And it's showing. Although I've been keeping up with working out (not much choice, when Attila shows up in the morning armed and ready), I have *not* been keeping up with eating well. In fact, I actually ordered and ate (most of) a pizza the other night, a food I haven't really wanted for six months.
So I've learned two things:
1. Working out like a madwoman, not compulsively, but regularly, has made it possible for me to do things that the average person can't do. Like lift huge heavy boxes down from the shelves at IKEA by myself, load them into the car, and get them inside the house, all with a minimum of fuss. (See Cranky Fitness for details.)
I gather from what I've read that continuing to lift heavy things and plod along on the treadmill will make it possible for me to continue to do things beyond the Average Bear's capabilities for quite a while, even as I get older.
Living alone and owning my own fixer-upper has made that very important. I didn't realize how much Attila's training had benefitted me until the third time I lifted that Besta box without trouble. Basically, what I'm realizing is this: I have a physically demanding job, a physically demanding non-job life, and I'm able to keep up with it all only because I'm subjected to grueling workouts three days a week by a woman who's fitter than I'll ever be.
Although she did say on Monday, "Gosh, your abs are strong." Yeah, dude, my abs are strong because you've been making me work them regularly for the last three years. Credit where it's due, okay?
2. Not eating well? Sucks. It's not quite 3:30 am as I write this, and I've been up for just over a half hour. Middle-of-the-night insomnia is my bugaboo when I eat pizza and ice cream. It goes hand in hand with mental fogginess and the inability to get through the day without a nap.
I hadn't realized, truly, how much nutrition affected me until this week. Some of my friends and coworkers (residents, particularly) can go through life eating licorice and chips and do fine--and even do brain surgery, for the love of God--but *I can't*.
With that realization last night, I put a big pot of beans on the stove and made sure I've got plenty of veggies in the fridge and freezer. It's back to lean protein and plenty of green things this week. The first couple of days will be horrendous, I'm sure, as I'll be switching from a pizza-beer-whatever's available-brisket diet back to Things That Actually Make My Life Easier, but it'll be worth it in the end.
So glad to see this, Jo! I was actually going to come nudge you a bit. You are doing great (as you know) in so many areas, and I hope you can keep it all up and get in the itty-bitty scrubs and silly-looking shoes that are among your goals.
ReplyDeleteI also had a stretch of useless eating, but luckily the scale isn't really punishing me (165 this morning). What I'm glad about is that this is the most weight I've ever lost without religiously keeping a food diary. And it's staying off, even if it's no longer dropping like it should.
Three weeks from tomorrow is Thanskgiving, so I intend to get back to virtuous eating, and take advantage of the pretty weather to get the exercise I really need to feel better.
Again, glad to see you posting! Go, Jo!
R