The Six-and-a-half-week challenge...

The month of October has just zoomed by in a blur.... a very fuzzy, very crazy blur of birthdays, events, holidays, outings and more birthdays.

I began with a friends birthday, with celebratory outings and food - oh the food. There were sandwiches, chimichangas, churros, candy, cake and a lot of other things I "only had a few bites of". Yes, I was good, but not that good. I didn't overeat but I definitely indulged a little too much.

The whole month has been like that really. I was on a role in September: I had successfully lost about 5 more lbs and was on the verge of meeting my actual Drivers License weight. And then October happened. Food, fun and more food.

I'm not upset because I haven't really gained any weight back, I've just hit a wall. My workouts are helping me stay at this weight, but I dont want to stay at this weight. I want to keep going.

So here is my challenge: I HAVE 6.5 WEEKS UNTIL THE COMPANY CHRISTMAS PARTY.

I want to lose at least another 5 or 6 lbs in the next 6 weeks. Totally doable I think. Thats 1 lb a week if I am diligent and do not break. I can do this. I know I can.

I will be going 98% paleo (a girl needs her 70% cacao chocolate fix - HAHA)
I will be tracking my calories
I will be working out like a beast.

Ok, here I go.

Past and present....

When I started this fitness adventure, I started from square one. I remember the first run I ever went on. I remember my lungs burning after the first half mile, and I had only planned on running one - maybe two. I was encouraged to run with a group from work who ran on their lunch breaks. They were incredibly kind, and understanding that I wasn't a runner, and one of them chose to stay back (waaaaaaaay back) with me as I struggled not to start walking after this first half mile. I was embarrassed and every inch of my being wanted to turn around and hide back in my cubicle in shame, but this coworker insisted I keep going. He pushed me to run 2.75 miles. That was 2.75 miles of pure torture. My ankles were killing me, my calfs were burning and my lungs felt like they were going to explode. I couldn't believe I made it.... and if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have.

This was almost 3 years ago.

I ran for the remainder of that year, promising myself to work up to a 5K (3.1 miles) without stopping. I even signed up for a 5K race in the town I worked in. And I ended up running it, and only walking a little. Slowly but surely I became a better runner.

Now I am working towards my first 10K in November, the Mermaid Run in San Francisco. I'm excited. This will be the furthest I've ever run before -  and while I'm in the best shape of my life!

Last night I went out to this park that has a 1.4 mile loop running path around it. I ran it 3.5 times -  for a total of 5 miles. Thats just 1.2 miles away from where I need to be, and I could have easily done that.

Needless to say I have come a LONG way from that first run. Sometimes I just need to remember how far I've come. It's been a long road, but now I can run the whole thing! ;)

E