The Next Challenge

I teased on Sunday that I have picked my next 'thing'. That goal I believe everyone should put out there to improve their fitness.

It's the AIDS Walk/Run 2008 to benefit the AIDS Project of Central Iowa. It is happening April 12th at 10 a.m. and it starts at Des Moines University. I will be running the 5K on the "hilly" course.

That last part is the most important one. Hills, running and me. Frankly that threesome has never been my friend, so that will be challenge #1. Challenge #2 is shaving time of my personal best. O.k., I have only run one race, but hey that was my best! (Here's a link to remind you.)

I ran it in 36:19. So, my goal is to beat my time by 1 minute. That may not sound like a lot, but when you haven't been running much, it feels like a lot. That's taking about 20 seconds off each mile.

So, I have already started running again. The stairs will become a once in a while thing until I get closer to the 801 next year. One of my favorite things about this race is that, once again, it is for a great cause. Who doesn't feel great doing good things for others while doing good for yourself?

Yours in fitness, Kate

18 Months and Counting...

I realized mid-post yesterday that Friday was my 18 month anniversary. I have been making healthier food choices and exercising since July 18, 2006. In those 549 days I have lost 110 pounds (I now weigh 150 pounds) and gained knowledge and a new sense of self worth.

Other new things from the past 13,176 hours:

I have learned how to eat healthy.
How to exercise properly.
I know, understand and like myself better.
I have stopped correlating weight and happiness.
I have realized I do not have to change who I am because I have become healthier, I am still me.
I have embraced my calling to help others make lifestyle changes.
I love to exercise.
I love vegetables.
I am capable of making great choices for my health.
This is a forever change and now I can't imagine it any other way.

In the next 790,560 minutes I hope to:

Learn more.
Exercise more.
Hit my goal of a completely athletic body.
Find a way to help my skin tighten up.
Learn more about nutrition.
Continue to help others that want to make changes.
Experiment more with food.
Try new activities outdoors.
Find complete peace regarding the way I abused my body for so many years and forgive myself for it.

Well, here's to the next 47,433,600 seconds, may the be as fun, healthy, fulfilling and happy as the last 78 weeks! I'm headed to the FWW.

Yours in fitness, Kate

Overweight

I weighed in this morning.

I lost 3 pounds this week! That brings my weight to 173 and my total weight loss to 87 pounds. It also allowed me to meet one of my long term goals. My BMI now says I am "overweight" instead of "obese" or worse yet, where I started, "morbidly obese".

I am overweight.

And I am damn thrilled! LOL.

Now the next goals...

Short term - get to 170, because it's an even number. Then get to 160. The later has two points of significance - that will be my 100 pound mark AND it is what I weighed at the start of my senior year of high school. That note is important because those pictures were the last I liked of myself.

Long term - 145, that's where I go from "overweight" to "normal weight". How bizarre to even be thinking of that in terms of accomplishing it soon. It's just 28 pounds away. It's also just 10 pounds away from my original ultimate goal of 135.

That potentially means, that barring another wicked plateau, (and assuming I keep losing an average of 2 pounds a week) I could reach my original goal by the end of November. I can almost taste that victory, but...

You may have noticed I keep saying "original goal" in reference to 135. As I look at my body, I see more than 38 pounds left to lose. So now the plan is to get to 135 and reassess with a trainer what's next.

I know, I know. For the moment just concentrate on getting there.

Best always, Ms_H
Weight - 173 pounds