No Diet Day

Monday, May 6, 2013 Permalink

Happy No Diet Day!

If you’re anything like me you’re probably thinking, ‘Huh?’

But it’s true… in case you were wondering: 6 May, is No Diet Day, which is perfectly timed given my recent post about the fact that I’m neither dieting, nor am I not-dieting (which for me has traditionally meant bingeing!).

And I’m really happy to share that, since I’ve quit focussing on what I SHOULDN’T eat (carbohydrates etc) and the fact that I SHOULD be focussed on losing weight; I already feel better. About everything. I’m no longer in that miserable dark, dire place which (in all honesty) held me captive for a few weeks recently.

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth saying again, I KNOW I still need to lose weight and I still WANT to lose weight but – for now – if easing up on myself helps diminish my desire to binge-eat, then that’s where I’ll start. Others may not agree and it may not be right for everyone, but that’s okay. It feels right to me.

Having said that, however, something I’d like to change is my current level of fitness. I know weight loss is mostly about the food, but while I’m not currently prepared to forgo carbs and the like, I am conscious that my no-forced exercise plan means that I’m pretty unfit at the moment.

In fact, while visiting my mother last week I went for a ‘real’ walk – you know, one involving sneakers rather than thongs and… I got no more than a few hundred metres when my shin splints returned.

I hadn’t experienced bad shin splints for a while. I suspect my lack of fitness and the fact that my body is unaccustomed to the exercise are as much to blame as the fact I’m heavier than when I last (properly) exercised.

So… I’m thinking of stepping up my fitness, EVEN if it involves me forcing myself to do some stuff for a while. I’m still working out how to go about… umm… working out, but I do know that (although still overweight) feeling fitter will help me feel better. And healthier.

I watched part of a local triathlon yesterday. My blogging buddy Liz, from Last Chance Training was here for it and I went along to cheer for her (and smile encouragingly at others – but that’s a whole other story). What really surprised me though was that – some of the participants were really struggling by the time they got to the final run. Many did NOT look like they were having fun. I’ve always been a believer that ‘exercise should be fun’ or we’ll never do it, but it made me wonder if… sometimes you need to do the less-fun stuff to get to the fun stuff. I bet the participants, for example, felt bloody good as they crossed that finishing line.

I’d be loath to go to a proper Body Jam or Zumba class now – given my level of fitness. In fact I’d be embarrassed to face up to my old fave faux Zumba instructor in my old hometown, Nikki. The shin splints I suffered the other day and slight strain on my knee really made me feel uncomfortable. Mentally as much as physically.

So… no dieting, but a fitness focus will be on the agenda for me.

Which brings me back to No Diet Day… Long term readers may recall that last year I talked about a book, If Not Dieting, Then What? by Dr Rick Kausman and shortly after that I ran my first blog giveaway – with a copy of the book and Rick’s fabulous Empowerment Cards.

Well… in honour of No Diet Day, The Butterfly Foundation here in Oz, is today launching Rick’s Empowerment Card App. I think there’s an iPad version as well, though Android / Windows users sadly have a wait a bit longer.

The If not dieting Empowerment Card App is based on Rick’s If not dieting Empowerment Cards, as an extra support for people to be the healthiest they can be and to:
  • assist us to eat mindfully;
  • encourage us to eat slowly and enjoy our food;
  • aid us to feel better about ourselves and our body image;
  • support us to do our best to find some enjoyable physical activity; and
  • help us to achieve and maintain our healthiest weight.

The App features: 65 different cards containing a key message and a beautiful Aussie pic (full version only – free (Lite) version contains 7 cards); an ability to set alerts to receive cards at times most suitable for our own needs; and an ability to share cards by email, Facebook and Twitter.

You can set an alert to receive any of the cards at any time.  You can do this with as many cards, and at as many times, as might be most helpful for you.  (For example, someone could set an alert to receive a card that reminds them to ‘eat slowly and enjoy’ before one or more meals; or set an alert to receive a card that reminds them to ‘do your best to speak gently to yourself’ at any time of the day or night; and so on.)

I have the Empowerment Cards and, as I am technology-gal, happily I paid my AUD4.49 for the full version of the App – which sadly I cannot currently access on my crappy iPod… so it’s sitting there waiting until I can afford to upgrade (back) to an iPhone. (Regular readers may recall the devastating iPhone-in-the-bathtub incident of 2013!) But I love the idea of this App and scheduling the appearance of the cards and their words when you most need them.

Did you know it was / is No Diet Day?
Does it make sense that I ‘force’ myself to exercise to get fitter, enabling me to then ‘enjoy’ exercise again? Can you relate?

 

12 Comments
  • Char
    May 6, 2013

    It’s so great that you got to cheer Liz on. I hear she did really well.

    I would be one of those ones who look like they’re not having fun about 3/4 the way through any race. That’s about when I think that they should stop calling them ‘fun’runs. The fun comes afterwards when the endorphins hit. And that can happen even after a bad race.

    • Debbish
      May 6, 2013

      Liz looked great Char – she was definitely still going strong and in front of a lot of others. I’d thought the run involved two laps of where I was, so sat there for another hour after she went past waiting… before I realised she’d probably finished by then! #oops. I did however get to see those who were really struggling. But… having said that some of the first guys through (the v.fit ones) looked like they were doing it hard.

      There were after-tri drinks at the pub near me and I saw a heap of them later and was VERY nostalgic / envious of their post-race high and that sense of accomplishment.

  • Liz
    May 6, 2013

    Deb! Thanks so much for being there to cheer me on! It meant a lot to me and being fitter helped me enjoy it a lot more, so yes, I guess you do have to push yourself through a few barriers here and there to reach the fun bits (within reason!).

    As for No Diet Day, I love Rick Kausman and was musing on how everyone gets their knickers in a knot over food. It is JUST food 🙂 And when you focus on treating yourself well, then the food choices often become better as well.

    A diet is a temporary – a healthy lifestyle is forever!

    xxx

    • Debbish
      May 7, 2013

      Liz, I joined the Facebook chat yesterday afternoon hosted by the Butterfly Foundation and featuring Rick and he had some great lines / quotes. I tried to share some on Twitter but didn’t do them justice. Such a great attitude though…

  • Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
    May 6, 2013

    Happy No Diet Day to you too!
    Every day is not diet day for me – it is a lifestyle.

    • Debbish
      May 7, 2013

      Yes indeed Dannii… I’m trying to make it so myself as well!

      xx

  • Jess
    May 7, 2013

    How cool you got to watch Liz! That’s awesome! I bet lots of people are really feeling awful at the end of a tri and then spectacular when they cross the line!
    Happy No Diet Day! 🙂

    • Debbish
      May 7, 2013

      Thanks Jess. I felt this bizarre obligation to remain in situ after Liz had passed and smile at those cycling / running as I had a few comments about how nice it was to see a smiling face…. I’d randomly picked a spot along the course where I could park easily and watch… so I was basically alone in my spot!

  • Kek
    May 7, 2013

    You should see me running – it looks anything but fun! I’m a struggler, but I love the feeling of accomplishment when I tick off that distance (however short it may be). And there’s nothing like a good dose of endorphins to make you feel great!

    Even a bike ride, which I do enjoy, has its moments. On a recent short break, we did some real mountain biking – up a small mountain. Halfway up, my legs were burning, my heart was pounding and my lungs struggling to get enough oxygen. Then a 4WD hurtling down the narrow dirt road towards me came a little too close for comfort, made me wobble and lose my balance and I spat the dummy. I wanted to turn around and head back to the nice flat road we’d left behind and I actually sat my bum down in the dust and cried.

    After a few minutes recovery, a drink and letting my nerves settle, I got back on the bike. The rest of the climb was no easier, but I persevered – and once we got to the top, the view was so, so worth it that I couldn’t believe I’d almost chucked it in.

    I hold onto that memory now when the going gets tough in any kind of exercise session and tell myself to suck it up for now, and that the “view from the top” will be worth it.

    • Debbish
      May 8, 2013

      I think that’s something I’m not good at – the telling myself that ‘this will all be worth it’. I recall some horror experiences at fat camp and the like when I tried to remind myself that it would soon be over and I would be proud of my efforts. Mostly it makes me dread the said-activity… 🙁

  • Jo Tracey
    May 8, 2013

    I love the idea of these cards.

    • Debbish
      May 8, 2013

      Yes, my pack had been wallowing in my bedside table drawer since my move but I got them out to put by my desk again!

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