Couch - 'I hope I can make it to a' - 5k

Let's face it, I needed to get my rear up off that couch and get running. I HATE running. I LOATHE running. Yet I had this crazy weird DESIRE to start running. The heck?!?!

I was getting tired of the same 'ol thing 5 days a week. I wanted to mix it up. So I just decided that I would start the Couch to 5K program. I bought a jogging stroller (for a crazy cheap deal thanks to Craigslist), downloaded the free podcasts of a guy telling me when to walk and when to run, and I set my days for running. A week or so into it I did a check-in with my weight loss progress. I will tell you, it's been rather challenging this past month. I feel stuck. The scale won't budge and I'm not noticing any changes in inches. I never took an actual, for real 'before' picture when I started this journey, but this is about what I looked like when I started...right after our little boy was born.

 Ew. Just...ew. I mean, granted this was the day we came home from the hospital, I'm a new mom, we'd had very little sleep (if any), and I was so incredibly uncomfortable. But I look at this picture and just see how bad I felt about myself...during a time of sheer joy holding that little boy. It breaks my heart. I wanted to be happy with myself. It was a few weeks being home that I finally made the decision to start losing the weight (which, by the way, I also vowed to NEVER gain that much weight during a pregnancy again...I advise against it). I started slow, just with food and portion control. When I was up to feeling better I started exercising. At about this time, at the end of March, I joined myfitnesspal.com to help with counting calories and exercise.

 The 'before' picture. I had lost about 20-25lbs prior to taking this picture.

This picture is of me in early September and about 25lbs down from my 'before' photo. It wasn't until I compared these two pictures that I finally saw some real change in my physical appearance. I'm still not where I want to be and can barely fit into my pre-pregnancy pants/shorts (almost 50lbs smaller. sad.), but I'm reminded to celebrate the small accomplishments and the non-scale victories.

I just completed week 4 of the c25k and earlier this week I ran 1 3/4 mile without stopping. This is amazing for me! And I'm definitely feeling it ;) This week was a little tough. I ran slower because my legs are so sore, but I tough it out and force myself to keep going and not stop to walk (even though I'm dying to). I feel so much better physically than I have in a long while. And now that the Texas weather is cooling down a bit, it feels so good to wake up in the morning, feed little man, strap him in the jogging stroller, and step outside for a run.

Come Monday morning I start the dreaded week 5...a 20 minute run...nonstop. Did I mention I'll be running for 20 minutes NONSTOP? Seriously, I know I'm freaking out about this a little, but I'm determined to do it! And I'm sure these little guys will help out :)

 He just melts my heart <3.

And these babies are pretty comfy :)

My husband has started joining me on my runs on his days off. We are planning on doing a 5K on Thanksgiving Day :) We definitely have some things to look forward to this coming holiday season...but I'll have to save that for future posts!

So I'm going to leave you with a challenge: Get off the couch, tie on some tennis shoes, and go work out! Even if it's just a walk around the neighborhood for 20-30 minutes or if it's an hour or more at the gym, fight the urge to stay in and 'relax' and get out and get active!