Monday, August 9, 2010

Today I Was Brave...

Today is a very important day for me. Today was the day I officially returned to regular exercise. A few years ago I’d go to the park with my dog at least 3 times a week and walk about 4 miles. But like many people, eventually our routine fizzled out. So now that I’ve packed on quite a bit of weight, I figured it was time (past time really) to get back out there and burn this fat off.

No, really, I can’t stress enough now much I should have done this month’s ago. Even my mini-dachshund, Caleb, was getting fat. The other day we were playing fetch in the house and the first time I tossed his tennis ball across the room, it took him 5 minutes to come back with it. And then he took an hour nap (ok, slight exaggeration, it was more like a 45 minute nap…). And of course I’m no better. I’ve gained so much weight I’m in that “miserable fatness zone.” The kind of fat where you don’t even untie your shoes to take them off or put them on. The kind of fat where if you drop something you don’t just bend and pick it up, you think about if you really need that item or not (I’ve left a few quarters on the ground lately). The kind of fat that if you lost 20lbs no one would even notice. The kind of fat that when you go out to eat you’d rather have a table than a booth. The kind of fat where when people look at you, you know they’re wondering if you’re pregnant (and you think to yourself, that if they ask you’re just gonna say yes to keep it from being awkward). The kind of fat where you make other fat people feel better about themselves…yea like that!

This morning I woke up at 8am and slowly but surely got ready for this morning’s exercise. I was half excited and half dreading the whole ordeal. I got dressed in my old workout clothes, which are quite snug now, and then got the dog and we headed down to the car. We got to the park and I stretched a bit before starting. It went pretty well. I walked a bit and then jogged a bit. Caleb and I made it to the end of the trail and then stopped at the lake. On the way back Caleb gets tired and I end up having to carry him for about a mile (he’s spoiled rotten). As if jogging isn’t hard enough, try doing it carrying an extra 10lbs of dog under your arm (don’t worry, he’s walking the entire thing tomorrow)!

By the time I got back to the car, I was drenched in sweat. But I do feel better. Whenever you see a special on TV or read an article about someone who’s lost a lot of weight, they are often referred to as “brave.” Until today, I didn’t understand why. Now, I do…it takes bravery to go outside in workout clothes that are too small, in the early daytime hours, jog when you’d rather be home eating cheetos, continue to jog even when you feel your knees are going to break (or that your ankle is going to snap at any moment), and carry your dog when even he’s given up. I’m happy to say, I was brave today!

4 comments:

  1. Likewise, it takes bravery to discuss it in a public forum. Bravo and Kudos! Continued success on your journey! You can do it!!!

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  2. Well done my friend. Keep it up. The reward of feeling good about yourself is so worth it. Hit me if you every need some motivation.

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  3. @A. Cain, thanks for the kudos. (I can do it!):-)

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  4. @Ooph, Thank you so much! Glad to see you here! By "motivation" do you mean you'll stand 4 miles away from me with a bottle of wine? Cause that's what I picture. :-)

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