Snarky

I'm feeling really snarky tonight.  I just need to vent.  When someone has lost 108 pounds, as I have, and kept it off a couple years, as I have and then gained back, they didn't gain back because they didn't know **how to lose and eat nutritiously.** They gain back because of psychosocial factors, emotional and behavioral issues.  It's that simple.  Well, at least that's why I gained back.

And my snark is this--I know what I'm doing. Period. I've read countless scholarly articles, books, journals, studies, etc.  My information is science based, not fad/trend.  It is experiential--I lived it. And I just hate it when someone who has not in my shoes, goes on the bandwagon telling me what to do and how to eat.

We all have our journeys, they are personal, and we have to find what works **for us.**  We don't have to follow trends, we don't have to listen to people who need to be judgmental and put their two cents in (or their wooden nickel.)

I had a couple friends PM me this morning with long diatribes lecturing me about hormones, that losing weight is NOT about caloric deficit, and to only eat organic meat, etc.  Well, they're right--there are always circumstances when our bodily systems are out of whack and those do become issues.  For most people, though, caloric deficit works.  And I don't appreciate being told to go Paleo, to go low carb, to not eat anything processed--while I eat little processed food, a life without it is not going to happen. I will feel deprived.  For ME, a 80/20% rule works. I don't like to waste my calories on crap, but last night I truly enjoyed two beers.  So what!!!

Our journeys are our own, what works for us may not work for others and vice versa.  Your mileage may vary.  You have to find your own path.  What matters most is that you get positive support.

The most important thing we can have on this journey is positive support, a social network that gives us support when we need it.  The worst thing we can have are arm chair warrior who like to lecture, belittle and act as bossy know-it-alls.

My weight struggle has nothing to do with food, calories, or fitness.  It has everything to do with what's going on in my mind.  My past collides with my now.  I am haunted by many things.  When I get squared away with that, I will be unstoppable.  I was there once, and I will be again.

Try Something New!!!

Well, I decided to try something new: I joined an online weight-loss support group that is run by a coach and moderated by the fabulous Sean Anderson, long-time blogging buddy!  We have had our first meeting and I think it will be a tremendous learning experience.  I will give an honest review of my experience when it's all done, but I think it will be tremendous!

I am a social work major. One thing I have learned in every class, it's discussed almost every single day, and that is this: in life, social support is KEY.  You have to have social support.  So while this blog served as a good social support in years past, at this point I do not have time to read others' blogs due to my studies, so the support element is gone.  Yes, people leave positive comments here for which I am grateful, but you have to give support, too.  So a group setting is a fabulous tool.

I'm excited.

I will share my main group goal here:

Consistency.

If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times: consistency works. It is how you succeed.  I need to consistently work out, consistently count my calories, and consistently relax, de-stress.  Those are all important components to a healthful lifestyle.

There was once a point in my life where I didn't have to think twice about any of that--I was consistent, and my consistency paid off with improved health and fat loss.  It felt good.  That is my ultimate goal, because once a person is consistence, the weight will take care of itself.

So hat's off to Mr. Anderson for providing a great service plus a big dose of inspiration!!!

Don't Be Stupid

Don't be stupid, like I was.  Last week, I forget the day, I had only eaten about 300 calories' worth off of food.  It was supper time, my family and I were in Walmart, and boom.

I was walking next to my son and I told him I felt like I was falling to the left. I wasn't dizzy, but my balance was off.  He said I was perfectly straight.  As we were finishing the shopping, we ended up in the frozen food aisle.  And then IT happened.  That off-balance feeling hit me again, only I lost my balance, took about three steps back completely out of control, and the freezer door caught me.

I was sweating profusely and I felt sick.

And this blogger learned her lesson.

EAT.  

I was in the groove, feeling it, but that day for some reason I just didn't eat.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Good health is not something that can be bought, it is a very precious gift.  Everyone does stupid things from time to time, but this?  This was crazy.

And I know it.

I was eating 1200 calories a day, too.

Sure, the weight was coming off.  But at what expense?  MY HEALTH.

So I took a few days off.  One thing is certain: I will NEVER GIVE UP.  Re-thinking.  Time to up those calories, re-start my consistency campaign, and focus on health.

Don't be stupid.  We have one life to live.  Health is not rushing things, it's CONSISTENTLY exercising, eating nutritious foods with the right amount of calories.  While it's important to not be obese, taking weight off in an unhealthy manner exacerbates  things.

Be smart.  Eat.

Monday Morning Weigh-In

Down a whopping 6.5 pounds.

That's the way to start a Monday!!!

I'm Feeling It!!!

You know that feeling deep down in your soul when the stars are aligned and everything is just--right?  Yeah, I'm there.

I made a new and completely different plan for myself.  I calibrated my kitchen scale. New foods, new ideas, a new perspective.  I am starting fresh, and boom. I got "it."  I have the excitement, the desire, the determination, and the recipe for consistency.

I'm feeling it. That's what it takes.

In case you're not feeling it, please take this advice:  Fake it until you make it.

It takes confidence: I have it.  It takes determination: I have it.  It takes getting your head squared away:  There.

I haven't had this feeling in a very long time.  I like it.

I'm riding this wave, and if that feeling dissipates, I'll just fake it until it's back.

I'm worth it.  No matter what life is like, no matter how sad, depressing, happy, beautiful, whatever...health is always of utmost importance.  Follow your heart, listen to your soul.  Don't look in the mirror and see ugly, look into your soul and see your beauty.  We are all beautiful, we are all strong, and we all can do this.

Ugh--photos

Today I had my son take "before" photos.  They made me sad.  I have to focus on the fact that I have maintained a 50+ pound loss for years.  I still did not like what I saw.

Yesterday I spent the entire day reading, researching, deciphering, and thinking things through.  Due to my feet and inability to work out like I would like, I am dropping my calories.  Today I consumed 1263 calories.  It wasn't that bad, it just took careful planning.

I went to the store last night, stocked up and I'm good to go.

It HAS to stick, because those photos.

Funny, a photo is what inspired me to start this journey in the first place.  A photo says a thousand words.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism is unhealthy.  Repeat after me, perfectionism is unhealthy.  Get that ingrained into the brain!  Perfectionism is woven throughout my life.  If I direct it in a healthy manner, it can be good; however, normally it is not good.

I have been sick with the flu the past few days.  I'm feeling better.  I have actually stressed over my inactivity because I am a perfectionist.  Breathe.  My body needed to fight the virus, the fever, the aches and pains.  It's okay to rest when sick.

Today I'm better, and about to embark on my daily workout. What shall I do? Another area I exhibit freakish, perfectionist qualities is regarding exercise, specifically rotations. I can never come up with the perfect rotation in my mind.

I did very well when I did The Skogg System and walking.  I lost over 40 pounds doing those two things with "good" eating. I wasn't perfect with my caloric intake, but I was very good.  The little secret in this that I have seen but failed to actually "see" was the simplicity.

Keep it simple, sweetie.  Kiss.  Muah!

To be consistent, which is my goal, one must choose a fitness program that one can maintain.  I have always devised grandiose plans in my mind, then felt like a failure because I could not be consistent and perfect.  Well, a friend shared a Yahoo article with me about kettlebells.  According to a study (which I read but can't link because I read it on my school account), HIIT with kettlebell snatches will raise one's VO2Max.  That's awesome.  In the study, for eight weeks participants used a 12kg kettlebell, and for 20 minutes they did snatches for 15 seconds, then rested 15 seconds.  How easy is that.

Hello, KISS. My beloved kettlebell is making an appearance in my life again. Every other day I shall do a HIIT session with my kettlebell. I plan to Skogg first and then do 20 minutes of snatches.  SIMPLE.  The perfectionist in me can easily accomplish that.

Kettlebells incorporate both strength and cardiovascular training, so I will just add more cardio via step aerobics, walking, kickboxing and now that it's spring, biking.  Easy peasy.

In the study, the participants also did strength training and played soccer.  Well, easy peasy once again--on my off kettlebell days, I shall do Body Pump.

Consistency is my main goal right now, and I can obtain that by taking my bad traits and using them in a positive way. The perfectionist in me likes to fill in my charts and follow through with my plans.  Fabulous--so now I have a plan that I can maintain.

Time to raise the bar with Body Pump!