First 5K

So there is absolutely no excuse for having not written anything on here since January.  I have failed at my goal to write often!  The good thing is there is still 2/3 of this year left and I still have time to start writing.

I thought I'd write a post about something monumental in our lives last week.

I have always had a struggle keeping at a healthy weight, eating when I don't need to eat, eating what is not good for me, and craving masses of sweet stuff.  I still wish that I had a metabolism that would let me slide through life eating whatever I want and not showing the negative effects on my body.  Well, God gave me the Dean metabolism and I definitely have to do a lot to keep the pounds from sticking around too long.

Since Tyler was born, my ability to gain weight has skyrocketed and my ability to lose weight has plummeted.  So I knew this year I needed to rectify that and do something drastic to change my physical condition.  I wasn't okay with always being the "fat enough to feel uncomfortable in all my clothes" kind of girl.  I wasn't okay with worrying about my appearance and constantly comparing myself to skinnier, fitter girls at the gym.  This is probably the first time I have attempted a physical overhaul for one purpose: me.  It sounds selfish but I finally realized that if I lose weight or do a diet for any other motivation (like pleasing others), I will eventually give up.  I need to do it because I, Bethany, want to change; I want to look better and be proud of myself; I want to finally be able to wear all my pre-pregnancy clothes; I want to be active and keep up with Tyler; I want to lose the weight so I can have more kids in a future.

The good part is that Kurt also decided he also wanted to lose weight and get healthy and not be sedentary.  So on January 29, we joined the YMCA (after months of procrastination and putting off membership at a gym).  We decided to make it a joint goal to work out five times a week.  There were a lot of days I did not desire to go, and Kurt was constant in getting me there.  Afterwards, I always felt better.  Along with the five days a week of working out, we have revamped our diet, although there are still days we let some of our old habits sneak back.  We decided to up out pure water intake, curve our fast food and eating-out habits, curve our dessert (mainly ice cream) addictions, and cut back on sugar overall.  We've upped our vegetable intake and rather than eating a starchy food with meat at dinnertime, we eat two or even three veggies.  We both love veggies so that has gone well.

Two and a half months later, we both ran our very first 5K race.  I've never liked running or been a natural, but I have found that it is a love-hate relationship.  When I get to the end of a set goal of time or length of a run, I am floored and on a high that I actually could do it.  When I give up early and listen to the voice in my head saying "you can't do this," I hate it and feel defeated.  Right now, I am loving running because it has helped me realize that just because I have been labeled non-athletic and slightly heavy my whole life, doesn't mean I can't do this!  Its helped me to have the confidence to do something I thought I couldn't do.  On Saturday, April 28, I ran my first 5K and felt great.  It was hard, and there were plenty of moments that the voice in my head was screaming, "just walk already!"  But I didn't listen; I beared down and ran the entire race.  My goal of finishing in under 40 minutes was accomplished, with a time of 38:41, a time on which I hope to greatly improve.  Just finishing--in and of itself--was surreal, and has given me a new-found motivation to keep going.

Here's to running and getting healthy in 2012!  I'm thankful God has given us the time and desire to do this!