What moves YOU?

(In the pink skirt is OUR survivor and FASTEST runner in the bunch - love you Jojo!)

A frequent topic that crops up occasionally is what motivates people to not just adopt a healthy lifestyle, but maintain it.  Some people may stay on track because they want to look good, or feel good, or simply be healthier.  Others might have gotten on the path to weight management due to health issues.  Then there is the portion of the population that do it only for a one time event. A reunion, wedding, milestone but find it so rewarding that they stick with it.

This weekend we attended an annual race to fight breast cancer.  Gathered there were countless individuals whose lives were changed in an instant when they or a loved one were given a diagnosis that moved them into action.  There were women and men running their 50^th race, or their first.  Some walked, some pushed strollers, some pushed wheelchairs.  In the crowd were plenty of people who took up a resolution to be healthier in 2012 and this race was their first effort to actually show up for themselves, while doing something for others.

While I like to believe that we should be motivated simply because it is the best thing for our body, mind and soul, the reality is that it does not matter what it is that puts you on the path to wellness as long as you stay there. 

But as you embrace the journey, if you find yourself feeling like it might be pointless or not worth all the effort, dig deep and try to motivate yourself.  And in this instance, dare to do it for more than just a cause or someone else.  Do it for you.  Do it because the body you have is the place you spend the most time in, and with and you deserve to exist in the most wonderful place you can create for yourself. 

How your clothes can make or break your weight management efforts!

For more years than I care to admit I kept the jeans I wore in high school in hopes to one day fit into them.   I would not be so embarrassed to admit that if the size was even remotely realistic but they were a size zero. So when I found them hiding in the back of the closet I could not help wonder what I was thinking?

Shortly after that discovery I went on a cleaning spree.  I got rid of all the clothes that were too small and too big.  I decided to only keep clothes that fit and I would only purchase clothes that were form fitting.  That closet thinning made a huge difference in my weight management and exercise routine.  

For years I wore the frumpy oversized t-shirts and baggy shorts when I worked-out.  Not only did they make me look and feel sloppy, they also created a drag.  When I ran or worked out, they would hang, not allowing me full mobility and the ability to see what I was doing in the gym. 

And my casual and work clothes were also not doing me any favors.  By being either too big or too tight, I never looked quite put together, making me look and feel unprepared and not presentable.

Once I made this simple change I removed all of the expectations of being an unrealistic size and could now focus on what my true weight should be and then dressing for that size. 

Today I am a happy and healthy size 8 and I have a closet that reflects that.  My workout clothes are all body hugging so that I can feel and look stealthy and strong.  My everyday wardrobe makes me feel confident but if they get too snug, I know it’s time to revisit my caloric intake. 

You deserve to look as good as you feel and by finding your healthy weight and dressing for it you now have another visible indicator and motivator to keep you on track!

The ugly side of "instant"

I realize I harp a great deal on the sensibilities of achieving a healthy and fit body by adopting better eating and exercise habits.  Like you, I am subjected to constant advertising and word of mouth systems that promise to reduce your weight and have you super model fit in record time.  The temptation for immediate results is tempting to all of us.  Whether you want to make a million dollars overnight or develop an enviable figure the idea of having it happen quickly has led many discover that you can achieve it just as fast as you lose it.

The downfall to ‘instant’ is that you skip all of the important steps that will help you sustain your achievement.  Like many overnight millionaires, many are in ruins after just a short time of receiving their wealth.  The same is true with quick weight loss.  When you dive into the pool of ‘instant’ you are robbed of the discipline and experience necessary to maintain your results.  Adopting a weight management system that helps you lose weight gradually will give you the tools necessary to reduce your caloric intake,  the necessary amount and type of exercise and the education you need to take control of your immediate and long term fitness goals. 

Advertisers would have you believe that eating healthy is difficult, expensive and tastes disgusting and that exercising is worst than serving an archaic prison sentence.  The truth is that healthy foods can be easy to find, inexpensive and taste great.  The benefits of eating a fruit versus just drinking the juice are two fold because you get the great flavor but all the other nutrients in the fruit that are stripped away in the juicing process.  And exercise also boasts some wonderful side benefits.  Aside from the benefits to your body, it reduces your stress and builds your confidence. 

“Instant” is a wonderful thing but when it comes to things that I value, I’d prefer doing all the necessary work to insure “long lasting” results.  

When bad choices happen to good people!

(Photo: Yours truly in purple undies preparing for the South Florida Undy 5000 for the Colon Cancer Coalition)

You would be proud to hear that I am still living up to my New Year’s resolution to run every single day in 2012.  You would then be surprised to hear how on the 6^th day I drove to a popular fast good joint where I ordered from the super size menu.  Without any sense of irony or guilt I ate the entire thing.  What followed was a terrible food hangover and not 10 minutes later I felt sluggish and bloated then came the “indulger’s remorse” - those feelings regret.  I felt as if I could never eat again but 3 hours later I was ready to eat a small country.  Thankfully I opted for a big salad with all kinds of veggies and a Thai chicken pizza on honey wheat crust.  When I finished eating I felt satisfied and energetic – nothing like my lunch experience left me feeling.

I share this story with you for many reasons but mainly to spotlight why I went rogue on my body.  I was starving!  For days I made my usual healthy food choices but without adding the extra calories I needed to sustain my new exercise routine. Once this became clear I realized I needed to take the advice I give others all the time. 

• Keep your body properly fueled by consuming the amount of healthy calories necessary to maintain your weight and exercise routine.  And if you are trying to lose weight remember that not consuming enough calories will sometimes make you gain weight.
• Do not attempt to undo a bad food choice by starving yourself.  Instead, wait until you are hungry at your next meal and make the good food choice you wish you had made earlier.
• One mistake does not undermine all of your previous efforts.  The best way to rebound is to recognize your error, understand and learn from what led you to it and then start over immediately. 

A healthy lifestyle is a lifelong endeavor so make sure you are kind and patient with yourself and never, ever give up!