Running and the 5k!

I have always had weight issues for as long as I can remember. After we got married I gained a lot of weight. I had a bad attitude about my body and in a way had just decided that I gain weight easily and I couldn't do anything about it. I felt like people looked at me like I was fat even before I started gaining more weight so what did it even matter! About 3 years ago I decided that I was going to try to make small, healthier changes in my life. At the time I didn't want to do a strict diet because I was afraid to fail. I substituted foods in meals that I loved and kept track of calories for a while to see where I was eating a lot of empty calories. I started walking a little. Before getting pregnant with Alivia I had lost 35 lbs by making the small changes.

Having a baby made me realize I needed to make even more changes in my life. I realized that how things were going I wouldn't be as active with my kids as I would like to be. And my activity level and eating habits wouldn't be a good example to Alivia.

After moving to Texas, the wives in the "BYU group" talked about doing a 5k. Stephanie found a 5k with a good cause and gave us some tools to help us be ready in 8 weeks. I was extremely skeptical if I would actually be able to do it. I could probably count on 1 hand the amount of times I had gone running since high school. But Abram and Stephanie were so positive and encouraging the entire way. I did a couch to 5k program and tracked my runs to be able to see my progress. 2 weeks before the race I ended up getting a cold(that I now think was allergies) which set back my training and discouraged me a lot. Without really running for those two weeks I decided to run the race anyways to do the best I could. And I did it! I ended up walking a couple of times but I am proud of how far I had come in two months. I've been slacking since my 5k but I'm planning to continue running and running another 5k to get a better time and do it without walking.

I've lost 45 lbs since I started making the small changes in my life 3 years ago(of course with the detour of being pregnant and having a baby). I have many more pounds to lose but am proud of the accomplishments I have made and how I'm starting to feel about my body. I am working on having a more positive attitude about my body and not worry about what other people are thinking about it. I'm so thankful for the positive people in my life that love me for who I am while encouraging me to better myself and accomplish my goals!

Thanks Abram for running slow with me for 2 months, pushing the stroller, and encouraging me to keep going even when I got mad at you for it! And thanks Stephanie for giving me the motivation to actually get out there and do it. Without you it would have been "someday I will do one".

The cause we ran for:

fundly.com/graham-s-road-to-recovery-fund

About to cross the finish line

Family picture after I finished