A New Year – A New You

Guest post by Michelle Smith:

Are you the kind of person equates "New Year" with "New You"?  I know I am and this year I’m going to hit the ground running. Literally.

Over the course of 2008, I’ve allowed about 30 lbs to creep back onto my already "curvy" figure. I’m no masochist. Depriving myself or beginning a diet tends to bring on a case of nerves and a seriously cranky attitude. This year I’ve decided that the only thing that is going to work is for me to make changes that I can live with. Not a diet, but a lifestyle change.  Have you heard that before? Yeah, me, too, and it’s only taken me 42 years to actually get it.

In the past what has worked the best for me is exercise. Plenty of it. I started running a few months before my 40th birthday and while I don’t love the actual running and every run is a bit of a struggle, I do love how I feel afterward. I feel taller, stronger, bigger than my body. It’s a great feeling and if you are reading this right now, thinking, "I’m no runner," then you are probably wrong. It’s not easy, but you start slow. You walk, then run, walk, then run, walk then run. This can be breakdowns of say… 5 minutes walking, 1 minute running, then 5 walking, 1 running……..etc.  Eventually you will be running 5, walking 1. Trust me. And pick a place to run where you have a little privacy at first, because if you are anything like me, you will be a bouncy runner and worrying about someone laughing at you is very distracting. 

My walk-to-run program took me from a size 18/20 down to a size 12 in about 6 months. I know that a size 12 is not the smallest size, but it’s the size where I feel comfortable. It’s very do-able for me and I don’t have to starve to stay there. I feel good at size 12, which is more important to me than how I look. My feet don’t hurt, I’m more flexible, and my belly is not sitting on my lap.

Here are a few running tips that work well for me:

*You have to have a decent pair of shoes. A mid-to-higher priced shoe is going to offer more support and cushion. The larger runner is going to need both. If you have a local Fleet Feet shoe store – start there. They will fit you by watching your gait, looking at your entire foot. They know their shoes. While you are at it, pick up some good socks with wicking action. Don’t buy those at Fleet Feet, get them someplace like Ross or TJ Maxx – same sock, but clearance priced.

*If you are a woman, wear a very supportive bra. In fact, if you are just starting out, I’d even go so far as to suggest doubling up on the bras. I wear a structured sports bra with one of those uni-boob one-piece types in order to have zero bounce. Bouncing is very uncomfortable. Running is hard – you do not need any excuses to stop and being uncomfortable is a great excuse for that.

*The beginning runner needs some distraction to get them through those first walk/runs. Invest in an mp3 player or if you run indoors on a treadmill (I do this in stormy weather or when it’s too hot outside) point your treadmill at the tv. I watched the entire run of the television series Alias this way. Alias is a great motivator – Sydney is either dressed in something tight and fabulous or kicking someone’s butt. Later, after you get to more run, less walk, you will want to run some without the distractions so you can focus on your breathing. Women’s Health magazine has a sample playlist or you can make your own.

*Having a goal helped me to stay on track. The first thing that I trained for was a local 10K (6.2 miles).  When I neared the finish line, my daughter ran out to meet me and we crossed the finish line together. I was in tears. I was so proud of myself, proud that I was setting a good example for my little girl. I started my walk-to-run program in May and ran the 10K at the beginning of November. If you’d like to find a running event, look up a local running group or a local Fleet Feet store or Runner’s World.com. If you’d like to try a Couch to 5K program, then take a look at this one.

*Keep track of your workouts. It feels great to look back on a week or a month and realize that your mileage equals the distance clear across town.  I remember one time that I added it up and I’d run the distance from my town to the state capitol. Cool. I work toward 20 miles a week, when I’m at my best.  I’m slow, so this takes me a bit of time. I’ve found that at 20 miles a week, my weight is very easy to maintain.

Good luck to you in 2009. This could be the year that you regain your life and turn your health around – it just takes a plan and some effort.

Michelle Smith blogs regularly at www.datingdames.com, www.thescentedlife.com, and www.veggiechic.com.