I'm Going Public

I'm going public. 

I need some accountability.

I need to fit in my skin again! 

For more years than I care to count, I have been battling with my weight.  There was a time when I was running 3 miles a day, going to the gym regularly, and even competed in small triathlons. 



circa 1990

 Starting now, I am going to be in charge of my health and fitness. I flip through magazines with articles about weight loss and there appears to be two categories: 

1) a miracle plan that will shed 20 pounds by summer/Christmas/back to school/whenever by walking/pilates/eliminating entire food groups/taking a miracle pill, or

2) a discussion on over-eating to fill some unmet emotional issue.  I guess I shouldn't rule out the idea that I'm really not as happy and content as I feel and that somewhere buried deep in my subconscious is the reason I'm overweight.  And that Oprah/Dr. Phil/Gillian Michaels can help me uncover it all, I'll lose 100 pounds, get a makeover and make it on the cover of Prevention Magazine. 

But I guess I see it a bit differently.  I have mentioned in other posts that I'm not an overthinker so here's how I see my situation...

I take in more calories than I burn!

So, if I want to shed some weight, I have to change the balance:  I either need to take in fewer calories and excercise the same amount, consume the same amount of calories and exercise more, or, and here's where I get really radical, take in fewer calories and exercise more!

I really just want to feel comfortable in my body again.  And, I want to run with Corey and Christine(and any other fabuolous Mom) when we are in Orlando in March. 

There, I said it.  It is now out there in the Blogosphere.  I want to hang out with the cool kids.

I read on other blogs the C25K thing.  It's a 9 week interval training plan that takes you from couch  potato (C) to running a 5K.  I also have an iPhone App called Lose It! that allows you to set your weight loss goal, track the food you've eaten, log exercise--and it calculates how many calories you can eat for the day, subtracts what you've eaten, adds calories if you've exercied and even tracks nutritional information.  I can use both the C25K and Lose It! on my iPhone--exercise and technology--why, it's got my name written all over it.  Now to just add the missing ingredient...doing it.

So, I started back at the gym two weeks ago.  I haven't lost an ounce but I'm starting to feel better.  My muscles are remembering and my lungs are starting to come back.  YAY!  I have to remind myself that I didn't get out of shape or pack on all these extra pounds in two weeks so I can't expect to lose it overnight.  Plus, I'm perimenopausal and have hypothroidism...not excuses, just reasons to stay focused.

I begin Week 3 today. 

My Goals:
1.  Feel better physically
2.  Run a 5k with Corey and Christine  when we're in Florida
3.  Lose 20 pounds

So, I'll share my successes and frustrations.  I welcome any words of encouragement, ideas for sticking with it, your success stories, training tips, and suggestions for really good work out music.