fitness

I fought a hard battle over the weekend. I dealt with the monster in the closet. I know all about the monster in the closet. In my case, the “monster” is how to dealt with clothing that is too big. As of this morning, I have lost 56 lbs. As a result, my closet was packed full of clothing in sizes that just don’t work any more.

Losing weight and becoming healthier is a good thing – don’t get me wrong. However, it brings with it a problem: when it’s too big to alter, do I donate it or store it away “just in case.”

I’ve lost over 100 lbs twice in my life. I’m working on the third round. Both previous times, I threw out the “fat” clothing and then had to do the “walk of shame” back to Lane Bryant and Coldwater Creek to repurchase the stretchy pants that fit.

I purged- oh how I purged. I got rid of the ugly size 26 coral suit that I never even wore once. Gone are the shapeless shifts and the threadbare things that I kept wearing because I refused to buy anything else in” that size.”

By the time I finished, the “keep” pile was smaller than the purge pile. When it was all hung up, there was actually room to slide the hangers on the bar.

While there was a big part of me that was celebrating every article that had outgrown its usefulness, I must admit that I couldn’t bear to part with a number of my “fat clothes” items. My favorite “comfort clothes,” the ones that made me feel pretty even at 322 lbs. They are hanging in the basement. In time, I will have the confidence to make them go away forever. Now, instead of a monster in the closet, the “monster” is in the armoire. I haven’t touched that one yet. When is a t-shirt “too big,” anyway?

Perhaps the biggest health hurdle of all to conquer is the dreaded “Yes But[t].” (YB)

The YB strips us of our pride, depletes our confidence, and worst of all gives us excuses to give up.

I thought I had all but banished the YB yesterday when it reared its ugly head. I started running in March of this year. I don’t move fast, but I move. Some weeks I move more than others. I moved a lot of miles a couple of moths ago. Then, life got busy and I hurt my knee. I still run, but I’ve been doing more other exercises, like walking, weight training and even some dancing.

A friend who follows my progress on Nike+ congratulated me for running 10 miles this month. 10 miles is a long way for someone who couldn’t run 1/10th mile without gasping for air and holding onto the treadmill a couple of months ago. I should have been shaking my booty and dancing, “10 miles, baby, 10 miles! Hear me roar!” Instead, I got a case of the YB.

Yes, but my personal trainer app says that I should have done 17 by now.

Yes, but in May I did 50 miles, and I’m way behind that pace.

You get the idea. Instead of celebrating my achievement (10 miles, WOOT!), I posted a big WOOT online, and then mentally berated myself for not running 17 miles, for not losing weight faster, for having a stride that’s too short, and for eating a gluten free pop tart for a snack. The YB got me,

The YB also helps us justify choices (like that pop tart). Yes, but I had a salad for lunch. Yes, but I ran an extra 1/10th mile.

I’m giving my Yes, But[t] the heave ho. I encourage you to do the same. When someone remarks on your achievement, say, “Thank you, I’m so proud.” When the YB creeps in as an excuse, ask yourself if what you want is worth delaying your goal. If it is, then enjoy it and own it.

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The monster in the closet

Banishing the “Yes But[t]”