finish that race. And for someone, anyone, to get in my way and stop me from achieving that goal, burned me to my very core.

Throughout this whole experience, from the beginning of my training, in all that I did...I wanted to glorify God and be an encouragement to others along the way. I though that once I finish this race, I could encourage others to do things they never thought they could do. I could be an example of what determination can accomplish. I could encourage others to get out there and set goals for themselves.

And I can still do that! I don't know why circumstances worked out in a way that resulted in me not finishing this race. But I praise God all the same. The answers to our questions do not always come right away. But my faith remains. Maybe an answer will come in time. Maybe it was just the journey that was important. I've definitely learned some things along the way.

As much as my desire was to encourage others, what I never expected was how the encouragement of others would impact me. During my training, on race day, and in the wake of my experience, I have received so many messages of love from my family and friends. People telling me that they are proud of all that I have accomplished, and how I have motivated them. These words mean so much to me!!

In this life, there will be many things that come along and try to physically and metaphorically block us. There will be experiences and individuals that try to discourage us. That is why encouragement is so important. Lifting each other up in prayer, through kind and meaningful words, through hugs, through just being there! We all need that, at some point. And praise God, HE never gives up on us. We might take a while to achieve our goals, we might stumble, we might not run the race of life according to the world's standards...but I praise God for HIS grace. I praise HIM for the people he has placed in my life, to uplift and support and love me. I praise HIM, that HE never gives up on me!

Now, more than ever, I want to be the one who lifts up others through my words and actions.

I encourage each of you to do the same in your life. Whoever is around you...family, friends, coworkers, schoolmates...you never know what one small kindness can do for someone else.

When I started this blog entry, I didn't intend for it to be so lengthy! But I don't know how I could have left any part of this experience out.

Despite the let down of not being able to complete mt first marathon attempt, as I was writing this I realized just how much I enjoyed the experience. I might have taken it for granted if I had finished. I most likely would not have thoughts that I do now, of competing in another full marathon.

Though completing a full marathon was not on my original bucket list, it is definitely a goal that I will now be working towards.

And I leave you with this thought...

Don't ever let anything discourage you from achieving your goals. We will all have setback at some point, but it's not the setbacks that define you, but what you decide to do about it!

Step Two: Sleep is For Everyone

My daughter has a book titled 'Sleep is for Everyone'. I read it to her often, and talk to her about how important sleep and rest is for our bodies. I tell her that getting enough sleep helps her to be happy, to have energy, to think clearly, and helps her body work well.

Even knowing all this and teaching it to her, I am frequently guilty of not getting enough sleep. For all the reasons I mentioned plus many more, sleep is very important, especially as we age.

Now you probably didn't need me to tell you that! We know what happens to us when we don't get enough sleep! We are cranky, tired, dragging, absentminded, sore, just to name a few.

So why do we continue to do it to ourselves...night after night, going to bed hours later than we should. Then we have to get up early ~ for work, for school, to feed the kids, to tackle a mountain of tasks and responsibilities. We caffeinate to compensate. We try to nap, but either end up laying there with our eyes wide open and our mind running over everything we have to do that day, or before our head can hit the pillow our eye catches sight of something we just have to finish before we rest. Then we never get that power nap we so desperately need, and end up skipping the much needed rest to continue on our day. The night comes again, we watch the hours pass on the clock, and then before we know it, it's way past our bedtime and morning is a moment away.

On top of all that, try training for your very first marathon on very little sleep. You have no energy to do your long runs. You go to the gym and get on the treadmill, convincing yourself that if you can just warm up it will keep you going. Then five minutes into your warm up you try to run, and barely run ten steps before your body just shouts "NO WAY"! Yep. That happened.

I am less than one month away from the big day. I have got to get it together. I told myself this same thing yesterday, and still for some reason ended up staying up late for no reason at all. I had fallen into a pattern, and instead of following through on all the good thoughts I had about getting enough rest, I just stuck to the routine of: late to bed~dragging myself out of bed in the morning.

Poor habits can be corrected. It just takes the first step, toward correcting those behaviors.

Just like when I began this journey of getting back to fitness and starting to run again. I made the conscious decision to start. More importantly,  I put the decision into action. I made the commitment to stick with that choice each and every day. And when days (even weeks) came where I fell back into old habits, I made the choice to start again.

As I work on being well into forty, I know without a doubt, how important sleep is for me as I get older. We can all use a reminder sometimes. Here are some of the things I want to remember as I make the choice to get more sleep:

- Sleeps keeps your heart healthy

- Sleep reduces stress

- Sleep makes you more alert

- Sleep improves your memory

- Sleep may help you lose weight

- Sleep may reduce your risk for depression

- Sleep helps the body repair itself

- Sleep may help you live longer

Marathon Training Update - Holiday Break

Whether training for a race, or just trying to stick to a regular exercise program, holiday celebrations can derail even the best fitness plans.

And that it exactly what happened to me over the Christmas holiday! I'm not even that upset about it. Not really. I didn't overindulge...too much...but I spent a lot of time cooking, entertaining, attending parties and family outings. All of which left me pretty tired and not very motivated to run.

If you've ever started and maintained a training program, it can be down right scary to stop for any reason. But I wasn't planning on stopping...just taking a short break.

And when my body is telling me it's tired, then I opt for rest over pushing myself into a workout. So, after a long run on the Sunday before Christmas, I took the rest of the week off from runs and other gym workouts. The following Sunday I jumped back into my training routine, and actually felt pretty energized.

For me, taking a break was much needed. I had a chance to rest both physically and mentally, from the insanity that is marathon training. Anyone who has ever done a marathon, especially for the first time, knows that it is somewhat of an obsession. Even when I'm not running, I'm thinking about running and cross-training and meal planning and running gear...and on and on.

I will say, the reason I committed to this fitness path was to rediscover my love for running and fitness. I can now wholeheartedly say that the love is back. Even though I have not actually done the race yet, it has already helped me accomplish that particular goal. For that I am grateful. Now, I look forward to that special day (40 days and counting!!!), and moving on towards my ultimate fitness goals.

The last few months have been wonderful and challenging...miserable at times (Oh the chaffing!), and I am so glad I made the decision to train for my first (maybe my last) marathon.


P.S. ~ Here are some things I've discovered during my training, that I absolutely love!

1. Under Armor 1/2 zip Hoodie - This hoodie has been wonderful in cooler weather. Comfortable on long runs, and warm in 40-50 degree weather, with just a layer of sports bra and tank top. The only thing I wish it had was a zipper pocket somewhere. Under Armor has other outer layers with zipper pockets, but I really love this one. I plan to wear it on race day!

2.SPIBELT - I have been trying out various fueling belts over the last few months. I've tried ones with 1 water bottle, 3 water bottles, pockets, pouches, slits, etc. This one is my favorite so far. It is water resistant, so keeps whatever is inside from getting sweaty. It expands enough to fit a phone, cash, I.D., and fuel packets. What I really like is that it is not to bulky and stays put.

3. Camden Gear compression sleeves - Even though I did my best to avoid one, I recently had my first experience with a running injury. I am thankful that it wasn't a fracture, but what turned out to be a muscle strain on my shin. It was pretty painful, but I got it checked out right away, and faithfully followed the doctor's treatment plan. I received these sleeves as a gift, and they have definitely been helpful in my recovery and with being able to complete workouts.

4. Foot Spa - I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I have made it a routine to pamper my feet after every long run. So once a week, I soak my feet in this particular spa. It comes with heat, vibration, and bubbles! The removable rollers are an added way to massage your feet. I have yet to experiencing any foot issues!

 5. Over the Calf Socks  - Another part of my foot-pampering routing is moisturizing my feet and putting on a pair of these socks. The ones I use are from Under Armor. I find them to be a great addition to my recovery routine.  They are not as tight as compression sleeves, but are supportive and comfortable. I usually keep them on for the rest of the day  after a long run, removing them before bedtime.

I am still on the hunt for a good sports bra and tights or other workout bottoms. I've tried several different brands so far, but I'm still looking!

Twelve Steps: Step One

Even though we may know what habits are good for us, we often neglect to do the simplest and easiest. We get into a routine of not drinking enough water or getting enough sleep. And even though those things could be managed with a little tweak of our schedule or habits, diet changes are more complex for most of us.

In formulating these 12 steps, I have been trying to tackle each, one at a time. When I believe I have a handle on it, then I try to tackle the next step. I still fall back into old habits at times, but keeping a list of these steps close at hand is a trigger for me to remember and make adjustments as needed. There will always be changes we experience, daily or over time, and adjustments will always have to be made. It's important for us to remember that this is okay...life happens!

When I look at what I think it takes to experience the best wellness, I naturally thought of how important water is. There are numerous studies and reports that tell us just how important drinking water is. Just do a web search and you will find benefits such as: detoxifying, moisturizing the air in our lungs, moisturizing our skin (very important as we age), help with metabolism, joint protection (also important in aging), and the list goes on!

Science tells us that our body consists of about 2/3 water.

Even though I know well enough that there are many benefits, when I stopped to reflect on just how much water I was getting, it was sadly very little. So I decided I needed a plan of attack. I needed to do more than just "try" to drink more, but actually make a plan. I've seen some articles that say as long as you are getting liquid into your body (coffee, tea, milk, juice, even soda!!), that you were doing good. But I disagree with that! I think aside from drinking those things, that everyone should be drinking at least 6-8 glasses of pure water each day. Besides, studies don't say that our bodies are made up of milk, or juice, or coffee (though some coffee-lovers might disagree with that!)

So here is the plan I am currently using:

* 2-3 glasses first thing in the morning, before breakfast
* 1 glass with breakfast
* 1 glass before lunch
* 1 glass before dinner
*1 glass one hour before bed

I also drink an additional 2-3 glass whenever I exercise

Some of my friends like to take a gallon jug or other large container and fill it first thing in the morning and just drink it throughout the day. There is no one correct way to do it, the point is that you get at least the minimum your body needs to function well.

If you try this for even just one week, I bet you will look and feel different.
Even if you just start off drinking a couple glasses first thing in the morning for a few weeks, that could make a big difference. Then you can slowly build up from there until you have made it a habit.

Find yourself a nice big glass, favorite mug, or anything else you can drink out of.  Fill it up...and drink to your health!

Marathon Training Update - November

I am now into the second month of my official twenty-week marathon training. It's been going pretty well, though there are still days when I wonder why I am putting myself through this torture!

No, it's not really torture. There are some out there that run, and hate every minute of it. I actually love running, and don't know why someone might push themselves to do an activity they hate. Now mind you, there are days when the challenge of warming up through that first, second, even third mile, makes me think of giving up. But I still love it. I would encourage anyone who hasn't tried running, not to be scared to try. I would also encourage anyone wanting to fit exercise into their lives, to find an activity they actually enjoy.

I finally feel like my old self again. After several years off of exercise, it feels great to be getting back into a fitness routine. Even though it's only been a couple months since I have consistently been running and exercising, my energy level has increased so much from where I began. I am still a slow poke, but that doesn't bother me...and I have actually improved my time as I rack up the miles.

Back in the early days in college, some of my friends affectionately (I hope!) called me She-Ra. Most days I would spend hours in the gym, and was semi-obsessed with all things exercise. I don't think I ever went to any extremes back then, but I certainly took for granted that I would always maintain the high-energy high-motivation fitness lifestyle.

I am not quite back to those day, but it doesn't seem so far out of reach anymore.

I will talk more about my training methods on another day, but I will say that I'm definitely a believer in the Galloway Method*, which is a run-walk method. It is very different for me to take short walk breaks at regular intervals, than just running until I cannot run anymore, then taking a break (my previous training method). My longest run thus far has been a ten-miler, and with this method, I was able to maintain a steady pace through the entire run and not feel like I was dying at the end! My recovery was also incredible. (I will also talk more about recovery methods later).

I have lost some weight, nothing extreme...and as exciting as that is, I have to remind myself that weight loss is NOT my main goal. It is a part of achieving my fitness goals, but I don't want to fall into old habits of becoming obsessed with the numbers on the scale and sabotaging all the good that I've done. Do I still get on the scale more often than I should...probably. But I'm working on it.

I also continue to remind myself that achieving these goals is a long-term, lifetime commitment. I don't need rush...I need to take time and develop lasting changes. And I WILL get there!



*Learn more about the Galloway Method here:  Galloway Run/Walk