I really enjoyed PhD me's post about the little stuff. It allows me to say that cleaning the house--major cleaning anyways--counts. I too get bogged down the by the idea of "ugh, I have to go walk for an hour". My husband and brother enjoy working out and I don't. I don't like any pain and I don't like sweating (yes, I realize that is weird one). But this week I had a major reality check: the clothes I had bought last summer (or borrowed from mom) because I had gained weight are tight and uncomfortable. This is a struggle for me because I want to be comfortable and don't want to wear something that's not, but I don't want to keep buying bigger and bigger clothes. At what point does one decide to not allow herself to buy bigger clothes, no matter the comfort level, or is that punishing? I've tried both ways and neither made a difference to me losing weight.
Also, I should be starting a new job (hopefully) soon, and I don't want to be self-conscious at work. I am now when I'm around people b/c I'm very aware of my extra weight. But it doesn't seem to work as a motivator as much as it just freezes me. I cut back on my eating some but I really need to get more active. Perhaps, depending on my job, I'll request an office on the top floor!
Tags: Stress and Obstacles
Trying to balance academic life with a healthy lifestyle.
4 comments:
So with you on hating the pain and sweat! I really wanted to get off to a good start here, with all the walking trails, but it is SO hot, I just can't bear to go out of the house.
I find it very interesting that you don't find your discomfort a motivator to lose weight. Neither do I, and it doesn't make any sense to me. I hate that I'm having to buy bigger clothes; I'm self-conscious when I'm out in public; but I still won't ramp up the physical activity like I should. Wouldn't a shrink have fun with that!
Go for the top floor. I'm on the 4th and it definitely requires some effort to get there!
I'm with you both on this. I feel like crap these days because of my size, but I am totally unable to make the switch. I think part of it is (as I said before) that I'm so stressed right now. But I think also - anytihng that stresses me out makes me freeze, and that includes my body image. And, like I said, I hate working out. I usually only do it when I feel great since that's when I can handle doing something I can't stand.
On the clothes front - I've been mostly wearing the same old things for as long as possible. But they say that you're supposed to buy things that fit because looking good makes people feel good and feeling good makes people stick to their goals. Maybe that does work - but when I tried wearing a nice skirt to a party last night, I just felt uncomfortable and wanted to go home even though objectively I knew that it looked good. What's up with that?
I understand about the clothes thing. I would tell myself that it's not me; it's the cut of the clothes. Or, I will buy new clothes when I lost X pounds.
Over time, I found this to be counter productive. Mostly because I would get frustrated with lack of progress.
What I have done instead is I got rid of all my fat clothes. I began to look for things that were fashionable and in my true size. I also followed advice from shows like "What Not to Wear" on how to camouflage areas that I am not happy about. It is amazing how the right cut can give the illusion of looking smaller. Once I did that and began the workout process, I was amazed at how those clothes began to feel looser.
I know, I know. Getting there is the hard part. I am working on a post about that. Maybe we should have a blogger shopping excursion!!! I love to shop and I used to work in retail, so I have an eye for that sort of stuff!!!
I have a pair of Gap jeans in my big size that I wear everywhere b/c I know I look better in that than my other clothes. But buying new and bigger clothes that fit me didn't help. Right now I won't buy anything until I get a job b/c if I need a lot of suits, I need to save my money for that. but I dread the idea of buying larger and larger sizes. I guess somehow that still doesn't weight over hating to sweat. Do we have a resident shrink?
I'd love the shopping excursion though. I just took my mom to buy flattering clothes for her vacation trip in a few weeks. and I love fashion.
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