Out of shape, lazy, lethargic, fat…. Summer of 2007 and I weighed 170 pounds. I wore size 34 pants and would always buy a loose and large shirt which would hide my stomach. This was not how I had imagined myself to be when I was 22. I had to do something and quick, but I lacked the motivation.
The defining moment came when I was walking by the pool on a sunny day. While I was too conscious and ashamed to take my shirt off, the others were having a great time – drinking, eating and being extremely comfortable in their ‘six pack’ figures. This was when I decided to hit the gym and I gave myself a target of loosing 20 pounds and getting that desirable six pack.
The initial period was as motivating as it was disheartening. I was not able to run for more than 3 minutes at a go and running a mile was quite a task. To increase my stamina, I had to try various cardiovascular methods. I decided to include 10 minutes of biking and 10 minutes on the elliptical to my routine. This increased my stamina and I was able to run for longer periods.
With increased stamina and energy, I was able to run longer, further and faster. The stats and numbers that you see on the treadmill are great motivators. The joy and the exhilarating rush that I get by running is paralleled only by my desire to push myself further and log that extra mile every time I put on my running shoes.
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