I am strong.
I am STRONG.
I have three kids. I earned my masters. I've lost this weight before. I can do this again. I can do this workout.
I CAN DO THIS!!!
I AM STRONG!!! I have as much power as I believe I do.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Frustration
Yes, I'm frustrated yet again. The scale is back up, without a good explanation as to why. My period is just ending, but my weight was lower mid-period than it is now. I've done every workout, hard. I've stayed in my calorie range, taking care not to go too high or too low. I took the scheduled rest day. I've been drinking all 112 oz of water each day. I haven't had anything overly salty. And I've tried to spread my calories evenly throughout the day rather than eating 1/2 of them in the evening. I do feel a bit more solid but haven't done any actual strength training this week. Even if I had, I doubt I've gained enough muscle to make the scale go up. So what is the deal? I haven't got a clue but it's really frustrating that I've done all the "right" things for months now without the scale moving down much at all.
I'm trying to trust the process. If I keep at this, the scale will eventually cooperate, right?
I'm trying to trust the process. If I keep at this, the scale will eventually cooperate, right?
Friday, July 9, 2010
Weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint
I had this thought a few weeks ago. And on days like today, when it feels like one step forward, two steps back, I need to remember it.
Weight loss is a long-term commitment, more of a life change than anything else. Doing weight loss all-out for a few days isn't going to do much. To keep the weight off, it should come off slowly. Your efforts need to be steady and consistent. It's more like a marathon, with pacing and endurance, than a sprint where it's fast and short.
Weight loss is a long-term commitment, more of a life change than anything else. Doing weight loss all-out for a few days isn't going to do much. To keep the weight off, it should come off slowly. Your efforts need to be steady and consistent. It's more like a marathon, with pacing and endurance, than a sprint where it's fast and short.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The fountain of youth is a puddle of sweat
This quote was in my TurboFire info. This is so true! In the book it explained that high intensity exercise increases the body's production of human growth hormone (HGH). HGH is responsible for growth spurts in kids, but the production of it decreases as you age, especially once you're in your mid-thirties. Increasing it has anti-aging effects and rejuvenates your body. Apparently there is artificial HGH you can have injected but it's controversial and may not be safe. High intensity training increases it naturally and helps you feel and look younger.
Now I know I'm only 26 (27 in a few weeks). But while I was pregnant and shortly after when I was still overweight, I felt so old. Everything ached, I didn't have much energy, I even looked older. As I lost the weight and became addicted to my workouts, I felt younger again. I had energy to burn, I was happier, the saggy skin from my pregnancies started to snap back a bit. Staying active is what will help me feel young for years to come. Plus it helps prevent a lot of the chronic illnesses that come with age, the ones that make you feel older. The added energy makes me feel more playful too, which I'm sure makes me appear younger.
Prime example of this: my dad. He's almost 54. He's been an avid exerciser since high school and it shows. For the most part, he avoided weight gain that comes with age (he did gain a little) and most chronic health problems. Now, I do need to give a bit more background here. My incredibly active, healthy Dad who has a bit of a sweet tooth had a major heart attack about 3 years ago. He was actually mountain biking in the woods when it happened. So many people were shocked it happened to him and said that all that exercise apparently didn't help. He's quick to correct them though. Without all that exercise and conditioning he gave his heart, he never would have survived that heart attack. His heart could withstand the pounding it took because he trained it to do that. As it turned out, he had undiagnosed diabetes. Grandma had it but she was overweight. But it is genetic. Dad has his diabetes under control now and has not had any heart problems since his attack. He worked his way back up and is as active as ever. But he checks in regularly with a doctor now and listens to his body when it tells him to rest. Since it happened to my dad, I know it can happen to me, even if I stay in awesome shape (you know, once I get there again). But Dad's experience taught me two things: exercise can help me survive the things I can't avoid and to get regular check-ups. I'm planning on having a full physical soon because I want to be aware of potential problems. But back to Dad. He has tons of energy. He rarely gets sick. He's strong and active. Describing him as a 53 year old father of 4 and grandfather of 5 who survived a heart attack is misleading. He's goofy and mischievous and can pretty easily keep up with all his grandkids (shoot, he can outlast most of his kids and sons-in-law). I love my dad for a lot of reasons. But I am especially grateful for the lessons he's taught me concerning health and fitness. I know fitness and being proactive about my health are the best things I can do to keep myself healthy and feeling young. As Dad can tell you, feeling old doesn't have that much to do with age.
Keep sweating and act young! :)
Now I know I'm only 26 (27 in a few weeks). But while I was pregnant and shortly after when I was still overweight, I felt so old. Everything ached, I didn't have much energy, I even looked older. As I lost the weight and became addicted to my workouts, I felt younger again. I had energy to burn, I was happier, the saggy skin from my pregnancies started to snap back a bit. Staying active is what will help me feel young for years to come. Plus it helps prevent a lot of the chronic illnesses that come with age, the ones that make you feel older. The added energy makes me feel more playful too, which I'm sure makes me appear younger.
Prime example of this: my dad. He's almost 54. He's been an avid exerciser since high school and it shows. For the most part, he avoided weight gain that comes with age (he did gain a little) and most chronic health problems. Now, I do need to give a bit more background here. My incredibly active, healthy Dad who has a bit of a sweet tooth had a major heart attack about 3 years ago. He was actually mountain biking in the woods when it happened. So many people were shocked it happened to him and said that all that exercise apparently didn't help. He's quick to correct them though. Without all that exercise and conditioning he gave his heart, he never would have survived that heart attack. His heart could withstand the pounding it took because he trained it to do that. As it turned out, he had undiagnosed diabetes. Grandma had it but she was overweight. But it is genetic. Dad has his diabetes under control now and has not had any heart problems since his attack. He worked his way back up and is as active as ever. But he checks in regularly with a doctor now and listens to his body when it tells him to rest. Since it happened to my dad, I know it can happen to me, even if I stay in awesome shape (you know, once I get there again). But Dad's experience taught me two things: exercise can help me survive the things I can't avoid and to get regular check-ups. I'm planning on having a full physical soon because I want to be aware of potential problems. But back to Dad. He has tons of energy. He rarely gets sick. He's strong and active. Describing him as a 53 year old father of 4 and grandfather of 5 who survived a heart attack is misleading. He's goofy and mischievous and can pretty easily keep up with all his grandkids (shoot, he can outlast most of his kids and sons-in-law). I love my dad for a lot of reasons. But I am especially grateful for the lessons he's taught me concerning health and fitness. I know fitness and being proactive about my health are the best things I can do to keep myself healthy and feeling young. As Dad can tell you, feeling old doesn't have that much to do with age.
Keep sweating and act young! :)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
TurboFire!
To date, my exercise of choice has been Turbo Jam. It's an awesome workout (I burn more calories doing that than anything else) and I actually like doing it. I usually end a workout feeling both wiped and energized, not to mention dripping with sweat. Since I was so woefully out of shape at the end of my pregnancy, every workout for a while was a fight. I had to convince myself to do it and push myself to get through it. I was exhausted and sore by the end. But it started to change my body and I am now to the point that I get a second wind. Awesome! I would like the scale to move more quickly than it has been, but at least I can tell a difference in my fitness level and body. I know how much better I feel after a workout and it's become a habit again, so making myself start the workout is easier too.
But there's a new workout by the same trainer. It has the same great music but is even more intense and produces even better results in less time! It's called TurboFire and I am very impatiently waiting until I can order my copy. (I told DH I wanted it for my birthday. I'm now regretting that since my birthday is almost a month away. I tried to convince DH it would be an even better early birthday present so I could see results by my birthday but it's not in the budget. I will be getting it but we have to set aside some money from a few paychecks first. Boo on waiting. Patience is just not my strong suit.) I can't wait to get it and do it and see changes! Bring on the fire!
But there's a new workout by the same trainer. It has the same great music but is even more intense and produces even better results in less time! It's called TurboFire and I am very impatiently waiting until I can order my copy. (I told DH I wanted it for my birthday. I'm now regretting that since my birthday is almost a month away. I tried to convince DH it would be an even better early birthday present so I could see results by my birthday but it's not in the budget. I will be getting it but we have to set aside some money from a few paychecks first. Boo on waiting. Patience is just not my strong suit.) I can't wait to get it and do it and see changes! Bring on the fire!
Monday, June 28, 2010
"I am a work in progress"
I've had all kinds of ideas for posts swirling through my head. A few I want to address soon: exercise obsession, fitness as a focus while unemployed, motivation for working out.
Up today: body image. Before anything else, I want to say my daughters are the best thing to happen to me (except for maybe Steve, who was necessary to have my daughters). But being pregnant was easily the worst thing to happen to my body. I gained a lot of weight and was bigger than ever. Even worse, I was odd shaped. Since I am somewhat vain and want to look good, my self-esteem took a big hit with each pregnancy.
My daughters are definitely worth it. But I worried about the example I'd set for them. Moping about how bad I looked and how bad I felt about myself wouldn't be good for them. Up until I got pregnant with Ella, I was naturally thin. Even as I gained weight, I was proportional and had a pretty good figure. Gaining weight to the point I didn't recognize myself snapped me awake. Either I stayed that size or lost the weight. I want to make something clear right here: being thin does not equal happiness. If you're not happy with you when you're big, you won't be happy once you're thin. Something I learned as I lost weight and got into shape after Mia was that being fit and strong and taking care of yourself improves your body image. The stronger I got, the happier I was with my body and myself. I was proud of what I was accomplishing, and that was because I was getting fit, not because I was getting thin. I was surprised to find I liked strength training. It made me stronger and feel like I could do anything. Because I had to commit to working out to lose the weight, pregnancy was also one of the best things that happened to my body. I was happier and more proud of my body after I got fit following Mia's birth than I have ever been. More important to me than the number on the scale or even the size I wear is being strong and fit and regaining that feeling of accomplishment and pride. I am proud that I have my masters degree and that I finished it with a great GPA while having kids close in age, but in some respects I am even more proud of my weight loss and fitness gains during that time.
Yes, I want to get back to 145 and a size 8. But the thing I'm really craving is that sense of pride and well-being. I have heard from other people that being thin didn't make them happy. I believe it, because it's been true for me too. I remember being 128 in high school and still being self-conscious. I doubt I will weigh that little again, which is fine with me. I don't like my loose skin and stretch marks, but I wouldn't trade them for the lessons I learned along the way. Until I get back down to where I prefer to be, I'll repeat what became my mantra after Mia: "I am a work in progress." I would catch sight of myself in a mirror and immediately begin to berate myself. "Ugh, look at my thighs! And this horrible stomach! I look so gross." This is counter-productive. All it did was depress me. I had a hard time seeing beauty in the loose skin though. So I started cutting off my negative thoughts and saying "I am a work in progress." It served to remind me that this is temporary, as long as I decide it is. It was much more motivating and empowering than telling myself how ugly I felt. I get frustrated over being this big and heavy again. I told myself I wouldn't let myself get this big again. But I got pregnant and I did gain the weight (I'll address my weight gain while pregnant and why in another post). So rather than beat myself up for it, I need to just remind myself this is temporary again and work on changing the parts of my body that I can. I'm starting to see changes and I'm already fitting into clothes I couldn't before. I keep having to remind myself to focus on my progress and not how much farther I have left to go, because again, it's more productive. I'll get there, in time. I am definitely a work in progress, but the progress is the important part. :)
Up today: body image. Before anything else, I want to say my daughters are the best thing to happen to me (except for maybe Steve, who was necessary to have my daughters). But being pregnant was easily the worst thing to happen to my body. I gained a lot of weight and was bigger than ever. Even worse, I was odd shaped. Since I am somewhat vain and want to look good, my self-esteem took a big hit with each pregnancy.
My daughters are definitely worth it. But I worried about the example I'd set for them. Moping about how bad I looked and how bad I felt about myself wouldn't be good for them. Up until I got pregnant with Ella, I was naturally thin. Even as I gained weight, I was proportional and had a pretty good figure. Gaining weight to the point I didn't recognize myself snapped me awake. Either I stayed that size or lost the weight. I want to make something clear right here: being thin does not equal happiness. If you're not happy with you when you're big, you won't be happy once you're thin. Something I learned as I lost weight and got into shape after Mia was that being fit and strong and taking care of yourself improves your body image. The stronger I got, the happier I was with my body and myself. I was proud of what I was accomplishing, and that was because I was getting fit, not because I was getting thin. I was surprised to find I liked strength training. It made me stronger and feel like I could do anything. Because I had to commit to working out to lose the weight, pregnancy was also one of the best things that happened to my body. I was happier and more proud of my body after I got fit following Mia's birth than I have ever been. More important to me than the number on the scale or even the size I wear is being strong and fit and regaining that feeling of accomplishment and pride. I am proud that I have my masters degree and that I finished it with a great GPA while having kids close in age, but in some respects I am even more proud of my weight loss and fitness gains during that time.
Yes, I want to get back to 145 and a size 8. But the thing I'm really craving is that sense of pride and well-being. I have heard from other people that being thin didn't make them happy. I believe it, because it's been true for me too. I remember being 128 in high school and still being self-conscious. I doubt I will weigh that little again, which is fine with me. I don't like my loose skin and stretch marks, but I wouldn't trade them for the lessons I learned along the way. Until I get back down to where I prefer to be, I'll repeat what became my mantra after Mia: "I am a work in progress." I would catch sight of myself in a mirror and immediately begin to berate myself. "Ugh, look at my thighs! And this horrible stomach! I look so gross." This is counter-productive. All it did was depress me. I had a hard time seeing beauty in the loose skin though. So I started cutting off my negative thoughts and saying "I am a work in progress." It served to remind me that this is temporary, as long as I decide it is. It was much more motivating and empowering than telling myself how ugly I felt. I get frustrated over being this big and heavy again. I told myself I wouldn't let myself get this big again. But I got pregnant and I did gain the weight (I'll address my weight gain while pregnant and why in another post). So rather than beat myself up for it, I need to just remind myself this is temporary again and work on changing the parts of my body that I can. I'm starting to see changes and I'm already fitting into clothes I couldn't before. I keep having to remind myself to focus on my progress and not how much farther I have left to go, because again, it's more productive. I'll get there, in time. I am definitely a work in progress, but the progress is the important part. :)
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