Run, Alexis, Run!

 A long time ago there was a girl who loved to run. Then, one day, she went off to college and gained about 30 pounds and stopped running.

Well, she's back! I have officially started a new chapter in my life and it's going to be all about me getting fit. I have always enjoyed exercising whether it be running or aerobics. I have never been good at sports so I had to get my fitness in with other means.

Today was Day 2 of my first week doing "Couch to 5K." I have NEVER run or even walked a 5K all by myself. The family did "Fun Runs" when I was little and although I proudly wore the t-shirts contestants were given my parents recently informed me that they were carrying my sister and I across the finish line. Well, no more.

The only person carrying me across the next finish line will be me. That is, if I don't go into cardiac arrest at the 1 mile mark. With this handy program though, I should be up and running in about 9 weeks. It teaches you how to pace yourself from running for 60 seconds and then walking for 90, slowly building you up to run for 3.1 miles. I'm pretty excited. I noticed that since I started AFTER I have been going to the gym for the last several months that I am not winded so much when I run for 60 seconds. I am sure this will change quickly in the coming weeks.

But hey, I just keep telling myself while I run that I can do anything for 60 seconds. Not sure how this mantra will work when I get to running the entire 5K...but I'll figure that out when the time comes.

With this new "getting fit" thing comes a whole new responsibility: eating healthy. Ugh.

Lately, I have been trying to incorporate healthier foods into my diet and haven't had fast food in at least a month. Well, except the other night when I made a late-night dash to Taco Hell after a few drinks with co-workers. Damn you, Yuengling, you will be my downfall.

During Lent I decided to cut out soda. I'm not religious, and maybe that's why I failed, but I heard that if you can kick something for 30 days than you pretty much never go back to it. I made it about 13. The stress got to me and I crumbled like the Berlin Wall.

I am trying to find other ways to manage my stress like Yoga and meditation. If anyone has any other ideas on how to keep myself calm so that I don't binge drink on Diet Coke, that would be excellent.

I have also decided that I am not doing this to lose weight. In fact, my only goal is to end up being healthier than I was before and to commit to something. I am not giving myself a timeline and I won't rake myself over the coals if I slip up every so often.

I am going to love my body through this whole experience. At least, that's what I am hoping for. I've finally decided to end the Holy War I've been waging on my body since high school and learn to love it. I am going to have it for the rest of my life. While this includes not allowing myself to blow up to 500 lbs. it also includes not starving myself until I look like Skeletore.

And I am starting with running, an old flame of mine.

Wish me luck!