I don't like to run...

I had the fabulous New Year's Resolution this year to lose weight... again. Very pathetic. At least my motivation is higher this year as I realized that I have put on 50 pounds since I finished my undergraduate degree in 2002. Yeah, it is that scary. I tried at first just to watch what I was eating, but wasn't having much success. My sister talked me into try a website call My Fitness Pal (that has a very handy iPhone app). The first day I tracked how much I had eaten that day and realized that I had consumed around 2500 calories, so much for watching what I was eating... The app suggested that I should eat around 1650 calories to lose a pound a week. After the first week of really watching what I was eating, I lost 3 pounds. It is amazing what a little self control can do! After I got over the hump of being hungry all the time, it has been pretty easy. I have managed to stick with it and have lost 13 pounds so far. I feel fabulous! Part of that is because I have started working out as well, which moves on to the next point of insanity in my life. I am going to compete in a triathlon.

I know... I'm nuts because I hate to run! As I started working out I realized needed a reason to keep going. I love to swim, but there isn't really a marathon for swimmers. So I looked up the types of triathlons and found out that there is one called a sprint where on average you swim 500 meters, bike 13 miles, and run 3 miles. So armed with a new inhaler, I started running. I still suck at it, but I am getting where I can run for longer. The swimming will be really easy as I typical swim about 1000 meters during my morning workouts. So far the longest distance I have bicycled has been 6 miles, but that is how far I can go in my half-hour workouts. I need to start working on my distance. I have a goal next week to increase the distance (even if it takes longer the 30 minutes!) But the running will be the hard part. So far I have only been able to run a mile... I know. I can totally walk 3 miles though! I try to run twice a week and each day I increase the distance I run. My stamina is getting better, so maybe in 6 months I can run 3 miles. To make me feel even more pathetic, my sister (who is insane and loves to run) is working on running a half-marathon and can run 10 miles, last time a I checked. It makes it even more pathetic that I can't run a lousy 3 miles. Oh well, I will still keep trying. Now I just have decide on a which triathlon I will compete in...