Goal # 3..There's no turning back now!

So I've been busy with my first 2 goals ...Believing in myself and Being my own Best Friend..I decided today that it's time to move on to the next goal..

Goal # 3 is to do a 5k (run or walk)
I've just signed up (and paid) on line for the Duluth Fall Festival 5k race on Sept 26th. And since there is no refund, I have one month to get myself ready.

5 years ago when this picture was taken I came in second place for my age group (and got the plaque to show for it..LOL) at this race   I look happy don't I? I was in pretty good shape because I had worked hard for 2 years and was close to my weight goal. I had lost over 60 pounds.

I would love to have this success again (in the race and the weight loss).

I know for this race I will have to work extra hard to get myself ready. This will be the third time I've done this race course..it's a nice course..not too strenuous or too hilly so I figure it's a good one to start off with (again). I'm excited about it. It's the motivation I need to get myself going. No more Excuses!

I'll tell you the truth..I have the jittery stomach thinking about putting myself out there again. I know I can do this. I need to get myself out of the "comfort zone" at the gym and start pushing myself more.

SO the Plan (I seem to love plans today) is to start running intervals on the treadmill at the gym in the evenings after work at least 3 times a week. I need to get up earlier in the morning (truthfully I've been staying up till 12- 1 in the morning and then staying in bed until 8 am) and take a walk/jog around the neighborhood..it's got some great hills at least 2 days a week (if not more). On my days off I need to get my butt to my favorite park (which is where I trained for 5k & 10k's before) whether it's in the morning or the evening..I've done this in the past and I can do it again.

I have my support team behind me...I 've just talked with my daughter and she and the grandkids are coming to cheer me on. I also posted on facebook so I know that all my friends will be supporting me.

I have the KNOWLEDGE all I have to do is put it into ACTION!

And since today is my day off I will finish cleaning my house and then go to the park..I HAVE A GOAL!

#7. Come out of seclusion

from SparkPeople Top 10 Strategies for Success..Use these ideas to meet your goals- by Mike Kramer
Has anyone ever achieved anything of real value all alone?  Probably not many.  Most receive some form of help from other people.  Support, information, a sense of shared experience, encouragement, advice, and well-timed pep talk are all invaluable as you set off on your adventure.

For me this should be #1 and it is probably the hardest thing for me to do and to maintain.  Altho if you ask my family they will tell you that I'm always busy.  I've kept busy with my Thus friends, even gone skydiving with my AOC friends . ...but through all that I HAVE secluded a part of me from everything..

I have basically given up on alot of things that made me happy and confident about myself.. my outdoor/hiking group (I've gone from doing something every month to only 2 trips this past year)..using the excuse that I've gotten too old and slow to keep up with all those young people...this is more Malarkey...I had to give up my gym (due to money cutbacks) and have lost contact with some really good friends I made there (not all). I gave up my own blog (using the excuse that I was tired of hearing me moan & groan about how unfair life was being to me) and reading other blogs. I gave up my support group at eDiets..tried SparkPeople but told myself that there wasn't a group that I fit in with and I didn't need it.  I've had times in the past 3 years that I tried to come out of seclusion only to go back to hiding after a few days/weeks..Mostly I've found myself escaping by reading books and going on FB to play games (I can spend a whole day playing Mafia Wars) Why did I let myself get to this point?

As I look back I can see what I did to myself..trying to isolate myself so I wouldn't have to admit that I have a problem...And my problem is that I don't/didn't want to admit to myself that I failed in keeping this weight off..that by secluding myself I gave myself permission to go back to not caring about myself enough to take care of ME..
I need to keep telling myself that I'm NOT all about the Weight..that I am a Person of Worth no matter how I look on the outside...I know that I feel better about myself when I look good but going into seclusion wasn't all about how I looked..I lost confidence in myself..I started to convince myself that I couldn't do the things I enjoyed/wanted..I was/am still afraid of failing so it's so much easier not to try. It is so much easier to NOT come here and examine why I do the things I do.

So coming out of seclusion at step at a time for me means getting my confidence back and not being afraid of admitting that I can fail..but always about getting back into the game and doing my best..

I am so lucky that I DO Not have to do this alone..I have some really great friends and family who are all supportive WHEN I let them.  The tools I need are right here. All I have to do is reach out and use them

Finding the Solution!

Yesterday I was busy making lists and figuring out what I want out of this Blog. I'm always gong ho for the first couple of weeks and then .....it all starts fall apart. So I figure since I'm aware of this problem then I should be able to find a solution. I want to have fun, take out the dreary from the process!

 I learned the last time I lost a big amount of weight that making "Goals" and "Journaling" are two of the most important things to keep one motivated...Also Having Support Groups. So I Sent out emails to a group of friends and family that I think will be a lot of help keeping me in line after the newness wears off. I think I'll call the group "Lady Sue's Court"...just an idea..nothing is for sure at this time..I also am part of a couple of other Weight Loss groups that I haven't been participating in much for reasons I'll probably go into later.

I have lost large amounts of weight twice in the last 15 years and gained back most of it both times..Each time I've learned a little more about losing and how to keep it off (losing is the easier part for me)...It is time I take all I know (and all my Support Groups have to give me) and put it into effect.

 I'm looking at what I want to be in the next 10 years (when I grow up..lol). My Mom is one of my inspirations, altho she is now having troubles with demetia, when she was in her 60's & 70's she was a very active woman...I don't think she started to slow down until she was in her late 70's. She has been a walker all her life..I think I take after her in this because for as long as I can remember I've Walked. I love my morning walks at the park (when I go). It not only helps me exercise, it helps me get myself together.  When I'm feeling bad about things a walk makes it all seem so much better. I haven't gone hiking much in the last couple of years because of the weight I've gained back. I can still do the hikes but I'm too slow to keep up with the younger (ages 30-40's) people (there are some people my age but they are VERY fit) in the hiking groups I'm in.  They all tell me that it's no problem but I get so frustrated so that I can't enjoy the hike.  I did hike on Christmas Day...and it was great...cold but great.

I'll be posting my wieght, measurements & goals in a few days (and probably pictures if I can get them) . I've got to get up the nerve first.  This is Step One of admitting to myself that I am not as fit as I think of myself...that's why I rarely look in mirrors anymore...it's like on the Biggest Loser...the first thing all the couples did this season was have a weigh-in in front of all their families and friends...scary but I can see why it is necessay. I'm thinking of doing the same thing tomorrow..

Starting over!

Here it is the first day of April 2010.  On my walk at the park I realized that I am going to be 60 years old in a few days and I DON'T want to be OLD..I want to be 60 years YOUNG!   I want to be that woman that everyone looks at and can't believe her age..not by how she looks but by how she acts.  I have it in me to do this but I've gotten sidetracked the last few years.  I'm going to find the Lady Sue in me!

The first thing I have to do to get back on track is to feel good about myself again...and to do this I WILL Lose Weight.  The extra pounds I'm carrying make it hard to get motivated to do the things I like.
Also my Attitude about myself needs much improvement...I don't want to be that Grouchy Old Lady who sits around on her ass and complains all day..

I know I need a Support group and am working on a plan to get it..I have LOTS of Freinds on FaceBook and in my life..so I Will Utilize them.

I need to Account for myself what and how I am going to. That's what this Blog is for.

I'm working on my big Plan/Goals:
Lose 50 pounds by October 1, 2010. This gives me 6 months..I've done it before and I know I can do it again.
Blog each day! (even if it's just a line or two)
Walk/run a 5K and a 10K in that time..possibly the Tribble Mill 5K and the Duluth.
Do at least 1 hike a month..getting to a Level 5 hike with AOC by September.

My Rewards will be feeling better (healthwise and mentally), Getting back into my skinnier clothes (which I've kept), and possibly finding a new love in my life (joking?).

To do all this I know it will be hard but I've got to start somewhere and it's always good to have a record to track my success (notice ONLY positive things in this Blog).
More To Come