Saying No to the Cupcake
Want to know a secret? It’s kind of embarrassing and shameful to admit. I have been to the gym once since our wedding. Our wedding was in September. Which means in the last 6 months, I’ve dragged my butt the gym 1 time. That 1 time was a week ago. Ummm yeah. Embarrassing.
I’m not hugely overweight nor have I gained crazy amounts of weight since we got married, but at the same time I am not happy with body, I don’t feel in shape and I’m constantly conscious of the “pooch” that has formed on my stomach. I want to feel good about my physical appearance and most of all feel like I’m taking care of my body and am in shape. I could lose about 10-15 lbs and be at my ideal weight. Seems doable right?
We’ve been eating pretty healthy, but there is definitely room for improvement. I constantly justify those things I should have. At a recent conference I attended I went to a session where the speaker talked about all those excuses we come up with. She is a psychologist and talked about all the thoughts that go into our diet and health and how to change to live a more healthy lifestyle. For instance try this:
Think of all the reasons you justify/create excuses for why you deserve to eat the cupcake (or whatever it may be):
- I had a bad day
- I had a really good day and did good things
- I am on my period
- I have been working out
- It’s only one
- I’ll start my diet tomorrow
- It’s the weekend
- I’m craving this
- There isn’t anything else to eat
- I can’t get this all the time (yes, talking to you Samoa Girl Scout cookies)
- It’s there
- I’m out with friends/on a date
- We are celebrating
- I’m upset/angry/sad
- Any other excuse…
And not that all these are bad. But I use them all too often. I can justify to the point there is always a reason I should be be able to eat the cupcake/cookie/cream based pasta/deep fried chicken/allotherweaknesses. Eventually, I’m no longer making healthy eating choices I am just thinking of reasons why to eat something else.
I need to start being more conscious about what I am eating on a daily basis and remain accountable. I am trying to keep healthy foods in the fridge and pantry so when I get that craving for a snack I’m not reaching my hand into that latest stash of chocolate.
My other big problem is finding a routine to do at the gym. I get there and then am at a loss on what I want to do. Usually this results in doing the elliptical for awhile and some unstructured weights and looking around at all the other people who clearly go to the gym on a daily basis. We have an amazing gym in our apartment community, I’m just not sure what to do when I go. There sadly aren’t any classes offered which is what I used to do when I had a gym membership before I moved.
It’s times like this that I wish I was a really wealthy person and could hire a daily personal trainer and a chef to create delicious healthy things for me.
Have you read the Conscious Chef which is written by a vegan chef, Tal Ronnen who has cooked for Oprah? Even though I love my meat and dairy products, I could handle vegan if he was cooking for me. But realistically I’m not going to be getting my own personal Jillian Michaels or a chef that magically puts food on my table, so it’s up to me. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…
What are some reasons that you use to justify/excuse to eat more? What are some tips you have for healthy eating and a good work-out routine? What have you found that works for you?
I am pretty much the same as you… I use every excuse in the book to not have to go to the gym. I have gained 15 lbs from my wedding day last May… SO SAD! I just wore a dress the other day and my arms looked huge.. now that’s motivation to get me to hit the gym! I think I will go today!
1My sister is actually crazy about Tal Ronnen and I believe she recently purchased that book as well!! Haven’t tried her dishes yet, but I’m sure it’s delicious since she hasn’t given up just yet!!
Btw, the cupcake looks so temptingly delicious! It’s screaming out to me.
2oh how I feel you on the gym. the best thing i found is to take group classes. that is the only way I can get a good workout at a gym (and since I can no longer afford fancy pilates classes or trainers, the gym is my only hope right now!)
that book sounds interesting, I will have to check it out.
3You’re singing my song, sista. Once I no longer had vanity goals in mind (hello, fitting into big white dress), I let healthy eating/exercise fall by the wayside. My husband tells me I don’t need to lose weight and I look good the way I am, but I don’t *feel* good. So I started back at journaling my food and committing to exercise. I also started a blog to keep myself accountable. We can do it!
4ugh. my main excuse is simple mastication – I want that in my mouth right now. even if I’ve already had it. I managed to lose 7 lbs in the week before my wedding mainly from lack of eating from stress. 10 days later on our honeymoon, I tried to wear one of the tiny dresses that I bought for the occasion – yeah, way too snug. since the wedding I have gained 10 lbs.
I keep saying that I’m going to go to the gym and then I make it there maybe once or twice a week to do some treadmill. no weights because of all the meat heads in the weight area. I signed up and wasted hundreds of dollars on personal training sessions that I still have to use, but after seriously injuring my back (before the wedding), and then having my trainer further hurt me with too intense workouts (what’s the point of working out if I then can’t walk let alone work out for a week) and then bail on his appointments with me, I just do my little half-assed “workouts” and eat a little more for dinner. sigh.
everyone says I need a work out partner, but if no one I know goes to my gym…
love your blog, just stumbled on it.
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