Body and Spirit Saturday: Three Months In

It’s been awhile since I’ve had time to update my progress. So it’s been almost 3 months since I started my low-carb diet. And it’s 1.75 years since I first started exercising with my workout partner—we started (very slowly) in late September of 2009. Now, we do two hardcore workouts a week, and more on our own. I try for three days of biking a week, plus the two DVD workouts we do. I’m going to add back in an arm weight session (which we were doing with one of the DVDs but now I can’t really do it on the same day as my DVD workouts—too much for my muscles to handle. So I think I’ll add the weights in on one of the biking days, because my body seems to need two full days off per week—the days after the DVD workouts.

The working out has been helping my back, definitely, and slowly been working on other muscles, but now that I’ve been on the diet I’m really seeing results. I’m noticing my body shape shifting, which—for someone who’s been rather ‘round’ in places she’d rather not be—is exciting. The down side to it, is that you can’t pick the places you lose weight in. It will come off as it will, not necessarily how you want it too. But I’m starting to show signs of an actual waist again. I’ve dropped nearly two sizes in three months. And the best thing is: as I lose more weight on the diet, the exercise will help keep my skin from getting too loose. Actually, I take that back. The best thing is the exercise and diet are helping my chronic pain. I’m not in nearly as much pain as I was and I’m moving around better. The back spasms are still around, but not quite so much. Which is nirvana.

As far as the diet goes, I’ve had a few days where I’ve reached 70-100 carbs—but not many. And since a lot of lower carb diets recommend 100 carbs a day average, I don’t feel so bad. But I’m definitely trying to stay under 50, preferably between 30-40 a day. I’m getting used to it. I doubt if I’ll ever be ‘thrilled’ with it, but I do feel better and my blood sugar’s far better and my body doesn’t hurt as much so it’s worth it for that. And it’s worth it for losing weight, because I’m still way above my physical and mental comfort zone. No—I don’t hate myself. But I’d be happier with my body/mobility if I were several more sizes smaller.

So some hints for staying on the diet (since I’ve been asked): really, the only hints I can give you are these: take it one day at a time. Knowing you have to do something for your health can be a great motivator. Miracles aren’t going to happen by just wishing for them. I will wait neither until I need medication or insulin to make a change. I have no desire to see my health deteriorate. And I’m tired of aching. Do I miss pasta and potatoes and cookies? Yes. I miss them. But I’d rather miss them and know I’m making myself healthier. I’d rather miss them and know that I’m losing the weight I wanted to lose. I guess you just have to be tough enough to grit your teeth through the bad days. You have to be ready to do it—ready to say “enough of this…” I was finally ready.

It’s a long road. It’s a long journey. I wish it would come faster, but it’s going to take time. There will be hard days and there will be easy ones. I won’t miraculously turn into a ‘beauty queen’ nor will I miraculously be 20 again. And that’s okay. I’m not trying to become Marilyn Monroe or 25 again. I’m trying to be the best I can now—after all I’ve been through. In time I may do a few things to boost the work I’m doing. I’m not against all ‘vanity’ surgery/procedures. But if I do them, it won’t be to change my life…it will be to enhance some of the work I’m doing on my body. Because frankly, for most of my life—I’m quite happy. I don’t want to be someone different. Just me—better.

Yasmine