I’ve realized recently that my life this past two years has been an interesting experiment. I’ve been both guinea pig and scientist as I’ve tried to pay attention and understand how my mind and body work. It’s been a dynamic process. Things change, and I change, and nothing ever really stays the same for long.
A few things I’ve observed, though:
- If I stay away from my scale for more than 3-4 days, it means that I’m in avoidance and/or denial, and there is probably trouble brewing. If things are going well, I weigh myself every day and even if it fluctuates by several pounds, I don’t fret about it. If I don’t want to look, that means it’s bad news.
- I need accountability. Even the most “imaginary” accountability works for me. When I was doing the #7daychip, I took it very seriously. I made a promise to myself, I had chip buddies (hey @justjerakah!) and it kept me on track. As soon as I wasn’t officially doing the #7daychip anymore, guess what? My workouts came to a dead screeching halt.
- That’s why I am soooooooooooo excited about joining Team in Training again after 12 years. I’m going to have a coach! and a group! and a schedule! UBER accountability!
- Some foods just send me right over the edge into can’t-stop-eating land. Recently it was peanut butter. It went into the trash. Then it was trail mix. ACK! That’s going into trash as soon as I go home today. CANNOT HAVE in the house.
- My eternal Achilles heel is going to be stress/emotional eating and I really need to put as many resources I can into addressing this. Sometimes I can deal with it in appropriate ways, and sometimes it trips me up. Keep it on the to-do list.
- In general, I’m not great at working out by myself. If I’m not being accountable to someone else, I often will break dates with myself. Ditto re the team in training- YAY.
- I continue to thrive with my relationship with Weight Watchers. It’s good for me to enter that conversation with 30+ people every week.
- Things continually change, and I have to continually Pay Attention and change things up as well. Change is good.
And those were my scientific conclusions of the day!
What have you learned about yourself on your (cough) (for lack of a better word) Journey?
foodfoodbodybody 
July 1, 2011 at 11:03 am
I’ve learned to “love my tracker” as the saying goes in Weight Watchers. What works for me is using Excel to track my daily and different kinds of exercise. At first, I only tracked my daily weight. I like looking at the downward line graph as I loose weight over time. I can see the connection between my food intake in my journal, exercise and the results. I also recognize monthly patterns and accept fluctuations I’ve come to expect. My charts showing percentage of weight loss and goal (with no specified time to get there) help me keep my eyes on the prize – a healthier, more energetic, serene me.
Now, I have worksheets for climbing stairs, walking, cardio, swimming, gym and hiking. I may only have one entry on some and that is okay. These visual aids are proof of how adventerous I am becoming in a short period of time. One milestone was when I signed up for the Wellness event at work in March. I tried new activities, including meditation, yoga, hooping and Zumba. Occasionally, I’ll print out my workout worksheets, cut them out and tape them in my journal next to images and encouraging statements. I just started a new journal and I have a picture of myself standing victorious at the top of Mission Peak.
That climb was huge for me. I was supposed to meet some people from work for the first time. One of my workout buddies, Han, told me about colleagues who hike. I emailed back and forth and was supposed to meet them. I was a bit intimidated because they are training to go up the back side of Half Dome. I arranged childcare and set off in the morning. While double checking the email with the directions, I realized that the group left at 6:30 am and I was going to arrive at the starting point at 7:00 am. I got off the freeway, tempted to turn around and go home. Then, I decided to continue. Yea! Completing this hike was a step in reclaiming my body. (Backpacking trips as a kid were vulnerable times when I was sexually abused by my Pastor.)
Soon, I’m going on a two-week vacation for the first time. I am a bit worried about how I’ll handle this. After reading your post, Susan, I realized I can take my scale with me. The first week, I’ll be at a family camp. I’ve decided to sign up for kayaking and climbing a 70 foot Alpine Tower. (Putting down my commitments in front of an accountability partner is another way to motivate me to follow through.) The next week, I’ll be at Pact Camp with you!
The most important lesson I’ve learned is about the importance of maintaining my spiritual connection. It was a Come-To-Jesus-Moment of desperation in early January that brought me to the point where I was willing to do anything. I had wanted to follow you as you blazed a trail a little over two years ago. And, I wasn’t ready at that time.
My youngest son joined a track club in February. I started walking around the track because it was cold. I continued because I felt stronger and breathed better because of the exercise. One day, I fell into step with the coach’s mother. She is an immigrant from Ethiopia and she talked about the “sisters you meet along the road.” That comradeship she spoke of is what you demonstrate here. Thank you for the opportunity to join you and share in this journey!
July 2, 2011 at 1:25 am
Mollie, what a moving comment/post. Thank you for sharing your story with me and all of the FoodFoodBodyBody readers. I loved reading all of it, especially that victorious climb to Mission Peak – wow! (and loved seeing pic on your FB page)
I love that you’re putting down your commitments! I’m going to be doing daily workouts of SOME kind at Pact camp and if you’d like to join, you’re invited! (not sure what time this might happen – maybe 3 to 4am? LOL)
Accountability is so big, isn’t it? I love using DailyMile for my workouts mostly because I have an iPhone app and can just log it the minute it’s done. And sometimes I’ll get some comments over there, too (I’m a comment sponge!).
And lastly, I LOVE: “a healthier, more energetic, serene me.” That’s what I want too! Wonderful vision. Thanks again for the share. oxo
July 1, 2011 at 11:05 am
Oops! Re-read my post and realized I left out a word. I track my daily weight. I’m not at the point where I exercise daily. 🙂
July 1, 2011 at 1:54 pm
I feel the same way about certain foods – someday I’ll be able to keep a jar of peanut butter in the house, but until then, I need a self-restraining order!
July 1, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Here’s what I’ve got down pat: If I have too many random exercise days, I get bored, I need to have actual interesting things, like classes, and sometimes those classes need to switch. As long as I’m having fun, I enjoy exercising every day after work, and look forward to it. Exercising, as with anything else, cannot be a chore or I won’t want to do it, and I wont do it. When I exercise, I’m less stressed, have a better appetite, and feel happy and balanced. I need to remember to not skip meals. If I’m upset, nervous, stressed, sad, worried, etc, I don’t want to eat, but I have to force myself to anyway, even if I’m not particularly hungry. If I don’t eat enough, I get really depressed (after a couple meals), as well as freezing cold and weak (immediate after being late for a meal). Also, I should eat whatever I want to, as often as I want to. Denying myself or counting calories or any type of dieting is bad for me.
All of that is for me only, and doesn’t reflect on what others should/want to/need to do.
July 2, 2011 at 1:01 am
SOOOOOOOOO relate! I gotta get back to “do something – anything – every day”
Period.
Walk.
Stretch.
Gym.
Walk.
Rolling on ground.
ANYTHING!
Join me? Pleeeeeeeeeez – I need me a buddy!
July 2, 2011 at 1:20 am
Of course I’ll join you! Rolling on the ground, that sounds like fun. Especially if it’s a steep grassy hill! Round and round!
July 3, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Just finished a race with Team in Training in May. Olympic tri. From your later reports, it looks like that’s where you’re headed too? So much good luck!!!
I loved Team in Training! It was the best training thing I could have done for myself even though the race was pretty tough (we trained in the winter for a race in Florida- HOT!)
I have two more sprint tri’s in August, which I think will be a lot easier after training for the Olympic. You’ll do great. Let us know how to donate for you. I would love to support you.
July 3, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Diane! I just read your race recap. It inspired me AND It kinda freaked me out. But I have to say I am confident I will be ready when the time comes. I do love Team in Training. I did a marathon (walking) with them in 2000 and it was a tremendous experience. GO TEAM!
And thanks for asking! Here’s my fundraising page! http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/Marine11/sitoo6