I want to send a big congratulations to all my friends who participated in the half marathon last weekend.
A year ago, I would have had absolutely no desire to participate in such an event. The idea of me getting to the finishing line couldn't even be imagined. I smoked, was always worn out, ate nothing but junk and couldn't really see any point in changing.
Then I became depressed.
Then nothing fit anymore. Seriously. Nothing fit. I had to start thinking about extra large instead of large.
I don't know...out of nowhere, on Monday, April 11, 2011 I decided to change. I packed myself a lunch, which I never do, ate it and then took a long walk by the water during the lunch hour. I was out of breath, out of shape. Then the next day, I went to aquafit. Then the next day I walked at lunch again. Then aquafit on Thursday. Then I visited the gym for the first time in months. And that's how my last month and a half has been since then although I mostly go to the gym instead of walking at lunch.
I had quit smoking in mid October, so sometimes when I do walk at lunch, I spend a little time jogging. I'm not out of breath when I climb the stairs. My strength and motivation to get off the couch are quite driven. I haven't eaten a poutine since early April.
So my results so far have been loss of at least an inch and a half layer of fat and 15 lbs. My long term goal is to lose 50 lbs in a year, which is pretty wishful for someone like me but I think I can do it.
I change things up a bit, I'll walk down one path near my house, it will lead to another, I'll explore a street I've never seen before, or sometimes I'll just weave through my immediate neighbourhood. I'm beginning to really appreciate the beauty of the neighbourhood in which I live. I find myself near tears sometimes when the light hits the grass just right and a big shady tree is placed just so. If only I could paint some of the images my brain has captured. Sure it's just some schmuck's lawn, but it's fucking pretty, ok?
And that brings me to this: I've received some flack over the past 2 years for selling out and living in Barrhaven. It's a prefabricated suburban facade. There's nothing original about it. All of the houses look similar, everyone drives a minivan, I could sing the Little Boxes song from Weeds if you like... Alright, so I'm not living in your trendy part of town where urban is the right way to light. Yeah I live in Stepfordville...how square of me. Hell, I get looks for having multiple tattoos and wearing Chuck Taylors when I should probably be wearing pastels and "mom" clothes. But you can't tell me I made the wrong choice when I'm walking down the street, alongside a corn field, watching the dusky last breath of the sun wafting over a forest on the horizon. I cannot be wrong when I'm walking down a silent path, a creek unfolding as the path winds around the outskirts of an established subdivision. When I sit in my own green, private backyard and look up at the night's sky, I can lose count of the stars. Now, I know I'm not going to live here forever but I'm not going to sleep through my time living here either. A part of me still pines for concrete here and there but ultimately I'm going to retire in a forested area, far away from your idea of what I should be living in if you judge me for living in the 'haven.
But as if I'd apologize for not being another person's idea of cool. I used to say "Yeah, I know but we moved here for the kids." Now...well, kiss my shrinking ass, I like it here and my walks made me realize that. You can post this stupid crap all you want, and laugh at how clever and truthful it is, but I don't believe I ever said "Eww you live in ____? Here, watch this inferior quality video that someone with way too much time on their hands made." (Hey even Vanier has its nice areas)
And on that note, I found another path last night that I think I'll venture over to. Sure it'll probably just lead to a pre-fab school but at least it's not a shit-hole crack den. But that would be a surprise! Go! Explore! Get to know your surroundings. I'm glad I am.
A year ago, I would have had absolutely no desire to participate in such an event. The idea of me getting to the finishing line couldn't even be imagined. I smoked, was always worn out, ate nothing but junk and couldn't really see any point in changing.
Then I became depressed.
Then nothing fit anymore. Seriously. Nothing fit. I had to start thinking about extra large instead of large.
I don't know...out of nowhere, on Monday, April 11, 2011 I decided to change. I packed myself a lunch, which I never do, ate it and then took a long walk by the water during the lunch hour. I was out of breath, out of shape. Then the next day, I went to aquafit. Then the next day I walked at lunch again. Then aquafit on Thursday. Then I visited the gym for the first time in months. And that's how my last month and a half has been since then although I mostly go to the gym instead of walking at lunch.
I had quit smoking in mid October, so sometimes when I do walk at lunch, I spend a little time jogging. I'm not out of breath when I climb the stairs. My strength and motivation to get off the couch are quite driven. I haven't eaten a poutine since early April.
So my results so far have been loss of at least an inch and a half layer of fat and 15 lbs. My long term goal is to lose 50 lbs in a year, which is pretty wishful for someone like me but I think I can do it.
I change things up a bit, I'll walk down one path near my house, it will lead to another, I'll explore a street I've never seen before, or sometimes I'll just weave through my immediate neighbourhood. I'm beginning to really appreciate the beauty of the neighbourhood in which I live. I find myself near tears sometimes when the light hits the grass just right and a big shady tree is placed just so. If only I could paint some of the images my brain has captured. Sure it's just some schmuck's lawn, but it's fucking pretty, ok?
And that brings me to this: I've received some flack over the past 2 years for selling out and living in Barrhaven. It's a prefabricated suburban facade. There's nothing original about it. All of the houses look similar, everyone drives a minivan, I could sing the Little Boxes song from Weeds if you like... Alright, so I'm not living in your trendy part of town where urban is the right way to light. Yeah I live in Stepfordville...how square of me. Hell, I get looks for having multiple tattoos and wearing Chuck Taylors when I should probably be wearing pastels and "mom" clothes. But you can't tell me I made the wrong choice when I'm walking down the street, alongside a corn field, watching the dusky last breath of the sun wafting over a forest on the horizon. I cannot be wrong when I'm walking down a silent path, a creek unfolding as the path winds around the outskirts of an established subdivision. When I sit in my own green, private backyard and look up at the night's sky, I can lose count of the stars. Now, I know I'm not going to live here forever but I'm not going to sleep through my time living here either. A part of me still pines for concrete here and there but ultimately I'm going to retire in a forested area, far away from your idea of what I should be living in if you judge me for living in the 'haven.
But as if I'd apologize for not being another person's idea of cool. I used to say "Yeah, I know but we moved here for the kids." Now...well, kiss my shrinking ass, I like it here and my walks made me realize that. You can post this stupid crap all you want, and laugh at how clever and truthful it is, but I don't believe I ever said "Eww you live in ____? Here, watch this inferior quality video that someone with way too much time on their hands made." (Hey even Vanier has its nice areas)
And on that note, I found another path last night that I think I'll venture over to. Sure it'll probably just lead to a pre-fab school but at least it's not a shit-hole crack den. But that would be a surprise! Go! Explore! Get to know your surroundings. I'm glad I am.
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Wow is all I can say !!! What a great blog ..... I have been Barrhaven my whole life, moved here when I was 2 and all around my house were farmers fields. I always laugh at people who say I've been here forever and will never get out. I say I've been in Barrhaven since before Mcdonalds was here and now we have 3 of them. Lol. Call me crazy I love it !!!
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