I started this website a long time ago with the intention of documenting my progress as I worked towards achieving the body I wanted, but time and time again I’ve “given up”.
As a qualified life coach, I understand the power of a compelling goal, but sometimes it’s harder to see things for what they are if you’re personally involved!
So what happened was this…
I began looking at my personal values and at what was important to me and I realised something. While I valued looking good, it wasn’t at the top of my list of values. In fact, I had values such as “success” and “achieving goals”, etc etc that appeared much higher.
So this was why I was struggling to maintain my motivation to achieve my weight loss goal! Your goals must be congruent with your values for you to have any good chance of achieving them!
So here’s what I decided to do…
I decided to compete in a triathlon! Crazy I know, and probably the most crazy thing I’ve ever done, but now I’m feeling motivated. Getting up at 5am isn’t such a chore anymore. I even went for a run today at lunch time! Not only that, but as I keep my focus on my goal of competing in my first triathlon, I know that I have to keep going, otherwise I will fail.
I won’t achieve my goal of competing (let alone finishing) the triathlon, and that will make me very mad – at myself!
So as my first official diary entry of this chapter of my goal to lose weight, here’s where I’m at:
- I’m not sure of my exact weight, but I believe it’s around 130 pounds or 60kg.
- I’m not overweight (obviously!) but there are rolls of fat around my middle that shouldn’t be there. Go to http://overweightandunhappy.com/fym.html and look at what Holly Rigsby says about being a “fat skinny person” (or was it a “skinny fat person”?)…
- I cycled for 20 minutes yesterday morning (not sure of distance – my new spedometer is in the post!).
- I cycled for 20 minutes today, and went for a 2km walk/run at lunch time.
- Breakfast was a breakfast burrito (I think I have a recipe for this in the recipies and meal plans section of this site).
- Morning tea consisted of a nut bar thing. Probably not ideal, but it was better than chocolate!
- Lunch was chicken curry.
- I didn’t have afternoon tea (naughty I know)
- Dinner was naughty too – takeaway!
Tomorrow’s plan is to cycle for 20 minutes before work. My bum is sore so not sure how long I’ll last…!
Having an event to aim for is a great motivation. I too chose triathlon, and I’m quickly becoming a tri-addict! From a short all-women sprint race, I made my way through Olympic distance events, century bike rides, marathons, and I’m training for a half iron man next spring. Look out Kona…the ironman may be next!!
Looking good, feeling good, that’s a side effect (and a wonderful one!). The weight I lose helps me get up steeper hills on my bike, puts less pressure on my knees for the run, and yeah, I do want to feel better about how I look in spandex, but I will tell you, nobody is criticizing your tummy at 70.3 miles! They are in awe of your amazing accomplishment!
Keep at it!