Monday, May 25, 2020

Yesterday I became no longer obese and today I ran my first 5k

So the world is crazy right now, globally covid and in my own little bubble my relationship of 17 years has ended. To get through this i have been trying to carry on with the fitness improvements and weight loss. After not standing on a scale for a few weeks I did yesterday and I am 184lb! This gives me a BMI of 29.5! It feels so good :)

This is my journey so far:

My starting weight this time last year was ~250lb. I'm 5'6 and was at time 38. I've always been big, but over the last couple of years with my relationship in a bad place I had turned to food for comfort and gained another ~25lb. I was having migraines due to fluctuations in blood pressure, and while the doctor said I could try medication it was going to be trial and error to find something that worked for me. Losing weight was the only reliable solution. Also at the same time my knees and feet had started to hurt due to the strain on my body. Enough was enough, I was going to loose this and sort my self out!

Phase 1: self motivation. For the first couple of months I did general improvements to what I was eating. Had less takeout. Eat less dessert etc. I startwd gently swimming and walking a couple of times a week. I did lose doing this. Maybe about 1/1.5lb a week. It was good but I wanted to step it up. I also found my body was aching at times due to the exercise and I wanted support to make sure I didn't hurt myself.

Phase 2: stepping it up I dicided to get a personal trainer to help me exercise. If you are going to do this shop around to find someone who clicks with you! The first one I had didn't know what to do with me. I was to weak to do the 'basic' routine he had. He wasn't interested in trying to help me. I was disheartened, but thought I would try one last time. Then came Nina...

If I owe my life to any one person it's her. That might sound like hyperbole, and is it a bit, but not much. When it was first suggested I was nervous, she is known as the hardest taskmasters of any of the PTs. What I got was some one who was supportive of me at every level. Tailored every session to push me to the very edge of what I could do without killing me. She kept it interesting. Helped me plan every weeks exercise out side our sesions. Helped me slowly build not only the intensity of what I was doing but my confidence in what I was doing so I could plan interning and varried sessions for my self. She got me using MFP and taking my food to the next level to. She could also cope with me turning up almost crying due to life issues. Exercise as apposed to food became my emotional outlet.

In Jan she went on maternity leave. While sad to see her go I was happy for her. By this time I was confident in the gym, able to be an active participant in group classes and self motivated. I got a new PT. He is technically excilent and helping me on more on the exact form and taking my body to the next level.

Phase 3: lockdown This was quite a change. I tried to set up a home workout routine. I had one up and running, but 2 weeks in my relationship finally ended. For reasons we are still living in the house. It's been a struggle. I've tried to keep on top of my food, not always successfully, buy I have kept on tracking. I started doing the c25k more to get out the house than anything else. At first it was easy due to the exercise I've already been doing, but as the length on running increased the difference between outside running and running on a treadmill became apparent. I never thought I would enjoy running but it gives me a sense of freedom that's amazing. I've found buetiful wooded paths. Watching spring change into summer has been lovely.

So that brings us to this weekend. As my weight was fluctuating in April and It was adding to the stress so I took a break from recording where I was. I felt I was in a better head space so wanted to check where I was and re focus. Shockingly I had dropped another 4lb putting me below 30 BMI! This morning I did the last session of the c25k. The app crashed, but checking the route I did the 5k.

I'm feeling positive!

Phase 4: What comes next... I want to keep the momentum. We are still in lockdown so short term I am going to carry on and do the the couch to 10k. Thats 5 more week and hopefully by that time we can go to the gyms again. I'd like to work a bit more on strength work. Longer term I'm thinking of aiming for a half marathon.

Weight wise I want to drop another 28lb. This will get me to the very top of the 'healthy' BMI range. Once there I can access as I'm not sure what my maintenance level will be.

Personally I'm rebuilding my social connections and working on who I am outside of a relationship.

Ultimately I know things are still going to be difficult but i'm feeling good. There are always bumps in the road, but you can do it!

Thanks for you time if you got this far :)

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