Non weight related success story

nexangelus

Just thought I would throw my little success out there. To me it is rather big. I began my fitness journey many years ago whilst I was still in the midst of overcoming an eating disorder. I class myself as still recovering, because, although I have had 3 clear years, of no watching the scale, watching the calories, being obsessive about what goes in my mouth, every day presents new challenges. The healthy habit has been picked up, I have gained weight and even gained some serious lean mass. Anyway I digress...it has been a long process, a 19 year journey to be exact.

I attempted to become the fittest and strongest I have been in my life about 3 years ago. I had a personal trainer, I actually trained really damn hard. I went from hating running to running a 5 km, then a 10 km then a half marathon the same year. I was not fast, but I finished all three in good times. My body weight plummetted as did my lean mass (not eating anywhere near enough) during this fitness phase; not to anything extremely unhealthy, but enough to trigger me into spiralling out of control and as a result becoming very depressed and avoiding gyms and anything fitness related for the next three years.

This year, in April I joined the gym again, I felt ready. After the year I want to forget - last year (broke my left foot, my right wrist and then my right hand, as well as other emotionally taxing issues to do with relationships), I was mentally ready to try again. This time it has been different, there is no obsessiveness and I know exactly when the over the top **** begins to kick in, I take a look at what I am doing, re-assess why I am thinking like that and rethink the usually negative path and then re-choose the path I need to take.

I went out running the last two evenings (have hurt my feet a few times running this year, ugh!) and I have changed the way I run. I don't wear my supportive and rather restrictive trainers meant for over-pronation. I ran 2.3 miles in 20 minutes, then 3.4 miles yesterday in 25 minutes. Now these times are not spectacular in the grand scheme, I am not a runner. BUT I have not run as fast as this ever and I am now 20 pounds heavier than when I was first training to run those three years ago. This is my small but big success and I am so pleased that this year I am stronger (have been doing mainly strength training this year) and fitter (I cycle about 60kms a week) than I was back then. Running is still a challenge, but that is why I do it. I am smiling more this time around though.

I still have about 2 stone of fat to shift, but this will come off in time, I am enjoying watching my body change in other ways and accomplish more than I thought it could.

Beethoven1827

A massive 'Well Done!' to you! Particularly on learning to recognise what could be the start of a downward spiral, and taking action to reassess and avoid it! :-D I'm a beginner runner, and dream of being able to do 3 miles in 30 mins!

nexangelus

A massive 'Well Done!' to you! Particularly on learning to recognise what could be the start of a downward spiral, and taking action to reassess and avoid it! :-D I'm a beginner runner, and dream of being able to do 3 miles in 30 mins!

Thanks and you keep going, slow but sure, the amounts you run soon build up, the human body is truly amazing and so resilient too!