By Cynthia, Jeans Challenge Participant
My personal goal for the Jean’s challenge goes beyond fitting into my size 8/10 jeans! It is a real physical, emotional and spiritual commitment for me. Every day that I put off getting in better shape is another day lost never to be regained. Putting off health and happiness and sacrificing my future for everyone else’s immediate needs isn’t getting me where I want to be. I will have to make some serious changes. It will take a bit of an adjustment for the home family and work family, but I think the bigger adjustment is mine. I have to learn to say No and mean it–very difficult for the “go to” person.
Taking the time to prepare my meals and enjoy them instead of just shoveling in a meal and moving on to the next task will be a huge challenge, let alone setting aside time for working out and meetings. Am I emotionally prepared? Honestly no, not fully; but I’ll get there. Identifying and feeling my emotions has always been a major obstacle for me. Growing up as a very emotional girl in a family that ridiculed emotion taught me early on not to feel or display my emotions. Years of swallowing my feelings resulted in overeating and becoming invisible so I wouldn’t be noticed. Now I have to be honest and feel very positive about this undertaking.
Day 2
After last night’s nutrition meeting, I can seriously say, “I was not fully prepared to begin!” I had absolutely no idea that I would really “have to” eat a protein at every one of my 6 meals! I should have waited to food shop until after the meeting, because now I have to squeeze in another trip to the local market for more yogurt, cottage cheese and fish. Day 1 wasn’t as successful as I thought it would be. I skipped a protein at several meals. Today will be better, but I really have to sit down and do some real meal planning. Getting up at 4:00 a.m. and choking down scrambled eggs usually holds no appeal for me. I truly amazed myself when the alarm went off and I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to make meal #1.
Day 4
Eating six meals a day is daunting. I am not as hungry as I was before and can barely finish my main meals. I am squeezing in a protein shake before bed, because I just can’t find the time to eat six meals. This weekend I have to plan out my meal times. Work presents the hardest challenge as my job doesn’t lend itself to being able to eat a prepared meal every 2 to 3 hours. I need help! Tomorrow is a metabolic class at 5:00 a.m. so off to bed for at least 5 hours of sleep. Need to find my time for that too!
Photo Credit: Niseag
