As I made the first turn around the track, my lungs were burning from the 22-degree cold (and the toxic diesel fumes from the nearby JTRANS buses). It’s hard to believe that another 12 weeks of Paul Lacoste’s Fit4Change has begun. I looked at all the new faces huffing and struggling their way through the mile test with me. And I had empathy.
I used to be just like them. It was the beginning of 2012 and I had gained 50 lbs. in one year. I was obese, sedentary and making bad food choices. I was heading at warp speed toward my first heart attack, diabetes or worse. I hobbled around the same track and prayed I wouldn’t throw up. My running partner was embarrassment — embarrassment that I had gained so much weight in one year. He stayed with me every painful step along the way. I had gone from running a marathon in 2010 to barely being able to run a mile.
That 12 weeks I lost the 50 lbs. And have kept most of it off since.
This morning was the fit test. It’s series of benchmarks so we can compare our progress. I did 55 sit-ups, 22 pushups, ran the shuttle run in 22 seconds, did plenty of step-ups and squats and ran the mile in a pokey but OK 8:53. I have plenty of room to improve, and will. Because I need to.
Yesterday was my annual physical. My cholesterol has crept up to a high (for me) 169. My weight is up a little, too. My blood pressure was a little high for me, too.
My goals for the next 12 weeks:
To lose 20 pounds.
To run a 7:30 mile.
To do 100+ situps
To do 75 pushups.
The rest will take care of itself.
Paul Lacoste talks a lot about the next level. I’ll explore what that means to me in future blogs. But let me just say that if I push myself hard when exercising, it will carry over throughout the rest of my day. 2014 will be a break-out year. But I need the physical and mental stamina to make it happen.
I finished the mile cold and a little tired. I saw hello to old friends and looked forward to making new ones. I smiled at coaches I haven’t seen in months. I know the next 12 weeks are going to change my life for the better.