Jan’s 5K Challenge: It Took the Dog

A friend commented that my blog posts about “my challenge” for the Prevent Cancer Foundation 5K  seem to be focused on others – and not me – and wondered why?

Speed Bump
The truth? It’s been far easier to focus on those who have jumped on the challenge wagon and are doing great, then admit I’m hanging off the side bumping along.   At one point, it looked like I might soon become road kill.

Actually, I’ve done really well with eating healthy, but getting myself back on a good, natural exercise routine has been tougher.  Over the last couple of months, I’d become a slug: lying in bed every morning watching TV or reading, rather than going to the gym or taking a power walk.  Saddest of all, I’m naturally a morning person, so if I don’t do it then, it’s not happening.

Canine Intervention
What got me back on track?  My dog Grae.  Because I’m renting a place that doesn’t allow pets, Grae isn’t with me full-time.  But a couple of weeks ago, I had him for 10 days and he quickly  reminded me that if I don’t give him a good walk in the morning I’ll find “presents” he’d made for me during the day.  So we were up and out every morning by 7:00 am for a power walk.  By the 3rd day,  I was starting to feel more like my old self and began taking evening walks as well – much to Grae’s displeasure.  Seems he too had become a bit of a slug and only wanted to walk once a day.  But if I was out, he was out too!  More than once I got the look that says: “Seriously, I’ve done my business, isn’t it time to turn back?”  Grae was so happy when those 10 days ended; he rushed out of my house and never looked back.

On the Road Again
How have I done since he left?  Surprisingly well.  I am hitting the gym regularly, walking either at lunch (leaving my credit cards in the office so I don’t have any side shopping diversions) or in the evenings after a light meal.

Of course I’m just returning from a week in Vegas working with Bad Beat on Cancer at the 2010 World Series of Poker but hey, what happens in Vegas – stays in Vegas!

Share Your Strategy!
How do you keep yourself on track when you hit a fitness “speed bump”? Share your strategies for staying fit and eating right when you just don’t feel like it.