Running my way to goal
 

I was always fat. But I wasn't your traditional dieter. I didn't really care about being thinner, and I never went on a diet. I got fatter and fatter from being fairly plump at 14 or 16, so hitting obesity shortly afterwards, to reaching 260lb by the time I was 26.

The funny thing is that as a teenager I'd been fairly active, which had helped me to keep my weight at the lower end of obesity rather than the higher one. I won't claim to ever have been fit, but I was always fitter than you'd expect at my weight. Which is something, at least!

But just after I turned 26 something finally clicked. I decided that I wanted to get fit. I saw a 6 week no strings gym membership at a gym opposite work that I walked past every day. I had no excuse for not going, and I had no worries that I'd sign up and be tied in for the next year if I didn't go. I figured that I had nothing to lose - even if I only went for the first week, at least I'd have a chance of finding out whether I could stick to an exercise regime.

I hadn't weighed myself for about 8 years at that point, and I was shocked when I stepped on the scale at my induction. I knew that I was fat, but I'd never thought of myself as obese, even though I clearly was. I had a BMI of 38.1, so it wasn't just a couple of pounds I needed to lose. But at this stage I kind of ignored the weight, I just tried to get into an exercise regime without looking at the bigger picture too much.

I think that's been the main key to my success. All the way through I've focussed on my fitness. During the first six week period I didn't actually lose that much weight, but I felt myself getting stronger and fitter, and I realised that my gym time was real "me time" when I could escape from work stresses and clear my mind of everything other than the physical sensations in my body.

At first my weight loss was pretty slow, but I wasn't doing it for weight loss as such. It was only after about 9 months when I was a lot fitter, and a little lighter (10lb or so) that I realised that if I sorted my eating out I'd actually stand a chance of losing more weight.

Around this time, I sat down and worked out what I should weigh. That had always been a figure I ignored because it seemed so unrealistic. At 5 foot 9 I would hit a "normal BMI" for my weight at 168lb. I realised that meant that I had to lose almost 100lb to get to that point. 100lb seemed like a **** of a lot, but once I got that number in my head I wondered. Could I ever weigh 160lb?

As I got fitter I started to work on one of my long term dreams. The one sort of exercise I always wished I could do was running. I always wished that I could put on my trainers, head out of the door and run. So, to force myself to start I signed up for a 5k charity race. I suprised myself by how much I enjoyed it, and how fast I managed to run it. I signed up for 10k almost straight after, and everything snowballed from there.

I was sorting my eating out, and during this process I've started eating a lot less food, food that's a lot cleaner, and food that's almost entirely vegetarian (and I mean vegetables, rather than cheese and chips ;) ). But my main focus always has been, and still is, my running.

I wanted to run 5k, then I wanted to run 10k. Then I wanted to run 10k faster. Then I wanted to run a half marathon. And I wanted to improve on my race times every time I ran a distance. My first 10k took 68 minutes, my second 59, my third 50 and my fourth 47. I want to get better, and faster, and I want to run.

I've barely mentioned my weight. Of course I wasn't ignoring the fact that this sort of lifestyle would change my weight. But the way it worked out was that weight loss was almost a side effect. If I could run a sub 4 hour marathon I wouldn't care what weight I was when I did it. But realistically I know that training to run, and eating cleanish food to fuel me for running will help me lose weight. It's been a bit of an incentive, but more as a carrot rather than a stick. Losing weight as I do this makes me feel happy, but I don't do this because I lose weight.

But still, in January I hit a normal BMI for the first time since my age hit double figures, and in March I hit my 100lb lost goal. Since then I've been pretty much maintainint, I'm currently more or less at 102lb lost which is lighter than I ever thought I'd be. I'm thinner, fitter and (dare I say it) cuter than I ever thought I'd be.

I used to watch marathons on tv and feel envious of the people who were fit enough to run them. Well, now I'm one of those people, and I'm training for my first marathon. Even more scarily, I'm fairly sure that it won't be a one off...

Wow, wonderful achievement! It's great how you wanted to be fit rather than just wanting to be thin. It's probably the best way to go. :bravo:

AMAZING!

i too want so badly to be a runner...... i have started a bit...... but i have arthritis in one knee, and i also have MS..... therefore making for week legs sometimes..... but i so want to run..

congrats

I am so lucky to count YP as a real life friend now (and she's got this fat chick kinda running!)

Your achievement is amazing, and I love how all of us here have such different approaches to our weight loss, which just goes to prove that you have to find what works for you and stick with it, and be prepared to follow your own path.

Thank you for sharing your story YP. Congratulations on your weight loss and on your running :D

I have also started to think about being fitter, not thinner. Hopefully they will go hand in hand for me.

Congratulations YP. I've followed your story for a while and you've been a total inspiration to me. I'm pretty certain that you're the reason i started believing i could run. Your accomplishments are amazing and your blog is great inspiration for those of us out there wondering if we could in fact be runners. It's amazing to read the evolution of your running and it really helps the rest of us set realistic goals and stay motivated. After all if you can do it, maybe i can too! Keep up the amazing work!

Helen, Congrats!

I've been running 3 miles about 3x per week, but didn't really have a goal. I'm completely inspired by you to keep running and sign up for a 5k!

I love the blog!!

Thanks for sharing your great story. I would love to enter some 5K walk/run races now that I have lost most of my weight. You give me inspiration.

Congratulations! :bravo:

i love the before and after pics of you. you look amazing. congrats!!! you go girl! :D

in your weight loss blog, you mention that you finally wear bikini in public.

i hope to be able to wear bikini in public when i reach my weight goal! :D your story def inspire me to reach my weight goal and be healthy!

Stay healthy! :)

Thank you for sharing your story:). You have came a long way since you first started and I know you must enjoy your accomplishments -- congrats to you:)!

I just love your story and focus on fitness instead of the scale. You wouldn't believe the number of people who I've told your story to -- the formerly fat girl now training for a marathon!! That is just so cool! :D

:running: :cp: :running:

I read a book once by a woman who lost 7 stone running. Yours would be better. ;) :D

Congrats
 

Way to go girl.

All the best

YP you rock! :bravo:

:hug:

Congratulations, what an achievement! I like to run as well - I always feel so good when I'm done. You might like this New Balance commercial, it's my favorite b/c it just has normal people running (no fancy celebs or pro athletes or anything!), I downloaded it and watch it sometimes when I'm feeling a little lazy - great motivation. :D LINK

You're story is so inspiring! Its just the motivation I need to go for a run this evening instead of slobbing out with a tub of ice cream!

Thats a great story! I love to run too.....I've wanted to do a 5k but havn't yet got up the nerve. Thanks for sharing :)

Helen thank you for sharing your story. I've never been able to run (even when younger, and a healthy weight). And I think it's great you really started to focus on fitness, I think that is the way to go. I keep thinking in the back of my mind that it is there for me some day, and you really give me hope, thanks!

I like my daily morning run as well. I just started the last week of April and I've lost some weight but I don't look like I have - probably water. Anyway, I want to have those leg muscles - I think they're SO sexy!!! :) I've stopped setting goals like "I have to lose 10 lbs by June" because those are ridiculous and I always get frustrated and give up before my deadline. Anyway, good job Helen and to the others on this thread!! :)

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Helen- I have read your blog for awhile and have found you an inspiration as well :) I am "running" on my treadmill and it's getting easier and easier. I'm not sure I ever want to do a marathon, lol. But thanks so much for inspiring me to get moving :)

Just popping in to tell you gals that you're my inspiration and my goal is to be in the success thread by the end of the summer..I was a serious runner for about 3 years and nothing else makes me feel like I've worked hard. Working my way back.

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Just wanted to pop in and say "You Rock!". :D I love reading your posts.

Congratulations on your success, I loved reading your story!!

"weight loss was a side effect"! :cool:

I loved reading about your journey.

((((thunderous applause))))

Way to go w/ the weight loss.....I wish you continued success!!

Your post stuck out to me, because I've always wanted to run. I haven't always been overweight, in fact I was usually teeny (although I didn't realize it then). I was a cheerleader through school - but never a strong runner.
So, right now - I'm working on running! I would like to run a 5k in January (my goal) and have started following the beginners running training program from runners world. (the plan to help you run for 30 minutes).
I had felt silly before, for wanting to run - while being a large girl, so thank you for sharing this with us - now I have someone to look up to! :)

I've always wanted to be a runner too, having never been fit enough to do much of it. I can't run very far now but I enjoy it. I think I should sign up for a 5k to get my butt moving more seriously, because exercise hasn't been a high priority for me for a while. I've found your story inspiring since I came here.. I love how your weight loss story is a bit different from most people's. Also you always seem very confident and down to earth. I believe I read that you recently ran your first marathon so congratulations!

Congratulations on your success!!

I am curious...when you first started running did you have any knee trouble? I've started running and for some reason my right knee bothers me for a few days afterwards. In fact this last time my knee hurt so badly afterwards that I couldn't exercise for a week...it would wake me up in the middle of the night because the pain was so bad. I would have to straighten out my leg and sleep with it propped up. I even scheduled an appointment with my doctor but the pain has gone away so I figured it has healed. I never had problems before and I wonder if it's because I'm running on a hilly surface now versus where I used to live where it was VERY flat. My knee bothers me the most when I walk down the stairs after a day of running. I have to take baby steps down the stairs or just stop walking all together. any suggestions?

How motivational :) I am training for my first marathon right now (San Diego - June 3rd!) I started running several years ago, and weight loss was a pleasent result...but now I do it because I just love to run! I've have tibial tendinitis for the past two weeks and haven't been able to run...let's just say I'm doing everything I can to not drown my sorrows in a tub of ice cream! Thanks for the inspiration!!

Great story!! Congrats on everything you have achievied. You are an inspiration!

Thanks for telling your story. I think there might be hope for me yet! I've been a sporadic exerciser for the last 18 years and it's nice to hear what some consistency will do for a person. Do you have before and after pics?

L