Waking Up

A year ago I posted 10 reasons why I felt old and another 10 defending my youth. Since then, I've changed some of my lifestyle habits and I currently feel better than I have in years. I'm not completely sure about this next claim since 10 whole years have passed, but I seem to be in roughly the same physical shape now as when I consider myself to have been in my peak physical form in 1999.

Two Goals that Woke Me Up
Janssen and I made goals at the beginning of the year to avoid "fast food" during 2009 and to limit ourselves to only two desserts per week.

I don't know if these two goals actually did all that much for my health because I was still eating whatever I wanted aside from those two categories and I wasn't exercising regularly.

But goals that required a weekly accounting to myself and to Janssen resulted in more regular contemplation of self discipline, portion control and health - concepts that were once dear to me, but that had slowly been losing ground over the years to relaxation, plate-polishing, and excessive desserts.

Another Goal to Explain My Dilemma
Admittedly, I made another health-related goal at the beginning of this year. It was to "bring the six-pack back." That only lasted until about January 10th when I realized what a dumb, unsustainable goal that was (it's funny how quickly I rationalized it away when the year actually began). A six-pack wouldn't be worth the struggle, and even if I put in all the effort to actually achieve such a goal, I wouldn't be able to (or want to) maintain it due to the serious lifestyle changes it would require.

I remember browsing various "8-weeks to the perfect six-pack" programs online, and it was clear that it could be done with much sacrifice, but I it just wouldn't be worth it to me if I couldn't maintain it at least to some degree.

Sustainability Is Good, But It Was Holding Me Back
It has always seemed important to me to develop habits that are sustainable through even the busiest times of life. Last summer was the first time I can remember embarking on a fitness goal without believing it was very sustainable.

I was successful at gaining some muscle, but my routine had to be performed at the gym and crowded out other exercise priorities (i.e., running). I didn't like it (nor did I like the beefy look on me - to the very small extent that I started to see it in myself - and I didn't like the extra fat in my face and neck from the oodles of calories I was eating that included supplemental Protein shakes).

Running has always seemed like an ideal exercise because it can be done just about anywhere (even outside in cold weather, though I much prefer the gym), and it has always seemed rewarding in terms of making me feel fit.

But by itself, running has never controlled my weight to any great degree. I can work up to running 3 or 4 miles in 20 or 30 minutes and still be as hefty as I've ever been (granted, that's not very hefty, but it's certainly noticeable to me).

It has always taken extremes, like my Nov. 2007 goal to run 100 miles in a month, to actually lose weight just from running (I lost about 5 pounds that month). It may keep the pounds from accumulating very quickly, and it's certainly good for my heart, but I'm convinced that sustainable levels of running, alone, can't control my weight.

With that mindset, I had long been worried that I might not ever again get into great physical shape and maintain it. And I knew that changing my eating habits was out of the question. It seemed far too extreme. And I didn't want to live a life of HUNGER and DEPRIVATION!

The Wheels in My Head Start to Turn
Then again, Janssen and I seemed to have found some pretty reasonable eating habits that could turn into lifestyle changes without too much effort or sacrifice.

After all, the two desserts per week goal leaves room for some serious dessert enjoyment, just within reasonable, balanced limits.

And the no "fast food" goal is sustainable as a general rule. We still eat pizza (preferably our favorite home made with wheat crust introduced to us by Sarah) and Subway sandwiches here and there. And we may make exceptions for an In-n-Out burger from time to time (I haven't yet. Janssen?), or even a chicken sandwich from Wendy's if it becomes necessary during a vacation or something (don't want to be crazy about it). But it's a good, sustainable general rule to keep us from habitually eating some of the junk food our nation produces so generously.

To be continued . . .