Be Confident in Knowing Your Own Body

I know that there are times that we need to seek medical advice to get solutions to certain problems.

I understand that doctors are highly educated professionals.

But they aren't always right.

When I was in High School, I was informed that the reason I was always tired was that I was anemic. At the time, I was told to take iron supplements.

I've been taking iron supplements on and off for the past almost 30 years.....and they don't always do the trick.

Doctors have been suggesting ways to help me for years....and, sometimes I wonder if they are really listening.

At one point, it was recommended for me to go on "the pill," but I told them that I can't handle the hormone in them....so, they recommended the depo shot, because, according to them, it shouldn't have the same effect.

I know why that shot is used for birth control;  I gained 20 lbs. and became a raging lunatic!

Back to square one....and the recommendation of "the patch," because "the low dose of hormones will be fine!"

WRONG.

Soon after, Mirena was the next thing being suggested.  I refused for quite a while, repeating that I can't take hormones, and more than one doctor insisted that the hormone is so low that I won't even know it has anything.

I finally had enough and agreed to try it.

Less than a week after it was inserted, I was paying bills and started to cry.  Now....I may not enjoy paying bills....but I was wondering why I was overreacting.  I was upset over a few strange things....when it hit me....the Mirena.

I gave it a chance....for over a year, in fact......but I'm tired of the emotional roller coaster.  So, I went in to have it removed.

When I explained why I wanted it out, the response was that it probably wasn't the Mirena and that I'm probably perimenopausal.  Seriously?????

I got it out.....and then wondered why I had a headache for three days that wasn't going away.  I also just wanted to curl up in a ball and do nothing.  That's when I started wondering if it was because I no longer had that "barely detectable" hormone....so, I looked online, and found others who felt the same way when it was removed.  They even called it the "Mirena Crash."

Today, my headache is gone, but I can't seem to get out of my own way.  I lift my foot to step over something and STILL trip over it.....twice.  My head is in the clouds....  and I'm pretty sure it is from the Mirena.

I'm done trying things that I know my body can't handle.  I understand that doctors have our best interest in mind.....however, we also know ourselves....and they have to be willing to listen to that.

I Can't Do At Home Workouts

Not only do I hear this a lot....but I've said it....over and over again!

WHAT???

How is that possible if I am DOING at home workouts?

Well.....let's take a look at my fitness history......

College

I remember borrowing my mom's Abs of Steel VHS tapes to do in my dorm room....which happened every once in a while, but, one, I didn't have much floor space and, two, I wasn't going to spend much time in my room working out.

I had better luck heading to the gym or fitness center....and made it there fairly consistently back when all that was on my schedule were classes and homework.  In fact...I used to go to the aerobic workouts that took place during dinner, and use my dining hall credit to get a pint of Ben & Jerry's and a soda after....  I'm sure THAT was a good choice.

The Twenties

Ahhhh.....out in the real world, commuting to work, and I bought myself a Universal System so that I could workout at home.....which probably lasted a month.  Until I'd try again....and last another week.....and stop for 6 months.....and try again....  So....for sale it went.

Then I had my first born....and bought the Bounce Back After Baby VHS.  That was used for a few weeks, but got old pretty quickly, so I transitioned to some other at home workout....for a few days.... and stopped.

But wait!!  There was a great fitness center less than 10 minutes from home!  So, I joined and figured all of my problems were solved.....and when it was too difficult to work around schedules and get there without my son, HEY!  There's daycare AT the gym!!!  The only problem was that I didn't fully trust the people that were there watching him....they had a LOT of kids in that room....so, I'd cut my workout extremely short, pick him up and leave.

Then, Curves opened!  Ahhhh!  I HAVE to be able to find 30 minutes to get away and get a workout in!  Yup....I did....for a month or so....but it really wasn't 30 minutes when you factored in driving time....  and it was always the same exercises every day....  and there were just other things I had to do....  like laundry or watching tv....

When pregnant for my second son, I tried going back to the gym.  I got my swollen ankles on the treadmill and, eventually, walked laps in the pool because I was just so swollen (and couldn't actually swim, because lying down made me want to throw up).  But....after he was born, I didn't have time to hit the gym with an infant and a toddler!  So.....  again, I paid for a membership I wasn't using.....  and pulled out the Bounce Back after Baby VHS....  for a short period of time.

The Thirties

The kids are older, we're running around to all kinds of activities, and I decided the only way to fit in fitness was to workout at home...so, Bowflex it was.  The first two weeks went great!  After that, any time I went downstairs to use it, I'd always think of what I should be doing upstairs that was not working out....dishes....what are the kids doing....could't I just be eating cookies?

So....I bought Insanity on DVD (moving up in the world from VHS!)....and lasted a week and a half.  It was going great, until things got in the way, like soccer, or band concerts, or ice cream and wanting to sit on my rear end doing nothing.....

My list of failed attempts then included Planet Fitness (joined and rejoined a few times), an elliptical runner in the basement, a two day a week Boot Camp.....  I think you get my point.

My Conclusions

1.  I get bored easily.  Doing the same thing day after day is not for me.

2.  My attention span does not allow for me to workout when I'm thinking there are other things around me that I should be doing.
3.  Doing nothing and eating ice cream and cookies are something I enjoy.

4.  It isn't necessarily at home workouts that are the problem....because not at home fitness didn't pan out very well either (although it did take LONGER to fail)

Solution (The Forties)

There was one thing that was missing in all of these scenarios......accountability.

So....when I saw the informercial for a workout program that could be done in just 25 minutes per day, five days a week....I said, "I should be able to do that."

I set my alarm clock for 30 minutes earlier (because there was no way I'd be thinking "hey, maybe I should be cleaning or doing something with the kids, or doing ANYTHING other than sleeping at that unGodly hour)....and later that day, I'd check in with a group of others, online, that were also doing the same thing.....and it got to a point where, I knew, if I didn't check in, people would question me....  So, not only was I able to feel okay about not being able to get through some of the moves because I learned I wasn't the only one, but I also had people who expected me to keep going and try.

What about the boredom?  The workouts changed after a month....and then after the next month, they changed again!  And then I moved on to another program....so it was all DIFFERENT!  And I was seeing results....which was a big motivator!  And, still, I had support from others in my groups.

Wait a minute....I know what you're thinking, "if you are bouncing from program to program, doesn't that cost a lot of money?"

It did....I was buying each program individually as I would come to the end of them...which was pricey.....but then, they came out with the All Access On Demand!  Okay, part of me was angry that I'd been spending all of this money...but now, I pay less than the amount of that Planet Fitness Membership to get access to every single program Beachbody has ever created for an entire year (& with a 30 day money back guarantee!  The gym doesn't have that!).  Not only that, but, as they come out with new releases, they automatically show up...no extra charge.

I still have groups (except now, I'm running them), I still get to change things up, but I've also been getting out of bed and hitting that play button every single day (except Sunday) for the past 3 1/2 years!  I have never been that consistent in my life!  And it is WITH at home workouts.

Are you sick of constantly failing?  Send me an email to request information about my next group at coachmomnteach@gmail.com

Macros and Measuring Cups?

When talking about nutrition and goals for weight loss or muscle building, inevitably, people always start talking about either macros or measuring cups.

Have you ever started a program and received the advice that you should eat x% protein and y% carbs, etc.?  Or heard a friend say that they can have a 1/2 cup of this and 8 oz. of that?

Don't get me wrong....I think that these macros and measurements are all excellent ways to reach one's goals.....but I don't like putting that much thought into my food!

So...what DO I do?

Not wanting to put a lot of thought into what and how much I'm eating is easily done with these programs I've been doing.  Why?  It's done for me!

Does someone come to my house and make my meals?  No.  But there is a nutrition guide with EVERY program that helps you calculate the "macros" you should be eating in order to get the best results with the program you are using......AND, it even lists examples of each category for you, so you can just browse through and pick what you are going to eat.

Most items I eat don't even need measuring....a half of a sweet potato is pretty easy to figure out!  But when I'm not sure how big a serving size is, I just grab my color coded container, dump it in, and, if it fits, I'm all set!  And, honestly, after using them for a bit, you kind of know how much you need.  I don't need to scan my foods into an app that calculated the carbs and protein or pull out a food scale.

Want some help with YOUR nutrition....without making it more work?  Contact me at coachmomnteach@gmail.com

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