I was scrolling thought Instagram the other day and I saw a really pretty girl wearing a shirt that said, "Healthy is the new skinny." She was smiling and of course absolutely gorgeous and proud to be rocking that shirt.
I can't, in all honesty, wear that shirt right now.
For the first time in my life I do not feel healthy. There have been many times over the past 10, maybe even 15 years, where I've put my foot down and said, "THIS IS IT, NO MORE! I've got to lose weight."
I've even done it a few times on this blog with my old linkup Operation Get Fit. In the past though, the reasoning behind wanting to make a change really had everything to do with how I felt when I looked in the mirror and in my clothes. In the past, my spurts of health-reform came solely from a vanity standpoint, not a health standpoint. I had never really felt bad health-wise, I just felt sad when I looked in the mirror.
I've even done it a few times on this blog with my old linkup Operation Get Fit. In the past though, the reasoning behind wanting to make a change really had everything to do with how I felt when I looked in the mirror and in my clothes. In the past, my spurts of health-reform came solely from a vanity standpoint, not a health standpoint. I had never really felt bad health-wise, I just felt sad when I looked in the mirror.
Well now that pesky biological clock has added another year to my timetable and not only is it now the usual disgust when I look in the mirror, but I honestly don't feel good. I feel an odd pressure in my head, relatively often. When I was traveling for work this past week, I went to bed at 9pm most nights out of sheer exhaustion from being on my feet for most (but not all) of the day. That's not good.
This is more than just the feeling of, "ew" when I look in the mirror. It's a health problem and I've got to fix it. Over a year ago, the doctor told me I had high blood pressure and gave me medicine for that. At the time, and as you read in that blog post, I didn't think it was my weight causing it, but now I wonder if it might be.
Here's the good news: I'm really pretty good about sticking to a plan once I decide to start one. The last time I put my foot down and announced to the blog world I was going to lose weight, I lost about 20 pounds.
This healthy lifestyle continued steadily for me right up until I met CB. After we met, we both stopped working out, and instead started hanging with each other 24/7. This was also before fun-filled, boozy weekends and pizza Sunday took over.
Pizza is delicious, but I have got to practice a lifestyle of pizza moderation.... *cue the waterworks*
If I had to set a weight loss goal, I'd say 30 pounds. I really don't want to do that though. I just want to set a goal of routinely working out and following the Weight Watchers plan that has always worked well for me. So, as of this past Tuesday, I re-joined Weight Watchers and CB and I have been steadily hitting the gym.
OH, and one more thing...
I'd also like to rant for one second longer on this Instagram I saw the other day.....
This is more than just the feeling of, "ew" when I look in the mirror. It's a health problem and I've got to fix it. Over a year ago, the doctor told me I had high blood pressure and gave me medicine for that. At the time, and as you read in that blog post, I didn't think it was my weight causing it, but now I wonder if it might be.
Here's the good news: I'm really pretty good about sticking to a plan once I decide to start one. The last time I put my foot down and announced to the blog world I was going to lose weight, I lost about 20 pounds.
This healthy lifestyle continued steadily for me right up until I met CB. After we met, we both stopped working out, and instead started hanging with each other 24/7. This was also before fun-filled, boozy weekends and pizza Sunday took over.
Pizza is delicious, but I have got to practice a lifestyle of pizza moderation.... *cue the waterworks*
If I had to set a weight loss goal, I'd say 30 pounds. I really don't want to do that though. I just want to set a goal of routinely working out and following the Weight Watchers plan that has always worked well for me. So, as of this past Tuesday, I re-joined Weight Watchers and CB and I have been steadily hitting the gym.
OH, and one more thing...
I'd also like to rant for one second longer on this Instagram I saw the other day.....
See y'all on snapchat.
I think posting to social media/snapchat that you're at the gym is great! It creates accountability. When you're feeling a little sluggish, you'll think "but everyone will know I'm NOT working out because I've been posting when I do."
ReplyDeleteOne of the best things about social media is ACCOUNTABILITY. Go for it, post the photos... I say it's awesome. I'm sure people are tired of my whole30 photos but I'm doing this for me... Congrats on getting back into it all - I feel you 100% on the whole blood pressure thing etc and the weight and just not feeling great. My biggest goal with all of this is to make working out part of my routine, part of me, I breathe to live, so working out should be as second nature as that before long, I hope! You got this girl! I also helps that CB is in this with you. My husband is my accountability partner. He's up every morning at 5:30 am, I follow him out of bed, handle my stuff, get on my clothes and get to working out downstairs while he works out in the garage with our equipment. And then at night we take turns dominating the treadmill.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought... it's too much. Then I started looking forward to the 30 minutes on the treadmill. SO strange. I can breathe better now, etc. (I lost a lot of weight over the last year doing rounds of whole30, purchasing a bike, and being more active).... I got the right shoes to run and now I don't think of that 30 mins as WORK, but as therapy. You can get out a lot of aggression running to your favorite tunes for 30 mins at the end of the day :)
While he runs... I clean the kitchen/fold laundry (insert some task here) and prep dinner. If I have time before he gets finished I scroll through social media - then I hit the treadmill... get out all my annoyances of the day, and enjoy getting a better time each time... I stretch... shower, and finish dinner (or he does while I'm working out). IT's AWESOME!
Last year, around this time if you told me I'd be doing my weights / cardio workouts scheduled at 5:30-6 am every morning AND THEN running at night, I'd laugh in your face, then chug my craft beer and eat pizza...
I still love pizza.. we'll never break up and craft beer is ok on occasion, but I'd rather have wine.
Point is, your head is in the right space. For years I did the whole "I want to look better!" Now that I'm saying I want to do this for my health and FEEL better, it's starting to click that there isn't an END in sight every day is just making myself better, one workout at a time. And having fun with the work out is what's most important! I might not ever run a marathon but I'm damn proud of my small PRs in my garage every day ;)
I totally post my post work out calorie burn on Snap because it makes me feel good and proud that I powered through it. I am so sick of people being so rude about it. We need to lift each other up and push each other for greatness so we all can be super awesome healthy humans! With that, you share those snaps, I will be looking for them!!!
ReplyDeleteYou go girl! Snapchat away I am trying to get into a healthy routine myself!
ReplyDeleteXOXO!
Carmen Carter
You go girl! My husband and I did WW a few years ago and we both lost about 30 pounds and were consistently working out. Then we decided we could eat whatever we wanted, which turned into not working out, which turned into gaining all the weight back, plus more! We decided to start eating healthier and working out again last week, and we even did a bet with my husband's brother and his wife to see who could lose the most % of body weight. The loser of the challenge has to take a picture in the other team's colors. I think that the idea of wearing Red Raider Red is one of my only motivations to not eat that cookie or piece of candy after work, and it's just so hard, but totally worth it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, share your pictures of workouts on SnapChats! It's an accomplishment you should be proud of, so who cares if you want to show it off a bit! It helps me to stay motivated when I snap when I'm working out!
Excited for you! You also rejoined WW at the perfect time - the tweaks they made for SmartPoints REALLY work. Seriously. I got off track during the holidays (gained about 5 pounds back) and one week completely on plan and nearly all of it is gone. Let me know if you want to bounce around meal ideas!
ReplyDeleteBring on the gym selfies and motivational quotes! Also.. can we bring back the link up? :)
ReplyDeleteAnything you need to do to keep you motivated is a-ok in my book! I love seeing people's healthy living choices throughout the day! It motivates me to make smarter choices as well! Good luck in your journey!
ReplyDeleteRight there with you: just re-joined Weight Watchers this week, too! Go us! :)
ReplyDeleteWeight Watcher is awesome. I start on Jan 2nd and have lost 3 pounds already. My husband has lost 10 pounds. We can do this together. Also post away your gym snapchat and FB post.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amysfashionblog.com/blog-home
I totally feel you! I had a baby almost 4 months ago and lost about 23 lbs very quickly, but I have since gained some back due to not taking care of myself. I not only don't like the way I look, but I just feel disgusting. I'm looking at trying 9Round and getting back into WW too. How do you like the new points system?
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you! In fact, I think we need more gym selfies! :)
ReplyDeleteI just joined weight watchers here in Dallas last week too. I have about 30ish lbs I would like to lose, so I'm right there with ya! My first weigh in (after doing the program for a week) is tomorrow. The hardest part for me BY FAR, is cutting out thr booze!! I want all the wineeeeee!
ReplyDeleteYou're doing WW in Dallas?? What location?
DeleteMockingbird! You?
DeleteI love seeing other people check in and show off. It helps make me think about the current decisions I'm making. I finally found a program that is easy to follow and I actually like it. Let me know if you want me to send you info. And please, you snapchat as much as you want - people are probably sick of seeing my dogs doing everything, but they rule my world.
ReplyDeleteFirst, posting those check-ins on social media is FINE. The OTHER thing wrong with that meme, though..."doesEn't"?? It's bad enough when people post stupid things on the internet. It's even worse when they spell things wrong like that and it makes them look even dumber.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, good for you. Chris and I have decided to start working out and getting his kids in on it too. It's going to be a challenge, but I think it's going to be SO good for all of us.
Go girl! I'm right there with you! I actually love when people post gym stuff on Snapchat, Instagram, etc. It makes my lazy butt feel pathetic and actually motivates me!
ReplyDeleteAlso, tell me more about Weight Watchers! Have you ever written a post about it? I'm reading the comments on this post and it seems a lot of people like the program. I need to look into it more! What plan do you recommend?
DeleteI love this! and agreed, I feel inspired when i see other people going to the gym it's a good visual reminder!
ReplyDeleteYour ending killed me! HAHA! I'm all for posting whatever makes you happy, but I've always been like that and am very social media tolerant. Do you. That's all that matters. Xoxo, ganeeban
ReplyDeleteGood for you for getting healthy and deciding to post your gym selfies if you damn well please! It always seems that eating healthy/working out tends to go by the wayside when you're in a new relationship, but sounds like you have a great plan now!!
ReplyDeleteI need to do the same. I may look healthy but I don't feel it... Now I just need to find time to get to the gym lol
ReplyDeleteYou go girl! Do it your way, whatever works for you. I admire your dedication and motivation!
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about looking at myself in the mirror and wondered how I got here. A couple months ago I signed up for Tone It Up and have stuck with it. I post most of my food and workouts on IG (alifit84) because there's a whole community of like minded people to encourage you and motivate you to keep going. It's silly, but those like's are what keep me going. It's great that you and CB are doing this together!
ReplyDeleteI love that you want to post that you are working out! And I love that you are doing it to be healthy. I was never the athletic type and never enjoyed working out in high school or college, I just would randomly work out. But it wasn't until I graduated college and came back to Dallas, and was introduced to an amazing gym called City Surf that I realized how much I loved to work out. This gym works for me and I definitely realized that you have to find something that works for you to want to work out! I did the LA fitness thing but it didn't work for me because I work much better with someone telling me what's next, plus it add a bit of competition with myself haha.
ReplyDeleteI wish I would stop caring so much about what others think about posting gym pics or checking in at the gym because I totally would! Forget the haters;) I love it! So cool that you and CB are working out together!
Surf City... isn't that in Deep Ellum??? Is that what I think it is with indoor surfing? That sounds really cool and if it is the one I'm thinking of in Deep Ellum I've walked by it a million times and always wondered what it was like!!
DeleteI say post what you want! I dont make people feel bad for posting pictures of their babies, like okay, congrats, you found love and made a child. Woohoo! I'll take a gym selfie over a blurry photo of a sleeping kid any day.
ReplyDeleteI take gym pics sometimes, so I'm perfectly okay with other people doing that. I think it can be a mood booster. And if I had a really good workout, it helps me remember for next time!
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing a lot more people talk about if talking selfies at the gym is okay or not. As long as you are actually doing something and really working out, then go for that selfie. I have seen people not lift a damn weight and try to take a selfie like they were actually doing something.
ReplyDeleteSo are you on board with the new WW system? My friend uses it and she was SO angry when they changed everything over a few weeks ago.
ReplyDelete