Runner out of spite - how did I get here?

[Girlsgotbutt]

Hello everyone! I am Iris, a twenty-something exercise hater who has fought her way to w3r2. How does that work together? Well, I started running to spite one of my best friends.

About 2 months ago, one of my good friends lost a close family member and really struggled with the loss. As she was off work, she decided to go to the gym so she wouldnt go crazy at home. The sensible, emotionally mature side of me worshiped her for this act of taking charge of her own life. I was glad for her as it really seemed to make her happy.

However. And that was a ginormous however for the petulant child hiding inside of me: with her choice of joining those exercising, health conscious nut cases we would always make fun of, i was alone on my couch-shaped island of sarcastic, sweat-hating, cake-gobbling awesomeness. I felt genuinely betrayed and i hated myself for it because i knew i was wrong.

After an ordinary Sunday night of a fast food heavy weekend, i had a bit of a melt down. It felt like all around me, people were loosing weight and getting fit even though we all told eachother that we loved each other's looks the way they were. Had it all been a lie? Was the telly right after all when it showed me that praise for the thick girl is just put on and fake so we feel included in a world where healthy equals thin?

In the midst of all my confusion, i saw a TV add for couch to 5k. With an angry face, cried out eyes and my husband in tow, i decided that if all these great women i knew found some accomplishment in exercise, there must be something to it. Ever since, hubby and i run. Me to deal with obvious anger issues and he ... because he doesnt really have a choice 😁

Best of all, the app didnt ask me to give up cake, nor did it want me to like it and feel "refreshed" or "energised" afterwards. But it gave me a challenge to acomplish and to show myself that exercise was nothing to hate or fear and that having been laughed at as a girl will. Not. Stop. Me. From. Achieving.

So here I am; still not feeling a buzz after running, still not lost a single pound (i have since joined slimming world but no shift yet), but i am determined to not quit, not miss a run and to not use any of my well practised "no exercise today" excuses. And carefully, I am optimistic that it might be making a tiny difference. But I would never admit that. I hate excercise, after all. 🙈

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

Hear! Hear! Let that determination push you through the tough bits. Good on you for starting and dragging hubby along. It’s quite the journey and don’t be surprised when you actually start to look forward to your runs and find yourself looking longingly at other runners on your rest days wishing you could be out there too. Trust me, it’ll happen.......

[Lmerritt]

I'm slowly working toward getting rid of the excuses. So much of it is just mental. I tell myself to stop listening to myself and just get out there and go and then it's fine. Just have to remember it takes time to build new habits and you've started on the right track.

[Deant]

Wow....completely get where you are coming from and completely admire your honesty and grit.....keep going and good luck.

[TasminMarie]

I love how honest you are. I’m mid way through week 8 and have only just started enjoying running, so I know completely where you’re coming from. Throughout these past weeks I kept thinking over and over again “why am I doing this!? I don’t even like running” 😂 Determination will get you through, and it sounds like you have a lot of it. I’m also on the Slimming World plan too but like you I refuse to give up cake. Mumma didn’t raise no quitter right? 😉 Keep going girlie 💪🏻

[Girlsgotbutt]

Thank you everyone!!! I didnt expect so much love for a grouch like me!! ❤❤

[Hidden]

Watch out, this running thing is addictive. Also you may find yourself irrisistibly drawn towards tasteless fuchsia pink running gear. You have been warned 😉❤️

[Deant in reply to Hidden]

Hilarious 😂

[Pippayoungart Graduate]

Ha ha. A little bit of righteous indignation has fuelled me on occasions! So i would say channel it! As a lifelong exercise-dodger, i can’t yet truly say i love running yet, but it’s got to the stage where it feels like there would be hole in my life if i didn’t do it... so good luck and keep going - you’ll get to the point when you realise you don’t hate exercise after all!

[Redbillie21 Graduate]

Great post Girlsgotbutt. Really enjoyed reading it. You are a great inspiration to others, showing how it can be done. The bit about dragging your husband along made me laugh out loud! I really hope you actually start enjoying your runs. It does get easier the fitter you get. Don’t worry too much at this stage about not losing any weight, it’s just fat turning into muscle which of course weighs heavier than fat. You probably know that already but it’s a reminder for those times when you think about giving up because you’re not losing as much weight as you hoped you would. For me, it was round about week 5 that I noticed how much thinner I was. So, keep it up and good luck 😉

[BlinkyBecky]

Your post made me smile! I brought a flyer for my husband in for a joke! Two weeks later he'd decided to enter, having never seen him run anywhere! I had to sign up too, having hated running all my life! Three years on and he still runs and I've just started c25k again after injury. It's tough, but I know I can do it following the program, and so will you!

[Tasha99 Graduate]

You gain water retention at first as those achey legs get tiny tears on which fill with water. This will stop after a couple of weeks and the weight will start coming off👌🏽