Runtastic Success Story: Weight loss & motivation gain

My Name is Gesa and during my childhood I was quite active, despite being overweight. I was in a swimming club and played volleyball. In college, I stopped doing sports due to a lack of time and motivation, and I got lazier and bigger.
In 2002 a slipped disk ended my last fitness efforts due to fear of the pain.
2010 was a really bad year for me, I felt terrible and my doctor first diagnosed diabetes, then high blood pressure, and then also thyroid disfunction- which turned out to be cancer. Every one of these diagnoses changed my behavior and helped motivate me to lose weight. I had already lost 44 lbs before I started rehab in May 2011 but was struggling with paralysis of the recurrent nerve after my throat surgery- which led to respiratory impairment.
During rehab I engaged in many fitness activities and rekindled my desired to do sports again. I took Nordic Walking classes and got really hooked on it – especially because I did well despite my respiratory problems.
After rehab I just did short routes at first and then got myself a fitness tracker to monitor my progress. Unfortunately, it was unreliable and just consumed lots of batteries. Thanks to recommendations, I then found the Runtastic app. I installed them both last March and have been using them ever since. The training diary is such a great motivation for me since it perfectly illustrates how I have improved my performance.
I now work out between 4 and 6 times per week, both outdoors and in the gym: Nordic Walking, ergometer, biking, strength training, treadmill and cross trainer. Plus, I found a reliable running partner/friend with whom I shared common goals of the year: a bike tour from Sassnitz to Stralsund, Germany, (approx. 44 miles) and the Rügenbrücke run in October.
We exceeded our expectations on both occasions and walked 7.5 miles in 2:06 hours at the Rügenbrücke run. Two years ago I would have needed a one-hour break after less than a mile.
Another success: I lost 77 lbs and six sizes. That’s my personal success story!
I definitely want to participate in the Rügenbrücke run next year, and I really hope to finish in under two hours. Let’s see what happens… all I know is that I’ll do my absolute best! And the Runtastic app will track all my efforts 😉
Hope you enjoyed my Runtastic success story.
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