I wanted to start by saying, "I have a confession to make", then I realized how familiar that sounds. It's not the first time I've said it/ emailed it/ blogged it.
I'm sooo off track...AGAIN! Well, I certainly feel like I am. I know I've had "pulmonary" issues. And it seems that SO MANY people are coming down with it. I know I shouldn't give myself a hard time. The pulmonologist actually told me not to exercise on the steriod and antibiotic I was on. But I'm off of them and the congestion is not completely gone, so i'm trying not to jump right back in like I normally would. But not exercising actually affects my appetite. I've been logging my calories on http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ to try to get back on track. I keep going over my goal, not tooo far, but enough to frustrate me to no end. I feel like I am setting a terrible example to all of my clients and so I am going to try harder. Being able to do my normal high intensity, 500-600calories workout is just not an option right now. So, I must set the example and control my food and calorie intake. My goal is not just my calories though. It's the QUALITY/KINDS of calories I'm taking in. I could LIVE, serouisly LIVE off of ice cream! 1400 calories worth of ice cream is alot, but all that sugar in my brain would make me crazy enough to do it!
So here's the deal. There are 5 steps to get back on track. I've already been attempting #1, I got started. I logged my calories. I wasn't perfect, but I did it. Which leads me to #2, to forgive yourself for not perfectly meeting your goals. My goal is to net 1400 calories. (i.e. If I burn 400calories, then I would eat 1800cals. Therefore no exercise means I only eat 1400 calories.) Well, that is not very much food. And eating your kid's left over pb&j plus a cookie or two will take you right to that number before dinner even hits!! HOWEVER! #3 is recognize progess. Normally I would eat 2000+ calories when I'm not counting or motivated, but I've been staying under that number, even through my emotional ups and downs! So, that's progress in my mind. #4 is to focus on solutions. I kind of have an excuse, the whole pulmonary thing. But instead of using it as an excuse to do nothing (if you know me, you know I can't be completely sedentary), I've been taking yoga and reformer pilates and walking on the treadmill or doing light..."er" weights than I normally would. I'm waiting for the doctor to give me a little more guidance on an actual solution to my pulmonary stuff, but in the mean time, I'm doing #5. Taking It One Day at Time. And it's the only thing keeping me from being really mad at myself. I mean, I AM a personal trainer. I have integrity and I take pride in walking the walk and not just talking the talk of living a healthy lifestyle. But Life happens. If you're not able to workout, for whatever reason life is throwing at you, you still CAN control your food. Even when those emotions try to take over (like me!!). It takes more work, but it is not impossible to keep your self-control.
So thanks to my trainer friend for sending out an email from another trainer mom blogger about getting back on track. Boy did it come at the right time. Just when I was really beating myself up (see #2). Y'all have a GREAT week. Be good so you can enjoy your Easter guilt free. (Easter is about forgiveness!!!)
1. Just Start
2. Forgive
3. Recognize Progress
4. Focus on Solutions
5. Take it One Day at a Time
