Goodness Gracious - Personal Trainer Hard Sell

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Okay, so gyms and personal trainers have changed a lot in 20-23 years. What can I say?

I've belonged to two gyms in the past - 24-hour Nautilus in probably around '88-'89 and Family Fitness Center (which became 24-hour Family Fitness or somesuch) around '95-'97.

I barely remember 24-hour Nautilus with respect to Personal Trainers. I think I was given a tour by a regular person, shown the basics of using the machines, and did what I chose. Since I was one of their literal 24-hour customers - aka I showed up between midnight and 3am often enough when I wanted to work out - I wasn't even on a Personal Trainer's schedule if I had wanted one.

Family Fitness Center gave me one or two free sessions. It was similar in the sense of showing me how to use the machines, but actually spent time with me on each one for the muscles I wanted to tone, pointed out other ones that would be good to balance with it, and wrote up weights and reps on a card. Then each time I visited to do strength training, I pulled the card to see what and how much - and gradually increased at longer intervals (months?).

This ... was something else entirely. And I'm not sure if that makes it good or bad. I got there half an hour early, so I spent 25 minutes on the treadmill - getting my heartrate in the right range by moving between my normal brisk pace and my nearly 15 minute mile pace.

The first thing the Personal Trainer has me do? About 10 or 15 minutes on a bicycle, quick warmup then pushing for more bars (without any explanation of what the bars meant other than pedal faster), then added in torso twists and then some medicine ball work, all while pushing the cardio side. (UGH at bicycle seats.)

Next thing, after he aimed for an area with balls, steps, hand weights, and such, and I asked him about using the weight machines, was going up there to a chest press machine ... and having me do squats with it. As in, step up on the seat with one foot, extend other to back, squat down. Those finished, he had me do sitting squats (to sit on the seat then stand). Only then did we actually use the machine for the muscles it was intended for. And that's the only machine he had me use.

...

Okay, fine ...

Next was resistance band work for the triceps as well as a kneeling one with a dumbbell, also for triceps.

Finally crunches. I did find the crunches with my legs wrapped on a ball and rolling side to side a really nice addition. Worked the inner thighs just keeping my legs on the ball and the obliques through the rolling.

Finally something called a Russian Twist, I think. Sitting and torso twisting to each side.

(And of course stretching out at the end. I will confess having someone else help stretch the calf muscle? Mmmmmmm.)

End off there.

Only to find myself in an office with someone else for 30 minutes starting off with a review of my goals, current habits, etc ... and segueing into trying to sell personal trainer sessions.

...
...
...

I get one more free session. I honestly don't know what to think or feel about how it went. I feel, on the one hand, like I did get a good workout. I could feel each of the muscles/muscle groups and the fatigue at a certain point. All good.

But I know it really shortchanged some areas. As in, we did a little of each -- core, upper body, lower body -- but certainly not rounding out with multiple options to get different muscle groups. (Well, ab work definitely did.) And it felt a bit rushed. To be fair, he replaced the other personal trainer who was nowhere to be found and did have a client waiting as we ended off. And as a first session, there was a lot of form and explanation to do.

Where my past experience has been a basic overview so I know what to do and how to do it and have a list of how much weight to involve ... this was more personalized to areas I need to work on.

I guess what felt most wrong at the end is that I could scarcely remember what we went through. (Thankfully I bought a notebook and pen at the same time as a lock for the locker ... or I'd be hopeless.) And then I get this high pressure hard sell to have personal trainer sessions at least once a week ... at what I'd consider an insane price.

Maybe the gym membership is lower because they make more money on personal training, but I felt like that made the appointment designed to try to find the reasons I wanted to work out so they could be fed back to me as why I should want to buy in.

It also took multiple times of saying it to have the person trying to sell me on it quit trying to convince me I should want the sessions because he could help me drop the weight in 6-8 months instead of 12. Puh-lease. I am NOT being sold on quick-fix weight loss here. STOP IT! She tried to mention the inevitable plateau.

Again, *EYE ROLL* I don't care if my WEIGHT plateaus for long stretches - if I'm stronger and fitter. I judge my fitness very grossly by how heavy I breathe and how fast my heart beats when I'm walking briskly. I judge it by the fact I now go up stairs in a much springier manner and am not panting and yawning for air at the top. I can lift XX pounds now. Can I lift more, with better form, smoothly, and hold? THAT is what I care about.

She did finally clue in to what I was saying, and thankfully also to the fact I wasn't going to be a sale tonight. I'm scheduled for the second session in a week, so I have Wednesday and Friday to see what I can make of repeating the stuff he had me do. I'm not looking forward to another hard sell session after that, but at least once the "No" is said enough, I can settle into the business of working out (and using the exercises posted here to keep in variety).

And I do understand their reasons for preferring a trainer work with everyone semi-regularly. It's easier to prevent or spot injuries and strain when the trainer can see bad form or babying of a muscle in a move. I do get that. But I'm not paying more than I pay for the gym in a year to be protected from that for a month or two.

...

Oh. One last thing.

Man is it torturous to try to add strength training when the exercises don't match and who knows what to call the things he had me do. I made my best guesses, but reps were all over the place learning how much was the right resistance.

How do you regular gym-goers figure them out?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LIVING4APURPOSE 1/10/2012 4:56PM

The whole idea about resistance training is to give muscle a workout so what I do is I pick a weight at which the last few reps become challenging enough..so say if you have 20 pounds of which you are able to do 12-15 reps with ease..I will add more pound in next round. Report Inappropriate Comment

DEC2DEC 1/10/2012 3:02PM

Trainers rarely use machines. Machines isolate muscles, which means your other muscles don't have to balance, stabilize, etc. You'll get a better workout doing a similar exercise with free weights or bands for that reason. Trainers also do combo movements that mimic functional movement -- again, better for you in the long run. Here's the thing though. You don't need personal trainers even if you decide to use free weights or bands, and certainly not if you use the machines. If you know what you want, do it and don't feel guilty. About the exercises -- there's a feature where you can "Add New." Do that using whatever name you can remember and favorite it. Then you can just select from a short list. Report Inappropriate Comment

TMCLEOD4 1/10/2012 2:18PM

I don't go to the gym anymore. I never used my "free" personal training sessions because I didn't want the hard sell you went through. I feel for you and have more respect for you enduring it and not giving in. As far as tracking the ST. I try to figure out which muscle group I worked and find an exercise that works the same ones. If I didn't know the number of reps I did, I'd guess. It sounds like you have a pretty good understanding of which muscles you are working, so that might be do-able. Report Inappropriate Comment

JEANNETTE59 1/10/2012 12:50PM

I love it when they try to put it back on you. You listen to all the reasons for having a personal trainer, while trying to get a word in edgewise. Finally the "salesperson" comes up for air and you snatch the moment. I really just want a workout plan that meets my needs, like an explanation of the available equipment. Salesperson acts frustrated and treats you like you are not too bright. Don't you understand that you are only cheating yourself? You really need a personal trainer if you are going to succeed! You jump back in, maybe a little louder let those considering buying a membership know what they're in for, I don't want an overpriced personal trainer. Get up and walk out. Ha, now who's not too bright? Sorry, touchy subject, been there done that. Report Inappropriate Comment

GETMETO50 1/10/2012 12:30PM

Ok here is my take on this...I have belonged to 3 different gyms and all 3 screwed me over royally! They push the training sessions hard because as everyone else said that is where they get the most money...and most gyms once you sign that paper you are stuck with it whether you use it or not and if you decide you don't like the way they are training you too bad you signed the paper and they can drop you and you still have to pay...do I sound bitter...you bet I do! Yes, it is important to do the exercises right but you don't really need a trainer for that...and any good gym will show you how to use each machine properly for free anyway. You can google all the different exercises for each muscle group and almost all of them have videos on youtube or elsewhere that will show you exactly how to do them right. Seriously it is your money but I would not do it...and if they are pushing you that hard to do it that is a HUGE red flag IMO. I have been screwed every time thinking "this gym might be different" and I ended up with trainers who seemed bored and rushed and spent 20 minutes with me then put me on a treadmill and walked away...that was the hour long session I was paying for! They have a good racket going...google gym scams and horror stories before you sign anything! I speak from experience...I know others who had good experiences but they also had the money to burn. Report Inappropriate Comment

THETURTLEBEAR 1/10/2012 12:11PM

Exactly as others said: gyms make their money with personal trainers. Period. Report Inappropriate Comment

PARASELENIC 1/10/2012 10:30AM

Good job sticking to your guns. Since you have one more session, maybe you should try to take control, indicating what you want to work on and asking for exercises specific to that. If they come back with a "well you have to sign up for special snowflake personal training sessions" spit on them and run away. or don't because you might get kicked out of the gym, but really, if a personal trainer session is presented in the way this last one was, that's not a great sell. Any dipwad can run me around from place to place in a gym forcing me to do a few reps of all the things-- but that's useless. A personal training session should be just that: PERSONAL TRAINING. Even if it's an intro, personalize it to me, fer criminy. /end rant. This is not my fight. Sorry I got a little huffy there. Report Inappropriate Comment

OPTIMIST1948 1/10/2012 10:19AM

Hmm. There should be other personal trainers at the gym. OR you stand up for yourself and say "I didnt enjoy our session last time. It was (A)(B)(C)." And if they have an ounce of sense, it wont be a hard sell and it will be useful for you. Report Inappropriate Comment

SANDYB223 1/10/2012 7:44AM

I am not a gym goer, but I can imagine that it must be frustrating to be pressured like that. Hang in there, and enjoy the wonderful workouts you are treating yourself to. Report Inappropriate Comment

TREESA57 1/10/2012 6:55AM

I would also like to add, when you are a paying customer the pace is slower, it is totally geared to you. As to not using the machines a lot, no they dont because once you know what to do you can use them yourself if you still want to. After I worked with a trainer for a while I only used the machines for extra cardio and cool down exercises. A good trainer teaches you how to work your muscles in ways you had no idea they can be worked. I have a routine I can do using all the machines, one using all free wights and balls etc, But my favorite work out is a combo of all he taught me using a bosu ball and bands and squats and some weights and starting and ending on the treadmill. Good luck on your decision as to whether you decide to have a trainer. But trust them if you do. Dont be afraid to ask them to show you again its their job and your money. Have fun! Report Inappropriate Comment

IILAAD65 1/10/2012 1:33AM

First, they always sell the personal trainer because that's where they make their money. The free sessions are NOT going to target anything but just give you a taste of having a trainer with you. PLUS you are a regular exerciser - you need some extra type of things to do and someone to push you. That puts you in a different "group" of people than the norm. Don't beat yourself up hon... sounds like you have your head on straight and they are out to make money. Do what you know best! You can do it! Report Inappropriate Comment

I don't like feeling "made" to do something, even good stuff

Monday, January 09, 2012

Pretty much exactly what the title says.

I'm horribly independent. As a 6-year-old, I was shown the way I could walk to school. I walked a different way so that I did not have to put up with crossing guards telling me when I could cross. It wouldn't have harmed me to go that way, but I went a different way.

That same mindset shines through my entire life.

I do not tend to ask for help unless I've evaluated a situation and can find no other reasonable or unreasonable alternative, and even then I'll procrastinate until it's almost too late before asking.

So ...

As of January 1st, the city I live in has outlawed plastic bags from any retail store. Consumers have two choices - buy paper bags at the checkstand OR buy / bring their own reusable bag.

Okay, I'm all happy it's something "green" I suppose.

However, when I'm carrying groceries on the bus, paper just ain't gonna cut it. Anything a little damp and I seriously worry about it breaking apart on me. Paper handles just do not feel as secure as plastic that is part of the bag.

I also can't reuse the paper bags for much. They don't make good garbage bags (what I reuse plastic for all the time). Instead, I have to pay for a one-time use bag I'll turn around and put in the recycling bin. Where I already put surplus plastic bags.

Then I look at the reusable bags. Cloth versions of the paper ones. Sturdy enough. Okay. Um ... where's the simple sedate colors? No, I don't want bright red and store-branded or blue with a logo and store brand or O_o green and purple, pastel blue, or pink. *GAG!* I'm not paying $2-5 each for bags to advertise a store, especially not when I need 5 or 6 at least.

Do you know I honestly considered just taking a different bus route, adding in 15 minutes, to go to a grocery store in the next city over? That's just sad.

And I actually DID shop in another next city over today and end up with a plastic bag. A plastic bag in which I had the solution I came up with.

You see, joining the gym yesterday and the plan being that I get off my first bus at my usual transfer point and head right into the gym instead of walking home. But that means I'll be in work clothes and I'm not going to work out in dress pants and a dress shirt. I need sweats, T-shirt, and a towel. Must remember my towel. (Don't Panic!)

Ding ding! I need a duffel bag. Not only is it useful for having the change I need for the gym, it's perfect for toting the groceries in. (Already did my shopping with it tonight and it was!)

So instead of ugly and branded, I have athletic looking. Score!

And I can feel all proud that no one "made" me do something.

/facepalm

Sometimes I just wonder about myself.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JEANNETTE59 1/9/2012 7:21PM

Very clever, I like to use a for short shopping trips. Report Inappropriate Comment

GETMETO50 1/9/2012 5:56PM

why do you think I have been obese all these years...when people tell me I have to lose weight, or that I am not healthy (even thought I always have been...I am one of those people who are overweight and healthy thank God!) That just makes me want to say oh yeah...you don't like the way I look, I embarrass you being this fat...uh huh you watch me...I know it is childish but I feel like they "win" when I do something they tell me to do...I am over that and doing it for myself but that rebellion is still there! Report Inappropriate Comment

KITTYC8 1/9/2012 5:10PM

That is hilarious! A kindred spirit! When someone tries to tell me what to do I DIG MY HEELS IN! Report Inappropriate Comment

SANDYB223 1/9/2012 3:22PM

Great idea!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

RESCUE_NINJA 1/9/2012 3:19PM

Great post -- and what a great idea. The duffel will be easier to carry than a shopping bag & will surely hold a boatload of groceries. Just be sure to get one that can be washed...don't want your gym clothes smelling like rotten food, lol. Report Inappropriate Comment

VICKIEBETH 1/9/2012 2:57PM

Good idea. We don't have those rules here yet, but I'm set with tote bags, I make them or get them from shows and such. Thank you for the goodie. :) Have a great day! Not because someone made you but because you want to. Report Inappropriate Comment

DEC2DEC 1/9/2012 12:12PM

Wow! Such a great idea! Love SLEE's idea about the canvas totes too. Report Inappropriate Comment

CTUPTON 1/9/2012 11:54AM

I am definitely in the obstinate club, too! Chris Report Inappropriate Comment

THETURTLEBEAR 1/9/2012 11:19AM

Brilliant flexible solution! Report Inappropriate Comment

CRYSTLE4HIMTX10 1/9/2012 10:55AM

Love it. Report Inappropriate Comment

LGAR519 1/9/2012 9:14AM

I believe "obstinate" is the word you're looking for. I've had it applied to me countless times! Report Inappropriate Comment

MISSJACQUE 1/9/2012 6:47AM

Don't forget your runners! I use the store bags, but we only pay 99 cents a bag. The kids say I'm reminding the other stores that I will/do shop elsewhere so they better compete for my business. Report Inappropriate Comment

LIVING4APURPOSE 1/9/2012 2:32AM

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ELUNAMAKATA 1/9/2012 1:13AM

Another option you could try? Plain canvas totes from the crafts department ;-) they are bigger than the traditional reusable bag, and have big handles to use like a shoulder bag. And if you are feeling particularly crafty you could decorate it. Or not, and it's still fine. And they are easily washable in the washing machine if you do have a food mishap with it! (ever lost a piece of fruit for a while **shudders**) Report Inappropriate Comment

Squirrels on fences, burning leaves, and other randomity

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Weird blog title, I know.

Starting with squirrels on fences - this actually happened last weekend, when I was doing my walking on the trail for my fitness testing. Somewhere around the 3/4 mile marker, a squirrel ahead of me hopped up onto the fence that runs along the trail. He skitters along, me catching up, but instead of going up any of the trees he passes, he keeps stopping to look back at me until I'm closer, then scurries ahead again. The fence changed heights and he effortlessly hopped up to the higher one to continue this little race. Only as the 1 mile marker came into sight did the fence take a jog about two feet further away from the trail and in the process of moving on that, I got ahead of him. At which point he gave me a look and went back in the other direction.

I felt like a greyhound with one of those mechanical squirrels on the fence to pace them and was laughing as I was walking along.


Burning leaves was far less humourous. Being Winter now, most of our trees are dropping most of their leaves. (Yeah, yeah ... where I live we hit freezing temp, 32F or 0C, what seems like exactly one night a year. Trees do start dropping leaves in September, but it carries on into February before most are bare - possibly depending on the variety of tree.) It also hasn't rained much. Wind, fog, but minimal rain. And lastly, most of the city garbage, recycling and yard waste pickups are weekday mornings. This all adds up to many collections of dry leaves in the gutters.

Walking home tonight, it's a bit breezy and suddenly I see about a half-block ahead of me, a small area of flames. At the street corner of the block I'm about to cross to, the leaves in the gutter have been set aflame. Most likely culprit either a driver or pedestrian carelessly tossing aside a cigarette.

The wind is fanning it up, keeping the flames going as I get near. Small ... no more than 6-12 inches high and confined for the time-being to an area no bigger than 6 inches by 12 inches by about 3-4 inches deep. Thankfully, the wind dies down a little as I get closer, and it settles into smoldering rather than outright flames. BUT, there's dead leaves all along in the gutter on down the street. I can just see another breeze stirring it back up and sending it off toward the cars parked nearby and real trouble.

First thing I did was use my foot to clear about 4 feet of leaves along the curb in the direction of the first car. Worst case, it would really have to blow (... which I hear it doing outside now) to carry a spark to continue toward danger. Then I headed inside the grocery store that is on that corner, got one of their employees to come out and see it - and she ran off to get something to extinguish it completely. It wasn't flaming any more, but it was seriously glowing red, smoldering and smoking, which the light breeze was actually blowing toward the store at that point.

Whew.

Grrrrrrrr.

More randomity. I had thought about seeing the musical CATS with my daughter, planned to, then discovered I misread the schedule. The showings ended 1 Jan. We might go see West Side Story instead or wait for Beauty and the Beast in March. To be seen. Also hoping to add in a Sharks game, with DS if he wants to go. DDa isn't sure she'd want to see the fights.

And more. I love walking after the sun has set. I've been noticing how different buildings light up at night. One has red and blue lights together and glows a very interesting shade. Not the best pic I could have done because it's with the cell phone and a very brief stop from walking, but:



Finally, the first destination today was a fitness store. I'd made a goal to buy some dumbbells so I could do one of the Bootcamp challenges. Unfortunately, I wasn't too keen on the plain cast iron ones (poorly done - rough edges on them) or on the Neoprene ones (never liked the feel of that stuff). I also considered the price and realized that as I get stronger, I'd have to keep buying new ones. I'd have to carry them home, and over time have more and more of them to manage - even though I'd no longer need the lighter ones.

I'd written in an earlier blog that I'd decided against Bally Fitness, mostly based on the low likelihood I'd spend much time there because I use walking to get much of my cardio. What dawned on me today was that I definitely would get a use out of it for the weight machines and free weights - something I spend around 30 minutes doing at home 3 days a week right now.

So I walked from the Fitness store to a McDonald's for lunch, then from there all the way back to the Bally Fitness downtown. I got a tour of the place. (Amusingly, I was most impressed by the women's locker room. From outside, I expected it to be pretty small. Instead, there was a long room with many many lockers, then a room with sinks and a counter with hair-dryers, then the toilet stalls and a changing room and more sinks, then the steam room, then the showers - individual ones with curtains.) I've seen it from outside plenty - when I get off my first bus to walk home. It's kept really clean and spacious looking.

So I paid for my membership. Since I know I'll be using it consistently, I went with paying a lump in advance which comes out to a per-month cost I'm more than happy with.

Then I walked on home from there, coming out to a grand total of almost 4 miles walked today. And did my ST which I put off from last night because I just did not feel up to it.

Lastly, I worked out the calories for today, and made myself a stuffed peppers dinner that comes as two servings - but the totals for 2 worked out for my daily allotments. I was really hungry when I started, but now I've got about half a pepper left ... and my stomach says it is too full. Yeesh. I'll leave it counted, I guess, and put it away to finish tomorrow.

Edit: Oh, yeah - changed my "by Spring" goal, so it has been modified from getting dumbbells and other equipment to do a Bootcamp challenge to going to the gym three nights a week for my strength training. I have an appt. on Monday to work with a personal trainer (listed as ... Gaga) and then I'll have a real plan to go by.

Good night peeps.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SANDYB223 1/9/2012 3:28PM

Congrats on your your new gym membership!! ENJOY!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

JOANNAATKINSON 1/8/2012 6:50PM

Great job on the gym membership - I know I tend to work harder when I go to the gym. My biggest challenge is getting there. I would really like a steady "gym partner" to challenge me, and I hoped that would be my son or my husband, but neither will go with me consistently. Instead of being strong and going without them, my past behavior has just been to skip it. Not this year - My new self is saying "if they wanna go, great. If not, it is their loss, not mine." Report Inappropriate Comment

THETURTLEBEAR 1/8/2012 6:24PM

Phew - lots of stuff doing on!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CRYSTLE4HIMTX10 1/8/2012 6:17PM

Too cool about the squirrel. Report Inappropriate Comment

LIVING4APURPOSE 1/8/2012 5:19PM

You got this one!! Report Inappropriate Comment

DEC2DEC 1/8/2012 10:33AM

That sounds like a good day. Enjoy the strength training at Bally's -- I agree, it's nice to let them supply all the equipment!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LGAR519 1/8/2012 7:50AM

Sounds like you have the New Year under control. Your new membership sounds wonderful! Love the squirrel story. Good you saw the fire and got help! Report Inappropriate Comment

Lifestyle Change is NOT a politically correct term for a Diet

Friday, January 06, 2012

This is one of the other blog thoughts that has been rattling around in my skull since late December. (I apologize in advance if anyone feels “fat” is a mean term to use. I used it here because I’m trying to encompass everything from chubby on up to morbidly obese in a very general way.)


Too TOO often "Lifestyle Change" is simply inserted in place of "a Diet" in comments, threads, blogs ... even a few articles make it sound almost equivalent, scary enough. For some, it has become the politically correct way for many to say they're trying to lose weight without using that four-letter word Diet. Many have heard the saying that "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". Yet somehow calling the same old Diet actions a "Lifestyle change" is expected to produce different results.


So ... what makes a "Lifestyle Change" different from the same-old, same-old changes we might have made in past attempts to lose weight? Before I answer, I'm grabbing this off of Wikipedia as I think it's rather important to be clear on just what a lifestyle IS ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_(soc
iology) :

+++++++++++
A lifestyle is a characteristic bundle of behaviors that makes sense to both others and oneself in a given time and place, including social relations, consumption, entertainment, and dress. The behaviors and practices within lifestyles are a mixture of habits, conventional ways of doing things, and reasoned actions.
+++++++++++

Pay attention to that: a lifestyle is the COMBINATION of the actions, not each of the specific actions involved.

What lifestyle were we living before we decided to “do something about it this time”? Probably not the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. More like “Lifestyles of the Fat and getting Fatter”.

What sort of behaviors make sense within that Lifestyle? Buying the yummy snacks we love to eat in large quantities so we always have enough. Taking daytime naps or just lounging on the couch because we’re worn out from the day. Wearing loose and baggy clothing to cover up the bulges and be comfortable.

Also, while those particular lifestyles I listed seem rather broad, our own specific case is unique to us. There are commonalities with others, but it’s not as simple as FAT. I’m a mother of adult children who no longer live with me. Some Sparkers have children, some young, some grown, their own or adopted. Some have grandchildren. Some have no children. Some are married, some are in relationships, some are single. Some are financially hitting bottom, some are struggling along, some are coasting. The possible variety is endless.

Each of those parts of our identity and circumstance help to further define the lifestyle we lead. They are all part of why a behavior “makes sense” to us.

A fat person eats more because their body genuinely needs more to fuel it. Eating more makes sense, not just as some deliberate rational decision, but because of physical necessity. That’s one commonality between pretty much all people living a FAT lifestyle.

Some fat people wear black or baggy clothing, trying to hide themselves as much as possible. They might spend as little time outside as possible to avoid people. Others wear zany colors and patterns, living life as large as they are, often trying to outshine the weight with their personality. Both parts are behaviors of a FAT lifestyle, but near opposites based on the individual.

=======================

Now back to the question of what makes a “Lifestyle Change” that isn’t just a euphemism for a Diet.

Obviously to change away from a FAT lifestyle, we have to decide on a NEW lifestyle to live. The most common one to turn to is the DIETER lifestyle:

We start to drink more water because it will help us feel fuller, help us eat less, help us lose weight. We control what we eat, when we eat, how we eat. We add in exercise, especially cardio because it burns calories, often working out more and/or harder because we didn’t control what we ate so well. We turn down cake because we’ve made a lifestyle change. We eat breakfast, with protein, because it will make us less hungry the rest of the day. We scour books and websites and ask friends for tips and advise and apply what we can. We weigh in regularly.

Nearly every action, behavior and habit is directly tied to “losing weight”, “losing fat”, “getting skinny”, or whatever words we use for not being FAT.

What happens if we goof up and fall off the wagon, dropping out those habits? We usually go right back to the familiar and comfortable lifestyle we had – FAT lifestyle.

What happens after we lose all the pounds we wanted to, fit into that dress or tuxedo, went on that vacation? We don’t need the DIETER lifestyle any more. Some people manage to switch over onto the MAINTAINER lifestyle. Many others drop right back to the FAT lifestyle because they never really thought that far ahead. In both of those cases, weight remains the major dictator of habits and behaviors.

A few find a different answer, sometimes skipping DIETER, sometimes spending time as a DIETER before something clicks.

====================

For me, I’m aiming for a FIT lifestyle.

I drink water because my body is 80% water and loses it regularly through sweat, urine, spit, mucus, and more. I drink water because my cells are most effective fighting disease if they are properly hydrated.

I exercise because my heart and lungs are muscles and need to be maintained to continue functioning well. I exercise because I love the feeling of being able to run up a flight of stairs or walk miles without huffing and puffing.

I eat breakfast because it makes me more alert and aware, fueling my body properly to handle things in the morning (a time when I am otherwise a mindless zombie being a night owl).

I eat healthier foods because they allow my body to make necessary repairs and my digestive functions to be regular and appropriate.

I take ME time to recharge and energize because then I can deal with the more negative people or the life obstacles I face.

I’m not there yet. But I’m trying to live as though I am. All of my habits and behaviors and actions are focused on a desired level of physical, mental and emotional fitness.

I’m not living a DIETER lifestyle. I’m not planning to live a MAINTAINER lifestyle.

If my scale told me 225 for the next month, I wouldn’t get frantic about trying to lose weight by eating less, work out more, weigh myself more often, ask what I’m doing wrong. Those are all behaviors that are straight out of a DIETER lifestyle.

Instead, I’d look at what behaviors are keeping the weight on me and ask whether they fit into a FIT lifestyle. I’d also look at what other FIT lifestyle habits and behaviors I might want to add that would help. It might end up being a matter of eating less. But the reason why I’d eat less would be that I recalculated my BMR and found that my range was off. It might be a matter of removing something from my diet, such as red meat. But that would be carefully tested to see if I felt more fit doing so and could still reach my nutrition requirements.

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Now, my choice of a new lifestyle may not be the same as yours. Nor will all my behaviors and actions and habits in that new lifestyle match yours.

But the next time you talk about making a “Lifestyle Change”, ask yourself what the lifestyle is that you’re trying to live – not what habit you’re changing that’s part of your current lifestyle.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

OPTIMIST1948 1/10/2012 10:20AM

Thank you for saying something that needed to be said. Report Inappropriate Comment

JEANNETTE59 1/7/2012 1:11PM

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MJMONE 1/7/2012 10:49AM

thanks, this is exactly what I needed to hear Report Inappropriate Comment

ELLENSANGEL 1/7/2012 10:40AM

Well said, woman. Report Inappropriate Comment

JOANNAATKINSON 1/7/2012 8:46AM

Love it - and so true. Report Inappropriate Comment

SLIMMERJESSE 1/7/2012 12:42AM

Interesting blog. Report Inappropriate Comment

AMBERZADE 1/7/2012 12:36AM

You're right, if the behaviors that go with "Diet" are just brushed up and given the new label "Lifestyle Change" then there is no difference between going on a diet and changing your lifestyle. Very interesting. Report Inappropriate Comment

RAINBOWMF 1/6/2012 9:54PM

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REDSHOES2011 1/6/2012 9:19PM

blog people do really think like this.. Report Inappropriate Comment

TRAVLNWOMAN 1/6/2012 9:00PM

You really have opened my eyes with your words! I get so hung up on saying the words "losing" weight and "diet". I know I have made a lifestyle change. I never asked what lifestyle I was changing it to. I exercise, I eat less but deny myself nothing. I'm learning to eat vegetables and I am losing weight. Now I am going to think about what lifestyle I am changing to. Report Inappropriate Comment

THETURTLEBEAR 1/6/2012 8:36PM

Ok! Report Inappropriate Comment

JPAMPY 1/6/2012 8:17PM

I though this was a very interesting perspective! Thanks for sharing. Report Inappropriate Comment

Time to revisit those

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Three of my goals in 2011 were not met. Two were my December goals and one was a "by Winter" goal. Amusingly, right about the time I was doing my review of my 2011 goals, I moved into the next strategy of Stage 3 - You Can Overcome Setbacks with an action step of blogging about a single "trouble goal".

Now, first off, I didn't really consider failing to meet the three goals as a setback. I'm progressing along nicely in the overall focus I want to have. But, I definitely did learn something from the difficulty I had with these goals that I can use making better goals and deciding what I really want.

+++++++++++++++++++

The first goal that I failed to meet was one I could tell by mid-month that I'd written poorly:

4) Increase my protein consumption

Er, increase it from what to what? I completely failed to even look at what it was on average or decide on what I wanted it to be. I only knew that I was regularly having to fill dinner or evening with something to get it to the minimum daily (60g per the SP defaults). All I knew by mid-month I felt like I wasn't really getting anywhere with it, but didn't know why it was so hard.

So, after writing that blog and calling it NOT DONE, I did some reports for comparison. My monthly average for protein in October was 78g then November dropped to 71g then December climbed to 75g. Technically I did "increase" my protein in December compared to November. It had already clicked that I needed a specific, an amount to work for. So my January goal became:

2) Push monthly average protein to 80g

So far I've gotten it over 80g every single day. I feel much better about the goal and like it's more measurable to me and am confident I'll keep it up.

The only trouble with that goal was my lack of knowing exactly what I wanted. I couldn't produce something vague.

+++++++++++++++++++++

My other two goals are two parts of the same puzzle piece:

3) More new recipes tried out - at least three
4) Be actively using whichever menu planner I've picked.

This general area has "always" been an issue for me. It isn't about weight. It isn't about eating right. It isn't about saving money. Or, at least, those aren't the driving reasons.

There's emotional crud clinging to my ability and willingness to cook. Long story as short as I can make it here, I learned to cook in a Junior High School class, enjoying it immensely. One night I spontaneously decided to create home-made pot pies, not even with a recipe, for family dinner. (Everyone was out, but due back later.) They went over quite well.

Great, right?

Not really. The step-mother decided it meant I was now responsible for cooking dinner every other night instead of her. For a family of 8. It immediately went from pleasure to grueling chore. And I learned how to burn, overcook, undercook, etc. until she finally gave up and banned me from the kitchen.

This is some 30 years later, and I have rarely been able to reclaim that sense of wanting to be in the kitchen for me, for the simple pleasure of cooking. Making cookies I did fine - that was a long-time habit with my kids on Saturday to make chocolate chip cookies from scratch. Anything else? Something always made it a chore.

My EX didn't help. Being Latin, one of the big complaints he had about me was that I wasn't a happy (or even unhappy, but doing the work) housewife. I worked as many hours as him, made more than him, and he wanted me to come home and cook and clean while he watched TV ... and take care of the kids too. Yeah, joy, chores and more chores.


Interestingly, what brought me to SparkPeople at all was that a Google search for a free menu planner came up with it among others. And that was also why I didn't even start anything back when I first made the account. I found the menu planner completely inadequate (still do) for what I need and want. I came back for the tracking after a fellow WOW player had mentioned some of what she does here, and am I ever glad I did. (Props to JAHCANNON for the inadvertent Sparking at the time.)


Anyway, that's the core idea behind me pushing these goals on myself. I want to get back to cooking. Now that it's finally just me that I'm feeding, it's not something I have to do because the EX is hungry or the kids are hungry. It's something I can do because I want to.

Of course, I'm trying to do it with a major obstacle that won't always exist. My current living arrangement is such that I only use microwaves (at home and at work). I only have one shelf in a refrigerator, a partial shelf in the freezer, and a shelf in the cupboard. I don't have a lot of space for kitchen utensils or containers. I don't have a cutting board and only have a steak knife, nor do I have a food processor or blender right now. Oh, and I'm trying to only prepare one serving meals at a time as there isn't really room for leftovers.

Being an oddly picky eater ... and cookbooks give me real trouble. I do not eat seafood. Tuna is the only exception. I've tried lobster, I've tried restaurant made fish. There goes the entire seafood section and at least half the soup section and a good chunk of the appetizer section. I won't touch soy in any form knowingly. I'm pretty iffy on things like cream cheese - never got into bagels, am not usually keen on cheesecake. I also don't like most sausages (something about the spices chosen), and even have trouble with pastas like lasagna that use that as the main meat. I don't like whole fruits ... it's a mental battle to bite into an apple, even if I will eat it sliced and love it as juice.

Yeah, I know, I'm weird. I will say that I don't mind trying a food I've never tried before. I'm just very specific once I taste something as to whether I like or don't like it.

In December I went through three cookbooks trying to find recipes. One was for gourmet food for one or two. I should have read it - the author is a no-red meat person who is closer to a vegetarian, but did list a few chicken recipes and quite a few fish ones. Needless to say, other than veggie soups, I didn't find much. And those required more chopping than I can do right now.

The other two were microwave, one focused on 1-2 person items and the other from the microwave manufacturer with 6-8 person meals. I did try a tomato and broccoli one with cheese topping ... and learned that I do NOT like frozen broccoli microwaved. Yuck. I'll eat my tomatoes and broccoli fresh and raw. I also reduced a sloppy joe potato recipe down to a hearty meal (and discovered that even without potato and cheese, it's good stuff).

+++++++++++++++++++++

Okay, went on a lot more than planned on that in this blog and didn't cover the meal planner side. I am actually starting to push the envelope on what I cook for myself. But I think making it a goal came too close to making it into a chore - I kept cringing every time a few more days passed and I ~HAD~ to try to read more recipes. So that is getting tossed out the window as a goal.

I want to ~WANT~ to cook, to build my skill based on core things. Learning to cook eggs in the microwave and ground beef, for example, have been really helpful and can be the basis on which a variety of things can be made (omelettes, spiced beef for meal or filling). So I'm just going to look for a website I had found at one point that was a very broad overview of how to cook with a microwave, how to experiment, which things worked or didn't and why - and learn loosely without any pressure.

(( Oh, and this is too long to really talk about the meal planner situation. But, for the way I'm tracking and eating mostly pre-made meals right now, SP's tracker is sufficient to pre-plan for specific things and otherwise just record what I eat. I will keep putting recipes and favorites into the Meal Planner software with a very long-term goal for it to be part of my kitchen when I have my own place. ))

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

EMP9MM 1/6/2012 5:20PM

Lot's of great advice here. I'm going to add mine too. A small handblender is inexpensive and doesn't take up a lot of space. I can see how not being specific can make it hard to reach a goal. I have made that mistake myself, but didn't figure it out till months down the road when I had given up on ever reaching it. on figuring it out and not giving up! Report Inappropriate Comment

SANDYB223 1/6/2012 7:26AM

Best to you in meeting all your goals in 2012!! You have my support for sure!! Let's do this!! Report Inappropriate Comment

AMBERZADE 1/6/2012 12:05AM

This is my third attempt trying to respond to your blog so .... here goes!! I completely understand your goal of WANTING to WANT to cook. I had the same goal. I now go to www.myrecipes.com or allrecipes.com, pick out 3 recipes or so, let the site generate a shopping list for me, and then make the recipes over a period of a couple of weeks. My son and I already have a few favorites that have made repeat appearances. It's worked out real well. Of course that doesn't help you because you situation is difficult. Honestly, I don't know enough about cooking to be able to advise you. I'm sure you'll figure it out though. Someone mentioned a crock pot. Another thing you might try is a small George Foreman. I don't know if you have the room for it but if you do, it's definitely worth it. Also, a rice cooker with a steamer tray for steaming vegetables. Report Inappropriate Comment

_JODI404 1/5/2012 10:22PM

I was wondering why it could only be microwave... this answers that. I can certainly relate to being a picky eater! I am the most ridiculous, pickiest person ever. No seafood at all....almost no fruits -- thank goodness for my smoothie. It's a wonder that I do eat well considering the vast list of what I will not touch. Good luck with your goals. The protein was a great example for the need to be specific, and sounds like you are doing awesome with it! Report Inappropriate Comment

CRYSTLE4HIMTX10 1/5/2012 9:13PM

A small crock pot is another way to cook a small meal without needing a lot of space. Report Inappropriate Comment

LGAR519 1/5/2012 8:52PM

I'm still a picky eater at my age. Makes it hard to control hyperglycemia too. And heaven forbid I would have to cook in a microwave. An electric stove is bad enough. Good luck with your goals! Report Inappropriate Comment

THETURTLEBEAR 1/5/2012 8:35PM

Good luck with all of this! Report Inappropriate Comment