Listening and patience

The last two weeks have been several of the best I've had in a long time.  I have now tracked on MyFitnessPal for 16 days, been to three Weight Watcher meetings, and have done some sort of exercise the last 11 of 12 days.  In other words, I'm feeling awesome!

I've even managed to lose 4.2 pounds in two weeks.  That sure beats gaining weight!

What I've come to realize in the last couple of weeks, especially in regard to the activity, is I need to listen to my body.  

Let me start this by saying I'm an impatient person.  When hubby and I had only been going out for a couple of weeks, I remember him turning to me, looking at me intently and saying, "You are the most impatient person I have ever met."  Yep.  That about sums me up.  I'm all about instant gratification (which may be a contributing factor to my ongoing struggle with my weight).

I want to run.  I want to be able to run like I used to.  Problem is, at this moment in my life, I can't.  I'm out of shape from not doing any activity for two years and I weigh over 200 pounds.  My body cannot handle a long, moderately paced, run.  That is a fact.  A fact I don't like, but there it is.  So I have to slow down and be... ready for it?  Patient.  I have to be patient.  *sigh*

But here's the thing, I'm not going to wait until the scale says I can run, I'm going to run now... slowly, softly, and for short spurts.  The key to me "running" (I'm putting running in quotes since it's more of slow paced shuffle) now is I have to listen my body.  When my ankle starts to hurt, I need to slow down to a walk; if my knee hurts, I need to stretch more; when my whole body is whining, I need to listen and decide if a different activity is needed that day.  

The past 12 days has given me a lot of time to listen, to reflect, to remember, and to dream.   If I want to run a half marathon (or even a 5K), I need to listen to my body, to respect it, and work with what I can at this moment.  If not, I could ruin any chance of running in the future.  I need to take it easy, yet push myself to keep moving.  I need to find other things I can do in the mean time, and as Sibyl told me last week, have a Plan B.  

If running becomes something that just isn't possible, I will need a big Plan B... biking, swimming, speed walking, whatever.  I'm not keen on biking... but I never thought I would be runner.  So anything's possible...

In the meantime, I'm going to do what I always do.  Persevere.  And maybe... just maybe... I'll learn some patience along the way.