I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I’ve probably told you before, but I work out so I don’t gain weight. That’s the main reason behind it. Sure, I could tell you that I like the way it makes me feel (I do) and I like setting goals for myself and seeing that I can achieve them (I also do), but honestly, the main reason is because I want to be in the normal weight range.
So, when I don’t get to work out for a long time, I get antsy and irritable. Call it a disordered way of thinking if you want, but it is what it is. It’s my way of thinking. After not working out for three days last week, going to Raleigh and eating and drinking way more than I normally do, and then having some major back pain for two additional days, that made for seven days without working out.
Plus, to make matters worse, I had not one, but two doctor’s appointments where I had to step on the scale. Grr. First on Monday, I went to the Urgent Care Clinic for my back and then this morning I had a gynecologist appointment. Stepping on a doctor’s scale is never any fun, but after not working out for seven days and pigging out instead, well, you can kind of figure out how I was feeling.
Fortunately, my back feels MUCH better today! I mostly feel a little bit of stiffness, but nothing like I was feeling on Sunday and Monday, when it hurt to sit or lay down. So, I decided I needed to reunite myself with LA Fitness. I took it easy; I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and really tried to watch out for any twinges or pain in my back. I might be crazy about going to the gym, but I’m not crazy enough to re-injure myself because well, that shit hurt!
The number on the doctor’s scale wasn’t shocking. I knew it was around there. But I’d like it to be 10 lbs less. If it never is, then it never is, but I feel better about myself when I weight 10 lbs less than I do now. So, I’ve been trying to eat a little less. And by that, I really mean, I’ve been trying to curb my snacking. I get into the horrible habit of snacking while I’m making dinner and by the time dinner is ready, I’m not even that hungry because of the snacking, but I eat it anyway, so I’m basically eating the equivalent of two dinners. Tonight, I made myself not do that and cooked what one would call a normal dinner.
This was Laura’s Sesame Baked Tofu, leftover green bean fries and some random spaghetti that was in the fridge. While I was on the plane, I picked up a copy of Self Magazine. They were toting some diet and I was reading about it and what really stood out to me was that they gave the dieters a certain amount of calories and then an additional 200 for treats. But if they wanted to, they could save them. I thought this was sort of a good idea. I know that I’m going out to dinner tomorrow and Friday night. If I ate less calories tonight, I could eat more when I go out. I’m usually not very good at the whole calorie bank account thing. If I eat a piece of cake, I just go on about my day. I don’t try to make up for it. While I don’t think you always should, I think that if I’m trying to lose 10 lbs, maybe I should, at least sometimes.
Anyway, that was my very long-winded way of saying that my back feels better.
I’m so glad your back is feeling better and that getting back into your workout routine is making you feel more “me” again. I totally agree – if I miss a few days of workouts for whatever reason (“life” getting in the way, injury, illness, etc.), I get really irritable and frustrated and ANTSY. So I totally get this. It’s like my body is telling me “I NEED ENDORPHINS!”
glad you’re feeling better!
i have the same issue with snacking and cooking, but more so when i’m at my mom’s because she always outs out wine and cheese and crackers to snack on. evil woman, she is!
how did you like the tofu?
Oh man, wine and cheese would get me too. The tofu was yummy!
I hate how people make calorie counting or banking such a negative thing. It does work. I often did that while losing weight post-pregnancy. I never tracked calories meticulously (bec honestly I could just use the mental tallies I had accumulated over years of doing so and easily track loosely in my head). I have always thought that SELF presents a very reasonable way to approach eating for weight loss.
Yay! Glad to hear you’re feeling better!
I wouldn’t say all, but a majoriy of women would be kidding themselves if they said that wasn’t their #1 reason for working out too, myself included.
Glad your back is feeling better!
I completely feel you on the not working out/feeling blah thing. I run for many reasons – one is definitely because it allows me to eat what I want (within reason). Not working for like 5 days last week?? Felt so wrong, especially because I was definitely splurging! It feels good to be back on track!
Yay– glad your back is better!! The doctor’s scales always seem to be higher anyway, don’t they? I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, and I really don’t want to step on that scale
I’m glad your back is feeling better!
I hate stepping on the scale at the doctor’s office. I feel like I always weigh a few pounds more than my scale at home. And I’m with you on a large part of working out being to keep my weight in check. Like you said, I also love the way it makes me feel, but burning calories is also a motivation.
I am so glad you are feeling better! And I hate stepping on the scale too, I never look. I give you credit for looking! heehee! I just know numbers mess with my head! I think your approach sounds like a good one that will work for you, and honestly, that’s the answer to anyone looking to lose weight, imho, make it a change that YOU can stick with, that works for YOU and your lifestyle. Not mine, not your cousin’s, not even your trainer’s way of doing it. I read that article too (on the plane! haha!) and think their plan sounded pretty good too, a certain amount for each meal and extras for snacks and ‘happy’ calories. For me, being consistent day in and out has been my golden ticket, but again, that works for me, but doesn’t mean it will for anyone else! Long way of saying, I dig it, good approach friend!
so much comes down to balance. i think counting CAN go wrong and get into one’s head, but it can also be a really effective (really, the most effective) method for controlling the number on the scale.
i’ve been at the doc’s way too often. i finally jokingly said “i don’t wanna” (mock whining voice) and the nurse said she didn’t care if i skipped it. she said she makes the jerks do it every time but doesn’t care if folks skip if they aren’t being monitored for a related issue. i doubt they’d let someone skip at the annual but really they don’t need the info at the Clinic if you are clearly in a healthy range…
Hooray for your back feeling better! Back pain is the WORST.
I’m with ya. I have been trying to lose the same ten pounds for as long as I can remember, and the gym is only there most days so I can make it happen. I feel better going for long walks than I do hoofing it in the gym, but it doesn’t feel as adequate.
I looooove Laura’s tofu. I could eat it every single day.
I hate getting on the scale- especially at the doctor. I’ve even avoided going because of it! There was a really short time when I was about 20 lbs lighter that I LOVED IT because I never thought I’d see a number that low. But those days are gone.
I got on for the first time yesterday in weeks. It wasn’t pretty- but I wasn’t surprised. More motivation to be “good.”
I seriously put off the gyno appointment for almost a year because of the scale. Embarrassing but true.
I’m really glad to hear that you are feeling better now!! I, like most everyone above, am with you on working out to stay at a certain weight. The thing I struggle with most when it comes to the scale is the difference between muscle weight and fat weight… Working out also helps me feel less guilty when I make less-than-stellar choices about food (which happens more often than I’d like to admit!)
Honestly, I think everyone works out to maintain weight. Some more than others…
Glad your back is feeling better!
I’m finally at a point where I ask not to be weighed, anywhere, because I can’t stand thinking about it afterwards. I am with you though, I work out so I don’t gain (and also because I like the way it makes me feel).
So glad to hear your back feels better. I totally relate to days off from working out. I too get super antsy. It’s not disordered behavior. If you work out regularly, it becomes routine, and a break in your routine is super stressful, especially if it’s out of your control. You’re doing totally fine! Keep up your healthy lifestyle and you’ll be back to your normal happy weight in no time.
Thank you for this post, and for admitting that’s the major reason you work out. So many people won’t admit that and ONLY talk up the other benefits (yes, I sometimes find it fun, and yes, I sometimes like striving for my goals – but other times, it’s rough!), so it makes me wonder if I’m disordered in my thinking. Appreciate the reassurance!