Week 10

I am entering week 10 of taking care of myself.

My body is not only changing, but so is my level of fitness.

There are a few things I do to help myself stay on track.

I weigh myself to monitor change.

I take pictures to remind myself of where I started and where I want to go.

And I also have a few benchmarks I’ve set for myself. And every couple weeks I retest those.

On Thursday nights, I bring Number 3 and 4 to swim practice, and my husband stays home with the other kids.

So I have over two hours to myself.

There are good sidewalks in the town they practice in, so it’s the perfect place for me to go for a run.

Seven weeks ago I ran a two mile loop. I had just started running again, and I was DYING.

My only goal was to run two miles without walking.

I did it, and my average pace was 11:38/mile.

I decided I’d use that as a benchmark and see where I was in a few weeks.

Last Thursday I ran the same loop again (I stopped running right at 2 miles now that I know how far I have to run), and my average pace was 10:33/mile.

In seven weeks I’m a minute and five seconds faster per mile!

YES!!!

I’m still nowhere near in the running shape I was in four years ago, but I’m way faster than I was seven weeks ago!

That’s why I use all these different methods to measure change. It keeps me on track, and it keeps me motivated to continue making healthy choices and decisions, especially when I don’t really want to.

Speaking of change, I’ve got updated pictures.

Before I get to those, a couple things.

First, in my beginning picture I was running late and I only had a short window of time to get the pictures taken and I had worked out that morning but hadn’t showered, and even though it’s a before picture, I am seriously wishing I had taken a shower because my hair looks terrible.

But my week 10 hair is pretty awesome.

Maybe the dietary changes have something to do with it, too. Maybe it’s just the shower.

Either way, I had a good hair day this morning when I took new pics.

The second thing I’d like to address is my one piece bathing suit/running clothes tan lines. I’ve been running more and teaching swim lessons outside, so I’ve got some interesting tan lines going on.

Those are probably gonna get worse before they get better.

Eh. Whatever.

It doesn’t matter.

I’m carrying less weight around my middle which means I have lowered my risk of heart disease.

I’m measurably faster and stronger and more physically fit than I was two months ago.

And I feel great.

If you are struggling on the path to a healthier life, don’t throw in the towel!

And if you could use a little support, join us on Facebook at Not Your Average Fitness Group. There are hundreds of women (including me!) who can relate to your struggles and who can give you encouragement and answer questions when you have them!

Hope to see you there!