What I've Learned

It has now been 18 months since the Patti LuPone concert (Happy half birthday k duff!), so I thought I should reflect back about everything that has happened.   Nothing listed below is from scientific based evidence, but my own personal experiences.....I am aware that I am not an expert.  So here is what I have learned over so far:

• You probably do not have a pre-disposition to be fat.  Your love for fried chicken, chocolate, or (insert favorite food) and your lack of physical activity is probably why you are overweight.  So stop making excuses and feeling sorry for yourself.
• If you are going to work out in the morning, the hardest thing you physically have to do is get out of bed.  That four mile run at the gym is a piece of cake once you get there.
• Your weight does affect every aspect of your life.
• When you lose a large amount of weight, at some point you are going to have to buy a new wardrobe...as fun it may seem, no one informs of how expensive this will be.
• Confidence is more attractive than a small waist line.
• You can do it.  Ok you may not be able to do everything....I will probably never be able to run a 3:30 marathon , but for the most part you can do anything you set your mind to.
• Your reflection in the mirror may change, but you will probably continue to see the old you,....it may take awhile to realize all the changes.
• It is not as easy as it looks on television.  Those people are removed from real life, they are not sitting at a desk all day and then have other duties of normal life...you will probably not lose 11 lbs every week.
• Your desire to eat all the foods you love will never leave, but you will power to say no will get stronger.
• Runner's high does exsist.  I wish I could have bottled up the feeling I had post Nashville half marathon.
•  A life without Skyline chili, oreos, burritos and pizza is not a life worth living.  You can add alcohol to that list as well :)
• Weight loss is a hell of alot harder mentally than physically.
• Having a support system is key.  I could never have done this without my family, friends, trainer, and co-workers.  A little encouragement can go a long way.
• Being obsessed with losing weight makes you a little crazy and annoying to your support system, so make sure you can converse about other topics.
• Everyone has body issues.
• Don't worry about all the people that pass you on the lake front path or get down on yourself for how fast you are running, think of all the people that you could run circles around sitting on their couch at home.
• You can not beat yourself up everytime you mess up, things happen.
• The only way to truly learn some things is for your plan to go horribly wrong, insert Chicago Rock n'Roll Half Marathon here.
• You can lose 80 lbs. and still feel fat.

I finished my 15 mile run this weekend, it went pretty well.  Although I couldn't shake the thought in the back of my mind....can I really run 11 miles more?