I have found myself super busy these past two weeks. Most of it has been my own doing, with some school projects and work thrown in there. Confession: I did not run at all last week. I was also supposed to go last night. I didn't do either of those. It's been really getting me down because I am not making time for it myself. I guess just lacking motivation. I'm trying to change that this week though. I AM going running at the track tonight. I don't care how late it is, I will be there.
With our busy lives, I feel like it is so easy for us to get off track. Literally in the case of running, off of the track. It's something that I want to really work on. Having a set schedule can be such an important asset to us. No last minute decisions, no rushing to get things done. I can guarantee that for the rest of your life if you possess the ability to have great time management, you will prosper in some way or another.
So.. my other main thought about getting off track. As of yesterday, I reached my first weight loss goal!! I lost 10% of my starting body weight! I was actually more in awe than anything. I feel like I always read about girls doing that, or saw it pinned a million times on Pinterest. To actually say that I am one of those people really makes me proud. Here is where I am concerned. I HAVE TO KEEP GOING. I still need to lose more weight to achieve the body type that I want. I am way closer, but I would like to shed some more. I also want to get more toned. I was very athletic in high school, and I still am, so I am lucky that I do have muscle tone. However, I want to be in top fitness shape. Not just average shape. I am so scared that I will reach a plateau, or lose motivation. To avoid this I am doing the fitness plan I mentioned in the previous post, as well as some tips I came up with today.
Here is my plan to keep going!
I want to lose about 20 more pounds by December. I have weekly weight goals set. If I reach that amount each week, I am putting a little from my paycheck into an account I have set aside for this purpose. My ultimate plan is to have lost the weight and saved up the money so that in December when I go home for Christmas I can use my money and go workout with a personal trainer at a bootcamp place in my home town. I want to have the weight off so I can focus mostly on building muscle tone! I wrote this plan down and have it in my room where I can see it. Also, I have a before picture, my middle picture, and a picture of a body type I admire. Since I don't want anyone to see these pictures, I posted them in a notebook that I use to write devotionals in. I am going to try and look at that every day so I can visualize my after picture!
I am really excited to be starting this second part of my journey. If there is one thing I want people to understand is this: LOSING WEIGHT IS POSSIBLE. You can do it, but it takes dedication. Accomplishing goals that you have set out is the best feeling in the world though. It is so worth it. So never give up!
So the other night I found myself really frustrated over a situation. What do I do? I decide to go running and clear my head. Sounds like a good idea right? Wrong. I was so mad that I basically got out of my car and off I went. Running as fast as I could. Let me make this clear, I AM NOT a runner. In no way have I conditioned myself enough to keep this pace. I was running too fast, and too hard. This resulted in shin splints and me coughing like crazy. So overall, not a good idea. If I had kept my normal pace, and not run like my life depended on it, I would have been fine. If I would have waited a little bit to calm down, I would have been fine. If I would have prayed to God first instead of calling a friend to complain about it, I wouldn't have been as mad and felt the need to take it out on the track.
The next devotional I have, I find these two phrases: "Don't run ahead of me or try to fly before your plans are complete. Your strength will fail you, and your dreams will wither away." Hmm once again this matched up with my fitness goals. I shouldn't have tried to run like I was some track star. My strength did fail me and I did not look at what God's plan might have been in that situation. However, now I know. I think it just took me running like there was no tomorrow to figure it out.
So the moral of the story: Running can be great to do to clear your head; I've done that many times before. Just be careful that you aren't going to overdo it in the process.
On a side note, I am in a Wellness class and we have to create a behavior change contract. I am actually really looking forward to it. My goal is to do some sort of exercise each day of the week. So to workout at least 7x's a week. One day I might have a really hard workout, and then the next I'll just make sure I do Pilates or some sort of ab workout. Or even to just go on a walk. I just want to be active every day. We had to make short term goals with rewards, so I am going to post them on here to make myself more accountable! It sounds like a good idea to me, if anyone else wants to try it!
Last thing, I have officially lost 21 lbs!!! Super excited! I just have to keep going at it. I don't want to stop anytime soon. :)
Short Term Goals:
1) Workout 3x's a week- September 27, 2012. Reward- a new water bottle
2) Workout 5x's a week- October 18, 2012. Reward- a pair of nike shorts
3) Workout 7x's a week- November 15, 2012. Reward- a nike pullover
When I have kept up this goal, on December 13, 2012, I am buying myself a new pair of running shoes I have been wanting! I will definitely post pictures of them, and my other rewards. Wish me luck!
"Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You must also run in such a way that you will win." 1 Corinthians 9:24
So, upon reading this verse, my first thought was, "hmm yea God isn't really giving me training advice on how to run a 10k," but it really did speak to me concerning my spiritual walk. We must run in a way that we will win. To me, it means that you have to set yourself up for success and not failure. Whether it be avoiding situations that would cause you to stumble, or even reminding yourself just to have a positive attitude. Our walk is something that we have to strive to excel in daily.
The verse went along with a devotion that I read the other night. It comes from the book "His Princess" by Sheri Rose Shepherd. (I HIGHLY recommend reading it!) The subject of the devotion was about our desire to please God and how we can become burdened by circumstances around us, but that God's grace will lighten our steps if we just let go of our troubles.
It's awesome how God relates his messages to us in everyday life. This excerpt stuck out to me because literally, running is the only physical activity I have been able to do for the past week and a half! I have made plans to go to the gym, and they fall through. I have made plans to workout at my house, and I end up forgetting or needing to do something else. I even made plans to go on a walk with a friend and that ended up not happening. Needless to say, this all stressed me out. But, three nights this week I have been able to go on night runs with my best friend! So the devotion focusing on running just really made me smile. It made me realize that I was already running, which is a good exercise, and that I needed to let what was stressing me out go! I gave it to God and have been using my running time to focus on running for Christ too. Shepherd quotes, "Make it your daily passion to run with Me(Christ), and I will carry you over the finish line of your faith." I'm also counting on God to carry me over the finish line of my physical goals!
Random facts about my running routine!
1. I love to go running on the track at night. I feel less self conscious because it is dark, and there aren't as many people.
2. I don't go running at night by myself, even if it is on campus and well lit. I'd prefer to be safe.
3. Music is a must have when I run.
4. I have found that the spandex material capri type pants are much more comfy to run in because they never "ride up."
5. Recently, I have been able to run two straight miles.
6. No matter the distance, I always feel accomplished after my run.
7. Breathing through your nose= no stitch in your side.
8. I hate carrying a water bottle, so I drink a lot about 30 mins before, and then have a bottle waiting in the car.
9. I like a steady pace better than just trying to do it in a short amount of time.
10. Sprinting at the end always makes me feel like I finished strong.
