The Exercise Habit

All of the Major Life Changes™ I thought would be really fun to jump into all at once this past year caused my body to freak out silently and start hoarding pounds. Because you never know what catastrophe will befall humanity and some extra poundage would be beneficial to survival.

But as beneficial as 10 or 20 extra pounds would be in a famine, they don’t really benefit me at this point of Right Now.

I remember losing a bunch of weight once, just as much as I remember gaining that bunch of weight after Melissa died. I remember the evening I announced I would be getting up a half hour earlier to go jogging. And I remember the next morning when I actually did it.

I remember discovering my dog is impossible to jog with, I remember the shin splints, I remember getting a bicycle, and I remember losing 40 pounds.

It was fantastic. I felt better, I looked more like the me I wanted to be. I had to give up my nightly bowl of overflowing ice cream, but I decided it was a good trade for 4 dress sizes.

This last year when my stress levels were at their peaks and the scale was again creeping up, I knew it wouldn’t change directions unless I made a conscious effort.

I had great luck last time with my bicycle and counting calories using FitDay. This time I wanted something very similar, but maybe a bit more involved with real internet people.

One of my online communities set up a team on SparkPeople and I joined. In the last few months I’ve made more of an effort to get out on my bicycle and stay within a specified calorie range. I’ve done some at-home strength training and have even rented a workout DVD (which I couldn’t follow: it’s a good thing I banned Steve and his video camera from the room or it would be all over YouTube).

I came across an article about simple steps to start the exercise habit, and SparkPeople has helped me start the exercise habit by becoming a huge points whore.

I get points for setting small, attainable goals and checking each accomplished one off, logging my progress every day, and reporting my progress in the community forums. Points for reading articles, points for drinking water, points for encouraging others.

It’s silly and the points mean nothing, but I’ve found myself exercising five more minutes to get another point.

I’m back down to my lowest weight after Melissa died, very close to my high school weight, and I think I can get even lower if I wanted.

I like that I have a bunch of energy and I can cycle for over 10 miles in one evening without falling over and dying. I like that my clothes are fitting better and I’m feeling better in them.

I like this new Valette, and if that means the numbers on my scale are lower, then all the better.

25 September 2007 · 23:22:31

3 love notes

Way to go - keep it up!

love, mom at 26sep07, 09:43:51

I use, well I mean I used to use sparkpeople. Its a great site, thanks for reminding me a I need to get back into things. You’d think since I’m getting married soon I’d be all up on the fitness stuff. Ehh..

love, Danielle at 27sep07, 09:50:42

I just don’t see you as a huge Bridezilla. But if you do freak out, please let me know so I can video it for the internet.

love, Valette at 27sep07, 10:00:25

leave me a love note


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