Better Late than Never

I know it’s the 8th of February, also the 6th week of the year, but I’ve made progress! I joined David Barton Gym on Saturday 😀 and had my free hour with a personal trainer yesterday. My legs quivered going down stairs and I dreaded the thought of how I’d feel today, so it was a very good session. I was planning to go to a yoga class today but my legs told me they couldn’t handle such a workout and I thought I should just take a walk on the treadmill and do some stretches throughout the day just to keep the circulation going. Today hasn’t been the easiest but what’s important is that I’ve started and I am motivated to keep going. It’s been 2 years since I’ve been in a gym consistently and I hate it.

What I really like about this gym is that I’m on the treadmill looking out onto the streets (one floor above street level) and it’s not dark to block whatever little sunshine the day may bring, and to just see outside. I felt so happy that I’d made the change, and happy that even though it pained me to walk down the stairs outside of my apartment, I was in the gym trying to ease the pain with more exercise and not sleeping it off.

I can speak from experience that so easily we can make up excuses about why aren’t doing what we’re supposed to be doing to help our bodies, but we NEVER try to make a small change in our lifestyle to start the process. Last year I gained 11lbs in a month from drinking whey protein and not exercising. I hated how I looked. I was back in the gym periodically but Summer came around, so did trips and family and friends visiting so gym was not even an option for me. But I made a change, a small one. I started eating breakfast and smaller portions of dinner – portion control. I love my dessert and chocolates, but hated how I felt after eating dinner and forcing down my dessert because I couldn’t have 2 bites and stop. So I decided, since I like my desserts so much, maybe I should cut down on the amount of food I eat so that I can enjoy my dessert and feel satisfied not full. When I put this thought into practice, it was the best thing I’d ever done for myself. I went on to lose 13lbs in about 5 months just from not stuffing myself at every meal. Yes! Soooo easy to gain but HARD to lose. I love food, I love cooking food and going out to try different places (even though I’m picky about certain foods). I often check the dessert menu before looking at the lunch or dinner menu when deciding on a new place to eat. I’d happily eat a chicken caesar salad and have a brownie drenched in vanilla sauce; at least I’m not stuffing myself!

I’m sharing this because I’m hoping it could help someone. That it would be some kind of motivation. Small steps can lead to bigger steps. Start changing your diet –> start losing weight –> increased desire to tone what is left –> work towards that goal with exercise that you love. Many people think they have to go into a gym  but they don’t have to. Take up dancing or something else that is guaranteed to be a good cardio workout. And gradually, build up yourself. Take a short walk and extend the distance every time you go for one. It doesn’t make sense doing too much and then you lose interest fast. I did that many times, but this time I’m determined to get it right. I miss the two abs I had back in 2008 and I’m determined to get them back because I owe it to myself, and no one else, to have the body I want. I once asked my husband what he’d do if I got fat, he responded by saying “that won’t happen because you won’t let yourself get there”. If there was any motivation I needed I got it in that response.

-change in small steps lasts longer and is more accepted, than change in big steps-

Bless.