On March 1, 2020, I took pictures and measurements and realized I was at the pit of my fitness journey, the heaviest I’ve ever been. Working out made me happy and I had been doing it every day for years, but the preceding six months of bad food decisions created a body I didn’t recognize.
I got fat
I felt it happening. First, I went on a cruise in September 2019 and ate an obscene amount of calories. Then I ate my way around Europe for a bit. I spent a lot of time visiting my parents and eating loads of carb-loaded comfort food, spending weeks in Illinois in October and December 2019, and January, and February 2020.
When I was home in Denver, I ate out a lot. A lot. Sometimes, I even ate out alone. More than occasionally, I’d eat out more than once in a day.
In February 2020, I made indulgence my theme on my resolutions chart and took that as a sign that I could eat a lot of junk.
So, by March 1, 2020, I could tell the difference in myself. My thighs rubbed together in a new and disturbing way. This is chafing apparently. I felt my body grow soft and heavy and squishy. My clothes didn’t fit as well and then didn’t fit period. I’ve never had my jeans not fit before. Workouts were harder.
This picture is…not my favorite.
After taking that picture, I decided that I missed my old body and loaded up on healthy resolutions. I slipped back into the habit of eating better pretty easily. It’s a muscle. You never forget to ride a bike.
I don’t remember how long it took me and I didn’t have a scale, so I don’t know how much I weigh in that picture. I’m petite, so any extra weight is very noticeable. It doesn’t take much to make a difference either way!
I got fit again
I wrote this article in, as you probably guessed, March 2020 and then I forgot about it. But I lost the weight! And I’ve kept it off. The pandemic happened and I couldn’t eat out, I met boyfriend who eats super healthy, I was making a conscious effort to eat less, etc.
I just didn’t really tell you about it because I’ve already told you about fitness how many times. Here’s what I look like now.
Now I know what I have to do. Never let your guard down when it comes to food. Look in the mirror and don’t ignore the way your body feels and looks. It’s easy to lose track if you’re not paying attention. Take pictures and scrutinize. Your health is more important than anything else. Sorry to be so preachy.
Appearance is a consequence of fitness
In the first picture, I cannot do a pull-up. In the second picture, I can. Appearance is a consequence of fitness.
Nobody can gift you your physique. You have to earn it. You have to work hard regularly to maintain it.
Strong bodies demonstrate work ethic. You can’t achieve this without diligence. That’s why we’re attracted to them. It’s shows you have discipline and discipline is sexy as hell.
Be able to do 15 pushups upon request. Or a few pull ups. Or more than a few. If your muscles are able to do that, they will tell the world. You won’t have to say anything.
Appearance is a consequence of fitness.
I mutter this phrase to myself regularly when I work out.
If you’re constantly making your body do hard things, it’ll show.
But working out isn’t enough.
It’s all diet, baby
Diet is more important than exercise. You sculpt your body in the kitchen. Or in the dining room if that’s where you normally eat. I was working out every day, but it didn’t matter. You can’t outrun, out-yoga, or even out-ultra marathon an overconsumption of calories. There aren’t enough hours in the day.
And in our world, in this time period, calories are abundant and screaming at you with their lovely, lovely taste. Eat me! Eat me!
All this combines to make it laughably easy to overeat. I’m laughing at how easy it is. And what you eat matters about 10,000 times more than the exercise you do in terms of fitness. Which means probably even the best of us overeat. It’s just so easy to. Anyone can get fat.
So you see the conundrum?
Diet + Activity Level = Physique
I know. Working on the activity level side of the equation is fun. Working on the diet side of the equation is not as fun. One might even say it’s blech.
Losing weight is hard. You’re going to be hungry some of the time. There’s no circumventing that. If you want to lose weight, you have to eat less. Your stomach will shrink eventually and you’ll get used to the smaller portions, but that takes time. You will be uncomfortable. You will be exhausted after working out. It’s probably worth it.
I’m just telling you this because I love and care about you.
Love to read your updates Thriftygal! Glad you feel better and a great achievement to reach your current level of fitness and physique. I’d like to add that you didn’t look so terrible in your 2020 photo but it’s your own feeling that counts and matters.
Congratulations on doing it again!
And thanks for keeping us motivated. Your posts really help.
I’m so glad!!
Ha, thanks! I don’t think I look okay, but I appreciate your assurance!!
Yes, I’ve also come to the same conclusion (and sometimes I weigh in at -60kg for tournaments so I’m very aware of what I weigh). Disordered eating is a different thing (though somewhat related) but eating doesn’t have to be disordered to keep at a weight that feels healthy.
60 kgs!!!
Good job!
Have you used anything to track your food intake? I’ve had success with the free version of MyFitnessPal. It seems useful in starting new habits, and I find after using it for a month I can run on autopilot until I decide on a new goal.
I bartered financial coaching for strength coaching, and of course the first thing he had me do was increase my protein intake. Using the app for a few weeks helped me dial that in.
Food for thought 😉.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ve never tried my fitness pal, but I’ll check it out!
That took real courage to put up the first pic! Congratulations on getting it back in control! About 5 years ago at age 50 I started living with a girlfriend that can COOK. Even though I’m working out 5 – 6 days a week it has been a losing battle ever since, my hedonistic impulses just get the best of me. So I caved and got on semaglutied and it has been a miracle!
It’s like having a mean food nanny. Eat or drink too much? WHACK! Heartburn. Eat crap? WHACK! Heartburn. It’s teaching me to behave, I’m eating less than a quarter of what I used to with no more cravings or hunger. Same excellent high protein food from an amazing girlfriend, just much less of it. Lost 6.5 lbs in the first two weeks, only 35 more to go then my Dr has a plan to wean me off but I’m betting the negative reinforcement training will stick.
I’ve never heard of that! I just looked it up. So interesting!
Good for you !!!
Thanks!!
There were to be images? I recall them from before, but see none with this installment. 🙁
To be images? I’m not sure what you mean
Love and care about u, too—terrific post!
Hugs!
In my personal opinion, i liked the pic when you were more chubby better, but I think you look good in both. It feels better to be skinny though and is much healthier. Very helpful post, thanks!
That’s so crazy!
Yay! You are actively writing again regularly. How cool. Kudos on re-accomplishing your fitness goal.
That you, Tj! I’m excited to be writing again too!
Make sure to get plenty of protein to keep your muscles up while eating less. It’s hard so I’m trying to work in whey powder in tasty ways. Like oatmeal (if you like oatmeal!)
Whey powder and oatmeal! How interesting.
Well done. Where’s your calorie spreadsheet?
I use a physical notebook for calorie tracking, actually. It’s this one.
Thanks for the great advice!
You’re very welcome!