With the end of race season came a backlash of sorts that I didn’t anticipate. Since I’d set such high goals for next season, I figured I’d stay on track with my diet and exercise plan, no problem.
It went well for a couple of weeks and then, problem. Little by little I let old eating behaviors back in and that, in turn, slowed up my exercise some. No excuses, it just happened. I keep trying to get back on track in fits and starts. My last post was titled “I need to run” and I had hoped by posting it, I would have actually gotten out there to do it. That morning however was cold and windy and rainy. I could have gone to the gym. I opted to roll over and go back to sleep. I actually haven’t been running in 8 days.
Saturday, the day started out ok foodwise but somewhere around dinner time, veered horribly off track. So much so that I felt sick-to-my-stomach full for hours, a combination I’m sure of a rich Italian dinner– eggplant rollatini (filled with all that cheese and fried, eggplant is no longer the power food you’d think it is)– a small sliver of chocolate creme pie and then a small dish of ice cream. No celebration. Just gluttony. I didn’t leave enough room between courses to let my stomach tell me I was full. So I got over-full. And while I ate less than I would have 60 pounds ago, it was still way too much for what I’m used to now.
My weeks have been up and down with food intake, and my workouts have been sporadic, but until Saturday, I didn’t realize just how far off the grid I’d fallen. Eating that much and being that lazy didn’t feel good at all.
Sunday, I started over. I think the psychology of how far I’d come was keeping me from going further. Or maybe it was just allowing me to relax behaviors that I had worked so hard to develop.
Instead of saying I’ve lost 60 pounds have 20 to go, I’m starting from this point. I’m more active and I eat less than I did a year ago, and that’s fine, but it’s not enough. I want to get to the next level.
So I started a new healthy eating routine yesterday and I went for a 3-mile walk because I didn’t feel like running. In these past weeks when I didn’t feel like running, I didn’t do anything. It’s the off season. If I don’t feel like running or biking or swimming, there are other exercises I can do.
And I have a new 10% goal. This time, I’m starting from 168 pounds. My first 10%, which will take me most of the way, is 17 pounds.
I hope by starting over, I will find a renewed commitment to myself and my health. I wonder if this is something I will have to continually shake up to keep moving forward. If that’s what it takes, then that’s what I’ll do. Because I am certainly not going to move backwards.
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Diane,
Hang in there! You will get through this. It is difficult but you can do it. Look how far you have come! It is quite difficult once you start sneaking back into old habits to get going again…but it can and will be done!
I have been in similar situations and have let myself get completely out of hand…gaining 10 or 12 lbs…and I feel gross and unhappy. I did that last year at Christmas and did not lose the weight until recently…starting the diet in July. I keep telling myself the holidays are not going to have me this year! No way!
Walking is great…actually my favorite exercise next to yoga!
Anyway, best of luck to you. I have confidence you will do this! I checked out your photos and you look fantastic…a completely different person than you were! Congratulations!
Is it too cold to run where you live? I’ll keep running this Autumn/Winter because it’s not freezing cold here. Only today we’re having a big storm with lots of rain so I had to skip my run but did a home workout instead.
I’m sure you’ll get back on track, you’ve done this before so you know you can.
What helps me when things don’t go like I planned: I read blogs of other people, they motivate and inspirate me and help me going on.
Good luck