Slim Me

Sometimes I write without purpose.
Then the purpose comes to me later.
Yesterday’s “Me” post was one of those. Those paragraphs actually ‘appeared’ at the end of my “Failure Badge” blog. I was not sure where they came from, but they certainly didn’t fit that topic so I created a second blog.
Then this morning I had an ‘aha’ moment.


I think that everybody approaches their journey to the best version of themselves differently. There is never a right or wrong way. We all know calories in must be less than calories out in order to lose weight. Other than that the paths are many and varied.


I think there are also different results even when you meet your ‘goal’. For example you can be 65kg and do very little exercise. You will need to eat a little less to maintain that weight. You will have less muscle definition. (Not necessarily compared to someone else, but compared to the version of you who exercised). Or you can be a 65kg gym regular. Given muscle takes up less room than fat you may be slightly smaller than the non exercising version of you. You may be able to eat a little more and still maintain your weight. You are more likely to be toned. Neither of these options is better or worse than the other.


For me I really think about 2 ‘paths’. In reality the actions are identical, but the thoughts and motivation differ.


My two paths are “food” and “exercise”.


“Food” path focuses on eating the right things to get to goal weight. Exercise is a support activity to help burn more calories and improve my appearance.


“Exercise” path focuses on exercise goals. Eating right and losing weight are the support activities. Eating for fuel and losing weight to make exercise more enjoyable and pain free.


So when I blogged yesterday about not knowing who I was and wanted to be, it really came back to this.


I was a slim teenager who did minimal exercise. I was really lacking in co-ordination, hand-eye especially. And being Australia the focus at school was nearly always on team sports involving balls… not really my thing! Being the 80’s I did do aerobics once a week for a while… but that soon became just an excuse to meet the guys from the gym room afterwards!


In my 20’s I did pretty much no exercise. I got to WW goal (yep, I am a lifetime member in the UK) with only incidental exercise. Being without a car in the UK meant there was a fair bit of incidental exercise I admit. But I still did nothing ‘extra’.


In my early 30’s I required a knee reconstruction. After the surgery I was on a strict rehabilitation exercise program and ‘accidentally’ lost 10kg. And discovered I loved to ride my bike! After that I got a personal trainer who came to my house twice a week. And discovered I loved running!


I have never actually been slim and fit at the same time.


This morning the image of how I want to be when I am slim came to me very clearly.


I want to be a runner.


I want to lose weight so that my joints hurt less. I want to eat right to fuel my body. I want a runner’s body, slim and toned. I want to do weights and cross train to reduce injury.


The plan changes not at all. Weight Watchers and floor work to strengthen my hip and core until I can start doing more cardio. Short walks until I can start the C25K again. But I feel more motivated and focussed.


My first goal is the 14km ‘run4thekids’ race which is next in March/April 2011. But if I reach this goal the year following that is fine too – as long as I am happy I have done everything I can to reach it. I know I have to be patient with my hip.


Wow, long blog! Well done if you read this far!