Re: Recently new member

[Guest guest]

Jeanne,To borrow from The Four Day Win, I suggest you make a ridiculously easy goal for yourself.Like, commit to walking for one block, or 3 minutes, whatever. 

It should be so easy there is no way that you could possibly be threatened by it. Then write down your goal. Then do that ridiculously easy thing for 4 days.Then, increase your distance just a little, but to where it's still completely non-threatening. And then commit to that new ridiculously easy goal. 

Every four days, increase a bit more. According to the 4 day win author, after 20 days, it'll be part of your routine again. And then you can lengthen out as you see fit.But I think changing your habits is the hard part, not the walking itself. So make the walking part as easy on yourself as you can while you work on the habit part!

And by the way, I think in some ways that the fact that you did a half marathon before makes it harder, not easier, for you. because now you are so aware that whatever you do now can't possibly " measure up " to what you were able to do before.

So maybe you can try to think of this not as a fitness goal but as a " time to clear your head " goal? Definitely try not to compare yourself to where you were before! You stopped for important reasons, and now you are starting again, for other very important reasons. 

Let us know how it goes!AbbyPS I DEFINITELY struggle with this too. I am currently struggling with it, in fact, because i haven't been running much. I needed a mental break from it. It's very hard to go back and see how much ground i've lost. but each run gets easier. 

 

Thank you, Sue!  I need to remind myself how much better I will feel both mentally and physically if I get back on the streets in my neighborhood.  Unfortunately, where we live I can't consider walking my transportation, but the neighborhood terrain is physically challenging.  All I think I need is a little 'mental' push out the door because the first step is always the hardest!!  I sometimes can't believe that I am the same person that did that half marathon in 2008!! 

 

Jeanne 

 

 

--

[Guest guest]

Hi Abby,

Thank you for your most appreciated suggestion!

I love racewalking!! Prior to my little "vacation" from my walking program, I was up to 12-13 mph, and I can so identify with your statement that "it's very hard to go back and see how much ground I've lost." I kind of feel that I should be able to go out and walk at my old pace, but I realize I'm sooooooo out of shape right now and could do more harm to myself than good, so I do appreciate your tips on how I can get back in the saddle again but gradually!

Thanks,

Jeanne

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurie

Its now autumn here in Australia, so it will soon be a great time to walk now

the horrendous Feb humidity is starting to wane, so I am looking forward to

walking without my face pouring with sweat. And without burning to a crisp. It's

just too hot here at present to walk during the day. But winter is lovely for

bushwalking.

Since I moved in with my partner last year I live just 5 mins drive from the

beach, yet I've not done as much swimming as I did when I lived alone further

away; I used to drive down after work. Partly that is because then I worked at

home, and I now work in the city 3 days a week so I don't get home until after

7pm at which time I need to eat. But I also think it is me changing my lifestyle

since moving in with him and simply not putting myself first.

I'm not sure why this is, he doesn't ask for anything that stops me! It just

seems more difficult to take off on a whim and be random and spontaneous as I

once was.

So still feeling unwell (still in bed all day yesterday) but brighter, perhaps I

will go down and lie in the beach pool and have a float later - if the weather

holds. Heck maybe I should go even if it doesn't!

My discouragement is this: when I get sick I take ages to recover. I get bored

when I start to feel better then I get up too soon; even a week after resting if

I exercise I relapse. Probably to do with my slow metabolism caused by the

thyroid problem. My doctor told me to wait a week after recovering to exercise

but even that is sometimes not long enough.

Fiona

>

> Hi Fiona,

> I love activity and movement; the feeling of what my body can do, at whatever

size I am, is great!!! In October of this past year, I took a deliberate

break from exercise because I wanted to recapture the attitude of health and

fitness at ANY size, and I had found myself falling into weighing, calorie

counting, and I want any weight loss that comes about to be a side effect of

intuitive eating rather than a weight obsession. So the reason I'm sharing

this is that I know how sometimes we stop physical activity for various reasons

and it takes a little self-encouraging to re-start. Your strength is that you

really enjoy it!! It sounds like you've had some really exciting hiking

trips!  March is actually a great time to re-start because it gives several

months preparation for the summer (I don't mean for appearances, lol). I am

walking, jogging very, very slowly, and swimming because my goal is to be fit

for ocean swimming this summer :.)

> Laurie

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanne

I'm going to jump in here and tell you a story that might help.

Some years ago I worked near a big indoor pool and decided to swim several times

a week to get fit. I would go, do x laps, and still feel stressed. The others

were faster than me, so I could never find a lane where I was not in someone's

way; I felt intimidated by their fitness; the chlorine stung my eyes and dried

out my skin. I really had to push myself to do every lap. I would grit my teeth

and muster all my willpower with all my might while my body mind and soul were

screaming no, no, no! It was confusing because I thought I liked swimming and

always loved the water.

One day a friend at that job said I'm going for a swim at the beach after work,

want to come? It was so uplifting to swim in the seawater in the outdoor

beachpool, to swim laps where people were playing, swimming, laughing. Where

there were some fit fab and some flabby ancient and everything in between. Even

the fit fab were relaxed and friendly. I found I enjoyed my swim, did all my

laps and felt totally refreshed and invigorated as I sat on the poolside and

watched the sunset while I dried off in the breeze.

After that I vowed this: I will go swimming whenever I want, where I want to, I

will do as many laps as I want, I will stop when I want AS LONG AS I LOVE IT.

I began going every night after work, I couldn't wait to get there. (No wonder I

am missing it now).

The moral to this story is - do something you love, where you love doing it. I

don't like walking suburban streets I prefer somewhere natural, so a bush or

beachwalk (or even a garden, park or reserve) is where I go.

And just start, promising yourself you will stop if you do not want to continue.

So my suggestion is, find a place you would love to walk in, drive yourself

there and just go for a minute or two then ask " shall I continue? " .

Fiona

>

> Hi,

>

> Laurie, I know your post was directed to Fiona, but I've been struggling with

getting back into my walking program since I took a hiatus starting Sep 09 due

to the weather (love walking outside in the fresh air far more than on a

treadmill) and my laziness. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can give

myself a gentle kick out the door?

>

> Jeanne

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Fiona,

I live five minutes from the beach also ;.) When i was taking a deliberate exercise break, I didn't go see the water for a couple months. And so I felt that was a long break and can relate to the frustration of needing to take things slow in getting back to exercise. Sometimes respecting what our body needs can be frustrating!

I hope you had a chance to enjoy the beach pool :.) It's still winter here in NJ, but today we had a warmer day; the first day that hit 50 degrees so far. We had two big blizzards in Feb, which I suppose is a summer month for you? Wouldn't it be nice if I could be there with you in Feb, lol? And you can come here in August when the water is nice to swim in. I'm a hot weather person and really don't love winter too much.

Anyway, I hope you feel better soon and can ease back into activity in a way that will keep you healthy.

Laurie

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Thu, March 4, 2010 6:12:37 PMSubject: Re: Recently new member

Hi LaurieIts now autumn here in Australia, so it will soon be a great time to walk now the horrendous Feb humidity is starting to wane, so I am looking forward to walking without my face pouring with sweat. And without burning to a crisp. It's just too hot here at present to walk during the day. But winter is lovely for bushwalking.Since I moved in with my partner last year I live just 5 mins drive from the beach, yet I've not done as much swimming as I did when I lived alone further away; I used to drive down after work. Partly that is because then I worked at home, and I now work in the city 3 days a week so I don't get home until after 7pm at which time I need to eat. But I also think it is me changing my lifestyle since moving in with him and simply not putting myself first.I'm not sure why this is, he doesn't ask for anything that stops me! It just seems more difficult to take off on a whim and be random and spontaneous as

I once was.So still feeling unwell (still in bed all day yesterday) but brighter, perhaps I will go down and lie in the beach pool and have a float later - if the weather holds. Heck maybe I should go even if it doesn't!My discouragement is this: when I get sick I take ages to recover. I get bored when I start to feel better then I get up too soon; even a week after resting if I exercise I relapse. Probably to do with my slow metabolism caused by the thyroid problem. My doctor told me to wait a week after recovering to exercise but even that is sometimes not long enough.Fiona>> Hi Fiona,> I love activity and movement; the feeling of what my body can do, at whatever size I

am, is great!!! In October of this past year, I took a deliberate break from exercise because I wanted to recapture the attitude of health and fitness at ANY size, and I had found myself falling into weighing, calorie counting, and I want any weight loss that comes about to be a side effect of intuitive eating rather than a weight obsession. So the reason I'm sharing this is that I know how sometimes we stop physical activity for various reasons and it takes a little self-encouraging to re-start. Your strength is that you really enjoy it!! It sounds like you've had some really exciting hiking trips!  March is actually a great time to re-start because it gives several months preparation for the summer (I don't mean for appearances, lol). I am walking, jogging very, very slowly, and swimming because my goal is to be fit for ocean swimming this summer :.)>

Laurie

[Guest guest]

Get a dog. Just kidding, but it does get me out walking regularly. I

couldn't imagine walking without a dog--come to think of it, I don't

think I've walked regularly by myself in over 25 years.

Just get up and do it--tell yourself it'll only be for 20 minutes or a

certain distance. I know I'm always a little stiff until I warm up a

bit, and then I can walk a long time, so sometimes I have to give

myself a little nudge for the first few minutes.

Sohni

J W ELLER wrote:

Hi,

Laurie, I know your post was directed to Fiona, but I've

been struggling with getting back into my walking program since I took

a hiatus starting Sep 09 due to the weather (love walking outside in

the fresh air far more than on a treadmill) and my laziness. Does

anyone have any suggestions on how I can give myself a gentle kick out

the door?

Jeanne

[Guest guest]

Hi Fiona,

I really appreciate the great suggestions Abby and you have given me!

Walking in my neighborhood is fun because it is still somewhat country with challenging hills and I just have to step outside. A deer and her fawn crossed my path one day. What an amazing experience that was! But I think I'll alter this with going to our local recreation center, so that my husband can get started back with his program. It has an indoor walking/jogging track and equipment, that for now would be good for my husband. But I think we both would still rather be at the beach doing our thing because we both hate cold weather!

So to get myself going again, I just would like to commit to the group that tomorrow morning I'll get out and do a few minutes of walking.

Have a good weekend!

All the best,

Jeanne

[Guest guest]

Hi Sohni,

Thanks, you sound like the Nike ad!! But you're so right though! Tomorrow before I go do my errands, I'm going to get my lazy butt outside! We're in for a nice weekend for a change. My body is telling me it needs real aerobic activity.

We had a canine companion until last July when we lost our dog Maggie. She and her sister Molly were like having your own personal dog team to pull you up the hill.

Jeanne