Do you work out because you have to or because you want to? Are you on a diet or have you experienced a life change?
I started reading "Such a Pretty Fat" by Jen Lancaster because I wanted a break from all the dieting, nutrition, and exercise advice that I read in my usual arsenal of fitness magazines. Lancaster is a comedian who documented her failing (at least so far) attempt to lose weight. She has brought up two major points in this chapter alone that made me think. First, I exercise because obviously I need to, but more importantly I exercise because I want to. I think I have at least above average athletic ability that I enjoy using and I like the self-confidence that exercise brings. There are other obvious benefits like my shrinking post c-section/ lost 30 pounds in one day/stretch marked/saggy-skinned belly, but really I just plain feel cool leaving the gym and talking about an upcoming race. I also really like the fact that my delightful husband and I get babysitters for Sunday races almost every month. It's our thing.
On the other hand, what worries me about this weight loss process is the fact that when it comes to food, I am still a dieter; this has not been a life style change. How do you know the difference, you ask? It's plain and simple really. When you are a dieter, (totally assuming I can't be the only one here) you think about food ALL THE TIME! You look at what other people are eating. You know where all the drive-thru Starbucks are. You think about when you can eat what and how delicious it will taste. You still want the ice cream, cookies, candy, and cake; you are just trying to convince yourself that you don’t. Life changers don’t obsess the way dieters do. The thought of a pizza and beer doesn’t fill them with excitement. They actually want to do what is healthy. Me… I’m a dieter. I look forward to eating. I look forward to an ice cream cake on my birthday and the pastries a friend is bringing me back from NYC next month. I am a dieter, and even if it’s not that great for my health, at least I’m trying to do what is best. I can look and just not touch, right? Maybe eventually I will choose the apple over the brownie sample at the grocery store (like the lady in the Special K commercial), but it’s going to take a while to convince my brain, belly, and will power.
Finally. Just to update the mass:
Down 2.8 this Saturday
Total so far since joining WW is now down 15
Total since December when I had to swear off everything delicious, down 20
Down 20 since December? That's awesome! I have learned something through personal experience that I hope doesn't sound too much like your magazine articles, but here it goes. I discovered that stress makes me crave sweets. I realized this after starting my new career that was chosen specifically because it was supposed to be low stress. After I got started in my new job at the library, I realized that I was walking through the candy aisle at the grocery store without putting any chocolate in the cart. It was so weird! My attempt to de-stress my life was working and having results that I didn't even expect. I recently had a very stressful weekend because of a class I was taking, and I ate a whole bag of peanut M&Ms in one day, and I'm not talking a small bag. The next day, when I put the cause and effect together (stressful class = entire bag of M&Ms), I dropped the class. So stress is my trigger, and when I can, I do something to reduce stress. Do you have a trigger? Is it something that you can reduce or eliminate? A couple triggers I had in the past were boredom and situation (baseball game = peanuts, movie = popcorn). OK, this is really starting to sound like a magazine article, but I really do think knowing yourself well is a weapon in your favor.
ReplyDeleteawesome job Colleen!! I am right there with you! I do think about food a lot....especially what I can't have ...total bummer !
ReplyDeleteKeep up the fantastic work !!
Karen