The Early Bird Gets No Breakfast at All

Last year I decided that I needed to get my arse out of bed and get to the gym before work if I was ever, well, going to get to the gym. I like working out in the morning for a few reasons. For one, the gym is far less crowded before work than after work. I also like the idea that I can just roll out of bed and throw on gym clothes rather than stand for 30 minutes in front of my closet deciding what to wear. But now that the weather has turned cold, and I mean bitterly cold, pulling myself out from under the electric blanket has been difficult, to say the least.

Today, the New York Times reports on a study that says exercising in the morning, before eating, can help keep off the holiday pounds. It's not just working out in the morning that's beneficial, it's working out in a "fasted state." I've always assumed I need to eat a little something in the morning in order to power through my workout, but I'm always struggling to figure out what that little something should be. Perhaps I need nothing at all.

Of course, this study was conducted with men. That doesn't always translate well for women. But hey, I'll give up my pre-workout granola bar if it means I can fit in the same size pants after Christmas.

For more on the study, read Phys Ed: The Benefits of Exercising Before Breakfast.

The Ugly Truth

I was talking to a co-worker of mine about Weight Watchers. I know, everyone has had tremendous success with the program and it seems rather foolproof. Except for me. My co-worker said that she likes the plan because being weighed weekly at a meeting holds her accountable. I told her that I would simply skip the meetings during the weeks when I knew I didn't lose any weight or worse, gained. She gave me one of those looks that said volumes without words.

And then it hit me.

This is my MO. I avoid. If I don't like what I'm going to see/hear/feel I just simply avoid it. Which is why, after nearly 2 months, I haven't written a single blog post. Instead of using this as a means to hold myself accountable for my actions, I simply avoid it altogether.

The problem is, the weight started piling back on. After losing about 13 pounds, I suffered a minor injury that was causing pain in my ankle. I was told not to workout and stop wearing heels for awhile. Ballet flats at work posed no major issue. Not working out could be my downfall. And it was a tiny thing that caused a total setback. Once I stopped at the gym, I started eating more. I had convinced myself that if I couldn't workout why eat right? A ridiculous thought. My health is not an all-or-nothing concept. When I finally returned to the gym I hopped on the scale to find I had gained back 3 lbs. That's a lot when all you've lost is 13 lbs. in the first place.

So I'm pushing myself to get back on track. I packed a healthy lunch today. I have a big glass of water sitting next to me and my gym clothes are in the car. And I'm writing a blog post that makes me admit I avoid the ugly truth.