WTF???
Endorphins!!! Oh how I love thee.
I have always had a mad love for being active and getting a good sweat on. I have a vast past of being physically active while at the same time, being overweight. Bad genes? Low metabolism? Blame what you will.. it's a battle I've faced for as far back as I can remember. Actually, my first memory of realizing I was heavier than was the norm was at the age of 12 when I joined weight watchers with my mom. I was 160lbs. 12 years old & 5'1''. I will never forget that. I mean, I definitely knew I was bigger, I was a dancer from the time I was 5 & I could never try on the 'model' costume for fittings, they would just measure me. It never got in my way though. I still danced my little heart out & it was never debilitating, my body doesn't have a fave spot to hold onto fat, like thighs or stomach, it doesn't discriminate, just evenly distributes fat throughout. Anyhow, I quit dance when I was 12. I guess that weight never really stopped packing on from that point on. Even though I never truly stopped moving. After I quit dance, I joined my first gym. I worked out a lot. At my peak, I would be going for 2 hours at least 6 times a week, cardio for 90 minutes, weights/cool down/ for 30. I was active in high school, using my only spare to take Phys Ed until I graduated. I felt great (from the endorphins, of course ;)), but the weight would only stay stable instead of decrease, in my early 20's I hung around 200 for some time. Then there was a skydiving accident & the workouts had to stop & the weight shot up... and working out certainly has not been the same since. Living with chronic back pain is something that has been getting in my way of reaching my happy place
NO MORE, I SAY!
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| Yea! |
The past month has been filled with, slowly but surely, an increase in my daily activity. I am no where near where I once was, but I'm getting there. Lately, when I wake up I crave the burn. I get antsy by noon if I haven't had sweat running down my brow. It's an amazing feeling.
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| Seeee how happy |
So, what have I been doing?
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| There's an app for that! |
C25K!!
I have been wanting to start this program for quite some time now. The past few months I have built up quit a walking endurance & was going for 5-6km at a time. (up from 2 km with many stops for pain relief) So I was feeling ready!!! I am cycling through week 1 for the 2nd week & hey man, I may cycle through it for a 3rd week... I shall continue to build myself up until I feel like I can actually finish the longest run without wanting to throw up my stomach contents.. This is an uphill battle, gotta pace myself. I have an amazing friend, who has been accompanying me on my walk/run's and has been a fantastic source of encouragement. Friends are the best!!! :)
I cross train on my off days from running.
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| This has been my life saver. |
I usually do between 30-45 minutes. No stress on my back. Woo!
I have also been dipping my foot into the yoga pool. I've heard great things about it being helpful for back injuries, plus it's just an all around great way to center your body & soul after a stressful day.. so I found an old yoga dvd lying around that is quite interesting and very old school, doable though for a beginner like myself and I've got to start somewhere. Even though I probably look like a beached whale in some of the positions...
I've also ordered a bob harper yoga dvd
I will transition over to that once it arrives.
Other than that, I've been eating a lot of salads
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| The more color the better! |
...drinking a lot of water
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This is my current go to water bottle, but it's too heavy, I need to find a new one.
& getting lots of sleep
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zzzzzzz
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By lots, I mean a good 7 hours instead of my usual 4-5.
