Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Lesson #1 While Shrinking

Dedicating yourself to diet an exercise is a demanding feat. Some win, and some have to battle it their entire lives. As I have had success in losing weight this time around, I have learned a lot. I've learned a lot from eating right. I've learned a lot from having to persevere. And, I've learned a lot from walking. I'm going to document these lessons, and here's the first and second Lesson I've Learned While Shrinking.

Our neighborhood is full of great hills. I love walking my neighborhood because of them. They're not huge - they are gently sloping...but long. It takes endurance (for me, at least) to get to the top of these hills.

There's one hill in particular that I couldn't even get to the top of when I started exercising. I told myself that not only would I get to the top of it, I would do it twice in my workout.

Last night, on my walk, I decided to try. I started up the hill. I kept my eyes on the top of that hill, where a stoplight was waiting with its changing colors. It felt like it took all I had to get to the top, and it also felt like it took way too long. When I finally reached the top, I kept going. I didn't turn back. Huffing and puffing, I kept going.

Second time around - yikes. The hill looked even bigger because I was tired from already walking almost 2.5 miles. My legs felt like jello, but I started the hill anyways. I was so tired, that I kept my eyes on the ground. I watched where my feet were going, and I would glance up at the top only every once in a while. Take it one step at a time, that's what I told myself. Steady, sure, but one step at a time. But this time, when I got to the top, I stopped. I looked back to see how far I had gone. One step at a time, I made it to the top.

I learned two lessons from my walk last night.

Lesson #1: One step at a time. When we climb our "hills" one step at a time, the challenge doesn't seem so large. This will help us keep steady, keep climbing, and not give up.

Lesson #2: Look back once in a while. If we look back every so often, we will be able to see how far we've come. That will give us the strength to then turn back around and see how much farther we have to go.



One step at a time, we can make it.

Look back once in a while - we'll feel proud of how far we've come.

NOTE: Please bear with me as I document these lessons. I'm not always so philosophical!

3 comments:

bedonts said...

Way to go! That's awesome! I know you can do whatever goal you set! For me when it comes to running. . .because I am NOT a runner. . .I want to quit often. But I, personally, have found that if I keep looking up (making shapes in the clouds ahead of me, looking at the traffic light, whatever) and don't look down at the ground or my feet, I am able to go farther without realizing it. It keeps my chest open so breathing seems easier also. Just something I've learned. Keep it up!!

The Wilkes said...

I was just thinking about you the other day and how you said you were going to train for a half marathon. So I was thinking, so when are you going to sign up for your first 5k? The weather is going to be perfect to run one in the winter. And you've gotta start somewhere. If you pick one, I'll come down and run/walk it with you. Just a thought.

Brianna said...

Great job! And nice lessons learned/shared. Now I just need to get myself out there. But by the time I get home from work I am so tired and my kids are so emotional that I haven't made it yet. But I'm really trying to make it at least once this week. Keep the inspiration coming.