I am currently working on a small social research project, so far my findings have been very interesting. When I am satisfied with the information I have gathered I will post (with permission) some of the most curious and interesting things I have learned.
I think what I have liked most about this lifestyle change so far is the amazing support and feedback I have received from my closest friends and family. I also love that my friends have started to share things with me that I never knew about them. It's so funny to me, how taboo it is to really talk about weight and body image, yet it can be so liberating to share what you actually think, and to find that SO MANY people feel the same way.
Anyway, after an e-mail I sent to a friend with some questions she said this: "From you, I want to hear how your exercising is going. I want to know how you get the motivation to do hardcore exercising plus work 2 jobs plus not eat a ton of food the second you finish your workout (because I have a real big problem with that). I really think it's great what you're doing, and I really think it's a huge lifestyle change. Do you have a goal weight/time frame in mind?"
Last week I exercised 5 days. I tried Kettle bell class (and it whooped my butt) and walked a few miles and rode the bike a few more. Honestly, the motivation is the most difficult part. However, I have a super supportive boyfriend who comes to the gym with me at least a few times a week PLUS I have now made myself accountable not just to myself but to everyone who I have allowed to enter into this part of my life. And I am a total people pleaser, so I would hate to let you all down ;)
As for the 2 jobs part...I am pretty used to feeling tired, but the exercise helps, I sleep better (because I am exhausted) and the days I am gone for 12 hours are the days I only do about 30 minutes of cardio.
The food part, is some serious self control. Do I want to eat everything in sight? Yes, but I always want to eat everything in sight. But this is exactly why I created the snack basket, and I always have fruit and carrots ready to go when I come home famished. I also don't eat dinner before I work out so I can have a good sized meal when I get home.
And finally the goal weight/time frame. I do not have a time frame, as this is a total lifestyle change, so the time is forever. Goal weight ideally 140, realistically 147. As much as I love to be ideal, this is not the occasion because I refuse to set myself up, and I do not think I could maintain anything under 145. Maintenance is my ultimate goal.
Today I feel good.
This shout out goes to my trainer, who made me feel like a champ today.
Quote of the day: ..."so I think it's really important to have people around you who will tell you, yes, you definitely look different no matter what the scale says." - a friend in reference to having your pals give you some feedback, because we don't always see the changes.
What I ate today:
Chex
Milk
Banana
Apple
Special K bar
Potato with cheese and ff sour cream
Fiber one blueberry muffin
carrots with hummus
soft taco on my favorite whole wheat tortilla
breyers brownie ice cream sandwich- to. die. for.
watermelon
love!
-K
As your sister and person with a similar frame and weight issues, I can say that 147 is a better goal for you, especially if you're pumped up from exercising. I got down to about 142 a few years ago and it would have been impossible to maintain in the long-run--in addition to looking a tad too much on the thin side--and I'm an inch or two shorter than you. In fact, when I hit about 150, it became impossible to take off those last pounds--it took months and months. That was probably a sign that that was where I needed to stop and I didn't heed the warning.
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