Heart Healthy

So, three weeks ago I started the Couch to 5K program and I'm not dead yet! Yay!!

I've always dreamed of being a runner. Yet, in the past, every time I tried to run I would end up overdoing it early on, giving up and declaring myself Nota-Runner.

I'm still Nota Runner. But I AM a jogger. (And by jogger I mean "if I jog any slower I'll be jogging in place". ) But I'm jogging! I'm getting my weekly recommended amount of exercise for cardiovascular health - and I need it!! Did you know heart disease is the number one killer of women according to The American Heart Association?

I shudder to think of what shape my heart must be in. I'm 32, I've never been involved in organized sports - not even in high school - and never had any kind of exercise regimen.

Oh yeah, and I like junk food. Mmmm junk food...

Ahem, anyway. I am determined to get my heart in shape and hopefully lose some weight in the process. Today marks the start of week four and I'm really proud of having stuck with it so far. Part of my success has been having jogging buddies. The teen boys, Tony - 15, Fox - 15 and Billy - 13 have been jogging with me. It's a big encouragement to have them with me, even when they do very un-encouraging, goofy, teenager-ish things like:

• Literally running circles around me
• Say things like "Faster slow poke!"
• Start doing a side step/grape vine dance/jog
• Pretend they're having a heart attack
• Shout "Don't die on me mom/Cheryl!!" while I'm concentrating on my breathing

Yeah, good times. Another big support is having my online jogging buddies Jamie and Carletta. We're getting healthy together. We check in with one another weekly, sharing our struggles and success and cheer one another on. Plus, every Saturday, Jamie will be posting a Getting Fit update in which she shares how her week went. I'll be joining her in updating as often as I can.

I'm excited to share this journey with you - my successes, challenges, program insights, tips, tricks and progress.