My Three Weeks of Pain

I keep reading all of these inspiring blog posts about gorgeous women getting out there and running. Exercise is so not my friend in winter, when I find it hard enough just to get out from underneath the 3 blankets on my bed and face the cold morning, let alone get into gym gear and go for a run.

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My second issue is the running itself. I can never seem to run beyond 50 meters before I start feeling like my chest is going to explode, and my knees want to give way from underneath me. I'm unsure if it's my life-long asthma that's the problem, or if I am just so unfit that I struggle with it. Perhaps it's just that I don't push myself hard enough, and working with a personal trainer will help.

Whatever the reason, I am usually the girl that everyone sees casually strolling down the bike/walking track along the beach, while they all jog past me.

I am not an overweight woman. When looking up my Body Mass Index (BMI), I am at the weightier end of the average range for my age and height. In roughly 3 months I went from a size 6-8 to a size 10-12, where I have stayed. I actually lost weight after having Master A.

This post is not about a weight loss journey for me (however if I could lose a few kilos here or there I certainly won't complain!) For me this is about being healthy. I want the energy to keep up with my son, to keep up with life in general. I am a single mum, who has just started studying and writing a blog. I love to spend time with friends and then of course there is the housework. I do not have the time to feel fatigued.

And then there is of course the simple fact that child sees, child does. I want to teach my Munchkin healthy habits. Running around, playing, eating healthy and doing the things he loves. He will not learn that from me wrapped up in a blanket in front of the computer, iced coffee in hand, or sitting on the floor playing play dough with him, wearing 3 jackets, track pants and ugg boots.

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It is time for a change. However I am someone that will get overwhelmed with too much change, and change that feels too permanent. Therefore I have decided to set myself a 3 week challenge, changing just a couple of things at a time, so that I don't feel too burdened by it.

This challenge includes:

• Giving up Iced Coffee. I know, I want to cry and I miss it already (even though I have a glass of it sitting next to me now!) 
• Take away once a week only. Years ago I participated in a bet that I had to go 2 weeks without take away. I managed to do it. I know that I could do it again this time however my parents do buy take away, and I know I couldn't resist for 3 weeks straight, with it being in the house. So I will limit myself to either a Friday night or Saturday night.
• Going for a walk daily. This walk will include periods of running. I will take my asthma inhaler just in case its required and work my way up to a 50/50 ratio of walking to running. 

This is all I am going to change for the moment, as I know that if I go on a full health kick, I will start to regret it, my will power will slide and I won't achieve anything. I am hoping that after 3 weeks, I won't feel like iced coffee anymore, and walking and running daily will be a bit more routine.

Have you ever set yourself a health challenge?

What do you need to give up in order to be healthier?