Comfort Zone - Are you willing to let go?

For me trying to lose weight was a trial error process. All through the journey I made mistakes, learned from them and worked towards improving my weight loss plan. I think one of the reasons why I have had so many failed attempts was because I was not willing to leave my comfort zone.I was too comfortable to stop eating out, I did not want to get out of my comfort zone and cook food at home.  When I did start eating healthy my first step was eating healthy at work when I was surrounded by colleagues who also ate healthy basically my first step was to make a move that was the most comfortable choice for me.  I did not have to cook and I was surrounded people who were healthy eaters so no awkward stares/questions.

Being in my comfort zone has both worked for me and sometimes delayed my plan. It‘s good because when you are comfortable it’s easier to stick to a plan but when you are too comfortable  you just continue doing what you do and you are  stuck in the same state you really don’t move ahead do you?

I feel there has to be a balance, you can’t jump into the deep end and expect to be able to continue nor can be in shallow end and expect to improve; you have to have a float that helps you in the deep end :)

I realised I take a lot of time to leave my comfort zone and sometimes this wastes a lot of my days and energy. For example I waited till I was comfortable with myself before I entered the gym that was almost 1 year into my weight loss. In my mind I know I should have started earlier it would have helped but I was too scared to try something new, I went for my first group class only after I had reached my ideal weight, Now I love them and I know they are very effective, I only wish I had started earlier rather than later.

This happens to me in other aspects of my life also so this year for me is all about getting out of my comfort zone.Every time I leave my comfort zone I tell myself ‘ I’m only going to move forward, if something does go wrong I will always fall back into my comfort zone and if it works I will move ahead and have a new comfort zone.’

What do you think? Does this happen to you? Or am I the only one?

Keep Reading I will Keep Writing 

Tanvee

Just for fun

Keep Reading I will Keep Writing 

Tanvee

How many days to lose it all?

When I started of my weight loss journey I always had unrealistic goals and a lot of magazines, articles encouraged me, I’m not talking about taking diet pills or undergoing liposuction but reading all those celebrity weight loss stories and a lot of magazine usually have articles with a heading like ‘Get a toned arms in a week’ or ‘drop a jean size diet’ or’ 90 days to a new you’

I’m not saying you should not read these articles because most of them do have a good list of exercises and good healthy eating tips but I'm not sure about how these always work...

Why?? Because there are so many things that need to be considered, these are generic statements, how can they apply to everybody? How can everybody no matter how overweight or how unhealthy or fit get toned at the same rate?

I personally noticed this when I bought a fitness DVD which promised 3 months to a toned body, as usual I did my research before buying this, I read a lot of reviews and most of them where positive so I went ahead and picked up the DVD. This was when I was 30 pounds into my weight loss (nearly half way through) I was not very fit but I was used to a bit of exercising. When I started working out using the DVD I realised I could not keep up with the workout all the time, so even if I was giving my 100%  a lot more was expected..and a lot these exercises were new for me, learning the form and doing it without injury took time, all this time got added to the 3 months. So in 3 months I did lose more (I think it was around 8-10 pounds) but I was still 25 pounds away from my normal weight.

My Conclusion for all this:

• Different bodies react differently to exercise. There can never be an exact number of days or set rules that will apply to everybody.  Instead of focusing on the number or the time why not set different goals like being able to do a set of new exercises or increasing the time you jog/walk for.
• A lot depends on your initial fitness level and health. If the program expects you to do squats with weights but you have never done squats in your life I think the first few days will go in just learning the new form otherwise you would injure yourself and sometimes it can be the other way around, the exercises might be easier for you; for example at this point if I go back to only walking it is not going to help me much because my body is already used to jogging. So an article that talks about losing weight by walking will not be as effective for me now as it would have been when I first started my weight loss.
• When you read about workout and different plans nobody considers the slip ups. A lot of times sticking to a program requires a change of mindset and attitude (How can I suddenly become disciplined and stick to a program there will be slip ups). So there has to be some breathing space.
• I still read all possible articles but I read them to learn new exercises, techniques and see if I have missed anything. Most of my exercise routines are based on what I have read or on exercise DVDs but I do this to push my limits, try new things and change my routine. I don’t expect to see any miracle happening, otherwise I could just be disappointed.

What about you? what do you do?Do you find these points useful?

Keep Reading I will Keep Writing 

Tanvee

When things don't go as planned

(This post is not related to weight loss or fitness)

Lately things are not going my way, I have done my part but my plan is not working so I have only two choices complain about it or do something about it.Usually I pick the second choice but in this scenario everything is out of my hands there is really nothing I can do.That's why my weekend was not a very happy one, usually I’m very talkative and every weekend is my fun day. We go out, try new things and most weekends I Skype with family, friends back home but this weekend I just did not feel like doing anything.

After wasting my weekend (Friday evening and entire Saturday) I had to STOP. I couldn’t  carry on like this, so Sunday afternoon I decided enough is enough if I could do something about I should get up and do it but if I could not do anything I should move on. So the next big question was how do you move on?? How do you let go of all the stress and sad thoughts???

I do a simple thing I don’t let my mind complete my sad sentences...if I start thinking thoughts that will pull me down I don’t complete them instead I complete them with completely opposite things.

I’m unlucky...(things did not go as planned) but I’m lucky because I have come this far and if I work hard I know I can go further...

Why me???(why was I overweight..Why was I fat all my life?) Because I could handle it and through my weight loss journey I got back to writing, I discovered my love for running and it gave me confidence..

This is how I change every sentence till I feel strong and confident that I can manage...

95% of the times I believe if I can do something about my situation everything will be alright, I think if I put in the effort things will work out, maybe at times I need to change my plan but as long as I believe in myself and I’m ready to work hard I will get to my goal, maybe not on time, maybe not as planned but I will get there

By the way just because things did not go as planned does not mean I missed a workout or I ate more than planned, we did order take away but I stuck to my calorie count

Hope you all had a better weekend :)

Keep Reading I will Keep Writing 

Tanvee

Spinach Soup

Forgot to add this post last week..(this is one of my regular soups)

Ingredients

1 Onion

2 garlic cloves

1 Potato

450g spinach roughly chopped

450ml chicken stock

600ml milk

Zest of half Lemon

Grated nutmeg

Method

1. Add olive oil to a pot, Add the onion and garlic. Cook for 5-6 minutes 
2. Add the chopped potato and cook for 2-3 minutes 
3. Add the chicken stock and cook till the potato is a little soft. 
4. Add the milk and bring to a simmer 
5. Add the most of the spinach and the lemon zest 
6. Cover the pot and cook for 15 minutes 
7. Cool the soup and blend it. Add the remaining spinach while blending 
8. Return to pot and reheat. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg

Keep Reading I will Keep Writing 

Tanvee

(I found this recipe here http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1571/creamy-spinach-soup)