Yesterday a couch potato… Today a marathon runner!

Until October 2010, I simply enjoyed my life – never worrying about healthy nutrition or sports. What I “enjoyed” back then, though, seems disastrous to me today.

In October 2010, a started a new life. I decided to change my lifestyle, become active, and work on my eating habits. The first step was a visit to a friend’s gym. A thorough body check-up, a conversation about my lifestyle, plus a training and nutrition plan marked the beginning of my new life. I started at 282 lbs with a height of 5’9”. My first time on the scale came was a total shock, a slap in the face. But, then everything changed! Four training sessions a week, composed of both cardio and strength training, helped me discover my love for sports. I suddenly realized I would love to have some sort of training log – to look up my workout sessions and review my well-invested time. This is how I found Runtastic. From that moment on, Runtastic has accompanied me during all my sport activities.

In addition to working out, I also completely changed my nutrition and eating habits. I started focusing on ample proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates (at the right time) and always in accordance with my training intensity.

After six months, the fruit of my labor – of my efforts and discipline – became more and more visible… And I wanted more!

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My workouts in the gym got increasingly difficult and more goal-oriented. I wanted to train harder, sweat more. And, I did what worked best for me: I set personal goals. In order to reach them, I just had to keep at it and work harder (and it actually was very hard for me)! Runtastic still tracked all my activities and since I was really proud of my achievements, I shared them with my Facebook friends, etc. This was a real motivation booster, especially when I was struggling to overcome my weaker self. I always thought, “You have to work out!” And so, I worked out.

My first project was a half marathon without a target time. I included running sessions in my training plan to prepare for the half marathon, always tracking distance and times with Runtastic. After my trainings, I was able to check out and analyze my route and statistics online.

After the half marathon, I turned to something new: MTB marathon competitions. I squeezed mountain bike tours into my training plan and made great progress.

In 2012, after two sporty years, I needed new goals. That is why I decided to go for it and try a marathon! After seven months of intense training, with a goal of “just making it,” and no target time, I finished my first marathon and burst with pride when I saw my time: 03:53:28.

My life is so much better now, I just wish I had discovered my love for sports earlier in my life. I could have stopped being overweight sooner, but what’s done is done. Just know, it’s never too late to start a new, healthier life – no matter if you’re a leisure or professional athlete. Currently, I spend an average of 8-10 hours per week running or biking.

Runtastic is a great tool for generating statistics and analyzing how many miles you’ve covered over the past weeks, months, and years – as well as how many hours you’ve spent working out. While watching the numbers grow, your motivation will grow with them!

The bottom line is: I don’t regret anything! In three years, I lost 100 lbs thanks to an active lifestyle and a balanced, healthy diet. I feel so much better and I am able to enjoy my life to the fullest!

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adidas Runtastic Team Are you looking to lose some weight, get more active, or improve your sleep? The adidas Runtastic Team gives you useful tips and inspiration to reach your personal goals. View all posts by adidas Runtastic Team