But What If You Can't

In talking with an acquaintance of mine about my recent goal of 30 lbs of weight loss she asked me this:

"But what if you can't...? What if your body decides that the weight you are at is all you'll ever lose, and you can't lose anymore."

I asked her to repeat the question because she used a word that wasn't in my vocabulary...

I looked at her inquisitivly and shrugged my shoulders, sighed, and said, "I don't know, I can't answer that."

After some time to really ponder the question and think about my answer...
Here is my formal response:

Can't is not being able to breath underwater.
Can't is not being able to fly.
Can't is not being able to live forever.

In short, can't is finite. An absolute. It has a stopping point. It has an ending and once reached it can't progress any further.

I am not can't.

I am infinite, unfinished, a work in progress. Everyday I reach closer and closer with every healthy step I make.  Why should I bog myself down the "possibilities of what I can't do" rather than focus on the things I can do?  I'd rather err on the side of knowing my body is fully capable, then to just accept that I have to submit to defeat.

Self-acceptance is one thing.
Self-motivation is another.

Can't is a fiction. It's a word we use to give ourselves the worse case scenario. When instead we should seek the best case scenario.

So to sum up, "But what if you cant?"
"Oh, but what if I can."

The "Crash" Diet

A blog post from DW

So I'm gonna be hypocritical for a bit here, but hear me out...

I've always preached healthy eating... maintaining some consistent physical activity... and avoiding "quick fix" diets/pills/etc. as solutions.

This week I started a "crash" diet.

I know, I know... "But whyyyyyyyy, DW?!?"

It may seem as though it's contrary to my belief system and what I practice here on DW.com, but I found that after the training and consistent meal plan that I had fallen into for over a year, I was plateauing.

And a year is a long time to plateau.

To help "jump start" my system, a friend through a nutritionist and personal trainer recommended this one week cleansing and high protein diet.  The key is that it's only one week.  This was emphasized to me over and over again.  It's not meant long term, nor to be sustainable.  Just something to mix up the body and then get back on track with a healthy lifestyle.

My reluctance to talk about it on here really doesn't stem from the fact that it is against my normal routine, but more because I can't spread the details of the plan.  (For proprietary reason, I can't post it on here.) Perhaps that is for the better. I wouldn't want any readers, followers, and the like taking it and using it as a long-term meal plan.  And so many people these days seek out quick fixes and plans that come from sources less than worthy.

I, by no means, pretend to be a guru in fitness, health, or nutrition.  Nor would I recommend anyone to follow this plan (especially since I haven't yet tried it for myself.)  All I can do is provide my own opinions and data from my own journey and hope that it inspires others to find what works for them.

As for this "super secret meal plan" (SSMP)... I hope to see some type of results from it, even if it helps me to be more nutrition focused for a week.  Perhaps having the strict-ness reintroduced to my lifestyle is something that I need at this point.

Regardless, I plan to be smart about it.  One week on it and then I'm back to regular eating.  Also, at any point if I feel I'm in danger - that's no bueno - and I call the whole thing off.

I hope to see some results from it by the end of the week and perhaps even thereafter as my body goes "wtf?"

So here's to changing things up and trying something new.
Super Secret Meal Plan.


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Get Mean. Make a Decision. Choose Health!

The New Goal

Oh come on, you knew it was happening...

How could I possibly go a week or more without the next "big picture" in mind?!?

After having finished the half-marathon and therefore any training, my focus has shifted.  As pointed out before in my previous posts, I want to become leaner, stronger, and healthier before picking up my next running challenge.

To me, this means hitting that final goal.  30 more pounds of weight loss will equal 100 lbs gone.  And a (technically) "healthy BMI.
That is my goal.

I know that my weight loss has slowed down and now I should expect 0.5lbs to 1lb of loss a week.  Which means that I won't hit that 30lbs loss until next year most likely.

But it is not all about losing weight. I want to be stronger.  Faster.  Generally just a "more fit" person.

My game-plan thus far is to keep things flexible, but here's a rough draft:

• A 1 week "crash diet" to quick start the metabolism (more to come about this later in the week)... no judging. ;-) Thereafter, a reduced calorie but nutritionally balanced day to day plan.  Tracking everything to ensure I'm staying on track.  (but not freaking out over little hiccups here and there). 
• As many group circuit-training classes as I can fit in a week.  Usually the lunch time ones are my best fit (30 minutes) and they are great to break up my day.  If not, the afternoon hour sessions are a good fall back. 
• Rejoin (or restart) my running with my Happy's Running Club on Tuesday evenings.  I miss the camaraderie and it'll help me to keep up my running mileage and muscle memory. 
• Cross-Training:  Mainly the elliptical I have at home for ease. But I'd like to give some spinning classes a try and get back into lap swimming when the weather warms up.  Either way, I need to get back into 30 minutes of cardio every day.  This was my routine for the first 70 lbs, time to restart.  
• Yoga.  At least once a week.  This will help prevent injury and maintain flexibility. 
• Weekend long mileage runs.  Usually around the lakes and on those days where I feel like I need to get outside and enjoy the world.  Since I still plan on running at least a 5K a month, its important I keep up my mileage. 

So this may seem like a bunch, but I'm realistic. I know I won't hold to this plan every week or every day or even every moment.  But I'll try. Getting the necessary sleep and having "rest days" are important.  I know this.  The above is a "rough draft" or "flexible plan" so that I don't set myself up for failure. 

(I would love to hit this weight before Fall Fitbloggin 2012... just because then I could celebrate with my gals up there.)

In retrospect (and after rereading what I just wrote)... while 30lbs is great... it's really not necessary.  That is to say, if I start losing inches and/or running sub 10 minutes miles and never lose a pound, I'll consider it a win.Reality is - while I want the numbers, I'm going to try to not lose sight of what healthy living is all about.

This is not temporary.
This is not a quick fix.
This never ends.

Health living is a choice that I make every day to better myself through physical fitness and nutritional eating.  

I know this. 

I will endeavor to remember how far I've come, how I love myself regardless of numbers, and how I set goals to help me continue forward (not to beat me down).

So here's to a new goal that helps to drive me forward and yet keeps me in the present ever mindful of the beauty of the journey.

Onward.

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Get Mean. Make a Decision. Choose Health!