April 19 - C25K Week 1, Day 1

After much consideration, I decided that my 30 minute walk today would be Week 1, Day 1 of C25K. I'm not sure exactly why I decided to abandon the simple walk, but I would suppose it's because I didn't have anywhere to walk. I've done my shopping for the week, I don't feel like going into college, and I didn't want to use my bus pass today to get to Bray (I've decided I want to do the Bray-Greystones cliff walk). So I strapped on my ipod, squeezed into my sports bra, and went out the door. This is really the first time I've exercised outside, barring the few days last year that I did the Grand Rapids Adventure Boot Camp, and I've never done it alone. I decided to see how far Week 1, Day 1 would take me in the direction of Phoenix Park. It turns out that Week 1, Day 1 takes me just to the entrance of the park. That's encouraging, because it means that every time the distance increases on the program, I'll be able to do more and more running in the park. Running outside made all the difference. I wasn't watching the clock and I didn't feel hot and light headed like I did in the gym. I took the following route:



I can't promise that Wednesday will bring another C25K, but I feel good having worked out. My foot hurts, and has been for a while, so I'll have to watch that and make sure I'm not getting a stress fracture. Other than that, I'm still sicky sick sick, but at least I'm sick and active today.

Until next time.

Reagan

April 19 - A new start

So it's been about two weeks since I wrote my last post.

This week I went into town to buy a black dress for my graduation. I visited all of the shops that I knew sell my size - River Island, A Wear, Monsoon, M&S, GAP, Dunnes, Penney's - and I tried some other shops that I sort of knew wouldn't carry my size, but tried anyway - American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, BT2. I found loads of beautiful, appropriate little black dresses, but none were in my size. I wear a size 16-18 here (14-16 in US sizes). At the largest, the dresses were size 14, but most only went up to a 10. Not finding a dress isn't a big deal, I have a backup black dress in my closet. However, it devastates me that, while smaller women shop around to have their choice for the perfect black dress, I shop around in order to find any black dress that will fit me.

My inability to find a dress, coupled with my inability to pull myself out of bed in the mornings, along with the way going to a club or bar surrounded by thin women in cute dresses (and there's me in my jeans and jumper, trying to hide in layers) has gotten me to a breaking point...

My motivation is horrible, but I need to be able to kick it into gear. My inactivity and my weight are building upon other self-esteem issues in my life to become a burden that I cannot hold anymore. The C25K program is a great goal, but I think I have to work my way back to into it. My last workout on the C25K left me out of commission for about a week. I don't think my immune system can handle a difficult workout at this point.

So I have resolved that in about two weeks, I will restart the C25K program. In the meantime, I will walk at least 30 minutes a day as a sort of bridge between being completely sedentary and being lightly active.

I'm a bit more optimistic this time, because I don't really believe that I have a choice anymore.

Until next time.

Reagan

So a bit of a fail this week.

I only got one day done. I'd like to say that it's because I was too busy, but that would be a lie. My motivation isn't great as of late.

Not giving up, though. I'm starting again next week at Week 1 and hopefully I'll be able to get a full 3 days in.

More next week!