I don't know about the rest of the blog world, but this has been my greatest challenge in becoming fit--this and all the delicious sweets I can make.
As someone who works at a fitness center and is slightly overweight, it can be very intimidating to watch all of the fit, athletic members who come into the center just hop on the treadmill and go. It can be discouraging when you look at someone and see them doing an exercise that is obviously not at your ability level--yet. And yet is the key word, because becoming fit takes work, and TIME. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, time. You can't expect, after being a couch potato for years, to hop on the treadmill and be able to run like Bobby Jo who has been training the same amount of time your butt has been sitting on the couch.
This was a difficult concept for me to grasp. I am the type of person who enjoys succeeding, probably a little too much. And when I don't, I may or may not act like a five year old. When someone is better at something than me, say running on the treadmill, it irritates the heck out of me. My first instinct when something like this happens is to say "Forget it, I'm just not good at it... so-and-so must have a natural ability." And sometimes this is the honest-to-God truth, but most times it is not. So-and-so worked his/her butt off to get to where they are today. And that's what I am doing.
My job at Miracles has saved my health... I kid you not. Since starting at Miracles, I have slowly developed a healthier lifestyle. Did I do exercises of the same intensity/duration when I started out--heck no! You start off slow, don't get discouraged, and you will get there. I try and do at least a mile on the elliptical/treadmill at work. I do at least one set per shift in the strength training area. And I am, mostly, eating healthier. Not healthy--healthier. I still have my sweets, I just cut back on the sugar, and try and substitute Greek yogurt or applesauce where I can when baking. I use skim milk instead of 2%. I try to buy as many ingredients/food stuffs fat free as I can--I honestly don't notice a huge difference in flavor. And what are you willing to do to be healthy? These changes may seem small, but they can cut a great deal of calories.
I once scoffed at those working to lose weight and stay healthy saying--I like food too much. Well, I still enjoy food, I just enjoy smaller portions with some healthier alternatives thrown in. Baby steps. You don't have to eliminate all of the good stuff, just try and cut back a little. And, let's be honest, temptation will win sometimes. That brownie looks so good, and before you know it you are on the third one. It happens, but don't let it ruin the rest of your hard work. Turn it back around tomorrow. Just because you slip, doesn't mean you have to fall all the way back down the slope--dig those feet in and start climbing again.
As someone who works at a fitness center and is slightly overweight, it can be very intimidating to watch all of the fit, athletic members who come into the center just hop on the treadmill and go. It can be discouraging when you look at someone and see them doing an exercise that is obviously not at your ability level--yet. And yet is the key word, because becoming fit takes work, and TIME. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, time. You can't expect, after being a couch potato for years, to hop on the treadmill and be able to run like Bobby Jo who has been training the same amount of time your butt has been sitting on the couch.
This was a difficult concept for me to grasp. I am the type of person who enjoys succeeding, probably a little too much. And when I don't, I may or may not act like a five year old. When someone is better at something than me, say running on the treadmill, it irritates the heck out of me. My first instinct when something like this happens is to say "Forget it, I'm just not good at it... so-and-so must have a natural ability." And sometimes this is the honest-to-God truth, but most times it is not. So-and-so worked his/her butt off to get to where they are today. And that's what I am doing.
My job at Miracles has saved my health... I kid you not. Since starting at Miracles, I have slowly developed a healthier lifestyle. Did I do exercises of the same intensity/duration when I started out--heck no! You start off slow, don't get discouraged, and you will get there. I try and do at least a mile on the elliptical/treadmill at work. I do at least one set per shift in the strength training area. And I am, mostly, eating healthier. Not healthy--healthier. I still have my sweets, I just cut back on the sugar, and try and substitute Greek yogurt or applesauce where I can when baking. I use skim milk instead of 2%. I try to buy as many ingredients/food stuffs fat free as I can--I honestly don't notice a huge difference in flavor. And what are you willing to do to be healthy? These changes may seem small, but they can cut a great deal of calories.
I once scoffed at those working to lose weight and stay healthy saying--I like food too much. Well, I still enjoy food, I just enjoy smaller portions with some healthier alternatives thrown in. Baby steps. You don't have to eliminate all of the good stuff, just try and cut back a little. And, let's be honest, temptation will win sometimes. That brownie looks so good, and before you know it you are on the third one. It happens, but don't let it ruin the rest of your hard work. Turn it back around tomorrow. Just because you slip, doesn't mean you have to fall all the way back down the slope--dig those feet in and start climbing again.