Shut up self talk I am running!

Posted on February 17, 2015

I have been thinking a lot lately of a point I eluded to in my previous musings. That is taking the cardio out of the isolated gym and to the local high school with my wife early in the morning. I wanted to express my feelings and thoughts about this.

Moving to the track initially I did not have any goal other than getting out of the gym, and to increase time with my wife. However, spending time circling around the track seems to have been the catalyst to creating new goals. One of those goals is to transform myself into a runner.

To be candid, the first obstacle I had to overcome was myself. I hated the “thought” of running. Notice the quotes, the “thought”. I have in the past had several people attempt to write me a running program to get me started. The issue was, I never started them because I told myself I hated running. When I started thinking on this while I was walking laps and climbing the stadiums, I realized it was impossible for me to hate running as I never actually tried, I always talked myself out of it, 1- Horrible lower back; herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, and spinal arthritis. 2- I am FAT. 3- I can’t breathe. 4- Pain. 5- Why run when I can just walk. 6- I am in no hurry.

The list can go on and on. I have a hard time with the back issue, 17 years ago I herniated my L5 and went through a discectomy, the outcome was immediately having an 80 year old back. For years I was told there was nothing I could do about that, my back was bad and would continue to get worse. I have come to hate this advice. Our bodies are amazing and are designed by divine powers or through evolution (depending on your beliefs) and have the ability to repair and heal themselves. I have come to fully believe that. Will my body regrow my disc that has been cut, well my doctors say no and who am I to argue with that, but my body is able to build in compensations and strengths if I feed it right and let it move.

The rest of the list is simply negative self-talk that I am finding through eating better and focusing on my nutrition is simply vanishing. Sure I have weight to lose, but I am losing it. YES I can breathe. Man at my starting weight of 325 lbs I was simply always in pain and had nothing to do with how I was working out. There is nothing wrong with just walking, and I can do it any time. Finally Running did not mean I was in a hurry.

Why am I pondering these things? In the short 3 weeks that I have been doing this I have tripled the distance which I travel in the same amount of time. Does this mean I am now a runner? Of course not, but it does mean I can run, I will run, and I will enjoy every moment while doing so. Sure I still have to Walk/Jog/Run but that is simply because my body is not used to this type of endurance, and it is longing to let me keep going.

What has occurred in the short 3 weeks period? I no longer have the negative hate to run “thought”, I am starting to be more of a morning person, the pain I mentioned has been decreasing, and I am so close to saying goodbye to the 300’s for good. What is my advice to those who have wanted to get started running? It is pretty simple just start, tell your negative self-talk to shut up, your body will be thankful and will shine for you if you do.

My name is Travis and I am fat, I am here to heal myself!

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Elizabeth H.

02/17/2015 9:44AM

I have disk problems too. They started in high school and aren't as serious as yours (mine are still actually in my spine for now) but my darn back is such a painful hindrance sometimes. It hurts to exercise, but it hurts way more not to! I feel awkward and improperly proportioned for running, I am tall, but ALL my height in is my torso. I always think that "real runners" have long legs, haha, so I kind of hate running too. Something about it that I like to keep in mind is that it doesn't involve bending down, or sitting, two things that are rough on my lower back. A lot of other exercises put my back in a bad position. Running can be rough if I'm not careful and don't keep my core tight, but in general it's not hard on my back, in fact it's good to release muscle tension. I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone. :-)

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Suze

02/17/2015 9:11AM

Remember that old book "What to Say When You Talk To Yourself?" Well worth a read

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Travis

i'll check it out thanks for the suggestion.

Suze

02/17/2015 9:09AM

All true and more powerful the older I get. I had a goal to walk part of the 400 mile Camino Santiago in Spain this year. Last August 22 I shut down my negative self talk committee with a plan to lose 60 lbs in 6 months for my 60th birthday on 2.22. Done! I'm jog/walking a half marathon this Sunday, 2.22 to celebrate- and I'm booked to walk 63 miles, the final leg of the Camino Santiago in June. I am the CEO of my neg self talk committe;). We all have an inner runner/athelete begging to be set free! Staying plugged in, planning and persistence wins.

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CrazyCatChick

02/17/2015 8:28AM

What is it about most people that we feel comfortable saying things to ourselves that we would never say to a stranger? Why do most of us talk ourselves out of doing something we really want to do? There are some humans who thrive on challenge and risk, but it isn't natural for most of us.And, Travis, I don't want to freak you out, but you ARE a runner.

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Travis

Not freaking out, but you definitely made me smile. Thanks

Julie C.

Thank you for saying that, Cat. That was my response to the post too.... you ARE a runner, Travis.

Dave M.

02/17/2015 8:04AM

Good on ya Travis! Keep up the good work.

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JeannieBee61

02/17/2015 8:01AM

What a joy to be the first thing I read as I start my day, having given myself every excuse (like so many of us) to do what our bodies want us to do. I was going to run a short 5K last year--my first--when I realized I had hip issues. Now that that is fixed, planning on it again, same one, in May and yet can't seem to get myself out the door. Thank you, Travis, for the proverbial boot in the butt.

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Travis

Jeannie, one of the reasons I share my thoughts here is I need that proverbial boot to the butt almost everyday :)