It Takes Time Thursday

**taurusmoon** · #1 10-04-2001, 07:32 AM

I don't have to tell you what a great thing getting in shape is. But, sometimes the journey is so long that you forget what a wonderful thing you're doing.

Fitness is a commitment. It doesn't happen overnight. But, it does happen if you keep at it. Unfortunately, it sometimes becomes difficult to see that it's happening. And it's easy to become discouraged.

Me? I've been watching the scale inch along and seeing my arbitrary goal date slip away from me. There are days when it just doesn't feel worth it. I'm being good. The scale is being bad.

Why bother?

Why? Because it is worth it. It just takes time.

With the right commitment we can all acheive our goals. We just have to be patient with our progress and ourselves. It's easy to dwell on what you haven't accomplished. The key is to revel in what you have.

Back to me for a second... I've lost 42 pounds. Yeah, I have a lot to go, but damn, I've lost a lot. I can recognize myself in the mirror again. I can fit in "normal" clothes again. I can go out in public without feeling like a freak. I'm nowhere near where I need to be yet, but, if I stop trying to sabotage myself with negative thinking, I'll get there eventually.

Back in May I couldn't walk a mile. What am I saying? I couldn't climb a flight of stairs. Now I'm averaging 5+ miles and sprinting up the stairs. Well, as long as it's only one flight.

I couldn't stay up past 9 pm. Now I have to force myself to go to bed at night. I used to consider it a workout to tie my shoes. Now I don't even give it a second thought.

My blood pressure is down. So is my cholesterol. The changes in me are profound. But they didn't come overnight. I still have a long way to go. And, that won't happen overnight either.

And, you know what? I have to remind myself of that fact on a daily basis.

Enough about me. What about you?

What changes have you discovered in yourself since you started putting in the effort? Think about it. And think about it every time you get disgusted or impatient.

Take The Time. It's worth it.

Sara

cyndilouwhoo · #2 10-04-2001, 08:06 AM

Good for you Sara!

Sometimes we get so lost in the day to day grind of getting to where we need to go, we lose sight of how far we have come.

It's interesting you posted this. Last night I happened to come upon an old picture of myself from a couple of years back--of course it's a picture of me eating. I was so focused on the plate in front of me that I actually allowed someone to take my picture. I don't have many photos of myself from the last few years. I just hated so much how I looked that if someone took out a camera I ran and hid.

I look so different. The changes are so radical it's almost incomprehensible.

I feel so different!

The point is that little changes are indeed little changes--but they do add up.

Too bad there is no way to take a photo of the soul. I bet mine looks as radically different as my physical being.

Cyndi

Who is out to walk (without butts) today.

jenninca · #3 10-04-2001, 08:08 AM

Sara, are you reading my mind? I've been sort of beating myself up because after a month, I'm still fighting with those same two pounds.

But then I look at my diet and think, well, duh! I am eating horribly. I am being bad. The scale is being honest. Ten thousand steps aren't going to erase a whole day of bad eating.

I think I'm doing pretty well at my stepping. It's become a part of my routine. I take at least a couple of short walks and one or two big walks a week.

What I need to do is make better eating a part of my daily routine. And that's going to be harder than walking. I want to walk. I don't want to give up the foods I like. (I know, I know. You don't have to give them up, just eat them in moderation. I have a hard time with moderation.)

Any advice?

Cindy

**pluckyduck** · #4 10-04-2001, 08:18 AM

The psychic connections around here are very strange. Even before I read Cyndi's response I was thinking, "it's weird that Sara posted this today, because I was just thinking about this last night" (insert eerie sounds)

First of all, I can't figure out why I have been so stinkin' patient the last 67 days. This isn't like me...the results that I can see in the mirror are limited, but that isn't stressing me at all.

I think the pedometer numbers going up are filling whatever measured results now! need that I have.

Last night, I was wondering idly when I was ever going to see my hip bone again. I have really big hip bones, so even when I'm not skinny, I can still see the bone. Haven't seen the bone in months (my last weight gain binge of 10 pounds in two months covered it over). I miss my bone, started to get impatient, and said to myself "Oh, it takes time.", and found myself just peaceful about it again. I know the bone is there. I know that if I keep doing what I'm doing, eventually I'll see it. What's the rush? I'm enjoying the journey.

A bit later I was doing my remedial beginner ab crunches. I started to get impatient, started to try to figure out how long it was going to take for me to feel any results. (I don't expect to actually see results for the forseeable future...not going for abs of steel, I'm just trying to strengthen them to help my back out).

Then I realized

doh! It was just two weeks ago that I couldn't even make my body contract my abs when I commanded it to. My poor body couldn't even find my abs. (I'm serious...I did get quite a few accidental Kegels in though

)

I also "worked out" with my 3 lb hand weights for a few minutes. Again, I thought to myself wistfully, when might I see results from this. I estimated 1.5 years, but picked the dang weights up again anyway. Eventually results have to come. What's 1.5 years when I've already got 40 under my belt?

I'm pretty mellow nowadays for a Super Achiever. Must be the Dong Quai.

Andrea

quasar · #5 10-04-2001, 08:52 AM

No profound changes, at least not yet. I'm still sort of feeling my way around this whole area. I'm not sure what I'm trying to do and not sure I'll be able to continue with whatever it is I'm starting to do. But I do know that I feel good about myself whenever I take an extra walk or plop on the treadmill or do whatever my little extra thing is that I'm trying to do that day. And so far I've even done pretty well at not sabotaging myself by beating myself up when I don't get in that something extra.

That might be the only noticable difference so far. I am notoriously hard on myself and it just isn't possible to live up to my own high expectations all of the time. Normally that would cause me to beat myself up, perhaps to the point of not trying x again. I haven't done that, and I think having everyone here has been a big part of the reason. Just when I might be thinking some of those negative thoughts someone posts in here with some problem and the problem solving side of my brain takes over, or someone posts something about not making something and trying to do better next time and I think "see even so and so has bad days", or even (and this only happened once) I post my steps for a day and notice that I somehow managed to get more steps than Sara. Not that I wanted you to have such a low day (for you) Sara, but I can't think of a higher boost I've gotten from the whole stepping thing than when I noticed that

Thanks everyone

Janice, who now thinks this probably belongs in that other thread on what you've gotten out of this board, but oh well, I'm here and it's written

**taurusmoon** · #6 10-04-2001, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by quasar
No profound changes, at least not yet....

But I do know that I feel good about myself whenever I take an extra walk or plop on the treadmill or do whatever my little extra thing is that I'm trying to do that day. And so far I've even done pretty well at not sabotaging myself by beating myself up when I don't get in that something extra.

Sounds like a profound change to me!

Quote:

I post my steps for a day and notice that I somehow managed to get more steps than Sara. Not that I wanted you to have such a low day (for you) Sara, but I can't think of a higher boost I've gotten from the whole stepping thing than when I noticed that

ROFL. Glad I could be of service.

I know exactly how that feels. I used to look at Jennie's records and say to myself, one day I'm going to have numbers like those. That was back when a good day for Jennie was about 15k.

Sara

**taurusmoon** · #7 10-04-2001, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pluckyduck
The psychic connections around here are very strange. Even before I read Cyndi's response I was thinking, "it's weird that Sara posted this today, because I was just thinking about this last night" (insert eerie sounds)

Andrea

The plot thickens. Today's thread was originally scheduled for Tuesday. Perhaps it was delayed for a reason?

Hey, is that Rod Serling?

do do do do
do do do do

Sara

murasaki · #8 10-04-2001, 10:22 AM

I guess I've been in the fitness game longer, or at least more continuously, than most of you all. I had ROTC in college and then the Army and its weight standards and fitness standards getting me out of my warm bed at 0-dark-30 for twelve years now.

I was always skinny (and downright puny) in elementary, junior high and high school. My mother was convinced I was anorexic because I was so picky about my food (bad cooking). I've never had a weight problem that wasn't merely self-inflicted worrying over nothing. At my heaviest, I weighed 112. My norm seems to be around 105-6, but right now I'm 102 from stress. [I didn't give my weight out before in this forum because I didn't want to make anyone else feel badly about theirs, so please keep in mind I'm a small person in general, 5'2" tall and thin bones--I'm a walking target for osteoperosis.]

What's been the hardest for me is that I rarely, if ever, see any tangible improvement. The scale goes up or down, but my clothes fit the same and give lie to the scale, though sometimes the scale won't change and I find myself more comfortable in my size 4 shorts than the same ones in size 2. Never seeing improvement or even a miniscule one, makes it difficult for me to keep exercising and prone to indulge in junk food.

What I try to focus on are the changes that my body would have gone through if I hadn't been exercising on a semi-regular basis. When I went to my 10-year high school reunion two years ago, I was one of two women that weighed about the same as I did in high school, though both of us had much better muscle tone now than then (me from weightlifting, her from aerobics). Almost all of my female classmates had kids and also gained weight, 20-100 pounds. What I tell myself is that if I had not gotten all the exercise and tried to eat healthily, I would have gained those 20+ pounds and I would be less healthy and much less fit than I am today. I was lucky enough to get into a profession that demands fitness until I could come to a realization on my own about how my lifestyle should be, and will continue to be after I'm out of the Army (in another 13 years).

Many of you all have a harder "row to hoe" for getting on the fitness track, but I'm very proud that you all have made the commitment and let me come along for the ride.

--naomi
who's going to lift weights today but is laying off the push ups until her pecs recover

**taurusmoon** · #9 10-04-2001, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by murasaki
Many of you all have a harder "row to hoe" for getting on the fitness track, but I'm very proud that you all have made the commitment and let me come along for the ride.

--naomi

Never underestimate the incredible achievement that maintaining a fit body entails.

Sure, getting in shape is hard work. But, ask anyone who has done it, it's much harder to maintain than to attain. It's so easy to reach a goal only to forget that it is a lifelong commitment.

You've shown us all how it can be done with a grace that few others can equal.

Thank you.

Sara

cyndilouwhoo · #10 10-04-2001, 11:07 AM

Hey Naomi...

---> What Sara said!

You have been such an inspiration for all of us "couch spuds"--I can't express adequately how much, but you have.

And don't feel bad about putting your weight in here...we are all in this together and we all have our individual rows to tend.

You are fit, girl--and it's a great thing!

Cyndi

**conradd** · #11 10-04-2001, 06:18 PM

Reading through this has been so energizing. We all have goals and we're working toward them.

GO US!!!!

I'm doing a long walk tonight to make up for sleeping in this morning.

Plus, I was watching the noon news and saw a community announcement for a 5 mile diabetes walk on Saturday. It was too late to sign up (5 miles!! thousands of steps!!) but I called to volunteer and I'll be registering applicants and handing out snacks and water at the checkpoints. I'm really excited to be a part of it!

Deb
who has to be in Eugene at 6:00 Saturday morning

**lynnzop**[$] · #12 10-04-2001, 06:41 PM

Wow, you guys are much more introspective than me....

I simply got tired of hating the way I looked and getting mad everytime I'd go try on clothes and see the sizes going up up up.

Now, after 4 months, I can pick up a 25lb. bag of cat food and say "THIS is what I got rid of."

I started a list of "small successes" I bring up online whenever I start feeling like I'm going no where:

1. Bone - Andrea, I can totally relate...but for me it's that collarbone thing. You know, the one that sticks out when you wear a boat neck sweater. I FOUND MY COLLAR BONE is one of my "small successes"

2. Walking for a cause - Deb, I'm so happy you could help out at the upcoming walk! I never did a "walk" for a cause before because it seemed too much work. I did the Corporate Cup this year and was a part of raising thousands of dollars for the American Lung Association, a cause I believe in and benefit from.

3. Feeling good about oneself - Janice, while I'm (cough, confession time) extremely vain about my looks and it was my original motivation, I know what you mean about feeling good inside...when I go for a walk (or a run, now!), I come home feeling tired, sometimes a little sore, but glowing inside. It's so much more satisfying than sitting on the couch!

Yes, it takes time. But I'm also reminded of something I read once about a woman who moaned about going the idea of back to college as an older student (age 50, maybe?)..."I'll be so old when I graduate in four years!" she used as an excuse. "Yes, but how old will you be if you DON'T go back?" was the wise response.

It's the same thing with losing weight or getting fit. Where will you be if you DON'T try?

Lynn

jenninca · #13 10-04-2001, 07:42 PM

Guess what I just did.

I signed up for a 5K non-competitive Race for the Cure.

It's held on Saturday morning two weeks from now. I have to be there before 7AM.

What am I thinking?

I have hated races all my life. I always lose. Yeah, this is non-competitive, but someone still has to come in last. I am not an athlete. Why did I sign up for a race.

Look what you guys have done to me.

Cindy

**mrisch**[$] · #14 10-04-2001, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by taurusmoon

The plot thickens. Today's thread was originally scheduled for Tuesday. Perhaps it was delayed for a reason?

Hey, is that Rod Serling?

do do do do
do do do do

Naw, that's just the echo in my head...

**taurusmoon** · #15 10-04-2001, 09:13 PM

Cindy!

You go girl!

When I was a kid I used to do the March of Dimes Walkathon every year. It was 20 miles in those days. Uphill. Both ways.

It was exhausting, but unbelievably invigorating at the same time.

About 4 years ago I did a 20 mile bike tour benefiting sports programs for children with disabilities. I felt like you did at the time. I was riding 10-15 miles 4 days a week. But, committing to a ride like this? I felt like a total imposter. Especially when I saw my fellow cyclists. Boy did they look impressive.

They closed off a highway for the tour to go through. That was a kick. But the road was quite hilly. Something I never noticed the hundreds of times I had travelled it by car. And, it was an incredibly windy day. Incredibly windy.

Imagine my delight when I tore uphill in a head wind and passed scores of people who had gotten off to walk their bikes up.

Just goes to show you. Sometimes you never know what you are truly capable of until you try it. Oftentimes you can really surprise yourself. :thumbs:

Sara

**lynnzop**[$] · #16 10-05-2001, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Guess what I just did.

I signed up for a 5K non-competitive Race for the Cure.

It's held on Saturday morning two weeks from now. I have to be there before 7AM.

What am I thinking?

You're thinking like a WINNAH!

You go girl...I never did one before the Corp Cup this year and I was thrilled to be a part of it. Regardless of WHERE you finish, you are a winner because you are helping in the cause!

YAY CINDY!!!

Lynn