http://community.active.com/people/dannahlea2001/blog The details of my journey from a sickly couch potato to athlete in one year. Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:58:59 GMT Jive SBS 3.0.8 (http://jivesoftware.com/products/clearspace/) 2007-09-24T19:58:59Z http://community.active.com/people/dannahlea2001/blog/2007/09/24/the-first-day-of-the-rest-of-my-life <!-- [DocumentBodyStart:f08236f5-87ac-4b90-993c-816ccc2580e1] --><div class='jive-rendered-content'><p>Today is the first day of the rest of my life.&nbsp; This couch potato is getting off her butt is becoming an athlete.&nbsp; I've always admired athletes but never considered that I could be one.&nbsp; I used to be so thin and week that any amount of exercise would result an&nbsp; instant headache and several pounds of weight loss.&nbsp; </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p>Until my baby was born.&nbsp; That took me for a surprise.&nbsp; I assumed I'd be like my mother and go from a 18 inch waist to an 19 inch waste postpartum.&nbsp; Not...&nbsp; In reality, I became very sick with an autoimmune problem related to the pregnancy.&nbsp; I've been on chemotherapy, steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs for the past year and a half.&nbsp; I'm a lot better, but still need about 12 hours of sleep each night and am easily exhausted.&nbsp; </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p>I don't want my life to continue this way.&nbsp; I want the health, stamina, and fitness of an athlete.&nbsp; My ultimate goal is to participate in a Sprint Triathlon.&nbsp; The only way to get there is to do it one step at a time.&nbsp; I'm seriously out of shape, so my first goal is to run one mile on the tread mill.&nbsp; When I've reached that goal, I'll see another one on the way to becoming a triathlete!&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:f08236f5-87ac-4b90-993c-816ccc2580e1] --> training running beginner health goals triathlete Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:00:00 GMT dannahlea2001 http://community.active.com/people/dannahlea2001/blog/2007/09/24/the-first-day-of-the-rest-of-my-life 2007-09-24T20:00:00Z 2 years, 2 months ago 1 0 http://community.active.com/people/dannahlea2001/blog/comment/the-first-day-of-the-rest-of-my-life http://community.active.com/people/dannahlea2001/blog/feeds/comments?blogPost=2853