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| via Flickr by Alan Rossiter (2009) |
I know I'm about to approach the 50 lb lost mark, but while I want to celebrate that milestone, I don't want to make it into a big deal. Not right now. I've struggled for the last several weeks and am hopefully just now coming out of it, so celebrating so soon feels a little premature.
Instead, a while back I set some goals for me to reach by my 35th birthday on 3 June.
They are:
- have lost 60 lbs total (weight: 267)
- be able to run 30 minutes consecutively (approx 2.5 miles - but time is more important than distance)
- be able to swim 1 mile
At the moment, swimming 1 mile is totally achievable. It might take me a while, but I know I can do that one now that my form, breathing and stamina in the water are so much better. So, I'll just need to time myself on it so that I know what my base time is and work to improve on that in the future.
Reaching the 60 lbs lost is also do-able provided I have no more stalls, and I have to admit that scares me a bit. After feeling like I've been starting and stalling over the last 6-8 weeks, I'm lacking in a bit of confidence. But then I say to myself, "There's no reason you can't do this, Jayme! You've got 6 weeks to lose 11.4 pounds. With your increased ability in the gym (yay protein!) and summer coming on, you can totally do that!" And so I'll do the best I can and see where it gets me. Besides, I was struck by something Mary at a small loss has decided to do as she gets closer to reaching a huge milestone: she's putting away her scale. Rather than being anxious and watching every small step toward (or away) from that goal, she'd rather put the numbers of the scale away and coast toward the goal. In the same way, I don't want to focus on the 50 lb lost. I don't want to be lulled into a sense that I have arrived, I want to strive for something beyond. Somewhere in that process, I will have reached 1/3 lost toward my goal weight. And when my birthday rolls around, there'll be lots to celebrate!
The running goal is something I'm not sure about. I think the time has come to start running again. And the fear I have about it is of the unknown; since I haven't run in a while and have been doing the elliptical instead, I just don't know what I can do anymore. It's silly - but I'm a little afraid to try for fear that what little capacity I had (7 minutes) has diminished. But I won't know until I try, eh? I may be able to knock it out of the park and all of this fear is for nothing. But I don't know. So we'll see how I do in the coming weeks and I'll let you know. And yet, somewhere in all that, if I succeed, not only will I be able to run 1 mile but hopefully up to 2.5 miles. Those would be milestones in and of themselves.
So here's to goals and the next 6 weeks!!
What short-term goals are you working towards right now?
I don't want to be a wet blanket but I think your goal of running for 30 minutes is a little ambitious. That is such a high impact activity and while carrying so much extra weight that could be a real stress for your joints. There is no better activity than swimming in my opinion and I love the elliptical. There's plenty to do without taking the chance of injury. Just call me sunshine I guess but I don't want you to injure yourself and then be depressed over it.
ReplyDeleteI actually disagree with Myra, I think the 30 minute running goal sounds fine - especially if you're considering time over distance. 15 minute miles are just as long as 8 minute miles! I was a good 20 lbs. heavier than you when I started running - I knew the last thing I wanted was to hurt my knees, because then I'd be done for. I'd rather be slow-and-steady and let my body adapt to the activity than try to keep up with a certain goal. Feel the run. If you need to slow down, do it. If you want to speed up, do it. Listen to how your body is doing.
ReplyDeleteSo, as long as you don't overdo it with speed, I think you should be fine. Ease back into it, and I think you'll be at or at least very close to 30 minutes in a month and a half. Totally feasible.
I disagree with Myra as well. You can totally do it!!! I've seen 300 pound people run 5k's. I'm rooting for you! I really enjoy following your blog and I would love it if you followed mine :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
You can do it! Look how well you've done in the past. It's good to set goals and aim high.
ReplyDeleteMy next short term goal is to have lost 75 pounds by the end of june. That means I have roughly nine weeks to lose 16.4 pounds. My plan is to up my workouts and really watch my food intake. Whether or not I make it, I know that at the end of June I will weigh less than I do today or I did 6 months ago. That's what I need to concentrate on.
In reading your post I realized that the only short term goal I really have is to be at 282 by 6-12. That will be about 1/2 way to my long term goal of 250 by 10/27. I really need to think of some other short term goals that are not scale related. We did take pictures and measurements today. That should help.
ReplyDeleteAwesome goals! Thanks for reminding me to set some May goals for myself and crackin on them! You can do all of three of these goals -- keep on truckin!
ReplyDelete