Back on the rails
My healthy eating plan is off the rails. It is so far off the rails that I am not even near the amusement park, let alone on the roller coaster. I think it is interesting that when your healthy eating plan is on, IT.IS.ON. So ON that you can’t imagine not being ON for the rest of your life. Then literally in an instant, life happens. A birthday party turns into a bridal shower. That bridal shower segways to Friday night happy hour and suddenly you have thrown in the towel for the entire week. One week leads to the next, then suddenly a month or several. This is where you find me today. I am frustrated and upset because I know that I can make healthier choices.
You see, I am not in search of a size 6 body. I made peace with weighing the same or more than my husband, a long time ago. My focus is to be leaner and maintain the muscle I currently have. I want to be strong and able to do physical tasks around my house. I want to be able to do burpees and pushups, and not the “girl” kind! Does this mean that a few extra pounds of jiggly around my tummy doesn’t bother me? Of course not… this is why I am talking to you right now. Getting my healthy food plan back on track, at times, seems insurmountable. However, it is important because I feel so much better when I am on track. I know how much work and persistence it will require of me. It will also require work and patience for those around me. Since this situation is right here and right now, I thought, why not blog about it. I am pretty sure I am not alone on the carousel. Why not look for support from my friends AND our new community?!
This day has been coming for me for quite some time. I have dreaded it. So, here some ways I prepare for my “Come to Nancy” meeting.
First and foremost, I think about it. I think about it A LOT. I probably think about it for at least a week. This helps me mentally prepare for the change that is coming. After I think about it, I do the most difficult part for me. I have Nancy measure and do a body composition on me. I have a log of my body comp and measurements going back to 2003. Seeing it on paper can be a relief or a complete bummer. When I see those numbers, I will have one of two reactions.
The first (and most preferable) is…
WOW, that isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be!
OR
Oh my gosh, I am so ticked at myself for letting this get so out of hand!
The latter reaction is what stands in my way. The fear of how bad my unhealthy eating has gotten and the condition that I have caused my body to be in. This is when I truly own it, forgive myself and move forward.
Secondly, I enlist the help of friends. I will reach out to my friends who won’t sabotage my efforts with “oh come on… have another, you only live once” sort of attitude. This type of friend is hard to find. If you have some… hang on to them! If you don’t have people to help, you do now… we are here to support you. We want you in our community! Discovering who and what you need to succeed is very important. I have learned that each of my workout pals holds a different key for me. I lean on them in different ways.
Next, I make a list of healthy meals I will eat for one week. I focus on one week only, because even that is overwhelming. I make the grocery list and go to the store as soon as possible. Once I have what I need for one week, I concentrate on one day at a time.
After that, I focus on my workouts. I have made exercise a priority since 2003 when I joined Nancy’s gym. I do not skip workouts very often. Between exercise and eating healthy, wouldn’t you think that THE EXERCISE would be the HARD part? For me, it happens to be the easy part. I attribute that to the F-U-N that I have when I am with the girls. They challenge me and make me work harder than I would if I were working out alone. In addition to my morning workout, I will also add a second workout in the evening until I regain some control. I know this might sound crazy, but my second workout is only be 20 – 30 minutes. Since Spring has arrived in MN, the evening workouts are more pleasant because I can be outside. A quick bike ride, leisurely walk or jumping rope will do the trick. I typically will schedule this at a time when I feel like eating cupcakes. Hey, distraction works!!
I realize that none of this is rocket science. I only tell you this because I need support from others for my own success. It has taken me a long time to figure out that this works for me. I have to open up and invite others to see my struggle, in order to grow.
So…bring on Monday. I am about to find my way back to the amusement park and head straight for that roller coaster. I am grateful my friends will ride along with me. I’ll update you towards the end of the week and let you know how it’s going. I would love to hear what works for you… how do you get back on track? Who do you lean on?
Have a great week, my friends!
If you are interested in what I do for a food plan, I would be happy to share it… just leave a comment or a message on the Contact Information page!
kingcotti
Posted at 18:56h, 18 MayWhen I started reading Vicki’s blog, I didn’t know who was writing it. I met Vicki at Nancy’s gym. From my perspective, she was tall and fit and looked good and was fun to be around. Who could ask for anything more? Come to find out, she wanted to be stronger and more fit; looking good would be a bonus. Well, I’ve watched Vicki achieve her goals and been thoroughly impressed. I, too, have made some strides through the years, but never really realized that she struggles with the same things I struggle with…life gets in her way, too! Lean on me, Vicki! Ginger