Two months from today I will be turning 21 and arriving in Las Vegas. A couple of days before this, I will be taking part in my first 5K run called Colour Me Rad. Earlier this week I had an epiphany:
I’ve really got to get training.
August 18th the Colour Me Rad run comes to Vancouver for the first time ever. Of course, I jumped at the chance to not only challenge myself and do something I’ve found a love for, but to do it and do it with an artistic flair? Sign me up. I also rounded up two of my best friends and we make team ‘Hungry Hungry Hippos’. We may not be the best or the fastest or the healthiest group out there, but we are cute and hungry (for the race then some grub after!). In order to survive this run though, I need to figure out how to run better, longer and loose some excess weight so my body doesn’t have to kill itself in the mid-August heat.
I also don’t want to start my 21st year the way I started my 20th: out of shape and unhappy with my body and myself. I’ve made great progress this year when it comes to my mental health and body image issues, but the weight was still there and comfortable in my own skin or not, fat isn’t healthy. When I signed up for the gym earlier this year I noticed an immediate improvement in my strength and endurance, yet the number on my scale didn’t budge. As I’m sure you can imagine, this was incredibly frustrating. It wasn’t until I started WeightWatchers for the second time that I really realized how important the connection between diet and exercise is, and I was just going to have to suck it up and make a huge lifestyle change. The second I accepted this, not only did the scale begin to show me lower numbers but I could actually notice the change in and on myself.
I mean, I feel fantastic. Better than I have in a long time. And I’ve really only lost 10 pounds so far.
Then I’m going to Vegas! And San Francisco! Who doesn’t want to look smokin’ hot while on vacation?
With so much motivation and countless reasons to just do it, I am happy I’ve finally got myself on the right path. And trust me, if my lazy butt can take the plunge yours can too.
Today I spent two hours on the most intense, crazy, well rounded workout of my life. In no way do I suggest doing two crazy, intense hours if your just starting to focus on your health (because that would be more than a plunge, that would be jumping off a cliff down to some sharp, scary rocks of death) but once you work up to it, this type of work out every once in a while feels great! I’m betting I will be sore in the morning but right now I can actually feel that I have muscle. I spent a crazy amount of time stretching so I shouldn’t be confined to my bed for the weekend. Then I worked every possible area of my body on top of my regular 5k training. To give you a sense of this workout, it earned 11 WeightWatchers Activity Points (that’s a lot). I’m probably going to have to stretch before bed again.
I have never pushed myself so hard before. When I realized this, I pushed even harder.
Pinterest has given me a lot of great work out ideas. I’m the type who needs to change it up a fair bit to keep entertained so this is handy-dandy. I also found a great quote, and everytime I started to feel tired today, I read it and went back to work. Hopefully, I can leave you feeling the same.
Don’t quit. You’re already in pain. You’re already hurt. Get a reward from it.
another family member reading your blog.
Good out look and philosophy Megan. Keep it up.