Second Wind.

lizwasrunning-deactivated201108 asked: Dina you can totally build up to that run!! Trust me! I used to stop after just a few steps of running! It's all about building that endurance :) I know you can do it!!

Thank you, Liz! I’ve decided to keep trying and stay away from schedules of when I should be able to run certain times… if I don’t get it when I’m “supposed to”… I’ll just keep trying until it happens!

Thank you so much for the encouragement… and for being an inspiration to so many!

Resurfacing.

I ditched tumblr.

Well, not totally! I still read everyone’s posts, was still inspired by how wonderful everyone is doing while I continued with my work outs and trying to eat healthy. I think that I just got discouraged by the slow rate of progress I was having. I stalled on C25K at week 5. I never could run a full 20 minutes that day 3 required, gave myself a bad case of shin splints and had serious doubts that I’d be able to do the 5k that our family had signed up for in December! I’m happy to say that I finished it.. slowly!… in 46:06. My wonderful husband kept pace with me… actually, he pushed my pace a bit, carried a water bottle and my inhaler for me, and told me atleast 20 times that I was doing great and he was proud of me! I love that man!

I was afraid to push myself, afraid that I’d give all I had before that finish line and see my nightmare come to pass… not being able to cross it! But I found that I had plenty of energy at the end and was a little disappointed that I didn’t try harder!

Fast forward to today… It’s been a week since the 5k, I’ve hurt every single day since then! Even just walking, I’ve been conscious of the nagging pain. I tried to run 3 days ago… 10 steps into it, I stopped. I was afraid of how bad it hurt! Today, I knew I had to run, even against the pain. I want to try another 5k mid January and I can’t afford to lose the training time! So I ran. Three minutes into the run I was having to ignore the pain and press through it, and kept going.

I’m HAPPY to say, that I did something today I’ve never done before! I ran a mile WITHOUT stopping… still slowly!… in 14:30. TWO big accomplishments! I’ve never ran a mile before, and the longest I’ve ever run without stopping was 10 minutes! My self confidence is back up and I’m excited to move forward! I had serious thoughts about quitting after that 5K. All the negative thoughts, “You did what you set out to do, why continue. You’re too old to continue this anyway. You’re just going to end up injured.” But now I want to keep going! I will improve… at a slow rate, I’m sure… but I won’t compare it to anyone else’s and just be happy with each new personal best!

Next 5k, January 22nd… my whole family will be running! Scott, Chelsea, myself… and Kristen!! I love how much my family has changed through exercise for the better!

Lesson learned?… for anyone who has been feeling “not-so-accomplished” or comparing their progress to eveyone else…

love yourself, take pride in even the smallest of accomplishments, and keep moving forward. Your goals are attainable… and we’ll all get there if we don’t stop!

GPOYW… submitted under the wire.

I’m here, at the end of the day, feeling like I’ve done a really good job of taking care of myself and noticing how it affects others around me in a positive way. I’m finding out from all of you, that positivity is the most contagious thing there is! Thank you for “infecting” me!

I also have to say, thank you Chelsea for that dinner o’ love!! It was delish =]

C25K W4D1… check!

Actually, I did it last night… squeezing it in right before my FAVE TV show, “The Biggest Loser”!

I’m not even going to lie and say it was the piece of cake that I just “knew” it was going to be after my phenom experience on W3D3. It wasn’t. I got 3 minutes into my last rep of 5 minute jog and wanted to quit so badly. My head was literally screaming at me… “I can’t DO this!!”… and I was milliseconds away from believing that voice!

So I “mental’d” it (my knew fitblr-ism)… and started chanting to myself with every step, “I am strong, I am STRONG, I AM STRONG enough to DO this!”

…and I did! You could have put me on a pedestal and hung a ribbon around my neck for the shear internal pride that came from denying that part of my brain that has no confidence in me… that’s how good I felt!

I know I will follow in the footsteps of those of you who have completed all 9 weeks and be amazed and proud of each and every new milestone reached! You are the ones who fuel me on to believe in the process, and in myself… thank you!

(Biggest Loser side-note: Did anyone hear Bob speak right at me when he called out all of the people who sit and watch the show while eating ice cream?!! That was SO me for the last 3 years! I’d cheer every one of those contestants (usually with tears in my eyes) on from my couch with a spoon full of fatness in my mouth, wishing that it was ME there, as though they held the only hope in the world for weight loss. It’s embarrassing to admit but true!)

This makes perfect sense.

How like a “mom” to equally divide her crushes between her daughters!

My first TT…

I want to give a big thanks to Ren for reaching out to this running newbie and giving lots of encouragement and tons of inspiration! Thank you for being so genuine and helpful!

http://rendoeslife.tumblr.com/

chelseamills asked: I just wanted to tell you that you're doing awesome! I am so proud of you, you have been sticking this thing out with me and we're going to make it!! I LOVE YOU

awwww… thank you, sweet girl! I’m so excited for both of us, living healthier and happier, and even for your Dad… we are having a positive effect on him too!

Yes! We are going to make it! I love you HUGE *smookerz* =p

Nehemiah 5 sets the plan to overcome struggle!

christwalk:

Stop repeating the practices that result in the problem. v.10

Get a plan and work it. v.11

Honor God in fulfilling your plans.  v.12

”If you want what others have, you have to do what they did to get there!” ~quoted from my pastor.

Thanks for this, Ben!

(Source: christwalk)

dawnversion2point0 asked: Your daughter is beautiful!

Thank you! I wholeheartedly agree : ) I have two of them, actually… beautiful inside and out.

http://chelseamills.tumblr.com/ http://kristenmills.tumblr.com/

Jonathan Does Life: "Only" a 5K

jonathandoeslife:

I see a lot of fitblers training for their first 5K, and occasionally someone will say something to almost apologize for being proud of their accomplishments toward that goal. That it is “only” a 5K. Folks, this is not “only” a 5K. You are doing an AWESOME thing! I know there are others who are…

Seriously, thank you for that encouragement! It’s hard (albeit inspiring!) being the new person to running and seeing the successes of those who are far more advanced. I really do try hard not to compare my achievements with others, even if they DO seem monumental to me, it’s easy to believe that others will see them as small. So, again, THANK YOU, Jonathan, and all of you wonderful fitblrs for proving that “thought process” as wrong and who stand, cheering the rest of us on! It means more to me than you know!

(Source: jonathandoeslife)

1/3 older