I'm Stuck...

[beckijhn]

I'm new so I haven't read all the info available on this site yet. With my schedule that will take awhile...

A tiny bit of background: After I quit smoking (6 years ago), I gained about 40 lbs. Lost it with running, biking, eating right, etc. Shattered my wrist (3 1/2 years ago) and gained 30 back over a 6 month period (working HQ of a grocery store chain - WAY too many samples!!!). Finished therapy, lost most of it. Then spent 6 months taking care of parents after they were hit by a drunk driver (2 years ago) -mom in a coma for 4 months - lived on fast food and coffee. Prior to all the yoyo-ing I sat at about 135 (I'm 5'6") and now I can't get below 160.

So here I am (not whining ), 25 lbs overweight. I mountain bike with my guy. We do one trip a week (last two times were a 14 mile singletrack trip around rampart resevoir). I ride my recumbant daily. high resistance, decent speed, 10 miles. Also enjoy hiking at least once a week. In the winter we snowboard once a week, but I need to add more than just the recumbant into the routine in the winter months.

I would love to add more but I don't have time. I spend about 1/2 the week at my townhouse fixing up stuff and working, and other 1/2 my son and I are in the mountains also working and doing our outdoor stuff.

My diet is decent - worse when I'm in the mountains with my guy, he has a major sweet tooth and likes junk food even though he's much more active than I and in much better shape.

I don't eat a lot so I can't give up much in the way of how much I eat. I am going to give up cheese, 99% of my sugar (I don't eat much anyway - no soda, no sugar in my coffee, very little except for when I'm with my guy), all fried foods...

I see the muscles growing (especially in my legs) but I have not lost a smidgen of weight in all of this. I lost a about 20 lbs on the no carb diet but I started bruising badly and felt weak all the time. I won't ever do that one again!!!

Help me un-stick myself! Thanks - I look forward to getting to know you all!!!

Becki

 

[Fit1]

Becki:

It sounds like you are not eating enough food. But it also sounds like you may be dropping fat and adding muscle. It might be a good idea to talk to a professional and get your body composition analyzed.

As we get older there a re metabolic issues as well as genetic ones,

 

[sandygrady]

Becki-

I feel your pain with all of the family emergencies. My DH is a quadrapelegic. He dove into a pool when my kids were 3 yrs old and 18 months. We then went through 8 throat surgeries because of a trache that kept closing up. He couldn't even speak for well over a year. Then, about 5 years later, my mom shattered her ankle, so there I was 2 kids, 2 dogs, disabled husband and disabled mom living with me with me being the only caretaker! Man am I glad those days are over!

In reading your story, what I see is someone a lot like me, almost forced to take care of so many other people that we forget how to take care of ourselves. When loved ones are in need, it is hard to set boundaries or to say NO. But when things calm down, it is time to find the courage to set boundaries again. Know what else I see in your story? Someone of great power and strength! It takes a heck of a lot of courage, patience, love, and internal strength to do what you have done.

What helped me the most was really coming to the understanding that I had a choice. I actually could chose to stop caring for my husband, actually many decide this every day. I could decide to focus on the negatives or to find the lessons and grow. I could decide to let other people decide my life for me or I could take the reigns back. I could decide to reach for another brownie or I could put on some walking shoes or come read this forum.

Don't forget that all of the work you do outside is really physical, I'm sure you are getting a good workout with that as well. How about getting some dumb bells?

How old is your son? Do you have to workout around his schedule?

Remeber what we concentrate on grows. If you concentrate on all the reasons why you can't do something, you'll prove yourself right. If instead you concentrated on maximizing every day, on doing the absolute best you can do with the resourses and time you have, if you believe in yourself and in your power and believe that YES you will achieve your goals...guess what, you just might!!

Sandy