Friday, November 11, 2011

This is how we do it. Part 1 - Get off your bum.


Yeah, that's an awful song and it's stuck in your head now, too.

Chunk doesn't like the idea of diets, either.
Thanks to a lovely person who commented on my last post, I realized I have never really told you guys about my struggles with losing weight my whole life, and what has helped me finally conquer this beast.

Well, one thing I can tell you that I know for certain from this process:  there are no quick fixes.  Gimmicks and crash diets will not last, and if we aren't willing to change our lifestyle, our lives simply will not change.

I really don't think of what I'm doing as a diet, but a bit more like taking a red pen and giving things a good edit.  I could very easily continue my current lifestyle for the rest of time, and I would be perfectly content.  I cannot emphasize the importance of this enough!  Balance is key!

So, how have I done it?  What are my tricks, tools, and a few of my favorite things? There is no way I could possibly fit it all into one blog (I'm not exactly known for my brevity in the talking department...).  The things that have made the biggest difference for me, though, are:

Staying active.
Logging what I eat and developing a more interesting, aware, balanced relationship with food.
Making good, calculated, conscious decisions knowing that the "feely" part will happen later.

We'll get to all three of those, but today one in particular is on the brain.

Getting off my duff.  Purposefully, and regularly.
I was active for most of my life.  College came, and I gained some fluff.  From being on my duff.  Oh, all this rhyming is making me a bit nauseous.  But, anyway.  After losing weight from dancing, walking everywhere, and spending all of my money on records rather than food, I moved home from England and got a desk job.
Depression from lack of England + desk job = chub.

If it's within your means, go see a doctor and get a trainer!  I love to push myself, but if I do things like squats and lunges more than a couple of times a week, it leaves me in great pain and I've got to take it easy for a couple of days.  There are a few things I'd really like to ask a Doctor about and get checked out.  Thanks to an amazing deal on Groupon, though, I will have a trainer to get tips from soon!  I'll always find it satisfying, though, getting past that point where you think you're done, only to feel like you could go all day.  And I love feeling sore the next day!

Exercise has absolutely helped bring me back to life.  I'm fitter, stronger and in better shape, but the difference it's made in my overall countenance is outstanding.  If you think starting to exercise sounds laborious and daunting, just wait to see the ogre in you that pops out when you've not done it in a few days.  Even if you only do it three or four times a week for about a half hour, you're still doing it!


I typically work out five or six times a week, even if I only have time for 20-30 minutes, but I really like to get a few in a week that are at least 45 minutes to an hour.  I do a whole assortment of things - walking, jogging, using my parents' elliptical machine, Tae Bo, pilates videos I've downloaded from Fit TV, or playing EA Active and Just Dance games on the Nintendo Wii.  If you've got OnDemand, there are dozens and dozens of workouts available!  Take the kids or your dogs on a walk.  Have "workout dates" with friends.  I like to do things alone most of the time; I push myself harder.  I do a lot of thinking when I work out.  Figure out what works for you, and do it.

I used to be the queen of absurd, self-imposed time constraints and excuses for not making it happen.  It's a bunch of nonsense!  Don't make excuses.  Adapt!  Change!  I didn't think I could.  Turns out I was wrong.  But, if you're anything like me, no amount of hearing it from others will make you do it.  Something had to give, and then I just got on with it.  It's such a cliché, but I wholeheartedly believe this...  If I can do it, so can you.

Today, I ended up taking some adorable puppies on two walks and spending an hour on the elliptical machine.  I feel GOOD.

What works for you guys?  What challenges or frustrations seem to be popping up?  Share!

11 comments:

  1. Right now, nothing is working for me. I've been sick for two weeks with no end in sight. I've been to the doctor, taken antibiotics and I'm still struggling. My energy is in the toilet and all I feel up to is fantasizing about the day when I'm not feeling like a used tissue so I can work out. I refuse to get down about it though. There was a time when I lost a good deal of weight and it was definitely down to life style changes. Identifying food sensitivities and eliminating them from my diet really helped the weight fall off.

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  2. Totally agree about the food! I'm going to have another post just about that. Yeah, don't get down about it. It's frustrating, and it's so darn tiring feeling yucky for so long... Sometimes when I'm feeling really bad, I've noticed just doing stretches for a good chunk of time helps me feel better. Nothin' crazy. Hope you start feeling better soon, lady.

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  3. I think one of my biggest problems is that I am really busy, like stupid busy, and by the time I get home I'm either slap-happy brain-dead or F-the-world brain-dead... also quite hungry. None of which helps motivate me to workout once I get home, and when I do workout, I'll only do it for 20-30 minutes. I agree with the stretches. It's the best way to warm my body up after sleeping.

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  4. And just so you know, I have had this song.stuck.in.my.head.all.day. This is how we do it !! You should totally see my little dance and karaoke act. It's totally awesome.

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  5. @Caity - that's tough. It's something I know I'll have to deal with once I get more work too, and it's a bit daunting. I guess I just figure that even a little something is worth it.

    @Symbiotic, you're welcome. Haha. That's great.

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  6. I was so excited to see that I inspired your last post!! Thanks for all the information. I look forward to the next part of the post. You're an inspiration!!

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  7. I know what you mean about the ogre! Since I started exercising, if I go too long I get really twitchy. It's kind of exciting that my body is starting to crave something healthy for once :)

    Have you tried cross-country skiing? It is a killer workout (I swear you barely need to wear any winter gear) and so much fun if you learn the right technique. Much cheaper than alpine and it gets you the fresh air. I am addicted to it!

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  8. OK just ordered Just Dance, let's do this x

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  9. Ohhhh, TRACEY - if I make it to England, we're so gonna have a dance-off. Just you wait. Did you get 1, 2, or 3? So fun!

    Heather, you and a few others have suggested cross country skiing this winter. That's a seriously great idea! I'll have to see about borrowing some! I love outdoorsy things in winter.

    And little miss Anonymous, the next installment is on the way in the next day or so. Thanks so much for your suggestion!

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  10. I have gone for 1 for now as I am a bit skint and it was the cheapest. I accept that challenge Sarah and you must come back to England xxxx

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  11. Psssh whatever- that song is awesome! Haha yes I am a dork who had Jock Jams when I was a kid with that song on it :-P

    I think it's good that you listen to your body and don't push yourself too hard- that can cause more harm than good! To me, it's important to just move your body in some way at least 5 times a week... and Just Dance is such a fun way to workout especially with winter coming! I asked for Just Dance 3 for Christmas I can't wait to play it!!

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