The Family Fitness Plan

If you have followed me in the past you know that I started Running in Faith, to journal my running, fitness and weight loss journey. It was a great ride for about three years and then something happened. Through my love for running has not faded, the love for spending my most of my free time training has. I realized as I attempted to train for a full marathon that I did not want to spend every free moment and sometimes not so free moments away from my family. I found myself stressing to keep up with one thing and longing to be a part of another – so I threw in the towel and I fell back on just running the half marathon. I walked away from the 2016 Aramco Houston Half Marathon with a different mindset.

For the past few months I’ve back off from the running schedule and I’ve spent time doing other things I love. DIY projects, cooking, baking, family and traveling near and far have consumed my weekends. I’ve loved it, my waist line not so much! In January I mentioned to a friend that I was afraid that backing off running (my weight loss hero) that I would gain back the pounds and I was right! So what to do?!

Thankfully my church started up a series called #NotMyOwn based on the following scripture:

¹⁹ “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” -1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

The series, although my pastor is encouraging us to be more active, is not solely about working out. More so it focuses on being a healthier person inside and out, yes spiritually but also eating better and knowing your body and its needs. Going to the doctor and listening to what you doctor advises, do you have high cholesterol? High sugar? Blood pressure? How is your mental health? Do we chug along and ignore those flashing lights and subtle hints that your body gives you when changes need to be made?

The Family Plan: Along with this series we are signing up to do a 5K in May the 12^th Annual Pear Run and we have started to go out every night for a walk/run as a family. During our evening outing the Little Bear rides her bike as we try to keep up with her – hence the running.  I want to check pace and distance all the time!! Hey we went 1.75 miles! We were a whole minute faster tonight that we were last night!! Truth is - no one cares. We are just out there reaping the healthy benefits of being active together as a family every night. My hubby is cutting back on junk food, the Bear is learning how to ride her bike, the fur babies are loving every walk and I get to cook on the lighter side helping me stay on track.  Not to mention the connection that we are making with each other as father and daughter and as husband and wife, I’d call that a healthy choice too.

Daily walk/run training plan & scripture @ New Hope FB

I’ll keep you posted as the Family Fitness Plan moves on, yes I am hoping for weight loss but it is so much more than that. I am hoping for a lifestyle that sticks around for the long run, for Little Bear, for my hubs, for myself and for my family.