Slow and steady, right?
Here’s what I really love about strength training, besides the fact that it makes me feel stronger; you see results pretty much right away. A week after I’ve started a new routine, I can already see a difference in the shape of my body that cardio and/or healthy eating alone can’t ever match.
I might get really grumpy sometimes about the exertion required but when I look in the mirror and see such immediate changes, I decrankify just a little bit.
Okay, more than a little bit.
I get downright giddy, actually.
The changes on the scale are one thing, and they are awesome, but it’s the changes in my body that really matter. I wouldn’t want to be a saggy, flabby 130lb girl. I’d much prefer to be a toned and muscular 150lb girl.
Granted, these are both numbers that I pulled out of thin air and have nothing to do with goal weights or what will actually come to pass. The point is, I’m not too preoccupied with the number. I’m much more concerned with what my body looks like and how healthy it is.
So, apparently I’m going to keep doing the routine, even if it does make me want to cry when I have to do ten planks in a row.
I’m a wimp.
Something I’ve realized from my return to exercise is that while I have a pretty solid foundation of nutritional knowledge and am pretty well informed about what the research says, I have little to no clue about fitness research. It’s a little concerning. I also have little to no idea about fueling for those workouts. I’ve been winging it with both topics.
Anyway, let’s talk goals!
1. Cut back on dairy – While I still had meals that included cheese and still drank some milk, I made a huge effort to stop using dairy as a calorie filler. I think it’s made a difference but I’m not totally sure. I think it’s going to take more than a week to find out if this is really a factor in anything. I don’t know where I stand on the dairy debate. I like it a lot and there’s no way I’m going to give up cheese but I do think it’s best to continue to not use it as a filler when I’m hungry.
2. Drink more green tea – I’ve been enjoying a few different types of tea this week. At home I made a big pitcher of passion tea and at work I’ve been drinking ginger green tea. My mom made me some calming tea that was a little odd tasting but good. I guess I’m not quite as adventurous with my tea choices as I thought I might be. I’ve chosen pretty much the same old favorites I’ve always had. Part of me wants to branch out but I’m also just kind of like, “eh, why bother?” There’s probably nothing wrong with sticking with a few old favorites.
3. Figure out what I need to do to improve my sleep – I’ve failed so badly with this one. I don’t get why anything having to do with sleep is such a difficult thing for me. I like sleep, a lot. I have so much trouble getting my mind to slow down in the evenings, though, and can’t get myself into a rest mode a lot of the time. Most of the problem is caused by things I’m grappling with in therapy. I spend the rest of the week thinking about what we discussed and musing over it. The fact that we’re dealing with serious issues keeps a lot of weight on my mind.
This Week’s Goals
1. Start reading about strength training – As I mentioned above, I don’t really know anything. I’ve mostly trusted the authority of friends, used workouts from magazines (really…), and then just winged it. I’d probably be much better off to actually educate myself and be able to make informed decisions like I have with my food choices.
2. Review my yearly goals and monthly goals and see where I’m at on those – Out of sight, out of mind? Let’s hope not… but sometimes. Since it’s almost a quarter of the way through the year, I should probably check in with those and refocus where necessary.
3. Get up at a decent time on the weekend and eat – I have a weekend pattern. Wake up late, not want to get out of bed, feel tired because I should be eating lunch by now but I still haven’t had breakfast, start to feel more worn out, really not want to get out of bed, finally drag myself out of bed when I have to pee so bad that there really isn’t a choice, finally eat something, feel better. Sometimes I feel downright depressed until I finally make myself eat something and then right away I feel better again. I like sleeping in on the weekends but apparently I need to make myself get up when I wake up and at least eat something.
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I need more sleep and education. The end. So, what are your goals for this week?
