Lairen pretends to like running

Anyone who knows me knows I hate working out. 

Despise it. 

I actually wrote a delightful little tribute to it last year.

In spite of that however, there's this guy I know and he's got this drive and determination that kind of rubs off on you after a while.

So basically this is all Bryan's fault.

Really though, the fact that Bryan has been diligent about eating right and working out since he got out of the army and moved back to Oregon has just been the catalyst I needed to follow through with wanting to get better. 

I've never been a good runner, even when I ran track in high school. After two laps around the track, I was toast - even when I was training every. damn. day.

And people wonder why I get so easily discouraged.

But I've always wanted to run. I don't know why. 

Well, more to the point, I wanted  to want to run. Know what I'm trying to say? It was just always there in my mind wanting the grit needed to actually do it.

Regardless though, lately I've just really been wanting to improve my overall quality of life and that has brought me here. So when Jen asked me if I wanted in on this series I figured it was a sign from above that I was on the right track here.

So I'm buckling down and paying more attention to what I eat, focusing more on whole, solid foods that don't leave me feeling full… of regret… Basically nothing too cheesy, doughy, fatty… You know, all that hearty winter goodness that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 

Unfortunately it makes you look all fuzzy on the outside.

So with that I'm trying to get into the habit each week of meal prepping a few chicken breasts, a couple cups of quinoa, chopping veggies, keeping raw nuts and lots of fruit on hand, and finally making that cauliflower alfredo sauce that keeps making its way around Pinterest (delicious, by the way) and putting it on everything.

Also - no alcohol during the week.

That's the tough one.

I gave up on that while in Indiana (for good reason) but now I'm getting back at it.

Water and water based beverages (tea and coffee in moderation) only.

I already want cheese and wine. But whatever.

And meanwhile, I've enlisted Bryan to keep me accountable. So far he's doing a great job - an assessment I am making one day in and basing solely on the fact that he doesn't laugh at how pathetically slow and easily winded I am.

"I will never make fun of someone who actually gets out and tries!!!" says he.

"You haven't seen me dying on a trail after running for approximately 1.3454657 minutes." says I.

And before I go and leave you all motivated from my thoroughly enthusiastic approach to all of this, it's worth mentioning how much this is freaking out my friends, as witnessed by their reactions when I posted that screen shot of the trail...

Keep me accountable, guys. I really don't want to give up this time.