The Journey Continues... I'm just getting started...

I've related my journey to a road trip a couple of times before on my blog.  On a road trip, there are a number of ways to track progress, whether it's miles traveled, time spent on the trip, the distance yet to travel, gas stops left, etc. etc.  Similarly, there are a number of ways that I can track my progress on my journey.  I want to reiterate that although my blog is called a weight loss journey, the weight loss is not the final destination, just like a road trip is less about the time spent on the road and more about arriving at the destination.  My weight is one way for me to track my progress.  There are many others which are just as important, if not as easily measured.

Yesterday I completed my 4th week of my C25K training.  Each day was a mental and physical battle, but my mind and my body won out.  I'm almost shocked in what I'm able to do now as compared to my first week of training.  This is evidence of the progress I've made.

Today, for the first time in months, I played Ultimate Frisbee.  If you don't know me that well, you may not know that I'm love playing Ultimate Frisbee more than most anything else.  I'm not particularly good, but I have played a lot and I can hold my own.  However, for the past couple of years I haven't enjoyed it as much as I had in the past.  Too often I tried to play when I was very out of shape and it made it really hard for me.  Today was different.  I'm still out of shape and it's still a bit hard for me, but I noticed that it wasn't quite as bad as it's been for me the past couple of years.  This is evidence of the progress I've made.

The month of July has been one of the best months for me in a while.  I haven't felt this good emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally in a while.  I attribute this to the changes in behavior I have made over the past month.  This is one of the biggest evidences of the progress I've made.

And finally, the scale.  Despite not seeing the progress every day that I'd like to see, I have certainly made great progress on the scale.  I've lost 17 pounds since June 30th!  I set a goal on July 1st to lose 20 pounds by the end of the month, and I've just about made it.  It's in sight and I think I can do it.  The next celebration that comes after hitting the 20 pound mark will be the day that I first weigh in under 300 pounds.  I anticipate that day happening in the first week of August.  Again, evidence of the progress I've made.

And you, yes you, have played a huge role in my progress.  Let me demonstrate what I mean...  Yesterday, as I was almost finished with my run, I doubted if I would be able to complete my workout.  I was sorely tempted to say to myself, "You've done a good job.  You can stop running now and feel fine about yourself."  Immediately I thought how cool it would be if there were people lined up on the trail cheering me on.  But then I realized that although there weren't people literally there on the trail cheering me on, I did in fact have a huge support group behind me.  Every page view, every like, every private message, every comment, every kind word of encouragement in person, every text message, every phone call I have received this month really helped me to keep moving.  I honestly felt at that point that there were people pushing me forward.  It got easier, and not just because I started running down a hill...

Thank you so much! Please, please don't give up on me...