Headed to Mount Doom

[Katastrophe]

Hello, hello. I'm a hobbit and, as such, I enjoy second breakfast, elevensies, and tea time a bit too much. I'd like to be a strong and slender elf, but in order for that to happen, I need to make a heroic trek to Mount Doom and there discard whatever "precious" behaviors and attitudes are keeping me from shaping up. I would like to make the journey, but I suspect I'll need a Fellowship (or a Gandalf) to help me get out the door. So the first step is to post here!

 

Where I'm at: kind of low! I just had a baby (my second) a couple of weeks ago. I'm recovering pretty well, but I've lost a lot of muscle and gained a lot of fat. Body composition is pretty much rubbish right now, and I feel quite hobbitish! I've slowly been working up to walking and light jogging, when I feel up to it, in addition to some very minimal body weight exercises. I'm doing my best to keep things mild for the sake of recovery, but I definitely feel that a huge part of recovery is building up the strength to be more active! I've been sadly very sedentary for the last three or four months.

 

Challenges: My greatest demon is sweets. It's not just a Balrog, it's like, "the ONE RING" for me. I have to stop carrying this around and destroy it already! Embarrassingly, I think I don't even like sweets that much, with the exception of freaking mochi ice cream-- but I am addicted to them. I'd like  to get to the point where I don't even crave them. I know it's possible. 

 

Plan of attack: 1. Kick the sweets demon in the face by using healthful substitutes such as fruit.

2. Sucker punch reduced stamina and strength by going for 20-30 minute walks every day, alternating with light jogging intervals when possible. Build back up to a respectable 5k training plan 6 weeks(ish) postpartum.

3. Rejuvenate atrophied core muscles by doing basic strength exercises 2-3 times per week. 

All of this to be done carefully and with a healthy respect for the body's need for rest and recovery. I don't intend to get too crazy until at least six weeks postpartum, but that doesn't mean I can't do anything now!

 

That's it. I'd like to pursue running (because I enjoy it) when I can work back up to it, and strength training (because I'm convinced it's necessary-- and I enjoy it too). I used to run a lot without strength training, but now I'm converted to the idea that it's necessary and awesome. I don't think I've ever done a pullup in my life, and by golly that has to change.

 

 

tl;dr: I just had a baby, I'm chubby and out of shape and I have an addiction to sweets-- and I don't want any of those things to hold me back from being freaking awesome. My goals are clean eating, running, and strength training. I'm also really, really dorky and probably use unnecessarily nerdy metaphors more often than necessary. 

 

I'm going to post in the Battle Log forum soon so I can get some progress and tracking on the road, but here's my super geeky introduction so far. So hi, this is me, and I'm looking forward to the Fellowship-- err, Rebellion!

[MetalRhythm]

Welcome to the Rebellion!

 I wish you luck in your goals.

[TheMarvelPrincess]

Welcome, Katastrophe!  Love all the LoTR references - I got a nice chuckle out of it.  

 

You've got some great goals.  I definitely understand the sweet addiction...I crave them so much, and then I eat them and they aren't even satisfying. But you still come back wanting more!  Definitely a tool of Sauron.  

[Gogor]

Welcome!

By the words of one B. Baggins:

 

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.