i got a message last week from a
new friend asking how i got started on this journey; what were things
like when i first started.
i sent her the following reply and then just now followed up with the 2nd reply because i feel like it is the most imporant part and i left it out before....
Reply #1
<<
What I can offer up is this:
1. make a plan with food and exercise. Make the actual appt with yourself to do your workouts and keep it.
2. Find an exercise or activity that you truly enjoy versus something that is just exercise. If you like a sport than find a team and join up. If you like to dance find a Zumba class or hip hop exercise class. If you like to be outside find a new trail to hike or bike or walk or run.
3. Start getting at least 8 cups of water each day and cut back on sugary drinks. Cut back on diet drinks if you have them.
4. Try very hard to get at least 8hrs of sleep each night.
The biggest thing for me is only give up or add things you can either live with or without forever. Meaning if you like pizza dont cut it out completely, limit it or make healthier choices instead. If you can't work out 7 days a week forever do not even try to keep up that kind of schedule.
Keep things fresh so you don't burn out.
Best of luck on your new journey. This new life is amazing once you get it going.>>>
Reply #2
I forgot to add one thing....
i know that we all measure our success based on how the scale moves especially in the beginning of our journey....it's just the "go to move" as far as progress....after doing this for almost five years i have finally come to realize that my progress and my success should not be measured by the scale ALONE...the scale should be the smallest part of how you measure your progress with the changes you are making for the rest of your life.....
how your clothes fit, how much further you are going on your walks, how much faster you are walking/running, how much more water you are drinking each day, how many more fruits and vegetables you are adding to your diet, how much more protein you are getting in your daily intake, how many inches you are losing ALL OVER, how many days a week you work out, how YOU FEEL....
these are what you should be focusing on especially from the start...these are the things that will keep you moving in the right direction...NEVER once have i put on a pair of pants or shorts that have been a little tighter and said well fuck it i'm gonna have a big mac today for lunch cause i have obviously gained a little - if you step on the scale and see up .5 or up 2.5 or whatever, you are more likely to feel that way though....
when you feel clothes that are little tighter you move your ass to make them feel/fit better....when i close my diary and see i've had a great food and workout day it makes me want the next day to be just as good...but getting on the scale and seeing whatever the movement, good or bad, can often times send you into a bad and not helpful spiral, even if there is a loss because you might have been expecting a greater loss and get pissed about that....
i know, i know, i know it is hard to not focus on the scale especially at the start, i just dont want you to focus too hard on it...that is the one thing i wish someone would have knocked into my head when i first started getting healthy....i did it to lose weight and ended up changing my life instead while losing weight along the way.....your focus has to be on ALL the other things, not just the lbs or Kg you are trying to lose....
best of luck to you,
Denise
i sent her the following reply and then just now followed up with the 2nd reply because i feel like it is the most imporant part and i left it out before....
Reply #1
<<
What I can offer up is this:
1. make a plan with food and exercise. Make the actual appt with yourself to do your workouts and keep it.
2. Find an exercise or activity that you truly enjoy versus something that is just exercise. If you like a sport than find a team and join up. If you like to dance find a Zumba class or hip hop exercise class. If you like to be outside find a new trail to hike or bike or walk or run.
3. Start getting at least 8 cups of water each day and cut back on sugary drinks. Cut back on diet drinks if you have them.
4. Try very hard to get at least 8hrs of sleep each night.
The biggest thing for me is only give up or add things you can either live with or without forever. Meaning if you like pizza dont cut it out completely, limit it or make healthier choices instead. If you can't work out 7 days a week forever do not even try to keep up that kind of schedule.
Keep things fresh so you don't burn out.
Best of luck on your new journey. This new life is amazing once you get it going.>>>
Reply #2
I forgot to add one thing....
i know that we all measure our success based on how the scale moves especially in the beginning of our journey....it's just the "go to move" as far as progress....after doing this for almost five years i have finally come to realize that my progress and my success should not be measured by the scale ALONE...the scale should be the smallest part of how you measure your progress with the changes you are making for the rest of your life.....
how your clothes fit, how much further you are going on your walks, how much faster you are walking/running, how much more water you are drinking each day, how many more fruits and vegetables you are adding to your diet, how much more protein you are getting in your daily intake, how many inches you are losing ALL OVER, how many days a week you work out, how YOU FEEL....
these are what you should be focusing on especially from the start...these are the things that will keep you moving in the right direction...NEVER once have i put on a pair of pants or shorts that have been a little tighter and said well fuck it i'm gonna have a big mac today for lunch cause i have obviously gained a little - if you step on the scale and see up .5 or up 2.5 or whatever, you are more likely to feel that way though....
when you feel clothes that are little tighter you move your ass to make them feel/fit better....when i close my diary and see i've had a great food and workout day it makes me want the next day to be just as good...but getting on the scale and seeing whatever the movement, good or bad, can often times send you into a bad and not helpful spiral, even if there is a loss because you might have been expecting a greater loss and get pissed about that....
i know, i know, i know it is hard to not focus on the scale especially at the start, i just dont want you to focus too hard on it...that is the one thing i wish someone would have knocked into my head when i first started getting healthy....i did it to lose weight and ended up changing my life instead while losing weight along the way.....your focus has to be on ALL the other things, not just the lbs or Kg you are trying to lose....
best of luck to you,
Denise
No comments:
Post a Comment