Thursday, January 22, 2015

Health & fitness goals

Tracy at Fly On Over has started a monthly equestrian fitness blog hop, and I couldn't be happier to participate.

Several years ago, I was a somewhat thinner person.

In 2006, at an equestrian team competition in the first
(and last) Tailored Sportsmans I'll ever own!
In the present, I am a somewhat overweight person.

In November 2014.
I've written about working on my fitness previously. The process is ongoing. In the past, I have had serious trouble dedicating myself to a good diet and regular exercise. I enjoy cooking and I like eating healthy foods like vegetables and lean meat. I also enjoy the convenience of picking up Chinese food after a long day. I don't not enjoy exercising, but it's not my favorite when it's really cold, really hot, really windy, or really early in the morning. 

However, I've taken a hard look at myself, and set some goals this year to become a fitter person. 
  • Eat a clean diet, even when eating out. I'm nearing the end of my second Whole 30. I don't mind doing it- after all, I like cooking, and it isn't a big change from how I normally eat. After last March's Whole 30, I totally backslid and resumed eating Whataburger like it was no big deal. It doesn't help that Johnny and I hideously enable each other- if one of us says, "I feel like the taco 12 pack and quesadillas!", the other is very likely to say, "SOUNDS AWESOME DO IT DO IT DO IT GO!" (We are supportive like that.) Anyway, the biggest thing Whole 30 does for us is limit how often we eat out. As we transition back to "normal" eating, I really want to continue limiting how often we eat out. I'd also like to continue to be mindful of what I'm eating when we're out to dinner. (Honestly, does ANYONE have self control around the onion rings?)
  • Exercise daily. The Athletic Rider Fit Club Facebook group has helped me with this tremendously. Every day, exercises are posted. They don't take long, and should be supplemented by other exercise, but sometimes they're all I do. It keeps me doing some kind of purposeful movement every day, which is great.
  • Jog every other day. This has been going really well. I'm in week 3 of Couch to 5K and feeling good. I've completed the program before, only to totally stop jogging because I don't really like it. This year, I want to continue to jog every other day. It's easy, it's free, and it doesn't take an obscene amount of time. And I always sort of begrudgingly enjoy it after a few weeks.
  • Yoga weekly. I discussed in last week's Friday Five that I've been watching the Yoga With Adriene Youtube channel, which has been great. I love how yoga makes me feel- I love feeling strong and focused. I find that the more I do it, the more it helps with my riding.
Now, I hope I'll eventually lose the extra weight, and I think that if I stick to these goals, it'll happen. But weight isn't my primary concern- it's an added bonus (and one that I'm sure will come if I put in the work). And come on- I know we're all hoping to look as good as possible in breeches this year!

23 comments:

SheMovedtoTexas said...

Oh man, me and Tim enable each other so bad. We both have a "we love each other unconditionally and would never criticize the other with diet/exercise' philosophy, which is good for happiness but not so good for overall health. It's hard!

Stephanie said...

It IS hard!! Double hard because eating is fun! Johnny and I are also not into exercising together, because I usually get REALLY frustrated with how much slower/worse at I am. So while he is all "Way to go on your jogging!", it isn't like a fun thing we do together.

Checkmark115 said...

Ugh i wish I could make myself jog. Hate hate hate BUT I just stumbled upin the blog you speak of and I already love it! yay goals!!

Anonymous said...

Confession: I hate onion rings.

Stephanie said...

I'm not a big fan of jogging, but it is like... My best option. But pretty much the whole time I jog, I think "I am dying I am dying this is awful please let me die" hahaha

Stephanie said...

...what

I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU AT ALL :'(

Laura @ Bit by Bit said...

I did a Walk to Run 5 K program last year which I actually saw through to the end and I almost enjoyed running for a while. My absolute max is running 30 min though---I tried to make my way up to 10 K after and it was pure torture. Running is so boring!!! These days I spin though. I like it way more, :)

Laura @ Bit by Bit said...

And oh, onion rings... delectable golden rings of joy!!

Nicole said...

I concur with you on hating jogging. Basically the only thing that gets me to jog is pony things of some variety. Good work with your fitness goals! And I will be joining in, kinda... :)

Laur @FMHH said...

Hooray for fitness goals!!! You can do it!!

emma said...

awesome goals - good luck with them!! i definitely fail at the making my own food vs. eating out... and jogging REALLY needs to get back on the agenda (tho there's that same enabling currently going on between me and the coworker i normally jog with - oops! -must get back on the bandwagon!)

Karen M said...

I definitely need to start doing yoga again .... I fail at fitness on a regular basis :/

T said...

Great goals. I may have to join in!

redheadlins said...

Kudos to you, we can all root each other on and enjoy the process. Also...would rather eat fries than onion rings 0_o

Stephanie said...

I KNOW, they're so good.

Stephanie said...

I am deeply suspicious of people who enjoy jogging...

Stephanie said...

I CAN do it!! :D :D :D

Stephanie said...

Thank you!! I think it's hard to succeed at making your own food if you genuinely don't enjoy cooking. Or when you're only cooking for yourself.

Stephanie said...

I feel like I constantly fail at fitness because I am uncoordinated, turn a very unflattering red color when I exert myself, and make hideous noises when I breathe while jogging. (Wheezing, so much wheezing.)

Stephanie said...

You should!!

Stephanie said...

I just don't know what to do with you french fry people...

Unknown said...

Totally just joined that FB group! Thanks for sharing :D

Aoife said...

Don't hate me but I'm not a fan of onion rings...don't really like onions soooooooo *shrug*

Post a Comment