Since I announced my fitness challenge, I have done nothing but psych myself out and beat myself up. Every day I have woken up, looked in the mirror and told myself how out of shape I am and how little self control I have because I still haven’t lost any real weight (those of you who follow me on twitter or facebook, I gained back those 2lbs over the weekend).
First of all, calling myself names is not going to do me any good! All I’m going to accomplish with that approach is to convince myself that I really am fat and lazy and there is no point in trying to change that.
So, what am I doing to myself with this challenge?! I started it to help myself, but that’s not what’s happening.
I read this article last week (right around the time I realized I had no motivation and was starting to feel depressed) by Kimberly Schiller who I follow on Twitter (@kimny72) and realized she had such a good point.
My life IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT than it was two years ago when I initially lost weight and got into shape. Why would I think I could take the same approach? I need to embrace my new situation and move forward from that place.
So what does that mean for my fitness challenge? The training is going out the window and I’m taking Kim’s advice:
- I’m going to focus on what I’m eating rather than counting calories (quality rather than quantity)
- I’m going to look for ways to stay active through everyday mommy activities (i.e. cleaning, playing with Dylan, walking places rather than driving)
- I’m going to make a concerted effort to get outside for fresh air as often as possible and to keep moving when I am outside, whether running around the dog park with Rue, or going for a walk through a nearby neighborhood
I found a new application for my phone (which is actually an extension of my cardio trainer app) called Calorific that is so simple, there will be no excuse for me not to keep track. It groups foods into categories and serving sizes for calorie counting, so, though it is still calorie counting, it is a new approach. If I cannot remember to open the app and click twice to enter the food I just ate, there’s something wrong with me!
So that is my new plan. I will still be checking in and I hope you’ll still cheer me on and check in with your progress as you work towards your goals!
Yay for a new perspective! I think your new goals sound great. I am glad you are going to stop being so hard on yourself! Good luck with everything, I can’t wait to hear how it works out. I’m getting to the gym maybe once a week, am keeping plenty busy with work and baby girl. Hope all is well with your family! Whatever happened with the house?
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Thanks! I don’t know how you make it to the gym with your schedule; good job!! The house is still on the market, but there has been lots of activity, so hopefully something will happen soon!
I think that sounds awesome — and some advice I should follow. I’m thinking of starting that c25k program . . .but am cowardly. I found that staying off the scale really helped me, b/c my weight flucuates soooo much on any given day depending on water retention that time of month etc.
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It’s so hard to stay motivated. I had all these big plans, but I’ve had to really get real with myself. I know the harder I push initially, and the more I begin, the more I have to quit and feel lousy about myself.
With me it has to be double (WW and exercise) or I don’t lose much. So that’s been good.
I don’t know if you feel the same, but I’ve noticed that it is 100x harder to get in shape with Bella here. She’s either awake, or wakes up, or cranky, or hungry, or…
I used to just get in the car and go. Sigh. I love having her around with me while I do this because I think it’s healthy for her to see it growing up, but it can be a pain sometimes.
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