Monday, March 28, 2011

Nothing Worth Doing Is Easy

So a lot has happened in the last two weeks.  I'll start with my visit to the dietitian. I decided that having a rough guide to the number of carbs I should eat wasn't enough.  After a month of gaining weight for no reason (AGAIN) I decided I needed to do something.  I called my endocrinologist and got a recommendation for a dietitian that focuses on Diabetes/Endocrine Issues.  Awesome!

Let me tell you, it was an amazing experience.  She knew that I was knowledgeable on nutrition, exercise, good carbs vs. bad carbs, how to read NI, etc.  So she focused on the carbs, calories, fats and proteins my body needs to function like a "normal" person.  I need less carbs, broken out throughout the day evenly - 30g at each meal, 15g for each snack - totaling 135g.  I need more fat and protein eaten with the carbs AND I need to EAT MORE CALORIES...gasp! Prior to this meeting, I was eating anywhere between 1300-1400 calories on a good day...I need to be eating at least 1550, but preferably 1600. WOW...what a difference.

After just over a week following the dietitian's advice, I feel awesome! I didn't realize you weren't supposed to wake up hungry...no joke. Every morning my stomach would be growling. What was I thinking!?!

This week...I lost 2.4 pounds!!!

Something else I realized is that getting a toned, healthy body isn't going to be easy.  It's going to take more than going to the gym and doing cardio and *some* weights. It's going to take some hard core, painful workouts. Will they be fun...heck no! Will they be worth it...heck YES! When I can look in the mirror and see some definition in my abs, or my legs, or my arms and be proud of how I look, every drop of sweat, every thought of "I can't do another rep", will be worth it.

I went to the trainer two weeks ago to get a new routine of all free weights and body weight exercises. I've only done one day of arms.  It scared me to feel weak after spending months on the weight machines.  Well, it's time to suck it up and just do it (Nike really has something with that slogan)!

I know I won't feel this positive every day, and life will get in the way of gym workouts and eating right.  The difference is not letting one day away from the gym/working out effect the next day, or the day after.  If I *only* make it to the gym or workout from home 3 days a week...I WORKED OUT 3 DAYS!!!

So many times I think we focus on the negative, what we didn't accomplish or didn't do.  I think we all need to start looking at what we have accomplished, no matter how small! Did you get ONE workout in this week, did you track ONE day? Well, awesome job! Now work on making it TWO days.

We can do it!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

My light bulb a-ha moment

It's been a while since I've posted! Sheesh where is the time going.

I did really well and lost 5.8 lbs and was 0.6 away from being in the 150's...then I gained...and gained...and now I'm at 163.

The issue with this is that I've been working out 3-6 times per week. I've been eating pretty darn well, though as always there is some room for improvement, specifically around the number of carbs I've been eating. (Due to PCOS I have to limit them each day).

So, what is important.  Is it the number on the scale? Does it really matter if I weigh 159.8 or 162.2? Or is it more important that I am now working out consistently, I've lost 3 inches in my waist and almost 2 inches every where else! Isn't that what matters? My clothes are fitting better and I feel great!

I started in January wanting to be healthier, and you know what...I am! I enjoy working out again, I love cooking new and healthy things, and when I do go out to eat, I try to be healthier.

I have not tracked a single point this week.  I have tracked calories for yesterday/today to make sure I wasn't going crazy, I wasn't! I'm learning what my body needs to be fueled, and what it doesn't (hello chocolate chips).

I will go back to counting calories next week, as I do need to make sure I am sticking within my calorie range (I was eating less than 1200 cals for a while...NOT GOOD), and to make sure I am sticking to my carb range as given to me by my doctor.

I think I needed that light bulb to come on in my head.  The one that said the weight on the scale isn't everything.  That it's not the only way to measure how healthy I am, or how well I'm doing. I will post my exact measurements from 1/1 and 3/1 when I get home and show you how I know whatever I am doing is working.  I may never lose another pound, but I will continue to work out and eat right. 

A number on the scale will no longer control my happiness nor my desire to be healthy again.