If You Always Do What You've Always Done...

...Then you'll always get what you've always got.

This saying has resonated with me for the past few months, and today, as I was running, I felt stronger and faster as a result.

I've been a runner for more than 15 years, and I've worked out, or done some kind of exercise on a very regular basis, for longer than that.
Long story short, exercise has never been something I'm afraid of, and particularly, intense exercise.

For as many years as I would consider myself a regular exerciser, I've also been anywhere from slightly overweight to obese, by a BMI standard.  My scale has frequently registered a 2 in front of the rest of the numbers.  So frequently, that it has never fazed me.  And I don't consider that a bad thing.  Not attaching my self-worth to the number on the scale is a GOOD thing.
And I'm still not trying to amount myself to numbers on a scale, don't get me wrong.
My point is that I feel that I have found my perfect (or close to!) personal equation.  I have found a healthy way to eat and an exercise balance that is simply resulting in weight loss, and more importantly, the fittest me that has ever existed.

As I was out for my 5.5km run, for the second day in a row, I found myself feeling lighter on my feet.  I did not struggle at any point, even the hills, and my normally 38-40 minute time has now become 32-33.
I feel incredible.
I can't help but smile for much of my run, as I repeat in my head the mantra that titles this post.

For my entire life, I have been stuck in an exercise and food 'rut', and now, at 31 years old, I've come out of it!

That's a long time!  However, if it was all to get to this point, then it was all worth it.

Since the day I had Miss E, I am down 44lbs.  But this is not the end, by any stretch, but more like the mid-way point.  I can feel myself slipping into a comfort zone, as my clothes all fit, well, and when I look in the mirror I'm happy with what I see.
My goal isn't necessarily to weigh a certain number (if anyone's seen Knocked Up, I'm not going to choose a number on the scale and then, weigh that!), but rather to continue to eat well and exercise and let my body take care of the rest.
I have taken a picture a couple of weeks ago, and I have yet to decide if I'm going to share it at any point, so count yourself lucky if it ever shows up here because it took a lot of guts simply to TAKE the intrepid bikini photo!

I'm going to leave a link to my current favourite running song, and if it happens to inspire you to pound out a few kilometers, I'm sorry.  Except that I'm not, because if you've read this and you want to go for a run, that's fantastic and I encourage you to do it!  You will NOT regret it!  ;)

Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch