Slowly, but surely

I know this photo is hard to see, but I was so proud of myself I had to post it anyway. I don’t know if you can see it, but it shows that I was walking 3.5 mph, and I had been walking for over 40 minutes. I actually walked a total of 60 minutes.

If this is your first time reading or if you haven’t been reading for very long then you will not be able to get the significance of the accomplishment. Let me refresh everyone.

It was just in Feburary that I wrote about my weight loss battle and basically had an online breakdown. The very next day I wrote about moving forward and then a week or so later I wrote about my new assignments that are helping me take control of my weight and my life.

It was just in March that I wrote about joining the gym and the shame I had to overcome about being a “fat” person in the gym. When I first started going to the gym I was huffing and puffing at 2.5 mph and was proud to be able to stay on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I gradually worked myself up five minutes a week until now I can work for a full hour.

At first it was hard. Really hard. I was winded and dizzy by the time I was finished. Then I realized I was pushing myself too hard. I looked up target heart rates online and knew that I had to change what I was doing. So instead of concentrating on what I was doing, I started concentrating on the results while I was working out. I concentrated on keeping my heart rate in the target zone, and an amazing thing started happening. It not only got easier, but I could actually do more. Every time I went to the gym I could see my time and speed increasing.

I’ve slowly worked my way up to the full hour and the 3.5 mph, and now I realize I’m going to have to start pushing myself a little more. Last night my average heart rate was 128 and I like for it to be about 140. I can’t believe how much I’ve been able to do in a couple of months. A person I know at the gym has came up to me and told me how great she thinks I’m doing. The people that work there smile  and talk to me when I walk in. No more hanging my head or feeling bad. Actually I feel pretty great about what I’m doing.

And the best part last night? When I got in my car to leave the gym Pink’s Perfect was playing.

I’m getting there. One step at a time.

I’m linking up this post with parenting By dummies for Wordful Wednesday.