Total Posts: 51
5.8 Years Ago

I'm trying to work towards weight-loss (yet again!), I'm at my heaviest weight I have ever been and I feel each time I try my motivation/determination is high and then trails off too quickly! I need some company too!!

I'm on day 6 of my journey, and haven't been perfect either, but like you are I'm striving for progress. Not only weight progress but progress in my "lifestyle change" where I'd be incorporating things into daily life as well to improve my health and weight loss goals.

Congrats on the proposal/engagement!! (I've been with my bf for almost 5 years now and am "patiently" waiting, lol)

Tania

Total Posts: 51
5.8 Years Ago

I understand how the negative comments from family hurts you, I did get a bit of that myself, however it was mixed. Some family members pushed that it looks didn't matter and that you shouldn't be doing something just to appease others. But others (specifically grandparents, and my father) would tell you when they thought you put on weight, or when you lost weight they told you how bad you looked before which I dont think is encouraging either. My dad even said once (when I was looking in the fridge for something to eat) that boys don't like to date fat girls. (Later on in life I told my mom what he had said and she just laughed and said "well you proved him wrong didn't you!" Even my mom at one point mentioned to me when I was younger (and she wasn't too judgmental or one to constantly be nagging me about my weight) that I'd better be careful otherwise I'd end up like my cousin (who was quite overweight, but one of my favorite cousins and one of the nicest people I knew so I hated that something so negative could be said about her).

I think I give up a lot of the time because I feel "better" after working out constantly for a couple weeks, and I give myself breaks that end up extending into a stop to my program. Well, at least thats the initial reason. I think subconsciously I sabotage myself like you say, because I don't want to prove everyone right - that I'd be giving into the social pressures - and that they'd assume being skinny would make me a happier person (not that I'm unhappy, quite the opposite, but I hate how people always comment when you lose weight and assume that you're happier and looking for acceptance from them).

But all in all I have to keep telling myself through this time that I'm only doing this for ME. Not for my boyfriend, not for my family, and not for anyone else. It'd be nice to have people comment nonchalantly, but I can't control other people's reactions and can't have other people affecting if I achieve my goals or not. I'm looking at this as a "game" now, where everything along the way is just a test of my endurance and will power. My biggest hurdle is getting to the gym - once I'm there I usually put in a decent workout. My second biggest hurdle is my nutritional choices (usually portions), which is going to take a little more time than the first to become ingrained in my thinking!

I'll definitely try to come on every day so I can keep focused and give/recieve encouragement too!

Total Posts: 262
5.8 Years Ago

Steph

Total Posts: 262
5.7 Years Ago

Total Posts: 51
5.7 Years Ago

This time I feel like it's going to work for me because I'm not striving for FAST results, I'm striving for permanent and MAINTAINABLE results!

One thing that is motivating me that I wasn't expecting is that my squash games (I play my boyfriend twice a week) are getting so much better!!! This is due completely from my extra activity around those games because I find I have so much more energy and ability to move on the court during the games.

I figured I'd also make a list of the things i want to achieve PHYSICALLY, to have a more focusable goal than just to be losing weight:

1. To keep improving my squash game so that I am consistently winning 60% of the games

2. To be able to perform 25 military push ups (easily) during my regular workouts (ie after exhausting from cardio)

3. To run a 5k

4. To bike from Toronto to Niagra Falls (200km) next June

5. To try swimming again (and create a base for future training)

I think eventually trying to do a triathlon would be fun -- though at the moment I think its a long ways away -- I only have a good base for biking so far. A Try-a-Tri would be a good stepping stone maybe to try out for 2019? The swimming will be hard since I don't know where there's a pool I can swim at right now an I probably haven't done lengths since I was 12 years old!!

Total Posts: 262
5.7 Years Ago

Total Posts: 262
5.7 Years Ago

The bellydancing sounds great!! It's something I wouldn't mind having a go at but I can't find any classes at all near me.

This morning I went on the rowing machine for 30 mins and did intervals on it! Tonight I'm going to Yoga which is quite good - I go twice a week. I was going to go on the bike when I got in from work, but it was too late by the time I got back, as I needed to get something to eat before I go!

It's always good to chat to people - sometimes it's easier to talk to people that you don't know isn't it!!!

Keep at it people!!!!

Steph

Total Posts: 51
5.7 Years Ago

I'm really exhausted today, but I'm going to make sure I get to the gym today and tomorrow. I missed my scheduled workout on monday because we went to a pub for beer and food and I feel guilty ever since -- not only did I skip my workout, but I had beer! Not going to dwell on it though. We played squash yesterday and I only won 1 of the 4 games, and I think a big portion of me not playing well was not having any real "activity" since last Saturday's squash game... we're going to the cottage thursday night, so I have to get my week's worth of activity before I relax for the weekend!!

Just a note on running -- i used to HATE running with a passion. I'd get shin splints, my back would hurt, and nothing felt good about it to me. But what I realized was that was the activity that always had me lose the most amount of weight whenever I did it - and when i had done it in the past, it was always training for something else - mainly running for warming up for different sports. Additionally, my mom and my two sisters were insanely fit because of all the running they did. My sister has done a lot of sports therapy, and she told me how to train my body to be able to handle the running (you can't just jump into it), and ever since then I havent had any shin splits, my back handles it better and I keep seeing improvements. Running is one of the sports you see improvements the fastest if you are consistent with it, and I think that's why so many people get addicted to it. As well, people say that working up to your first 5K is the hardest, and after you get to that point where you can run that comfortably, the rest comes so much easier.

Total Posts: 262
5.7 Years Ago

Running's really weird for me - sometimes when I'm walking I can jar my back really easily - I don't have to go down a step awkwardly or anything, it just catches - yet I can run without a problem!!! It must be because you hold yourself differently so I've been trying to engage my core muscles more when I'm just walking around!! I've recently started going to Yoga and I think that has helped too.

Anyway, congratulations on the weight loss and don't feel guilty about the beer - think of the calorie intake in terms of the week not the day and it becomes much more manageable!!!

Steph

Total Posts: 51
5.7 Years Ago

Angie - don't push yourself to do anything you don't enjoy because then you'll associate exercise with negative feelings, and you don't want to do that. I think you know what you're doing so far! The cottage we are going to is my boyfriend's parents' cottage. It's not really a "holiday" place, just a place to go on some weekends to be on a lake close to nature. Sort of like camping, but having a small house to sleep in instead! We only go there one weekend a year, since they share it with the rest of their family (cousins/aunts/uncles) too. We usually go up to friends cottages other weekends in the summer as well.

Total Posts: 262
5.7 Years Ago

Steph

Total Posts: 92
5.7 Years Ago

I've been following this thread because I'm a fan of BFL, though it's not the program I follow.

First of all, good for you for making it to the 6-week mark (illness or not, you're still in, right?) because it's not necessarily the easiest program in the world--you are halfway there!

Also, wanted to let you know there is a new 6-week Challenge starting tomorrow (Mon., Sep. 15) called, aptly "6-Week-Challenge" on the forum. It should be a great group, and everyone is doing their own thing. If you aren't interested in joining yourself (though we'd love to have you join us!) you may want to read the posts for the next 6 weeks to motivate you in your BFL Challenge!

Best of luck! --Ann

Total Posts: 10
2.4 Years Ago

Total Posts: 10
2.4 Years Ago

I was wondering if you are still doing the triathlons and keeping the weight off. Your story is pretty motivational to me as I set out on a new journey, determined this time, to get healthy and stay healthy.