Redoing the Temple

Just kidding, it’s more like an abandoned warehouse.  But it was once temple-like.  It was strong and graceful and flexible.  What am I talking about? My body.  The temple metaphor is not working, but there was a time (20 years ago) when I had faith in my body.  I was a gymnast and I could run and jump and lift and more.  I didn’t even have to think about it.  I got that way by doing something that I loved and that never felt like work.  I ate some healthy foods (I was in high school so my mother cooked mostly healthy meals) but I ate junk, too.  And I had a teeny appetite and never finished anything. Fast forward 20 years and, well, it’s not what it once was. When high school ended, so did gymnastics.  I had never set foot in a traditional gym where you use things like treadmills and weight machines.  So exercise stopped, essentially.  But the metabolism kept me tiny for a while.  Then I got married and stored two precious children in this body for 9 months each.  One of those precious children was 9 lbs 3 oz when he was born.  And I’m 5’2.  So, that wreaked some havoc.  My sedentary job not only kept me inactive, but also introduced me to the take out lunch.  Mmmm.  I work so hard, I’d tell myself;  I deserve a yummy lunch. What a terrible way to reward yourself.  So in the spirit of this home makeover blog, I’m making over my “home”, this body that I once relied on to carry me twisting through the air and land lightly on my feet.

The before.  This is the tricky part.  There is no way on earth I’m putting a picture of me on the internet as a before. In fact, I don’t think I’ll ever post an after either.  So, I’ve tracked down a kind of neat tool that will give a visual.  But first, here’s an idea of the stats.  I’ve already mentioned I’m 5’2.  If I lost 10 pounds, I’d be 8 pounds heavier than I was when I got married.  That’s a number I would be happy with.  8 pounds heavier than when I got married.

Here is the visual brought to you by modelmydiet.com

My Current Weight

Not terrible, I know, but really not exactly reality either (picture her a little lumpier) and not my ideal, plain and simple.  I need a plan.  I’ve already started a diet plan.  It’s called the 4 Hour Body and basically you cut out carbs and sugar and have to eat not fun stuff like beans and vegetables and lean meat 6 days a week and then on the 7th day you get to cheat and  eat ANYTHING you want.  I’ve been doing that for a month and have already lost 8-10 pounds.  I have no idea if it’s healthy or sustainable, but I’ve had some results so far, so I’m going with it for now.  Sort of.  It is VERY hard to keep up with when your kitchen does not have a sink, stove, microwave or countertops.  But, I’ll do my best until the kitchen is done and then pick it up again.

And then there’s exercise.  I abhor the gym.  I’m not a runner.  I’m not even a walker.  I do have a treadmill that I’m mandating myself to use nightly and then I’m going to incorporate some Pinterest strengthening finds like this one:

Strength exercise

Ok, I said it all out loud.  I have to follow through.  I’ll update in a month.

Leave a Comment