The dark side of skinny

Happy 4th, everyone! Many of my friends traveled to Downtown Atlanta for the annual Peachtree Road Race. It's kind of funny because last year, I told myself I would build up to a 10k and run it in 2013. I've come much farther than a 10k, but I missed the registration. Apparently the race fills up quickly and by the time I realized I was late, bibs were going online for $150-$200. No thanks. I can run 6 miles anywhere...so that's exactly what I did!

Rachel and I set out this morning on our own Fourth of July 10k. I like to call it Shannon and Rachel's Run for Patriotism and the Shameless Consumption of Not-so-healthy Foods 10k. It was monumental, to say the least. We weren't sure if it was going to happen considering it's been raining off and on for two days now, but the weather held out for the most part! There were a few moments where I thought the bottom would drop out for sure. You know, those light mists that fall just before all hell breaks loose?
I swear the track we ran on was more than 6.2 miles. This was the second time I've run the course, and both times I have ended at almost 7 miles. Either way, it was a fun way to celebrate and burn some calories! It was also my first run with my hydration pack. The heat and humidity have been getting the best of me lately. I've had to cut several of my runs short because I just can't shake feeling like I'm breathing into a plastic bag. Rachel has been running with her hydration belt all summer, and she told me it makes all the difference in the world. I ordered one, and I can't believe it's taken me so long to invest in one! It's a little awkward at first because you have a belt strapped to you with a water bottle sloshing around, but it is definitely worth it. The sun wasn't out today, but I wouldn't have made it without water in this humidity.
Have I mentioned how much I hate the south?

Not only were we both first in our age group, but we took home the whole thing! 

We were sweaty, sticky messes! 

The past two days have been rough. CrossFit has been kicking my butt, to the point of needed to take a day off to recover. My quads and hamstrings have been so tight that transitioning from a seated position to standing is like a two minute ordeal. My love handles are ever sore. How does that happen?! I'm a member of a running blog site, and I sought some advice from runners far more skilled than me because the muscle confusion that I am experiencing from CrossFit is affecting my runs. It's difficult to run distances when a different part of your body aches everyday. Most of them said exactly what I didn't want to hear... that I'm doing too much. I try to go to CrossFit at least 5 times per week. I've been doing two-a-days all summer, and unfortunately, I'm going to have to cut back to allow for more recovery time. 

I've had this blog for a little more than a year. I try to be as candid as possible about the ups and downs of healthy living. Since its creation, I've had people talk to me about expanding my writing. A few people have even asked me if I would ever write a book. With a full time job, graduate school, and training, I have never really given it much thought. The other day I sat down, opened a Word document, and spilled my thoughts onto paper out of pure boredom. I'm not sure what it is, but it's something. I have always tried to explain to people that there is a "dark side" of losing weight. If you think about it, dropping the weight of an average teenager is a total body transformation. The best way I can describe it is like an out of body experience. You begin to look at your self differently, and eventually, other people do too. It's like the old you never existed at all, and it can be difficult to accept this new person that has taken over your body. I say new person because it's never just a physical transformation. The mental and emotional changes that accompany such a drastic physical change are undeniable. Your interests and hobbies change, and you are forced to make sacrifices to become the person you want to be. It can be a little overwhelming at times. If I were going to write a book, it would be about that. The struggles of accepting the physical, mental, and emotional changes of weight loss. Of course, anything I write would ooze vulgarity and profanity, and my obscene sense of humor would be painted in every line. It's something to think about, I suppose. 

I'm not posting any recipes or workouts today. I think holidays should spent with family and friends instead of the gym, and unhealthy choices should be made all day long. Don't be afraid to scarf down a hot dog or three, and enjoy your patriotic desserts because tomorrow, it's back to the grind! 

Becoming a runner

There's a good chance that I've already blogged about some of this information, but I figured it would be helpful to have it all in one post.

Running... the word alone probably sends chills down your spine and aches through your shins. In my fat life, I swore to never run unless it was away from a bear or toward Justin Timberlake. Both of those rules still apply, however, I have developed a love/hate relationship with the activity that cannot be denied. I hate how much I love running. You wouldn't know it since my mileage has decreased so significantly since summer began, but running is still my favorite form of physical activity.

Learning to love running is probably the hardest part because in the beginning, there is absolutely nothing enjoyable about it. Sweat is pouring in your eyes, down your legs, and off your elbows. I didn't even know my elbows could sweat until I started running! Two minutes in, your heartbeat pounds so quickly and loudly that you question whether it's part of the process or if you're making medical history as the youngest person to die of a heart attack. The air around you becomes thick like molasses, and no matter how hard you gasp, you're certain that the air is incapable of making it to your lungs. You're convinced that you're going to fall over dead at any moment, and you'll die alone in the streets of your neighborhood or with your head being repeatedly beaten by the belt of your treadmill. Your knees, shins, and calves ache with each and every step, and you begin talking yourself into turning around and throwing in the towel. Have I nailed it? Did I leave anything out?

There's good news, and there's bad news. The good news is that you've already taken the hardest step: the first one out the door. Getting to a point where you have convinced yourself that running is about to occur is absolutely the most difficult part.

Never in my fat, chocolate fountain filled dreams did I imagine myself earning the title of a runner. I told Kelsey one day that I was interested in it, but it wasn't until months later that I got my fat self on a treadmill and forced myself to try it. Kelsey told me to cover the screen and run until I couldn't... then she stood beside me and watched me do it. By the time I was ready to die, I felt certain I had run for 45 minutes straight on an incline of 10 and a speed of 35 mph. To my surprise, I had only run a little over a mile at a rate of 5.5 and with no incline. I was shocked that I had made it a mile. It took me a little more than ten minutes, but I ran it without walking, which was my goal. At that point, I am pretty sure I had never accomplished anything so profound in my life.

The bad news is that it takes an incredibly long time to adapt, so it's going to suck a lot for quite sometime. I'm a smart girl, so it was difficult for me to accept that panting like a lioness was a normal part of the process. I had a (what I considered to be rational) fear of being out of breath for a long period of time. Let's face it, it's uncomfortable and embarrassing to feel like your moaning and groaning over everyone else; I always felt like it was a sign of weakness to others.
Another fear that prevented me from running was the fear of judgement. I was 200 pounds when I began running, so if I had to compare the happenings of my body to anything, it would be a wave pool or the Pacific Ocean during a hurricane. My stomach hung so far over the top of my pants that I would have had to tape it back if I wanted to convince others that it wasn't there. My entire body jiggled and my thighs slapped together with every step I took, but I learned to stop caring.
Running requires you to give up any and all insecurities and shame you have about yourself if you ever want to benefit from the activity. How many people do you know look good while they run? Better yet, how many people do you know that even RUN? Exactly...

Looking back, I lost the most of my weight after I started running. It took a year before I was ready for a 5k, a year and a half before I began outdoor running, two years for me to run my first 10k, and two and a half to build up to a half marathon. It isn't going to happen overnight. It takes more willpower and self-motivating speech than I ever thought possible, but ANYONE can become a runner. I've been beaten by children, old men and women, and people that weigh two times more than I do, so I refuse to accept excuses from anyone as to why they can't do it.

So here it is, my eight most valuable pieces of advice for those of you interested in running.

1. Set small goals for yourself. Don't set yourself up for failure by convincing yourself that you're going to run a mile straight for your first run. The Couch to 5k program is great for that because it involves walking and running, and you can increase your run time when you feel ready. This method is incredibly effective because you feel like you are reaching your goals quickly, which is very motivating!

2. Prepare your body mentally and physically before running. I still have to do this! Hydrating is, obviously, incredibly important, but chugging a gallon of water right before your run won't hydrate your body. It can take a week or two for your body to be fully hydrated, so put down the Coke and sweet tea! Only allow yourself to have non-water drinks at mealtimes. What you eat will also affect your run. Trust me, I've run on a stomach full of chocolate covered peanuts, and it didn't end well. The right combination of fruits, veggies, and carbs will help with that evil side stitch that always accompanies beginners, and you will feel energized for longer. If I am running in the morning, I try to eat something light and about 45 min.-an hour beforehand.
Food to eat pre-run:
-Half of a grapefruit
-An apple
-Half of a banana
-Toast with peanut butter
-Small serving of oatmeal (I make it with water if I'm about to run because milk is never a good choice if you're about to go running)
-Granola
-Egg whites
-Nuts and berries of any sort!

3. Stop caring about what other people think! You're going to sweat and look like a fish flailing out of water in the beginning, but it will be completely worth it once you've met your goals and you look like Jessica Biel.

4. Invest in running shoes. It took me three years and 6 shots in my foot to understand the importance of a good pair of running shoes. Nikes are the worst, so don't even bother. Brooks are what I'm in now, and I am completely satisfied. My Plantar's Facitis and shin splints are no longer a problem.

5. Have an accountability system. This is important for anyone trying to lose weight, but it is especially helpful for runners. Find a buddy to run with that is around the same level as you. Work together and set mutual goals. My accountability system is Facebook. I post my runs using my RunMeter app so all the world can judge my distance and time. It helps, I promise.

6. In the beginning, don't worry about running for time. No one can run a seven minute mile their first go-round. Don't even think about dwindling down that mile time until you have met your distance goals.

7. Get out of your own head. Physically, it's going to feel abnormal to run. You will try to convince yourself that you should stop, but always remember that the mind tells the body what to do. Once you are at terms with being out of breath and miserably hot, your body will succumb to the distance you're about to destroy! I use a mantra to keep my mind off the run. When I feel tired, I tell myself to "be bold and be strong". Sometimes I start singing along with my music, and other times I just daydream about food. Whatever works!

8. Listen to your body! This is the most important thing for runners to understand, and I had to learn it the hard way. There is a difference between being sore and being injured. There's no shame in cutting your run short if you have injured yourself. There is also no shame in taking a day or two to let your body heal. Yoga will help with the healing, so on your off days, try it!


It's going to take time and a lot of motivational speeches to yourself in the mirror, but I promise it is worth it. Running is my escape. I've cried at every running milestone because I still cannot believe what my body and mind are capable of doing. Don't let embarrassment or doubt talk you out of it.

I love this quote! I hope you experience this one day! 

Tips for strengthening your willpower

This is an excellent Pinterest find, and I think it's excellent advice!