My name is Laura and I have embarked on a quest to become fit. I started the year with a plan to reach my goal by having challenges for myself along the way. It all started with Jillian Michael’s ‘Face Your Fears” challenge at the end of last year. I won the runner up prize – a free membership to her site for a year and a Wii and Wii fit. What a realized at the end of this is that I like challenges. So I am getting fit my setting up challenges for myself all year long.

After this first challenge Jillian then started the next challenge – “Destination Me 2009″. The first part of the challenge was to set some goals for food, fitness and life for the first three months of the year and then some long term goals for the year.

For me the first part was:
1. Food: get control of my eating. Focus on keeping my calorie intake in check. I allow myself one free day a week.
2. Fitness: work on my running. For the first three months I was to run a race a month. I did that and exceeded that. The original goals was 3 5K’s – I ran two 5K’s and one 10K. I committed myself to the 10K training for the Cooper River Bridge 10K in Charleston on April 4th. I did great and loved it.
3: Life: DO SOMETHING!!! I have always been a big talker – I like to talk about doing things and plan things out, but for some reason never followed through on things. That needed to change! I just turned 40 years old… I need to do stuff! I was really proud of myself for committing to the 10K training. What helped me with that was joining the Spartanburg Running Club. I have met a lot of great people and got a lot of help along the way with my training. I also started this blog – I really like documenting my days and my progress. I have also added another challenge – a garden. This was not part of the original plan, but it is something I always wanted to do. I am doing it! It is a lot of fun and keeps me busy!

9/8/09: The year has gone by so fast. I have been doing a great job sticking with the plan.  I have continued to run but also completed the very tough P90X fitness program! It got me in the best shape of my life (so far!) Now I am ready for more.

So far this year I have lost 80 pounds and still going. I am not as focused on the actual weightloss any more and really focusing on the health and fitness. The weight is taking care of itself!

10/1/09: Next phase:  Still on my quest to be a runner! I have officially signed up for a half marathon in December (Charlotte Thunder Road) and a full marathon in February 2010 (Myrtle Beach Marathon). I have been building up my mileage and will be following Hal Higdon’s Intermediate 1 marathon training plan.  Marathon training official starts 10/12/09!