My Personal Weight Loss Surgery Journey To A Healthier, Happier Life And Helping Others.

Tag Archives: big girls run too

My dad and I ran our most recent 5K run yesterday morning, this was his third run and my fourth. Below is a photo of my dad and I after we were finished. I finished in 49 minutes and 25 seconds, about the same as the run I did in April. That’s still 5 1/2 minutes faster than last year, I am also 50-some pounds lighter than last year, can’t wait to see what my times will be when I am 100 lbs lighter than I am right now. Running for me is about doing my best each time, it’s not a race with anyone else, just me trying to do as well or better than the me who ran last time.

Don't mind our bad hair, it was windy!!!

Don’t mind our bad hair, it was windy!!!

We’ll be doing our next one and my fifth race on July 6! We’re taking June off since he’ll be out of town one week and we have my 30th birthday party coming up. Our next 5K (#5 for me!) is the Tree City 5K in Kent, Ohio which is my hometown and the race doesn’t begin until 7:00 pm so it was be something different than the normal 8:00 am races I’ve been doing. We also have our eye on a 5K happening in October if it works into our schedules. I love running these because it gives me a great sense of accomplishment. 100 pounds ago I could barely function. I’m still a big girl now at 318 lbs but keep my butt moving so that one day I can hit my surgeon’s goal of 230 lbs and I certainly won’t get to that goal sitting on my butt. If I can run these 5K and finish at my size I’m going to…and I do. They get easier and easier for me each time. I’m always the biggest person there but I really don’t care because I’m out there running for me and no one else. I do it for me.

Daily Inspirational Quote: ”Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” ~Norman Vincent Peale


I was purely amazed by the wonderful outpouring of comments I have received over the last few day. Thank you to all who have commented with kind and encouraging words in regards to my recent 5K. My good friend, Eric from Honey I Shrunk The Grief, even posted a link to last night’s blog entry on his personal and his blog’s Facebook page, his words really touched my heart. I will share them with you because they brought tears to my eyes this afternoon, happy tears.

“Gmorning Sunshine! :) I’m excited to share an Inspirational blog post my friend Jessica wrote describing her experiences with her first 5K run! I believe any runner — or anyone trying something new and challenging — will appreciate this. And while you’re at her post, please consider leaving her a comment telling her how awesome she is! We all need to be reminded of just how incredible we are…and to be recognized for our achievements and bravery. This life is tough! Thank goodness we have each other to not only get through it…but to Thrive in it! Wishing you all an enjoyable “run” today…filled with Thrive! :) “.

This really cheered up my day since I was a little day since it was a co-worker’s last day today. I know our school is closing in a few weeks when the school year lets out on the 7th. But I am still sad since she made my days at work enjoyable. Her and I are definitely keeping in touch but the next few weeks will honestly suck without her. :(

I don’t remember if I mentioned that I want back to see a chiropractor last week or not. I saw her last Wednesday for an exam and x-rays and then came back to go over the x-rays and start treatment. I decided to return to chiropractic treatments since my headaches had return and are worse than before. I got to see some x-rays of my neck and I was amazed to learn that the curve of my neck is reversed which explains the severe headaches and neck pain all the time. We are going to work on reserving the curve of my neck with chiropractic treatments and at home exercises. We are also going to look into whether or not I have an food sensitivities that make my headaches worse. Relief is on the way I hope!

An normal x-ray image of the neck.

 

An x-ray image of a neck with a reserve curve similar to what my issue is.

 

Daily Inspirational Quote: “Practice rather than preach. Make of your life an affirmation, defined by your ideals, not the negation of others. Dare to the level of your capability then go beyond to a higher level.” ~Alexander Haig

 

 


As I was out shopping with Patrick this morning, I became a little pissed that stores don’t think plus size people exercise. I was looking for a certain type of running shirt, the sport goods place around here didn’t have anything bigger than a 2x which I can fit into but for running I would prefer a 3X. We spent a few hours looking for running shirts and a good sports bra. We finally found some things at Walmart, which is not really where I wanted to buy that kind of thing but I couldn’t find them anywhere else. We a went to the sport good store all the women’s active gear is so tiny, so I looked in the men’s stuff which was all 2X. It wasn’t until we stopped at Walmart that we found the type of shirt I wanted in 3X and that goes for the sport bra. The plus size women’s stores didn’t have any sports bras so I ended up settling for one from Walmart. Society apparently thinks all obese people aren’t capable of exercising or running for that matter.

I may not look like a typical runner but I am one. I went out and ran my first 5K yesterday morning and I finished it. I wasn’t even in last place and so what if I had been, I ran and I finished, that’s what is important to me and what makes me a runner. If you are a big girl or guy and enjoy running but face criticism or strange looks as you line up for a race, just say to them, hey big girls (guys) run too! I was comforted by the fact that there was a group of four plus size women running the 5K yesterday. We remained next to them almost the entire 5K but at the end I decided I would pull away because I wanted to complete my goal of finishing in under an hour. I was proud to call these women my running sisters because they weren’t afraid to be out running with everyone else too.  I think the picture below describes the reason I like to run the most. It isn’t about beating others, it’s about beating that little voice in your head that says “you can’t do it” or “time to quit.” The competition in running is always yourself.

Daily Inspirational Quote: “There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout: This is me damn it! I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love! I am a whole complex package. Take me… or leave me. Accept me – or walk away! Do not try to make me feel like less of a person, just because I don’t fit your idea of who I should be and don’t try to change me to fit your mold. If I need to change, I alone will make that decision. When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%, good and bad – you will be amazed at the opportunities that life presents you.” ~Stacey Charter



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