Three years ago I trained up for my first 5Km, my only motivation for it being that I wanted to lose weight. I was under the impression that as long as I started an exercise routine I would lose weight. I trained up and managed to run the race in 37 minutes, but only lost 4 pounds!



I managed to gain back the weight I had lost and came to the conclusion that I needed to train for a longer race - maybe if I ran more I would lose more. So, in 2011 I ran my first 10km.



I loved this race. I managed to lose about 6 pounds while training for this one and felt a great sense of accomplishment at completing it in 59.33. However, during the last km, I began to experience pain in my left leg, which left me unable to walk the next day (I found that a pretty scary experience) and resulted in my future runs always ending with the same sharp pain shooting through my leg at the 30 minute mark. I persevered, and ran two more races, but my training and my times suffered. I didn't lose any more weight, and, actually gained everything back again.

It was after The Nun run, (hence the fancy dress!) that I began to consider that perhaps there was some truth in what people were saying about needing to diet as well as exercise.



After a lot of debate, I joined sparkpeople. I had also been advised by my doctor to stop jogging and start strength training and cross training in order to strengthen and heal my leg. That was in September 2011. Gradually, as I began to lose weight and get stronger, I began to start jogging again.

Today, I ran my first race since the Nun Run. It was the Race for life 5km, which I completed in 25 minutes! Not only that, but I came 23rd out of the 9000 or so people taking part ! And, I managed to do the whole thing pain free!!



So, I'm converted : if you want to lose weight, don't just exercise, count your calories too!



thank you, sparkpeople.