The Journey to Health and Fitness...So Far (with pics)

marathonmom72 · January 2013

It's been 5 years since I started a 'diet', not fully realizing that this would not be a diet but a complete lifestyle change. Just two months after this picture was taken I found out that I had diabetes when I began to go into a diabetic coma. I spent the next few months learning how to dose the insulin and feeling sorry for myself. In January, I decided enough was enough and I changed my eating habits and began exercising, in my garage, using a Nordic Track and a Total Gym. I did that for about 8 months and then started doing P90X.

Here I am 15 months after I made my lifestyle change...

And a few months after that...

After I had completed P90X a few times, and had been taking some classes at the gym, I was hungry for something more. I needed a challenge, so I decided to run a half marathon. That January (two years after I had started) I began doing Couch to 5K. I registered to run a 5K in April of that year, a 10K in June, and a half marathon in October.
Running the 5K

After the 10K

My husband running in with me the last mile of the half marathon...he had run his first 5K that same morning.

After the race.

I had promised myself that if I hated running, I would never run another step after I finished this race...but I was hooked!
I ran two more half marathons the next year, along with some other races.

Last year, in honor of my 'new' life and my 40th birthday, I completed my first sprint triathlon.

I've run a total of 7 half marathons now, and I'm getting closer to reaching my goal of an average 10 min per mile pace before I run a full marathon. I haven't become as lean and strong as I would like to be, but I've come far enough that I am able to look back and see big changes!

I know everyone wants fast results; I did/do too. I have been working at this for five years now, and I'm still not 'done'. I will never be done. And even when I arrive at that place I can see in my mind, I will not be done. It's not a diet. It's a lifestyle...a fit and healthy one. If I had thrown in the towel at any of the numerous points that I have become frustrated and discouraged, I would not be where I am today. Quitting will only leave you where you are at, or lead you back to where you started. I do not want to go back there. When I look at those old pictures of me this heavy feeling of oppression comes over me. I was trapped inside that body and now I am free. I can't tell you how good that feels!

bstamps12 · January 2013

Wow! I didn't realize how far you've come--AWESOME! You're so right...it's a lifestyle change and it's not going to happen instantly. Your pics look great! Keep pushing to make your nutrition better and your runs stronger

juliep1974 · January 2013

You've come so far! Congratulations - you look fantastic!

Yaya1976 · January 2013

Love your post. Amazing job. You should be EXTREMELY proud. I don't even know you and I'm proud of you

I've decided to become a runner as well (gulp). I'm doing two 5k's (mud runs) and then a 1/2 marathon at the end of the year. I'm nervous and excited and I haven't started training yet.
Congratulations again!!!

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