Thursday, May 20, 2010

Saying Aloha to Weight Loss

Aloha is a Hawaiian word that translates in English to both hello and goodbye.

When I started Weight Watchers about three months ago, I happily said aloha—hello—to the program. Optimistic and excited, I achieved quick success, losing 12 pounds in just under a month. Based on my calculations, at that pace, I would be able to hit my goal weight by mid-Summer. And to reward myself, I would go on a trip to Hawaii—somewhere I have never been, but always fantasized about, thanks to mainstream media. (I'm obviously referring to Saved by the Bell Hawaiian Style.)

It has now been three months, and I have lost... 12 pounds. When I realized this, I was completely discouraged. I was ready to quit. I was ready to say aloha—goodbye—to Weight Watchers all together.

But if I quit, I'd have to give up on my Hawaiian dream. Not ready to do that just yet, I figured out another (unlikely, if you know me) way to get there. I signed up to run the Kauai Half Marathon, which will take place September 5, with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.

This will ensure three things:
1) I will continue to work towards my goal weight.
2) I will get to Hawaii at last.
3) And the best part: I will change the life of someone with blood cancer by raising $4,000 between now and the race.

In English, aloha means hello and goodbye. But aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion and mercy—all things I am going to need as I embark on this challenge... things the people battling blood cancers need daily. If you can, please help me to accomplish the daunting task that lies before me by visiting my personal fundraising page and donating whatever works for your budget.

Aloha.

3 comments:

  1. Oh. Good. At first I thought you were quitting! Keep plugging along it is worth the struggle. Just met my 50 pound goal! It took me eight months...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loreal--I ran my first half marathon last fall and loved it all, the run and the training. I wish you luck and strength! Please go look for books/articles by Jeff Galloway. His training materials are encouraging and realistic and they work. And he coaches runners at all levels. The first time I ever rsn longer than 6 miles I was with my Dad, in Hawaii, and I just kept going because it was all so lovely. I hope the same for you. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I did a walking fundraising marathon in Hawaii many years ago, it was magical. I cried at the end, when members of my team, who I had trained very little with, mostly on my own, came back to walk in with me, even after they had finished! Good luck. Take a disposable camera to take pix along the way.

    ReplyDelete