No More Exercise August 15, 2009

Current Goal:  299

Current Struggle:  Consistency

Current Weight:  311

Current Mood:  Confident

I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I gained four pounds in the last month.  One thing I do know is that I had slacked off on the food journal because I thought I had a good handle on what I was eating.  I now know that I’m not at a point where I can let that go.  Julie (my new Nutritionist) suggested that I not worry so much about the details of each meal, but instead focus more on high-level documentation with an emphasis on portions.  I am making that change as I do still struggle with portion control.  Another “ah-ha” I had while meeting with Julie is that I have an unbelievably negative reaction to the word “exercise.”  I know it goes all the way back to grade school because I have always been very uncoordinated and did very poorly in most physical activities in which we engaged.  Being the perfectionist that I am, I ALWAYS felt inadequate and humiliated when we were tested on physical abilities.   But I’ve come up with an unbelievably easy fix:  I’m not going to use the word ”exercise” any more.  Instead, I will focus on “activity.”  Because, if you think about it, it’s all the activity (which could include “exercise”) that makes the difference at the end of the day. 

Julie (along with the Yoga workout lead by Earnest at the Forum last Saturday) validated that Yoga is an activity that will contribute to a healthy life style.  So, there you have it:  I’m now going to start doing Yoga.  I actually have a couple of Yoga DVD’s that were given to me but I had forgotten I have.  I pulled them out today and my next serious goal will be to actually work through one.  I still can’t do floor work (I’m still in the controlled flop mode to get down and can’t get up without something to pull myself up with), but I can do things standing up.  I’ll just modify like I did last Saturday at the Forum and do what I can.  The beauty of “activity” is that anything is better than nothing.

I feel very hopeful that Yoga is going to be a break through in terms of getting moving.  And I now know that I cannot let my guard down where the food is concerned.  I’m not at a point where I’m able to do that.  But I am still a good 20+ pounds less than I was five months ago.  So, end the end, I’m in good shape.  After all, this IS my year!!!!