I don’t have anything overly exciting to share with you guys this week for Fitness Friday – no fun photos or achievements. This is more of a personal update on how I’ve been doing.
2015 has kind of sucked for me from a personal fitness achievement perspective. I set out some goals at the start of the year and the ones I most wanted to achieve were:
- Run a 5K in under 25 minutes
- Get down to 145 pounds.
Well, it’s felt like a constant battle since I made those goals for myself back in January. I saw my weight slowly increase from 150 to 160 pounds and became really, REALLY upset with myself over it. Unfortunately, I kept half assing the weight loss aspect of tracking my calories so I’ve been pretty much been carrying that weight since January (thanks Christmas!). Even though it’s “only” ten pounds, for me, it’s around this threshold that I become completely pissed of with how I look. I don’t like how I appear in pictures and I don’t like what I see in the mirror. It’s frustrating, to say the least.
I also only really half trained to increase my speed in a 5K and I managed to get the exact same time as my personal best last year (26:10) during a race back in March. But man, I do not know how to balance training for half marathon distances while also trying to increase pace on 5Ks. What a mess.
I got so irritated with myself over the last two weeks that I basically just said “enough” and got back into exercising 5-6 days a week. I’m running three times a week, lifting twice, while still playing soccer and I’ve also chucked in a few Jillian Michaels DVDs every now and then too. I also started restricting my calories pretty drastically – keeping it between 1250 and 1500. It’s a slow damn battle, but I’ve actually managed to drop 4 pounds in 2 weeks which is almost unheard of for me.
Of course, part of the motivation is that Halloween is just around the corner and, like last year, we have another epic group costume planned – Batman villains! The last thing I want to do is be upset with how I look in my Harley Quinn outfit, so I’m all in at this point. My initial goal is to hit 150 pounds by the time I go on vacation mid-September (that’s REALLY, REALLY ambitious as it requires I drop 7 more pounds in 3 weeks) and the stretch goal is to hit 145 by Halloween. It’s hard going, but I’ve been eating clean (no alcohol, low carbs, high protein and more fruits and vegetables than I can count) for a week and a half now and it’s absolutely working – never in my life have I experience such consistent and rapid weight loss without horrific fluctuations.
Not to be a total downer though, I do have some things I’m looking forward to in my fitness endeavours! I managed to rope Zoe of Writing Whimsy into doing a 5K race here in Toronto in September. I’m super excited for that because I love running races with friends and I believe this is her first one! I am also running the Scotiabank Waterfront Half Marathon again this year in October and I’m trying to raise $500 for United Way Toronto. Having a half marathon to train for is definitely keeping me in check with my goal to run 550 kilometers this year! (Which I am absolutely on track with thankfully!) We’re also going to be in Wisconsin over Christmas (my husband’s family is there) and I’m planning to do a New Year’s race near Madison. I love races in new locations!
I’ve also managed to stay on track with weight lifting – I’m not lifting any new and exciting poundage, but I’ve managed to stay stable all year in that respect and I am really, REALLY happy that I never had a break so long that it required me to start from scratch!
So if you’re struggling, even if it takes you months to get back on track like me, you can still do it if YOU want to do it. Try to remember that. 🙂
And if you made it through this whole post, thank you for listening – it helps me to get it out there and it keeps me motivated.
It is my first race and I’m really excited about it! I am kinda so-so on the fitness thing. I always mean to do more than I do, but I am going from once-a-week zumba to twice a week in September, and trying to take lots of salads for lunch, so making little changes where I can. I gained about 10-15 pounds moving to the middle of nowhere and not walking anymore, but I am down and about 5 pounds away from my first “goal”/old weight. From where I would be very happy to lose 10 more but like you, that’s what I need to get back to a weight I feel a little more comfortable in. Anyway keep at it and even on you’re most defeated day you’re still a huge inspiration to me! 🙂
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It’s all about what you feel comfortable with! And when you’re sitting in an uncomfortable zone… well, for me, everything feels tight, my body feels awkward… it’s all just very UGH. I’m with you on the salads for lunch… that’s what I’ve been doing all week and it’s actually made me feel a lot better, like I’m in control! Wooo!
Thank you for saying an inspiration to you! It’s nice to hear, even if I’m like (to myself) “GODDAMN IT YOU CAN DO BETTER!”
I just turned down a doughnut at an event so I’m pretty powerful right now… HAHA!
good luck with all your goals dude!
i know exactly what you mean about the weight and the gym routine. i still haven’t gotten my exercise groove back. and its been a month!!! of not gyming. not really running. and i feel like shit tbh. i’ve def lost a little bit of muscle and gained more than a bit of fat (nothing quite like catching up with everyone ie eating out all the time).
i need to turn things around tooo dude. but i’m trying to find low priced options and staying out of the gym seems to be ok if i can get into my bf gym at work in the mornings (which would be free). i just…need to actually go.
but dude, eating is more than half the battle. i think 1200-1500 is a good amount of calories for me acutally. that’s my maintanence bracket i think if i do a little bit of light exercise. 2 lb off per week is crazy! i hope its sustainable. i can’t ever seem to decrease my food. i get so hungry! i think its about eating more nutrient dense calories too. sometime i struggle at. honestly my main goal is to eat less dessert. that goes a long way with my body.
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The worst part is feeling like shit and knowing that the less you do, the more you’re just going to feel that way. But since you DO feel like shit, the LAST thing you want to do is start exercising. What a horrible trend that we all get stuck in. 🙁
The social aspect of eating and drinking is beyond brutal. How ELSE do you catch up with someone? It’s been such a customary thing in our culture to “go for a drink” or “go for a meal” that it’s become difficult to tear ourselves away from it. I really struggle with being social AND staying healthy. It almost feels like the two are mutually exclusive.
1200-1500 calories is actually really low for me. When I’m typically aiming to lose weight, I usually gun for 1600. Since I do exercise so much, my daily caloric intake to maintain is actually around 2500 (thank you running!). I don’t actually feel like I’m starving myself right now though because I’m eating SO clean that the food I do eat is filling me up a ton. Very, VERY helpful! To your point, I really do hope it’s sustainable as well. I’ve never tried anything this aggressive, so only time will tell. Food is always a battle for me. I don’t get full very easily, and can often eat to the point of intense pain (which is RIDICULOUS, but there you have it.)
Thanks for your comment btw – it’s really made me think more and flesh out what I was trying to say in my post. <3
I do feel you on the fitness struggle… 🙁 I was very active before pregnancy, 6 day a week in gym carrying weights and doing cardio but everything stopped during and after pregnancy. I did take up pre-natal yoga and stick to it from 5-36 weeks pregnancy but I did nothing after birth until we moved to Canada. I see my weight going up to almost 53kg which I know is not much but is a lot to me who has maintained 49-50kg since my teens. So I went hardcore at yoga again since 3-4 months ago and am finally happy between 50-51kg. I’ll never get back to my previous weight and I guess I have accepted the fact.
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Frankly, the fact that you spat out a child is impressive enough! I can’t imagine trying to find the time between having a child (dealing with ALL of that) and trying to stay physically active. The whole thing just sounds so incredibly draining.
I’m so glad to hear that you got back to a weight that you’re comfortable with. It might be possible to return to the weight you were previously, but make sure you’re still loving what you eat to get to that point! <3
Well done on getting your fitness back on track! I somehow put on about 10-15 pounds over the summer and stopped running, and I’m so so unhappy with myself. I went for a run last night and it was torture, but I always feel so much better after, so it’s worth it! Hopefully I can find the motivation to start eating well again, that’s really what makes the biggest difference for me!
Hey Andy! <3 I'm trying damnit, I'm trying! I'd love to help you get back into running! Would you like to join Zoe and myself on the race in September? It doesn't have to be a super serious thing, but it could help you get back into the swing of running again! My eating habits are what really make or break any weight loss for sure, so I feel your pain! Why does food have to be so damn delicious!?!
YOU RUN?!?! COME RUN WITH CHELLE AND I. I AM SO SLOW. WE CAN MAKE SURE NOBODY GETS LOST BY STAYING AT THE BACK TOGETHER?
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Do it!
I wish I could encourage you but all I can say is that it gets worst trying to lose the weight once you’re over 50. I’m at my goal weight 140 (i’m 5’7″) for reference, but to stay at this weight, I have to stay around 1000 calories a day, so I fluctuate constantly. I will say that sugar is in everything (I mean everything) and if you can figure out how to not eat it, the weight will start dropping off. My breakfast is a 32oz smoothie made with frozen fruit (Costco) a 18oz of bottle of bai5 (no sugar drink) and a scoop of protein powder all blended up in the mornings. I take this to the gym with me every morning, it’s so filling and by the time I leave the gym, it’s all gone. Lunch is a store bought Kale salad with an apple and dinner is usually chicken or fish, another kale salad and veggies. I post a lot of photos on my Instagram of my meals @goddesslily.
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Lily! Thank you so much for your input! I’m going to go add you on Instagram immediately so I can take a look at your meals.
A thousand calories a day seems so low. 🙁 It sounds like you’ve got a good handle on it though – like you’ve figured out what works and what doesn’t. I’m going to take a look at my sugar intake and see how I can alter that. Thank you. 🙂
Ugh, I know how you feel. Before getting pregnant I weighed 130lbs, exercised regularly and felt great. Now I’m 147lbs and having a hard time bringing it down. It seems every time I try working out again I get sick (the first few years after having a baby are brutal for that – you catch EVERYTHING). But I want to get back into my pre-baby jeans and I WILL! It’s just taking longer (WAY longer) to get there than I thought it would. And I say this after I stuffed myself silly at lunch by adding on a $7 cheesecake that was so not worth it. 🙁
That’s it, time to change it all around!
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To be fair, you had a KID! That’s an amazing feat in and of itself! I know the struggle is a lot different for women who have had kids because their bodies change a little bit with the birth.
Totally agreed though – it often feels like we get back into a groove only to fall sick and then you can’t be bothered to do anything. Ugh. 🙁
Keep at it though! I’m rooting for you and I’m working on my own journey as well – we can do this!
Wahhhh! So jealous I can’t join you and Zoe. ;___; I’m sure you will both kill it though.
I’ve been in a complete fitness slump too. It seems like you’re really picking up the pace though (haha, running puns). I actually ran today for the first time in like, 2 months. It felt good, but I am no where near what I used to be for Nike (depressing but expected).
Starting a new job has definitely put a kink in my workout plans, but the sad part is that EVERYONE seems to work out like a fiend where I work. I get a pretty decent fitness credit so I look forward to joining a gym with my boyfriend soon and get back in shape!
Keep up the great work though! You’re gonna kill the Harley costume! 🙂
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YOU CAN JOIN US! What’s your excuse woman?!?!
Slumps happen – I feel like they’re totally inevitable. It does make it so much harder to get back into it after you’ve been off for a while though. And that’s definitely the worst part!
New jobs are great, but they definitely tire you out – you’ll be back to regular energy levels soon!
I’m going to IMATS that day cause my friend works on Sat. But I’m still planning on coming to the lunch on Sat to see everyone and encourage the heck out of you guys!
Yeah I feel like once I start adding classes into my routine, it forces me to work out. Hopefully I can get back to better shape that way too!
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Oh daaaaaamn! One day I’ll get you locked in for a race together! ONE DAY!