November 17, 2009

Turtle or hare...



For the first 3 monthsor so of my running, I was intent on doing what I always did.   Push hard, never really getting that my changes were to be slow and steady.  My friend Jeremy was also running, he had started the fall before me.  I had no patience to do the run for 5 minutes, walk for 2 minutes program. But I saw that he was sticking to it.  So I begrudgingly tried this way.  This is coming from a guy who decided it would be fun to head all by himself to the lake at age 18, more than an hour on bike only to go until he threw up on the side of the road from overexertion.  Kept going, too.That was the old me though.  Slow and steady, eh?Trying this taught me a new patience.  This patience was with my desire to just be where I wanted to be, to see results immediately, and to boast about the extremities of my accomplishments.

Some days were so slow and not enjoyable, others truly liberating.  I needed to enjoy the process, not the goal.  This would help me to keep my attention on enjoying the run, not on how much weight I had lost.  But that is another blog to come.
What about you? What has been the thing that kept you going long term? Give me some fuel for the fire this winter!
 

7 comments:

Kenley said...

Great post Chad, and thanks for visiting my website. This year I have lost 30 lbs. From 235 - 205. I weighed in today and I am at 202.8! 2 lbs this week. It's a new type of diet that I am doing that keeps me energized and full (75%). What keeps me running is the goal setting and the fact that it's an awesome lifestyle. Looking great, feeling great, having more energy, etc. You can probably do a post on it. lol. Anyways, I love your blog, and by the way, I did purchase a pair of the Pearl Izumi running gloves as I live in PA. I should receive them soon. It gets cold here, and I try to limit my treadmill usage though nothing is wrong with it. Hey buddy, thanks again for visiting and have a good one eh! lol. ............Keep Running!

Chad said...

Hey kenley!
Terrific work on the weight loss. I loved your recent article on your blog "Avoid Burning Out" (see below's link). Totally mirrors this last post of mine. 30 pounds, to put it in perspective to those who are slogging it slowly, is a couple of babies! BIG ONES! :D
Id have to say that it is not an easy road. I love the fact that you have brought focus on slow and steady, keeping account of the long term goal: health and fitness, and enjoyment. I have seen too many people start, burn out and get discouraged because after 3 months nothing seems to be drastically different. BEEN THERE! I probably didn't start seeing actual big changes ever, but moreso i did after the one year mark came.

http://essenceofrunning.blogspot.com/2009/11/avoid-burning-out.html

Kenley said...

Thanks for your kind words chad. I just posted a cool article today I think you might like. The whole blog purpose. lol. Yeah, losing weight isn't easy. It takes patience, patience, patience, oh yeah, did I mention patience. lol. and many other things. I am really ready to show my discipline on Thanksgiving (not turkey day). I will be posting the diet that I have been doing for the last week or so in a couple of days. I really love this blogging thing. Its a cool way to meet a lot of nice people interested in the same things. Well, Ive made this long enough for now. Have a good one Chad. God BLess

Chad said...

Thanks! Turkey day....sigh...its not that I dont eat on this occasion... it is HOW MUCH!!!? My father use to just HEAP food on his plate, i remember being in awe of his capacity to harf it down. There are certain meals i attempt to eat like its my last meal. Indian food. Chocolate. linguini. Spagetti. I think I will blog about that. portions is everything in many ways. I am a comfort eater. If im sad, I eat, if im bored, i snack...

Bob - BlogMYruns.com said...

I needed to enjoy the process
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's about the process ...going through it not just arriving, this applies to all areas of our lives.

Keep moving & enjoying it Chad one slow or fast step at a time, good post!

Happy Turkey Day!

Chad said...

Thanks a lot for the post! Ya, I am a bit slow on the uptake in this, but i will keep trying. Seems those who are successful in the long term have made peace and even friends with being always in flux, always learning and letting the process teach them. I think its called humility.
Happy thanksgiving!

Kenley said...

Happy Thanksgiving Chad, and your family! Cheers!