Like most of America, I have made a New Year's resolution to shed some pounds in 2010. For me, however, this is a LIFETIME resolution--it has been for the last several years. But, I'm doing different for this year. I'm creating a workout plan more condusive to my lifestyle. Unlike two years ago both of my children are in school, the youngest being in Kindergarten so I can no longer hit the gym 3-4 days a week. Well, the last couple of weeks I got hip to the Exercise TV channel on my AT&T U-verse and I found my new best friend--Walk for Fitness! I absolutely love this routine. Basically, it's low impact aerobics with an emphasis on walking in place. I can definitely handle that. So much so that I've committed to doing the exercise no less than 4 days a week. And to make some use of my gym membership that expires at the end of the year, ideally, I'd like to hit the gym at least once a week, if not only just to enjoy the steam room and sauna.
I can't wait to see the pounds start dropping off!
Showing posts with label weight loss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight loss. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Up For the Challenge
I'm not sure if my daughter did this on purpose, but, nonetheless, she challenged me to accomplish a long sought after goal of mine. Since she was born 14 years ago, I've been working off & on throughout the years to lose the belly fat that developed from the birth of her and my son five years ago.
Yesterday she and I went to the gym. Back at home I continued to perform some ab exercises and arm toning exercises. While doing this I was talking about how motivated I become when I take in the fit bodies surrounding me at the gym. Well she says, "Ma, I don't even know why you keep exercising. You've been exercising like forever and you don't eat as much junk as some people do and you still got that fat stomach. You might as well just accept it."
Yep. Just like that. That's what MY child said to me. Now, she wasn't mean spirited. She says all the time that I have a nice figure. I wear a size 8. So why do I stress myself over a flabby belly? She simply doesn't understand.
Believe me, I wish I could stop my quest as much as anybody. But how can I stop when I know I haven't done absolutely everything I can to achieve my goal. I'm guilty of wanting the desired result without REALLY investing the sacrifice and dedication necessary to achieve it. The longest duration I went faitfully to the gym was maybe six to nine months. During the time, my body was getting into shape. I could tell. However, I didn't curtail my eating ENOUGH to reach the desired results. I still wanted to eat chocolate chip cookies (my fav), pizza (my other fav), and fast food multiple times during the month.
So, for me, I can't let go of the goal until I do ALL that is reasonably possible. Most of the women I see in the gym who have the bodies I desire are working out HARD. They're not walking on the treadmill. They're RUNNING. They're not just doing the ab machines. They working EVERY muscle. I can only assume, if they're working it out like that in the gym, they're probably meticulous with their healty eating regimens as well.
Though it's taken me awhile to get myself back in the gym, I'm back now. I acknowledge that I need prayer and meditation to overcome the challenges that are before me. What comforts me is that this is something that I want. It's not for anyone elses benefit but my own.
Exercising, eating right, and having the BEST physical and healthiest body I can is a lifetime goal. I intend to be the woman at 45, 50, & 60 years old that younger women declare, "Wow, that's how I want to look when I get that old." Probably sounds a bit vain, but it's my goal, nonetheless. The good thing is that in the process of pursuing my goal, my kids are learning throughout their lives about healthy living because they're involved every step of the way.
Wish me luck!
Yesterday she and I went to the gym. Back at home I continued to perform some ab exercises and arm toning exercises. While doing this I was talking about how motivated I become when I take in the fit bodies surrounding me at the gym. Well she says, "Ma, I don't even know why you keep exercising. You've been exercising like forever and you don't eat as much junk as some people do and you still got that fat stomach. You might as well just accept it."
Yep. Just like that. That's what MY child said to me. Now, she wasn't mean spirited. She says all the time that I have a nice figure. I wear a size 8. So why do I stress myself over a flabby belly? She simply doesn't understand.
Believe me, I wish I could stop my quest as much as anybody. But how can I stop when I know I haven't done absolutely everything I can to achieve my goal. I'm guilty of wanting the desired result without REALLY investing the sacrifice and dedication necessary to achieve it. The longest duration I went faitfully to the gym was maybe six to nine months. During the time, my body was getting into shape. I could tell. However, I didn't curtail my eating ENOUGH to reach the desired results. I still wanted to eat chocolate chip cookies (my fav), pizza (my other fav), and fast food multiple times during the month.
So, for me, I can't let go of the goal until I do ALL that is reasonably possible. Most of the women I see in the gym who have the bodies I desire are working out HARD. They're not walking on the treadmill. They're RUNNING. They're not just doing the ab machines. They working EVERY muscle. I can only assume, if they're working it out like that in the gym, they're probably meticulous with their healty eating regimens as well.
Though it's taken me awhile to get myself back in the gym, I'm back now. I acknowledge that I need prayer and meditation to overcome the challenges that are before me. What comforts me is that this is something that I want. It's not for anyone elses benefit but my own.
Exercising, eating right, and having the BEST physical and healthiest body I can is a lifetime goal. I intend to be the woman at 45, 50, & 60 years old that younger women declare, "Wow, that's how I want to look when I get that old." Probably sounds a bit vain, but it's my goal, nonetheless. The good thing is that in the process of pursuing my goal, my kids are learning throughout their lives about healthy living because they're involved every step of the way.
Wish me luck!
Friday, May 15, 2009
So What Now
This past Monday was the last session of the Weight Watchers program I participated in for the past 12 weeks. I wasn't as successful as I'd hoped--losing only 5 lbs--but I emerged with some important revelations as it pertains to my weight loss goals.
For starters, I've been on this journey since I gave birth to my first child fourteen years ago. Lucky for me, my weight loss battle has never involved a significant amount of weight to lose--never more than 20 lbs, and that's being generous. I gave up a long time ago of trying to regain my prepregnancy weight, which would have been my high school weight of a mere buck oh five. So, probably about five years into it, I decided that all I really wanted was to trim the fat off of my belly. Hence came my REAL problem.
In my mind, since I only had one part of my body that I wanted to change, I didn't feel like I needed to make that many changes. I was no stranger to exercise, having the best example with my dad, and avid jogger and bicyclist my whole life. While not athletic, I'd always been a walker, plus every now and then I'd do sculpting exercises like bicep curls, pushups, situps, etc.
After tweaking my diet as much as I thought I needed and exercising, most times consistently, but not always so, I didn't yield the desired results. This made me angry. It was extremely frustrating for me to witness others who didn't appear to be working as hard as me have the body that I so desired. They would still eat pizza, burgers & fries, desserts,etc. But it was like, when I did those things (admittedly more often than I should've), my body and self-esteem suffered.
The most important thing I learned from the Weight Watcher program was that I'm doing great if I want to stay where I am. I'm moderately active--taking brisk walks around the neighborhood and walking over my lunch during the week. I even have a gym membership so I can go there when weather doesn't permit outside exercise. I also learned that my biggest weakness is lack of preparation for evening meals. During the program, I would lose weight when I planned ahead for meals. I would gain that same weight back the following week when I didn't. Up and down. Up and down.
What I know is that I don't want to enslave myself to anyone's gym. I have way too much going on with my children, their activities, and my own activities. Plus I'd prefer to get my exercise by doing just what I've been doing and other activities that include my family (bike riding, skating, walking, playing badmitton, etc.) I'm more about having fun and staying fit.
Where does that leave me? Well, I still have dreams of a better looking belly. But now I have time working against me. I'm only a couple of years away from 35. And for women, that's about the time when weight loss gets extremely difficult because of a quickly declining metabolism. However, I'm no quitter. Now that I'm comfortable on my stance of exercising, I can more fully concentrate on my diet.
So Weight Watchers, here I come again.
For starters, I've been on this journey since I gave birth to my first child fourteen years ago. Lucky for me, my weight loss battle has never involved a significant amount of weight to lose--never more than 20 lbs, and that's being generous. I gave up a long time ago of trying to regain my prepregnancy weight, which would have been my high school weight of a mere buck oh five. So, probably about five years into it, I decided that all I really wanted was to trim the fat off of my belly. Hence came my REAL problem.
In my mind, since I only had one part of my body that I wanted to change, I didn't feel like I needed to make that many changes. I was no stranger to exercise, having the best example with my dad, and avid jogger and bicyclist my whole life. While not athletic, I'd always been a walker, plus every now and then I'd do sculpting exercises like bicep curls, pushups, situps, etc.
After tweaking my diet as much as I thought I needed and exercising, most times consistently, but not always so, I didn't yield the desired results. This made me angry. It was extremely frustrating for me to witness others who didn't appear to be working as hard as me have the body that I so desired. They would still eat pizza, burgers & fries, desserts,etc. But it was like, when I did those things (admittedly more often than I should've), my body and self-esteem suffered.
The most important thing I learned from the Weight Watcher program was that I'm doing great if I want to stay where I am. I'm moderately active--taking brisk walks around the neighborhood and walking over my lunch during the week. I even have a gym membership so I can go there when weather doesn't permit outside exercise. I also learned that my biggest weakness is lack of preparation for evening meals. During the program, I would lose weight when I planned ahead for meals. I would gain that same weight back the following week when I didn't. Up and down. Up and down.
What I know is that I don't want to enslave myself to anyone's gym. I have way too much going on with my children, their activities, and my own activities. Plus I'd prefer to get my exercise by doing just what I've been doing and other activities that include my family (bike riding, skating, walking, playing badmitton, etc.) I'm more about having fun and staying fit.
Where does that leave me? Well, I still have dreams of a better looking belly. But now I have time working against me. I'm only a couple of years away from 35. And for women, that's about the time when weight loss gets extremely difficult because of a quickly declining metabolism. However, I'm no quitter. Now that I'm comfortable on my stance of exercising, I can more fully concentrate on my diet.
So Weight Watchers, here I come again.
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