Starting out ~vs.~ Present - Fitness Achievements and Goals

What are some of the things that you do now that shock you when you think back??... I was thinking about it today, how far I have come physically, not size, just fitness wise..

When I first started going to the gym, I did the sitting bike for the first few weeks and I would watch the slim girls on the STAIRMASTER and think "wow, I wonder if I'll ever be able to do that"  The better I felt about myself I watched that machine and it started challenging me..... And now I freaking PWN on that thing I mean, I am always increasing the levels/time/speed but I think back to when I first started the gym, I have come SUCH a long way... And Im just realizing this today..

Then the next thing was the treadmill.. Same thing, calling my name when I was doing the stair master.. I went on the first time finally and I couldn't even run for 2 minutes at 5..lol.. Now I am averaging a 9 minute mile for speed but when I jog I am able to jog (4.5-5 slow but I have super short legs..lol) for 30 minutes (machine limit) without  stopping only small breaks for water..  I do inclines, hills, random speed intervals, I do it all.. It's just so crazy especially when I think back to when I started...

I was 28 year old, 5 foot 2, 175lbs and had been a smoker for 15 years...

Now I am 30, still 5 foot 2 (lol) 138 pounds, smoke free for a year and a half and..

My short term goal is upping my mile to 8 minutes and my long term is training for a 10k run for Autims Speaks Canada in October..

I remember thinking I would never be able to do this or that but you CAN do it.. Here is my proof..

Share your fitness stories with everyone, we can all benefit from hearing these sucsess stories..

And I would like to add, I did a fit test and I scored above average on it.. A year ago i wouldnt have been able to complete that test.. I didn't even bother..

Then I thought what the heck, Ill try it and see what it's all about..

Now I've completed it and scored above average..

Anyone? : ( 

There should be more responses shortly, looks like you just posted tonight.  I'm relatively new, just joined this site about 6 weeks and 9 pounds ago, but I am grateful even for the 9 pound loss.  It has been about three years since I have seen this weight, and I have 20-25 pounds more to lose.  I can't say how helpful this web site has been.  I couldn't even believe when I lost the first few pounds, because I had sooooo much discouragement about weight loss.  I had been in grad school and had become so sedentary from studying and work and had gained close to 25 pounds (had already wanted to lose weight at the beginning of school, but it didn't go that way).  Now that I have more time being freed up, I am finally able to focus more on my body. 

Well, my difference from starting a month and a half ago, is that I was not eating in a disciplined way at all, and now I have been able able to eat in a disciplined way; I've actually grown to enjoy logging my calories, since I know I am working toward a goal, and that it helps me stay healthier.  Also, I just signed up for an 8K run in a few weeks and printed out the training schedule for it.  I was concerned that I may not be ready, but today I ran 3.5 miles, and I know that the healthier eating as well as recent increased exercise, helped me run that distance (which I know is short for many but is great for me at this point). 

Platinumbutterfly, I enjoyed reading your story.  Congrats on your weightloss and improved health!  Your story is very encouraging. 

An incident sticks out in my mind from about 6 years ago.  The lift where I was working was broken, and I had to escort a visitor for a meeting up 4 flights of stairs.  I panted and sweated for about 20 minutes of that meeting.  I worked for an agri-food company, and the visitor was a dietician advising us on a new "healthy" range we were w orking on.  I felt so embarassed not to be able to catch my breath, and I felt that the dietician must have been looking at me wondering how I could be working on a healthy range of foods, and be so obviously deaf to my own advise.

I was a sedentery smoker, and a massive 40 - 45 kg overweight (didn't dare weigh myself).  About a year later, a work colleague talked to me about running, and convinced me that anybody could start, he gave me a plan starting with one minute and building up to an hour over 6 months. I used to get up at 5 am to run, in case anybody I knew saw me wobbling along.  My first day, I could not run straight for 30 seconds.

Fast forward to today, 5 years smoke free,  I run 5 days a week, including one 10k a week.  I cycle to work every day, and I strength train three times a week.  30 of the 45kgs are gone, I love being this fit, and keep challenging myself to get fitter.  I owe my old work colleague so much for convincing me to get off my ass and get active.

1. I used to drink several liters of Pepsi in a week. As of today, I haven't had soda (not even diet soda) in over 2 years. And I don't miss it one bit.

2. I could only walk on the treadmill and hated the fact that I could see my reflection in the window and was constantly pulling my sweats down from riding up between my thighs and butt cheeks. Ugh. Now, I can rock gym shorts and run 6mph for a whole hour. And no more hungry-bum. LOL.

3. Strength training sucked! I could only get a few bicep curls, etc. out with 5 lb free-weights. After 20 minutes, I thought I was going to die! Now, I can do intense 1 1/2 hour circuit traning workouts 3 times a week and walk, not crawl, out of the gym. :-)

4. Few years ago, I went hiking up the mountains with some friends. About 5 minutes into the hike, I was gagging for air and was dry-heaving. Today, I RUN! up the hills! I was 20 then. I am 31 now :-p.

Wildflower, it had almost dropped to the bottom of the page without 1 response, I didn't want it to fall off the page.. hah

If it wasn't for this website I would NOT have gotten to where I am today I KNOW how you feel..lol.. So many knowledgable people and it was these motivational threads that kept me going..  The food is a huge factor..  I honestly had NO IDEA how bad some of these foods were for you..  Calories, fat, sodium etc..  If I don't have a general idea of what I am about to eat I usually pass on it or eat very little..  I think it is SO important for people to KNOW how many calories are in some of the foods they eat..
I wish you continued sucsess!  Keep on truckin!
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aoifek, that is incredible!!! running 5 days and one is a 10k, WOW.. I am inspired by your post!  You are definelty someone to look up to..

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macmatty, fantastic, I hope in the next year I will be where you are, congrats and LOL @ hungry bum.. I used to have one of those too



 

Thanks Platinumbutterfly,  threads like this are really helpful.  Well done to you for kicking ass on those machines in the gym.  Isn't it great to challenge youself and win!  I'm plateauing these past two months, despite doing all the right things, and its really frustrating.  But remembering where I've come from has helped me relax about it and put it all into perspective.

I just remembered something else - I had a medical around that time 5 years ago, and I was put on medication for hypertension, and my resting heart rate was measured at 100bpm.  I was so ashamed of myself for allowing my lazy lifestyle to damage my health.  This morning before my run- my heart rate was 50 - 60 bpm, and I no longer take hypertension meds.  It's been a long road, but I'm proud of my achievements, and if I can do it, anybody can!

Just knowing how fit I am now compared to when I started makes me feel happy.  I am able to do pretty much anything I want to now. I can run 5 miles and I'm going to run a 10k next weekend.  I did a yoga class last weekend and was amazed at the difference.  I hadn't done one in a couple of months.  I was able to do a full backbend!  It was so much easier.  I love being fit and I know I just need to remember that feeling if I am ever tempted to return to my couch potato ways.

Wow, looking back...  Well, I started this journey a year and a half ago.  Here are my stats...

Weight Then: 171, Height: 5'1", BMI: 32.3 (Obese), Cholesterol: 276, Stamina: none, Pant size: 17, Shirt size: XL, Activity level: occasional 20 minutes @ 3mph, Food consumption: nothing until 2-3PM and binge until I went to sleep. 

December 28, 2006:  A dear, close friend who is a massage therapist for Nike World Team said how concerned he was about me and encouraged me to just move for 20 minutes every day and start eating a breakfast. He also impressed upon me the importance of taking care of myself, because I am the only one who can do it.

Anyway, flash forward to today:

Weight: 142, BMI: 26.8 (Lightly Overweight), Cholesterol: 174, Stamina: I can run for 1 hour at between 4.5 and 5.5 mph, I can rollerskate 3 hours maintaining a good clip (speed skating, or figure or artistic), I can hike 1.4 miles +1050 feet elevation and back down again in an hour, I can do an entire aerobics routine with weights, core work, and stability exercises, just got my Orange belt in Taekwondo, I CAN, I CAN, I CAN, Pants size: 8, Shirt size: M, Food consumption: 5-6 small meals a day.

I am not perfect, in fact I am currently stalled where I am at.  Obviously some days I eat more than I should and I have become a bit discouraged at the amount of effort I have put into my transformation, with no real progress since November of last year.  This last week I said "ENOUGH!" and know that I am back on track.  I have 27 pounds until my ultimate goal weight, which really doesn't seem that hard now that I have realized just how far I have come since 1-2007! 

Thanks for helping with one of my own personal goals: be aware of what you have to be grateful for.  I am grateful to have my health back.

Wow, amazing everyone..

Aoifek, I gaine d a few lbs back over the past few months b/c I hit a plateau also.. I thought eh, nothing I am doing is working anyways so I decided Id take a little break.. Now I know that when you plateau you might not be losing but you are atleast mantining and to never give up during a plateau.. Something I had to learn the hard way..lol

Platinumbutterfly- I just want to congratulate you on all your accomplishments!  I am a long ways from reaching my goals but you give me hope! Keep up the GREAT work girl!! :)

THANKS< GOOD LUCK< SORRY MY CAPS ARE SCREWY< I cant even make commas

When I first started (about 2.5 years ago,) I just wanted to be able to walk a couple miles without feeling as though I was near death.

Now:

- I can RUN 10k (approx 6.2 miles) in 58 minutes and change.
- I can ride a bike 20 or 25 miles with no problem
- I started serious strength training and am starting to see some curves in some good places! :)
- I can walk...pretty much anywhere. :)