Friday, July 30, 2010

Nowhere to go but up (or down if you're on the scale!)

How does one manage to pack on 40 pounds over the course of 6 years? Four moves, a full-time job, more responsibility, less unoccupied time, more stress, a case of the lazies, lyme disease-induced fatigue, and more friends who want to hang out over a "couple" of beers...that's how. Add that to a love for discovering new restaurants and good food and you've got a recipe for disaster. I've known for awhile that I need to get serious about change but I've hit bottom and I've got to start to climb back up. Now, I'm not saying I'm looking to lose 40lbs. Half of that would be nice. 40 pounds ago I was working several hours a morning on a farm, walking to and from class, and working out 2+ hours a day. That's not realistic anymore. I'm comfortable with a 20-25lb loss and I think that I can manage that for the long-term.

I know what I need to do...I've done it before and here I am ready to do it again. Nothing about it is easy but earlier today I was asking myself, do I want to be miserable with no end in sight or do I want to work hard for a few months knowing that the outcome will be positive and I'll be much happier.

I'm not afraid of exercise or hard work. In fact, I welcome any workout that is going to take me to the edge and push me hard. I live for that. Now, I'm dealing with a Lyme bounce-back so I struggle with fatigue, exhaustion, and some discomfort every day but once I get into my workout I can usually get through that. The most difficult part for me is the consumption. I love healthy and fresh food. I love it so much that I eat way too much. I can pass up fried foods and fast food all day long but that doesn't mean that I'm making the right choices. It's all about portions and I just need to cut it back. That and I also love good beer...a little too much.

So, as I said in my last post, I will be documenting the process this time around. The ups and downs and everything in between will be shared here so that others can learn from my actions. That, and this helps me to be accountable to myself because I'm actually writing down my actions.

Off to bed to rest up for a long day at the Y tomorrow! Goodnight friends!