Day 56-It's over!

So that’s it. The Less is More Project is over. I’m done. I lost 10.2 pounds in 8 weeks and raised over $650 for Christel House. How do I feel?

Good, weird, and maybe even a little sad. The pressure is off and that is nice. Yet even when it’s hard, it’s fun to be striving toward a goal. Challenging oneself to do something, anything, breaks up the routine of life. It gives you something to focus on, keeps you moving forward. So now that I’ve reached my goal, I think, what next?

I’m hoping that while the project is finished, my new habits aren’t. I not only want to keep this weight off, but I’d also to lose a bit more. Even more important, I think is that want to keep exercising. It’s likely that I’ve never been in this good of shape-ever. I’ve been younger and I’ve been thinner but I’ve never treated by body this well. I’ve never eaten as healthy as I do now and I’ve never exercised more. And that alone feels like an accomplishment.

I hadn’t really thought about the future until a couple weeks ago. One follower of the newspaper column reader told me she was inspired by what I was doing. She said that reading about my experiences every week made her more conscious of her own diet, and that next year, if I decide to do this again, she wanted to do it with me. Next year? That one caught me off guard! But then I think, what if…

What if she and I and maybe a few others did a similar project next year? What if 5-10 people worked together to get healthier and raised money for charity while we did so? There were days when I swore I’d never do this again but what she said makes my wheels spin. So, I’m wondering; if I were crazy enough to do this again (in some way-hopefully not losing the same 10 pounds I just lost!) would anyone really do it with me? It could be fun. It could be a group of people motivating each other on to do something good for themselves and for Christel House. It could be something I’d consider…later! For now, it’s time to eat, drink and be merry until 12/31. Then it’s back to it!

Day 50: I've become a rat

I don’t know when it happened. I never even knew it could happen. But here it is: I have become a gym-rat. And I don’t know how I feel about it.

According to dictionary.com, a gym rat is “someone who spends all leisure time playing sports or working out in a gymnasium or health spa.” Ew! That doesn’t sound like me at all. I don’t spend my leisure time working out (I don’t even have leisure time). I work out because it’s one more thing I need to get done. And Cardinal Fitness isn’t exactly a health spa either; it’s more like the cheapest and closest workout facility around. Still, I am at the gym all the time.

For this we can thank Trainer Bob. He’s tricky. He doesn’t ask you to work out everyday, he says, “Let’s see, think you can do 3 cardio workouts before you see me next?” And there I am, nodding my head in agreement. Next thing I know, I’m frantically trying to squeeze my workouts in before our next session. After a month or so I realized, “Hey, I’m working out 6-7 times a week, what’s up with that?!” If he’d asked me to do this I’d have told him I didn’t have time. But he didn’t really ask; he slid it in without my notice. That’s why he’s the trainer and I’m the gym rat.

So how do I feel about this new role? I’m undecided. I love feeling strong and healthy. I love that I’m at the gym enough to run into friends and neighbors and have a quick chat. And I love that I’ve finally figured out how to read while exercising on the elliptical! But at this stage in life, I am busy. 3 kids, a part-time job, volunteer work and no extra hours in the day. How can I give up my precious time to be a gym rat?

But could I stop? I already get antsy if I miss a day. My body feels the need to sweat and then there’s that endorphin high…So maybe I need to change the title, not what I’m doing. I’m not a gym rat. I don’t hang out at the gym in my leisure time. Rather, I’m a busy mom who takes her book to the gym to get in a little me time. I go because I need it, deserve it and because it makes me a better person, a better mom. There, that sounds so much better....

Day 43: Accountability

7 weeks into my journey and I should be feeling good, right? I’ve lost 8.2 pounds, my clothes are loose, I feel fabulous, and if I may, even proud of myself. I put myself out there with this crazy project, have worked hard and have raised money for such a worthy cause. Now I should be able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of my almost-have-reached-my-goal labor. If only I could.

But I can’t. Why? Because even though I’m still working out and I continue to eat well, anxiety lurks in the crevices of my brain. The problem is: me. I don’t trust me in this process. I’ve done well not just because of what I’ve done, but also because of you all, and Trainer Bob. What happens in 2 weeks when you all stop cheering me on and Trainer Bob has completed his job with me? I’ll be alone with the cookies, the chips, the holiday cheese ball, with no one to stop me. It sounds a bit pathetic but it’s also true.

It’s about accountability. I am more than happy to hold up my end of the bargain for you and for Trainer Bob. But when it’s just me, who knows. I might treat myself to dessert without writing it down, I might skip a workout on a cold, and snowy morning, I might start letting myself off the hook. I’ve done it before. And I really don’t want to do it again. How do we make ourselves accountable and stay on track? It is the million dollar question.

At least I know myself, and I’m thinking ahead to the next steps of this weight loss train. I’ve got 2 weeks to figure it out. And gee, before I get cocky, I’ve still got 1.8 lbs to lose, during the holiday season, no less… If I want to be anxious, guess I should be anxious about losing the weight before I get anxious about keeping it off!

Day 36: Eating Out: The Slippery Slope

So I’ve been living the healthy life for over a month now. In 30 days, I’ve given up soda, salt and pretty much sleeping in, since I often work out early in the morning. I've lost 7 lbs, I feel great, and weirdest of all-most days I don’t even feel deprived. It’s all good, except for one thing; I don’t think I can ever eat out again.

Last week I tried; dinner with my husband. Just he and I, at a really nice restaurant I’d been wanting to try out. We were seated quickly, the atmosphere was great, and the menu had a variety of healthy entrees. There was only one problem; I didn’t want the healthy entre. I wanted the artichoke chicken dish sautéed in butter. And the bread and the oil they brought to the table and just one teensy glass of wine…

It’s hard. I want to be healthy but I also want to enjoy my life, which obviously for me (hence my need to lose weight) includes enjoying my food. When I find myself hungry at a restaurant, I'm faced with a really tough decision; stay strong or cave. One can’t always cave in, or that one will gain every pound back. That night, I threw caution to the wind and ate the chicken dish. I did eat only half of it but I am sure the bread and the wine made up for that! The next day I worked out longer and harder to help with the guilt.

This week it happened again. I chose to go with my co-workers/friends and grab lunch at Paradise Bakery. I knew it was risky (read: b-a-k-e-r-y) but I was feeling strong. So I went and chose the seemingly healthiest thing I could find on the menu, a vegetarian sandwich on whole grain bread. Later I discovered my healthy sandwich was 560 calories. Not outrageous but still too much for a girl who’s living on 1200-1300 calories a day. I ate half, and it was delicious.

The longer I trek through this weight loss project, the more I am amazed at how many calories are in all restaurant food. What’s the deal? How come we can eat wonderful food at home that doesn’t break the calories bank but not at restaurants? How come things that appear to be low calorie, aren't?

It's a catch-22 because as much as I’d like to steer away from restaurants, frankly I can’t (lunch out with a friend today!). This is America; we like to eat out in this country, and doing so is part of our relaxing/socializing rituals. So, I guess it’s going to have to be about balance. If my dinner out is a splurge, it can be a splurge and I make up for it later. If it’s one of a handful of social activities I have lined up in my week; I’d better be choosing the healthy entrée. Whether it’s what I want, or not!

Day 29: Top 10 Things I am Thankful for This Year

I cannot let this holiday pass without pondering and sharing that which I am thankful for. I hope you too will ponder and share because it is in fact what we’re asked to do: encourage one another and build each other up. May you and your family enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for:

1 The gym being closed on Thanksgiving.
2. Losing 5.4 pounds and not gaining any of it back.
3. The first 4 weeks of this crazy adventure being OVER, and my survival.
4. Laughing Cow Baby Bell Light cheese-a delicious treat!
5. Trainer Bob and his willingness to let me have caffeine without guilt.
6. My body (never ever thought I’d say that) and it’s amazing capacity.
7. Exercise doing wonders for both my mood and energy level.
8. For the opportunity to work at Christel House and see first hand all the good that is being done through it.
9. Turkey and that it is a lean protein.
10. FOR ALL OF YOU-I can’t tell you how grateful I am to each of you for your donations and your support. What a wonderful family and group of friends I have been blessed with!

Cheers,

Tracy

Day 22-Feeling Groovy

4.6 lbs down, 5.2 to go! I’m 3 weeks in and feeling groovy. My muscles aren’t SORE, I’m no longer hungry all the time and I am getting comfortable with sweat. Life is good!

So since I’ve nothing to complain about, I thought I’d take a minute to tell you all about the awesome charity you are donating to through your sponsorship of me in this crazy weight loss fundraiser.

Christel House was founded in 1998. The idea came when Christel DeHaan (the founder) was invited to visit an orphanage in Mexico City. After seeing the horrific conditions in which the children lived, Christel felt moved to do something. Yet, she also knew that while giving the orphanage money would help, it wouldn’t resolve the complex issue of poverty. It was then that the idea for Christel House was born.

Christel chose to build schools and provide the poorest of the poor not only an education but also meals, and healthcare, as well as character building and leadership opportunities. Students are selected with great care and parents are required to help in the schools. Christel House also provides workshops to educate the parents on a variety of topics.

The model works. Christel House now has 5 schools worldwide: a public charter school in Indianapolis, and learning centers in India, Mexico, South Africa, and Venezuela. Every school has excellent test scores and attendance (many top the home country’s public schools). Two of the schools have celebrated their first graduating classes and the graduates are going on to college, technical school or work/study programs. This year we’re building a high school in Indianapolis, and next year a second school in India. See www.christelhouse.org for more.

Part of my job at CH is to interview some of the children/families and write their stories. And all I can say is, when you put a face to poverty, it becomes very real. What you once thought of as an issue, becomes the life the person you are speaking with has, and somehow for me, that changes everything.

So thanks to all of you who are sponsoring me! Because of what you are doing, we can give some very hard working and deserving children a chance to lead a much better life. :)

DAY 15-Keep On Trucking

So Saturday, after waking up SORE for the 13th day in a row, I was just cranky. And worse then that, I had another appointment with Bob the trainer. Arghh! The last thing I wanted to do was exercise (isn’t eating healthy and drinking gallon upon gallon of water enough…wait, don’t answer that!). But what are you going to do? Nothing. You ignore your mood, you keep on trucking and you meet your trainer at the gym.

So of course, Bob, who’s not SORE at all is happy to see me. He’s happy to be at the gym on this absolutely beautiful Saturday afternoon. He’s also happy to raise the weights on all the machines for me. And while I’m on that subject, here’s another thing I’ve learned: no matter what you do, your trainer is going to continue to raise the weights on the machines. If you complete an admirable number of reps (repetitions of a specific exercise), he’ll praise you and then up the weight next time. If you don’t, he’ll have you do more sets to strengthen you. Either way-your workout gets tougher. Now, to me this seems totally unfair, I’m thinking ‘Come on, I just did a good job, now I have to do better?’ Of course, I guess that is the point. But, it doesn’t mean I have to like it.

And guess what? If I’m honest, after all my internal whining about being sore, I had a really good training session. It was hard but also worth it. I felt better after working out, and stronger. I went home, did all that I had to get done and ended up having a great day. Moods are moods, nothing more. They are moments in time that end, just like being SORE ends. If I want to get and stay healthy, I must learn to do so not only when I feel like it, but more importantly, when I don’t. It’s that simple.

For those who might want to join me in soreness and self-pity (just kidding-I really do like working with a trainer), check out Bob the Trainer's website:

http://www.precisionhealthandwellness.com/