POST #3: The "You're Already Skinny" Trap

Ever explained to somebody that you wanted to diet/exercise/get fit and they responded, "Oh, you don't need to do that, you're already skinny."

I didn't know if you knew, but you DON'T STAY SKINNY MAGICALLY.

I know, you're shocked.

I'm so sick of the "Well, your metabolism is just higher than mine," excuse. Didn't know if you knew, but metabolism variations between humans are actually not that significant.

Check it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/treatments/healthy_living/your_weight/medical_myths.shtml

In fact, if you're larger than me, you tend to burn more calories to stay at that size than I do to stay at mine. So nyah, nyah.

But, all of that aside, the "you're already skinny" mentality is just the kind of mentality that leads to failure. Thinking that only large people need to diet and exercise is a huge mistake, because once you reach your goal weight, you'll think you're done. But we're never done staying fit.

My point is this: the "already skinny" trap is teasing you into believing that just because you're not overweight means that you have already met your fitness goals. Barf. Out-of-shape skinny and fit skinny are not the same thing.

Us folk with flab have just as much as right to diet and exercise as the overweight and obese folk. Don't let anybody trick you into believing otherwise!

POST #2: Who Am I?

I bet you're saying, who the heck is this chick and what does she know? Why does she think she can TELL ME?

First off, just so we get this straight, I DO tell you.

Secondly, and much less importantly, I am just your average engaged-on-my-way-to-be-married type chick, but probably just a smidgen more crazy than most.

But what's my background, you ask?

Fitness-wise, I was a sloth for my most of my life until I got to college. Once there, I decided on a whim to try out for the swim team. I think while I was under water the coach was laughing at my efforts, but he took pity on me and told me that he would let me be on the team if I put in a few extra practices before the season started.

I put in the extra work. Got on the team. Never was special or won anything.

After that, I got into running - I trained for and ran a 10k (probably in the dumbest way humanly possible), and then trained for a marathon (only made it to the 16-mile run before I stopped).

I've tried various at home work-out routines: video, dance, yoga. You name it, I've tried it.

Heck, I've even tried crash dieting. What a freaking joke.

Being a mental health nurse and having worked in the field of eating disorders, I really should have known better. There is no easy or quick way to slim down that is good for you. There are, however, a multitude of ways to get from point A to point B (and once at point B get some extra-sexy results) if you're willing to put the time in.

So, here I am, laying it all bare for you folk in an effort to get you and myself motivated for the upcoming nine months to the wedding (and for all of the many months after; A.K.A. "the rest of my life"). Let's just start with the next nine months, though, shall we?

I will be sharing my (eek) photos, stats, and other personal information throughout the upcoming months. Terrifying, right?

Let's get to it.