Tales of the Mildly OverWeight: I'm Not Alone!

So after my original blog post, I realized that I'm truly not alone. There are others out there who are struggling as well.

Here are some common themes among us:

• medical issues
• stress
• toxins
• lack of time
• lack of knowledge

I really want to focus on the last two, because I think they are underlying issues.

Lack of Time

One of those early morning runs. #getitdone

As any parent will tell you, time is crucial. But its not that I don't have time, I don't make time. I have time (hence sitting here writing) but how I'm using it is the problem. Here are two situations to consider.

Time A:

I was working full-time, I was training for my Ragnar Relay, and I need to physically run outside several days in a row to accomplish this task. I got up at 4:45/5am three days a week and ran. I was home by 6, out the door with both kids by 6:55 and then at work. I did this for 2 months. I didn't have time, I made time.

Time B:

I'm now a stay-at-home-mom. I get up about 6:30 and have coffee, surf the internet, take one kid to school, hang out with the other all day, put them to bed at 7 and then watch TV or read. 

I have time, I don't make time.

My solution: Workout first thing. Whether its on that blasted treadmill, or I head to the gym as soon as we finish school drop off, it has to get done. If it doesn't, it needs to happen when the kids go to bed. (And sometimes maybe both?!) I can watch TV on the treadmill as easily as I can on my couch.

Lack of Knowledge

I know how to run, I know how to create a training plan that will get me to complete a race. I can follow an exercise plan for the most part. But what do we do when the plan is over? Or when we need to alter it? There are so many plans out there but they are lacking two things:

1. One-on-one personal training. When I started lifting weights, I followed the plan to a tee. But I didn't know the correct way to bench press and eventually hurt my shoulder. Having someone (professionally trained) right there would have prevented that. We've gotten away from personal trainers or coaches because they are pricey and because we ahve the internet. We need to find that balance.

2. I did it! Now What? Yup, exactly. When I finished my carefully laid out plan for Ragnar, I stopped running. I didn't have a plan. When we stopped going to CrossFit, I stopped lifting. No plan. So many of these plans, even the famous P90X doesn't come with a Day 91 plan. Starting over is an option, repeating the last week is an option. But we get bored, things change. We have 90 days or 2 months or a specific race goal in mind and when that is done, we think we're done. Its not a plan, its a lifestyle change. We need to find something that we CAN continue for the rest of our lives, not something that has an end date.

Making time at the gym. This needs to happen more.
#liftheavy #getitdone

What now?

Well, a good friend told me that motivation comes from within, its not something someone can give you. I have a goal in mind. I have broken into short-term goals and my first "milestone" is May 15th. Approximately a month, so enough time to accomplish something. I'm working on implementing some life-steps like eating breakfast every day. No coffee isn't breakfast. And doing at least 15 minutes of something. On "off" days I can still walk 15 minutes minimum in the evening.

I don't want this to be overwhelming so that I stop. I want it to be manageable so I continue to make these changes and it becomes the norm. So that when I miss breakfast or that morning workout I feel like something is missing. That's the way it has to be.

What is your next step?

Tales of the Mildly OverWeight: Part One

Pulling a 17,000 lb Bear Cat
 with 9 other women.

Weight loss is such a hot topic in today's society. For a lot of us, the number haunts us, it dictates how we feel. Recommendations to "ditch the scale" don't work for those of us who are constantly faced with those numbers. I can feel fabulous at 185* but the second I walk into the doctor's office they are spouting questions like, "What do you eat? Do you exercise? You are obese. You need to lose weight." 

Thank you, I know that. But I eat healthy, I exercise, I do not think I am obese, I think I'm built a little differently than your 5'3" and 130 lbs statistic. So, how can you help me?

There are SO MANY stories of people who have lost 50, 75, 100 lbs and have kickstarted a new, healthier lifestyle. While they are inspiring, they are also discouraging. I don't need to lose 100 lbs. Fifty pounds would be pushing it for my body. I 'm thinking somewhere between 20 and 30 lbs would be a good weight for me. Strong enough to lift all the weight I want, while healthy and lean enough to run the way I want and feel comfortable in my body. Where's the support group for that? Where's the magic, life-altering, safe way to do this?

At a 5k race. March 2015

I know. Exercise more and eat healthier. If only it was that easy. Yes, when I did Whole 30 during January I lost 10 pounds. But Whole 30 is not meant to be sustainable. Its not meant to be the rest of my life. And it was really hard to run while on it. So that's eating healthy with minimal exercise. So that is out. Yes, I run, I trained for and completed a Ragnar Relay, averaging 12-15 miles a week. And, running is not the way to lose weight, its just not. So, where does that leave me?

I have no idea. Truly. And I'm sure there are more of you out there. I'm positive, in fact. So what are you doing? What are you trying? What has worked? What hasn't? Let's talk about this.






*Not my actual weight, I'm not ready to divulge that yet.