Last month, I got into a bit of a slump. I'd been so gungho with eating clean and doing the 5 days of cardio plus 3 to 4 days of strength that I was finding myself losing enjoyment and motivation in what I was doing. When I first started my weight loss "journey" (I've been watching a lot of Extreme Weight Loss, and it's such a cheesy word to describe it, but it's so true), I was nearing 180 pounds and that reality check pushed me to be disciplined for the first haul. But as I drew closer and closer to my original goal weight of 135 pounds (the number I came up with semi-arbitarily to be at the upper threshold of my "healthy" BMI), I was getting comfortable with cheating more and more often. Thankfully, I didn't completely jump off the deep end and gain back everything, but it was starting to get harder to find motivation to get out of bed and do the same ol' routine.
One of the things that has helped me not make excuses not to go to the gym is the mere fact that it costs do damn much. I first picked Equinox because their classes fit my schedule, but with the trainer, I wasn't doing as many classes because I was so focused on losing weight the most efficient way. It took out a lot of the fun factor in it, which (as many have said on here) is key to maintaining it. But bolstered with the diet and exercise education that my trainer provided me, I started to "rebel" in my little ways and have been trying to find my own rhythm in these last 10 or so pounds. I ran my first 10K! And surprisingly, my fastest pace ever. Throughout my training, I'd been average 10 to 11 minutes per mi, and I did it in an average pace of 9 minutes 38 seconds per mile (finishing just under an hour). It was a great feeling!
The other thing that I feel has really gotten me back on track is the fact Equinox has been having this challenge going on at its clubs, where you get score points for logging workouts, checking in at the gym and taking specific types of classes each week. Tapping into my competitive nature was just what I needed. Week 1 was Athletic Training, and I tried Elimin8tor for the first time. It was pretty amazing to realize that I've come so far from the huffing and puffing out-of-shape individual to someone who could actually keep up. I'd been so intimidated to take one of these classes that I was glad for the push to try it. Week 2 was yoga, and I did my first wheel. Something I've been trying to actively be mindful of is doing things that are outside of my comfort zone. Running is one of those things, and this Equinox challenge has definitely been a facilitator in that, motivating me to do new things. This week (and the final week) was cycling. I took my first spin class. I was a hot mess, and my bike was definitely not set up correctly, but I'm proud of the fact I gave it a go. Talk about another class I've been scared of doing. I am not sure I'm a fan, but I'm going to try it one more time and we'll see how it goes.
But the short of it is that I think we have to allow ourselves these periods of "wallowing," where we lose steam because no one can be 100% all the time. And it's fine, we're human. That's what's supposed to happen. But I think, in those times, we just need to be open to finding something that restarts it again and really try different things because you never know what will get you excited again. I think a big thing on learning to make exercise a habit is learning to be uncomfortable. To enjoy the sensation of your heart pumping in your chest, your lungs expanding, your sweat dripping down your face – to find a kind of satisfaction in this state of unrest. So, to my fellow DietBet Transformers, keep up the great work! You already did the hardest part: committing to changing and taking action in it. You're doing amazing things!