Two years ago today I made a spontaneous decision to join our local Y. It was random and something I hadn’t given a moment’s thought to until I just got in my car and drove there. It was a Tuesday and there was nothing particular that motivated me to join on that day. In the words of that very popular Nike campaign, I just did it.

Two months after I joined, I wrote this post.

And one year ago today, I wrote this post.

All of those things are still true. Well, except for the part about having lost 50 pounds. I put 10 pounds on over last fall and the holidays. I have taken off 5 of those pounds and I’m working on taking off more – another 25 if I’m going to be completely honest. It’s a struggle, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that. I sabotage myself more than I like to admit and I’m not sure why but I’m working on figuring that out. And through it all, I’m exercising.

3 weeks ago I started training with the Couch to 5K program again. Admitting that feels a little bit like admitting to a failure but I’m putting it out there because I am determined to finish the program and run an entire 5K this time. Over the past 2 years I have run and walked a couple of races and many many miles. But I have not been consistent with my running and I have walked more than I’ve run. I want that to change. I want to be able to go out and run a couple of miles and just get it done. I want to be stronger in spin class and I want to lose more weight. I want to stop with the snacking and indulging. I want to be proud of myself and nothing makes me feel prouder than running does.

I’ve come a long way over the past two years and I’ve done things I never imagined I could do. And, while my motivation these days is mostly about that damn scale, the biggest and best part of all of this is the way I feel.

I feel awake and determined and proud and strong and healthy and changed.

 

 

I’m pretty sure you all know that I have a great love for my local YMCA. I joined nearly 2 years ago and this facility and the people who work there have been a constant source of support for me on my personal fitness journey. My trainer, Bizzy,  is amazing and I have a wonderful and personal relationship with her. She has never let me down and has encouraged me and pushed me and made me believe in myself like I never have before. The rest of the staff is just as amazing – friendly and kind and (this is a big one for me) they call me by name when they see me. The facility itself, while not as grand as some, is very nice. There are plenty of machines and there is a pool (not that I’ve ever so much as stuck my big toe in it) and weights and classes in TRX and Zumba and Cycling.

As part of her commitment to continuously challenge me, Bizzy invited Dale and I to attend a meeting on the Y’s upcoming Spinathon, a major fundraiser for their Annual Campaign. She told me it was just a meeting, not a commitment to participate in the actual Spinathon. She told me that they needed input from members, both actives ones – that would be me – and less active ones – that would be Dale. She told me that my involvement with Kiwanis made me especially suited to be able to bring good ideas to the table. Given my love for Bizzy and the fact that I sort of owe her my life, I couldn’t possibly have said no.

Here’s the thing, though. She lied. I should have anticipated this because she lies to me all.the.time. Just 5 more seconds, she says, when she’s really going to make me do 30. Just one more set, she says, when she’s really going to make me do three more sets. This won’t be hard at all, she says, when she’s about to kick my ass. So yeah, she’s a liar and attending that meeting sort of did mean we would be committing to participating in the Spinathon. I forgive her for it, though, because she only lies to me when it’s really really good for me.

And sure, I could have gotten out of it but how could I, honestly? I love this place and I truly believe our community is incredibly fortunate to have it. And if I can support it by raising some money through pledges for my commitment to spin for an hour on March 22nd, well, of course I’m going to do it. I’m not going to do it alone, either. I have dragged Dale along with me as well as a whole team of my fellow Kiwanians.

This YMCA does so much –   for the children and families in our community, for seniors and cancer survivors, and for me. This place changed me and it continues to change me. I mean, really, did you ever think I would be posting about a Spinathon? But here I am and  here’s where you all come in – you can help me raise money for this program by sponsoring me. I have to raise $100 to participate but I want to blow that amount out of the water and raise $500. Or maybe even more! Will you help me? It’s really easy, you can donate online, and no amount is too small. Just click here and you will be taken to my personal fundraising page where you can make your donation.

I’ve always said I have the best blog readers and here’s your chance to prove me right. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

Today is the one year anniversary of the day I made a spur-of-the-moment decision that changed my life. Yes, my friends, it has been one year since I joined the Y and started exercising and eating mindfully. Since that day I have lost over 50 pounds. I have dropped 3 sizes. A year ago today I was able to run on the treadmill for 10 seconds. Now I can run for 30 minutes or longer and I have finished two 5Ks. I no longer feel like a big fat slug. I don’t sit on the couch and watch TV on my days off – I go for a run and I do stuff around the house and I get so much accomplished that when I do sit down to knit or watch TV I feel like I have earned the right to do that.

In the past year I have learned amazing things. I have learned that sleep walking through life is no way to enjoy it. I have learned to do burpees and planks, squats and dead lifts and lunges. I have learned that indulging in a cookie or two doesn’t make me a bad person and I have definitely learned that the things I do consistently matter much more than the occasional mistakes I make. I have learned that I am stronger than I ever thought and that I can push myself to do more and more and more. Mostly, though, I have learned that hard work and determination pay off.

And in that spirit of hard work and determination, later today I have an appointment with my awesome personal trainer, Bizzy. I’ll tell you plain, I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for her. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She encouraged me and made time for me and never let me down. Sure, it’s her job but she has gone so far beyond what that job requires that  . . . well . . . I get all verklempt when I think about what she has done for me.

Finally, I just want to say that although today feels momentous in the sense that’s is been a whole year, it’s really just another step in my journey – a journey of health and happiness and personal fulfillment. I tell myself daily that it’s a marathon not a sprint and I truly believe that. Thank you to each and every one of you who has reached out and encouraged me along the way. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and I’d sure appreciate it if you all keep doing what you’re doing, too.

 

There’s so much to do this time of year – shopping and baking, wrapping and socializing, selling Christmas trees for our Kiwanis club and the list goes on and on. It makes it harder than ever to get to the gym but at the same time it’s more important than ever. All those extra tasks mean extra stress. And gawd knows the baking and socializing means extra calories. There’s nothing better for coping with stress and burning off calories than running a couple of miles on the treadmill.

It helps with the extra wine consumption, too.