Today was busy! But it was good. Despite the schedule, I took a short afternoon nap between work and workout. I keep telling myself it would be better to go workout directly after work, then, if I still feel I need a nap, have at it. But anyway, I did what I felt I needed to do today. And it all worked out.
It did cut my time short earlier this evening at the Y, because I had the support group at 7pm. I only did cardio early, then finished the conference call, had dinner, then returned to the Y for weights.
I must be consistent with the weights if I expect to get results. This consistency thing, aside from previously mentioned hangups, is one of the necessary elements I allowed to keep me from starting. Because I know, once started, I must remain consistent for it to help me. I have a tendency to fly by the seat of my pants occasionally and that's not really a friend to consistency. It's important to me, though. And we take time for what's important.
The water accountability is going very well. I'm actually getting in the groove. I'm not resisting too much, which is an improvement. I thought about stopping the water tweets the other day, but then I had to get real with myself. Why? After much consideration, I determined it would simply be a way to decrease accountability and ultimately drink less water. I need water. My body needs water. We all need water. But maybe it's cluttering my twitter feed? Really?? Who cares???? If someone doesn't like it, it's super easy to unfollow! People come and go all the time. I'm not sure what brings some of them, but I imagine if they're unaware of what I do, they're probably like--wow, this guy is obsessed with everything he puts in his body!! If I see one more bean and cheese tostada, I'm out. Okay-that's it, today's lunch did it...unfollow!!!
I try to always remember the purpose of the twitter feed and this blog. It's accountability, it's structure--these are vital elements of my successful recovery. And I know it helps others, too--those that understand what I'm doing, but as I've said many times before, its main purpose is helping me maintain a successful trajectory along this sometimes winding road. If it helps, encourages and inspires anyone else, it's a bonus. I hope it does. I've been told it does. That makes me feel good.
I've been a little fascinated with before pictures lately. I'm not sure why. I started looking through the archives of my photobucket account and it started something, I guess. It helps me stay encouraged. It also provides some kind of psychological untangling I can't really explain as well as I'd like. All I know is, it seems to help with the inner-self-image stuff.
I look at the guy in the above photo and I realize he's the same man typing these words right now. He has the same heart, the same mind, the same talents, the same likes and dislikes too. He's in for a big mental/emotional/spiritual transformation--and he doesn't know it in this photo-all he knew at this point was he was determined to change physically in a dramatic way.
I had no idea how many spectacular facets made up a journey like this. The physical transformation is truly the least powerful. It's sometimes the most fun, but absolutely the least of it.
My Tweets Today:
Good morning! Dark roast w/sugar free hazelnut creamer. Same song, different morning! 30 cal X 2 cups= 60 cal. pic.twitter.com/Qe3p4hq3R6
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 20, 2015
Pizza omelet. Three whole eggs, 1/2 serving organic sugar free tomato basil sauce, 1slice mozzarella. Apple. 358 cal. pic.twitter.com/zwfYEl8oQR
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 20, 2015
Two cups water. #wateraccountability pic.twitter.com/TvWs7dhmqY
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 20, 2015
Two fat free/sugar free bean (130g) and cheese (2 slices mozzarella) tostadas. 1/2 apple. Orange. 450 cal. pic.twitter.com/1TJXc0k40h
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 20, 2015
Refill. 2 cups. #wateraccountability pic.twitter.com/8wt6p9tXP6
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 20, 2015
Cardio now. Weights later this evening. Water: 2 more cups. #watertracking pic.twitter.com/GhZBlwMeFQ
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 20, 2015
Yeah. That. Feels amazing. Dripping wet! #goodsweat pic.twitter.com/zRbrEZq5jZ
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 21, 2015
Post workout water bottle refill. 2 cups. #watertracking pic.twitter.com/IBD2MaXjLE
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 21, 2015
Grilled chicken (8oz) w/lettuce, salsa, sr cream (30g) & zucchini squash. Anjou pear. 450 cal. Same count as lunch! pic.twitter.com/5aWzE4ICC3
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 21, 2015
Back at the Y. This time, for weight training. #timetowork
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 21, 2015
Slow and steady wins this thing. Consistency is key. #startsomewhere pic.twitter.com/MieRvEysw5
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 21, 2015
2nd refill of the evening. 2 more cups. #wateraccountability #watertracking pic.twitter.com/rEkylsi9O7
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 21, 2015
Medium yellow golden delicious apple with 32g natural peanut butter (2tblspns). #lastfoodofday 290 cal. pic.twitter.com/yETjKXMxKG
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) January 21, 2015
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
hahaha-I'll admit it, I don't follow your Twitter because of all the food/water pics. But I'm still HERE! :D (at least I'm honest.) to each our own. It's a valuable tool for you, so that's cool. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally understand, Gwen! It's different for everyone! You've found what works very well for you, so perhaps that translates to less interest. Whereas, someone who's still discovering what works for them might glean ideas from the twitter page. But bottom line--you wrote it--It's a very valuable tool for me! And Gwen, I think the world of you, my friend. I love your blog and I sincerely appreciate your support of mine!
DeleteToday I downloaded an app called Plant Nanny. Every time I drink a glass of water, I record it on the app and it waters my baby plant. Eventually it will grow and flower. Very cute. We'll see if it helps, I always struggle with drinking enough.
ReplyDeleteThat's a unique and cool sounding app! I'm not sure it would work for me given my history of killing house plants, but I love the concept! I have always struggled with getting enough water, too. Right there with you, Natalie!
DeleteI hope you did or will take photos and measurements since starting weights so you can see the difference
ReplyDeleteKeep going strong
ooh...I need to do this right away!! Thank you for the reminder, TR!
DeleteThank you for this post. It made me realize that thus far, I have been focusing on the physical aspects of this journey, i.e. getting thinner, stronger, faster, etc. I do need to take time and get deeper beneath the surface and figure out where I am headed psychologically and emotionally. This should be fun.... haha
ReplyDeleteShane--it's a fantastic exploration along the way. It doesn't have to be a challenging experience, rather--a rewarding and compassionate one. That's the biggest key--being kind to you, realizing who you are, big or small, and wrapping yourself in love and forgiveness. That sounds all flowery and all, but really--it's all about self-love when you get right down to it. The physical part will give you better health and all the added benefits that can bring, the mental/emotional part will give you peace.
DeleteYou're always welcome. I'm glad this post spoke to you.
At first, I thought that was chili heaped on top of your apple. lol Glad to read that it was peanut butter! Love the pizza omelet idea! And I love that you see a before photo and don't feel shame, but see the deep value of that person. I think self-acceptance and offering ourselves that forgiveness and grace we often easily extend to others, is vital.
ReplyDeleteEwe--chili on an apple... I'm so glad it was peanut butter! :)
DeleteThe pizza omelet is different, for sure--but I absolutely LOVE the flavor.
Seeing beyond the physical and letting all of the negative go, takes monumental work--or at least it has for me. And you've written it best-- It's about giving ourselves what we freely and very naturally give others--crucial to our journey, Shirley!
I love the tweets and your food pics gives me new ideas.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I'm glad you enjoy them and get ideas from them! That's the bonus I'm talking about. Makes me happy to read that! Thank you!
DeleteI wish I had before and after pics but sadly, I never got in the pic or if I did I was in the back ground due to the grossness of myself. Oh I'm sure there are one or two that are roaming around out there... Anyway, your pics are amazing. Your transformation is stunning!
ReplyDeleteI went and tried on clothes the other day... what a nightmare in the beginning. And then something happened. I brought in all sorts of sizes and low and behold, I put on a pair of designer jeans that were a much smaller size and they fit. As a matter of fact I could have gone into a 16! So from the start of my "you better get your life back' journey I was a size 28 to now a very loose 18! And there it is! I've been beating myself up for months now saying I'm a loser and such and well sometimes the numbers don't matter! You are so right. Its time to start loving this new person I am.. so much hard work, though.
Thanks for always knowing what to say to your readers!
Rosie
Rosie, you're doing it and doing it well. That's a HUGE victory and amazing progress! Congrats!!!!
DeleteIt's a shift in focus and perspective, Rosie, as you're discovering. Critically important to acknowledge and focus on the wonderful things you're doing--rather than the perceived shortcomings. The truth is, you're going at the perfect speed...yours. And you're doing amazing things.
Thank you for the compliment, by the way.
You are doing so great with the strength training! I have the opposite problem. I don't mind strength training, but I hate cardio. I get bored with it too easily.
ReplyDeleteConnie, thank you! Yeah, we do have opposite perspectives. I absolutely love the cardio because I allow myself to get lost in my favorite music. If I tried it sans music, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun to me. The weight training is a priority now. I'm glad to finally be able to break through the invisible barrier I was behind for so long.
DeleteAs you mentioned, the physical transformation is the least of it - and yet it seems lately you have concentrated on the physical without sharing your psychological & emotional side of it. Look back at some of your blogs and see if I'm right. I miss that part of your sharing.
ReplyDeleteN~
Nancy, thank you for your support! You're absolutely right. After my recent breakup, I felt kind of like I set myself back a little in the psychological/emotional side of things. So, I backed away from getting too deep in that direction, Like I've done so many times before. But it is the most important--and I am returning to a position of strength and better perspective--so look for more introspective type explorations to come.
DeleteAnd I'm not in any way, blaming the relationship or her--I'm simply saying the positives in it as it happened, revealed places within me that needed more work to better understand. Focusing on the fundamentals and the physical side of things a little heavier, has allowed me time to process and understand things more clearly. But again--it is the least of this transformation, or any transformation, in my opinion.
I sincerely appreciate your support, always, Nancy!
Well said on that last paragraph. The physical transformation is also the most visual and we as a society always get caught up in the visual. Not many people say anything if you seem happier in life or if you deal with things better, but lose enough weight and buy a few outfits and everyone has a comment.
ReplyDelete"Not many people say anything if you seem happier in life or if you deal with things better, but lose enough weight and buy a few outfits and everyone has a comment." Well written, Fog Dog!
DeleteThe visual is fun, there's no doubt. I see other people's physical transformations and I'm just absolutely blown away. Some, do not even look remotely like the same person. And to me, that's precisely why it's so important to explore this transformation stuff carefully--because how we feel on the inside, ultimately determines our outside. We can change the outside, but if we don't do the inner work along the way, there's a good chance the outside will once again fall back to where we are, mentally and emotionally.