My Sedentary Life

For years I have struggled with my weight.  I know some of it is a hand to mouth problem.  But, I also know some of it is due to Hypo-Thyroid, repeated respiratory infections and rounds of steroids, and other health problems.  But, I also felt like I was fairly active.  Sure I didn't work out on a regular basis...or at all. But, I am a busy person. I work in a retail environment, I walk a lot.  Well...

Early 2014 I purchased my first activity tracker.  I was doing weight watchers at the time and I purchased their ActiveLink product. I used it while swimming and I felt it was very inaccurate. It just wasn't giving me credit for all of my activity.

So, in the summer I purchased the Misfit Shine.  I set my goals, and I'd watch the dots go around the face as I did my activity. Well, maybe my goals were set too high since I was only maybe getting 1/4 of the way around the dial. So, I adjusted my goals and I would get 1/2 way around.

Surely I was more active than this.

A week ago, I decided I wanted something more accurate.  I was starting P90 and wanted to be sure I had something that gave me credit for all my calories burned. The Fitbit Charge HR was the answer. It tells me exactly how many steps I have taken, how many calories I have burned, heart rate, etc. My first workout with the Fitbit, I burned 229 calories.  How is it possible that I worked so hard and only burned 229 calories? In addition, I only walked 5400 steps?? Okay, maybe I need to look at a workday, when I am in the field. I walked 5700 steps.

Suddenly, it was so obvious to me. I wasn't burning enough.  Even with calorie reduction, I wasn't burning enough calories to really make an impact on my life.  I had no idea I was that sedentary.

So, now that I knew what the problem was, I had to make a big commitment to myself.  I had to get up and move. I now treat conference calls as Walk-A-Thons. I had to get up during commercials (instead of fast forwarding through them) and walk, step, squat, run in place...anything that could count as activity. I increased my step goal, my calories burned goal and lowered my calorie intake goal. And, I am finally seeing results.

We need to evaluate our perception of our own lifestyle and activity. Are we being honest with ourselves.  I surely wasn't.  I was leading a sedentary life. But, no more.

Oh the Places I Go...

"Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.”

― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

I travel often for work, it's one of the things I love most about my career.  In the past, I have traveled for one corner of the US to the other to support our programs.  Currently, my travel is mostly within a three state area, but occasionally, like this week, I am invited to venture outside of my home territory to assist peers in their development.  Development is what I love most about the positions I have held over the last fifteen years, but more specifically, the last three. 

However, with the journey I am on, travel can be a burden too.  We often don't think too much about it, you go out to eat for lunch, dinner...it sounds fun! When you are on a healthy path, it is a challenge.  Can you force your companions to eat where you want?  Of course not.  You must make the choices that are best in the given situation.  

Yesterday, I did great.  I ordered off the less than 700 menu, dropped the rice for broccoli and didn't eat the sauce that came on the side.  Today, not so good.  We ended up at a Mexican restaurant.  My favorite. I stayed away from the chips. But, ordering was a big challenge.  I ended up with a Carne Asada steak served with guacamole, rice, beans, grilled peppers. I ate the steak, the guacamole, two bites of beans and half of the grilled pepper.  Still, in my best calculations, it was probably close to 700 calories.  I was miserable. Not, miserable from a "feels bad about my choices" point, but my body just felt gross. 

What did I learn from today's lunch?  Speak up. If there is a genre of food that can be calorie laden or that may be a trigger food for you, respectfully ask if there is another option. If you need to follow the group, your only choice is to make the best decision possible.  And, I feel like I did.

So, what else can you do when you are traveling?  I try not to eat out every meal. Yesterday I went to whole foods and picked up carrots, hummus, apple, peanut butter, almond milk, bananas.  This is survival food for me. It helps me to have my own snacks so that if I am hungry, I don't grab something on the go from a convenience store. I also travel with a small blender and my Shakeology. And, when it comes to dinner, I have options.

Tonight, I researched the surrounding restaurants.  The calories of the average meal in a restaurant exceeds 1000.  Even when I find something lower, the sodium content is off the charts.  So, I opted to drink a Shakeology shake with peanut butter and banana mixed up in a travel blender.  I've had some carrots and hummus and I very well may have apple and peanut butter later. 

To me, the key to surviving a trip without crashing your lifestyle (diet by any other name) is to be prepared. Have a plan and do your best to stick to it.  And, should you trip up over unforeseen obstacles, just keep going!

So, as I started, so shall I leave you:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” 

― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

It's been a while...

It's been a while...

So much happened in 2012 that derailed my efforts.  Really, they are all excuses and I am ready to leave them behind me.  But, if you must know, my husband went back to school and my father died all in the same week. In addition, I've had headaches/migraines for the last year (yes, year). This really derailed my life.

Over the last two years, my weight and health have suffered.  I stopped doing the activities that were helping me be healthy.  I gave up a bit.

But no more...

2015 is the year of me.

I started back to school this week.  I will get a promotion this year.  And, I am getting my health back on track.

This blog will be mostly devoted to the latter.  The first thing I am doing to get back on track is adding Beachbody's Shakeology back into my daily routine.  I never felt as good as I did when drinking Shakeology daily.  For the next 90 days, I plan to use Shakeology as a meal replacement. In addition, my husband and I will be doing the new P90 workout from Tony Horton together. These activities combined with a low carb (not no carb) eating plan will get me started.

My goal?  10lbs per month...30 in 90 days.

I will succeed.