Let’s get fit.
December 07
Are you reading this because you need to change your health; nothing you have tried has worked.? Weight struggles? Physical limitations? Feeling unmotivated?
That was me, too, for twenty years. I can remember looking admiringly at images of fit friends on Facebook. I even contacted a few friends through messenger, inquiring about their secrets. One friend who runs a marketing agency in Soho said she simply doesn't eat sugar. Another friend who competed in bodybuilding competitions in her 40s talked about lean diets and weights.
I really didn't think that could be me. I love to bake and have an insatiable sweet tooth. I'm a little lazy, and even running a mile seemed impossible. Plus, my knees had started to hurt some. I assumed better health wasn't for me.
I made half-hearted attempts to diet and exercise. I'd walk a mile or so a few days a week. I'd crash diet for an event or try a fad diet for a few months. When I failed, I rationalized it away, telling myself:
You're just big-boned, or
You don't have the self-control or love of exercise that other people have, or
Some people just have faster metabolisms.
None of that was true.
My epiphany came at my 50th birthday.
I celebrated my big 5-0 at my folks' house in Maine with my family, parents, siblings, and their kids. Dressing for the party, I stood in front of the floor-length mirror in the hallway pulling the long mauve blouse down so it covered my butt, pulling my hair toward the front so it covered my double chin, sighing at the image I saw. I'd already changed my clothes three times and was resigned that this was the best it would get. My mom noticed me making adjustments self-consciously. She came up behind me, gave me a little hug, and said, not in a mean way, more knowing and sympathetic, "Kirstie, we all know when we need to lose weight."
Side note: Are you horrified that she said that? If you are, this blog is not the right one for you. I've always depended on my mother, sister, and friends to be forthright. If you aren't surrounded by these people, how do you know where you stand? More on that in later posts. Saying that you want to lose weight is nearly taboo today. The message is to love the body you are in. And that works for many people. However, I did not feel confident in how my body looked, moved, or felt. My lack of exercise and my diet were contributing to negative feelings. I needed a health overhaul.
It's tricky to admit you want to be slimmer in a culture that celebrates slim but demonizes those who aren't and those who want to be. It's hard to stay or achieve a healthy, natural weight when we live in a world full of terrible, sugar and preservative-filled foods that are marketed to us 24 hours a day. It takes focus to move your body, eat a balanced diet, and find time to seek support from others. It requires effort. We need to PLAN and REFLECT to be successful.
With my mom's words echoing, I decided to take on my health differently. My epiphany was in two parts.
1. If I wanted to change my overall fitness level, I would need to be dedicated in ways I hadn't been. I needed to consistently focus on nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness.
2. The enormous amount of time I spent worrying and feeling bad about my body could easily be swapped out for time, taking action to make myself healthier.
When I returned to my home in California, I resolved to make changes.
What did I want?
· To feel comfortable in my body and find a natural set weight
· To feel strong again. To be able to run and hike and lift like a younger me.
To stop worrying about my body and start making changes- permanent changes.
I developed an individualized, system-based wellness approach to health that worked for my food preferences and available time. You can do this too. I promise. I did it slowly by making one change at a time.
I gutted my house of all sugar and all products with hidden sugar and let myself eat as much food as I wanted that was free of sugar.
I walked with my dogs every morning before work, usually for 60 minutes.
I started calendaring every day- planning and adjusting meal prep and moving time.
Over time, I added in light weight lifting and evening journaling to reflect on my progress, my walking turned to jogging, and I chatted with a close friend once a week about my progress. Six months after I started, I hit my goal weight. I felt better in my clothes and better in my own skin. Eighteen months after starting, I ran a marathon! I couldn't believe it.
What do you want? What are your health goals? Write down 3.
This system-based approach requires you to:
1. Develop a personalized menu (the resource section (coming soon) can get you started)
2. Find time for daily exercise (start where you are and build from there)
3. Connect with others that share your goals. (Maybe a friend, colleague, or family member? Or through reading this site? A conversation with yourself through journaling? Meditating? Exercise group or club? There are more options than you realize.)
Are you ready to start? Will this be your year? What do you need to succeed?
T
