As many of you all know, my life has revolved around exercising and eating healthy for a little over a year now. I completed my first half marathon in October. Up to that point, my workouts consisted of nothing but running anywhere and everywhere. I could probably tell you the exact distance between any two points in this town. I took my running a little bit too far though. With all the calories I was burning, I wasn't eating enough to replenish myself so I lost quite a bit of weight. After the half marathon was over I knew something had to change so I decided to stop running and start lifting weights. The first month was tough. I felt so weak only using the 10 and 15 pound free weights. I had the most puny arms of anyone I'd ever seen. I kept at it though. I was in the weight room 5 days a week for 1-2 hours per day. As the months passed, I started noticing that my body was changing from that which probably looked like a 12 year old middle-schooler to one that looks like she might have a chance in an arm wrestling match.
Nowadays instead of having an apple and half a sandwich for lunch (like I used to) I try to eat 6 small meals a day every 2-3 hours. Yes, I do carry around a huge lunch box and eat cottage cheese or a salad in the middle of class. It takes some preparation and planning but it can be done!
These two pictures were during and after the half marathon. As you can tell, I was soaking wet, cold and completely miserable.
This is after almost 5 months of lifting weights 8-10 hours per week. Believe it or not there is a 12 pound difference in these two sets of pictures. It just goes to show that not all weight gain is bad. It's something I have to constantly remind myself of.
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