Fit By 40

As I begin to approach my 39th birthday, I have thought a lot about my physical self lately.
Because I am so out of shape, I have decided to give myself a birthday gift.
I have wanted to be fit and strong... and proud of my reflection... for as long as I can remember.
I have gotten on that track a few times by losing weight and hitting the gym, but eventually, life gets in my way, and I become derailed.

By 40, I want to be the person I have dreamed about!
I have one year to get this done.

Somehow, I need to be held accountable!
I need friends to call, text and Facebook me to ask about my progress!
If I am not progressing, I need to be reminded of how important this is!!
I don't need "Nice." I need a real, true friend. Honesty. Reality. Even if it hurts.

On days when I would rather sleep in, I need a push out of bed to run before it gets too hot outside.
In the evenings, I need to go to the gym, not drink beer in the hot tub!
I need to eat more fruits and vegetables as snacks, not chips and desserts!
I need to eat salads on the rare occasion that I do eat out, instead of reaching for the greasy burger and fries.
I need my loved ones to encourage healthier choices, instead of recommending that we "swing by for a Starbucks" on the way to go somewhere.

I realize that I am an adult, and I am fully capable of saying, "No," but sometimes it isn't easy.
Dangling things in front of my face makes it a whole lot harder.
I know I wouldn't go to Taco Bell on my own. In fact, I very rarely EVER eat out on my own!
But if the person I'm with suggests it, I'm quick to say, "sure!"

It is really hard for me!

As I have mentioned, I have allowed other things to get in my way.
The people that I live with (boyfriend and kids) and the people that I work with are the biggest distractors.
Now I need them to be my biggest cheerleaders!

From now on, if you aren't for me, you are against me.
If I am someone you genuinely care about, you will encourage me to be more fit and make better food choices.
I need positive reinforcement.
I need supportive people that know my health and longevity are more important than being able to stay up late, watching some television show.
More important than waving lemon cake under my nose or a late night ice cream run to Sonic.
More important than asking why I am having a salad instead of partaking in the Friday Night Potluck that is full of grease and cheese.

Where I am right now, is the most unhealthy I have ever been in my entire life.
Things need to change. If they don't, I may not be around for as long as my loved ones want me to me.
Being this way has made me feel depressed and uncomfortable with who I am.
My clothes are too tight.
Sitting with my legs crossed is painful because my thighs are too thick.
My shoulders and hips ache from the moment I wake up in the mornings.
I feel easily winded any time I do cardio.
My stomach even aches every time I eat!

Overall, I am unhappy and sick most of the time.
I don't want to be that person anymore!
So, my gift to myself for my 40th birthday is to be healthy, fit and happy!
And the only 40th gift I want from anyone else is a year's supply of love, encouragement, and understanding.
It's not too late, but if I keep putting it off, it will be.

UPDATE: A week later, I have lost 6.4 pounds so far! Yayy! :)

I Finally Get to Eat!

When I was a kid,  I loved to collect all of the frosting flowers that nobody else wanted to eat off of cakes at parties. They could keep the cake,  as long as I got to eat frosting! Then one day,  one of my family members looked at me and said,  "Someday you won't be able to eat like that."

I was crushed.

My whole life after that point, I have been paranoid about becoming obese. Heaviness runs in my family, and I see the discomfort and health issues that my loved ones face. I am aware that it would be a lot easier to keep the weight off than it would be to try to get it off later.

Because of this fear, my weight has fluctuated from 145 to 165 for the past 10 years or so... even getting as high as 175 for a briefly depressed time. My way to deal with the issue has always been to cut out sweets, eat a lot less of the healthy food, and lots of running. It works to an extent. I always manage to make it back down to 145 before I level out and I can't live another day without ice cream!

I am currently hovering around the 150-155 range. I look in the mirror and hate how I look. People "my age" are actually starting to give excuses:
◇The older you get,  the harder it is to lose. ◇We can't stay young forever.
◇Pregnancy ruins your body forever.  You'll never get it back.

Yadda, yadda, yadda.

I don't think of myself as old. I don't have joint problems. My bloodwork from my last physical was on point. There aren't any chronic aches or pains, so I can't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to reach my goal. It's just time for a new approach!

So, I have some friends that are into the personal trainer thing... Unfortunately, it is not within my budget. Then someone told me about Bodybuilder.com and I decided to check it out. This is a pretty cool site for someone like me, who is still pretty much a novice. It gives meal plans, 12 week workout routines with the trainer of your choice, supplement suggestions and info, countless articles and forums, and even a section to track your own progress and get to know other people on the same road... all for Free!

Yep. True story.

In addition to all of that, I have a boyfriend that wants to get himself into a healthier lifestyle, and he encourages me to do the same! For once, I don't feel like I'm by myself in this! He encourages me to go to the gym with him,  helps me learn about supplements, talks with me about exercises...

I finally feel that at the "ripe old age of almost-38," I will finally have the support and tools I need to get into the shape that I have always wanted to be in. I have never been more excited about health and nutrition than I am now!

Speaking of nutrition, this new meal plan has me eating all the time (that is how it feels). As I said, what I had done in the past included cutting way back on calories. So, what you are telling me is that I am changing my lifestyle for the better and I'm STILL ALLOWED TO EAT??

Shut the front door! I think I'm going to like this....

Just in time, too, because I just signed up for my second Tough Mudder!