As I have already mentioned I was one of those girls at school who could find any excuse to get out of physical education class or joining a sports team. Not sure if it was self image or I preferred other persuits but the idea of running around the school oval was just hideous.
I think the realisation that if I really wanted to lose weight it would require some amount of sweat and some level of intense movement. This was a huge emotional and psychological hurdle to overcome. A friend had told me that running was the only way to elimite a 'belly' and shed those extra kilos. So I bit the bullet and put it to the test.
I could actually not run at first. I found I was out of breathe and the whole experience was unbearable. So I decided to just start by doing 20 minutes every second day on the 'walking' machine, JUST walking! I tried not to do anything fancy with the machine (mostly because I didn't understand it). I just set it a reasonable level of difficulty and what felt like a fast speed and I walked.
After a few weeks at this level I saw results. I could visibly notice my stomach reduce, especially when I walked in the afternoon, by the next morning there was a difference. But more then that, after a 20 minute session I felt great. I doubt I have ever had the same level of endorphin rush and began to realise exercise was not really about weight loss but the way it made me feel - fabulous! After a 20 minute session I would feel like eating fruit, I felt clear headed and energised and had a sense of calm. This was something they never told us about in gym class!
After a few weeks I upped the ante, one minute more a session! And occasionaly I would make myself walk a bit faster. Now I can do 30 minutes at a time, which includes a few minutes of actual running. I read that mixing walking and running in such a session burns fat quicker. I can't say quatifiably that it did but running for a minute or so, every five minutes, gave the whole workout an extra kick!
On days when I felt lazy to hit the machine I would tell myself I would just do it for ten minutes, because ten was better than none. Well its works a treat. Once you are on the damn machine, you think, well now I am here, I may as well do five more minutes and then the endorphins kick in and you think alright five more minutes and before you know it you walked two kilometres and are feeling great!
I have to admit that at times the walking machine can be a bit dull. In a subsequent blog I will share my favourite workout songs. I found I needed fast beat music to keep the pace and motivate me. I also need to block out any sesne of competition with my neighbours. Initially when someone was on the machine next to me, and ran for an entire hour, I was completely intimidated and wanted to give up the game. I admit this brought back some childhood feelings of inadequacy which had to be self talked out of my head. Who cares that she can run that fast, or for that long? Its my body, my process and my way - my way to weight loss! Who cares what everyone else is doing....
I think the realisation that if I really wanted to lose weight it would require some amount of sweat and some level of intense movement
Posted by: roxylean | Tuesday, December 04, 2012 at 11:51 AM