Learning To Listen To My Body
So much has happened the past several days! First of all, I found out that restricting carbs is NOT for me. I’m sure tons of people have found success with that method of eating, but for me it just leads to over eating and junk food cravings. So I will NEVER do that again! My focus will be staying within a certain calorie count and choosing healthy foods that I enjoy. Who says lunch has to be chicken breast and green beans instead of whole grain pasta with chicken and veggies? I know how to do healthy carbs, and I’m not ever going to restrict them again. :) It’s far too taxing on both my mind and my body!
Secondly, How do I even begin here? Basically, I’m planning to break up with running. Yep, I’m leaving him. I don’t have any other time to do my runs other than before sunrise, it’s just downright too cold! I have ear aches from my Monday and Tuesday runs. I got dressed to go out again this morning, but I just don’t see any point in putting myself through this. So I’ve decided to join the ranks of seasonal runners. I’ve thought this through, and while I will most definitely miss running and look forward with hope to the spring, I know that I can find other forms of cardio I’m sure to enjoy. My husband is supposed to go get my boxing gear this weekend! Yay!! So that’ll help. I have a step, a jump rope, and tons of DVD’s. For today, I plan on taking the kids outside, and while they play I’m going to jump rope and do jumping jacks alternately. If I give it enough time, it’s sure to burn at least as many calories as jogging. It’s about time I switched it up a bit anyway…. My left ankle has been sore all week, and I don’t want to risk a serious injury.
I had also planned a lower body workout for today. Well, that’s what was on my schedule. But I upped my normal weights for Monday’s lower body workout, and added a few new moves, and I’m so sore I can’t walk right! My glutes… OMG And my inner thighs. I thought about still doing lower body but focusing more on my calves and quads, but since I’m basically sore all over and dragging my ass, I’m switching up to yoga, lots of stretching, and abs/back work, with my jumping around late this afternoon and a good stretch session again afterwards.
I’m not used to switching things up like this… I’m a Taurus, and that contributes to my natural tendency to just want to bull-headedly push through and go ahead with my plans, but I think when it comes to fitness, listening to my body is the smarter choice.
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Hi Shaina
Right with you on the low/no carbs thing - I just cant sustain it at all and hate not having enough energy to work out
Change is tough for us earth signs - I think as long as you are pounding it out somehow you will enjoy your workouts - so boxing is probably a really good one - BTW just read your comments on Nancy’s blog about muscle vs. skinny - I completely agree - toned lean muscle is way sexier than heroin chic
Shelli X
Just the word ‘restrict’ should be out of everyone’s vocabulary, because when you restrict, you’re not allowing your body what it NEEDS… even if it doesn’t cooperate as well with carbs vs. fruits and veggies. Glad to know you found out it wasen’t for you! Anyway just do your best, even if you won’t run you can always be healthy and active!
Yay! I’m not the only one who feels that way. I got a little nervous, thinking somebody might call me out for thinking JLH is a bit curvaceous to model for fitness magazines. (I have NOTHING against curves! Believe me! I just want to see toned muscle when I pick up a fitness mag is all! I totally love her on TV and in movies.) Oh, and the whole thing about people commenting on her butt when she wore that black bikini? (it was all over the internet…) I HATE that! She has every right to wear a bikini on the beach, and she did NOT look bad. I just personally can’t use her as inspiration for my workouts.
And definitely, change is SO hard for us! I can’t even stand it when my husband is driving down the road and decides to go somewhere other than our original destination! lol It gives me a headache. But this is a change I can plan, so hopefully it’ll go smoothly.
Thanks Maya! I’ve read that carbs tend to build up as fat on a woman, and extra dietary fat builds up as fat on men. Don’t know if that’s completely accurate, but it worried me enough to try to consciously eat fewer carbs. Doesn’t work for me…. I’d have to go about it FAR more gradually, but the effort of denying myself things I love has a lot to do with the binge/craving effect, I think. *SO* not worth it!
Hi Shaina, I can’t go without plenty of carbs either. Even going to as low as 30% protein turns my dugestion off! And I do much better with cravings, just like you when I can eat fruit, bread and grains!
Aww, for your running! Do you have a cross-country skiiing or outdoor skating option in your parts? That’s what I LOVE doing in the winter instead of running. Though, Calgary being Calgary, I will run on the mild days when Chinook blows in those unbelievable warm spells + do threadmill once in a while.
If I can manage to create the option of running in the afternoons, I will do that, though with our schedules (mine, hubby and the kids) I’m not sure it’s possible. I will probably still run on the weekends to keep myself from starting completely over when the weather warms up, but I don’t think I can handle the freezing cold before sunrise runs anymore.
I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one who can’t go low-carb. I thought maybe something was wrong with me for a minute, but now I’m nearly sure it’s more likely that something is wrong with a low carb diet. Wonder how people manage to do that??
Different folks have different way of eating/processing foods. My feeling is that fighting it is not necessary, since it is entirely possible to loose the weight & perform great on both high and low carb. Apparently, it’s a myth that you need high protein to perform better. 15-20% we all get is just fine.
that does not work for me at all either!
I cannot do the low carb thing. I know enough to know how to pick healthy carbs. my opinion we need the entire food pyramid and dang it I am having me my carbs. I curbed them some to be fair but my cards were candy bars white bread white pasta. no more of that.
as for running I do understand and I am sure you will dive into boxing like no other. I am so sad though cause I think of you and your successes a lot when i run and it keeps me going
I AM A TAURUS TOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Ok, you know I stopped running and I confessed to Kerstin that I liked running for the 6 months I did it but that’s it. It’s not me at all. I too broke up with running.
I can’t do low carb now base on my exercise level. It won’t work.
Just want to tell u - have mad love for you!