My First 5k

This post should have been written last Saturday. However, I found myself taking a nap. :-)

On April 10, 2010, I walked my first 5k race. *pause for reaction*

Yes, me at an astonishing 250 lbs, walked an entire 5k race (3.2 miles) up hills and through a neighborhood finishing in only 51 minutes 33 seconds.

I felt great afterwards. I am still beyond proud that I completed one. Not only that, I didn't come in last. I kept plugging away as I walked and didn't take any breaks.

There is another one at the end of this month that I and a co-worker are hoping to do. Our ultimate goal is to run the 5k of our local city's run in October.

However, I'm watching the Biggest Loser while writing this and Michael at 372 lbs ran a 5k. Now, if he can run a 5k at more than 100 lbs heavier than me, what is stopping me from doing it?

I really need to start the C25K program. It's a running program to help people go from their couch to running a 5k. It seems to be getting harder for me to lose weight and I think I need to really starting stepping it up. I can't sit back and just float through each day.

I need to really focus on myself.

:~D

Why I am this way

I ask myself, how did I get like this? How in the world did I balloon up to 260 lbs?! I started watching the “Biggest Loser” during season 8. Now that a new season has begun, I’ve been religiously watching the shows. It is interesting to me how the trainers will always work on digging out deep hidden problems in the contestants that is most likely a big reason why they are overweight. This always makes me wonder what the trainers would dig out of me to find the cause of my weight.

So far, I have yet to come up with an answer. Like everyone, I have dark clouds from my childhood. Even then, nothing really stands out…so far.

A believe a big part of my problem is that I am SUCH a picky eater. Unfortunately what I pick to eat is usually junk food. I don’t like many vegetables. I do like some fruits, but tend to pass them up for another more fattening sweet. I gravitate towards fried foods and baked goods. I LOVE starchy foods. I’ve eaten plates of fries before as a meal! What is wrong with me?!

It seems like I really enjoy indulging myself through food. I don’t remember being denied food more than usual. I didn’t have a traumatizing event with food.

I can also be lazy. I don’t immediately enjoy exercising and tend to avoid it. There have been times that I’ve found joy in it, but it takes a struggling effort to get to that point. Then, sadly, it seems hard to keep that feeling going and I tend to quit.

So how do I change? I am scared to think that I will have to make a true life change to finally get rid of this weight and I don’t know if I’m ready for that. While I am very unhappy with my body, I enjoy eating and not exercising (well, to an extent). I know I will feel better in every sense if I lose this weight – but it is so hard to get to that point.

My goal for this blog is to open all my secrets up, dig out my weaknesses and vulnerabilities so I can deal with them at last. Truly deal with them. I’m sure this will be uncomfortable and possibly painful, but I’m running out of time.


D

And so it begins...

Here I am folks, in all my ridiculous glory. My name is “Damona” (for the sake of this blog). This is not my real name. Yes, I am embarrassed enough to not even post my real name. I’m hoping that by exposing my weight and all the problems it has caused, I will finally – FINALLY – do something to get healthy. This is not a “skinny girl’s” blog. I don’t want to be skinny. I want to be healthy.

Unfortunately for me that means losing about 120 lbs. I am that overweight. Blech. Well, I guess I should start with my story…

I am 31 years old. I am 5’ 4” and currently weigh in at a rough 260 lbs. I have been overweight most of my life. Even so, my body is protesting this “fat suit” every day. Surprisingly I am not diabetic, nor do I have high blood pressure. I do, however, have a litany of other physical problems:

- Joint pain in my knees and ankles
- Foot pain (possibly plantar fasciitis)
- Gastro-intestinal problems (you can use your imagination)
- Shortness of breath
- Sleep apnea
- Low libido
- Very low energy

As you can imagine, I also have low self-confidence and low self-esteem. Fortunately my wonderful husband loves me as I am and only wants to see me happy. He is my saving grace.

I am not happy.

It is time for me to throw out all excuses, put up the junk food and stop patronizing the fast food joints. It is time to get off my fat behind and get m.o.v.i.n.g.

It is time to CHANGE.

Welcome to my truth.

D