EveryWoman Fitness
Be healthy, not perfect.
I'm EveryWoman
January 8, 2009
I do realize it’s January and that December got away from me. Being healthy, not perfect is a tad more challenging with Almond Roca (thanks Tiff), jumbo Chocolate Chip cookies from my neighbor Kristen, and extra cocktails…but I made it through the month without totally losing control. So, it’s 2009 and making resolutions are expected. I don’t make resolutions other than my standard: be kind to myself. That means when I eat a sleeve of Oreos, skip my outdoor run to watch “Regis and Kelly,” or catch myself obsessing about my body- that I STOP and restart. I focus on saying nice things to myself (as if I were talking to a friend) and forgive myself ASAP. I’m human. Cookies happen.
I discovered that while New Year’s resolutions are nice, making meaningful changes is even nicer. Maybe you’ll learn to do a bench press, or go to the gym when you don’t feel like it or maybe you’ll just cut yourself some much-deserved slack. Think about it, by the end of the month, you may actually feel good about yourself instead of feeling bad about your good intentions.
Happy New Year!
~Andrea
November 12, 2008
Well, I'm about 10 days post-marathon... running NYC was really incredible! I loved every minute of it, except for the last 120 or so... the crowds were amazing! I fell short of my 4:30 (very modest, realistic and attainable) goal and finished in 4:52. While I was disappointed for a short time, I quickly realized that crossing the finish line was it's own mini-victory. I earned every bit of the hobbled pain I was in, and every step of training allowed me to get to the end! I ran behind (yes, behind) not one, but two men with prosthetic legs- absolutely inspirational! I ran with women sporting pink ribbons tees, old men with knee braces and foreigners from every country. The streets were lined with spectators who brought cut up apples, oranges and bananas, and left-over Halloween candy for the runners. At one point toward the 20th mile, I was walking along the right side of the road and I could feel tears welling in my eyes. I knew that I couldn't keep my necessary pace to reach my goal. An older woman locked eyes with me and said, "Girl, you to to get it together!" And, I did!
Sometimes, all you need is a little encouragement from a friend or even a stranger. What are your goals this month? Who can help you reach them? Even if you fall short, do your best to 'get it together' and move forward. The victory at the end really is sweet.
~Andrea
October 1, 2008
Last week, one of my clients complained that the scale in the gym locker room was weighing about 7 pounds too heavy. She was sure it was not just her, and began asking some of the other gym patrons what they thought. It reminded me of an article that I read a few years ago about the scale. It was a story about a woman who worked in a doctor’s office. She weighed herself one day at work and was overjoyed to see it register 5 pounds lighter than she had expected. She was ecstatic! She went out during her lunch hour and bought a new outfit and caught her reflection in each window she passed. She was definitely feeling “it” and was basking in her new-found appreciation of her body. When she returned from lunch, the doctor innocently commented that they needed to recalibrate the scale, since it was reading 7 pounds heavier than its should be.. Even though it was the same body the woman had one hour prior to this comment, the body she was just celebrating- she was devastated! The remainder of her day was spent saying negative things to herself, and vowing to diet immediately.
I’ve let the numbers on the scale dictate how I feel about myself. I’ve also put my head in the sand, and avoided the scale for more than a year. Both resulted in self defeating behaviors, and about 12 extra pounds. I think there is a happy medium. The scale does not tell us that we are compassionate, or funny, or thoughtful or a good parent. It merely gives us a number that could be plus or minus a few pounds of our actual weight. A number that can help ease ourselves back toward the healthy path, vs. the unhealthy one. It isn’t our enemy or our friend. It is just a piece of metal with a battery in it, and it isn’t perfect.
This month, I encourage you to limit the amount of time you spend with your scale. You know when your jeans are getting tight. Let your clothing be your gauge this time and try to make healthy choices most of the time. All of the time would be a big bummer…