About to reach my first weight goal, thanks to barefooting!

I started seriously barefooting back in May of last year. A few months later, being barefoot compelled me to try to improve my health and fitness. I started walking and transitioning to running. I walked a lot last Fall, but didn't do much running as I was dealing with some leg muscle pains.

Finally around December/January I really started getting serious about it. Doc said my cholesterol was a bit high and I needed to lose 15-20 lbs. My weight has fluctuated between 212-218 for at least 10 years if not more. So I set the initial goal of getting under 200. Back in December I could barely run for 30-45 seconds before I felt like I was dying from lack of breath. But I stuck at it, using a combination of Bluefin's E25K app for iPhone and my own combinations of walking and running. I would say I REALLY got serious with the E25K app about 1 month ago. I have also been improving my diet, eating many more natural fruits instead of sweet confections, and cutting out soft drinks 100% (over 2 months now since my last soda).

Fast forward to yesterday. I started Week 4 of E25K (I usually spend a couple weeks on each week of the program), and was able to run for 5 minutes 20 seconds continuous, with total running time during the workout of 9 minutes 20 seconds. Before yesterday, the longest I had run so far was 3 minutes, so getting in nearly 6 minutes was a big jump for me.

Then this morning I tried the scale. 200.4 lbs! Just 1/2 lb. from reaching my first goal! Needless to say I've been ecstatic about it today. I have to say that I never would have done any of this if it weren't for my life-changing decision last Summer to go without shoes as much as I possibly could. My life is much better for it, and it continues to improve every day.

Now for my next goal - 185 lbs, hopefully before our beach trip to Florida this coming August! :2thumbsup:

*edit* I know this forum isn't really about fitness, but it is a barefooting community and I just wanted to share the wonderful impact that barefooting has made on my life in the past year.

 

Good stuff. Would you say that going barefoot has encouraged you to get out more and be more active generally?

I sort of find this - a walk is much more fun and interesting with bare feet than with shoes! It feels like i have more energy, if that makes sense?

 

Oh absolutely - I figured out a route to the neighboring park that is walk-able from the house, so now my son and I walk there almost every day, and always with no shoes.

A few weeks ago I actually walked through the park and over to my in-laws' house in the drizzling rain, barefoot. It felt awesome.

 

He's totally correct, boys and girls. Going barefoot means GOING! As they used to say, IF IT FEELS GOOD, DO IT!!!

 

Yesterday morning

 

Congratulations! That's really awesome..its amazing what a big impact it can make to free your feet. It definitely makes me feel more fresh and ready to go.