So, confession time.
Between October and January 2016, I honestly tried to get a workout in here or there. But, my exercise schedule took a backseat to the holiday parties. Since I’m more introverted than a hibernating caterpillar, I had little energy at the end of the day for anything else. I’m zapped!
On slower days, I’d try to get in a quick session but found myself injuring body parts. That’s weekend warrior syndrome. I just didn’t have it in me.
I’m not complaining. I love my family and adore my friends; I wouldn’t change a thing. These holidays, celebrations, and anniversaries make my year.
Since I knew I had nothing to put toward my fitness plan, I decided to look at it as an experiment. What will happen to the 40-something-year-old body of a relatively fit and healthy female is she skips working out for four months? (My experience – your mileage may vary).
So, Before I reset goals, what did I notice?
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Flexibility
My flexibility is still better than it was before I started my fitness journey in 2015, but I experience a noticeable and dramatic decline in flexibility. Things I could easily reach by stretching a little further, I now have to finagle.
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Balance
I have difficulty doing exercises that require me to balance on one leg and need to revert to the modified version.
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Endurance
At one point, I started looking for a workout alternative to the Fitness on Demand service I used for two years, and it got me to where I was. However, I had completed most of their advanced programs, and the 365 daily schedule wasn’t difficult enough. Now, their daily routine is kicking my butt. I’ve even had to lay down on our gym floor and recover.
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Sleep Schedule and daytime fatigue
I haven’t been able to sleep as comfortably, and my sleep seems more interrupted. I experience more daytime fatigue, which makes it more difficult to exercise. Breaking that cycle is hard.
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Muscle density
The muscle tone in my arms is more flaccid than it was before I began this little experiment. I am unable to carry as much weight as easily.
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Weight gain
Oops! I’m no longer at my goal weight. I gained 10 pounds back. I’ve been working on it, but those last 10-pounds are being stubborn.
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Motivation
It took a while for me to build motivation the first time around. Now, I’m experiencing difficulty finding the motivation to continue.
Starting Again: The plan to Reset Goals
Lesson: Food-centered holiday months make a lousy time to slack off. Yep! Combining holiday meals with inactivity does what it sounds like it would do. The dryer shrunk my favorite jeans, and my energy wanes.
- I’ve returned to tracking my food. I hadn’t intended to stop, but I frequently forgot during the bustling holidays.
- Work out five days a week. I’ve managed an average of three days since the beginning of January. I know that’s not enough, though. I need to increase it.
- Monitor my weight. Lose those stubborn pounds before I get too attached and opt to buy new clothes instead.
- Start cooking more often. The busy holiday schedule frequently preempted cooking. Getting back into the swing of cooking more regularly has been difficult.
The Goal
I want to return to my previous fitness level and see my maintenance weight again. I want my strength to come back and see more increased muscle toning.
On that note, I’m gonna hit the workout room. Thanks for reading.
This #BloggersTalkingAbout series features amazing bloggers writing from the heart. Continue reading more by following these links. Starting Over by Joanne | Starting Again by Jenny | When It’s Time To Start Again by Traci | Making Mistakes by Karen | Starting Over by Alicia | Crafty Me by Karen | The Delicate Art Of Starting Again by Nikki | Starting Over by Brandy | Starting Over by Wendy | If you’re a mom/female blogger, join us in our group, Bodacious Bloggers.
Alicia Taylor
We enjoy hosting parties and my husband and I are both avid gamers. You can find me on PS4 as SunshineFlaGirl. We also play tabletop RPGs and eurogames.
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25 Comments
The Delicate Art of Starting Again – Nikki Nurtures
September 29, 2017 - 4:55 pm[…] Starting Again by Jenny | When It’s Time To Start Again by Traci | Making Mistakes by Karen | Starting Over by Alicia | Crafty Me by Karen | The Delicate Art Of Starting Again by Nikki | Starting Over by […]
Not So Average Mama
March 2, 2017 - 8:25 pmGood for you!!! I’m starting over with Roller Derby again! I took a long time off while weaning off of medication for my neuro disease….in fact I took a whole year off! I decided to jump back in recently as a trainer, so I have to do it because I’m the trainer hahaha….no excuses! Let’s do this!
Alicia Taylor
March 3, 2017 - 2:13 pmNope – no excuses when you are the trainer! Good luck on getting back into the game!
Jenny
March 1, 2017 - 9:18 amGood luck with your workout goals!
Alicia Taylor
March 1, 2017 - 10:20 amThank you
Chocolate 'N Children
March 1, 2017 - 9:10 am[…] Starting Again by Jenny | When It’s Time To Start Again by Traci | Making Mistakes by Karen | Starting Over by Alicia | Crafty Me by Karen | The Delicate Art Of Starting Again by Nikki | Starting Over by […]
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March 1, 2017 - 8:33 am[…] Starting Again by Jenny | When It’s Time To Start Again by Traci | Making Mistakes by Karen | Starting Over by Alicia | Crafty Me by Karen | The Delicate Art Of Starting Again by Nikki | Starting Over by […]
Nikki
February 28, 2017 - 9:48 pmThat’s the great thing about working on ourselves; if we get knocked off course, we can bounce back smarter and more determined. I’m in your shoes right now. Can’t wait to get back on the wagon.
Alicia Taylor
March 1, 2017 - 10:21 amYes – life definitely has a learning curve sometimes. The Hallmark of growth is do we learn?
Starting Over, Each Season Brings the Opportunity
February 28, 2017 - 9:37 pm[…] Starting Again by Jenny | When It’s Time To Start Again by Traci | Making Mistakes by Karen | Starting Over by Alicia | Crafty Me by Karen | The Delicate Art Of Starting Again by Nikki | Starting Over by […]
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February 28, 2017 - 8:49 pm[…] Starting Again by Jenny | When It’s Time To Start Again by Traci | Making Mistakes by Karen | Starting Over by Alicia | Crafty Me by Karen | The Delicate Art Of Starting Again by Nikki | Starting Over by […]
#BloggersTalkingAbout Starting Over | Life With Joanne
February 28, 2017 - 8:40 pm[…] Again by Jenny | When It’s Time To Start Again by Traci | Making Mistakes by Karen | Starting Over by Alicia | Crafty Me by Karen | The Delicate Art Of Starting Again by Nikki | Starting Over by […]
Carissa Garabedian
February 15, 2017 - 8:29 amI recently joined a ladies boot camp, I love the feeling after a great workout, for mind and body! Good for you on setting this goal! Keep it up!
Alicia Taylor
February 15, 2017 - 10:40 amThanks! I sure will. I love boot camps – they do restore that energy
Claudia Krusch
February 14, 2017 - 9:16 pmI like to reevaluate my goals when I get stuck in a rut. Sometimes setting smaller goals for myself makes me feel like I am getting more done.
Liz Mays
February 14, 2017 - 4:09 pmIt’s great that the setbacks didn’t cause you to give up. That’s key! It will be nice to have those benefits from exercising again.
Alicia Taylor
February 15, 2017 - 10:41 amIt will be nice to have my flexibility and balance restored. I’m not back to where I was when I weighed 60 pounds more, but it’s definitely noticeable. Thanks!
A Budget-Friendly Life
February 14, 2017 - 3:49 pmGood for you restarting your goals! It is so easy to fall off track and so hard to get back at it. I know lol I am trying!
swood97
February 14, 2017 - 2:48 pmMy goals pretty much stay the same. My problem is slacking off. One of my motivations is the knowledge that any day is a good day to begin my program again!
Alicia Taylor
February 14, 2017 - 3:22 pmI agree! There is nothing that says you have to wait for the first of the year, week – or even the next day!
Sarah Bailey
February 14, 2017 - 1:41 pmGetting back and resetting goals is hard. It is great that you know your body so well and what you need to do.
Stephanie Jeannot
February 14, 2017 - 1:21 pmThese are great things because fitness is not an easy thing to get into if your mind is not ready. IT is okay to take time off but don’t let the time off became the constant thing. KEep striving.
Alicia Taylor
February 14, 2017 - 3:23 pmOnce you’ve set that precedent, it’s so hard to get back into practice. I will keep on keeping on! Thanks
Rebecca Bryant
February 14, 2017 - 1:11 pmit is always good to reassess your goals. I am glad you are getting to reset and make new goals fro yourself.
Mandy @ A Cupful of Carters
February 14, 2017 - 10:50 amI agree that slacking off during the holidays is easy to do but harder to come back from. Resetting goals is a great step to getting back to target.