After a Lifelong Struggle With Weight, Running Helped This New Yorker Lose 100 Pounds – runnersworld.com

Name: Ann Scanlon
Age: 47
Occupation: Licensed clinical social worker
Hometown:Merrick, New York

Start Weight: 292 pounds
End Weight: 190 pounds
Time Running: 6 years

I’ve struggled with weight my entire life. I was heavy all through high school, and started the cycle of gaining and losing the same 30 pounds all through college and beyond. After having major abdominal surgery at age 28 to remove an ovarian tumor, my weight continued to steadily creep up.

At the time of the surgery, I was in the low 200s. To make things worse, my diet was atrocious. I would order-in almost every night. A typical dinner would be an appetizer, a personal pizza, and a dessert from Pizzeria Uno. Just low-quality carbs and fried foods with no vegetables whatsoever.

I was getting too big for my size 20 clothes, and I couldn’t fit in a single airplane seat. The final straw was when I was walking in my neighborhood, and some guys in a truck yelled out the window to “moo” at me. I was mortified. I hadn’t been on a scale in over a year, so I decided to weigh myself that day. When it read 292 pounds, I knew that I had to make a change.

My weight loss journey began in 2010 when I was 38, but it was not smooth sailing. My diet was the first thing to change. I’ve tracked my food intake every day. I also added a little running. At first, it was horrible: I got short of breath almost immediately, and I didn’t realize one human could possibly sweat that much. I could barely make it to the end of my block. But it got easier, and in 2011, I got to the point where I could run a mile nonstop in 14:51.

That helped me lose 50 pounds in the first year. That same year, though, I moved from New York to Florida, and I put 35 pounds back on.

In 2013, I was ready to get back on track. My journey picked back up again when I ran my first 5K that March. Just like when I was trying to get to a mile nonstop, running that longer distance felt horrible at first.

But consistency was key for me. The more I ran, the easier it got. The easier it got, the farther I wanted to go. After that first 5K, I moved to a 10K by September 2014. Six months later, I ran my first half marathon. Before I even got to my first marathon, I lost my hundredth pound in October 2015. A full marathon came a year later in November 2016.

I’m still a back-of-the-pack runner, but my average pace has improved. From doing one mile at almost 15 minutes, I can now hold a 12- to 13-minute mile in the Florida heat for miles. I am also a stronger person emotionally and physically. I was introduced to a local running group by a former colleague a few years ago. The friendships I now have as a result are invaluable to me.

Being a part of my local running community as well as the running community at large has given me a source of support and inspiration like no other. The peace and balance I find when running alone, coupled with the fun and camaraderie I get when I run with my friends, have helped me become a happier, healthier person in every way. I cannot imagine my life without running as a part of it.

I still try my best to make healthy choices, and I make sure to indulge my cravings in moderation to make sure I don’t feel deprived. I’m still guilty of eating out more than I should, but now I make sure to check the menu before I go to have a healthier meal planned for myself before I even sit down. When I do eat at home, I usually have a protein source and fill up on veggies. I’ve also been tracking all of my food for more than 1,300 days and counting.

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I’ve given up obsessing about the number on the scale. Now, I focus more on how I feel, and it has been incredibly liberating. Staying active and feeling good is so much more important than your actual pace or the number on your scale. Listen to your body. Worrying that you’re not as fast or as fit as that other runner will rob you of the joy in running. There is no obstacle that can’t be overcome. I’m living proof of that.

Running literally saved my life. I am so thankful to be part of a community that accepts runners of all sizes, shapes, and paces. I don’t have a “typical” runner’s body, and I struggle at times to manage my health and keep running. But if I can inspire even one other person that doesn’t feel like a “typical” runner to start their journey, then that would mean the world to me.

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Gear & News Editor Drew covers a variety of subjects for Runner’s World and Bicycling, and he specializes in writing and editing human interest pieces while also covering health, wellness, gear, and fitness for the brand.