Quote Originally Posted by sara View Post
I just need to get my lazy self on the trainer more often and stop pigging out! My new beer belly should, in theory, motivate me eventually, right?!?!

Actually, I'm confident these extra pounds will go away once I'm riding regularly again. My ankle is the culprit here. I can spin on the trainer but everything else I've tried causes increased pain and swelling. This past week I went skiing and I'm paying the price for that. So I decided to basically do nothing for one week and see how my foot feels. I did shovel snow today so that should've burned a few calories...
Sara, Sara, Sara! C'mon, girl! You are smart and strong, now let's take some action!

The first part--you got it. If you are not exercising and eating poorly and too much, of course you're going to gain weight. The more weight you gain, the harder it will be to get off, not to mention other health problems that may arise. Stop pigging out. Eat more apples and less mac-n-cheese. Broccoli instead of fries. Drink water instead of Coke. You know all that already.

The second part--what are you waiting for? Two months for an ankle injury does not seem right--have you been to a doctor about the ankle? Swimming, gym work (weights), pilates, yoga are all exercises that are nice to your ankle. You have the knowledge and the power. Get your ankle checked out and get moving and be smart about eating.

Or don't. It's up to you. I've found that motivation that comes from a positive (wanting to be healthy) is alot more sustainable than when it comes from a negative (the new beer belly). If you are really having trouble with motivation, perhaps there is something else going on, too. I've had to deal with depression with a family member and it's debilitating when it hits. I hope that's not the case for you, but just like your ankle, if you find out the problem, you can get on the road to addressing it and overcoming it. But you know that already, too.

Spring will be here soon, but in the meantime, take action on those things that are in your control. It'll make spring alot more fun.