From Keri: I'm so thrilled to introduce some of the country best personal trainers who will join me in guest blogging for Radiant Fitness! This week, get the perspective from Los Angeles trainer Lori San Martin. (Make Lori feel welcome! Add a comment below, and a random commenter will win a free fitness DVD!)
I’LL START ON MONDAY
It's Monday and once again I’ve started that weight loss and exercise plan I began last Monday. It all went pretty well until the darn weekend. Friday was a pot-luck and everyone brought something new. There were dishes I’d never seen before. I saw them and ate them. Sunday was a buffet, which I always find challenging in regard to eating healthy. To top things off my routine on a weekend is so different my usual cardiovascular exercise got put by the “weigh” side.
FEELINGS OF FAILURE
So, Monday arrives with guilt and a new vow to start all over again. And that’s where I go wrong. Not with the desire to begin eating healthy and exercising again, but the feeling that I failed over the weekend. Why not figure out a way to enjoy the extra fun things that come along in life, often on our days off, without self recrimination?
To begin with let’s get rid of phrases like; “I blew it. I was bad. I cheated. I pigged out.” We overeat and we condemn ourselves as if we did something immoral? What good does that do? How about replacing this way of thinking with thoughts that are kinder and non-judgmental? So you ate or drank more than you planned? Here’s what you do. First and most importantly, I hope you enjoyed it! Don’t ruin the experience with guilt. Secondly, don’t blame or shame yourself afterwards. These feelings will get you nowhere except perhaps back in the kitchen eating because you feel badly. Next, realize that a high calorie meal or two is not going to make you fat so don’t freak out. The crucial thing to do is to simply get back to your regular eating and exercise plan the very next meal. Don’t wait until Monday or the next day or after the holidays, start with THE VERY NEXT MEAL.
LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD
I believe in living in the real world which means pizza and beer, birthday cakes, buffets, and celebrations where delicious food and drink is a major part of the event. I call them CEE’s or challenging eating events. They are a part of our lives and always will be. Learn to enjoy them, and then get back to your usual routine. You will find that one or two high calorie meals do not negate all the good you’ve done the rest of the week.
About Lori:
I have been overweight all of my life but 10 years ago I lost 45 pounds and kept them off. It took 2 years to lose the weight but I did it by exercising and eating healthier. At age 55 I am a certified personal fitness instructor and specialize in a gentle approach to weight loss and fitness. My focus is on how we think and how that affects our choices. I got fit and I believe you can too! Visit Lori's website today!
Posts
7 comments:
Hi Lori (and Keri!)
I cn't agree with you more about the self recriminations that come with falling off the wagon. Your terminology (I blew it, was bad, pigged out...) is a pet peeve for me. Visualization is a big part of any accomplishment for me and it makes me wince when I hear (my mother) say things like "I was sooo good, I didn't eat any cake today?
!" vs "I was sooo bad, I ate a pie today". Since when did dietary choices become moral choices ? I have forbidden these sort of comments to my husband around our children. I want them to grow up with a healthy attitude towards, well, good health. I want to give them all their own neuroses...not recycle mine (hehe).
liz
Hello Lori;
I totally understand what you said. I am 45 years old and I too have been over weight all my life. Just recently I have lost over 30 pounds, exercising everyday (when I am not sick). Eat small meals at least three times a day. I still have about 10 - 15 pounds to go, but still working on it. I recently also became a fitness trainer through International Sports Science Association. Check out my web site: http://www.LMprconsultant.com
Talk to you soon!
Linda
I always love to see "Before" and "After" pictures. You know how good they feel accomplishing such a hard thing. I agree that we shouldn't beat ourselves up but just take each day and make healthy choices. If you eat that piece of cheesecake (and I did) then you do some extra exercise (did that too).
Incredible before and after pics. I especially loved your section on "failure". I go through this all the time and appreciated your words of wisdom. Thanks for taking the time to share with us!
"The CEE's -- Enjoy them then get back into your [healthy] routine." I love this notion. It is wonderfully timely as the weather warms and picnics, ball games, baby showers, and CEE's abound! ;D
It's nice to hear the comments from everyone. Looks like you all understand what I was trying to say. And, even after 10 years and being a fitness instructor myself, I still deal with my crazy thoughts daily. My mind is not a safe place to live! So, we all just need to keep on working on good thoughts and being kind to ourselves. Thanks for the feedback.
Very good advice, especially for a Monday after I went away with my husband for the weekend, which was a non-stop CEE. I did enjoy myself, and back to normal today.
Congratulations on your weight loss, and maintaining the loss, you look amazing! As a weight watchers lifetime member since 1990, I know it's as hard if not harder to maintain a weight loss than to loose it in the first place.
Post a Comment