Thursday, March 20, 2008

Shape Up, Woman!

It has been almost three months since I last ran. I decided it was not wise to run on icy sidewalks/roads when I slipped on the ice and almost broke my butt at the end of December. I kept telling myself that I would run as soon as the weather warmed up a bit, and the ice melted. So I waited for the temps to rise. And I waited. And then I waited some more. Needless to say it didn't happen. The sidewalks and roads remained ice covered for longer than I'd like to recall. And while I waited in vain the K-Lo bootie got bigger. And bigger. And Bigger. Something had to be done.

To be honest the weather should not have been an excuse. I have a fabulous treadmill just waiting to be used in the basement. The problem? Motivation, of course. The treadmill is in a yucky, dark part of the basement surrounded by storage boxes and facing a wall. It is just not the same as running outside in fresh air with beautiful Lake Michigan as my backdrop. Basically, when I run on the treadmill I am staring at this for 30-40 minutes:
This view does nothing to help me pass the time as I struggle, wheeze, and drag myself to a healthier me. Add this to the fact that I have to squeeze my runs (and shower) into a 1 hour window of time when all of the boys are napping, and you can see why I just happened to miss out on this fun for the past three months.
Now that the weather has been warming up a smidgen I have gotten the push I need to get back on the horse, so to speak. Yesterday I decided enough was enough and I took the first step to getting back in shape. It was not easy. I looked like this after the 25 minute run:

That is me trying to suck some air out of the little fan on the treadmill. Sure the fan was clouded with all the dust from the construction project 2 months ago, but I didn't care. At this point, air is air, and I needed some.
Even though the whole run was a struggle I was proud of myself for doing it. The first step is always the hardest. And it may take a little time, but it will get easier. So I'm telling myself.
Of course, getting out of bed this morning may have been the worst part. My body aches as though I have never exercised a day in my life. I had to roll off of my bed in order to get out. Walking down the stairs holding Ben took enormous amounts of concentration. Even my neck muscles are sore. Who knew you used your neck to run? Hmphf. As sore as I am it feels good. A good kind of sore, if there is a good kind of sore, because I took the first step to getting back to me. And, I've missed me.

18 comments:

Brittany said...

Great work!! :)

Kelly said...

You go girl!!! I just need the motivation and I have none lately although on the rare days we have nice weather, I've been getting out and getting some good walks in.

Daryl said...

Good for you .. when I ran the treadmill I would watch TV it made the time pass more quickly ..

dawn klinge said...

Good for you! The first part is the hardest. I recently joined a gym and it has been a very humbling experience working out with all these beautiful fit people while I feel much the way you've described in this post.

Laura said...

Good for you!!! Way to go!!!

Keep it up!!!

ConverseMomma said...

Oh, I have so been there. Hard to start once you have stopped. More power to ya, chickie.

just jamie said...

Good job. Run a few miles for me, please?!

Kristen said...

Way to go!!! You are right, the starting is the hardest part. I took a week off when we went to Vegas, and literally yesterday felt like FLUB working out again.

This having kids thing just takes such a toll on the body. :-)

Again, Kudos and keep up the good, hard, exhausting work.

Kristen said...

Way to go!!! You are right, the starting is the hardest part. I took a week off when we went to Vegas, and literally yesterday felt like FLUB working out again.

This having kids thing just takes such a toll on the body. :-)

Again, Kudos and keep up the good, hard, exhausting work.

Amy said...

I hear you!! Half the battle is actually getting to the gym but once I get there I feel so good about myself!

Chrissy said...

Good for you! I hope you keep it up.

lime said...

oof, i hear ya on the excuses, motivation, and then later pain of the whole thing. kudos for getting on it and running!

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

Good for you. I managed to WALK on my treadmill twice this week.

Diane, DB Impressions said...

You are a better woman than I.....

Beck said...

Fun pictures! AND GOOD WORK!

Anonymous said...

Awesome. I need some of your motivation. Can you turn the treadmill around and get a better view?

Momisodes said...

Good for you! I definitely need to get my butt into gear like you :) You're right, the 1st step is always the hardest.

Laski said...

I am so with you . . . my treadmill is finally getting some use. Too bad you aren't here or I'm not there . . . we could motivate one another!!!

I'm so happy that you and "me" are finding one another again! I so get that.

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson