Screams from the haters got a nice ring to it, I guess every superhero need his theme music...
-Kanye West (Power)
As a mom, wife, full-employee, I feel like I never have enough time in the day. For the last 8-9 years, I haven’t been happy with my weight but I always found excuses not to lose it. I would have moments where I felt inspired...but I was never consistent and I was never fully committed. For the last 3 years or so, I have been in the pre-diabetic range when going for my annual physicals. After being placed on medication, I decided enough was enough. Since August, I am down 31 pounds with another 20ish pounds to go until I reach my ideal weight.
Here’s how I was able to light a fire under my tail ;)
Trust your gut and find a doctor who truly listens to you
One of the reasons that I found it so hard to get motivated was that it seemed like nothing had worked in the past. I would go hard in the gym, made sure I ate right, spend hundreds of dollars on supplements, personal trainers, you name it, but still nothing. It wasn’t until I found an endocrinologist that listened to all of my concerns, my symptoms, my efforts and started to put the pieces together. She did a full battery of bloodwork to try to get to the bottom of the issue. And that she did. It turns out that my testosterone levels were way too high for a woman in her late 30s. High testosterone levels in women can lead to increased body hair, loss of hair on their heads, loss of libido, and mood changes (all of which I experienced and do not have time for). I was also experiencing symptoms related to PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) which could have also been linked to increased testosterone levels. I was placed on a medication called Metformin that was to regulate my testosterone levels, alleviate the symptoms of PCOS and help lower my H-A1C because of my teetering in the pre-diabetic range for the last few years. While the medicine is doing its job, my goal is to be completely off of it by the end of the year.
Nothing will work unless YOU do
No matter what the goal is, if it’s important to you, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse. With a diagnosis and a plan, I was all out of excuses for why I couldn’t start working towards my goal. I was already paying for a gym membership that I barely used, so I decided to make good on my investment. I started hitting the gym 2-3 times a week. I start with 20-25 minutes of cardio, 3-4 strength training exercises - 3 to 4 reps of 10 for whatever area I’m working on for the day (disclaimer: I’m not a fan of leg day), and I end my workout by getting in a good stretch and a mandatory 15-25 minutes in the sauna. I LOVE the sauna. It’s where I leave my anxiety and stress of the day ahead (oh, I work out at 4 am like the crazy person I am), where I talk to God and myself and just take advantage of a little me time.
Turn up the music
Whether I’m going for a walk, lifting weights or sitting in the sauna, I have a playlist for everything. Most of the songs on my Beast Mode playlist are handpicked by me because I know they’ll push me a little harder. When I want to switch it up, I’ll use one of the many Apple Music or Spotify curated playlists. Whatever your preference, put your headphones on and get moving. Use the momentum to distract you from the fact that the treadmill is kicking your ass or push you to your limits, just let it get you going. Shape magazine recently published an article with over 150 epic songs to add to your workout playlist with various genres and catered towards different types of workouts. Create your list and get moving.
No matter how hard it gets, how much you hate burpees, or how sore you may be afterward, remember to...
Until next time,
M.T.
P.S. Drop and give me 10 ;)
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