well, once again the scale is pointing in the wrong direction. Seems like I can't ever have a weekend of not watching what I eat without adding pounds...so...decided to get back to the gym on a regular basis, because just doing the fun stuff like hiking and boogieboarding doesn't seem to be doing the job.
A few years back, after quitting and then gaining some pretty serious weight (not all quit related I'd like to add), I set foot in a gym for the first time ever. My first attempt on the treadmill I couldn't walk for 5 minutes without feeling like it was too much. Well, I kept at it and eventually lost 47 pounds, and trained and completed an offroad 5K at not a roadrunner pace, but respectable considering my age and the course. And definitely not last. After that I decided I'd met my goal, and would rather do other things than running for exercise. Which I have, but not consistently enough to keep the middle age spread from creeping in, up, and around.
Okay, fast forward a couple of years from that 5K to today. I jumped back on the treadmill and guess what? I could comfortably do jog/walk intervals at a 1:1 ratio, with no problem whatsoever! Wasn't winded, my heart rate was up, but not alarmingly so, and probably could have continued but wanted to do some lifting in the time I had. I know for a fact that if I was still smoking I would be back to that day a few years ago when I could barely walk for 5 minutes, much less jog. I'm even thinking of doing another 5K - and maybe more.
I love love love not smoking!
-aloha
