Self Discipline and Reaching a Goal

     These are two of the most important things I have had to learn to do.  Frank (AKA Coach) has several tips to help me succeed in  these areas.

                                                 3 Keys to Self-Discipline
                                              1.)  Challenge your excuses
                                       2.)  Remove rewards until the job is done
                                           3.)  Stay focused on the results
                                                               and
                                       You will not reach your goals unless....
                                        - You daily focus on desired results!
                                           - What results do you desire?
   
    I found out a few months ago that there is a 50th Anniversary for Wrestling at my High School mid April.  Why would I be going for a Wrestling Anniversary?  I'm glad you asked!  I was a Mat Maid for the wrestling team.  (go ahead and laugh at the name, I do)  We kept score at matches, fed the wrestlers, and yes, on occasion, had to clean a mat or two.  These wrestlers were like my brothers.  So when I found out about the "reunion" so to speak, I decided I would go.  I needed to set a weight loss goal before I went though!  These guys only knew me as that 100 lb. teenager don't forget. 
    Now if it were up to me, this last 50 lbs. would just fall off in these next few weeks.  We know that's not going to happen!  So I set a goal for another 10 lbs. at least.  I am down 6 of the ten and still have two weeks.  To achieve this, I have had to really focus on my desired results, and remove my rewards until my goal is met.  I am looking forward to seeing my "brothers" again. I have a lot of fear when it comes to the way I look now and how I will be excepted.  I know what I have achieved so far , but they don't.  They will see who I am now.  I am okay with that.  I know I need to keep my focus on the goals at hand to continue on my Quest.

From the Beginning

   Most of you already know my story.  For those of you who don't, here is a little back ground......I was always a very skinny person.  I stayed around the 100-115 lb. mark.  I never had to watch what I ate.  I NEVER exorcised!   So when I started to gain weight after I got married (at 20), it was okay.  In reality, I needed to put on about 20 lbs. to look healthier.  And so I did.  I looked healthier, and felt better too.

    On July 31, 2000, I decided it was time to quit smoking.  I had smoked for 10 years.  I made this decision because I wanted to have a baby.  I chose to go on and quit before I got pregnant so there wouldn't be an urgency to.  I didn't think I was eating more then before because I traded cigarettes for gum.  I gained 50 lbs. after I quit.  I knew I needed to lose this weight before I got pregnant.  I tried, but not too hard.

   In 2002, I found out I was pregnant.  I was told, "Eat what you want to, you're eating for 2 now, you'll lose it after you have the baby, DON'T WORRY!"  I gained 60 lbs.  (if you are doing the math, 20+50+60=130 lbs. at this point)  I welcomed my precious little girl into the world on December 19, 2002.  I was a little concerned about the weight, but because I was breast feeding, I thought it would just "fall off" like all the books told me it would do.  It didn't!

   Two years after her birth, I decided to get serious about losing the weight.  I cut out sugar and started exercising two times a week.  About three months into it, I started having some heart issues.  After many Doctor visits and lots of tests, I was told to ease off on the heavy activity.  No more exercising.  I was pretty upset about this because I was getting results!  I had lost 20+ lbs.  I was feeling good (except for the heart craziness) and was seeing results with my body too.  Needless to say, I gained the 20 back with a few more tagging along as well.

   I yo yo dieted for the next few years.  You know, Adkins, South Beach, and I even went to Weight Watchers.  Again, I lost that easy 20 lbs.  Seems to be the easiest to come off!

   In September of 2009, my husband of 14 years walked in the door one day after work and announced he no longer wanted to be married.  He wanted to go and live his life.  I had tied him down for too long!  A tough decision was made for M (this is how I will refer to my daughter) and I to stay living in the house until the end of the school year.  Those were the longest six months of my life!  Chocolate became my very best friend.  I am surprised it didn't kill me as much as I ate.  As you can guess, here comes that 20 lbs. back on along with about 10 more.  June finally came along, we moved out, divorce was final in July, and we started our new adventure on our own.

   Once we got settled into our new place, it was time for school to start back.  I had made a decision!  I was DETERMINED to get this weight off!  I hated the way I looked and felt.  So, again, I cut out sugar, watched what I ate, and started walking the lake four times a week.  There went that easy 20 lbs. again.  I knew I was going to need help this time if I really wanted it off.  I knew a friend of mine had his own Personal Training business, so I went to talk to him.  Asked many, many questions and told him I was interested in some training.  I started working with him in November.  We set my weight goal and I began working really hard. (I will refer to him as Coach from now on.)

   One day, I asked him about running.  What were the benefits.  What does it require.  Mind you, I was the girl in gym class that NEVER finished the mile in the required time!  I was the one throwing up at the fence because I couldn't breath.  I didn't want to be a runner.  For some reason though, it really intrigued me.  Who in their right mind would do that to themselves?  He talked me through it.  When you start to run, your body has to use different resources to get the energy it needs, therefore, it starts to burn fat.  Burns more fat?  I'm on it!  Yet another goal to set.  Coach asked what I wanted to get out of running.  Was it just to burn fat, or did I want to maybe run a race or two?  There is a race here in Savannah that goes over the very LARGE and HIGH bridge that connects Georgia and South Carolina called the Bridge Run.  I have always wanted to do it.  Whether I walked it or ran it!  This became my BIG goal.  Then Coach says that to get to my BIG goal, I needed to set some smaller goals.  Was there another race I had wanted to run?  In Savannah, St. Patrick's Day is HUGE!!!!  There is always a Shamrock Run the week before.  I wanted to do that.  See?  A Little goal.  So I signed up and paid my money.  No turning back!

   To get ready for this race, I knew I had to get serious about this running thing.  Coach had a plan!  Back to the lake to start working on my running.  He wanted me to do 1 minute of running to 1 minute of walking (recovery time).  I about DIED the first time we did it.  I had lost my mind!  What was I thinking?  He eased off a little and readjusted for my lack of ability to keep his pace.  I was going to the lake to work with him once a week then back to the studio for circuit training the other day for six weeks.  As the race drew closer, I really didn't think I would be able to do it!  Coach reassured me that I was ready.  Well prepared!  We set my time goal for 45 minutes.

   RACE DAY!!!  Oh boy!  This was a night race, so I worked all day.  I was tired.  Completely talking myself out of it!  Coach was going to be there to help me get through it.  (really he was there to tell me when to run and when to walk)  I had total and complete support so I couldn't back out!  They sounded the start horn and off we went.  We ran through the streets of downtown, around the squares, around the park, and back.  Caught up with a friend when we got to the park and she ran with us.  About mile two I asked if I was going to make my time.  I got the dreaded, not at this rate.  I had to pick it up!  Somehow I did!  I crossed that finish line with a 44.32 time.  I BEAT my GOAL!!!!!  I completed my first 5K.  One down, three to go.

   I wish I had started this blog when I started my transformation!  As of today, I have lost almost 40 lbs.  I have about 50 to go.  I am being realistic!  I know I will never be that 100 lb girl again.  I've had a baby!  My body will never be the same!  I know that.  I hope you will follow me on my Quest to lose this last 50 lbs. and meet my BIG goal of running the Bridge Run in December.  I promise to show you the ups and downs of my weight loss, along with my grumpiness when I do NOT want to work out.  I can't wait to see what the future holds!

   Trish