May 9, 2013

My Mom’s Fitness Journey

Mom’s first 5K 3 years ago.  She was losing weight (and I was gaining it at that time.)

Thanks for stopping by today to read; I really appreciate it!  Below is a little of my mom’s story of her fitness journey over the last few years.  I know some of you have asked, and she is 53.  I’m hoping I can convince her to do another post and give us more background information and some pictures so everyone can really seen what her journey has been like.  So if you enjoyed today’s post, please let her know by leaving a comment or you can email her here.  I know she would love to read any comments, advice or motivation yall have.  Disclaimer: It kills me that she wrote that she is fat, and  that I’m fit (I have so much to work on!), but I didn’t want to change her words.  This is about her journey, not mine. So what you read is what she wrote.  ; )  And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for an awesome pair of earrings here.  = )

When Laura asked me to do a guest post, I immediately thought, I’m not worthy.  And I’m not! First, I don’t write on blogs, I just read them. Second, she’s fit, I’m fat!  After receiving lots of encouragement from her, here it goes!  I have had weight issues since giving birth to my 3rd child (that was about 25 years ago!)  I’ve lost, gained, lost, gained, and so it goes.  A couple years ago, I went on a very low calorie diet (VLCD).  I ate only 500 calories a day for a period of about eight months.  I got back down to a very good weight for me.  Just a quick disclaimer, the VLCD was a stupid and desperate act on my part!  Anyway, over a period of months, I put most of the weight back on.  (Which is what usually happens after a crash diet!!!)  I couldn’t wear any of my clothes, and I felt so tired and depressed.  I started having some health issues, (all exacerbated by the excess weight I might add).  In a conversation with my cardiologist, he said something that really stuck with me.  He told me that my weight was not my problem.  The excess weight was a symptom of not being healthy.  I knew this, I studied nutrition and fitness.  I’m a nurse.  I teach my patients this.  So this was no big revelation.  But what he told me next has become my mission.  He told my to stop worrying about my weight and just focus on getting healthy.  Simple, but genius.  He said the weight will take care of itself when you get healthy.  And that’s what I do.  I don’t weigh; I don’t care what the scales say.  I just get up everyday and try to live it as healthy as I can.  Some days are better than others, and that’s okay. 🙂  I no longer base my happiness on what the scales have to say about me.  I just try to eat the healthiest, tastiest food I can and keep moving.  Walk, run, toning with weights, whatever I can do and enjoy.


Mom walking Lola in the Fast and Furriest 5K 3 years ago.


One of the first 5Ks where I really remember seeing my mom run at the end.  I looped back after I finished and found her and finished running with her.

I’ve been a daily walker for many years.  I’m not a treadmill walker myself, it bores me.  I love to be outdoors.  Plus I have a very active dog that loves to walk me several times a day.  When I really got serious about being healthy, I felt like I needed to kick it up a notch.  But it had to be something that fit into my lifestyle otherwise I wouldn’t continue doing it.  I toyed with the idea of joining a local fitness club, but with my long work hours I just didn’t feel like I would be able to utilize it enough.  Yeah I know it’s open 24 hours, but after a long 14 or 16 hour day, it would be about the last place I wanted to go.  Fitness has been important to me most of my adult life, and I’ve worked out at some gym or club ever since my children were young.  I also had a personal trainer for a few years so I knew what to do and how to do it, it was just a matter of DOING it!  I had been reading Laura’s blog. The blogs on fitness and healthy eating were very motivating to me. I wanted to feel the wind in my face and run with my arms stretched out just like I did as a child.  I wanted to eat to live instead of living to eat!  Laura had talked me into doing the 5K in her neighborhood in Harbor Town with her 3 years ago and I’d done a few off and on.  But I had just kinda quit for the most part. Laura asked me to do the Go Lucy Go 5K in my hometown with her, and I didn’t have any excuse not to.  So I did it. I’m a walker/runner.  I enjoy the scenery. I love the smells of fresh cut grass, honeysuckle, wisteria, and looking at funny shaped clouds, pretty houses, and the beautiful landscapes as I pass.  I feel so close to God. Sometimes I find myself singing “How Great Thou Art”, just in my heart (I’m so not a singer).  Walking/running is something I can do in my own time and at my own pace which just really fits my lifestyle at this place in my life.  My goal is to be able to run a 5K by the end of the year.  For now I’m just trying to improve my time with each 5K.  I’ve done one the last three weekends with Laura.  My first, I did 15:39/mile and this weekend at the Eye Opener 5K I did 14:45/mile.  I’ve improved each time.  Gosh I know that sounds so lame to all the runners!  But like I said, it’s my journey and I couldn’t be happier!!  I did it and I feel like a winner!  Just happy to be here and have an opportunity to improve.  And I love, love, love getting to spend precious mother/daughter time with Laura!  Does it get any better?  I’m at a good place in my life.  I’m just happy to be me!!  Ands that’s my story. I’m not perfect on my journey.  But that’s the beauty of it.  I don’t have to be.  I’m just on it, and for me it’s a good place to be.

2 weeks ago.  Mom got 3rd in her age group.

Mom’s fastest 5K ever last weekend.  She even placed.

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81 thoughts on “My Mom’s Fitness Journey”

  1. I love how you focus is being healthy! I feel that so many women focus way too much on the scale (myself included) and if we focused more on being healthy, we would be so much happier. Do you follow a specific food plan i.e. Paleo or do you just eat sensibly?

    Thanks for sharing!!

    1. Thank you so much! I feel best when I eat organic foods. I don't eat anything with flour or sugar and this seems to work best for me. No processed foods. If I do use a sweetner, I use Stevia.

  2. That's not lame it's awesome! You are getting out there and doing something! It is way more than I can say for both my parents. They just talk about it and don't do it. I'm proud of your goals!

  3. This is SO heartwarming!!! Mom's are special 🙂 My mom is my number one supporter and motivator. She ran me in on my first half marathon and recently ran an entire half with me. Us holding hands while crossing the finish line is a memory I will cherish forever!

  4. This was great! And so motivating! I'm not a fast runner like Laura is and I always get down about it, but your last sentence totall hit home! Thanks for that!

    xoxo

    1. Thank you for that! I had a patient once that was paralyzed from the waist down. I try to never forget how he told me he would give anything just to be able to run! And it makes me feel so blessed just to be out there .

    1. Thank you!!! I promise you though, that I'm not anything special at all! No shame, no blame. We just all do the best we can. And some days my best is not very good at all. I appreciate your kind words.

  5. Thank you for sharing! I too am a walker/runner and focus on finishing 5k's rather than running the whole time. I just want to make it over the line. I love your philosophy of living healthy rather than focusing on the scale. I look forward to another post from Mama!

  6. Awesome post by mama!! Having the attitude of living life healthy instead of by what the scale says really struck a chord with me!! What an awesome outlook!! I look forward to more mama posts, you are a true inspiration to others!! Cannot wait to hear about that 5k you run!!

  7. Awesome!! Proud of your mom for taking her health into her own hands and getting serious about it 🙂 My mom is 54 and she is tapering the fine line of doing it – and talking about it. She'll start and then a couple weeks later find an excuse – work hours, my dad, weather, etc. I definitely want to encourage her, but she sometimes takes what I say with salt since she is bad about comparing (which is a no no!)

  8. What a inspiration to myself and many others reading. It just goes to show it doesn't matter were you are in your life or how you got there but that you can do anything that you set your mind to and you put your heart into. As I was home on my lunch break just now reading her post enjoying some chips and salsa I had to close the bag and salsa and put it away. She's right its not about living to eat but eating to live!!! I hope she does another post bc she's a great writer, telling her story that's all it is, speaking from within.!!!! Hope you have a fabulous day chicka!!!

  9. Thanks for sharing, "mama"! 🙂
    I really enjoyed hearing about your journey. It helps to remind me that every journey is a personal one. It is what we, personally make it to be!
    I also love your mindset on being healthy, not obsessing about the scale! I'm not as bad as I used to be about obsessing over it, but I'm still not "scale-free" Thanks for giving me a new perspective on a healthy lifestyle!! 🙂

  10. What a great post!! Thanks so much for sharing!! It is your journey, and it shouldn't matter how fast you go! You're lapping everyone on the couch!! Good for you for focusing on a healthy life, rather than a number on the scale!! Be proud, mama!

  11. Way to go! Love that mom decided she'd write a guest post afterall!
    This is the perfect post to share with my parents when they need a little extra motivation!
    Good luck in future races to both of you 🙂
    Denise
    postgreekgrad.blogspot.com

  12. I've been looking forward to this post all week! Your mom is just adorable! I love that she hasn't given up, and she keeps improving. I think she's totally on the right path with the "eating to live" and "not worrying about a number on the scale." People worry so much about a number and not about how their clothes fit or how they feel. Your mom looks amazing! I think if she wanted to amp up her progress, its with small tweaks in diet and exercise. If she ate 5 small meals a day (around 300 calories) that include protein, carbs, and fiber, that would make a difference. Also, if she added in some weight training on the days that she doesn't work (I mean, I HOPE the woman has a few days off if she's working 14-16 hour shifts!), that would make an improvement too.

    Ok, enough babble! Let me just say I would love to see another post from her! This is great 🙂

    -AJ
    FitTravelerAJ.com

    1. Thank you so very much for your kind words, suggestions, and encouragement! Yes, I only work 4 days a week, thank goodness!. I'm doing
      some weight training and loving it!! I so appreciate it!

  13. I am so very touched by all of your kind words, suggestions, and encouragement. I was overwhelmed! I truly thank you and appreciate you so much. You inspire me! I promise I'm not special at all. In fact I'm not even very good. All I do is just put one foot in front of the other. That is all. I did not expect so much response and it brought a tear to my eye. You made my day!!! Wishing a very Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms and a wonderful fun filled weekend to everyone!
    XOXO

  14. Vickie,

    Your story hit home with me. I have had a couple of kids too.. and it seems like my body won't ever get back to that place. So I took up running (and every fad diet to be skinny), and while that hasn't happened, I have enjoyed getting faster. I even got to run a half marathon with your daughter last month. 🙂

    Anyway, I am forwarding this post to my aunt. I think this will give her a push to do a 5k.

    Happy Friday!

  15. Your times are GREAT!! Keep it up and you will just continue to get faster. And you ARE special and you ARE good – think of all the people that aren't doing a thing, and just eat in attempts to feel better. You are proof that it works – can't wait for the next post!!

    1. Thank you so much! Congratulations on your 5K tomorrow! I don't have one this weekend and I miss it. I'm gonna do my own in my neighborhood tomorrow just to stay in practice.Have a blast tomorrow!

  16. Wow – what a wonderful story – and very motivational! Part of my journey to be fit at 40 (which I'm turning this year) is to keep up with my children but the other part is to avoid the diabetes that my mother struggles with now. I hear her voice in my head when I want to quit . . . "Listen to me . . . take care of yourself now so you won't have to deal with this when you are older." I'm trying, I'm really trying to do better. So yay for you! And your running is inspirational! Keep it up – looking forward to hearing more about your journey and wisdom in the future!

    Amy @ getzgirlonfire

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. Your Mom is right. I was prediabetic before I started eating healthy. I was well on my way to full blown diabetes. My blood sugars were at the very top of the normal scale and my hemoglobin A1C ( which looks at your blood sugar over the past 3 months) was borderline. Thankfully, I have been able to improve my numbers by eating healthy. If I can do it so can you! Kudos to you for trying!! We can do it!!!

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