The Healthier Self

You know that one of my goals is to get back in shape.  I thought it would help to have a better perspective.

Pretty much since I moved to DC the day after Christmas 2005, my activity/exercise level began decreasing.  Part of it was that post-college athletics "I need a break" mentality, part of it was disinterest.  In any case, shortly after I got settled I found a volleyball league (or they found me) and that gave me a bit of activity.  Still, it wasn't anywhere near what I was used to.  Things were okay for a while.  And then I met Him and quickly gained that "relationship weight".  You know what I'm talking about...  where you become happy in your relationship and stop doing things like you used to do.  On top of the reduction of exercise, I found myself eating big meals.... because He at big meals.  Boy, my body could not handle it.

So when we got engaged I knew that was the extra push I needed.  I started working out inconsistently at my house.  I felt better but not great.  Then He left for a job and I was home alone.  I had nothing else to do BUT work out.  That was when I started noticing significant differences.

Then the breakup happened and as my grandfather told me "get in fighting shape".  So I kept working out, and then I signed up for the half marathon.  That is when I noticed the biggest changes.  As I think I mentioned on a previous post, between October and March, I lost TWENTY pounds.... 20!!!  I was thrilled... and I've been trying to keep up to good work.

Well, as I weighed myself this evening, I am still the same weight.  I feel okay about it.  I know that I am ONLY running when before I was doing some running and my Jillian Michael's workouts.  So at least staying the same weight is good.  Especially considering (as I mentioned before) I'm not eating as well as I was during October-March.

While the weight is really exciting for me, it's the overall body shape and feeling I have that is even better.  Now, because I love you all I am willing to post progressive photos so you can see.  I apologize that the pictures aren't the greatest quality, but they are the best I had.  The below photo shows me at Melissa's wedding (October 2009) when I considered myself to be at my heaviest, at a friend's wedding almost exactly one year ago and my self-photo from this week.

See the differences?  It's incredible.  And it's enough motivation to keep me going.  I have plans once the half marathon is over to get back into some variety of exercise.  Once I am in a situation where I can afford a gym membership, I would like to start doing that and getting some classes in.  So there are plans and if I can maintain in the meantime, I'd be really happy about that.