I've started exercising...again.  I really mean it this time, really. Not like the last time...or the time before that.  Really.

Are you buying that?  I hope so, because I need you to believe it so that i believe it.  I want to get healthy, I want to get in shape. I want to go to bed at night not feeling disgusted with myself about the food I ate too much of and the exercise I did too little of.  Last week I laid on the couch as the kids did a kid's Yoga CD and when they asked me what "namaste" meant I joked that she said "Mama Stay...on the couch" and that I couldn't do it with them.  :)

So I'm writing this down to both share my journey with you and to hold myself accountable. Now if you see me on the street you can say "Hey, Heather, how's the workout plan coming!?"  and I better have a good answer.  In Field of Dreams the mantra was "Build it and they will come". Well, my mantra is "Blog about it and it has to be true"

I'm doing the very popular running program called Couch to 5k. If you haven't heard about it, you must try it!  We've done it several times in the past and it's really fantastic.  It really does start slow enough that you can go from being a couch potato to running a 5k in just eight weeks. Not bad!

The program starts you out for the first week with just running  60 seconds and then walking for 90 seconds. Over and over again for 20 minutes.  And they let you pick your own pace (and I run SLOWLY, like I'm out for the "Sunday drive" of running).  There are even Podcasts created for the program with varying music accordingly.  Cool eh?  My trick to running is music. I simply cannot muster enough energy or desire to run versus walk when watching Oprah. But if I hear a fast-paced song I'm all over the running. I want to run to the beat. So I load my iPod up with a good, fast, "running" playlist and I'm SO MUCH more successful.    I always cool down with the song "Big Pimpin" though, it's my "thing".  It makes this goodie two-shoes feel like a naughty girl and makes me laugh at the end of a tough workout.  It's my goal in life to learn all of the words and sing along effortlessly. (I have other goals, too, don't you fret, but that's on my list)

I started today, and even did double what it asked for, simply because I had the time and could. I felt absolutely FANTASTIC afterwards. it makes me wonder why I don't exercise every day, it's such a high when you get into it.

So Week 1, Workout 1 is a wrap. My plan (along with Mike, who I bullied into doing this with me) is to run the 5k Great Race in September, right after I finsish the program (and coincidentally, right after my birthday, I can't think of a better birthday present to myself than to be healthy).

I plan to update you on my progress every couple of weeks or so, again, to keep me accountable.  But if you don't hear from me, ask! Call me names and say things like "Heather, Heather, NOT as light as a feather!" (that one was popular in grade school).

 

And while I'm at it, who wants to join me for this fitness challenge. Anyone, anyone?