I’ve just finished feeding myself and the dog, letting the dog out and doing a quick run-through of my snail-* and e-mail. As I type this, it’s 10 p.m. and those are the only things I’ve had time to accomplish since getting home from work.
Like every night in the past couple of weeks, I had grandiose plans of coming home, eating a simple dinner of soup or sandwich, bundling up and going for a run. Sure, I’m bundled up right now, but only because it’s super-cold in my house.
What I’m saying is, I’ve fallen off the healthy eating and exercise wagon.
I was doing really, really well right up to the end of October, when I hit that initial goal of 15 pounds. I had been eating right, tracking the Weight Watchers points along the way, and jogging regularly.
Now, I can’t even seem to get one day right, food- or exercise-wise. My jog on Sunday was the only time I’ve run in three weeks. It was lovely, a chilly yet sunny day where you could smell the fireplaces burning around the ‘hood. But all I could muster was about half of my regular 2-mile loop and I walked up all the hills instead of running. Sure, I’m proud of myself for doing that much at this point, but it really doesn’t do me a lot good if I can’t do it regularly.
I ran after dark all the time while it was hot outside, but now that the thermometer is reading in the 40s regularly, there’s something inherently scarier about running at night. Maybe I’m scared of Jack Frost attacking? I’m not sure, but I do no that I’m not doing any running after I get off work.
I’ve also had grand plans of getting up early to run before work, but every time I think I’ve got my body on an early-to-bed/early-to-rise schedule, it gets broken thanks to a late night at work or visitors or what not.
Meanwhile, I’ve been overeating way too much and eating out too much — which has not only been bad for my girth but that of my wallet. I mean that literally. I have gained a little bit of extra girth around my waist even though I’ve lost another two pounds. I’m to a weight finally where I don’t care what the number on the scale says, I want those size 8 jeans I bought two weeks back at the Gap outlet to fit perfectly.
I’d like to say I’m pledging to get back on the wagon. Certainly I’m going to try, although with Thanksgiving next week and two more weeks of a hectic work schedule it may not be a realistic goal. I only have two more pounds to lose to reach my ultimate Weight Watchers goal and I’m guessing these two will be the hardest. I just don’t want all those hard lessons of the past few months to be for naught.
*I got a four-page letter in the mail from Jimmy Carter. Sure, he was asking for money (I guess it’s hard out there for an ex-prez). But still, he signed it Jimmy! I must be special.
The holidays are really hard, especially for food and exercise. I would suggest that your plan from now until January 2 be that you just don’t gain any weight. That will give you the incentive to make some smarter choices with food and get out and run (or do an exercise video in the warm indoors!) without beating yourself up. Good luck!
Fret not, MG. I hit my WW 10 percent (21 lbs!) this summer and now I’ve gained everything back except for 8. Which I’m sure is now like 5. And it’s frustrating and demoralizing and I hate it. And I just want to kick and scream. But I just feel like I’m stricken by a lack of inertia. And I don’t want to make execuses, but it’s fucking cold. And it’s almost Thanksgiving. Which is almost Christmas. Which is almost New Years. Which is almost a year since I started WW and now I’m almost back where I was when I started. And it just makes me want to cry. But I’m determined to hold on to those last few pounds. And I’m determined to do better. And maybe we can try to help each other out. But god, why is the hardest part of exercise actually getting up to do it, rather than the actual act itself?
Wow. On the mailing list of a former president.
I’ve gotten back on the wagon with the advent of cold weather. I find it difficult to make myself go outside in the summer, but this time of year I find running so much easier. Make schedule is also a little more flexible than yours.
You can do it!
J gets letters from Jimmy too. I’m not that special.
We broke down and bought a treadmill from a used exercise equipment store and it’s been the only thing keeping me going. It has a little TV in the console. Even when I’m totally beat, most nights I can commit to doing 30 minutes of walking on an incline. And it was cheaper than joining a gym for a year. It just gets too dark and cold too fast here. I hear you on the going out in the dark in the cold as being creepier. I don’t know why either.
Uggg. I hate running in the cold. Is there a community center somewhere close to home or work? We have one near us and its a godsend when its too miserable outside, plus they’re cheap.
Having fallen off the wagon myself lately I don’t think I have any good assvice for hanging on but I am hanging an outfit I want to be able to wear somewhere prominent so I can be reminded every time I get dressed what I want to be able to fit into.