Me, Facing the Incline

Pictures of me in the past can be hard, that’s because I am not the same person as the woman in those pictures. I usually would not allow many to be taken of me and I would rather be behind the camera. I did this on purpose because I did not want to look at myself in front of a mirror much less pay money for a picture of me to be developed.

In 2006 I started the journey of unhealthy weight gain. Little did I know that once I continued on that journey it would be so hard to fight my way back. It took me getting denied insurance to have a wake up call. I was considered obese due to my weight and height. When the notice came in the mail I told no one, not even Sergio.  I was ashamed of myself. After months had passed a co-worker asked me to join her with a personal trainer who recently moved into town.

I honestly didn’t think twice. I knew that I had to do something, I could not continue to buy bigger sized clothing. I came home from work, asked Sergio what he thought, and finally admitted to being denied insurance through tears.

Let me share the funny parts of my story.

The trainer and I set up a time for him to test me. Test me in what? I didn’t ask. I showed up to the testing in flip flops. Really Norah what in the heck did you think he was going to test? I had to go back home and dig out my running shoes and dust them off and return as quickly as possible . I was a little embarrassed.

After my testing, which required me to speed walk on the treadmill, I was told of the date I would start my training. I was ready to go, well I thought I was ready go. The first three days I came home crying. Actually I started to cry once I got in my car. The workouts were so hard that I would threaten to throw up. My trainer would simply put the trash can in front of me.

After a year or more of training the runners in our group starting to talk about running a 5K. I wanted no part of that. I was walking on the treadmill at a 3.5 speed. But of course they all convinced me to sign up for the 5K.

The kicker part of the race was that part of it would be up hill. I had to train on the treadmill by running on an incline. Picture me, the girl who has never played a sport, just learned how to work out, still needed to lose weight, running on an incline. Not a pretty sight. My lungs endured a pain they never experience and I had to push myself to continue.

I finished the training, showed up to the start line thinking oh my goodness what have I done? The hill was harder than I thought it would be and I wanted to give up but something made me push and finish. I was so proud of myself when I crossed the finish line. When it all was said and done I even received a metal and made the newspaper, the truth is there was only four women in my age division but I placed in my first race ever.

Here I am six years later some pounds lighter with 2 half-marathons under my belt along with several 5k and 10k’s. Now I allow people to take pictures of me. I have had tears, set backs, injuries, fears, and doubts but one thing is for sure that thought Christ all things are possible.

We all have struggles in life, many of us have struggles with food and exercise. It is very challenging to realize when you need to make a life change. Set some goals, share your goals with someone, know that you will at times slip away from your your plan, learn to get back on track without beating yourself up, and take one change at time. As I tread through.

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