Subject: Fishing for inspiration (ahem...Timarie?) By: Paul B. Written on: 2006-06-27 10:44:15 Message: OK everyone, I've gotten as much inspiration from this board as I have gotten help with training (and fundraising). One of the more inspiring repeat stories involve those of us who have come from being out of shape, overweight, lazy, etc. and are now making positive changes in our lives while training. So one particular thing caught my eye, and that's that Timarie K. recently lost 120 lbs!!! So in a purely selfish move to garner more inspiration from all of you, I invite you all to tell us your story (that means you too timarie). Where were you mentally and physically 1 year ago, or 5 years ago, or 3 months ago, when you weren't healthy? What made you make the change? What's the biggest improvement in your life now?
I'll start, even though my story isn't all that interesting. For me it started in college. I went into freshman year pretty close to fighting weight, running and lifting fairly regularly. About 1,000 adult beverages and a couple of years later, and I was seriously out of shape. Beyond a pick-up game of basketball, or an occasional football game, I just did not exercise, and I ate horribly. That trend continued through law school, and until I graduated last year. When I gradauted, I realized that, when I was younger, I never pictured myself that way nearing 30 years old. I think I pictured myself doing something interesting and athletic with my free time...like...I don't know...triathlons. In the fall of last year I made the change. Baby steps starting to work out, baby steps changing the way I eat. A little over 50 lbs less of me now (I'm now less than I weighed freshman year of college) and I feel great. The best thing for me (beyond the energy boost) is that I am the person the younger me thought I would be, and that makes me proud.
OK, these stories better start coming. I know you've got one Leo.
Paul.
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Subject: RE: Fishing for inspiration (ahem...Timarie?) By: Elizabeth C. Written on: 2006-06-27 12:20:37 Message: OK Paul, mine's not very exciting, but it might give me some inspiration to get on my bike this morning. I've been athletic all my life, swimming, diving, gymnastics, the occasional 5k race (walked a lot of them.) Not being a distance runner (like no more than a mile) triathlon always intrigued me...I'm a great swimmer and biking, well, of course that's just plain fun! I turned 45 in October, and ran into a friend who is in his 60s and a fairly accomplished triathlete. I thought if he can do it in his 60's, I can do it in my 40's. I wasn't aware that sprint distance races were available, and the distances seemed totally attainable. It's been a lot of work, but I'm enjoying every bit of the training, and completed my first race in June. The satisfaction of improvement, whether it's times or distances, and feeling so healthy and alive, are all I need to keep going (along with all the support and fun stories on this forum.) Great Idea, Paul, look forward to hearing everyone's story. And I agree, TinaMarie is quite an inspiration for us all.
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Subject: RE: Fishing for inspiration (ahem...Timarie?) By: Tove O. Written on: 2006-06-27 14:31:58 Message: I was born with a rare bone disease, have had 13 surgeries on my legs. I always seem to be rehabbing from something. It's easy for me to make excuses so I decided not to allow any. If I come up with an excuse I immediately recognize it, sorta call myself on it and come up with a counter-excuse. I've really needed to get creative. One book I read was pretty interesting called 100 ways to motivate yourself. But a few things I frequently ask or tell myself are "what CAN I do?", and "who can I ask for help?", also I sign up for something, like a race or contest or schedule a photo shoot. Buy a new item of gear....like shoes, ipod, top, bottoms stc, put new songs on my ipod and dont listen to them until training. One new thing I just found is an otter-box that is a waterproof ipod holder, lets me swim with my ipod. One thing I've learned about motivating myself is that it's always changing. What motivates me today, won't tommorrow, so I expect this now. Finding motivation is a mental exercise for me and I treat is as such, I get quiet and listen, what do I want right now? what is making me happy right now? and what will get me to the gym right now?....hope this helps
Tove
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Subject: RE: Fishing for inspiration (ahem...Timarie?) By: Carie M. Written on: 2006-06-27 14:51:31 Message: Hey Paul - this was a great idea. I'm sure my story is pretty common (definitely long-winded-- sorry), but here goes:
I was also active growing up, much like Elizabeth. I started running and teaching aerobics once I was out of school. I was doing something all the time, skiing, running, whatever and I felt great - but I had acquired too much confidence in myself. At about the same time, just a few months after we got married, I was pregnant, we moved to a new city and out of a new home we had built & absolutely loved, moved to a historic home in downtown Orlando, away from the old back-roads lake-front neighborhood, and oh, I started a new job too. We had always dreamed of doing our own "This Old House" and for some reason we thought we could handle it all (yes, we WERE crazy). Both of our families live up north, so it's just us, but we're tough, right.
My pregnancy was "supposed" to be easy and I was "supposed" to be able to run and do aerobics up to the day I delivered. Welll... by the 6th week I was on modified bed rest. I was considered an "older" first time mom and after a little scare, I was told to stop running. (PS I should have gotten a 2nd opinion) My eating habits were never clean before but it was ok when I could burn it off, but now I was eating even more due to depression & hormones, and I was afraid to do anything for fear of losing my little "Jelly Bean" as we called him. Many long, hot summer months later, sometimes w/o a kitchen or other rooms of the house (still in the throws of our home restoration), I finally had my little boy, but the easy delivery I was supposed to have did not happen either. I had gained over 70 lbs and lost a lot of my strength, both physically & mentally. I'll spare the details, but during delivery my back was injured (but my boy was alive and healthy, the most important thing!!). Months turned to 2 yrs and I still wasn't back to being myself - I tried walking, weigths, cross-trainer machines, everything hurt my back, and my diet was terrible. My spirit was gone, I was just so depressed.
We sold the historic home & moved into a NEW house (ahhhhh, much better!) , and I finally saw a chiropractor, and within months the pain was gone, but the fat & depression were still there. There was a Tri being held in our new neighborhood just a couple weeks after we moved. I had never seen one before, so I rode my bike down to watch it. I was in awe, and I was inspired - but the inspiration gave way to depression again, and by the end of last year I was drinking... a LOT. By January I was in bed almost all the time. I had joined a gym again, but it was boring and I was embarressed of how I looked, so I didn't go much. Toward the middle of January, while laying in bed watching TV (ugh how I hate to admit this) I saw a Nutrisystem commercial and started crying, and well, it basically was my wake up call. I started NS within 2 weeks and started changing my attitude. I made my health a priority again and within the 1st month I had lost 10 lbs. I started thinking about that Triathlon I had watched and had a friend who swam in college start teaching me about breathing and technique. I discovered Ontri accidentally (what a blessing!), and things just started falling into place. With the help from my new Ontri friends and my husband's encouragement, I got the confidence to register, and on June 3, 2006 I completed my first Tri, armed with the advice I had received from this awesome collection of athletes. It really feels like I have stepped out of the darkness and into a new light. After drinking every night for months, I just stopped wanting it (save a 'rita now & then). My bad attitude has been exchanged for a much happier disposition, and my relationship with my husband and son are SO much better. According to my husband, both of our lives have changed for the better. (Now he's training for one too!)
So, it's not such a dramatic or amazing story of achievement -- but when you go through something like that it gives you a renewed sense of appreciation and gratitude, one that I hope I never take for granted again.
Looking forward to reading everyone else's stories!!
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