This relationship isn't work. My relationship with food, that is.
I was chatting with one of my co-workers about dieting. She's been on quite an interesting diet for the last few weeks, and she's had some great results. One of her more amazing accomplishments, though, is that she feels like she's fueling her body. She doesn't miss all the crap, for like of a better word, that we typically find ourselves eating.
She also drinks about a gallon of water a day, saying that it's just become habit. Instead of reaching for pop, which I generally do, she brings in 1-liter water bottles and just drinks those. She feels like she's flushing out all the bad stuff and just putting things in her body that help her function and live better.
Do you know how wonderful that would be? I really do think that's an amazing feat. For msyelf, eating tends to stem from my emotions. That was confirmed when I took this eating personality quiz. When I'm bored, antsy, frustrated or even excited, I eat. The only time I don't really eat is when I'm nervous, and that's simply because my stomach doesn't need anything on top of the butterflies I already feel.
It amazes me at how much eating has evolved. I don't eat to fuel my body. Well, I do, but it doesn't feel like that's the main priority for me. Mostly it's, "Oh my gosh, that looks so good!" and then I stuff it in my mouth. I don't stop to ask myself if I'm even hungry or if there's a better option. Eating and drinking seems to be more about instant gratification instead of eating to live.
While it won't be easy, I do think I need to take a closer look at my relationship with food. I need to start being more cognizant of what I'm eating and why. I need to start looking at my body as a machine, something that needs to be fueled with healthy, more natural foods. I really don't need to be drinking an abundance of Diet Coke and eating poptarts and ice cream. Those are okay once in a while, but I should be opting for things that will improve my life.
It's time to get out of this bad relationship with food and find a healtheir one. Literally.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Finding Excitment
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....
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....
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.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
One or the Other
One thing that's always intrigued me about weightloss is how much your thought process changes. A week or so ago, I was reading a weightloss book that I was really enjoying. It got me excited about the potential and I really felt like this was something I could do. My motivation was at an all time high. I was ready.
A week later, I'm eating like crap. And I'm back to drinking diet soda. But I'm working out more.
My problem with my health seems to be that I'm more focus on one and not the other. I can work out 5 days a week....but then it seems like my heathly eating plummets. Then I'll focus on eating right, but for some reason my effort to workout drops.
I'm not sure if I just feel like it takes too much brain power, or if my mind tricks me into thinking that I can be more lienient with what I'm eating or drinking because I'm working out. But really, you have to do both to lose weight.
It's equally frustrating because I'm working out much more consistently....but I don't feel like it. And I definitely don't look like it. It almost feels like my jeans are getting tighter, and that's never a good sign. Maybe someone like me needs a mapped out schedule - these are the days and times I'm working out, and these are my meal plans for the week.
That, however, goes back to motivation. I'll have it when I plan my week, but on Wednesday night am I going to want to follow through with it? Who knows. I just know this can't be exercising or eating right for long. It's got to be both, or I'm in trouble.
A week later, I'm eating like crap. And I'm back to drinking diet soda. But I'm working out more.
My problem with my health seems to be that I'm more focus on one and not the other. I can work out 5 days a week....but then it seems like my heathly eating plummets. Then I'll focus on eating right, but for some reason my effort to workout drops.
I'm not sure if I just feel like it takes too much brain power, or if my mind tricks me into thinking that I can be more lienient with what I'm eating or drinking because I'm working out. But really, you have to do both to lose weight.
It's equally frustrating because I'm working out much more consistently....but I don't feel like it. And I definitely don't look like it. It almost feels like my jeans are getting tighter, and that's never a good sign. Maybe someone like me needs a mapped out schedule - these are the days and times I'm working out, and these are my meal plans for the week.
That, however, goes back to motivation. I'll have it when I plan my week, but on Wednesday night am I going to want to follow through with it? Who knows. I just know this can't be exercising or eating right for long. It's got to be both, or I'm in trouble.
Friday, June 13, 2008
It Seems Backwards....
Here's something I'm discovering about myself this summer.
In almost every diet book you read, and even common sense tells you this, you are advised to find a workout or diet buddy. You need some sort of support system, something to keep you in check and make sure you get to the gym.
Do you know what's weird with me? I almost work better solo, and it seems weird.
I told you in my last entry how I just told myself I was going to give up pop and not eat seconds. It wasn't something I told family or friends or anyone. I kept it to myself, and I found success.
This week, however, I started talking to more people who I felt could be my support system. Instead of finding it helpful, I just found myself feeling more guilty and beating myself up more. Now that they know that I'm not supposed to have pop and remind me of this, I feel like there's more resentment, and there really doesn't need to be.
I wonder why that is. About a year and a half ago, I had a workout buddy and it worked out wonderfully! She was so positive and made our walks fun. It was a great experience and I understood why you should find someone to partner with for the weight-loss journey.
But lately, I don't seem to want that. It almost feels more restrictive for me because I know other people are going to be making sure I workout and do what I say I'm going to do, and that's not how I want to make a lifestyle change. But common sense tells me I need this.
Does anyone else find that they have this mindset? Does anyone have success stories about dieting/working out with buddies? I'm just curious to see how other people use the buddy system to help them find success.
In almost every diet book you read, and even common sense tells you this, you are advised to find a workout or diet buddy. You need some sort of support system, something to keep you in check and make sure you get to the gym.
Do you know what's weird with me? I almost work better solo, and it seems weird.
I told you in my last entry how I just told myself I was going to give up pop and not eat seconds. It wasn't something I told family or friends or anyone. I kept it to myself, and I found success.
This week, however, I started talking to more people who I felt could be my support system. Instead of finding it helpful, I just found myself feeling more guilty and beating myself up more. Now that they know that I'm not supposed to have pop and remind me of this, I feel like there's more resentment, and there really doesn't need to be.
I wonder why that is. About a year and a half ago, I had a workout buddy and it worked out wonderfully! She was so positive and made our walks fun. It was a great experience and I understood why you should find someone to partner with for the weight-loss journey.
But lately, I don't seem to want that. It almost feels more restrictive for me because I know other people are going to be making sure I workout and do what I say I'm going to do, and that's not how I want to make a lifestyle change. But common sense tells me I need this.
Does anyone else find that they have this mindset? Does anyone have success stories about dieting/working out with buddies? I'm just curious to see how other people use the buddy system to help them find success.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
One Step at a Time
As with all things in life, my eating right and striving for a healthier lifestyle has had it's ups and downs the last few weeks.
Two weeks ago I casually started small. I wasn't making it too strict since I was just starting out, but two weeks ago I decided to cut pop out of my diet (my reliance on Diet Coke got to be ridiculous), tried to not eat seconds and tried not to eat after 9 p.m., since nighttime snacking appears to be my weakness.
Surprisingly, I stuck with all three, with the exception of two meals where I had seconds.
It really shocked me. Normally I try to be very strict and regimented with my diet. But I actually found that by just saying to myself, "You know, it'd be great if you could get pop out of your diet, but if you had a can, we'll try again tomorrow." But the more days I'd go without pop, the more encouraged I'd become. And now it's been two weeks since I've touched pop!
This week I didn't do as well with eating, but I got to the gym three times. For a gal who hadn't been there in a number of weeks (think back to February or March....), it was a big accomplishment for me.
Granted, my approach may not work for all. However, it may work for some. Each week I try to implement one or two dietary changes. And instead of beating myself up over it if I fail, I start up again. That may have been my failing aspect with previous diets. I don't have to hate myself for a slip up, and I don't have to make a million and one changes to kick off a diet. I want this to be a LIFESTYLE change, and to do that, I have to casually work these habits into my life. I can't expect to wake up and all the sudden be a healthy eater or an avid athlete. These things take time.
Goals for this week:
Hitting the gym at least 3 times (started last week)
Continuing with no pop (started 2 weeks ago)
Drinking 4-6 glasses of water a day
Eating a fruit or veggie with every dinner
Two weeks ago I casually started small. I wasn't making it too strict since I was just starting out, but two weeks ago I decided to cut pop out of my diet (my reliance on Diet Coke got to be ridiculous), tried to not eat seconds and tried not to eat after 9 p.m., since nighttime snacking appears to be my weakness.
Surprisingly, I stuck with all three, with the exception of two meals where I had seconds.
It really shocked me. Normally I try to be very strict and regimented with my diet. But I actually found that by just saying to myself, "You know, it'd be great if you could get pop out of your diet, but if you had a can, we'll try again tomorrow." But the more days I'd go without pop, the more encouraged I'd become. And now it's been two weeks since I've touched pop!
This week I didn't do as well with eating, but I got to the gym three times. For a gal who hadn't been there in a number of weeks (think back to February or March....), it was a big accomplishment for me.
Granted, my approach may not work for all. However, it may work for some. Each week I try to implement one or two dietary changes. And instead of beating myself up over it if I fail, I start up again. That may have been my failing aspect with previous diets. I don't have to hate myself for a slip up, and I don't have to make a million and one changes to kick off a diet. I want this to be a LIFESTYLE change, and to do that, I have to casually work these habits into my life. I can't expect to wake up and all the sudden be a healthy eater or an avid athlete. These things take time.
Goals for this week:
Hitting the gym at least 3 times (started last week)
Continuing with no pop (started 2 weeks ago)
Drinking 4-6 glasses of water a day
Eating a fruit or veggie with every dinner
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