First Anniversary

Today is a special day, it's my first exercise anniversary! One year ago today I started exercising, determined to keep at it and make a life-long change.  And here I am, 12 months later, 20 lbs lighter, and with 2 pairs of worn out running shoes.  (Plus a 4.5 mile Drumstick Dash under my belt, and 3 ruined pairs of earbuds in my drawer.)  I feel better about myself, and I'm healthier! All of my 36" waist pants used to fit snug, now my new 34" pants are starting to feel loose. I need some new belts, I'm on the last notch on all of them. My XL shirts all feel huge and I feel very comfortable in size L.

One year ago I started off going to the track at a nearby middle school every night after my kids went to sleep, 5 or 6 times a week.  My strategy was simple- walk for 30 minutes and slowly add in some running until I could run for 30 minutes- a modified Couch to 5K program.  My first week I walked 8 laps around the track, my second week I walked 7 and ran 1.  My second week I walked 6 and ran 2.  Then trouble.  My right leg starting getting sore in the same spot I injured in high school and a massive ice storm kept me off the track for a week.  My leg soreness abated while I waited for the ice to melt.  Once everything thawed out, I started over, 8 laps walking.  But this time, I did 8 laps walking for 2 weeks before I added a running lap.  And I continued to increase my running every 2 weeks.  I also slowly increased the number of laps so that I was exercising for at least 30 minutes every time, because running laps are faster than walking laps, duh.

In June, everything changed.  My thoughtful wife gave me a tech shirt and shorts for my birthday.  I couldn't believe how light and fast I felt wearing them.  I didn't sweat nearly as much, and I felt stronger during my workouts.  I actually felt like a runner.  I bought another tech shirt and pair of shorts.  Before that I was wearing any old t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts or sweatpants.

In July, everything changed again.  I had my first endorphin rush.  I ran a 1 mile test at the track to see how I was progressing, and my time had improved modestly.  It was a hard run, so I walked a lap, then started jogging again for cool down.  The endorphins kicked in, and I ran another mile.  Not as fast as the first, but I still ran it.  After that, I was a runner.  I only walked for cool downs.  In July I also started running after work, which worked better for my family, and made me consistently exercise at the same time every day.  I would change at work and stop at a rail trail or park on the way home.  I started with running 3 miles daily and slowly built up my mileage until I could run 6 miles every day.  And that's where I'm at now.  In August I added slow, long duration runs on Saturdays to increase my endurance.  (My first was 4.5 miles, and my longest is 9.3 miles.)

I kept piling on the miles and the weight kept coming off.  January through June I lost 2 lbs per month, and since then I've been losing 1 lb per month.  This morning, I weighed 201.5 lbs.  January 2011 I weighted 221 and September 2010 I weighed 224.  I feel so much better!