Yay! A goal reached!

maurierose

See that little ticker at the bottom of my post? I finally did it!! :noway: :drinker: :bigsmile:

Towards the end of last year, I decided I was actually going to exercise. Regularly. Me. The person who always hated breaking a sweat, except for that kickboxing class I took years ago that I loved..... well, I had to figure out what exercise I could stick with - I'm a wife and mom, a gym membership or fitness class just isn't realistic in my world, I have some hip and knee issues, and I'm not coordinated enough to rollerblade.... I'm not a jogging/running person (it just hurts, knew I couldn't stick with something that HURTS!), and it needed to be something I could do at home. I tried some dvd's - scared the dog, concerned our little guy who couldn't figure out what the heck Mommy was doing.... wasn't pretty.... :laugh:

I asked for an exercise bike for Christmas.

Towards the beginning of the year, I actually bought it. Set it up in our room - front and center, and swore not to hang clothes on it. In the beginning, I struggled to do a mile or two - it wasn't "easy", but the irish in me came out...... along with my red face...... I wasn't giving up. I remember when making it to 5 miles was a HUGE success in my head - I was so proud! It was shortly afterwards that I decided to challenge myself by setting my first-ever exercise goal. I wasn't going to pick something "easy" (I'm Irish, remember? lol), so I chose 250 miles. I had my weeks (okay, even months) where I rode very little, but I never stopped or gave up completely. Lately it's been a lot easier to "make" the time, stop the excuses, and just get on the darned thing..... and I can do 12 or 13 miles now, at a higher intensity, at a single stretch...... now remember, I'm a wife and a mom, so sometimes FINDING that time is harder than DOING that time.....

But I'm very proud to announce that I've officially reached my first exercise goal. 250 miles pedaled on my stationary bike. I'm going to leave it for a week or so, gloat, celebrate, do the snoopy happy dance.... figure out what to reward myself with (my MFP friends have had some GREAT suggestions!), and then I'll change it to something higher. :laugh: :bigsmile:

I've learned a few things in this.....

that I am stronger than I thought I was....

that exercise can feel "good"....

that my hubby is so encouraging (which I already knew), and will go out of his way to make sure I get my exercise time when I need it and wasn't able to fit it in at a normal time..... should have seen his smile when I told him I reached my goal! :smooched:

that I'm "one of those exercise people"....

that my heart rate is harder to raise in the morning than it is at night....

that my HRM is invaluable, and I can't use the bike counter (which is about 3 times higher than my actual caloric burn..... ho hum.... :sad: LOL)

that I can't overcompensate by eating all the wrong foods (learned this the hard way.... was at a 22 lb loss..... heading back to that..... :grumble: )

that I have a tough time period at the beginning of any exercise (aerobics, bike, walking, you name it) when I feel whiney, achy, and just want to quit..... but if I push past that and through that and get warmed up, I feel invincible, like I could keep working at it for hours...

that I can be a "good example" without saying a word or pushing anyone, and have been thrilled to see others in our home hopping on an exercise bike....

I sure have appreciated what great, encouraging friends I have here, who cheered my small steps along the way, and reminded me to be proud of what I COULD do, and WAS doing.....

Don't exercise? Find what works for you. Reach out to others and share your journey along the way if the encouragement helps you. Don't give up. Push through "the quitting, whining point", and get to the proud point. It's in every one of us, if it's in me. :laugh:

abyt42

Congratulations!!!

I'm totally impressed (though I knew you were getting close to this landmark!) Nicely done, and way to get back on the horse/bike!

skywalker

Great for you maurie! :drinker: That is awesome!!! Maybe you could reward yourself with a massage or a pedicure. Something indulgent and completely calorie free!!! :laugh: You've earned it! :bigsmile:

Burtonrah

Way to go!!! Thanks for the inspiration and keep it up!!!

maurierose

Thanks everyone!!! :drinker:

FemininGuns

Thank you for your poste. Some of the things you've learned throughout your goal achievement - I just learned this AM. Almost made me cry with pride!!! CONGRATS!!!