Grufferman - Love Your Age

INTRODUCTION

How One Small Step Sparked a Whole New Life

Several years ago, I stood on First Avenue with my two daughters and my husband, a few friends and neighbors, and lots of strangers. It was a glorious fall day, and we were watching packs of runners go by, caught up in the excitement of the New York City Marathon.

But despite the beauty of the day, all I could think about was how far I felt from the determined athletes passing just a few feet away. Unlike them, I was at one of the lowest points of my life. Facing 50 and not exactly loving this new age, I was feeling sluggish, slow, low-energy, and anything but strong and ambitious. I didnt like how my clothes fit or how my hair and skin looked. Having just packed on a few new menopausal pounds didnt help, but neither did the fact that I wasnt doing anything about it.

Stuck in my personal pity party, I watched the runnersespecially those over 40with amazement. I was filled with wonder about how anyone could run 26.2 miles. I couldnt even imagine walking that faror wanting to. Running represented only dreaded memories of Field Day in elementary school. It was like those runners and I were entirely different species.

Lost in my negativity, I was surprised when my younger daughter suddenly blurted, One day I want to hold up a sign that says Go, Mom, Go!! Everyone stared at her. Then, as if on cue, they all turned and stared at me. My older daughter looked doubtful. My husband looked amused. I probably looked trapped. Feeling simultaneously horrified (really, what was she thinking?) and weirdly excited, I paused and said, I dont know how, and I dont know when. But I will run this race. I promise.

On that day, which was immediately scorched into my memory bank of pivotal events, I vowed to make some changesone small step at a time.

Still skeptical about running but inspired by my daughters outburst, I looked for a program that didnt seem too intimidating for an out-of-shape woman in her late 40s. After spending a bit of time on the Internet, I discovered running expert Jeff Galloways Run Walk Run program, which (as you might have guessed) alternates running and walking throughout the course of a workout.

Okay, I thought. I think I can manage that.

To ease into it, I started by simply taking walks every day, slowly making them both longer and faster. After a few weeks, I added some jogging. Not much at firstbut eventually I worked up to a fifty-fifty split between running and walking.

My routine was simple but steadfast: On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, after I got the family out the door and before I started my workday, Id don my running clothes, tie up my sneakers, pop in some earbuds, head to Central Park, and run (well, run/walk/run). My routine varied only to the extent that I sometimes spent a little more time running than walkingor vice versa, depending on my mood, the temperature, and which Tom Petty song was playing.

I couldnt have imagined it at the time, but choosing to adopt that one simple habit of running three times a weekrain or shine, all year longbecame the foundation of a whole new life. I think the key was that once I decided to do it, I didnt look back. Running became nonnegotiable, and I realized that nothing else was so important that it couldnt be accomplished after my run or on my days off. And then something magical happened: My one new habit led to others.

I ATE BETTER. Once I started getting regular physical exercise, I was inspired to fuel my body with better food, resulting in more energy, lost pounds, and improved overall health. I reconsidered every meal and slowly gravitated away from takeout and packaged foods and toward home-cooked veggies, legumes, and healthy proteins. Since I was paying more attention to how my body felt, I noticed that big portions, fried foods, and sweets didnt sit very well. So I cut back on them and got into the habit of eating smaller meals throughout the day, which lessened food cravings and kept my blood sugar levels stable.

I SLEPT MORE. Because I was more active during the day, I was more tired at night. This simple shift caused me to go to sleep earlier, and to sleep better and longer, which, in turn, helped me feel more alert, upbeat, and energetic than Id been in years.

I GOT STRONGER. I became interested in strengthening my body so I could be a more powerful runner, and created a daily habit of doing push-ups, planks, and squats. My muscle tone firmed up and my entire body looked and felt younger.

I STOOD TALLER. Feeling stronger inside and out resulted in a dramatic increase in my self-esteem. I became more aware of my posture and body language. Both reflected a woman who was much more comfortable in her own skin (and clothes).

As each small step built on the last, I realized that my former grumpy, frumpy, lumpy state of being wasnt the inevitable result of getting older. It was the inevitable result of continuing to make the same unhealthy choices Id been making for years.