When what you see is NOT what you get

Last Sunday, I went to a birthday party for my 2 year old niece Greta and her 7 year old cousin Grace. I felt great and played with the kids more than I would have in the past.  I have way more energy now that I have been exercising and trying to be healthy than I have ever had in my life and that's pretty good considering I am almost 44 years old.  I would not consider myself a "fanactic" or rigorous in my diet.  I eat healthy the majority of the time, but I also like to indulge once in a while. I  had some great cake and ice cream at the party without a bit of guilt.

The next day, my sister sent me a text.  She told me that she and her husband were remarking how hard I had worked to get to the size that I am and how great I looked.  There was a picture attached that showed me helping my niece open a gift.  I had a hard time believing that picture was me.  You see, when I look in the mirror I still see myself as my former size 14/16 self, not the size 8/10 that I've become.  I kept staring at that picture.  It was one of those things I had a hard time digesting.

I let it soak in.  I get it now.  I think of that picture every time I look in the mirror.  I'm not saying I'm a supermodel.  I have 10 pounds to go to get to what I set as my goal weight.  I'd like to tone up, get some more muscle, lose some body fat.  But its important to realize how far I've come and the progress that I've made. 

If you are working on your health and fitness, think about the progress you've made.  If you've lost weight, make sure you see yourself as your new size. If you have made good choices and formed new, healthy habits then recognize your progress.  Don't get stuck on the past.  You aren't going back there.

What's in YOUR head?

I'm channeling the Capital One credit cards commercials here.  The one that says 'What's in your wallet?'

I'm wondering what runs through your head to get you motivated, whether for diet, exercise, organization, your job, etc.  What gets you going?  I guess you could call it your mantra or power phrase.  What KEEPS you going once you start?  Do you have a 'power song' that helps you get through that last (or first) mile or that helps you squeeze out a few more reps?

I'm always amused when I hear about other people's power songs.  They aren't usually something I would pick.  but then again, what works for me might not work for you, either.  For me, I like to listen to pop/hip-hop songs through my workout.  My power songs that help me when I need a push:

• I Will Survive (not the Gloria Gaynor version, but the one by Cake)
• Til I Collapse (Eminem)

For a mantra, or a little phrase that I say to myself to keep me going?  I have two of those as well:

• "You're not tired!".  Have you ever heard of Chalene Johnson?  She's the creator of Turbo Jam, Turbo Kick, Turbo Fire and other exercise programs available on Beach Body and she is also a motivational speaker, organizational Guru and more.  In a TurboFire HIIT (High intensity interval training) DVD I have, she looks right at the screen, points her finger and says "You're not Tired! You are NOT tired yet!".  That helps me.  I say that to myself frequently while working out and it does help get/keep me going.

• "You can do anything for a minute."  I think that I've heard BOTH Chalene and Billy Blanks say this in exercise DVD's I have. It's true.  When I'm doing interval workouts (ie running fast for 1 minute, jog for 2...) or when I'm doing a DVD when I know the hard section only lasts about a minute, I say that to myself to help me get through that next minute.  After all, it really is just a minute (or two or three).  In the grand scheme of things, a minute is not that long.

A Battle of Conscience

Remember the cartoons where the bad conscience (a devil) and good conscience (an angel) sat on the character's shoulder and battled to win over their will?  I've been having that battle on my shoulders for over a week now.  Only my bad conscience is a fat, slovenly, lazy guy and the good conscience is a healthy, trim, athletic one.  They look more like Oscar Madison and Felix Unger from 'The Odd Couple' than the picture above.

The bad guy has been telling me that I might as well eat all I want and take it easy on my exercise routine.  I can always start January 1st when everyone else does.  The good guy is asking why I would wait and undue all the good I've done over the past year.  You see, I've lost about 30 pounds and 5 % of my body fat.  I've gone from a size 14 to a size 10.  But I'm not done.  I can still be fitter.  I'd like to run a half marathon, do 5 pull ups (unassisted preferably),  lose more body fat and a little more weight.  In short, I'd like to be the fittest me that I can be.  And while I'd LIKE to be the fittest me that I can be in 2013, that doesn't mean I need to put off getting started until January 1.  I can start now.

So today, the bad guy won out on my eating. I polished off the remaining Christmas cookies we had in the house, plus the Boy Scout popcorn (Sea Salt Caramel - it's incredible).  I had 3 tacos for dinner.  I have eaten more calories in the last week than I did the month prior.  But the good guy won me over on exercise.  I put on my running gear, laced up my $100 Brooks shoes (LOVE them) and ran 4 miles.

And I didn't regret it one bit!