21 days

They say if you do something for 21 days straight, it becomes routine.

After my mid-April post about my "quest" (more so a desire) to see my weight and my waist line decrease dramatically, I thought I would jump right into a healthier lifestyle.

But alas, I freaking love taco bell and cupcakes, and loathe most forms of exercise, so my plan didn't jump right into action.

By Mother's Day, my hips felt so wide that putting on a pair of even my roomiest jeans felt like that stupid period commercial where that size 2 chick has to lay back on her bed just to zip her skinny jeans because she's "oh so bloated".  What a liar.

Regardless, color me surprised when on the Monday after Mother's Day, Todd came home from a super long day at work, one in which went farther south than he planned on or cared to discuss, and said "well, I had intended for us to start jogging today, but after the day I had today, I really just need a beer".  Fair enough.  I chuckled ever so slightly, snorted "ha, are you serious?" and went ahead and brushed my shoulders off because after 5 weeks of constant nagging "pleeeeeease go for a walk around the neighborhood with me and Nick...pleeeeeeeeasssseeee?" I had all but given up on Todd joining me in any form of exercise.

But the next day came - Tuesday, May 14th.  Todd came home from work.  And right as rain, he demanded I put on my jogging clothes, bust out the jogging stroller, and sweat like a hog in heat.

That first day sucked ass.  There's no delicate way of putting it.  2 minutes of "light" jogging into it, and I thought my lungs were actually incinerated.  I confidently told Todd "I'm actually going to die right now", and stopped jogging.  I walked the rest of the way home.

But every day after that, at the same time of the afternoon, Todd made me put on my jogging clothes, and he pushed me a little bit farther every day.

Yesterday was day 21.  In all fairness, I suppose I should say day 20, because we took one rest day (yup, only one day off in 21 days) -- and we hated it.  Both of us were ready to get back to pounding the pavement.

Yesterday, on day 21, I jogged the hardest I have yet.  The course we've mapped out is only a 2.5 mile route through our neighborhood.  But the hills?  Oh my God the freaking hills.  I have never been able to jog up the hills in our 'hood.  Until yesterday.  Granted, I took a couple of short breaks to catch my breath and make sure my shins and feet were still attached to my knees, but yesterday I finally kept pace with Todd.

Ok, more so maybe he was scaling back to keep pace with me.  But yesterday I got my ass kicked.  And it felt freaking awesome.

I have never been more proud of my husband as I am in regards to his new found love of running.

He's now planning 5K's and mud runs, and all kinds of insanity, and I am ridiculously proud of him.  He has stuck with it, made it part of his every day routine, and in turn been able to coach me along and push me harder.

We are now "that family".  Loading up our jogging stroller, and heading out for a family jog in the evening's.  And the bonus is coming back from a family jog with a happy toddler from so much outside time, and soaking wet t-shirts from the sweat we poured out.

This past Sunday was our first family Burke Lake jog.  Granted, Todd jogged the majority of the lake, and I pushed Nick in the stroller at a fast-walk pace (occasionally handing him off to Todd so I could do some jogging), but we completed almost 5 miles as a family.  And it felt so good.

We're heading back to jog the lake again tonight.  My mom volunteered to take Nick so we could really push ourselves without an extra 60lbs of kid & stroller.  And - I can't believe I'm saying this - I cannot wait to get out there.

Me?  Todd??  Looking forward to running?  I never thought I'd see the day that either of us looked forward to it.  But here we are, 21 days later, and now it's a part of us.  And it feels awesome.  And it doesn't hurt that my fat pants don't feel so snug anymore, either. 

So yeah, I'm patting us on the back.  And I'm tooting our own horns.  In a big way.  Because, dare I say it... I think I finally "get it".  Running really is an incredible high.  Maybe I'll never feel that way WHILE I'm jogging...panting...sweating...cursing...spitting...gasping... but afterwards?  That's the best part.  And it makes the cupcakes taste that much better.
(no chance I'm giving them up...)