I’m back! I’m back to blogging; I’m
back to working out regularly; I’m back to drinking loads of water each day; I’m
back to saying ‘no’ to sweets!
Preface: I wrote most of this blog over a month ago, just never
finished or posted it. There is a bit at the end that is current as of 5/22/13.
It’s amazing the simple
activities you can begin to enjoy when you don’t feel like death from carrying
around so much extra weight.
I have always thought I hated
tennis. Colin enjoys it quite a bit: he played on his high school team, goes
out on weekends with his dad, and watches it on tv. A couple years ago he would
drag me out from time to time to play with him and I absolutely hated it. I
hated running around the court and I just couldn’t get the hang of how to use
the racket. [I played softball growing up and just couldn’t shake whacking the
ball with all my might…needless to say, not very many balls stayed in the
court.] Since I hated it, I stopped going with him. I probably have not played at
all since I have lost weight.
Saturday [sometime in April] was
a little glimpse of spring in our nook of NE Ohio so Colin made plans to play
tennis with his dad. He asked if I
wanted to go along and because I wasn’t thinking [as my thought process was
scrambled due to the rare occurrence of sunlight], I agreed. I was excited to wear my tennis ball-colored
t-shirt, new hot pink sports bra and matching headband, so I didn’t even think
about the activity in which I was about to participate.
To my total amazement, I actually
enjoyed playing! I am absolutely no good- still trying to slam the balls out of
the court- but I put forth effort to try to get to the balls and chase after
them once I hit them across the three adjacent courts. [Colin’s poor dad…I
really had him running all around trying to get the balls I hit to his side!] At one point I even told Colin I was having a really good time [actually having
fun, not just getting through it] and I think the reason was because I didn’t
feel like I was dying as I chased after tennis balls. We realized that that day
was the first time I played tennis since I lost weight and it was eye-opening
to realize what a difference 40 pounds makes.
-------------------------------
Since that epiphany, we have been
to the courts several more times over the past few weeks. I must say, I am improving with each time we
go out! I actually WANT to get out and
play, I don’t want to leave the courts, and I have to talk Colin into staying
longer! Sometimes I still get down about not being a Williams sister, but Colin
tells me I’m doing well and I’ll keep getting better. I joked that I might be better than him one
day but then quickly recanted, to which he responded, “You never know. You also
never thought you’d run a 5K.” What a
great, encouraging guy! Colin’s dad is also very encouraging, gives me
pointers, and picks on Colin to make me feel better =)
Physical activity in general is
just so much easier now that I am fit.
For instance, we buy the mega 42-pound bag of Fresh Step from Sam’s and
I could hardly get it in and out of the buggy. Well, folks, I just bought some
yesterday and carried that sucker to the check-out [from the complete back of
the store] and to my car all on my own! You should see my guns =P I can go on longer bike rides, take Brinkley
on longer walks, challenge myself with more intense workouts, and participate
in more events.
While looking good is a great
outcome to weight loss, I’d say feeling better is an even greater
accomplishment!
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