Recognizing a pattern

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Viv

A couple of months ago, I had a sort of eureka moment. I had bought a lot of candy and unhealthy snacks which seemed a good idea at the moment that I bought them. I didn’t understand why I had bought them in the first place, what made me think it was a good idea.

I realized that this had happened before. I also realized that the other time this had happened, I was out grocery shopping with the same friend as this time. I do think that part of it was that we went to a store I usually do not shop at as it is not possible to get to with a car, a much larger store with a much bigger selection of candy & co. Another reason was that I spent a lot more time browsing the shelves, usually I will not spend that much time on grocery shopping as I often get it done during my lunch break or right after work.

But I also think that there was something else to it. My friend bought a lot of snack type food for herself and her family, and I think part of me thought that if it’s okay for her to buy this type of food, it it okay for me do to the same. Like her buying chips, candy, etc. gave me permission to buy candy as well.

It’s much easier to say no when you are by yourself or everyone around you is also saying no. It’s so much harder to say no to the candy isle, when the person you are shopping with is saying “yes, yes, yes!”

I also think that in some weird, twisted way, I bought the snacks to show her that I was still allowing myself to eat everything, that I was eating normally and not depriving myself. Proof that I was still having “fun,” that I was no different from her or others. I think that I don’t like standing out as the one eating or buying “diet food” in the company of others.
I know this friend since May, so she has been one of the people who has noticed (and commented on) my weight loss the most. She recently made an off-handed comment that she’d prefer to lose weight slowly but in a sustainable way. As if that is not what I am doing.

For me, recognizing this pattern was huge. I think that it’s essential to recognize the reasons for a habit if you want to change it. And the fact that I made this realization shows me that I am making progress.

The 30 Day Shred

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Viv

I first got the 30 Day Shred DVD in 2008 or 2009. I did it on and off for a few times but I never went further than Level 1. This winter, I rediscovered the workout and as boring as it can be, I really appreciate it for what it is: a demanding full-body workout that is done within 25 minutes.

About a week ago, after doing the 30 Day Shred for three days in a row, I decided that I would give doing it for 30 days straight a shot.

I knew that it would be demanding, seeing how I also wanted to run two times a week, and would have Zumba and belly dance classes starting up in February. Yes, belly dance. More on that in a different post.

Today, I am 11 days into the 30 Day Shred, and I can definitely feel an improvement, especially in strength. The cardio intervals were never too much of a struggle for me being that I run and do Zumba already, but the strength and abs intervals, oh my!

I did Level 1 for ten days and I could feel it getting easier and easier with every workout. Yesterday, I started Level 2. I had never done it before, and I really enjoyed it, though I struggled with all the plank exercises. But it is definitely a whole new challenge compared to Level 1.

Between the 30 Day Shred, and a run, a swim, and Zumba, I think this week was my most active week since I started this new lifestyle in August. I definitely felt the exhaustion after Thursday, which was my most active day, so I took a rest day on Friday.

I know how important rest is, and that was the one thing bugging me about the 30 Day Shred. When I decided to take a rest day on Friday, after ten days of Level 1, I also decided to do the same after finishing Level 2. While I love a challenge and know how good it is for me, both physically and mentally, I don’t want to overdo it or risk injury.

After Christmas, I had struggled with exercising regularly a little, especially with running in the winter weather, so I think this was just what I needed. I feel so much better when I exercise and I know that it is so good for my body too. I love how it only takes 25 minutes for me to get in a fully satisfying workout that consists of both cardio and strength training. It seems little time for a full-body workout.

Yesterday I even got up at 7:30am (on a Saturday!) to go for a swim. I never thought I would choose a workout over sleep, and I like this new me. It was so nice to be back home at 10:30 and have already gotten in a workout. I did the 30 Day Shred a couple hours later and then enjoyed the rest of my Saturday without having to worry about when to fit in the time for a workout.

Have you ever done the 30 Day Shred? Do you enjoy it? Which level is your favorite?

Goals for 2012

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Viv

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I am not a big fan of new year’s resolutions, because let’s face it, most are forgotten by the time February rolls around, but nevertheless I have a few goals for this year that I am going to continue to work on.

Kick my insulin resistance: I have a little over a month left of taking the Metformin. After that, I am on my own with the weight loss. I am positive that I will keep losing weight. Six months later, after keeping off the weight and continuing my healthy diet, I am going to take the OGTT again to find out if my insulin resistance is gone. I am confident that my hard work will pay off and the IR will be gone by August.
Reach my goal weight: I have a little over 13 kg to lose and I would love to get to my goal weight within the first half of 2012. I am not going to stress over it, though. If it takes longer, then that’s okay too. I am confident that 2012 will be the year I finally make it to 65 kg.
Continue a healthy diet: I have improved my diet so much over the past few months. Though I have phases in which I slack off a little, such as lately, I am going to keep up my healthy eating. Even though it takes a certain amount of dedication, time, and planning, it is worth it. I know how important it is for my health in general and my insulin resistance in specific.
Keep up the running: I am going to keep running. I want to run at least 2-3 10k races in 2012 and start building up to longer distances as well as improve my pace. During the winter, my main focus is to maintain my endurance and once the weather improves, I want to up my running and follow a training plan again.
Get fitter: I have worked hard on my fitness level, and have managed to average 3-5 workouts a week throughout the past five months. For my standards, this is quite frankly outstanding. I want to keep this up and become even fitter and stronger. I feel so much better and everything is so much easier when I am fit.
Work on my confidence and self image: I feel so much better about myself than I did five months ago. I am more confident and I like my reflection in the mirror a lot better, I am even at a point where I almost like my body, but there are still plenty of issues I need to work on. I am more confident, but overall, I am still not a very confident person and when I allow myself, I get consumed by negative feelings about myself. I don’t think this is an issue that will magically disappear once I am “thin” so it is something I need and want to work on.
Eliminate bad habits: I successfully managed to stop biting my nails and haven’t since August. I don’t get the urge to bite anymore, either, so I am confident that I have kicked this habit for good. There are a couple of other bad habits I want to work on in 2012, though. One is to cut down on diet coke. I have been working on this on and off for months, and I have had weeks that I did quite well, but lately I have been back to drinking a lot of it again, especially at work. Another is to cut down on the amount of chocolate and candy I eat. Also something that was much better a few months ago, as I have been slacking off a little. I am never going to cut out chocolate or candy for good, but I need to do better than I have lately.