We're embarking on week 5 already! Isn't it astonishing that time passes so quickly? I'd like to hear from those of you who have had breakthroughs in the first 30 days. Have your sweet cravings been reduced? Do you find you've lost the urge to drink soda? How about your commitment to exercise? Does the journal keep you on track?
I'm going to repeat a post from last week's blog because I believe it will resonate with everyone:
Nassau William Senior said, "To abstain from the enjoyment which is in our power, or to seek distant rather than immediate results, are among the most painful exertions of the human will." Thus, when we set goals (like weight loss or achieving fitness levels), we end up creating a struggle between who we are now (our present self) and who we wish to be later (our future self). The problem with this struggle is that it is not a fair fight. Our present self is with us always, and makes all the decisions. Our future self doesn't have a voice, so can't help us make the appropriate choices that allow us to reach our goals.
The disparity between who we are today, and who we want to be in the future will always be with us. Can you give your future self a greater say in your decisions? Can you look at the food you crave ("enjoyment which is in your power") and decide as your future self (at which time you have reached you results) not to succumb to the immediate (perceived) pleasure? Make decisions every day as if you are your future self -- and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy!
A few of you are aware of the fact that during our first team workout I experiences sudden onset excruiating pain in my left heel. I finished the workout and was immediately concerned that this would impact my ability to exercise thus undermining my success. Upon examination of my heel I discovered that there was a staple firmly immbedded in my foot. The pain was immediately releaved after it was extracted. Now as it turns out the Honey Badger found a staple in her shoe this morning....hhhmmmm curious, perhaps there is a conspiracy to undermine the success of our team? Or maybe the real question is What is your staple? The thing that is keeping you from giving 100% I faced temptation this weekend on Friday night and did not persevere so I know that I need to go all in this week. Time to remove another staple and get serious. But in the meantime I will be on the lookout for Team Simshauser and the sudden disappearance of staples.......
ReplyDeleteJenny ... only you. But I do like the staple removal analogy. I fell off the no-sweetner bandwagon and had to start over again on that a week ago. I've tried to play this out without doing all the hard work - it's not really possible. So all-in I go ... wheezing all the way! On the flip side, though, I'm finding that while it's important to listen to the coach, I've also got to pay attention to my body as it lets me know what it needs. My mind can tell me that I NEED sweets but I know that's not true. If my body tells me, however, that I'm going to pass out if I don't slow down my breathing, it's time to pay attention! Yes, folks, that Saturday morning workout was a hoot. One of us
ReplyDeleteb*$!ching like crazy, the other of us about to pass out. We both survived it with a good bit of laughter. So nothing ventured, nothing gained. It's week 5 - Let's go!
I only swore once...or twice tonight. We missed you!
DeleteThat workout was a learning curve for me too! It never occurred to me that the issue with breathing might be hyperventilating -- I hold my breath when I'm doing it wrong! Everyone is so different -- we need to scale to our own ability -- and we may need to discover those abilities as we go. This is the awesome thing about team effort -- there is no right; no wrong; no good or bad. There is only the right here and now for each of you. How do we maximize that?
ReplyDeleteThis whole experience has been interesting. For four weeks so far I have proven to myself that the weekend does not have to be an eating frenzy. I might allow myself one cheat meal but that's about it. I am proud that I have the control to leave it at just one and then be back to good eating. Weekends had also been a very hard time for me to get my water in but that has improved greatly too!
ReplyDeleteLast night I prepared a Paleo Oven Fried Chicken and although I never believed it would happen to me again I am IN LOVE. It was unbelievable! So if you need to fuel and want to feel like you are indulging at the same time. Make this chicken.
ReplyDelete2 lbs dark meat, thighs, drumsticks
1 cup almond Flour
2 eggs
garlic powder
Paprika
salt
black pepper
thyme
coconut oil-I used olive-but to be true to paleo use
coconut
mix all dry ingredients
whisk eggs in separate bowl
dip chicken in egg and coat with dry mixture
heat oil in skillet
brown chicken on both sides-2 minutes each side
place chicken on rack and bake @ 400 degrees for an
additional 40 minutes
EAT---------YUMMY
@Tammy - That's so great about your weekends! This BL experience has really helped me tighten up my weekends, too. I still struggle getting enough water on the weekends - are you carrying a water bottle on errands, etc?
ReplyDelete@Laura - To take Maddy's "present/future self" analogy, it's my future self that keeps me from eating a cookie or cupcake whenever I want. My future self says, "Don't you dare put me through another sugar detox!!!!" LOL!
@Jenny - ITA about the paleo chicken. My family ate most of mine - it was so amazing!
I have started having oatmeal for breakfast rather than a protein bar, I have found that I stay full longer. I have a picture of myself where I felt the best and posted it on the fridge, big help!
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you!! Real food, and I'm glad to hear it is sustaining. Now, if you could find it in yourself to add a hard-boiled egg or two for the protein boost, or a handful of blueberries for the nutrients and antioxidants...Really like hearing about the changes!
DeleteThe Honey Badger put us to the test and so went another team workout. Where was everyone? Success requires planning. Plan to be at the next one. NO PAIN NO GAIN My favorite part of the workout is the commaraderie...lots of support. Every works at their level. So no reason not to be at the next one.
ReplyDeleteWorkout was great last night. We were really pushed to a new level and I’m feeling it today. Jenny also is able to provide us all with some great commentary during the workout…you all need to be present at the next team workout so you too can have the experience!
ReplyDeleteDoes the cold weather and these gray days slow you down? What are you doing to keep yourself engaged in your program? How are you helping your accountability partner? It's easy to begin to backslide if we don't stay hyper focused on this journey.
ReplyDeleteStrive for progress, not perfection. -Unknown
This quote resonates with me. As we weigh in each week, I hear comments from the people disappointed with their lack of weight loss. Does this mean you're not progressing? No. As long as you stay with the program (remember: Eat. Sleep. Exercise. In that order...), you will become fitter, healthier, and likely happier.
In the words of the immortal Wayne Gretzky: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Don't stop taking your shots.
I really needed to hear that, Maddy. Thanks! I have been down on myself because the scale is up a couple lbs from this time last year. But then I remember: I started lifting last January, so I know for a fact that I've added a lot of muscle in 13 months.
ReplyDelete"Progress, not perfection" - my new mantra this week!
Perhaps I'm wrong, but I perceive that some on our team have lost interest in fitness gains. There are a few of you who are truly making an effort, and I appreciate your commitment. I am struggling to figure out how to re-engage more of the team.
ReplyDeleteA couple of my friends have been working with people for years to help them with weight loss and fitness. I asked them how they dealt with the frustration of people giving up, or not truly working a program that would drive great results. Apparently, this is a source of frustration for fitness professionals as well. Their advice -- focus on the people who really want to achieve their goals. Everyone else will do what they do, no matter how much support, encouragement, or badgering applied.
I don't like that answer, but their combined experience and shared perspective cannot be argued. Do any of you who are truly committed have any ideas? I hate giving up on anyone. Thoughts welcome.
"Every man dies, but not every man really lives."
ReplyDelete- Braveheart
This is a quote that has resonated with me since the the first time I saw the movie. It has been a focal point for success through many of the obstacles that I have faced through my life. Now it has a new meaning to me. I am engaged so in the coming years I will be starting a family. Getting in better shape and health is a strong focus for me because I want to be able to play with my future kids, travel, get out and do things and remain active. Becoming overweight, having sore joints, not eating right can really have an effect on how active you are and the time spent doing what you want. It can be hard to be active and do the things you want if you are putting the wrong things in your body causing you to gain weight, have chronic fatigue, get poor sleep, etc. My goal is to learn better eating habits so I can establish them for my future self and future family and not be inhibited by my own temptations and laziness. Working out sucks. We all know it. If it were easy we would all look like fitness models. The struggle is the current pain and frustration of a workout or the self control of certain foods. But the results are so much mor than just physical. So I ask, what is it that you want for your future self? What is it that will make you feel like you "really lived?" That's the motivation to harness and carry with you along this BL path and past it. Dropping a few pounds may be the motivation presently but think of what you can do after you are in shape; take a trip, run a race, start a project you were too tired to start before. All things we do need to have a sense of accomplishment and pride at the end. What is yours? My goal is to someday run a marathon. My steps to doing that are beginning in this BL competition along with my constant struggle to quit smoking all together. I know I have quite a long road ahead of me but nothing can start to be accomplished without taking the first step. Take the first step and capture what you want from life.
Tom-Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI have been stuck at home for two days with very sick children and really didn't feel like doing anything. I discovered that my library has these Zumba cds that they sell online for $80! I was able to get one and do my workout tonight. I really didn't feel like it but once I started, I felt so great and stress free! I know I talk about Zumba all the time now but I swear I am addicted. It is the most fun workout that I have ever done. (I hope that my neighbors didn't see!) I really suggest for anyone out there struggling to workout and likes to dance whether you are good are not, give zumba a chance. You are actually kind of bummed when it's over. My cousin who has 100 pounds to lose has started doing it and she really has stepped up her game and took two classes back to back last night! Have a good weekend all!
I was not able to switch to the Tuesday workout this week due to our hectic family schedule. However, I went to the gym on Wednesday and worked out by myself to stay on the same Wed evening routine. For a change, I tried out the treadmill for a cardio workout. Stay the course everyone, we are now more than a third of the way!
ReplyDelete@Tom: Great post! This is about so much more than just losing weight. You're setting awesome goals for yourself, and putting in the effort to get there. Kicking the nicotine habit is a nasty, arduous effort, but one of the best fights to win. 26 years ago I quit -- and did it because I wanted to complete a triathlon and breathe at the same time. Keep that great sense of determination and drive. I know you can do it!
ReplyDelete@Tammy: Great post too! You really went the extra mile to make yourself work out, which I know first hand is a major hurdle to jump sometimes. Really enjoying the work out you do is so important to your commitment to yourself. If I wasn't such a klutz, I'd try zumba too!
@Scott: We missed you Tuesday, but I'm glad to see you kept on track. Time is flying, isn't it?