I have something very special for all of you - my first guest post! This comes from a woman very near and dear to my heart, as she's been my best friend for over 20 years. Like most of us, she's in those "closer to 30" years and juggles countless social and career obligations, including being a rockstar kindergarten teacher, a grad student and a fairly recent newlywed. She also still finds time to be my faithful running partner, holding me accountable on those days when it's hot and humid and I'd much rather get ice cream than hit the pavement. She definitely juggles many hats (and does it incredibly well), but one of the most important things she's committed herself to is a living a healthy lifestyle. She lost over 30 pounds by exercising and changing her eating habits, and it didn't happen overnight. She's an amazing inspiration, but like so many people who have reached their weight loss goals, she struggles with the one thing that nobody really talks about: maintenance. Check out her post on life post-weight loss. I feel incredibly blessed to be constantly inspired by her, and comforted by her words and her willingness to address the realities of balancing a healthy lifestyle with the temptations of real life.
Summer sucks when you feel fat. Uncomfortable in your own skin. Sweating like crazy as the temperatures rise rapidly, and you cling for your life to your skin covering jeans. Longing to indulge in an ice cream cone and the delicious treats at a family cookout. But there is this nagging in the back of your mind. "If you eat that, you'll regret it." "Remember how those shorts looked in the fitting room the other day?" "Do you really want to run the 5 miles worth of calories you'll ingest in just a few bites?" "You already had your cheat meal yesterday, and you didn't exercise at all."
Losing the 30 pounds was almost easy. Making the life change to be aware of everything I put in my body was the best decision I have ever made. It turns out you don't have to buy a pack of Oreos at the grocery every week in order to maintain a healthy diet. Who knew? Making exercise a part of my daily routine was a breeze. Running turned into a passion. When you're losing weight, everyone wants to be your friend. Everyone wants to know how you did it. What's your story? They'll often tell you, "You're my inspiration." They are all there cheering you on with encouraging words. Your clothes start to hang off your body, and shopping is a reward.
Maintaining weight is one of the most challenging obstacles I have ever encountered. It is so difficult to say no to poor food choices. There are temptations everywhere. Like the free chips at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Or drinks with your co-workers at a Friday happy hour. "You lost 30 pounds, it's okay to let loose a little," people will tell you. Exercise starts to become more of a chore. The nagging voice returns: "If I don't go today, my arms will start to feel flabby." "I'll lose a few seconds on my average mile pace." When you're maintaining weight, the world all of a sudden seems to fall silent. The encouraging words are replaced with crickets. You start to wonder if they really are crickets, or if the people that were once your supporters and fans are just speaking words they would never dare speak to your face. Your clothes start to become tight. Shopping is a punishment. Every pound, even just one, sends you into a panic. If I can gain one back, what's to say I can't gain all 30?
I'm struggling to find a happy medium. A place where I feel comfortable. Where I feel proud of my accomplishments, and not burdened by them. I'm struggling to come to terms with the fact that it is okay to let loose. It is okay to go up a pant size. I'm struggling to remember that I started this journey in search of a healthy life. It was never about a number. It was never about a size.
Uncomfortable
Summer sucks when you feel fat. Uncomfortable in your own skin. Sweating like crazy as the temperatures rise rapidly, and you cling for your life to your skin covering jeans. Longing to indulge in an ice cream cone and the delicious treats at a family cookout. But there is this nagging in the back of your mind. "If you eat that, you'll regret it." "Remember how those shorts looked in the fitting room the other day?" "Do you really want to run the 5 miles worth of calories you'll ingest in just a few bites?" "You already had your cheat meal yesterday, and you didn't exercise at all."
Losing the 30 pounds was almost easy. Making the life change to be aware of everything I put in my body was the best decision I have ever made. It turns out you don't have to buy a pack of Oreos at the grocery every week in order to maintain a healthy diet. Who knew? Making exercise a part of my daily routine was a breeze. Running turned into a passion. When you're losing weight, everyone wants to be your friend. Everyone wants to know how you did it. What's your story? They'll often tell you, "You're my inspiration." They are all there cheering you on with encouraging words. Your clothes start to hang off your body, and shopping is a reward.
Maintaining weight is one of the most challenging obstacles I have ever encountered. It is so difficult to say no to poor food choices. There are temptations everywhere. Like the free chips at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Or drinks with your co-workers at a Friday happy hour. "You lost 30 pounds, it's okay to let loose a little," people will tell you. Exercise starts to become more of a chore. The nagging voice returns: "If I don't go today, my arms will start to feel flabby." "I'll lose a few seconds on my average mile pace." When you're maintaining weight, the world all of a sudden seems to fall silent. The encouraging words are replaced with crickets. You start to wonder if they really are crickets, or if the people that were once your supporters and fans are just speaking words they would never dare speak to your face. Your clothes start to become tight. Shopping is a punishment. Every pound, even just one, sends you into a panic. If I can gain one back, what's to say I can't gain all 30?
I'm struggling to find a happy medium. A place where I feel comfortable. Where I feel proud of my accomplishments, and not burdened by them. I'm struggling to come to terms with the fact that it is okay to let loose. It is okay to go up a pant size. I'm struggling to remember that I started this journey in search of a healthy life. It was never about a number. It was never about a size.
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Like what Sara has to say? Tell us about it in the comments section below. You can also follow Sara's blog where she focuses primarily on teaching strategies (but I think she has plenty of wise things to say about living a healthy lifestyle, don't you think?) Till next time, friends!
You and Sara complement each other really well.
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