Miz, I’m just curious - you are so fit! Have you always been fit? My head is full of diet, weight loss (junk) stuff! Do you follow an eating plan? Do you eat clean? Do you have a philosophy on eating? Have you lost weight before? I would love to pick your brain! PLEASE?? I know there isn’t a magic formula other than, I’m thinking, calories in, calories out. OK now I’m just rambling…
The tone of this email really made me smile and feel honored that you (the royal) look to me for advice. Please to know it is NOT a responsibility which I take lightly. Ever.
I receive a lot of similar emails and, with all fear of beating that poor dead horse again, thought that I’d ramble here instead of sending each emailer some links to old posts (I know. Some day, some week, you shall be spared the rambles).
The answer to your first question? No, no, & no (pats self on back for achieving a little brevity).
The thread which has run through my life and which I believe has made my getting and finally staying fit relatively easy?
The fact when I gained weight it was always via a process of enjoyment.
Sure, I gained the freshman 30+ but it was all done through drinking & pizza and EMBRACING college life.
Yes, I gained what I like to deem the Manuscript Many (20+ lbs) while writing a book, but it was all mindless eating done because I was so utterly engrossed in the process of writing & hanging with my characters.
If I could take a magic wand & remove all the selfloathing/selfcriticizing from everyone’s struggle with weight loss I would.
I firmly believe that, since it was merely a numbers game for me, my loss was easier because I didnt spend time beating myself up along the way.
(make sense? am I being too terse? please to hit me up in the comments.)
As far as an eating plan? For me, after 36 years of trying all different crap approaches, it’s pretty much intuitive. I do plan for success, I do have a fitness mission statement, I make an effort to eat clean —-but the bottom line for me as a busyworkingbabymama is FOOD AS FUEL.
I love oreos. I adore poptarts. Yet I know if that’s what I cram in my piehole tank during the day there’s no way I can do what I need to do.
Okay emailer and Bumbling Band: helpful? too much? still unclear? now is NOT the time to be shy—-please to hit me up in the comments.
I recently moved to Iowa City from the balmy southeast. I work a job that requires that I leave at 7:30 & am not home till 5:30. The gym that I belong to is EMPTY at 4:45/ 5am but PACKED at 5:30. The gym is also a 10 minute walk which is cold & dark at 4:45. Exercise is important to me, but I’m struggling to get up/get moving so early and seem to get more stressed by the evening crowds.
I need motivation. Some ideas. I thought about a workout video this morning as I lay in bed hating myself for laying in bed. But then again, it doesn’t seem like I could get the same workout consistently with a workout video as I could at the gym.
I’ve also thought about getting a trainer so Id have appointments but very few want to meet me at 5. And I’ve also thought about a different gym more directed to working folks who might make me feel a little more normal for getting up at 4:30am and working out, but that would require getting in the car and driving, I think.
I read this email numerous times and, perhaps to the sender’s chagrin, I decided to answer it in the fashion I would had a *friend* had posed the question to me.
Someone I care enough about to be brutally honest with as, quite frankly, that’s how I view all of you.
So here goes:
Much of the email is personal. Unique to you.
For example, I dont enjoy workout videos. Id either blow the entire thing off or complete a halfassed version of the routine whilst gazing around the room pondering other stuff. Id be distracted. That’s me.
If that’s NOT you then a morning DVD workout might be precisely the answer you seek. The workout will energize you to get through your day and you wont have exercise lingering on your TO DO list while at work.
With regards to the gym? Many, many thoughts.
can you drive there in the morning? Im a diehard morning exerciser but would neither brave the cold nor the dark to walk to the gym. Color MizFit wimpy & fearful—what can I say?
the trainers: have you really asked/looked or is it an easy excuse of assuming no one would meet you at 5 am? When I had my studio I met many people at odd hours merely to fill my schedule & make money. I would suggest asking *all* the trainers at the gym and, if you cant find anyone, perhaps the management would let you bring in an outside trainer because they couldnt provide?
the feeling normal? Oh GIRL, you have come to the wrong blog as there is NO NORMAL up in herre (and Im only 50% jesting). In today’s world we are sadly the oddballs for even caring about our health and wellness.
The more I read your email, however, I grew curious if you were simply alluding to the fact the silent, empty gym was not motivating (emailer? you out there? am I correct?). In that case Id suggest loading up an mp3 player & finding tunes which pump you up. I’m with you on lifting better when there’s vibrant energy at the gym—-but sometimes that just isnt possible.
huh.
My fear? Ive not answered your question but merely tossed more back at you.
Bumbling Band? Any tips/thoughts/insights for our emailer? In her shoes Id most likely drive to the gym in the morning and try to meet a trainer (or a friend?) initially to have some external accountability/help make the routine a habit.
You?
I know even in this long ass response Ive merely scratched the surface…please to keep scratching below.
The tone of this email really made me smile and feel honored that you (the royal) look to me for advice. Please to know it is NOT a responsibility which I take lightly. Ever.
I receive a lot of similar emails and, with all fear of beating that poor dead horse again, thought that I’d ramble here instead of sending each emailer some links to old posts (I know. Some day, some week, you shall be spared the rambles).
The answer to your first question? No, no, & no (pats self on back for achieving a little brevity).
The thread which has run through my life and which I believe has made my getting and finally staying fit relatively easy?
The fact when I gained weight it was always via a process of enjoyment.
Sure, I gained the freshman 30+ but it was all done through
drinking & pizza andEMBRACING college life.Yes, I gained what I like to deem the Manuscript Many (20+ lbs) while writing a book, but it was all mindless eating done because I was so utterly engrossed in the process of writing & hanging with my characters.
If I could take a magic wand & remove all the selfloathing/selfcriticizing from everyone’s struggle with weight loss I would.
I firmly believe that, since it was merely a numbers game for me, my loss was easier because I didnt spend time beating myself up along the way.
(make sense? am I being too terse? please to hit me up in the comments.)
As far as an eating plan? For me, after 36 years of trying all different
crapapproaches, it’s pretty much intuitive. I do plan for success, I do have a fitness mission statement, I make an effort to eat clean —-but the bottom line for me as a busyworkingbabymama is FOOD AS FUEL.I love oreos. I adore poptarts. Yet I know if that’s what I cram in my
pieholetank during the day there’s no way I can do what I need to do.Okay emailer and Bumbling Band: helpful? too much? still unclear? now is NOT the time to be shy—-please to hit me up in the comments.
I read this email numerous times and, perhaps to the sender’s chagrin, I decided to answer it in the fashion I would had a *friend* had posed the question to me.
Someone I care enough about to be brutally honest with as, quite frankly, that’s how I view all of you.
So here goes:
Much of the email is personal. Unique to you.
For example, I dont enjoy workout videos. Id either blow the entire thing off or complete a halfassed version of the routine whilst gazing around the room pondering other stuff. Id be distracted. That’s me.
If that’s NOT you then a morning DVD workout might be precisely the answer you seek. The workout will energize you to get through your day and you wont have exercise lingering on your TO DO list while at work.
With regards to the gym? Many, many thoughts.
can you drive there in the morning? Im a diehard morning exerciser but would neither brave the cold nor the dark to walk to the gym. Color MizFit wimpy & fearful—what can I say?
the trainers: have you really asked/looked or is it an easy excuse of assuming no one would meet you at 5 am? When I had my studio I met many people at odd hours merely to fill my schedule & make money. I would suggest asking *all* the trainers at the gym and, if you cant find anyone, perhaps the management would let you bring in an outside trainer because they couldnt provide?
the feeling normal? Oh GIRL, you have come to the wrong blog as there is NO NORMAL up in herre (and Im only 50% jesting). In today’s world we are sadly the oddballs for even caring about our health and wellness.
The more I read your email, however, I grew curious if you were simply alluding to the fact the silent, empty gym was not motivating (emailer? you out there? am I correct?). In that case Id suggest loading up an mp3 player & finding tunes which pump you up. I’m with you on lifting better when there’s vibrant energy at the gym—-but sometimes that just isnt possible.
huh.
My fear? Ive not answered your question but merely tossed more back at you.
Bumbling Band? Any tips/thoughts/insights for our emailer? In her shoes Id most likely drive to the gym in the morning and try to meet a trainer (or a friend?) initially to have some external accountability/help make the routine a habit.
You?
I know even in this long
assresponse Ive merely scratched the surface…please to keep scratching below.