1. 17:28 26th Jan 2012

    Notes: 4

    Tags: yogalife

    Tumblr replies/messages aren’t long enough! This goes out to sufigeek who requests an insight into weight loss and focus [although focus may have to wait, this post is already too long!].

    I’ve lived a very active life, although I have had periods where I let myself go a little overeating and drinking too much. It is hard for me to understand what it’s like for people that struggle with their weight, although I do empathise.

    For me, it’s less about weight and more about wellness. I’ve never owned scales, although I was mildly obsessed with them as a competitive cyclist (racing weight 69kg, over-weight 94kg, now a happy medium - idk).

    Whatever you enjoy doing, that also has a positive effect on your wellness, simply do more of it. I use this strategy when coming back from injury, or inactivity. Walking? Increase the distance, volume, tempo. Use it as a stepping stone to the next thing.

    read on for an example: The commute to work.

    I live 12km from the city centre, 45 minutes by bus in peak hour. I got tired of sitting, so I started getting off a few stops early. The time it took to walk was roughly the same time spent stuck in traffic, so it was a win all-round.

    The walk took in a few hills and it was varied in route. Sometimes I would walk further, or double up at lunch time. Soon I was feeling strong enough to pack a change of clothes and stop in a park for lunges, push-ups and sit-ups. I’ve returned to this routine during my juice fast, low impact and not too stressful.

    The year before last I started riding to work. The first time I rode home it took an hour and a half. Now that I’ve built up some fitness it takes forty minutes. If I push it, I can get to work in under 35 minutes, faster than the bus.

    When I got knocked of my bike in November last year I could have wallowed in misery and let myself become sedentary, but I picked up my Feldenkrais, and when I was strong enough yoga. Through the recovery I applied the same principle, do more of what you love.

    Now I am spending more time on the bike in the morning, and yoga everyday, sometimes twice.

    Everyday, make a small decision that moves you in the right direction. Start small and build on small victories.

    Watch what you eat, make sure it’s fresh but don’t agonise over it. Enjoy what you eat, but don’t eat too much. On the balance of things, lifelong exercise confers greater benefits than any one particular diet.

    What you are after is incorporating activity into your everyday, for the rest of your life, so it has to be sustainable. Don’t be too hard on yourself!

     
    1. rainbowhill posted this