Had a call from an old friend today and it was a reminder that maybe I have new followers. Or maybe you have lost your way (weigh)?
His questions to me were "How did you get started and why? HOW do you stay motivated after nearly two years? How do I get started?" We talked for a little while and I really hope it helps get him going.
This is a little rambling but it is the honest side of me!
Lets start with the WHY? Honestly, I wanted to make a change. I had just turned 40. BUT even more important, was starting to see more and more of my friends having illnesses related to being inactive. Starting to lost classmates to heart attacks. Having friends losing their parents to disease. My son is the most important thing to me and I do not want to leave him any earlier than I have to.
How did I get started? Well, after a few fits and starts I just started doing it. Started with walking, then eventually running. (See my blog around July 2014 for my start of ACTUAL running.) I joined a gym. I got a trainer. I started signing up for races and obstacle course races.
Why did this help? I hate wasting money. I also hate failing. AND, I really, REALLY hate pain.
If I am spending the money on the gym and the trainer, I will go. If I don't work out except w/ the trainer there is no point. If I don't watch what I eat, there is no point of any of it. If I don't work out regularly and train hard, I will SUCK at the races and get hurt at the obstacle course races.
Food is as important as working out by the way. If you work out hard an hour a day you may burn 500 calories. BUT, if you don't watch what you are eating, you could be easily consuming 3500. I know this because one of my first steps was to log EVERYTHING I eat. I was eating between 3000 and 3500 calories a day. I was lucky I didn't weigh even more!
The trainer also pushed me harder than I thought I could until now I push myself just as hard.
Probably the newest tools in my toolbox?
1. My Fitbit- I do challenges w/ my sisters, friends, others to try to beat them on steps. Keeps my butt moving because while I don't always win, I REALLY HATE BEING LAST!
2. PACT- it is an app where you basically "bet" against yourself. My PACT is I will log 4 days per week and I will work out 3 days per week. For any I fail, it costs me $10 PER DAY! (again I hate wasting $$) If I succeed, I get to split the pot from any "losers". I make about $1.25 a week.
Is it easy? NOPE. Still isn't and I still fail. I was off track and lazy from October to now. Why? Huh, no RACES on the near horizon.
Race season gets going hard core in May. I have one every two weeks starting May 3rd through June 14th. I have some smaller ones planned to but these are the BIG ones. Then another Spartan in August.
What should you do to get started? The first thing is SEE YOUR DOCTOR FOR A PHYSICAL!
You need to make sure your blood pressure and heart are ok. Make sure they check your thyroid, cholesterol, blood glucose and depending on how much you have to lose, HgbA1c. You want to make sure there is nothing you need to work on medically to start safely. If you are gal- make sure you get your pap smears and mammograms if you doctor recommends it. Also ask your Gyn if you need to be checked for PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) as it can affect how you hold onto weight and lose it. It is more common if you are overweight and it makes your body love your fat. It can also cause your female hormones to be off leading to MANY other parts of you.
Then start SLOW. Do not start working out 7 days a week and cut your calories to 1200 and become paleo or remove large parts of your diet.
If it has been a long time, start with walking 20 minutes 3-4 times per week (Walk 10 minutes in one direction from your house and then turn around at the 10 minute mark and come home.) Log EVERYTHING you eat. I use MyFitnessPal- feel free to friend me there- I am MeAndConnor there. Just like you wouldn't get in a car and start blindly driving if you didn't know where you were, you can't figure out what you need to change in your diet if you don't know how many calories you eating right now.
OK- this is probably enough for now. Please feel free to comment if you have questions or if I can help you? I watch here and on my Facebook Profile. https://www.facebook.com/ChubbyGirltoFitAndFabulous
