Day 22 was a great run day! The weather was beautiful and I ran 4.5 miles in 41:27 (9:12 per mile!!!!)

Today was a rest day. It rained all day today. Boo.

But in the three weeks I’ve been training I have run a total of 44.75 miles. 

and it’s changed a lot. I’ve learned a lot about what I really need and want as far as how I treat my body and how I want to look.

At first this blog was very “I want to be skinny, and this exact jean size, and this exact weight.”

I got pretty caught up in the whole “thinspo” movement. 

All of my goals were measured by what was on the scale or by what size my clothes were. 

I counted calories like a crazy person.

I beat myself up for eating that slice of cake,

or for snacking too much.

I was obsessed with working out everyday. 

But then I realized I just couldn’t keep going on like that, it was making me miserable. 

Now, my goals are more fitness and health oriented. I measure my success in terms of how I feel, and how I’m improving. I’m getting faster and stronger, and I’d take that any day over reaching a “UGW” that isn’t even healthy for my body.

Now, I don’t count calories. Yes, I am conscious of what I eat and try to maintain a healthy diet, because it makes me feel good. Not because it’ll make me “skinny.”

Now, I don’t beat myself up for having a handful of chips or a slice of cake every now and then because it won’t make me fat, especially if I’m exercising regularly.  

Now, I’m a lot happier. 

I’m never going to be a size zero, that’s just not realistic for me.

I’d much rather be the size I am now and be able to run a marathon than be an unhealthy weight and barely be able to run at all.

Please remember that being skinny is not the same as being healthy. If you put your health first, having a nice body will follow. 

Personally, I’d much rather be happy, healthy, and strong than be skinny and miserable.

But thats just me.