Hey, Fat Girl!

Oh my gosh, this is amazing - thank you for sharing!!!

This is wonderful!! Thank you for sharing!!

Brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful. Thank you.

More people should read this

so moving!

Man OP, I really appreciate that. You just go me pretty choked up-bad. I just got back on the wagon 3.5 weeks ago and decided that the only way this time would be different would be to try to see myself in a new way--as athletic (I've been over 250lbs since grade school). So, The day I started tracking again I signed up for 7 5ks. Seven! Two per month for the next three or so months. I had no idea if I could even walk 3.1 miles at 340lbs without stopping.

I started training, which felt like a super pathetic way to describe just walking more. The first week I made it to two miles at 22 minutes a mile with an average heart rate of 190. Whoa. I did this three times that week.

The second week, I was making it to 3.1 miles at 20 minutes a mile! My average heart rate was down to 182. I managed to do that three times.

Then came my first 5k. I not only finished it, but I was down to 19 minutes a mile with an average heart rate of 164. I am now also down 20lbs and 1.5 inches on each upper arm, 1.5 inches on each thigh, 1 inche off my hips, and 2 inches off my waist!

I'm gearing up for my second 5k this Sunday and I keep wishing I could put visors on or wear an invisibility cloak; I can't even begin to explain how much better this post made me feel. Thank you so so much!

That was fantastic and I enjoyed reading it...thanks for sharing!

So far, I do water work-outs. I have to face the swimsuit on a daily basis. The majority of people who do water aerobics are heavy to begin with. The water is great for joint issues as I participate in classes in a warm, therapeutic pool. I'm trying to move into strength training and a beginners yoga class but am procrastinating. Another me issue to figure out! Did I sweat in the pool--you bet. Can I keep up with everyone else...you bet! I can do things in the water I could never do on land. We all have issues to overcome. Remembering this helps me to move forward--although my pace is set by my mood and sense of self. Let's face it...we've all got issues. Fat, thin, large, small, mean, kind, beautiful, average--the journey to health and weight loss is a constant effort of evaluating our values and adjusting them as we go! We are all human. Thanks for the cool thoughts and thread!

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