Lately I’ve been working at getting back into shape after having my fourth and final baby. I mean I know that I’m nursing and that it’s been less than three months and that eventually I’ll settle back into a reasonable size – but this time around, I’m not feeling satisfied with only that. I think the knowledge that I’ll never again get pregnant and that from here on out my body is MINE – that I feel like it is time to make it the body that I feel happy with!

4 weeks ago, I started weight watchers, a HUGE step for me, because I’ve never counted calories or put myself on a healthy eating type diet (and although I know that something like atkins can make me shrink down fast, I’m looking to change my lifestyle, eating, body, permanently). I’m doing it online (mostly because I’m really not looking to spend my few free nights out at meetings and weigh ins. So far I’m really proud of my progress (9 pounds baby!)

I’ve been working some pilates in a few times a week, and I told myself that after a bit I would start working myself back up to running again. I have gotten into running a few times over the past few years (actually – it looks like I posted about my new friend the treadmill on my blog almost 3 years ago) and everytime I LOVE it, it is absolutely empowering, and stress relieving and every time when I’m through with a run I feel like I am superwoman! Even just 15 or 20 mins makes me feel like I can move mountains, and I’ve secretly had this dream of running really running maybe even a little marathon or something. But because I’m me I tend to burn myself out, or push myself too hard and then get overly sore… or maybe I just get distracted (also a highly likely because I am myself).

Well now that it’s been four weeks of low key pilates and eating right, I knew it was time to start running again too.  But just like when I’m facing the question of weightloss, this time, I really want to do it RIGHT. I want to start running regularly, and in a way that I can train my body instead of just beat the crap out of it. I’ve been thinking about looking for a running for dummies book or something, and I’ve started asking the people that I know that run but mostly I just get “oh yeah I’ve always ran” or something like that. But then randomly last week I randomly ran across an awesome blog from a fellow mom (who I don’t know at all actually I happened to click on the right link), and she is doing something called “Couch to 5k.” I got very excited, because that is JUST what I was looking for. Imagine how thrilled I was too, when I googled it and found that the program was just available online at a site called “cool running” and that it was totally doable for me (running three times a week, and only 20 -30 mins, the amount of time I can actually work into my schedule!). The plan is 9 weeks long, and gradually works you up to being able to run 5k (about 3 miles) on a regular basis, and I can’t WAIT!

So I told g about my big plan, and being the amazing guy he is, he spent his Sunday cleaning out our garage so that we could get to our burried treadmill (our garage looks so great now too!). And tonight I put in my headphones and started day one of week one. The dusty treadmill didn’t seem too angry about being abandoned for so long, because it rolled right along, and running (and walking) felt GREAT tonight. I know I only ran in 60 second intervals…. which was almost hard to limit myself to, but by the end of the work out I could see why it was a good plan, because I really do feel great! And, you know, with my blood pumping, my heart beating and my muscles feeling so alive – I think, I may actually BE super woman.

Really though, It does feel great to know that I have a plan, and that I’m working toward my goals. My body is happy and healthier than it’s been in soooo long, and I already can’t wait till the next run!