I work in an industry where we are either normal busy or crazy busy. Right now, we’re crazy busy and in the next several months, it only ramps up from here. That means later nights at work, oddball lunch hours, taking work home and, in general, an interruption to my daily routine.
Add to that, some personal projects and issues that are requiring much of my time at home, plus the holiday season, and I’ve got somewhere to be or something to do almost every night.
Life happens. But right now, life is up-ending my fitness routine. There is no time for the gym in the evenings and, even with the best of intentions, in the mornings, I’ve just been too tired to crawl out of bed. It’s not a good combination and it’s been a week since I’ve done anything.
I remember this happening at this time of year last year too, which was when I decided I was going to become a triathlete and have something to train for, something to commit to beyond my own health.
Since then, training has been my outlet for dealing with stress. Before I started making my health a priority, food had been my way of dealing with stress and we’re not talking broccoli.
In the past few weeks, I’ve noticed a shift, subtle at first, more pronounced now. Juggling my hectic schedule, workouts have been pushed down the priority list. In its place? Food has been creeping back in. It feels like a little bit of self-sabotage.
I’m maintaining my weight, but I’m not feeling at the top of my game. This week, in particular, I’ve been frustrated and crankier than usual.
When I started Weight Watchers, which I left a couple of months ago to save some money, it was on a Thursday. It turned out to be a good day of the week to be accountable. Tomorrow is Thursday. I plan to head back to Weight Watchers and re-ignite the fitness focus. I know getting my runs, swims and strength training in will mean getting up early in the dark and getting to the gym or at least to my medicine and yoga balls to get workouts in.
It’s surprising to me, at this point, how easy it has been to push myself to the back burner after working so hard to get to this weight and fitness level. I don’t want to regain the weight as I have in the past. I enjoy feeling strong and having lots of energy. I feel best when I’ve started my day with a workout, and I’m fueling my body with good food choices.
My promise to myself before turning 50 was to get fit and healthy. My promise to myself until I’m in the ground is to stay that way.
I’ll be really glad when race season is around the corner again. That’s a commitment I don’t dare slack on.
Related posts:
Not so fast Diane! What are we to do it you do slip back? Our birthdays are only days a part so next May I want you to be in another race and I want to have to combination back to my closet so I can slip back into my clothes.I think slipping into our feel great clothes is our only “slipping” option!
Good luck back at WW. It did such a fab job for you!
elizabeth
Locally (I often attend the one in West Islip) there are chapters of a noprofit group exactly the same as Weight Watchers called “TOPS” – Take off Pounds Sensibly. It is good for the weekly motivation/accountability. You should check it out! We are both at about the same weight loss level (I am at 62 lbs. lost). Keep it up, girlfriend! Awesome blog!
Holidays are tough, its more of a maintain status then losing status when it comes to weight. There are thing that can help, pack your lunch, do it the night before, because we all know how easy it is to hit snooze button. If you want to wake up early, move your alarm clock across the room, on a dresser, where you literally have to get up to turn it off, since your up, hit the gym, trust me it works. 99% of the battle is getting out of bed. At lunch, if your in a warmer climate, walk during your lunch break, find a co worker to walk with you, talking makes the time go better, once xmas is over, you will be able to get back on track. hang in there