Running, Weight Loss, and Health

So I've been loosing weight.  I've gone down 3 sizes over the past year.  I had 'baby weight' and inactivity weight that I had gained since high school.  At the most (fully pregnant) I was 60 pounds up from what I should be.  After I gave birth I was pretty quickly down to only 40 pounds overweight, the rest I had to work off (aided by nursing for 10+ months).

This past week I hit my healthy weight again.  That means over the last year I've lost 40 or more pounds.  People say 'I can't loose weight' or 'everything I try doesn't work'.  To that I say: you haven't tried the most simple and inevitable approach.  Calorie counting (accurately with measuring tools if necessary), exercise, and self-restraint.  YES it's hard, but it DOES work.

It might take a year or more, but the benefits are unbelievable!  I feel great.  I don't get tired doing daily activities.  I can chase my little (nearly) 3 year old until she can't run anymore.  I can run 5 miles!  and I fit into all those clothes I held onto for years hoping I could use them again.

I started running September last year.  I couldn't manage a mile then, but I've stuck with exercise and running and now I can run 5 miles.  I run 5 miles an hour, which isn't particularly fast.  My goal has been to be healthy and not waste money getting there.  That is how I decided to run, it's nearly free.  This Saturday I am running 6 miles.  I am training for a 10k (6.2 miles) on Thanksgiving.  I am excited to have a race to conclude my training.  I will continue to exercise after the race, but might not run more than once or twice every week or two.

I am not comfortable sharing my weight on here because most women aren't 6'2 and muscular like I am.  I had a body composition scan about 2 years ago and calculated what my weight should be by that.  I am at that weight and plan to loose 5-10 pounds more so that my weight can fluctuate and still stay in the healthy range.

Sometimes I look in the mirror and stare.  I can't believe I've finally done it.  Is it really me that looks like that?  I've seen changes while I've been working towards this and been encouraged by others.  I just want to say thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and noticed.  I have struggled with pride in this new look, so don't overdo it, but I am thankful for the notice and encouragement.  (Special thanks to  Becky D, Jen R, Betsy H, and Cori H who have been encouraging my running and noticing change regularly which has been a great help)

I did this to honor God with my body.  He gave me this body and I certainly should take care of it.  God designed me to look this way and even thought I've struggled in the past with my largeness I now realize that I am a healthy large woman.  I am part of the variety that God created and I am beautiful to God, my husband and myself.  It is so freeing not worrying about how my clothes fit me.  I don't have to change 10 times before leaving the house.  I am very thankful I've learn what healthiness should look and feel like and plan to stay healthy from now on.

I'm 24, I need to enjoy this body while it works as it should and bring God glory in doing so.

Thank you God for the way you designed my body and helping me to restore it to health.