SOOOO this yr has def had its ups and downs of my weight loss. I literally started the year off puking my brains out on my birthday from too much Champagne on birthday eve (due to a sickness/illness that ive finally come to terms with as some sort of ED/eating issue).
At the beginning of theyear, I had dropped nearly 20lbs since I got sick Thanksgiving 2010. Pretty much until mid-february I wasn't eating, socializing, etc and became depressed &pretty closed in and fleeing to my parents nearly every weekend and day I was free from school. Then came the end of February. I had gone to the hospital, had number of DR appts and tests done but nothing was internally wrong w me other than low iron counts. The dR amounted the weight loss, hair loss, etc to extreme stress.
Even though I was going through all of this, I ran my first half marathon on Feb 27,2011 in DisneyWorld at the Disney Princess Half Marathon w one of my sorority sisters. My entire family flew down as well to cheer me on in this intense, high-scale race. My mom was pretty concerned abt my health given that two weeks prior I had an endoscopy and was in the hospital for xrays. She told me that she thought an ambulance would have to pick me up half way through! It was pretty insane because the previous Sept/Oct 2010 I was running a 6min mile. I finished the half marathon without passing out and in 3hr 27min. This was definitely far more timethan I had planned but was good enough for me. It was the culmination of my weight loss goals since Aug 7, 2009. I had ballooned to 222lbs on that date and that was when I set a goal for myself to get healthy and not succumb to the health issues I am inevitably going to face later in my life (both parents have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.).
Crossing that finish line in Epcot Center after the grueling 13.1 miles was amazing. I was literally in tears by the fact of what I had accomplished. There's no other way to describe that feeling. I had lost nearly 75lbs and was more healthy than ever before in my life. Even though I completed this incredibly difficult goal, I was in a pretty depressed state.
Basically got through the rest of the semester doing random 5Ks here and there and then ran consistently during June while studying but in July I cut everything out that took away time from studying and I gained about 20 lbs frm July-end of August. Ive been desperately trying to lose all this excess weight but Ive been on an emotional roller coaster the past few months so it's been hard.
Since Sept 1, I've been in a pretty bad funk when I found out I didnt pass the NC Bar Exam (the attorney licensing exam, so now I'm pretty much a non-practicing lawyer until I pass the Bar). I pretty much didn't get back into my running until the end of Sept/October when I began srsly training for my half marathon and forced myself to get out of this bubble world I had been living in the past month. Running again felt good and I even ran outside (I had been doing all of my training on the treadmill) in my parents' neighborhood which was amazing.
A positive note from the crazieness of the past four months is that I ran my Second Half Marathon in November! I cut my time down by about 17 mins since February so I'm happy! Ive been carrying probs 20lbs more now than I did in Feb but I'm overall much more healthy (and my hair has greatly decreased in the amt of falling out, etc).
So here I am, December 2011, three wks from closing out one of the worst year's in my life (this pretty much goes down w 2007) and weighing in at around 163-165lbs. Im desperately trying to lose these 20lbs but I'm taking my time losing weight this time and not getting too severe abt punishing myself for eating certain things and then starving my body if I do. That does not=healthy and I knw that now.
I've been in a slump since the half though and it has now been one month exactly since I last ran. I need to get back into it going into 2012 so hopefully I can be ready for my next half marathon in the spring! I think my mom is getting me an exercise bike (like the ones you spin on) for my 26th birthday (in 19 days!!!!!) so I am definitely going to use that to get my legs back in shape and toned like they used to be!!! I also purchased the following 3dvds: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, Jillian Michaels 6 Week 6Pack, and Jillian Michaels Killer Buns& Thighs. Im hoping to start the 30 day shred soon (i.e. by this friday once I get a chance to purchase some light weights-- I only have 10, 12, &15) and see how that works out for me.
Ultimately, 2011 was an up and down year for me, health-wise. I am literally counting the days until this horrendous year is over and I can start fresh in my life in 2012 and meet my weight loss and running goals again.
xoxoxoManisha
Here's a rundown of my Races in 2011 and the times that I can remember:
Disney Princess Half Marathon--> 3:27
WLA Race for Women's Health 5K--> ~38mins (a WEEK after my half marathon)
Danville Shamrock 5K--> ~34mins
Danville Nestle 5K Walk--> ~58 min I think? (I walked this one w my older sister bc she doesn't run)
Danville Half Marathon--> 3:15
