I had another great morning today. Like Monday, I got up at 5 and hit the spinning class. I followed the class with weights and swimming. I typically swim 20 lengths. Monday I did 22 and today I was able to knock out 24. I have eaten well today and really I don’t feel like I have faced a lot of temptations over the past couple of days. Hopefully this is a sign of getting into a routine. On Monday I ate well and finished off my day by heading out the door that evening for a 1.5m jog. I hadn’t run in a very long time and it felt pretty good. I want to try and do this more often on MWF nights. Of course, I played basketball on Tuesday morning and could feel the effect of the previous night’s run as I tried to get into the game.
Today I was thinking about why things are off to such a better start this time around than previous “life changes”. I think one of the key components is the fact that I’m trying to holistically improve my life. Also, I have really tried to make a commitment to myself that I can do this and that I can keep the long term goal in mind. I have been trying to journal every day. I’m tracking my calories and visiting the MFP site a lot. The site is amazing in that so many people are sincerely trying to change their lives for good. It is inspiring to read about daily successes. One of the best successes I have read about was from a woman who has lost over 150lbs. Seriously, you read that correctly, 150lbs. It is amazing to think someone can have that type of self-motivation and determination to accomplish such a lofty goal. When asked about her “secret to success” she replied with the following response:
“It really was quite a journey. I was 280 pounds on February 14, 1994. It took me about 2 years to lose 120 pounds. Which, at 5'9" and 160 pounds, I was happy with my weight! I became a gym goer about 10 years ago and REALLY enjoy it....before I knew it, I was in the 130's. I learned SO MUCH about myself and my inner strengths during the last 14 years, that I really do thank God for the opportunity to have had that journey to go through (although, it didn't always feel like that, then :-) I read a note that "Tamtastic" left on someone's log yesterday, and I have said it myself, at least a million times....when you're losing weight the right way (no pills, gimicks, etc.) by a good diet and moderate exercise, something really does "click" in your brain. It was KNOWING that the weight would eventually come off, that was the true exciting thing! I think almost more exciting than reaching my set weight goal~I even remember thinking, as I approached my weight loss goal, "OMG, what will I do now"? How I wish this site was available back then!!! I relied on my own charts and calorie books to keep track of things and I did a lot of studying on what foods did in the body. I ate between 1400-1800 calories a day, drank lots-o-water, and walked in my neighborhood. I never denied myself of things that I wanted, but I kept no "junk" in the house....if I wanted something junky, I would have to go out and get it. But I will say that I developed more of an "eat to live", instead of "live to eat", mentality.....sweet things tasted good, but I knew that they would mess with my insulin levels and make me ultimately hungrier in the long run. I made sure that each meal I ate had a combo of carbs/protein/fat~carbs for immediate energy and protein/fat would provide energy when the carbs "wore" off. I changed the way I looked at plateaus. My weight would remain the same for weeks at a time, sometimes even months. Now, if I had been starving myself, this really would be depressing. But I wasn't. I loved the food I was eating! So, a plateau meant that I was successfully maintaining different weight points instead of yo-yo-ing around a number. Really, the most difficult thing that I think people have with weight loss, is the time it SHOULD require to lose. I gave myself all the time I needed and made small changes in my life, every month, and those "baby steps" have turned me into someone I would not have dreamt of becoming when I was in my 20's!”
I can really relate with some of the items she points out in her response. First, I love to read about nutrition and learn what I can about food and the impact it has on our bodies. Also, I am a freak when it comes to setting goals and recording every final number. The final thing that grabs my attention in this is that I need to have faith that if I make good choices, the weight will come off. I just have to believe it will come off.
Today I was thinking about why things are off to such a better start this time around than previous “life changes”. I think one of the key components is the fact that I’m trying to holistically improve my life. Also, I have really tried to make a commitment to myself that I can do this and that I can keep the long term goal in mind. I have been trying to journal every day. I’m tracking my calories and visiting the MFP site a lot. The site is amazing in that so many people are sincerely trying to change their lives for good. It is inspiring to read about daily successes. One of the best successes I have read about was from a woman who has lost over 150lbs. Seriously, you read that correctly, 150lbs. It is amazing to think someone can have that type of self-motivation and determination to accomplish such a lofty goal. When asked about her “secret to success” she replied with the following response:
“It really was quite a journey. I was 280 pounds on February 14, 1994. It took me about 2 years to lose 120 pounds. Which, at 5'9" and 160 pounds, I was happy with my weight! I became a gym goer about 10 years ago and REALLY enjoy it....before I knew it, I was in the 130's. I learned SO MUCH about myself and my inner strengths during the last 14 years, that I really do thank God for the opportunity to have had that journey to go through (although, it didn't always feel like that, then :-) I read a note that "Tamtastic" left on someone's log yesterday, and I have said it myself, at least a million times....when you're losing weight the right way (no pills, gimicks, etc.) by a good diet and moderate exercise, something really does "click" in your brain. It was KNOWING that the weight would eventually come off, that was the true exciting thing! I think almost more exciting than reaching my set weight goal~I even remember thinking, as I approached my weight loss goal, "OMG, what will I do now"? How I wish this site was available back then!!! I relied on my own charts and calorie books to keep track of things and I did a lot of studying on what foods did in the body. I ate between 1400-1800 calories a day, drank lots-o-water, and walked in my neighborhood. I never denied myself of things that I wanted, but I kept no "junk" in the house....if I wanted something junky, I would have to go out and get it. But I will say that I developed more of an "eat to live", instead of "live to eat", mentality.....sweet things tasted good, but I knew that they would mess with my insulin levels and make me ultimately hungrier in the long run. I made sure that each meal I ate had a combo of carbs/protein/fat~carbs for immediate energy and protein/fat would provide energy when the carbs "wore" off. I changed the way I looked at plateaus. My weight would remain the same for weeks at a time, sometimes even months. Now, if I had been starving myself, this really would be depressing. But I wasn't. I loved the food I was eating! So, a plateau meant that I was successfully maintaining different weight points instead of yo-yo-ing around a number. Really, the most difficult thing that I think people have with weight loss, is the time it SHOULD require to lose. I gave myself all the time I needed and made small changes in my life, every month, and those "baby steps" have turned me into someone I would not have dreamt of becoming when I was in my 20's!”
I can really relate with some of the items she points out in her response. First, I love to read about nutrition and learn what I can about food and the impact it has on our bodies. Also, I am a freak when it comes to setting goals and recording every final number. The final thing that grabs my attention in this is that I need to have faith that if I make good choices, the weight will come off. I just have to believe it will come off.
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