A decision.

[vg_ford]

xposted to val_marathon

This coming Saturday is my 32nd birthday.

This past Sunday, at fighter practice, my mother asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I realized something.

What I want, no one but me can give me.

I want to look in the mirror and not see a double chin. I want to be able to shop for clothes in stores that don't cater to "generously-endowed" women. I want to be able to walk up a flight of stairs without sounding like a beached whale. I want to be able to fence all day and not have to stop because I'm out of shape. I want to run again.

So, as my birthday present to myself, I signed up to walk the Greater Hartford Marathon in October.

I can't continue on the way I have. I'm 5'5 1/2" tall and 281 lbs. TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ONE POUNDS. I have Crohn's disease and fibromyalgia, and most days I creak like an 81-year-old woman. Unfortunately, I still eat like a college student, and I sit at a desk for 8+ hours a day.

That is, until yesterday.

Yesterday, I started a new way of eating. I swore off most soda - no more than 16 oz. a day (and for someone who routinely sucked down 2-4 20 oz. Coke with Limes a day, this is HARD!!!!). I'm drinking water with lemon instead, and working on dealing with the caffeine headache. I'm also eating breakfast - and not snacking on chips or chocolate.

And I'm exercising. I've made a deal with myself. There's now a cup on my desk labelled "Val's Pennsic Fund." Every time I go to the gym to swim or work out, I get to put a dollar in the fund. Every time I do at least 5 sit-ups (because I think I can do 5 right now), I get to put in fifty cents. This will be spending money for Pennsic - talk about incentive!!! (oh, Midnight Madness....)

And Jess and I are making our marathon count. We're walking for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Fund - my aunt Susie died of breast cancer, and I've got women I adore on both sides of my family fighting it right now. It's a cause very dear to my heart.

So if you'd like to sponser us, or make a donation, please do. You can email me at captain_hobbes@yahoo.com.

I'm also starting a new LJ, just to keep track of my progress. Please friend val_marathon if you'd like to, and if you don't see any postings on it, get on my butt!!!:)

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate your support.

Val

Comments

[barlidoc.livejournal.com]

Go Val! I'm so glad you're making this commitment *friends health journal* and I WILL egg you if you don't post progress. If you ever need moral support, just holler. And don't worry about the headaches. Your body will get used to less caffiene and adjust.

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. It's just the interim that sucks. :p

Luckily, I invest in Tylenol, so we're all good.