Womanifesto?
Uncategorized March 13th, 2009I think it’s funny that I have filed this blog under my humour category in “My Favourites”. Is there something wrong with filing a personal blog under humour? I think it says something about my approach to life.
LindaT (as usual) is right in that I can exercise until I drop and I won’t lose the weight until I start doing some things around what I actually fuel this body with. I can’t run a Ferrari engine on chocolate and fried food – not that I eat chocolate and fried food, but you get the idea. My downfall is (and ladies, who hasn’t heard this one before?) Portion Size. I actually eat fairly healthily – I just eat too much. Oh, and I probably drink too much too if it comes to that… not just the wine but my inability to make great food choices once I’ve had the wine. Many a cheesecake has come into my life after one nice glass too many of Pinot Grigio. And cheese. Man, I love cheese just a little too much. It’s like an abusive relationship that I just can’t seem to quit.
On the up side, I love exercise. Well, to be honest, I don’t love it so much as I love what it allows me to do. I was at the gym this morning, feeling fine, and I ended up doing an hour of cardio. I could actually have spent the entire morning there just doing exercise. But you could put some of that down to the fact that it was a lovely sunny day and it seems a shame I have to spend it at work. But I do like the feel of pushing myself… and the deep breathing… and the way my mind just goes to its happy working place when I work out. I like lifting weights and stretching and doing hard things with a medicine ball. I sometimes think I should hire a PT just to get me to do those things I don’t like as much. I’d like to be more flexible. I could always stand to be stronger.
Working out does not let me eat whatever I want and get away with it. That’s a lie. But working out does allow me to sail through physicals with zero cholesterol problems and no blood sugar problems and no other problems that I should have at this weight. It’s not a Get Out of Jail Free card – and I’m afraid that one day it will catch up with me, even with the working out and the not eating fried food and all the other things I pat myself on the back for.
I’m 47 years old and 180 lbs. I have arthritis in my knees that isn’t helped by the weight. I have a family history of diabetes that I’m beating the odds on so far. How long will this golden ticket be valid for?
I have to stop kidding myself and start getting motivated again. 20 % is exercise and 80% is the eating. It’s time I start with that other 80% again.
5 Responses to “Womanifesto?”
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March 13th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Wouldn’t it be great if we could run a Ferrari on chocolate?
I have the same issues. I eat healthy food 95% of the time, but at times I eat too much. I started keeping sacks of celery aound. i;ve been eating that dipped in salas or mustard - dont make a face - instead of eating oter stuff. keep sugar free jello in the fridge at all times.. etc.
So why don’t you hire a trainer? I did. best thing I’ve done for myself. I’m down almost a pants size, I am down a full size on top. so things are working.
I had a smiliar thought as you yesterday. My trainer had worked me out very hard both sessions this week. I felt like i deserved to go home and find I have lost 5 pounds from all the work!! But weight loss isn’t the real reward for exercise.. it should be good health, so I reminded myself I am NOT exercising for weight loss. I am exercsing so I don’t die earlier than I have to!
March 13th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I don’t think it is the actual “exercising” itself that keeps us from incorporating it into our daily lives, but the energy it takes to just get there and do it. Once you are there, you are feeling great and singing it’s praises.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
CHEESE! I love it too! I can eat entire blocks and wheels and wedges all in one sitting. It’s really too bad cheese isn’t a veggie. Anyway, one trick I like is to use a smaller plate. People eat 90% of what they serve themselves, and if you can’t serve yourself as much, you’ll likely start cutting calories. I don’t know if it will be enough to see results, but it’s a pretty easy way to start.
Also, with the wine, try to limit yourself in some way. Only have a glass when you go out with friends or one night a week or something like that. Just find a simple way to cut back a little bit.
There’s a diet idea that you basically serve your food then dump half of it and eat that. I think that’s a little extreme, but if you start finding little places to cut back, it’s a TON easier than limiting yourself completely. (I say this as someone who has recently stopped trying to consume the absolute minimal amount of food each day and failed totally and completely.)
Basically, your body will find a happy middle ground where your exercise increases and your eating decreases and your metabolism is balanced somewhere in the middle.
Good luck, hope some of this is helpful!
March 14th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I have had the same cheese cake experience.
I don’t excercise although I’m pretty active with my farm chores, but it is no where near what I should be doing. My bloodwork is fantastic, but I weigh too much. And I am “gooey”. Ick. Must exercise. GL w/ portion control. If you go to the gym already, get yourself a PT a couple days a week.
March 14th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
“I have to stop kidding myself and start getting motivated again. 20 % is exercise and 80% is the eating. It’s time I start with that other 80% again.”
I could have written those sentences. Crazy, isn’t it, that we’re willing to do the physically hard work, but not the non-work of cutting back on portions!
I highly recommend a trainer even if just for 2-3 sessions. It’s changed everything about the gym for me.