Going Up the Down Escalator

The other night on Pesach I heard wonderful and inspirational words of Torah from Rabbi Silver. He spoke about prayer and growing as a Jew. He has always been religious, but he spoke about slightly envying those who come to religion as adults and have to work hard to change their lives. Rabbi Silver used the classic example of trying to go up a down escalator. If you stand still, you'll simply go down. And if you walk you'll only stay in the same place. But if you run, you'll eventually reach the top. It may be more difficult, but that's part of what makes the accomplishment more satisfying.

This morning I realized that idea is what is happening to me right now with my weight loss goals. But I'm not reaching anything. I'm running and running and running (literally) but I'm no closer than when I began. I can talk about strength and endurance and inches lost all I want, but my actual declared goal is weight loss. Is my version of "running" really "walking"? Is my body that resistant?

Pesach is amazing and awe-inspiring...but it's also a holiday that can make you feel like you're pregnant with a big bloated matzoh baby! And just like after having a real baby, after Pesach it can take a while to de-swell. However, in the meantime, I feel so discouraged.

Sometimes when you feel discouraged, it helps to change things up a bit so you can feel like you're trying something new. So even though at Max10 I get the hardest workout imaginable, and even though I absolutely love to kick-box, at the end of this session I'm switching to something new that takes more endurance: running. I'll definitely keep my gloves and buy a pair of focus mitts, so I can continue to train. Maybe I'll even exchange lessons with my husband. I'll teach him to kick-box and he'll teach me Krav Maga.

I'll be keeping my babysitter and every morning running the 2.4 mile Seward Park Loop, plus the walk there and back, which will be a total of 3.8 miles. The whole walk back is uphill. My MP3 player will need some more "let's move it" songs. Recommendations?

If THIS doesn't whip my behind into shape, I don't know what will!

You Are Not Alone...

I thought I was the only one in my Max10 classes who wasn't seeing weight loss. The inches melt off but the weight stays within a 3-pound range. I've dropped a few skirt sizes and I'm stronger, faster, fitter, leaner, and way more energetic! Today I overheard Tommy, who works out in our class and has noticeably trimmed down since he started 4 months ago, talking about how he hasn't lost a single pound, but he has lost 3 inches off his waist. So I'm not alone! And neither is anyone else out there who struggles with the number on the scale but still sees positive results in the mirror.

But I'm worried...next week Pesach begins! If anyone's been to my parents' house for a Pesach meal, they'd know about Chef Thierry Adam and his delightful dishes covered in gravies, sauces, and/or creams that make you forget you're not eating chametz!

When I was pregnant, I would ask Chef Thierry to please only give me the side dishes and leave off the chicken or meat because I was feeling nauseous. This year, however, I am not pregnant and certainly not nauseous. I'll be requesting my meals without the gravies, sauces, and/or creams this year.

This, plus not being able to work out until Thursday...good luck to us all!

Letting It Sink In

As I went though the local drive-thru Starbucks today, I remembered my reaction when I saw the sign that it was going to be built right in my neighborhood. I'd thrown my hands in the air and cheered! I love coffee. I really do. But then I realized something. I'd cheered for a drive-thru Starbucks? Like it was worth celebrating? But every time my husband says "I love you" or "You look beautiful," I don't throw my hands in the air and cheer with joy. Instead I let it sink in, warming me through and through, filling my heart so that I can truly know he loves me and believe he thinks I'm beautiful.

This is important, I think. Letting it sink in. I'm writing about it on my weight-loss blog for a reason. It's hard to believe your husband when he tells you that you look great, because you know his goal is to make you happy and he'll say anything to accomplish that goal. My husband reminded me of something, though. He wouldn't let me wear something in public if he thought it made me look fat. So when I ask him, "How do I look?" and he says, "Beautiful," he's probably telling the truth.

And once I accepted this, I let that sink in. When I dropped two dress sizes in the last 4 months and he told me my body was noticeably changing and he was happy to really see my waist more defined, I believed him, and it motivated me to work even harder.

I don't ever believe the compliments I receive. I always think they're motivated by something. Nothing malicious, of course. I simply wonder if my trainer at the gym thinks I need a confidence boost, if my husband is trying to make me feel good, or if my children are trying to get a treat. It's time to stop wondering! It's time to say thanks, believe it, and let it all sink in.