My Fitness Battles

I am going to start out by saying that I have been morbidly obese in my life and I have been my ideal weight in my life.  I am going to be honest and say that I have been obese more in my life than not.  Right now, I am categorically in the obese section.  I had a baby 2 months ago, today.  She is an amazing little one and I wouldn't change having her for the world, even if I never lose this weight, she is well worth it to me.

In 2009, I decided to take control of my weight.  My brother and I joined a competition at the YMCA as a team.  It was Jan. 2 and I weighed 233.4.  That isn't the most I ever weighed in my life, but it was a lot more than I wanted to weigh.  I am 5'6" tall.  At this time, I had 3 children, born in Mar 2003, Apr 2004, and Dec 2009.  I lost 40 lbs right before I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd child.  Then I never lost the weight after him.  I decided it was time.  With my brother as my partner, I didn't want to let him down.  In the next 10 weeks, I managed to lose about 38 lbs.  He lost closer to 50.  We came in second place.

During this time though, I went to the YMCA daily, if not twice a day.  I would get on the cardiovascular machines and go with all my heart.  I would see glances in my direction sometimes from people that were fit, that would make me feel uncomfortable.  All the people that worked at the YMCA were nothing but helpful.  They did what they could to help me succeed.  If I didn't know how to use a machine, they would take the time to show me.

I started running during this time.  I was so happy when I first ran a quarter-mile.  Since my brother was my partner, I called him first.  So excited!  He was excited for me.  That quarter-mile was the first of hundreds of miles I have logged on my feet.  He was so supportive of me, he would call and see what I did and ate daily.  I needed that accountability.  As I watched The Biggest Loser one night, they made these people run a half-marathon, unaware.  They found out that day that they would be running.  I figured that if they could run a half-marathon, I could run a 5 K. The furthest I had run before this was a mile.  It about killed me to run the 5 K without stopping, but I did it.  I set the treadmill to the 5 K program and started running.  That was my biggest running accomplishment in my life.

Our 10 week competition ended halfway through March.  On April 9, I had surgery to remove bone out of 3 toes, because I have hammertoes.  That kept me from running for 2 months exactly.  I decided during this time that I was going to do a half-marathon.  I went to RunnersWorld.com Smart Trainer and put in my times.  It came up with a schedule where I would start by running a certain distance at 4.3 mph.  I remember this because of how low the speed was.  I probably wouldn't have remembered it, except I had an older gentleman on a machine next to me that would just keep looking at me in disgust.  It wasn't just one look, it was several.  At this time, on the first day, I was 201 lbs.  Yes, I gained a few when I couldn't do much on my feet.  I wanted to curl up into a little ball and cry, but I hate crying, especially in front of people.  I ran the distance at that speed, and yes, I was a sweaty mess by the end, but I did it with him glancing at me in disgust.

I continued my running schedule for the 16 weeks and then there were 2 more weeks before the half-marathon.  I continued to get glances from people off and on.  By the time my half-marathon occured, I was a rather permanent fixture at the YMCA.  I lost 20 pounds and people were noticing me.  I would get asked about my running and why I was doing it.  I had people rooting for me.  I was the "running girl."  It was mid-October when I did my half-marathon.  I ran it in 2:33:55.  Yes, I am not fast, but I didn't walk at all, and it was a hilly course in PA.  I was proud of myself.  Many of my siblings were there at the finish line, as well as my husband and 3 children.  I felt as if I conquered the world.

I have gone on to complete 2 marathons, several 5 Ks and a few 10 Ks as well as a 17.75K.  Now, after having my daughter, I weigh 206.2 lbs.  There, it is out there.  I am not ashamed of that weight, I have a beautiful daughter to show for it.  I have been taking Prednisone since mid-July, and it causes weight gain and difficulty in weight loss.  I am going to start running again, today.  I will be happy with whatever distance I get.  I ran .83 miles at her 6 week date, and about got sick.  I am going to take it easy and get back up to the half or full-marathon again.

I moved to a new city in March.  I am 1900 miles away from the YMCA that I talked about.  I think that it is important to try out different fitness centers.  I have been to centers that were made for women only.  The problem with that was that they didn't seem to have as much as other fitness centers.  I like to have a pool, free weights, a variety of cardiovascular machines.  I know that there are fitness trainers that seem to abhor overweight people.  I had one in my past.  He tried to kill me, I really think he would have liked to see me dead.  I chose him because I wanted someone that would push me to do my best.  I think he pushed me to see if I would die.  I couldn't walk for a week.  I didn't die, but I did switch trainers.

I would love to get back into shape and become a fitness trainer.  I think it helps if someone has been through the challenges that those of us who have been or are overweight.  I don't wish it on people, but I think it helps people to be empathetic.  I think that being overweight, we have to accept that there are people that are just going to be rude.  We have to know that we will get mean glances and hear rude comments, but we shouldn't let them ruin our desire to get fit.  It is sad to think that we should expect these things, but I have lived through them before, and I will live through them again.  At the end of the day, my family loves me regardless of everything, and that is what really matters.

It is like I tell my loved ones... when I first started running, people would make rude comments and yell out asking why I even bother.  Then they were probably the same ones yelling comments in approval after I had lost the weight.  There are just people like that.

Running For The First Time Since Finding Out I Was Pregnant

My baby turned 6 weeks-old yesterday.  With that, I was permitted to start exercising.  I guess I thought that meant that I could attempt to kill myself in a 10 minute time-span.  I decided that I would take it easy...set the treadmill for 10 minutes and run the whole time to see how far I could go.  I kept the treadmill between 4.9 mph and 5.5 mph, to take it easy on myself.  I managed to run .83 miles in ten minutes.  I thought it was quite an accomplishment, seeing how I hadn't run since Feb. 11, 2011.  I walked the rest of the time to get a mile of exercise in. 

I then walked home.  On the way home, I felt a weird sensation in my belly.  I knew I had to get to the bathroom quickly, I managed to get to the bathroom and then had to call to my daughter to bring me a bowl.  I was sure that I might puke.  She ran and got me a huge Tupperware bowl.  I am sure it was have been sufficient if I indeed had puked.  I asked for my water bottle.  After sipping on that for a few minutes, I felt much better.  I was able to leave the bathroom and come back among the living.

I then made myself a bowl of Crispy Rice cereal with milk and whipped cream (I love that stuff).  I ate that and continued to feel better.  I was able to prevent myself from puking.  I hate to puke, but I know sometimes that I would feel better if I did.  This wasn't one of those times.  After eating smoked oysters, puking helped me feel better.  I used to love those things, but I think I am allergic to them now.  I had eaten them twice a few weeks apart, and puked within an hour of eating them each time. 

So, the moral of the story I guess, is that although I can still run, I shouldn't overdo it.  I do plan to run a half marathon in the spring of 2012.  I have to figure out a training routine and know that I am starting over.  My children have been very supportive of my running in the past.  I look forward to getting back the endurance and cardiovascular health I once had.  I knew that it would be a long road back, but it is one that I am ready to follow.

Long Term Goals...

Long Term Goals...  What a big, scary phrase! 

I was talking to my older brother yesterday.  He was back East visiting the family.  He was going to be heading to Buffalo soon to catch his flight back to Washington.  During our conversation, we got on the topic of goals.  Things that we want to accomplish, not really short-term goals, since they are things that we can't do right now, but things that we look forward to doing once we can get the time or we feel like it is in our best interest.

I started running in Feb of 2009.   I started running because I was overweight, well, obese (what a horrible word to hear someone say to you!).   In April 2009, I was diagnosed with hammertoes and had to get surgery on 3 toes to correct it, which consisted of removing bone.  There went my running for about 2 1/2 months.  The furthest I had run before the surgery was a 5K on a treadmill.  In June, when I could start running again, I found a half marathon to sign up for.  I signed up, and started training.  In October, I finished the Warren Co YMCA Super Kwik Half Marathon in 2:33:55.  I was very happy to have finished.  I crossed the finish line with my husband, three children, brother and his wife, sisters, bro-in-law and nephew cheering me on.


I have completed 2 marathons, they were both last fall, and I didn't come in last. Sept 25, 2010, was Akron Roadrunner and then Nov 13, 2011, was the Richmond SunTrust.  When I was in college, at the ripe old age of 19, I took a class where we were essentially asked to make a Bucket List.  I have no idea where the list is now, or very much that was on it, but I do remember that one of them was to finish a marathon without coming in last place.  At that age, I was not even a runner (I was that horrible O word at 19).  I think that I had run a few times here and there, but I always remembered that as being a goal. 

My goal is to complete two more marathons. I want to be able to give a marathon medal to each of my children.  They are essentially the reason that I run, that I lace up my shoes and head out the door.  There are many times when long runs, we are talking 10 miles or more, would  take a couple of hours at least.  It was time away from mommy, but they never complained that I was gone so long.  They understood that it is something that I want to, need to, do.  They saw me cross the finish line at the Richmond Marathon, holding signs and cheering me on.  It brought tears to my eyes, seeing how devoted they were to me and how much joy it brought them to see me following through.

I learned to love running, I believe, because it is a fast way to burn a lot of calories.  Well, only as fast as you can run, which isn't very fast in my case, compared to others. When I am running though, I am running my best.   I know that I will never be at the head of any pack of runners, but someday I may win my age group, if I am 80 and still running, which I hope that I will be.  That will probably be because I am the only one that is 80 and running, but that is okay :) I do it because I enjoy it.  I know that I am helping myself live a healthier lifestyle than I did in the past.  Therefore, I believe, that I will be around longer for my children, and then, hopefully grandchildren, and so forth.

I told my brother, that I hope to be running again in January.  I realize that after this pregnancy, and the c-section I will have at some point in October, I hope no sooner, it will be most likely January before I run again.  I will have to start slow, probably with walking during the couple of months before January to start to rebuild my cardiovascular capabilities.  It is amazing how fast they dwindle.  I am sure I will be elated when I run my first 1/2 mile, then my first mile, and so forth.  It is starting over, but it will be so worth it.  The marathon training probably won't start until the baby is one or two years-old.  I will be doing 5 Ks and 10 Ks until then.  I do know that it will start eventually though.  I think that my children may want to join me for some of the shorter runs.  They seemed to really enjoy running, when we used to do that together. 

What are some health goals you have set and/or accomplished?  What are some ways you have attained these goals, or plan to?