If you’ve been following my blog you are familiar with the ups and downs that I have had in regards to diet and exercise. In 2010 I was all over the place… (this is lengthy, but I’m working to make a point!)
I was still hanging on to Weight Watchers January-March, but totally cheating the system. I’d eat low point, non-filling, blah food in order to hoard my points for treats and splurges. I was frustrated with how I was feeling, frustrated that I wasn’t seeing changes, and still killing myself at the gym.
March I ditched WW and went for a different approach – The Rosedale Diet. I saw results and felt great! My clothes were finally fitting better and my confidence was building, HOWEVER, my diet was not supporting my workouts. Before I could pound out an intense 1 hour cardio session, but was now struggling to crank out 20-30 minutes.
Late March/April I began my half marathon training. Throughout my training, I incorporated a serving of carbs here and there, but ultimately, and in addition to too many things going on, I was off the diet bandwagon. April through July I stayed consistent with my training, but again, my diet just wasn’t there. I was allowing myself to eat what I wanted (which was okay!) but I was really overestimating/disregarding what my body actually needed for fuel.
After the half marathon in July, I let myself rest and worked on learning to listen to my body and do what I felt like doing. That didn’t last long and I started P90X at the end of July. I loved it at first, but after awhile I just felt frustrated that I wasn’t seeing results. I attempted to follow their diet plan, but it just wasn’t working for me. I finished out P90X in October with nothing to show. My pants weren’t fitting, I didn’t feel healthy or great, and my confidence was at an all time low. This was NOT how, physically and emotionally, I wanted to be.
Turning point - October 30th - I ran another half marathon. Totally unplanned and last minute decision. I ran it with ease and no problems at all. Running that race honestly made me realize that I am strong and able. I openly declared that I, from that moment on, had no grounds to talk poorly about myself any longer. If I could run a half marathon without training, my body deserved only good praise from there on out.
November started out with following the exercise plan that I received at a personal training session at the end of October and then my first Cross Fit session 1st CF session . I did two other free CF workouts, talked a lot about the Paleo diet with the trainer and on December 1st I dove in. And I haven’t looked back…
Choosing to ditch what I was previously doing and follow the CF/Paleo lifestyle was by far the best decision I made for myself. It has improved nearly all aspects of my life; I am more confident, I feel sexy, and I am loving myself. I no longer look in the mirror and notice what I don’t like about my body. I am proud of what I see because of what I can do. I slaved away at P90X and finished still not being able to curl a 25lb dumbbell without writhing, jumping and finally using my other arm to help. After about 3 weeks of Cross Fit, I could complete one rep with ease, not to mention the multitude of ability that I have discovered within myself.
A lot of times we are afraid to take a different route or try something new. We look at the negative what ifs and vision the newness as jumping across a canyon; we either land comfortably on the other side or tumble in failure. If what you are doing is not getting you the results you want, not fueling your happiness and feelings of worth, and draining you, then it’s time to try something new. Evaluate what you are doing and when it comes to fitness this means DIET and EXERCISE. Evaluate everything and be honest with yourself! Track what you eat (maybe even when and WHY) for a week and evaluate. How much food is natural and real? Did you eat when you weren’t hungry? Be honest! What’s the point in lying to yourself if you want results? How were your workouts? Were you bored? Did you enjoy it? How did you feel after? From here, reevaluate your plan for the next week. Make small changes.
If you aren’t feeling your workouts, do what you want to do! Walk, rest, stretch, yoga, meditate, take a bath…whatever! If you are keeping your diet in check, your rest/free days are not going to hinder you. Our bodies are a reflection of what we eat, inside and out! It’s all about creating a lifestyle that works for you and makes you feel 110%!
Life is too short to spend it unhappy, especially when it comes to doing something for your health. I love not spending hours in the gym anymore. I am much more satisfied kicking my ass for 5-20 minutes, 4-5 days a week than I was doing cardio for 6+ hours a week. One way isn’t necessarily the end all be all and I am sure that there will be tweaking and altering for me at different points, but this is the lifestyle that is working for me RIGHT NOW and it’s all about trial and error.
What’s a change in your lifestyle that you made and are glad you did?
