One thing in weighloss articles and podcasts that I've always rolled my eyes at is the idea that you have to find something "fun." Fun? Are you serious? Very rarely have I had a workout that's been what I consider "fun."
Then I started thinking about what really motivates me. What is it that gets me to workout hard, to not just throw in the towel? My family.
I recently read an article in Prevention magazine about a family that teamed up to take on a marathon. Almost immediately, I e-mailed my sisters and thought we should do something similar. Granted the health problems aren't to the same extent, but it's never too early to really start caring about your health.
Since then we've found a few 5Ks, 10K, half-marathons and even marathons to work our way toward. Our first 5K will be this November, which I'm super excited for. I also think it's great because it's a way to keep our family working toward a goal, especially while one of my sisters and I are off at our respective colleges.
Even though it's exercise, and in the past I might have said "Ugh! A 5K?!" now it's something I can get excited about. I can start walking, knowing that I'm working toward a specific goal and date, instead of "I'm working out in hopes of losing weight." It's more defined, and I think I need that. Plus having the support of my family makes it even better.
Who knows. Maybe I"ll start finding excitement in more physical activities. I've always wanted to take up pilates....
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Thinking Differently?
I was listening to a podcast today, and the speaker (or whatever you want to call him) said that in his years as a personal trainer, he's noticed that fat people think differently than thin people. While he was explaining his observations, I immediately got offended. He couldn't seriously think this, could he?
But then I started to look at my own thought process and experiences in comparison with his scenarios.
He claimed that heavier people tend to have a much different relationship with food. While not always the case, thinner people tend to see food as fuel. They also tend to eat fairly regularly week after week. His contention is that heavier people almost lose it come the weekend or major holidays. They see it as an opportunity to reward themselves.
Like I said, at first I was offended. Who does this guy think he is? Even thinking back to it, I still get flustered. But perhaps, at least in my case, he's right.
I look back to the Fourth of July. Birthdays. New Years Eve. Christmas. Thanksgiving. Heck, even this past weekend. It doesn't have to be a major holiday! It's almost like I justify eating more because I "owe it to myself." I got through the week. Now I can relax and just take my mind off things. But then I take my mind of really honing in on my lifestyle choices.
When I think about the Eat Right Challenge, I tend to do well during the week. I have an 8 to 5 schedule that keeps me away from the kitchen (although sometimes even work can be a tough place with my snacking and goodies...). But then on the weekend.... I'm more susceptible to binges. And as this guy explained, I can, in just one weekend, cancel out all the good work I did with eating during the week.
That's a scary thought.
Perhaps part of the Eat Right Challenge is learning to change my relationship with food. Maybe I need to start seeing it as fuel, as something that can better my body and keep it functioning. I need to focus on whether I'm hungry, and whether what I'm eating will really satisfy me. Yes that chocolate cake looks good...but do I really need it? Or do I just want it because it's there.
The podcast I listened to claimed that I, because I'm heavier and don't yet think like a thin person, am more likely to indulge in it because I've been given the opportunity to. Instead of having one bite and being happy with it, I will think "When is this opportunity going to come again??" and I'll continue to eat.
Sadly, that could be the case.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Do heavier people really think differently than thin people? Is that what my/our downfall is? I'm curious to know what others think.
But then I started to look at my own thought process and experiences in comparison with his scenarios.
He claimed that heavier people tend to have a much different relationship with food. While not always the case, thinner people tend to see food as fuel. They also tend to eat fairly regularly week after week. His contention is that heavier people almost lose it come the weekend or major holidays. They see it as an opportunity to reward themselves.
Like I said, at first I was offended. Who does this guy think he is? Even thinking back to it, I still get flustered. But perhaps, at least in my case, he's right.
I look back to the Fourth of July. Birthdays. New Years Eve. Christmas. Thanksgiving. Heck, even this past weekend. It doesn't have to be a major holiday! It's almost like I justify eating more because I "owe it to myself." I got through the week. Now I can relax and just take my mind off things. But then I take my mind of really honing in on my lifestyle choices.
When I think about the Eat Right Challenge, I tend to do well during the week. I have an 8 to 5 schedule that keeps me away from the kitchen (although sometimes even work can be a tough place with my snacking and goodies...). But then on the weekend.... I'm more susceptible to binges. And as this guy explained, I can, in just one weekend, cancel out all the good work I did with eating during the week.
That's a scary thought.
Perhaps part of the Eat Right Challenge is learning to change my relationship with food. Maybe I need to start seeing it as fuel, as something that can better my body and keep it functioning. I need to focus on whether I'm hungry, and whether what I'm eating will really satisfy me. Yes that chocolate cake looks good...but do I really need it? Or do I just want it because it's there.
The podcast I listened to claimed that I, because I'm heavier and don't yet think like a thin person, am more likely to indulge in it because I've been given the opportunity to. Instead of having one bite and being happy with it, I will think "When is this opportunity going to come again??" and I'll continue to eat.
Sadly, that could be the case.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Do heavier people really think differently than thin people? Is that what my/our downfall is? I'm curious to know what others think.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Mental Victory
Here's a revelation I had today. I was looking in the mirror, and I realized I was okay. And really, it's more of a mental thing.
In the last few weeks, my sister has put me through a few tough work outs and I generally work out 3-5 times a week, even if it's just walking my dogs for 15 minutes. Through this working out, I feel so much better about myself. My clothes fit a bit better, but it's probably not a substantial change from a few weeks ago when I started working out.
Rather, it's my mentality that's changed. Because I'm taking care of myself. Because I'm learning to respect myself and know that what I'm doing now will help. When I look at myself in the mirror, and even when I'm just in public, I feel better about myself because I know I'm in the process of getting healthy. I'm making a real effort to improve my health, and I feel like it's paying off. This only aides in my consistency of working out, which is what I need.
I think working out, particularly on the harder workouts, has also opened my eyes to additional ways I can better myself. One day I only drank pop. I probably had a glass of water, but otherwise it was Diet Coke. That night during my workout, I wanted to smack myself. It just didn't feel as cleansing knowing I didn't have water in me, that I had junk food. While it's probably not the case, I felt like it prevented me from having an optimum workout. I just had this vision of sweating out Diet Coke instead of water, and it didn't sit well with me.
Hopefully this will lead to more changes, but for now I'm trying to take it one day at a time. When 8 p.m. rolls around, I remind myself of how great I'll feel if I get out for a walk, even if it's just 10 or 15 minutes. It's the small things that can start to add up - and they can add up to a lot.
In the last few weeks, my sister has put me through a few tough work outs and I generally work out 3-5 times a week, even if it's just walking my dogs for 15 minutes. Through this working out, I feel so much better about myself. My clothes fit a bit better, but it's probably not a substantial change from a few weeks ago when I started working out.
Rather, it's my mentality that's changed. Because I'm taking care of myself. Because I'm learning to respect myself and know that what I'm doing now will help. When I look at myself in the mirror, and even when I'm just in public, I feel better about myself because I know I'm in the process of getting healthy. I'm making a real effort to improve my health, and I feel like it's paying off. This only aides in my consistency of working out, which is what I need.
I think working out, particularly on the harder workouts, has also opened my eyes to additional ways I can better myself. One day I only drank pop. I probably had a glass of water, but otherwise it was Diet Coke. That night during my workout, I wanted to smack myself. It just didn't feel as cleansing knowing I didn't have water in me, that I had junk food. While it's probably not the case, I felt like it prevented me from having an optimum workout. I just had this vision of sweating out Diet Coke instead of water, and it didn't sit well with me.
Hopefully this will lead to more changes, but for now I'm trying to take it one day at a time. When 8 p.m. rolls around, I remind myself of how great I'll feel if I get out for a walk, even if it's just 10 or 15 minutes. It's the small things that can start to add up - and they can add up to a lot.
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