Column by Kym Klass
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And joined in.
McQueen's success story is quite simple in words: work hard for what you want. What's not simple is the dedication and time she put into reaching the results she did -- not only the weight loss, but also consistent running, and getting to the point where it wasn't so horrible.
Amanda weighs less today than she has in her adult life -- 145 pounds. She hit her weight goal in December through running, Weight Watchers and discipline.
Amanda did what she was supposed to do: ate a lot of fruits and vegetables, took fried and fatty foods out of her diet and started measuring and weighing all her meals. She started the Weight Watchers program before she became pregnant with her son, Lincoln, and lost 15 pounds. She had to get off the program while pregnant, and after his April 2008 birth, was back to measuring her food on the program around December 2008.
Her entire life has found Amanda either gaining orlosing weight, and once she lost the 115 pounds, she wished she had found something to stay motivated sooner. "I have to say, that I'm still scared on occasion," she said. "I know I could go back there. I don't still do Weight Watchers anymore, but know that I need to watch what I eat. I think I'll always be afraid I could do that, but don't think I will ever let myself get to that point again. "I've always wanted to be the kind of mother who got down and played with my son on the floor, and not parent him from the couch. That was my motivation."
Amanda's parents were runners, and in high school, would find herself at the track with her dad to walk/run. And her mom was a marathoner, so the sport has always been right there. And after she and
her friends completed the Couch-to-5K Running Plan, she put her work to test: Amanda signed up for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Walk/Run 2009 in September, and finished in 28:50. Her new personal best was earned at the Cruising the Creekwalk 5K in January, where she ran a 22:45. And, last month finished her second half marathon -- Mercedes Half Marathon -- in a personal best 1:45:32.
It has been a journey since Amanda first started running. When she started, she couldn't run more than two or three minutes at a time -- running between 12- to 13-minute miles. As she progressed, though, it got easier, and Amanda became stronger. The weight fell off.
"I ran the entire program on my treadmill," Amanda said. "I have a treadmill, and figured I should use it. A week or two before the (first) 5K, I ran outside, Advertisement and I really enjoyed it.
"You're actually moving and going somewhere and seeing new sites."
The most important thing to Amanda was finding something she really enjoyed doing -- something she was passionate about. Her passion continues in her new goals -- the Talladega Half Marathon in April; and her long-term goal, the Disney Marathon in January. Someone who has stood by her side through this --and who is one of her biggest supporters -- is her husband, Tim McQueen. Once Amanda lost about 25 pounds, Tim not only took notice, but joined herand has lost 75 pounds.
To chronicle her journey, Amanda started a Web site called "Inside Every Thin Girl." She recently renamed it to "Eat to Live, Live to Run," and discusses her workouts, diets -- complete with photos of meals she makes.
"I realized there were two things I was passionate about in my life," she said. "Eating and running. And when I found running, it was more than just exercise to me.
"It was fun."
Visit Amanda's Web site: http://eattolivelivetorun.wordpress.com
The Couch to 5K program can be found at: www.coolrunning.com.
Kym Klass is an avid runner, a metro reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser, and R3 member. Follow herworkouts at twitter.com/kymklass and www.runkymklass.blogspot.com.
