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This accurately describes my efforts

If you are like me and most of America you have been thinking about losing some LBs (pronounced “el bees”).  If you are really like me, thinking it as far as it got.  I’ve been thinking about it so hard that the me in my head is already ripped and I’m tired in the evening from all the running I’ve been doing in my head to get there.

Towards the end of last year I started running.  I was doing pretty well actually considering I was just a beginner.  Then it got cold and I decided I would wait out the winter without joining a gym because I want to save money.  Well spring came and went and I never stated again.  Now I’ve put back on about 30 of the 70 lbs I lost.  Tonight I finally took the next step and put my running shoes on.  The results?  I’m reminded about how much running sucks at first.

I had this problem last year too and I remember it being about a solid month of running at least 4 times a week before I started to like it.  I’m learning all over again that running is an aquired taste.  I’m not a doctor and you probably shouldn’t take my advice without consulting a physician but here are a few things I plan to do to start running again and keep at it.  I find sometimes reading about it sometimes helps keep me in  the mindset of doing it.

First and foremost is to pick a schedule and stick with it.  I want to make sure I run at least 4 nights a week so I am going to run Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I chose these days because I happened to start today and would like a day of rest before my second day.   Monday because I want my third day to be immediately after the second because I need to force myself to stick with it and I tend to stop caring after doing something twice.  Tuesday to rest since I’m just getting back into it.  Wednesday because I don’t want to stop for more than one day.  Thursdays I have softball for the next couple months so that may be out until after and then Friday.  Eventually I would like to get up to 3 days on, followed by one no more than two off but not before the habit is formed.

Second, I’m choosing to start off with a time frame of 30 minutes.  Does this mean I run/jog for 30 minutes?  Lord no!  I’m a pack a day smoker right now and I think my body would revolt if I tried that.  I jog at a fairly good pace until I feel the need to walk and then add another block.  About a year ago I paid for a trainer for a few months and probably the best thing about having a trainer is that they are there to push you to do more than you normally would.  so every time I want to stop I add a block.  Then I walk until I feel I can jog again and repeat for a full 30 minutes.  If my 30 minutes ends and I am currently jogging, I go until I need to stop and then I walk for 8 minutes to cool down.

Each week I will pay attention to how far I run until I stop.  At the start of the new week, I’ll increase my stopping point by 2 blocks.  Again this is just a part of pushing myself to do more.  Last year I was able to fit about 3 miles in that 30 minute period which I felt pretty good about.  I’d like to get back to that.

Of course there may be days that I don’t reach my goal.  Its important to listen to your body and stop if there is actual discomfort.  It won’t help to injure yourself because then you won’t be able to build that healthy habit.  I chose 30 minutes mainly because I thought I remembered reading that you should exercise for at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week to stay healthy.  Eventually I will have to invest more than 30 minutes per run but 30 minutes is a good place to start.

Also something I do, that I do not recommend, is have a cigarette at the end of my run.  I know that’s terrible but I haven’t quit yet.  At least I’m doing something more than thinking about it!