Guest Post: Fat to Fast by Katie Shireman

In life everyone needs a good friend and a little inspiration.  Katie is mine, and I am grateful to have her.

·         I have been heavy all my life. I am tall, 5’11”, so most people just say, “Well you are tall.” However, tall is no excuse for being fat! I recall being 113 lbs in 3rd grade. I was also 5’4”. Throughout middle school and high school, I was always playing basketball and very active, I was just a big girl.  I was between 180-195 lbs. And wore around a size 14.  I went to college fall 1996 kinda heavy, but not too heavy.  I wore a size 12 or 14 in GAP jeans, so not huge.  But, as college goes, I just got bigger.  The breaking point was my dad saying to me, as I was reaching for more stuffed shells, “that’s enough, you look like a house.”  That was December 26, 1998. It was cool. My dad and I have an excellent relationship.  As I drove the 2 hours home that night, I thought about it, and …..he was right. My pants for that Christmas were a 22/24 – big lady size.  Way too big for someone who is 5’11” So, one of my roommates and I started running. The first day we ran a block, turned around, lit a cigarette and walked home. For real. I smoked 3 packs a day at that point. Yep, fat and a smoker.  The next day, we ran 2 blocks, lit a cigarette, and walked home.  The third day, we ran 4 blocks, to the bar, had a beer, and of course a smoke, and walked home.  We just kept adding distance, and lessening cigarettes (and beer), til we could run a good distance.  I lost 70 lbs from December 27, 1998 to June 13, 1999. It was amazing! My senior year of college was my thinnest ever!  As I graduate, moved, left college and started ‘real life,’ I continued to run. I stopped smoking.  Cold Turkey. And I lived through it!  I have run on every vacation, from every house I lived in, and on almost every track, trail, paved path there is to run. I have grown to thoroughly enjoy running. When I got pregnant with my son, March 2006, I had to stop running, as per my OB. I put on 68 lbs during his pregnancy. He was born November 2006.  It was so bad that 6 weeks ppd and right before Christmas, I was crying in the GAP because I was squeezing in a 16. I had been down to a 6-8 prepregnancy, so this was super traumatic. I resumed my running 2 months ppd and some of the weight came off. Then, I got pregnant with my daughter in January 2008. I ran Every. Single. Day during her pregnancy, despite such bad morning sickness (or all day sickness) that I stopped to vomit on the trail.  There are still some places I cannot run by because of the amount of times I stopped to puke in the woods.  However, I put on only 26 lbs.  I delivered her on October 20, 2008, and  I ran one week later, October 27, 2008. It was  only 1.5 miles, but it was something.  I bounced back super fast.  A little over 3 years ago, I was blessed to meet 2 guys at my gym who were starting to run.  We started the now infamous 4a runs. We have since done different things: one is a triathlete, one is an ultra runner, and I am a marthoner, but still meet to run occasionally.  Last year, as my New Years Resolution (maybe after too much wine), I decided I’d do a marathon.  And, I did.  I actually did 2....in 10 weeks. Never say never!

·         The human body is an amazing thing.  I now wear a small and a 4-6 in jeans, of course depending on the brand and cut. As for the food part….I have been vegetarian since I was about 14. So, I just had to watch the ‘junk’ and focus more on good stuff.  I eat my 10-12 fruits and veggies each day. I lay them on the counter to remind myself to eat them. I am super regimented.  I eat a lot of the same things….I like them… and I know what is in them.  And while training I am even more regimented.  Like no alcohol, nothing that will make my stomach hurt or make me feel ‘crappy.’  Not always fun but necessary.

·         I am setting the best example ever for my son and daughter.  They know mommy runs and gets up early to run and go to the gym. My son gave me a sticker today that said ‘winner.’ He told me it was because I won my race yesterday.  I told him not really, mommy didn’t go to win, just for a personal win.  He said,” well you are a winner then.”  Love him!  He runs.  Fast.  And he is 5.  I have to tame that, but it will come in time.  I am thrilled my kids prefer to ride bike, run, and be outside than be indoors with a TV or video game on.  Lead by example, they will follow. 

·         I write this the day after I finished my 3^rd marathon....in 8 months.  My goal for my first was under 4 hours.  I was 4:08:36.  I cried.  My PR time yesterday:  3:55:08. (booyah!!  13 min 28 sec faster!)  I cried again.  For a different reason.

I am proof you don’t need gimmicks or fad diets and programs. Old fashioned exercise, a good diet, and some determination (and maybe thick-headedness!) gets you a long way.  The human body is amazing.  It reacts to what you do to it.  Now, go do something good for your body and your family!  -Katie