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What is Stopping You From Becoming Healthier?

June 11, 2010   8 Comments

Everyone has good reasons for why they keep their bad habits. Some would use the word "excuses" rather than reasons.

Challenge: Week 5

My reasons look a lot like this photo (no, these are not MY kids - I hate bows!). Before I had kids, I used to bike to work and work out a gym. While pregnant with my daughter, I swam 3 times a week in a public pool. (This may be the reason she grew to 9 pounds 10 ounces before birth - yikes!)

In high school, I was a member of the swim team - and get this - my WARM-UP was 100 laps! Now, I could probably do 20 total before feeling like I am going to die.

What happened? I had children and I couldn't find the time to get a work out. I tried! I signed up for Pilates and Yoga, but it wasn't enough to keep me in shape.

Today, I did my Jillian Micheal's Shred workout in front of the television. My kids were up REALLY early so I thought I would take the opportunity to grab 20 minutes to get in shape.

My son almost got slammed in the head with my 3 pound weight.

I think this experience is a perfect illustration of my problem. I can't work out because my children are LITERALLY standing in my way.

But, then I think, maybe I should have beaned him (lightly) with the weight. Then, he would learn to get out of the way of Mommy when she is doing something important for herself.

I spend a lot of time with my kids, because I love it. They aren't deprived of "mommy" time and they could learn some great moves from Jillian if they would JUST GET OUT OF THE WAY!

So, I am setting limits for myself. My children will have a happier, healthier, and hotter mommy if I can teach them to respect my workout time.

How did I do?

Five Weeks

175 pounds - (-2 pound)
38.5 inch waist - (- 3.5 inches)

I lost 2 pounds and 1/2 an inch - hurray! I have changed my goals a bit because I set them too high. I am moving this week so beer only 2 times a week isn't going to cut it. But, I am adding one more workout because I am feeling up to it.

My Goals for Week 6:

  1. Write down meals in food journal
  2. Beer Only 4 days per week
  3. Exercise 4 times a week (one hour walk, one exercise class, two Jillian Micheals Shred Workout).

What are your barriers to getting healthier?
Share in the comments below

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8 Comments:

Perfect solution??? The YMCA!! I bring all 7 of my kids (2 1/2 thru 14) to the local Y. They have many activities (dodge ball, basketball, gymnastics etc.) as well as recreation swim. Best of all they have a nursery (with no TV at ours) for the toddler. Best of all there's a speedbag for Mom ;-) my workout of choice! With a little planning everyone gets an age appropriate workout at the same time.

Having kids, especially younger ones, can be challenging! Our kids are old enough now though (and they don't live with us) that I can't use them as an excuse. My big hurdles are a) I sit at a desk for 9 hours a day during the week and b) because I have such restrictions to my diet already, when I make something special (cake, cookies, brownies, etc) that I CAN have, I partially feel like I "deserve" a second piece or something because it's not like I can usually have cake, brownies, etc. Of course, I love to cook and bake, so I could literally have cake and brownies available to me all the time - this is where the problem lies. I'm working on setting aside "treats" and actually disciplining myself to just enjoy a treat and not overindulge. Also, I'm working on portion control and my non-logged snacking. (aka grazing in the kitchen while I'm cooking dinner). Then, maybe my already-decent exercise routine will start helping me out. I've also added weights to my strength training, so hopefully soon some added muscle will mean I'm burning more calories while sitting at my desk!

Still at 136 lbs, but feeling better about it this week.

Snack Girl, today I have to compliment you on setting a GREAT example. You are doing all the right things to set yourself up for success! Setting specific goals, measuring your progress regularly, learning lessons but not beating yourself up, and holding yourself accountable to a community. I used to be in sales and I always remember my boss teaching me: you can only control what is in your control - your actions and how hard / smart you work (e.g. making 100 calls a day) - if you focus on that part, the results will handle themselves and in a predictable (10 of those calls will agree to a meeting, 3 will agree to a demo, and 1 will buy). What you are doing is a great example of this and I look forward to hearing continued results that prove the point!

You're doing great! And I think it's REALLY important that people respect your workout time. The boyfriend is okay with it if I tell him that I want to go to the gym so I'll be half an hour late meeting up and that kind of thing- he knows how important it is to me and it makes life MUCH easier knowing that I can go to the gym and have fun without feeling guilty that I'm cutting into "our" time.

...but of course, it's all about BALANCE, and we have to make sure we still do spend time with our loved ones! But I think that we've got it all covered :)

I totally understand you because my kids born with a radar system that tells them when Mommy is not available? It's almost impossible to find the time for anything.

ps: make sure not to drink beers before bed because one drink before bed will block weight loss for 1 to 4 days.

I am setting my goals along with you. We just adopted an 9 month old puppy so I force myself to walk him every morning during the work week. I recently started the C25K program and feel really good about it. I am also a big fan of the Shred and used to do it 4 days a week. Have fallen off that wagon, but my goal is to do it once on the weekend. I need to get the strength training in. Apparently, it is one of the best things you can do for yourself, fitness wise.

First of all, I can't believe anyone can 100 laps as a warm-up. Wow! And I wonder why I'm a bad swimmer?!

Since I just have one child, I generally exercise when he's at school. I'm not a big fan of early mornings, but it is one way to guarantee you'll fit it in. My Y is packed at 5:30 a.m. with swimmers, so I'm guessing this idea isn't an original one. Good luck - I'm always interested to hear what stands in the way of becoming healthier, and I appreciate your honesty.

So, I'm dancing around the edges of participating here. I have been trying for a very long time to simply lose 5 lbs, as a start. Actually, I've lost them a number of times. The same ones. Over and over.

My obstacles are a) I've been fairly thin all my life, and if I don't lose weight fairly quickly, I get discouraged fairly quickly; b) 4 o'clock; c) food.

Seriously, though, my lack of commitment and self discipline are big detriments, and keeping to a regular schedule is difficult since we don't have a regular daily schedule around here during the summer. I was doing better before school got out.

I've been working harder over the past month on getting more exercise and tracking my calories using Calorie Count. I'm ever so gradually dropping a little bit here and there. I'll keep trying, and I thank you for the inspiration.

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