the other week and I have only just reviewed the photos – needless to say they are not good.
I have realised that whenever I feel bad about something I relate it to my weight, “When I’m skinny I’d talk/dance/shop more”.
This has to stop now, I’m not living my life properly and I used to be happier and I want to get back there.
Total overhaul of diet/exercise/motivation tactics tommorrow.
How to “Have a kick ass body that stops traffic without jumping in front of it”
How I did it: I didn't, really. Just a lifestyle change that happened whether I liked it or not. I moved from overseas where I was a comfortably-kept nanny in a family with the world's most amazing Italian cook for a mom. They vigilantly ate 3 large meals a day plus 2 substantial snacks. They lived in a warm house on one level so I never had to climb stairs, and although I ran every day, I was in a 2-mile rut and never felt like adding distance or doing anything other than that 2 mile run for exercise. The chocolate there was truly, madly addictive and I couldn't resist a bar of it each day.
Then my time was up so I came home. To my own family, who has never had the luxury of eating together or organizing mealtimes because of my parents' work schedules. Our culture, unlike theirs, does not place the same importance on family meals together except on holidays. So I'd often find myself skipping meals because my structure was gone and my stomach was not hungry enough to cry out "feed me!" I also have to climb 2 flights of stairs several times a day to go to my bedroom. Our heat never works so I am constantly burning calories conserving warmth because it gets so much colder here than it ever did there. And for some reason I always have the energy to run, in fact I run more because of how warm it keeps me. And the chocolate here's ok, just, not addictive.
Another significant factor is prissiness. I got used to such amazing food that nothing I used to eat here is appetizing. To be appetized at all, I have to go to the store myself and get loads of fresh vegetables and bring them home and spend an hour or two making a recipe my boss taught me. I've always been a vegetarian but lately I have cut down on milk and cheese because it's kinda gross compared to Switzerland's, and I worry about the chemicals and stuff fed to the cows here, which I imagine I can taste. I wish I didn't because I used to love dairy here...but I'm more than making up for it in vegetable nutrients.
& I have much more time to myself to take care of myself. I was always working over there. I wasn't fat to begin with, just not-toned and average and 'ok.' I had nothing to complain about, just nothing to flaunt either. Now I feel sorry for my ex-boyfriends for losing me every time I see myself in a mirror before I get in the shower because I'm comparable to whoever's in the porn they watch, only real, un-retouched and not a whore.
Lessons & tips: Most of what you eat should have fewer than 5 ingredients, and never ingredients that you can't understand.
Never follow fad diets, but you may need to spend more on fresh natural stuff, although you will not need as much of quality food to get the nutrients you'd need 10 times as much crap food to get. Consider it an investment, though, because better food keeps you alive longer. Can't argue with that.
& learn ways to prepare vegetables that make them tasty to you. I swear, it's always possible. It gets easier as you develop a taste for them - which you will if you keep eating fresh ones.
Replace soda with tea or cranberry juice.
Don't eat out every meal for Chrissakes - I know so many people who do that and no amount of going to the gym ever makes them look any better even though they probably work out for two hours a day.
Don't obsess about diet and exercise, just live your life and listen to your body. If it's hungry, feed it right away, but only feed it pure good vegetables or homemade bread or real cheese, just a little, and because you didn't feed it junk it will fill up and you'll be satisfied and not craving more. If it's sluggish, do an excercise video or dance while you do housework or go for a run to wake it up.
Use olive oil instead of butter.
Eat homemade stuff instead of takeout or frozen food.
Handwash your dishes enough to notice how certain foods behave, if they come off easily under running water or if they harden and would stick on forever if you didn't pry them off with a knife. This is important because food often behaves a similar way inside your body. The stuff that sticks real bad makes you fat and constipated and sluggish and could eventually give you cancer or heart disease. It also makes your body work harder than it has to so your equipment wears out before your life does and you spend your last 2 years on a feeding tube. Eat stuff that makes easy dish clean-up. It'll be just as easy on your system.
Entries
the exercise wagon on monday, see if that whips my fat ass into shape.
Two weeks ago, I joined the community center and have been working out at least 5 times a week since. Although I would love to say the pounds have been melting off, they haven’t but I’m definitely feeling better and have been finding I’m getting more done in a day just be energizing myself with some exercise.
But being a scale addict, I was still concerned and googled, “working out but still gaining weight” and came across this article:
http://www.columbussports.com/content/writers/dan_falkenberg/ive-started-working-out-why-am-i-still-gaining-weight.shtml
It’s worth reading, it was definitely a relief to know that I’m on the right path for a long term change.
ManagementMatters is happy the goal setting seminar went well!
that stops traffic without me committing suicide!!
definitely, that would be awesome!!
mamidragon likes to party all the time, party all the time, party all the time.
used to have one! want it back!
Within the last few months ive been working on getting in better shape, so far ive lost about 15 to 20 pounds, and feeling very good about myself, i was never “fat” but always felt i was.
Dieting is impossible. Every “failure” sends me into a self-feeding (ha!) cycle of negativity. Strict rules set me up for failures.
I’ve learned these things so many times, it’s comical I still keep re-learning them. But anyway…
My plan:
Being nice to myself. Eating good food instead of crap because it makes me feel better and it’s good for me. Not setting strict rules and not beating myself up when I fail to follow them. Aiming for my “maintenance” daily calorie goal on most days, sometimes a bit less, sometimes a bit more. Being flexible. Working out, regularly, intensely, because it makes me feel all Hulk/WonderWoman super-confident and in love with my body. Running, because it clears my mind and keeps me happy (even when it’s a toil). Not stressing because I’m busy, but rearranging my day and/or my commitments so I’m not busy. I have all the time in the world, if I decide to take it.
I’m almost 30. I should’ve learned all of this already.
First time I tried this I could only do 20. then 26. and last night 30. Felt great. In an exhausting painful sort of way. ;-)
I’ve been doing half hour of cardio 3-5 times a week. This is after several months at Curves with no results. Then did some butt-kicking hot yoga for a few months and lost a good deal of weight. That was too expensive though – and I kind of dropped off doing it on my own at home. So now I go to a regular gym. I’ll try to run harder and then add a half hour of weights 3 days a week. Think that will help???
PeaceHopeLife Is beginning to see real change in her life.
I was standing at the register with my husband while he was paying for our dinner. Our oldest son has hurt his knee terribly and we had just left urgent care after spending 6, yes that’s right 6 hours waiting and then waiting for him to be x-rayed. Our son may need surgery. Perhaps not. But it was a very long day. A woman I used to be in a prayer group with was sitting at one of the tables at the restaurant with her family. She didn’t recognize me at first and was so surprised by my appearance. “You look so cute”. I soooo didn’t feel cute. I felt tired and drained and so worried. It kind of makes me wonder what I used to look like. I’ll take the compliment and enjoy it. I know there is still lots of work to do, but I must be doing well. It feels good.



