Originally Written by Crystal Campbell on Monday, October 15, 2012 at 11:39pm
I'm entering my second week of walking/jogging at a trail in Lewisville, TX. I just cannot believe how great it feels to run. I never thought that making myself work so hard would feel so good. My lungs burn, my calves feel like they are on fire, my feet ache, and sweat pours down my face... and it is the most awesome feeling I have ever known!
When I was in Junior High School, my P.E. teachers made us run the track and refused to let us rest if we needed to. I remember running until I couldn't breathe, (which wasn't far since I was a bit chubby), and throwing up on the sidelines as the coaches screamed at me to keep going. I remember thinking that I might pass out and being very scared, but when I didn't keep going, the coaches punished me. Never once did they ask if I was okay, send me to the nurses office, or call my mother to ask any questions. I never knew what caused me to react like that when I ran, (especially in the heat), until I was an adult. When my daughter was 3 years old, after being rushed to the ER several times, she was diagnosed with asthma by a lung specialist at Children's Medical Hospital in Dallas, TX. At one of her follow up appointments I asked the lung specialist about the symptoms I had all my life. They tested me and, sure enough, I was also diagnosed with asthma. I was amazed my mother never caught it since it runs in our family, but since the coaches or the school never bothered to ask any questions, I'm not surprised.
All my life I would see people people jogging/running along paths, in marathons..etc. I would watch in amazement and think to myself, "I wonder what it feels like to be able to run like that with no problem breathing, not having to stop and throw up, or pass out." I secretly wished I could be like those people. In my adult years I've spoken with a lot of people who assured me that it could be done. They would explain how they could barely jog for a few seconds when they began their journey and ended up running marathons or at least 20 miles a day. I just thought, "Those people aren't like me... I have asthma so I can't do that." I allowed my illness, and sensitivity to heat, stop me from experiencing so many things in life and it became my crutch, my excuse. Over the years I learned that I could deal with my sensitivity to the heat, (I'm very prone to heat exhaustion), by drinking lots of water while outside and to rest as much as I needed to.
When it took me nearly 2 years to take off 35 lbs, I almost fell into the mindset of well, I'm in my late 30's and it will be impossible for me to lose weight due to my hormones... etc. That's what the so called experts on TV would have us think. But... over the last 5 years, with the help of my wonderful loving husband, I have been learning to love myself again. I have gained confidence in myself that I haven't had in 20 years. The more love and confidence I gained, the more weight I wanted to lose. Not to look good for anyone, but to be healthy. I want to be here for my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren...etc. I never want to be a burden to anyone as I grow older. The only way I can ensure that is to take the best possible care of my body.
I realized I needed help retraining my brain to know when my stomach was full, (something that was lost from so many years of overeating). I began using Sensa just 2 months ago. I knew that if it would help me control my eating, and not feel hungry all the time, that any exercise I did would be more effective. I must say that the Sensa is doing its job. Then I realized that I turn 40 in just a few months so I decided that I wanted to lose as much weight as possible, (in a healthy way), by my birthday in January. I began racking my brain to think of an exercise program that would help me reach my goal. I thought of my nephew Paul who began running several years ago and is now in amazing shape. That is when the light bulb went off! But what about my asthma, the heat, what if I can't do it? Well, my asthma has never been severe... I carry an emergency inhaler, but hardly ever use it and I'm not bad enough to be on preventative care, so I knew I was okay there. I also knew that I would just need to drink a ton of water to in order to beat the heat. Luckily, it is fall so the weather is mild, so I just decided to go for it. I would walk, jog as long as I could, and then walk again. I figured that eventually I would be jogging more than walking and the weight would just melt off.
Well, I was right. I just didn't expect it to happen so fast. After my first week of walking/jogging I found my jogging rhythm, began to jog more than walk, I began to see my body take on a better shape and my clothes are fitting more loosely. This only motivated me to push harder and stay focused. Today I began my second week of walking/jogging and another amazing thing happened. On my first lap I had to use my inhaler and my lungs felt like they were burning, so I thought "This isn't going to be my day... this is going to be one of those days where I just can't seem to get it together and will have to make up for it later." I ended up walking until the inhaler had a change to kick in and then began to jog... I fell into my rhythm and began jogging as normal. I realized that I had just been too ambitious earlier and jogged too fast. I was so proud of myself because I ended up jogging further than I had before. Then something even more amazing happened. After walking a bit I began to jog again... finding my jogging rhythm... and then found my breathing rhythm, (usually, I have to stop jogging and walk because I don't want to go into hyperventilation mode which would cause an asthma attack). This time I told myself "I'm going to keep jogging as long as I can control my breathing. I don't care if my legs hurt, my calves burn, or how tired my body feels... as long as I can control my breathing, I will keep going." Well, I found my breathing rhythm and kept going... and going... and going. My calves did burn, my body did get tired, and my right foot even started tingling and went numb for a few minutes, but I kept going. I ended up jogging the entire path!! A whole lap jogging without stopping!! I couldn't believe it! It is 1.7 miles around that lake! Wow! I never ever thought I could do anything like that. I jog slow right now, but I know that speed will come later. Right now I'm working on building stamina. I know now that I will reach my goals... not just in running, but in anything I want to do in life. Yay Me! =)
Thanks for reading "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
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