On the last day of my first year of working on myself I have to reflect, for reflection purposes. On March 18, 2014 I read an article about a woman who lost all sort of weight while her husband was serving in the armed forces in Afghanistan. I remember thinking "I can do that, if she can surely I can too." I set goals. I wanted to lose weight and get down to 145 lbs. and I wanted to run a half marathon. I remember telling my husband this. He had seen me start and stop weight loss programs systematically through our (then) 8 year relationship. I think he actually may have laughed when I said I wanted to run a 1/2 marathon. Either way I can't remember now.
I was determined to prove not only to him, but to myself that I could do it. When I started I couldn't run a city block without stopping. This weekend? I ran 10k both Saturday and Sunday at a 12:24 and 12:00 pace respectively. Then? I weighed 220 lbs, which was my prepregnancy weight with my first son who was born in 2012 (my second was born just shy of a year later with a similar prepregnancy weight). Now? I am down 35 pounds from that.
I do admit that I hit 40 pounds loss this past summer and then a lot of life happened (we moved 5.5 hours away with a temporary house in-between) and of course the holidays, but I am doing well. I am back on track and I feel rejuvinated to know that I was able to (primarily) maintain weight for several months, before gaining during the holidays.
I am the most fit I have been in my entire adult life. I eat healthier and take better care of myself than I ever have. I have learned so much about how limitations are set by me and me alone. I have approximately 45 pounds to lose, and overall my goal is to do it by the end of 2015. I also have selected the half marathon I plan on participating in this year. I have learned that health is not just a short term fix, that it is a journey and one I am working on day by day.
I know we are all at different stages in our path. If I were to select one thing to be able to go back and tell "One year ago Me" it would be that she could do it. No matter how daunting it seemed when she started and couldn't make it a block, somehow she would get here. Not by chance, but through hard work and determination.
I look forward to what "one year from now" me will have to say looking back on me today, but for now I know what I have to do to meet her. Just keep on keeping on.