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

[empath-1111.livejournal.com]

Yay for you, Val! Good going! There is a doctor in Hampton, Dr. Jennifer Warren, that has a weight-loss clinic, that's all she does and several doctors recommended her to me, so I have an appointment on April 10th. My family doctor told me today that all of his patients that are going to her have been very please with the results. Just FYI.

Meg

[liret.livejournal.com]

That is an awesome goal. Good luck!

[shanrina.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[macfrode.livejournal.com]

Good for you!! Something to help with the caffiene headaches drink plain green tea. It has the caffiene you are used to, doesn't have many calories and has antioxidants in it that're good for you. Also it has been shown to help a slight amount with weight loss. Not some miracle cure or anything but every little bit helps.

[scarlettarcher.livejournal.com]

I'm friending you on my health journal and we can go through changes in health together. Weeeeeeeee! I'm at [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] if you want to add me!

I support you 100% in this. I know you can do it!

[tangled-fortune.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Go, Val! *shakes cheerleader pom poms* You can do it!

[caitlindancer.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I'm very proud of you for this! Just think, out on the fencing field at Pennsic we could fight for the honor of the barony (except when I'm fighting for Settmour--sorry)! I KNOW you can do this!

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

Yay! Good Luck!

[therealmutley.livejournal.com]

That is soooo cool Val - it should be a very fulfilling journey for you. I'll definately friend your other journal and watch you from across the ocean.

[calene.livejournal.com]

Excellent! I believe you can totally do this. Best of luck, and remember to have fun!

[bodvildr.livejournal.com]

I am soooo proud of you!

I am training for my first triathalon in August, and knowing that someone else is working towards a really challenging goal as well will inspire me greatly!!!

Thanks for being an inspiration!!!!

Mrs. Clam :o)

[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.

[(Anonymous)]

Honey, I'm in with you! I realized today that I'm too fat to sit comfortably in a college lecture hall desk. Not good. I'll be posting on my own journal about my goals.

Hang in there and be strong!

[snitchcat.livejournal.com]

Go Val!

That's a great goal! (I might just join you, too!)

Whhheeee!!! *hugs*

[goblintastic.livejournal.com]

My mom died of breast cancer in 2004. You rock. Just sayin'. *squishy hugs*