I’ve done it all. I’ve done Weight Watchers, Weigh Down Workshop, Body for Life, LA Weightloss and diet pills. I’ve hopped around the living room like a maniac to Denise Austin, Jillian Michaels, and Kathy Smith. I’ve read books about nutrition, body image, intuitive eating, and exercising. I know basically everything you could need to know about losing weight, yet all this knowledge isn’t doing me a lick of good.
I’ll admit, being the eternal optimist, I still keep hoping I’ll come across that book, that program, that blog…something that will be so special that it will propel me off the couch and into the land of health and fitness. But alas, the realist in me knows better. I know that the only thing that will get me off the couch…
Well, let’s be honest here. I don’t know what’s going to get me off the couch. I’ve run out of ideas and motivation. The truth is, I’ve been relaxing a lot lately and it’s been wonderful. After dinner in the evenings, I read a book or watch TV with my husband, or play a game with the kiddos. Usually the thought goes through my head “you know you could be working out right now” but I manage to push that thought aside when it’s my turn to draw a Candyland card. Here’s the thing: I’m enjoying this down time and I don’t want to change it. Yes, yes I know all about the benefits of exercise, but what about the benefits of just BEING? Just going with the flow and not worrying whether or not I get my 30 minutes in? Isn’t there something to be said for that?
You want to know something crazy? I haven’t been bingeing like mad during this downtime, either. I eat what I want, but really haven’t overeaten in some time now. I’ve even lost a couple of pounds and I can cinch my belt up one notch tighter, so I must be doing something right, right?
I have a sneaking suspicion that once the weather warms up again, I’ll be ready to tackle my weight head on and start something new. Or maybe I won’t. I don’t know. I do know that I am still so tired of the weight loss war, that for right now I have surrendered the battle and like a petulant child, have refused to play. No, I don’t like being 180 pounds, but I know that it will come off in time, so for the next few weeks I’m just going to enjoy the holiday season and do as much relaxing and hunkering-down as I can until it warms up again.
So I guess there’s nothing left for me to do except keep doing the nothing I’ve been doing. It seems to be working – I’m fairly happy today so why wreck a good thing?
I just received your post in my email…. Oh I wish you were here and could go to these wonderful meetings with me. I’ve been wanting to blog about it but haven’t been to blogland much, nor can I organize the thoughts in my brain enough to post. The meetings and workbook is called “Eating for your Soul.” — It’s about not dieting anymore. It’s a not-for-profit organization…actually, they are working on registering it…that are truly interested in helping people and not making a buck. We are one of the guinea pig groups. I love it. When I post about it, I’ll let you know. I wonder if it would be okay to copy the workbook and send it to you. Anyway, I’ll keep in touch — but how wonderful it is that you are doing nothing. Warmest Holidays to you!
Thanks Gina!! I’d love to know more, so keep me posted!! 🙂
Can I say this post made me want to stand up and shout? In a good way! Yay! Go, Jill, go. Live life! That is exactly what a working mother should be doing after a long day at work–relaxing. The fact that you can enjoy your kids is an added bonus!
Usually the thought goes through my head “you know you could be working out right now” but I manage to push that thought aside when it’s my turn to draw a Candyland card.
Well, I’m probably going to tick a bunch of people off, but I’m going to say it anyway. In my humble (not!) opinion, playing Candyland with those kiddos is far more important than working out will ever be. Of course there are exceptions like you are recovering from surgery on your hip and have to move so your muscles don’t atrophy and fall off or something like that. And I don’t want to hear the “do it for your kids so you can be around with them longer” line because if you’re around longer but aren’t spending the time playing Candyland, they won’t remember it anyway. So put away the guilt and the “I should be….” comment and take your turn!
Thanks Ladies!!! You all rock my little world (in a good way)!! 🙂
Honestly what I think you need is an incentive to work towards. Like a hot guy.
I was already working on loosing weight and then I met this guy, I have lost 20lbs. Granted I did not need to lose more than 5 but I just kept on. I was obbsessed with looking better for him.
Now I am down to 119lbs which is probably too thin, but I am after all only 5’6.
You need to figure out what will drive you.
I have been told if you can stick to whatever routine for 3weeks then your golden.
I so wish I could be there to help you. I am one of those ppl (my friends tell me) that can convience anyone to do anything. lol
Oh lord, kittycat – I can’t handle the hot guy I’m married to now, let alone adding another one to the mix!!! But yeah, I wish you were here to be my personal Jillian Michaels!! 😉 xoxo
Yeaaaaaay, Jill!!! I liked this post, too!
“Just being.” That sounds so restful. So does “down time.” I’m also feeling that now is the time to do my minimum daily requirements and not tackle the Next! Big! Thing! Sometimes there are other things in our life that get atrophied and need to be “exercised.” My “in person” social muscle gets flabby, so I’ve been jumping on opportunities to use it. And my kids? They need more mom time right now. They will not always need more mom time, and then I can tackle more badassery.
On a somewhat related tangent, you know what’s making me crazy? Some bloggers are starting the “new year’s resolution” talk already. I want to yell, “Chill OUT already! Can’t we just get through Christmas first, fer bleep’s sake?!?”
I hear ya!!! Let’s get to the end of THIS year before we start wrecking next year!! 🙂
That made me LOL-snort! TMI, I know. 😉 Good thing the office is quiet today.
I just came across your blog via Debby’s, and I’m glad I did. It sounds like you have “diet fatigue,” and I completely understand. It does get exhausting after a while. I once posted about getting rid of my “diet gurus” i.e. books, tapes, programs, etc. I sold most of them on ebay. I’m still trying, but it’s not easy. Candyland sounds good right now! Have a great weekend.
Thanks for sharing your progress with us. I think a lot of people struggle to find a balance between exercise, relaxation and dieting. Best wishes on your journey.
Enjoy being in the moment! And you probably are being more active than you actually are aware of – playing with kids, decorating for the holidays, cleaning house, etc.
This article has kind of changed my thoughts about “exercise”: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17792517
Interesting food for thought, no?
That’s very interesting Juice!! Thanks for the article. 🙂