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The Beginning of a Journey
 Posted by Trish Milburn Jun 15 2011, 12:01 am in eating healthy, exercise, fitness, goals, guest blogger, process, weight loss By Heather Snow
Hello! My name is Heather Snow and I am a very Un-healthy Writer. Well, that’s not true. Regardless of—luckily—blessedly, despite my habits I still enjoy overall good health. But I know that won’t last if I don’t change my ways. So let’s start again. Hello! My name is Heather Snow, and I am a writer with some very Un-healthy habits. And I must do something about them. So why am I here? Well, because all of that insular behavior hasn’t helped me. And while I am that super-private person I just described, I’m also an ALL or NOTHING person (which is a terrible personality trait for someone who needs to live a consistently healthy lifestyle, but that will be a future post for a future time!). And a few days ago, another writer friend, Ashley March, proposed starting a Romance Reader/Writer competition in the spirit of The Biggest Loser. It would be public. I would be accountable not only to myself but to a team. I would have to admit that I struggle. It would be all of the things that I hate. But it just might be what I need. Remember the definition of insanity? Doing the same things over and over again but expecting different results? I’ve been heavy my entire life, and I’ve tried multiple times to get the weight off and keep it off by myself. But it hasn’t worked. I inevitably lose my focus. Maybe, just maybe putting myself on the line in a very public (not to mention in my professional) forum will help me keep it. Once I’d decided to jump on board, the ALL part of my personality wanted in. So I e-mailed the ladies here at Healthy Writer to see if they thought chronicling my journey here would be of interest to their readers. So I’m going to do my very best to be open, honest, positive, accountable, ask for help/support when I need it. I’ll be posting once a month with where I am, what’s worked (or not worked) for me, my successes and my failures. I look forward to pouring through the archives here at Healthy Writer, seeing what has worked for and inspired all of you. I can’t wait to hear your suggestions. At the beginning of any journey, I think it’s important to know A) where we’re going B) why we need to get there, and C) a workable plan/road map. So I’ll start this by sharing: A) I need to overcome my ‘all or nothing’ personality (oh, she of fad diets and uber strict standards) and get to a place of balance that includes daily exercise, moderation, adequate sleep and healthy eating—all while meeting the needs of my quickly growing family and the demands of my career. B) Because I am 37 years old, I need to lose about half my size and I have one 3-year-old son and a baby due in July. Because of my metabolic syndrome/insulin resistance, I’m already at higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer…all kinds of ugly things that could take me from my children too young and that scares the living heck out of me, only apparently not enough to make me change my habits, which makes me feel constantly awful about myself—and that’s a vicious cycle. C) I’m still working on that ‘workable’ plan…I need to find something that takes into account my personality, my lifestyle, the fact that I have many sleepless nights ahead when this baby gets here in July and very little free time, that I’m a writer whose job is sedentary, that I have tight deadlines, that my metabolism doesn’t respond as well as some others, that I have a lot of family and career juggling in the months ahead. At first blush, I’m thinking something automated for breakfast, lunches and snacks, something low sugar and low carb (to help with insulin resistance); making exercise a priority whether I get enough sleep or not; lots of water; and some time on my treadmill desk (which my darling hubby rigged up for me and which works beautifully, if I actually ever use it). Will I make it? I don’t know…a lifetime of failed attempts would say no. But if I let myself feel defeated, if I quit trying—as I have for most of the past year—that’s when I’ll truly fail, right? If you’re a reader or an author who’s interested in getting in on The Great Romance Reduction competition (name may change), it runs from 7/5/11 to 1/5/12. It promises to be fun, supportive, and there are lots of prizes. Check it out at http://www.ashleymarch.com/blog/?p=1549 Heather Snow is a romance author with a degree in chemistry who decided she liked creating chemistry on the page rather than in the lab. She writes Regency romance with mystery elements for NAL Signet Eclipse, and her debut book, Sweet Enemy – A Veiled Seduction Novel, will be available on February 7, 2012. You can learn more at www.HeatherSnowBooks.com
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13 Responses to “The Beginning of a Journey”Leave a Reply |
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Heather –
Iti s absolutely wonderful that you have decided to share your journey!
A few points:
1. Don’t set yourself up to fail. You are pregnant and that means a new and very precious life will be added to your lifestyle. It is impossible to say what sort of changes that will bring. Babies are all different.
2. Bearing that in mind, make sure you agree your diet and exercise regime with your health professional. Doctors and nurses are willing to give advice about what to eat and the right sort of exercise. In the UK, I know postpartum, women have a chance to see a physio and get the right sort of exercises as ligments are much looser. Women who have had c-sections need to take things even easier. for example.
3. I found when my lot were tiny and I had more than one, the weight did drop off easily. Breast feeding really helps as it burns the calories and is good for your figure.(It is when you stop but don’t moderate your calorie intake…) Also all that running around after toddlers should not be discounted. YOu are going to be a very busy lady and your exercise regime might have to be short and sweet, for example.
4. As much as I love things like the Biggest Loser etc, getting healthy isn’t a race. It is a life style change and that change can only come from deep within you. It is about saying — yes I am going to do this and make time. Some days things will work better than others. Don’t beat yourself up. Enjoy the ride. Take time to be good to yourself and celebrate your accomplishments. Some days when you have two tiny children, just breathing is an accomplishment!
5. Most importantly babies don’t keep. Enjoy yours as this time will give you a life time of memories.
Good luck. And congrats on making the decision to move towards a healthy lifestyle.
Hi Michelle! Thank you for your thoughtful words. I completely agree with everything you’ve said, and all pregant and lactating women should certainly take that advice.
I should clarify that I am adopting…though that certainly hasn’t stopped me from gaining some sympathy weight during this pregnancy! However, I hear you on 4 and 5
I also agree that it isn’t a race…I don’t really watch Biggest Loser because of that aspect and the unreality of it, though I certainly don’t begrudge people who find the show inspirational.
Thanks again, and I look forward to getting to know you better here at Healthy Writer!
Oh I am pleased you cleared up about adopting! I was seriously confused.
Anna’s suggestion of the 10 minute solutions dvds is a good one btw. I like the ones by Suzanne Bowen. She is good but tough. The Belly Fat Blast Off does work. And the sessions are self-contained. She includes a v short warm up and stretching in each one and she does really work you.
And remember in many ways it is more important to see your shape changing rather than the number on the scales.
Hi everyone, and thanks for having me here at Healthy Writer.
I must say, when I wrote this post I was very gung ho to be open about my journey, but I must admit, upon seeing it live on the internet, I had to stop the part of myself that screams for privacy from e-mailing Trish at 12:02 AM and begging her to take it down!
Still, another part of me is excited to get started. I’m gearing up right now, working on that plan, making small changes from here until RWA National Conference in New York (because I’m not kidding myself that I will be super health conscience while traveling). I ordered a book on the Mediterranean Diet and the audio book of “Skinny Bitches” (which I saw recommended here on this site), as well as getting things together for the baby, who should be born sometime right after nationals. Trying to plan for success.
I’ll be posting again in July, to let you know how things are going.
Heather, we’re glad to have you, and I look forward to your future posts. I know putting it all out there for people to read about is scary, but I firmly believe it’s a positive move. It’s that whole accountability thing working in your favor.
Welcome to Healthy Writer, Heather! Congratulations on your debut and on your challenge. Whatever we can do to help – not least because that would be my idea of hell too!!
I think the key to success is very much about making your lifestyle changes workable. All or nothing, boom or bust really doesn’t help you and can do more harm than good.
Try not to think about eliminating or denying things from your diet – that sets you up for failure. Think about the switches you can make to healthier options. Allow yourself moderate treats and rewards. Think about the things you can’t do without and see if they’re in 100 calorie packs or if you can have them once a week as a treat. Or do some trades.
One of the things I always champion is balancing things out/making trades – for example, I’d rather a glass of wine or an appetiser than a dessert when I’m out to dinner, so I make sure I don’t have it all. I often have a glass of wine and then switch to fizzy water with a slice of lime.
For exercising – start small and build up. Ten Minute Solutions really work and everyone can find ten minutes – I love the dancing DVD’s to help you burn off fat! Get a good pedometer to look at how you can increase your step count. Look up exercise programs that help you build from nothing to something eg the ones for how to run a 5k are excellent.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Anna, I love the sound of these 10-Minute Solution DVDs. My library has three of them. I’m going to check them out, and if I like I can see myself buying several. Thanks for the suggestion.
My library has none
Guess it’s off to Amazon…
Anna,
Thanks for the encouragement and awesome tips. Yes, I think balance is going to be the key. Balance and preparation–neither being my strong suit. Well, and finding a plan that really works with this pesky insulin resitance. Sadly, I love carbs…
Heather, I feel your pain with the carb cravings. I have to guard against that and sugar cravings. Why can’t I crave broccoli?
Broccoli’s not bad…mixed in with a lot of cheese and flaky crust in a quiche
Heather,
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I’m struggling. I think we all struggle, and, for me, the first step is to forgive yourself. I’m like you, an all or nothing kinda gal. I’m all in it until I screw up, and then I go on a bender of epic proportions. If you find the secret to balance, do tell. If I find it first, I’ll do the same.
I do think it’s a journey taken in smaller steps. I’m going to look into the 10 minute solutions. I’ve also got good results from the Jillian Michaels video that’s only about 25 minutes. At some point, you’ve got to get out there and put some cardio in, but half the battle is building a routine, right? Better a little something than nothing! (How’s that for an all or nothing kind of girl?)
I’m with Anna, let us know any way in which we can help you, and I think it’s awesome you’re sharing your story with us.
Hi Sally,
Thanks for stopping by. I tell you, this all or nothing mentality we have…my mom says I’ve always been that way. Sometimes it works in my favor, but usually…not so much. At least not in the health realm where I have to be consistent.
How I wish eating could be like smoking…where one can just quit cold turkey. Seriously, if I didn’t HAVE to eat, I’d love it. Ah well…
Thanks for your encouragement, and I look forward to seeing you around Healthy Writer.