Monday, February 2, 2009

It's sure not easy...

I get so many comments from readers who say I'm so positive and inspiring and I have such a good outlook... well I'd say about 99% of the time I do, but sometimes I'm just over it all and the last thing I want to think about is weight/food/exercise/dieting, etc. I get so exhausted reading about so many different and sometimes conflicting information. So many times I hear "Don't drink any alcohol" and then "Red wine is good for the heart". Then sometimes it's take off a day of exercise, or there's no reason to not at least walk daily... it's so hard to sort thru all the literature out there and find out what is right...


So I might just be in one of my moods - that's what my dad calls them anyway. He says I let my highs get too high and my lows get too low. So right now, I think I hit a low. I've been feeling sick lately, and of course when I get sick, I want to eat lots of warm soup and drink hot chocolate, never any stomach virus where food is repulsive... Work is stressful, my body is achy, I didn't run today... I'm pretty sure I ate too much over the weekend (JJ got me Chinese take out b/c I was too sick to cook, and then we had superbowl food)... so anyway...
Yes, I too have lows, bad moments, breaking points, thoughts of giving up, and I let my emotional eating get the best of me.


So... many of you say I inspire you. Well here's your chance to inspire me. Pick me back up and tell me to get on the treadmill tomorrow. And not drown myself in chocolate next weekend :)

15 comments:

  1. There are too many times where we all focus on the things we didn't do, the miles we didn't run, the healthy foods we didn't eat, and the junk that we did. It's about the balance Ash and you have so found that balance. I spent this past weekend in NYC, where I indulged in brick oven pizza and quite possibly the best hot chocolate I will ever have in my life...and I feel it today, and will feel it probably for a few days. The point is though, it won't kill us, sure it is a set back, but you know you are too focused and determined to let it be something that sets you back permanently. A bad day or 2 in the grand scheme of a life commitment, and change is just fine. Celebrate the amazing goals you have accomplished! Tomorrow is a new day :)

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  2. From one person to another who is having a tricky go if it the last few days... remember to take each meal, each workout, each day at a time. We are gonna have "off" days and that's okay. It's the big picture that matters! In the big picture you are ROCKIN It!!!!!! ;)

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  3. Ash we all have our highs and lows. That is part of life!
    If it makes you feel any better. I did not go to my boot camp class b/c I wanted to sleep in.
    I hate alot of good (all homemade) food yesterday and drank beer.
    I allowed myself to enjoy life.
    So tomorrow, you get on that treadmill and think of all you have accomplished.
    As my dear husband says, Rome was not built in a day.

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  4. Aw, Ash, I feel your pain. It takes a strong person to admit what you just did. We're human and we're going to have days when it is impossible to drag ourselves off the couch or out of the fridge and that is OK. I too am struggling with balance right now. I have found that on days when I can't possible make myself work out I do some stretching and do my usual daily activities with higher intensity, like jumping/running instead of walking to the bathroom (not good with a full bladder, btw), you get the point. Lay around until you feel better (you're going to feel awful trying to run while you are sick) and you'll be rejuvenated in a few days and inspired once again. You're doing awesome...when you feel like beating yourself up, remember what you have achieved

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  5. We all get like that sometimes. We really need to give ourselves a break sometimes, and if you need the extra rest, and hot chocolate, take it.
    It doesnt mean that you have failed or have gone on the wrong check. You might just need a break.

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  6. No joke, your courageous and honest for putting out there what we all feel. I had about 3 days of "off the wagon" behavior, and I've been beating myself up for it all day! I do look to your blog for inspiration, and just look at how far you've come already!!!

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  7. Hey Ash I stumbled onto your blog a little while back looking for a 30 day shred review from a 'real' person and have been reading ever since. You are an inspiration and I still can't believe you have lost 81 pounds! That is just incredible. It must be the time for feeling low motivation and having 'off the wagon days' as Jessica D aptly put it. I have had 2 shockers in a row and can't stop thinking about it. I could hardly sleep last night because I felt so guilty for not exercising and eating so much. Then i realised i can't feel this guilty for the rest of my life... because that's how long i want to be doing this new lifestyle. I have to learn how to get over these lows and move forward. I actually came to your site tonight looking for inspiration to help me get over my hole, but this post actually made me feel better - even you have your lows. Doesn't make me feel so alone. Thanks Ash.

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  8. It's ok to have off days! It's normal. Don't beat yourself up over it. I read (or heard?) somewhere an analogy that made a lot of sense to me. Compare eating/exercising to brushing your teeth. If you forget to brush your teeth one or two nights, are you going to throw in the towel and stop brushing forever? Of course not, you just start again the next morning! It's no different with excerise and eating. No guilt, just keep going.

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  9. Hi, Ash! Hopefully you find yourself feeling better this morning than other mornings.

    I do love your positive outlook, but I also understand The Lows. Linda Lee just wrote a great post about this same problem, and it helped me feel not so alone or disappointed in myself for having The Lows, too. Maybe her words can reach you, too. :o) http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977579262

    In the event that they don't - maybe you could just promise yourself to walk even just fifteen minutes today. You know that once you start - you won't stop, and when it's all over, you'll be feeling great.

    *hugs*

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  10. i think it just makes us feel human to have set backs. I think they are also good though bc then they can push you that much further to your goals. there is no way we can be on top of our game 100% of the time but when you slip up a little and realize it, then make a concious effort to better yourself, thats how you push through and get to your best potential. you ARE an inspiration, and just know how many lives you have affected in such a positive way

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  11. Hey Ash,

    I have bad days like that too. I'll see some super skinny girl eating a huge ice cream sundae, and I'm like, "Well, why can't I eat that, too?" Sometimes it's such a pain to be healthy, but remember, it's always worth it in the end. (I try to tell that to myself when I'm having bad days, and trust me, there are PLENTY!)

    And also, when I get sick, I use it as my own personal excuse to make myself feel better with Chips Ahoy, but it never makes me feel any better in the long run, either. So I can definetly relate to the emotional eating. When I'm stressed, sometimes all I can think about is food.

    Basically, I want you to know that you are not alone in your bad days. Everyone has them, don't beat yourself up about them, even though sometimes I know it's really hard not to.

    What always gets me going again is remembering how great I feel when I am eating healthy and working out every day. I feel like I have enough energy to conquer the world, and it's great! So remember that! (And I'm rooting for you!)


    ((Hugs))

    Hope

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  12. Oh, and I forgot to mention, you have come too far to go back now!

    :-)


    Hope

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  13. So sorry you're feeling down! Do whatever will really make you feel better. Listen to your heart and take care of yourself :)

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  14. You are amazing, and even the amazing are human. Just hold on as best you can till the sun comes out again, figuratively speaking. I have super-down days, too, esp. since I'm waddling around like a beached whale right about now, but you just have to go to bed, rest, and find the hope and motivation in tomorrow -- it's almost always there.

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  15. You are more than entitled to feeling that way from time to time. Happens to everyone. The only thing that gets me moving is thinking about how good I feel right after i complete working out and another boost for me is looking at my "fat" pictures :)

    Good luck, I have no doubt you will get back at it.

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