RE: Being Active

[Guest guest]

That's so awesome .

It is so easy to fill our lives with I can'ts. We need to learn how to fill

them with I cans. I know...cornball city, but it's true.

I'm going to change your I can'ts into I cans...'cause I'm a dork that way.

> When I am in a negative head space, I think of the reasons

> why I can't do things: I can't jog I am 86 lbs overweight...

But you can walk.

> I can't go dancing because I am so fat everyone will stare

> at me and I will be all sweaty and I don't have any cute

> clothes...

You can go and still have fun. Goodwill sells inexpensive clothes if you

want a new outfit. Dancing at home can be just as fun...maybe more so if

your honey is into it, and no one cares what you look like at home except

the dog, and who asked him?

If I go to the gym and lift weights, my back

> injury will flare up.

If you're careful you can lift low weights, high reps and just go from

there. Perhaps only lifting for ten minutes, then walking briskly on the

treadmill.

I am NOT one of those people who works

> out or wears spandex.

Embrace your inner spandex queen! That's why God made big shirts! You can

become one of those people who works out, and besides if you really don't

want to be Spandex Queen, you don't have to.

> For me, it isn't just about getting into those single digit

> sized clothes. For me, I want to think of myself in a new

> and different way. I want to believe that there is a

> possibility that I too, can be fit and healthy enough to run

> a triathlon. I want to believe that if I wanted to go

> dancing at a club until 2 a.m., I could do it and feel good

> about myself doing it. I want to be able to run, swim, bike,

> hike, walk, dance... I want to be one of those people who

> works out and wears spandex.

You are one of those people!

Let me tell you, I am the person I always wanted to be and it is so cool.

I'm serious. I always pictured myself as this active person who did things

like biked into town to go out to dinner, or went for a jog around the lake,

or took a hike, or joined an exercise group. At 222 pounds I could only hope

to be that person someday, but now I am that person and I love it. I love

biking down the streets of Seattle and stopping for a non-fat latte and

fruit. I love sitting in a restaurant and making a " skinny " choice and not

thinking " Oh, she'll think I'm ordering this because I'm on a diet " but

instead thinking " She'll think I'm ordering this because I'm health

concious. "

I love that I can be passed a bag of candy, one of my favorites, and say

" Oh, no thank you. " and just pass it on and NOT think " Damn, I'd love one of

those. " (I can't ALWAYS do it without thinking that, but I can often do it

without thinking it.)

> I still have over half my weight to lose. I still don't look

> that great in spandex; it is on UNDER the big t-shirt and

> shorts when I exercise. I run really really slow. But I am

> on my way. It is a struggle. It is hard. Most of the time

> I have to talk myself into it. That is why I really

> appreciate the motivation and support of the people in this group.

You have totally turned your I can't into I cans! Wahoo!