You�ll see my thread and recent posts about getting up and Adam, so here are a few head games I am using since 2/25 to keep me moving and getting over the �how to get started again�. Caution to the lads, there may be some TMI here! Duck!

In January I was feeling quite crappy about my body. Doesn�t matter why and in what area, as we all have ours, right? But, that led to me neglecting other things about me (beginning in Oct 2011). I felt icky about myself physically, so I started skipping steps in my morning (and then afternoon, as it turned out) routine. Putting body lotion on became a chore (who cares?), shaving my legs daily became a chore (who cares if I skip a day?), putting make up on to run to the grocery store even became a chore (who cares? And, if you�d know me, you�d know this is not Surfer88�s style AT ALL. Surfer wears jeans and heals to shop.) End third-person. Somehow either not staying active, or getting comfortable got the best of me since October 2011. Here�s what�s funny� my job suffered, though no one knew it but me. My social life suffered. I just got lazy and atrophied and icky. Chicken or egg? Don�t know, don�t care. I think I might have had a bit of depression going on? Don�t know, don�t care.


So here are some things I have done since 2/25 that may help those that may be �stuck� like I was:

-I started working with the easiest body-area first. My calves and legs bounce back pretty easily, so I got back to the gym and hopped on the treadmill first and only. Sucked. The reason is that my calves come back really quickly, and I notice this when I am shaving my legs. TMI? But, immediate gratification!

-At the same time, I forced myself to get back to my morning routine that I�d had since�birth, but that I�d somehow abandoned since Oct 2011. Shower in the morning, shave my legs every morning, lotion from head to toe, do hair with enthusiasm versus a chore. Regular make-up routine, jewelry on whether I have plans to leave the house or not.

-I dated my actual beginning on my chalk-board in my kitchen. I have a record with dates for when I did what. Walk 2.5 miles�tick mark! Since 2/25 I have walked over 50 miles!
-I listen to audio-books while working out and only when working out. LOL. BUT, I will not listen to my current book unless I am doing something physical. Makes it 2-fold something to look forward to. As in, if you have a new CD, podcast, etc. only allow yourself to listen per above so you have 2 things to look forward to.


Anyone have any tips to the psychological warfare that is complacency? I am posting this NOT as a success story, but for encouragement to continue on the path!
Thanks!

Wait! If you are still here�funny! So, I took a different walking path that is very hilly. It was an especially hot day (Midwest) and I had a hoodie on that was far too big, but unable to take it off as no proper undergarments. I was so hot and legs like spaghetti, so I had to break so I stepped off the road beside a cornfield. Bad�then had to�go. I will leave the rest to your imagination. What is it about running/effort and the bladder???

Take before and after photos. I had gotten complacent about my eating habits, etc and 9 months and 45 pounds later, I posted for an "after" photo. I staged a largely mirror image shot of the before photo and put them together with Gimp.

Our spin class at the local Y had a "biggest loser" type challenge for the past 8 weeks and I came in 2nd over all percentage of body weight loss.

That was after already having lost almost 30 pounds before I started.

Of course, my bride is enjoying the benefits of the lean, less stressed Mr EE as well.

After the past couple of days of on-call activity (up 23 hours yesterday, good thing Mrs EE is in NYC with her mom) my eating choices haven't been so good. But I'm hoping the two hour fund raiser spin class yesterday proactively addressed any damage I may have done with late night at work vending machine grazing

I could post a link to the before and current.

My goal is to return to my weight when I left the Army back in 1992 AND be able to do as well if not better on the PT test.

Sorry for the long missive. I think you simply pick what motivates you, and use it. For me, it's measurable progress. Be that the amount of work I can get done, such as how long does it take to do 4 miles on the cross trainer, or what weights and reps are in my logbook, or how well I'm performing in the days boot camp workout, or the top resistance I can tolerate on the stationary bike in spin class.

Then there is dropping 2" from my waist, getting off my BP meds, low resting heart rate.

I'm a numbers guy, so seeing the numbers move in a good direction are motivating.