it has begun

I was suppose to start yesterday.  One more step to the necessary changes in my life.  But I didn't.  But I will not beat myself up for it.

Saturday I went to the YMCA and signed up as a full member.  As posted earlier, the plan is to sweat for an hour each day.  I was suppose to start going yesterday after work.  But I had a last minute offer to go out and do something social.  Which is another one of my goals.  So I went.  Which means that today was my first workout.

I decided to walk the track.  One mile is 15 laps.  I counted.  Carefully.  I wanted to make sure I did a mile.  So around and around and around I went.

But it was not easy.  At about lap 2 my calves began to burn.  And I was going slow.  SLLLOOOOOWWWW.  Seriously.  I mean all the other people were lapping me -- smaller and bigger than me.  The little preteen teeny bopper that would stop at every reflective window to make sure her hair and shirt were just right was going faster than me.  But she only did one lap. 

At about lap 5 my shins began to hurt.  Really?  I must be walking wrong.  I can not possibly have shin splits.  Some people have started running.  One guy is zipping around me.  He is doing at least 3 laps for every 1 I am doing.  And I have started to slow down.  I start chanting in my head -- please don't let me give up.  It is day one.

At about 7 laps my lower back starts to hurt.  Come on!  Less than 1/2 mile and I am ready to give up?  Apparently I am way way way out of shape.  Not that that should be a shocker to me.  But I am walking.  And I begin to wonder how the contestants on the Biggest Loser do it.  It would kill me.

But I am not giving up.  I keep walking.  I set a goal of 1 mile for myself for the night.  I was going to make.  Slow as molasses in a Vermont winter but still moving.  And I did it.  In 28 minutes.  Seriously?  That has got to be the worst walking rate ever of an able bodied person.  But it will get better.  Right?

Ladybug was disappointed in me.  She wanted more time in the game room.  I promised her more time tomorrow.  Because I am going every day this week.  I just need to be creative -- because my orientation to learn how to use all the machines isn't until Saturday.  But as long as I am moving I will count it as a win.  For now.

Mean Mama