Skirt! Team Challenge: Body: "Put to Shame"

            I’ve been put to shame by a woman twice my age and at least half again my size! This is how it happened; while walking at a local park yesterday I took the time to really enjoy the experience by people watching and nature watching.  One person immediately caught my attention, a lady who I’ll call Maud (cause I like making up names and stories about people I run into).  So here comes Maud, huffing and puffing.  She’s pumping her arms and legs, really working to keep her body in a full on jog. 

            Now my husband and I came out here with the full intention of getting at least a half hour of exercise in.  Yeah, we’re calling it exercise even though it really isn’t.  We’re more stretching our legs than we are increasing our heart rate. But this lady…if I’ve not mentioned it already is at least twice my age and nearly half again my size and she’s doing it! She’s jogging her heart out. She’s out here taking advantage of a break in the weather and she is REALLY exercising.    

            So Maud passes us and I don’t think anything more about her.  I’m on this nice leisurely walk with my husband and I really don’t want to feel inferior on my stroll. (Notice I’ve now downgraded us from even walking down to strolling)  Then, here comes Maud again.  Our track is ¼ of a mile long with hills, dips and curves that don’t make it feel like a track. That is until Maud laps us.  Now, I’m starting to feel irritated.  As if Maud has chosen this particular day to come out and personally challenge me.  So, I pick up my pace.  My husband is a little shocked at the change because he’s been telling me this story that I’ve been ‘uh-huh-ing’ to when suddenly he’s talking to my back.  But Joshua’s always game (and competitive) so he picks up his pace. 

            I’m feeling a little better about my self until Maud does it again! And, she doesn’t even have the decency to smile and nod at me as she passes to acknowledge that I’ve picked up my pace.  (Cause it’s all about me! JK) No, her eyes are on the path ahead and even though she’s obviously struggling, she’s still going!

            In the three times that it takes my husband and I to power walk the trail Maud has passed us up EIGHT times! Eight times!!!  Really I don’t have anything against Maud other than the fact that she’s put me to shame.  She’s reminded me why I’m out here. She’s also reminded me of what I was like only a year or so past when I first began my weight loss journey.  I was a machine.  I exercised every day. I either went to the gym or I walked the halls of my office over and over.  I found a way to exercise no matter what.  Then, on the weekends I hit at least one trail, beating the path until I felt my feet were going to fall off.         

            After I lost the majority of my weight and had to have back surgery, I got content.  I lost sight of my end goal.  I told myself stories saying, “Hey, I don’t look so bad…I’m happy with my weight.” Well, how do I know if I’m truly happy and healthy unless I give myself the chance to experience “normal”?  Heck, I haven’t experienced a normal body weight since 1997!

            So, this is really a thank you to Maud for first reminding me that age and weight really aren’t excuses for slacking off.  Then, for helping me find that girl that I was just last year.  It’s time to get back to work and to stop putting myself to shame.

Personal Statistics as of 1-3-2011                 1-9-2011                     1-17-2011

Height: 5’4”                                                       - -                                - -

Weight:             162.6                                       161.00                         161.00

BMI:                27.9                                         27.6                             27.6

What did I see as a challenge? Not having time to eat healthy.  I ate nasty fast food and failed to make it to the gym for exercise. 

What did I see as a success? Last week I shared my nasty fast food instead of eating it all.  I was also able to maintain my loss from the week before despite my bad choices.

What did I learn? First, I can still have a success even when make bad choices.  I would rather make a plan for those days when I know I’m in for a hectic schedule, however, sharing the fast food probably saved me from adding on more body chunk : ). Second, exercise doesn’t have to happen at the gym.  I’ve got no excuse to skip exercise when I have a lovely building at work that I can walk in. Finally, I’m not at the finish line yet.  I need to remember who that girl was who started this journey.  She’ll be the one to get me through to the finish.