So it has been awhile since I've posted. Things have continued to go well .. the summer is a tad more tricky with fitting in exercise and healthy eating but I wanted to share a few personal tips of the trade that I'm sure others can relate to.
1) I recently went to New York City .. a wonderful time ... I was eating healthy, walking a lot ... down a few sizes ..maintaining a 25 pound weight loss and thought all was well. Little did I know there are opportunities for somebody on a weight loss journey to feel discouraged wherever you go... The two girls I was with (love them to death but neither are a size 14 like myself) wanted to go to Victoria Secret. It was a HUGE store so I thought sure I could use some, new ,cute and sexy underwear and I was feeling good about myself so why not?! Now I was shocked, discouraged and frustrated when Victoria Secret has xs, s, m, and L. Now the large looked like it MIGHT fit somebody who was a size 10 at most. Since when was XL size non existant?This was where I let discouragement get the best of me. Even in the states where the sizes are suppose to be fit "big" I could not go into a store and buy underwear. I was so angry and resentful at myself, the store and my body. I'm sharing this personal story because I know anybody who isn't the size of a model has been there. You aren't alone!
At first I let it get me down then I realized that it won't get me anywhere. Instead I tried to eat clean as best as I could that day watching US portion sizes and I worked my ass off with my personal trainer the minute I left NYC. The whole time I was working with my trainer I thought of that Victoria Secret clothing line and it made me work that much harder.
Moral of the story .. I think Victoria Secret should have XL ... but they don't and there's not much I can do about what they sell. One day I may feel comfortable enough with myself to buy from there but in the mean time I have to focus on the journey.
2) My trainer is fantastic and told me before I left to remember that a US restaurant portion could feed a family of 4. I thought of that when I went out to restaurants and did what I could. No hot dog stands, no nachoes, no pretzels .. the desire just wasn't there for me. She also reminded me that a fitness plan without a nutrition plan is no plan at all. It's so true .. Tosca Reno says that your healthy lifestyle and losing weight is 80% nutrition, 10% exercise and 10% genetics. There's something else my trainer has taught me that I want to share ... in the exercise world it's all about MIND over your body.
I was on my 10th burbee .. 10 doesn't seem like a lot but OMG burbees are a killer!! She noticed me slowing down and said remember let your body take over your mind .. you can do this. it's so true .. sometimes I think we let our mind do the work and really our body can handle a lot more than we even know. So next time you're working out remember your body is a powerful tool but your mind sometimes takes over. Don't let it and just work hard...
Moral of my post .. we all get discouraged .. I know I felt it huge and I think the key is to not let the negative thoughts take over and to never give up. I tell my special needs students to perservere and never give up ...everyday so I guess what I realized after I left that Victoria Secret store was that I should practice what I preach on this journey to a healthy life!
Thanks for listening .. :)
