Losing Weight - Day 8: Anticipate
My day of rest yesterday was much needed because this week I have a challenging first few days: Teaching two Spinning classes today and one tomorrow morning. That's three hard Spinning classes in 24 hours. For me, this is difficult because I give 100% in each class, and there's not much time to recharge in between. I need a lot of recharging. I usually don't teach "2-in-a-day" classes because it is pointless to exercise that much, and if I do that too often I stop enjoying it. Right now I enjoy teaching.
Another instructor needed a sub and I was glad to help out. She has a good crowd and I know I can handle it - I've done many "2-in-a-days" in the past. Since I also know that this is a week where I normally crave a lot of carbs (wore my pink "PMS" cycling socks this morning), the extra class helps me justify my unnecessary "carb-loading" and helps me stay focused on losing weight. Somehow my food willpower seems stronger when I exercise. I think the endorphins from exercise take the place of food when I need a little stress relief.
So far, so good. I was able to put in a respectable performance in both classes today, though my thighs feel like they weigh 400 pounds each. I almost called out for a sub for tomorrow, but knew I would regret it. I feel pretty strong right now, and I will credit this to my attempt at eating better over the past week. I may not have lost anything measurable, but I feel healthier overall.
It's hard for me to grasp the concept of crap food in = tired, cranky instructor, and quality food in = happy, energetic instructor, but I am working on that, too. I think Cheetos should be the food of champions, but apparently they are not.
Anticipating Temptation
Anticipating what's coming up in my week both exercise-wise, work-wise, stress-wise and event-wise is a way for me to keep on track. If I am going somewhere where I will be tempted with delicious but unhealthy foods I can "calorie-down" a few days before, which will allow me my inevitable slip into momentary bliss without the onslaught of guilt. I may be determined, but I am human, after all, and have a hard time keeping my hand out of a peanut M&M jar. Or off of a cookie plate. It is what it is, I am who I am, and I use my knowledge of myself to anticipate and adjust.
Thinking about what is coming up also allows me to schedule more days of rest if I will need them, or more weight training if I have been teaching too many cardio classes. Today I knew there would be nothing more than some brief abdominal exercises in terms of strength training. My body needed all of its available energy to pull through those classes without tearing myself down. Again, it's about balance. I no longer exercise compulsively on certain days because I think I have to - even though I feel bloated and fat like today. I have learned to be flexible and to listen to my body, not the voices in my head. Anticipating my week helps keep a sense of balance.
I already burned out once. I am not going to let that happen again.
Onward and forward.
Until tomorrow.
How did you do today? Share your thoughts. You can do so anonymously. I'd like to hear from you.
TODAY'S STATS
7 hours of sleep.
Taught two strength-style Spinning classes (lots of hills - yay.) 15 minutes of abdominals.
For food?
- Plain oatmeal with flax seeds, nonfat milk, walnuts pieces and chocolate chips (60% cocoa - a must) - breakfast.
- Coffee with nonfat milk and Stevia - after Spinning.
- Orange - snack.
- Weight Watchers Mini Cheese Pizzas - lunch.
- Raw baby carrots and handful of baked Lays- lunch.
- Double-fiber bagel with reduced fat peanut butter - before Spinning (again).
- Egg white omelet with spinach, tomatoes and low fat cheese - dinner.
- 1 slice of Jarlsberg Lite - dinner.
- Chocolate yogurt - snack.
- 1 spoonful of organic Mac and Cheese (no butter) - snack.
[Click on the Weight Loss category to read earlier posts...from Day 1 and on.]
