Back after a long hiatus; peripatetic method

Hi all!  After not exercising for nearly a year, I’ve gained back about 12 of the 28 pounds lost, so have run headlong into an easy “away” motivation to get back into fitness. That is, I am motivated to escape (get away from) wearing the same few clothes I still feel ok in, instead of the nice stuff — so am back to exercising, counting calories, and blogging.

Surfshelf!

The hard part, as always, is hanging on to my “toward” motivation — the thing to work toward once I escape the proximate, unwanted thing (clothes too tight). So with this post, I want to quickly say “hi, sorry I was away” (check), suggest some “toward” motivations that might actually stick, and tell you about a product I got that might be helping me.

THRILLING OUTCOMES OF WEIGHING 16 LBS LESS, NOT 6 LBS LESS:

1. Being in GOOD shape for adventure travel — kayaking, hiking in the mountains, multi-day rafting trips. This is the person I want to be, and can be, on vacation. Not just “up for it”, but in shape for it. Not holding anyone back, doing what I want.
2. Feeling really good in my nicer clothes, not just wearing them!  I’ve never in my life felt like I dressed all that well, but that’s really not true: last year, I did. It was NOT HARD, it just took daily effort. Really capturing a turnaround in my self-image would be great for my career, relationship, and all-around life. These two ideas are too broad and distant, though: a “toward” motivation is supposed to carry some of the “I want that!!” feeling of an impulse, just an impulse that does you good. So, I will try to be more impulsive with 3, and picture a scene or a thing I want, that I can have or do at 180, but not at 196, in just three months.
3. I want to run a 10K easily, finish in the middle, and have my girlfriend there at the start, middle, and end, cheering me on.

Ok! That I can do! Of course, my relationship is LD, but she’ll be living here by then, and never in my life have I lived the 80’s movie plot of getting the girl and having an athletic achievement.

Helping me on my way to this is the surfshelf. a laptop tray that attaches to my treadmill. I’m actually writing this blog entry while walking 1.5mph, an easy typing pace.  Last night, I was working at it, and watching some tv on my laptop while walking. I’ve also played World of Warcraft while on it, though maybe at more like 1.0mph, since it takes more attention.  WoWarcraft is a great time-sink.. if you’re exercising at the same time!

So, right now I am celebrating overcoming the inertia of getting started again, and checking in with my brothers at FatBloggers at least weekly!