About this time last year I ran a marathon with some friends. We had a blast and finished it in 4:45 — which is not a bad time. This morning, I ran (waddled) 30 minutes and cussed every freaking step of the way. A bad knee, a busy new job with travel and lots of Little Debbies (Big Deborah as I call them) packed 25 lbs. on my frame — I got up to 223 lbs. I swore I’d never do that again.
Yet I did.
The last time my scale shot up like this, I got up to 250 lbs. and it was also a year after a marathon. It was 2011, I had been made part-time, had to take a second job at a radio station and was propping myself up with sugary sodas to survive my 14-hour days. I joined Paul Lacoste’s bootcamp in January 2012 and lost 50 lbs in 12 weeks — and have kept it off for nine years. But this time, I saw what was happening and REFUSED to go back there. So I have modified my diet and cut back on carbs (Sorry Little Debbie, you are poison) and have started running again. My injured knee feels remarkably good. I know I need to stretch to keep from injuring it again. I’ll be back in the gym next week and plan on getting back out to Paul Lacoste’s bootcamp as early as this summer. My resting heart rate before the knee injury was 48 — which is amazing. It was 49 this morning. I have hope of getting back into the swing of things. But first, I need to drop 25 lbs. I’m already down five so I am on my way.
You really don’t realize how important exercise is to you until you can’t (and then won’t). Habits (good and bad) form quickly. I just chock this up to a life lesson and some needed rest. I’m a better person mentally and physically when I workout. It’s time to get back after it.
I promise Big Deborah won’t lure me to the dark side again.